New Ritz Theater

This was the Ritz in 1980.

From Boxoffice Magazine, September 18, 1937: “Roy Irvine has opened his new theatre in Ritzville, Wash. The house seats 450 and was designed by Bjarne Moe.”

Bjarne Moe was the architect of the Roxy Theatre, Bremerton; the Crest Theatre in Seattle; the Lake City Theatre, Seattle; the Bungalo Theatre, St. Maries, Idaho; and the Liberty Theatre, Ellensburg. There are probably quite a few others, but I haven’t unearthed them yet. In addition, he was the architect for many theatre remodeling jobs.

A 1944 issue of Boxoffice featured a photo of many employees of the Seattle office of the B.F. Shearer Co., a theater supply and design house. Bjarne Moe was among them.

Actually, I think I saw them at the OLD Ritz, since it’s the 70s we’re talking about here, but the idea is still the same…

This is the Ritz Theater in 1999.

I worked there several years in the late 90s early 00’s as projectionist. There are 375 seats, as some rows in the front were taken out for parts for the seats. I have a photo of opening night, Sept 7, 1937. Much of the theater is original inside, even the wiring and heating system. The air washer cooling system doesn’t work, as water was left standing in it, and rusted the floor out of it, and ran down the screen. The projectors are from 1952, when the building was paid off, and the owner could purchase new machinery that came from the Old Ritz Theater that was 2 blocks away (building was torn down in late 70’s). The player piano that was used in silent days from the theater still works and was donated to the Benge Community Church when it was built in 1952 by the owner.

Photo of the Ritz Theatre.
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