4th Avenue Theatre

Modern photo:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/47126585biEWlo

The 4th Avenue Theatre opened in May 1947.

This is another photo of the 4th Avenue Theater.

Here is another photo:
http://flickr.com/photos/jschumacher/27384829/

Associated Press article from April 3, 2006, on the theatre.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060403/ap_en_ot/threatened_theater_1

I saw the same thing on CNN. It would be a shame to let it go to pot.

I just hope there aren't many Mike Vogel's in Anchorage that feel the way he does about the 4th Avenue Theatre!

"I really don't feel my tax dollars should be involved in renovating something that belongs in the private sector," said Mike Vogel, an insurance agent. "To be perfectly honest, the fact that it's an architectural jewel doesn't really push my buttons." I clicked on the name, Mike Vogel in the AP article and don't believe they are the same person, but I may be wrong. Hope someone can clear this matter up!

I was a manager of the 4th avenue for the Wometco chain in the early eighties. It was a wild building to figure out. Art deco lighting hung from hand crank winches you had to crawl into the top level to lower and change the bulbs on, the main ceiling had tiny lights laid out in the shape of the big dipper, with a flashing one for the North Star. (see alaska state flag)

and the murals on either side of the screen.

the murals are hard to describe if not in front of them.

I've crawled around that building, it's nice.
The chain's owner had a penthouse on the roof.
The basement had his NBC tv station. Found old cardboard 55 gallon drums with civil defense labels poking around. The front outside sign is hollow to access the neon, can climb and exit at roof/penthouse level. The old candy storage room was behind a curved wood door that had curved bubbled glassed on the second story- could climb to second story from there (but there were exposed neon transformers)

splicer: Nice to read your description of this theatre in Alaska so I hope that it can be saved and not go the way of many others in the lower 48!

The link to the Associated Press article posted on April 3, 2006 doesn't seem to work. Here is that article:

Anchorage voters to decide theater's fate

By RACHEL D'ORO Associated Press Writer

Monday, April 03, 2006 8:29 a.m. ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- An opulent movie theater that has been an Anchorage icon for almost 60 years is facing what could be its final drama.

The 4th Avenue Theatre _ elegant yet strong enough to withstand North America's greatest earthquake unscathed _ is on the market and could fall victim to the wrecking ball.

Anchorage voters will decide Tuesday whether to let the city borrow up to $2 million to buy the theater and restore it, provided city officials can get another $2 million in matching funds.

Owner Robert Gottstein, 51, a lifelong Alaskan who grew up watching movies there, said the 40,000-square-foot theater's survival may depend on finding a buyer.

"It's a jewel that once gone, is gone," said Gottstein, who is asking $4 million for the theater. "Now here's this opportunity to prevent it from being destroyed."

If a recent poll proves true, most voters oppose footing even part of the bill.

I really don't feel my tax dollars should be involved in renovating something that belongs in the private sector," said Mike Vogel, an insurance agent. "To be perfectly honest, the fact that it's an architectural jewel doesn't really push my buttons."

But for preservation advocates, the downtown theater _ now rented out for weddings, fundraisers, catered banquets and special events _ is more than a pretty facade.

To them, it's a pioneer of glamour and genteel magnificence brought to a disheveled young town that began as a tent camp for railroad construction crews. It's a symbol of permanence in a city with a sizable number of newcomers.

A city task force is exploring the idea of turning it into a multi-use community venue. Options being considered include movies, plays, recitals, lectures, a small museum, even leasing the vacant office space on the third floor _ while retaining the original character of the building.

"There's so much history there," said task force member Les Sheppard. "It'd be really a shame to lose it."

Brass and glass doors mark the entrance to a lush interior featuring fluted walnut, Italian marble and trim in copper, gold and brass. There are gold- and silver-leaf murals of Alaska wildlife, industries and Mount McKinley. Outside, a vertical marquee glows in pink and green neon.

When the theater was completed in 1947, the finished product was an unprecedented achievement in Alaska, according to Anthony Veerkamp with the National Trust for Historical Preservation.

"I know it sounds like hyperbole, but I really think it's the single most architecturally distinctive building in the state," Veerkamp said. "I don't know of another building there that's as rich in detail."

The building might need some upgrades, such as a new roof and carpet. But Gottstein points out that the structure is sound, undamaged by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in 1964.

