Admiral Theater

Theater is located at 2347 California Avenue S.W. in West Seattle.

Oasis Entertainment took over operation of the theater in late 1999 from A Theatre Near You, Inc. and upgraded the sound to DTS digital. The snack bar was also upgraded and computerized ticketing system installed. In the 1940's the exterior of the theater sported a real ship's mast complete with Crow's Nest!

The whole theater is built around a nautical theme and has etched glass (with Seahorses) hanging in the lobby. There is a huge mural behind the snack bar depicting sailing vessels.

This theatre opened as the Portola theatre in 1919. It was expanded in around 1942.

Nedd to correct the address on the Admiral Theatre, in my data I also have the address as 2347 California Avenue S.W.

This is the first movie theatre I ever attended. I saw a double Disney bill of "Bedknobs & Broomsticks" and "The Barefoot Executive" just before it was "twined" in 1973. I remember it well, with sea murals on the walls and big screen. The old murals are still there, just covered up by red and orange curtians. The auditoriums still look very much as they did in 1973. I attended TONS of movies there from 1975 - 1981 as a (mostly) first-run theatre. I remember when "Star Wars" played there in 1978. After seeing it at the UA Cinema 150 downtown a dozen or so times...what a change! But, the sold-out audience still loved it, mono sound and all! A 90's updating gave it stereo sound, and slightly bigger screens.

The Admiral has always been a cool 'no-frills' neighborhood theatre even as a second-run house. I hope it sticks around for a long time!

Here is a picture of the Admiral dated 1/22/42:
http://tinyurl.com/bno4y

Here is a page containing a photo of the Admiral Theatre on it's opening night, January 22, 1942. The caption of the photo reveals that the theatre was owned by John Danz's Sterling Theaters (later SRO), and that it opened with 1000 seats.

Oops. My bad. The link I posted goes to the same page ken mc linked to in the comment just above mine. Remind me to click previously posted links before adding a new one.

Not to worry, Joe.

Being the family historian, I was searching for data and memories on my Father's side and I came across your photos of the Old Admiral. I was so taken by the art work and just how ornate it was in it's hey day. Every Friday night back in 1959, double feature, admission 25cents, nickel candy, asleep by the 2nd movie. I'm just sorry to see from reading your site, that so many changes were made, but to be expected. Historic buildings are rare and hard to convince local power's at be, the value for the future. Thanks for the photos....

des anyone know when they turned this into a second run theatre?

does anyone know when they turned this into a second run theatre?

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989

Admiral Theater (added 1989 - Building - #89002098)
2343 California Ave. SW., Seattle
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Heinsbergen,A.B., Priteca,B. Marcus
Architectural Style: Moderne
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use

This is a photo of the Portola Theater circa 1930.

The Admiral was a first-run theater for a brief time after it was twinned. Then Sterling Theaters sold it with the stipulation that subsequent owners could never show first-run movies (and compete with SRO's South Seattle theaters). So it's been second-run ever since. It's strange that a neighborhood as big as West Seattle has no first-run theater. Regal Cinemas had plans at one time to build a multiplex at Westwood Village, but that never happened. An independent exhibitor attempted to lease an empty store there for conversion to a cinema, but the mall management didn't want a theater there.

The Admiral was a first-run theater for a brief time after it was twinned. Then Sterling Theaters sold it with the stipulation that subsequent owners could never show first-run movies (and compete with SRO's South Seattle theaters). So it's been second-run ever since. It's strange that a neighborhood as big as West Seattle has no first-run theater. Regal Cinemas had plans at one time to build a multiplex at Westwood Village, but that never happened. An independent exhibitor attempted to lease an empty store there for conversion to a cinema, but the mall management didn't want a theater there.

The larger auditorium has been equipped with DTS sound, but, at least initially, the smaller house remained mono, and may still be. The Admiral has raised ticket prices a couple of times over the past two years, $4.50 at present, charging quite a bit more than Seattle's only other discount theater, the Crest, which has stayed at $3. The Crest is a more comfortable theater, with two of its four houses stadiumized.

The larger auditorium has been equipped with DTS sound, but, at least initially, the smaller house remained mono, and may still be. The Admiral has raised ticket prices a couple of times over the past two years, $4.50 at present, charging quite a bit more than Seattle's only other discount theater, the Crest, which has stayed at $3. The Crest is a more comfortable theater, with two of its four houses stadiumized.

"The larger auditorium"? They are both the same size. When they "twinned" the theatre in 1973, they build a wall straight down the middle, and dropped the ceiling.

The left hand house has the DTS sound system (I installed it). The right hand house is Dolby type A stereo running thru a Dolby CP-55 processor.

The left auditorium has always seemed wider to me. Optical illusion, I guess. And thanks for the info re the sound in both houses. I believe at first there was stereo (DTS) in just the left house.

This photo is the same as LM's on 1/26/07, but apparently it has been colorized. As with the films, not much value to that (in my opinion):
http://tinyurl.com/37bkpy

Apparently you can't just copy the original page, as the photos seem to jump around. Here is the Portola again:
http://tinyurl.com/3ygpnv

It appears to be a slideshow. This is an interior view of the Admiral from that album. Lets see if it moves around.

This is the January 22, 1942 photo linked to twice in above comments. Maybe the third time will be the charm.

This is the Admiral Theater website. This one is spelled theater with an "er". The address is 2343 California Avenue SW.

Here is a super nice August 2008 photo.

Does anyone know the seating capacity for each auditorium?

I used to service this theater. Roughly 200 to 225 each house.

Here are more photos that should look familiar to Ken Layton.

A close-up view is here.

My friend, Dave Fazende, who was operating this theater has passed away suddenly. That is the reason it is now operated by Faraway Entertainment.

I used to attend the Saturday double features at the Admiral in the 1950s. I have so many fond memories of the Admiral. Because it was such a huge part of my childhood I want to create a scrapbook page about the Admiral for my heritage scrapbook. Does anyone have any photos they are willing to share with me of the auditorium ceiling before the twining? I remember the beautiful light with the compass theme and the signs of the zodiac. I pray they just covered that up with a dropped ceiling and didn't remove it. What about the mural paintings on the auditorium walls before they hung the gastly curtins over them? Any asistance anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Interesting. They added it to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, even though the original architecture was covered up in the 1940's. Ironically that designation probably saved the structure.

This message is for A Alexander...I could have written the same article!!!!!! Loved to hear that someone remembered that beautiful light in the auditorium with the signs of the zodiac.Sorry to say, I have no photos. I still live in the area & go there from time to time....alot of the theater is still the same. Yes, those were some great times...I went to the admiral almost every saturday for the double feature & would come out of there blinded by the light!! I hope you will find someone who has some photos...keep me posted.

Also for A. Alexander...There is a nice interior photo on display at the Seattle Architecture Society under the Rainier Bank Plaza downtown, 3rd level. It's a photo of the auditorium before it was twinned, probably just as you remembered it. A part of the ceiling and full mural on the wall are visable. It may be what you are looking for (if they can provide you a reprint of it)!

1982 Photo

Great 1982 photo! Note the parking sign with arrows. Back when there was PLENTY of FREE parking across the street, instead of condos and retail now.

Here is a 2007 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/loul4u