Varsity Theater

4329 University Way NE,
Seattle, WA 98105

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 21, 2011 at 2:42 am

I should have said that the conversion of the building to a theater in 1940 was designed by Bjarne Moe. The expansion of the building took place much later, when the two additional screens were added.

The Varsity got an updating in the mid-1950s, which was handled by the B. F. Shearer Company. Boxoffice of October 22, 1955, featured a two-page article about the project, starting here.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 21, 2011 at 2:33 am

The Meister Building was built in 1921, according to this historical site summary from the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods. The original architect of the building was William White. The expansion and conversion of the building into the Varsity Theatre took place in 1940, and was designed by theater architect Bjarne Moe.

lostmemory
lostmemory on April 21, 2009 at 7:18 pm

Here are two 1982 photos:

Photo1

Photo2

lostmemory
lostmemory on May 3, 2008 at 1:38 pm

Here is another photo.

lostmemory
lostmemory on October 10, 2006 at 6:05 am

This is another recent photo of the Varsity Theater.

KenRoe
KenRoe on May 16, 2005 at 4:00 am

Listed in Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 edition, as having a seating capacity of 471 when it was a single screen.

kateymac01
kateymac01 on May 16, 2005 at 12:32 am

A little history from the Varsity’s Web site:

The Varsity has been operating as a movie theatre since 1940. Since there was no room to build outward, the theatre was expanded vertically with the addition of two upstairs screens in 1985. These smaller auditoriums feature high-back ultra-cushy seats with large wall-to-wall screens.

lostmemory
lostmemory on February 3, 2005 at 11:59 am

If you check the website that TC posted, you will see that this theater has 3 screens.