"If the theater is worth saving, it's worth buying," he said. "If it's not worth buying, it's not worth saving."

May the citizens of Anchorage AK do the right thing and restore their theatre...they won't regret it now or in the future!

May the citizens of Anchorage AK do the right thing and restore their theatre...they won't regret it now or in the future!

Scroll down for interior photos, 1947:
http://tinyurl.com/r2m5v

Exterior, 1949:
http://tinyurl.com/q3jcr

Exterior, 1961:
http://tinyurl.com/rcwzu

ken mc: The 1947 interior photo was spectacular!

In the 1961 photo I'm sure the Woolworth store is long gone though the name brings back many wonderful memories.

ken mc: Your flickr color photo posted on 2/4/06 was beautiful.

Credit the photographer, but it is an interesting building.

The interior decoration of the 4th Avenue was done by Heinsbergen.

If you look at the 1940s photo of the mezzanine, you will notice on the right a wall over the staircase which is covered in square metal-leafed bas relief panels, depicting wildlife. Some of these patterns were also cast and installed in another Heinsbergen-decorated theatre, the Garden (1949) in San Jose, CA. The wildlife panels were in a single row atop the wall which backed the concession counter.

The Garden Theatre remained very well preserved through its 1988 closing. In 1989, the Garden was gutted and turned into an office and retail building. The abovementioned relief panels were removed, along with many other decorative features, prior to the building's conversion. Many features now appear in a couple of other Bay Area theatres, but I have yet to see the wildlife relief panels displayed anywhere.

The Garden's exterior remains largely intact, in fact the vertical sign had its neon restored just this past summer.

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1982

Fourth Avenue Theatre (AHRS Site No. ANC-284) *** (added 1982 - Building - #82001620)
Also known as The Lathrop Building;Lathrop's Showhouse
630 W. 4th Ave., Anchorage
Historic Significance: Person, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Porreca, A.A., Priteca,B. Marcus
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Historic Person: Lathrop,Austin "Cap"
Significant Year: 1947, 1941
Area of Significance: Architecture, Communications, Art, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Professional, Theater

Here is a b/w photo of the 4th Avenue Theater.

Sunset in Alaska:
http://tinyurl.com/2lc9l7

Wonderful Alaskan sunset photo with the lighted 4th Avenue marquee.

So, how did the vote go? Will it be saved? Alaska has an enviable wealth of natural beauty. It would be an incerdible shame to see them lose one of the few man made wonders. I was in Alaska for a week last year and the capitol building in Juneau was rather hideous. Other than some buildings form the gold rush era there isn't much "modern" architecture in Alaska worth saving. This theater appears to be one of the special ones.

This is a 2007 close-up view of the 4th Avenue Theater.

Here is a more recent view of the 4th Avenue Theater.

A 2008 photo can be seen here.

A 2008 view of the 4th Avenue Theater in Anchorage here and here. Enlarged views here and here.

Here are some photos from the Library of Congress. Click on the "camera" near the top of the page to see a color photo.

Maybe Palin can get an earmark to save this theater!

I don't know Luis. Sarah Palin has a reputation for being "anti-pork". With a bad economy, some people might consider saving this theater with taxpayers money as being "pork".

While congress (not Palin)killed that bridge to nowhere, Palin had no problem taking all of the money and applying it elsewhere. Total hypocrisy, but this is cinema treasures so I won't go any further with that.

As I've mentioned above, Alaska, while having some of the world's most spectacular natural beauty, seems to have a great dearth of architecturally significant buildings. They should do everything they can to preserve what little they have and this theater should be saved.

Here is a painting of the 4th Avenue. The view is supposed to be of the opening in 1947.
http://tinyurl.com/7uv2vr

Nice painting.

This is a 2008 photo.

1984 Photo

1992 Photo

Here is a 1985 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/leenqk

Here is an undated interior photo:
http://tinyurl.com/lq3yob

Those are both nice photos.

What a neat-looking theatre...both inside and out. Too bad it closed.

This article from June 15th 2009 doesn't bode well for the theatre. It may well be lost or significantly altered. The owner has not cooperated in efforts to save and restore the theatre.

http://info.aia.org/nwsltr_hrc.cfm?pagename=hrc_a_200903_fourth