Admiral Theatre (Seattle) facts for kids
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Admiral Theatre
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| Location | Seattle, Washington |
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| Built | 1942 |
| Architect | Priteca, B. Marcus; Heinsbergen, A.B. |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002098 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 11, 1989 |
The Admiral Theatre is a cool movie theater in the North Admiral neighborhood of West Seattle, Washington. It is also a historic landmark, meaning it's an important building from the past. This theater used to show movies that had already been out for a while. Now, it shows brand new movies, just like other modern cinemas.
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History of the Admiral Theatre
From Portola to Admiral
The building where the Admiral Theatre stands was first built in 1919. It was originally called the Portola Theatre. This early theater had a fun ocean theme. Its front even had two round windows, like portholes on a ship!
The Portola Theatre had special features for its time. Its screen could add hints of color to black and white movies. It also had a theater organ. This organ played music for silent films, which were movies without spoken words.
A New Name and Look
In 1938, a person named John Danz bought the Portola Theatre. He decided to give it a big makeover. The people of West Seattle even voted to choose its new name: the Admiral Theatre.
The Admiral Theatre officially opened its doors on January 22, 1942. It was designed by a famous architect named B. Marcus Priteca. This theater had 802 seats, ready for many moviegoers.
Saving a Landmark
Over the years, the theater changed owners. It was eventually sold to a company called Cineplex. The Admiral Theatre started to lose money and was not being taken care of very well. It was announced that the theater would close.
But then, the Historical Society of Seattle stepped in to help! They worked to save the building. Because of their efforts, the Admiral Theatre became a protected landmark. This means it's an important part of history that needs to be preserved.
In 1992, the Admiral Theatre was ready to reopen. It went back to showing older movies for a while. In June 2008, a group called Faraway Entertainment bought the theater. Admiral Entertainment, LLC, now manages this historic movie house.
Fun Events at the Admiral
Besides showing movies, the Admiral Theatre has hosted many special events and performers. For over ten years, a popular show called The Rocky Horror Picture Show was performed regularly. The last showing of this series was on November 1, 2014.
The theater was also a favorite spot for J. P. Patches. He was a very famous local clown. The Admiral Theatre also has a "Mommy Matinee." This is a special movie showing where parents can bring their young children. It's a relaxed way for families to enjoy a movie without worrying about making too much noise.
Inside the Admiral Theatre
The Admiral Theatre kept its original ocean theme and even added more to it over time. The different movie rooms are called "piers." Green seahorses guide you to the exit signs. The room where employees relax is known as "the crew's quarters."
The two portholes from the old Portola Theatre can still be seen today. They are located just above the Admiral's lobby. The walls of the theater are also decorated with amazing artwork. When you walk in, you'll see a huge mural from 1942 behind the snack stand. It shows George Vancouver and goes from the floor all the way to the ceiling.
In 1997, the theater added another cool ocean touch. They hired an artist named Jeff Greene to paint an underwater scene in one of the movie rooms. These beautiful scenes are still there and might even be restored to look brand new again.
Renovations and Updates
The Admiral Theatre has gone through many changes and updates over the years. The first big remodel happened in 1942, getting it ready for its grand opening as the Admiral.
In 1973, the large theater was split into two smaller movie rooms. Then, in 2017, the theater had another major renovation. This time, the two rooms were turned into a total of four separate theaters. This update also brought in fancy new seats, a much better sound system, and cool 3D effects for movies.
Images for kids
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The Admiral Theatre in Seattle.
