Neptune Theatre (Seattle) facts for kids
The theatre's exterior during the 2007 Seattle International Film Festival
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| Former names | U-Neptune Theatre |
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| Address | 1303 NE 45th St Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°39′40″N 122°18′51″W / 47.66116°N 122.31404°W |
| Operator | Seattle Theatre Group |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | November 16, 1921 |
| Renovated | 2011 |
| Architect | Henderson Ryan |
| Official name | Neptune Building |
| Designated | March 11, 2014 |
The Neptune Theatre is a cool place in the University District neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It used to be called the U-Neptune Theatre. This theatre opened way back in 1921.
It can hold up to 1,000 people. The Neptune Theatre hosts many different events. You can see dance shows, music concerts, and even movies here. They also have arts education programs. Before 2011, it mostly showed old movies. In 2014, the theatre and its building became a special Seattle landmark.
The Seattle Theatre Group runs the Neptune Theatre. This group is a non-profit, which means they don't try to make money for themselves. They also run the Paramount Theatre and the Moore Theatre in Seattle. The Neptune Theatre is one of the places that hosts the yearly Seattle International Film Festival.
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Building Design and Look
The Neptune Building is where the Neptune Theatre is located. It also has a few small shops. The building looks a bit like the Renaissance style. It has three stories and is made of brick.
On the north side, facing NE 45th Street, there's a big sign called a marquee. It lights up with the word "Neptune" in neon lighting. The last letter "e" on the sign looks like a trident. A trident is a three-pronged spear, like the one the Roman god Neptune carries. It looks like it's piercing the other letters.
Henderson Ryan designed the building. He was an architect from Kentucky. He also worked on the Moore Theatre and the Ballard Carnegie Library. Inside the Neptune Theatre, everything has a nautical theme. This means it looks like it's related to ships or the ocean. There's a snack stand shaped like a boat. You can also see shiny marble and statues of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea.
Theatre History
The "U-Neptune Theatre" first opened on November 16, 1921. The Puritan Theatre Company started it. The first movie shown was a silent film called Serenade. The theatre could seat 1,000 people. It originally had a special theatre organ made by Kimball. This organ was taken out in 1943.
By the late 1940s, the theatre changed its name to the Neptune. It also got a small update and new owners. Over the next few decades, the theatre had different managers. Sometimes, the movies weren't booked well, and the equipment wasn't great. In the 1970s, the theatre stayed open thanks to showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This movie was very popular with dedicated fans.
In 1981, the Landmark Theatres company took over the Neptune. They also owned another theatre in Seattle. Landmark updated the Neptune with a new sound and projection system. They wanted to make the theatre even better. In 1994, Landmark updated it again. They replaced the seats and added new sound systems. They also added a projector for 16 mm film.
The Rocky Horror Showings
In 1991, the Neptune Theatre made a record. It showed The Rocky Horror Picture Show every week for 14 years! This was longer than any other movie had played in Seattle. By 1993, it was one of the theatres in the U.S. that had shown the movie the longest. Many theatres played it late at night, which was called a midnight movie.
Modern Updates
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In 2010, the Seattle Theatre Group took over the lease from Landmark. This non-profit group also runs the Moore Theatre and Paramount Theatre.
The Neptune Theatre closed for a big update in January 2011. The renovation cost $700,000. It reopened on September 25, 2011. After this, it became a place for live music and performances, not just movies.
The 2011 renovation also saved the building from being torn down. A new Link light rail station, the U District station, was being built nearby. Sound Transit had to change their plans for the station to avoid the theatre. They also had to strengthen the Neptune's foundation.
After the theatre's 2011 renovation, the first performer was Mark Lanegan in June. The official reopening in September was celebrated with a showing of Rocky Horror.
In 2012, people suggested that the building should become a city landmark. The Seattle City Council agreed in 2014. They passed a law that made the Neptune Building a city landmark. This helps protect the property.
More to Explore
- Clinton Street Theater, a theatre in Portland, Oregon, also known for showing The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show dedicated fans
