Nifty Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nifty Theatre
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Theatre in 2011
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 201 Locust, Waterville, Washington |
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| Built | 1919 |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| MPS | Movie Theaters in Washington State MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000402 |
| Added to NRHP | July 27, 1999 |
The Nifty Theatre in Waterville, Washington is a cool old movie theater. It was built in 1919 and has a special look called Mission Style. This theater can seat almost 300 people. It stopped showing movies in 1959. For many years, it was just used for storage. But in 1997, new owners brought it back to life for the community to enjoy!
A Look Back: The Nifty Theatre's Story
How the Nifty Theatre Began
The Nifty Theatre was built in 1918 by a man named W.P. Brown. It first opened its doors in 1919. Mr. Brown and his wife even lived in the basement of the theater! They ran the Nifty Theatre until 1959.
Mr. Brown was a smart person. He went to Washington State University. He was also a military veteran who was injured while serving. He used the money from the theater to buy a lot of land, about 1,200 acres (486 hectares). He also had a stable of racehorses!
What Kinds of Shows Did the Nifty Theatre Have?
The Nifty Theatre wasn't just for movies. It also showed vaudeville acts. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with different short performances, like comedy, music, and dance. The theater was also a place for community events and local shows.
Why Did the Theatre Close?
In 1959, Mr. Brown closed the theater. This was because television was becoming very popular. More and more people were watching TV at home instead of going to the movies. Mr. Brown passed away the next year.
His wife sold the theater to Claude Case for just $1.00! She kept the right to live in the apartment in the basement. She lived there until she passed away in 1970. Claude Case owned the building until 1997. He used it to store his collections and things for his construction business. He didn't change the building at all during that time.
The Nifty Theatre Today
In 1997, Jim and Jenna Dixon bought the theater. They worked hard to bring it back to life. Now, they run the Nifty Theatre as a community theater. It's a place where people can gather and enjoy shows once again!
Exploring the Nifty Theatre's Design
What Does the Nifty Theatre Look Like?
The Nifty Theatre was built to be both a nickelodeon (an early type of movie theater) and a vaudeville theater. Even though grand "palace-style" movie theaters were becoming popular in 1919, the Nifty was a simpler theater for a small town like Waterville.
The theater has a flat floor in some parts. This meant it could also be used for dances or even boxing matches! The building stands one block away from the historic downtown area.
The Outside of the Theatre
The front of the theater is covered in stucco. It has special columns called pilasters at the corners. The top of the front wall has a curved shape. The sides and back of the building are made of wood siding. A roof-like structure called a marquee hangs over the entrance. Steps lead up to the main door.
Inside the Nifty Theatre
When you go inside, more stairs lead to the ticket window. Beyond that is the lobby. Three doors lead from the lobby into the main auditorium. Above these doors, a glass panel lights up and says, "Tonight Nifty Theater 3 reels - Change of Program."
The auditorium is about 65 feet (20 meters) long and 30 feet (9 meters) wide. The floor is flat for the first 15 feet (5 meters) and then slopes down. There's another flat area in front of the stage.
Special Features for Families
At the back of the auditorium, there are windows for a "crying room." This was a special room where parents could take noisy children. They could still watch the movie through the windows without disturbing others. There are also openings for the movie projectors.
On one side of the auditorium is an office area. On the other side is a women's restroom, next to the stairs that go up to the crying room. The theater has 158 flip-up wooden seats. Exit doors on both sides of the auditorium lead outside.
The Stage Area
The stage is about 3 feet (1 meter) higher than the floor. It has wide areas on each side, about 6 feet (2 meters) wide. The stage itself is about 17 feet (5 meters) deep and 30 feet (9 meters) wide. A low wall separates the stage from the audience, where an orchestra pit would be.
Doors at the back of the stage lead to dressing rooms for performers. The front edge of the stage has footlights, which are lights on the floor that shine up. The original painted backdrop on the stage can still be used!
The Lower Level
Underneath the auditorium, there's a lower level. You can enter it from either side of the building. This level used to have an apartment for the owners. It had a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms, and a utility room. The rest of the space is a crawl space, with some deeper areas for storage and electrical panels.
