King Cat Theater
2130 6th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
2130 6th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
4 people
favorited this theater
The King Cinema opened in 1974. It was operated by General Cinemas and Walter Reade Theatres.
The King Cinema closed in the late-1980’s and the theater became the King Kat Theater which hosts concerts, live performances, special events and occasional film programs.
It was demolished in early-April 2013.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 26 comments)
Thanks!!! I should have looked closer ;–)
Interesting Name.
I agree with the comment on the name. This was built as “The King” and it should be called by that name. King Cat is rather wierd.
Although there some occasional exceptions, the general practice here on CT is that a theater’s entry name is that which it has currently or that which it had when last used as a theater of any kind, even if it is/was no longer used to show movies.
A picture when this was the King in 1973, according to the caption: View link
What a nice photo (#39)! You know, I’m amazed at how well the exterior of the building has held up over the years. Even today it looks quite sharp over all.
This opened by Walter Reade from New Jersey on October 30th, 1973. It became part of General Cinemas in 1977. Grand opening ad posted here.
This theatre was a great place to see movies and with Seattle being a film festival city I still think this would again be a great venue for film. Even if only during SIFF. And having other uses the rest of the year.
Amazon is getting ready to buy 3 blocks (yes, blocks) in Downtown Seattle to build office towers. The King is on one of those blocks.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017518305_clise16.html
I only hope that Seattle movie theater fans mount some campaign to compel Amazon to include the theater in their plans. The King Cat (previously the King) is a good example of the last generation of single screen theaters. I only saw one film there but it was impressive.
Sadly, the King was demolished over the weekend of April 6/7 2013. worked there as a Union projectionist from 1981 until about 2008. I started there with General Cinema and remained working for several different operators after GCC pulled out in 1992. For the first few months post-GCC, it was a discount house and then turned into an all ages concert venue that ran films on rare occasions. Norelco AAII 35/70mm projectors in the booth were great but a minimal sound system and flat (but large) screen behind a massive curved curtain were drawbacks. I also worked at the demolished UA 70/150 across the street and still do work (when they run 70mm) at the Cinerama, two blocks away.