Bing Crosby Theater facts for kids
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| Former names | Clemmer Theater, State Theater, Metropolitan Performing Arts Center |
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| Address | 901 West Sprague Avenue |
| Location | Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°39′25″N 117°25′31″W / 47.65694°N 117.42528°W |
| Public transit | Spokane Transit Authority |
| Owner | Jerry Dicker |
| Type | Theatre |
| Capacity | 756 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1914 |
| Renovated | 1988 |
| Architect | Edwin W. Houghton |
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Clemmer Theater
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| Architectural style | Chicago, Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002758 |
| Added to NRHP | December 1, 1988 |
The Bing Crosby Theater is a famous performing arts building in Spokane, Washington. It was designed by a special architect named Edwin W. Houghton. This theater first opened in 1914 as a large movie theater with 800 seats. Back then, it was known as the Clemmer Theater.
A very famous local singer, Bing Crosby, performed here often. He was a regular performer between May and October in 1925.
Contents
A Theater's Journey: From Clemmer to Bing Crosby
The Bing Crosby Theater has a long and interesting history. It started as a movie house and later became a place for live shows.
Early Days as Clemmer Theater
When it first opened in 1914, the building was called the Clemmer Theater. It was a popular spot for people to watch movies. Imagine going to the movies in a grand theater over 100 years ago!
Bing Crosby's Connection
One of the most exciting parts of the theater's history is its link to Bing Crosby. He was a huge star who grew up in Spokane. Before he became world-famous, he performed regularly at the Clemmer Theater in 1925. This makes the theater a special landmark for his fans.
From Disrepair to Renovation
Over many years, the theater became quite old and needed repairs. But in 1988, a local company bought it. They worked hard to fix it up and make it beautiful again. This big renovation helped save the historic building.
Becoming a Historic Place
Because of its long history and importance, the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 1988. This means it's recognized as a special building that should be protected.
New Names and New Life
After its renovation, the theater reopened with a new name: the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center. People often called it "The Met." It became a busy place for many different events. You could go there for concerts, interesting talks, and even movies.
Renamed for a Star
In 2004, a local businessman named Mitch Silver bought The Met. A few years later, in 2006, the theater got its current name: the Bing Crosby Theater. This happened because a local historian noticed that Spokane didn't have any landmarks named after its famous son, Bing Crosby. It was a great way to honor the multimedia star who had once performed on its stage.
Today, the Bing Crosby Theater continues to be a vibrant part of Spokane's arts scene.
