Cordova Theatre

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.

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

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.

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

1984 Photo

1984 Photo

1985 Photo

A Robert-Morton theater organ size 2/6 was installed in the Cordova Theater in 1928.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004

Cordova Theater (added 2004 – Building – #04000200)
135 N. Grand Ave., Pullman
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Whitehouse & Price, Berg, Carl R.
Architectural Style: Mission/Spanish Revival
Area of Significance: Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949, 1950-1974
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

photo of The Cordova Theatre.
View link courtesy seth

The upper part of the facade is still original, with some nice terra-cotta detailing, and a red tile roof. The rest is swallowed behind an enormous (compared to the modest size of the building) ‘50s marquee.