Mount Baker Theatre facts for kids
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| Address | 104 North Commercial Street Bellingham, Washington 98225 |
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| Owner | City of Bellingham |
| Operator | Mount Baker Theatre |
| Capacity | Main Theatre: 1,517 Walton Theatre: 200 |
| Opened | April 29, 1927 |
| Years active | 1927–present |
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Mount Baker Theatre
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| Architect | Robert Reamer |
| Architectural style | Moorish–Spanish |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002786 |
| Added to NRHP | December 14, 1978 |
The Mount Baker Theatre (also called MBT) is a cool place for shows in Bellingham, Washington. It has 1,517 seats and is a historic landmark. This theater hosts many different events. You can see concerts, plays, and local performances here.
The Mount Baker Theatre is very big. Its main stage is the largest in Washington state, north of Seattle. Only Seattle's Paramount and 5th Avenue are larger. A famous architect named Robert Reamer designed it. He also designed Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. The building looks like a mix of Moorish and Spanish styles. Some people say a friendly ghost named Judy lives there! The city of Bellingham owns the theater. A group called the Mount Baker Theatre organization manages it.
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What's Inside the Theatre?
The Mount Baker Theatre takes up half a city block. It has three main areas for different events. These include concerts, live plays, movies, and parties. Most public areas are easy to get around for everyone. This includes people using wheelchairs.
The Main Stage Area
The main theater has a big stage. There are seats on the main floor and a balcony above. In total, 1,517 people can watch a show here. There is also a special area for musicians. This orchestra pit is five feet below the stage. It can hold up to 25 musicians. The theater has modern lights and sound. It also has a large screen for movies. Plus, there's a historic pipe organ!
The Encore Room
The Encore Room is a space for parties or meetings. It is about 1,200 square feet. This room can fit 120 people sitting normally. If people are sitting at tables, it can hold 60 to 80 guests. There is also a kitchen right next to this room.
The Walton Theatre
The Walton Theatre is a smaller stage. It is named after Harold and Irene Walton. This area is west of the main theater. It has its own restrooms and a kitchen.
What Happens at the Theatre?
The Mount Baker Theatre has many kinds of events. You can see live plays and concerts. They also show movies and host arts festivals. Sometimes, there are even comedy shows!
How the Theatre Looks
The Mount Baker Theatre has a unique look. It was designed in a Moorish and Spanish style. This means it has special shapes and decorations. These styles were popular in Spain and North Africa.
History of the Theatre
The Mount Baker Theatre was built in 1927. It was made to entertain people in the growing city of Bellingham. Architect Robert Reamer created its design. At first, it showed live plays and concerts. Later, a movie screen was added. This allowed them to show silent films.
The theater is in an old part of downtown Bellingham. The city's old library was nearby. The Bellingham Tower is also close by. This tall building was once a fancy hotel. Now, it has offices and a cafe. It is the tallest building in Whatcom County. The first City Hall, built in 1891, is also just two blocks away. It is now home to the Whatcom Museum. Other historic buildings are also nearby.
The Theatre's Friendly Ghost
For many years, people who work at the theater have seen strange things. This led to a story about a ghost. People call her Judy. In 2010, some paranormal investigators visited. They were from a TV show called Ghost Hunters. They spent a night in the theater. They were looking for proof of paranormal activity.
Images for kids
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The Mount Baker Theatre building.
