Cordova Theatre

135 N. Grand Avenue,
Pullman, WA 99163

Unfavorite 1 person favorited this theater

Cordova Theatre

Viewing: Photo | Street View

The Spanish Colonial style Cordova Theatre opened in 1928 at a cost of $100,000. Interior decorations were by artist Carl R. Berg. Through the years it had many different owners and operators and had been closed for a few years before being opened again in 2000 by Best Theatres who did a thorough redecoration and a reupholstering of its 500 seats along with the addition of a digital sound system.

It has a modern marquee and facade but the interior, including its box office, is close to its original appearance. Best Theatres also operate the local Audian and Village Centre Theatres. It seems the Cordova Theatre has closed for movies in 2011.

Contributed by Ron Pierce

Recent comments (view all 18 comments)

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on March 1, 2010 at 11:53 pm

Some photos of the theatre and info on the organ from PSTOS.
View link

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 11, 2010 at 4:53 am

Carl R. Berg, currently listed as the architect of the Cordova Theatre, was a Seattle artist and decorator who worked with the National Theatre Supply Company. He designed the decorations for the Cordova.

The Cordova Theatre was actually designed by the Spokane architectural firm Whitehouse & Price, who also designed the Wilma Theater in Wallace, Idaho. The firm also worked with Seattle architect Robert Reamer on the Fox Theatre in Spokane.

A PDF file (4.9MB) of the NRHP registration form for the Cordova Theatre includes a fairly detailed history and description of the theater, along with floor plans and several photos, including depictions of the original entrance and facade, prior to the 1950 remodeling.

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on May 8, 2011 at 10:29 am

This theatre is no longer listed on the website. Should the header be changed to Closed? It is just used for church services.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 9, 2011 at 4:48 pm

Noticed the one sheet covering up the 8 by 10 still frames.Love to have them!Great picture.

boblynn55
boblynn55 on December 26, 2011 at 10:20 pm

Carl R. Berg was my great grandfather. He was also the interior designer artistic director on the 5th Ave Theatre, the Davenport Hotel, The blue Mouse, Seattle Fredericks and Nelsens, I.Magin and many other establishments. My mother has a mirror that was the proto-type for the mirrors made in the Elizabethian Rooms at the Davenport. Grandpa Berg was a great historian and used historical information to design his interiors, Peking Throne Room was used for many aspects of the 5th Ave. My siblings and I used to sit on next to his wheelchair as he illustrated stories he would tell us about the early days in Colorado Springs. He lived there between the late 1880s to around 1908. He painted sets for the theatre there and personally knew characters like bat masterson and so on. He died at 98, still painting and teaching painting to other nursing home residents despite being blind. He was amazing.

ccrowley
ccrowley on December 31, 2011 at 1:52 pm

I own a painting by the late Carl R. Berg that I purchased at auction in Seattle. It is lovely, of a vase of delphiniums. It appears that it was painted as a gift to Mr and Mrs Tom Shearer. It is wonderful to have this information about him.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater