“The Bagdad Theatre at 2218 Market Street opened May 28, 1927 and remained in business until 1949. The building was designed by local architect Frederick J. Peters and is known as the Eagles Building. The theatre showed movies, had 1000 seats, and a Persian decor.”
Black and white, fairly close oblique angle photographic image of stores on one side of Main Street, a dirt road, Monroe, Snohomish County, WA, ca. 1910. Signs on an awning over a store front near image left edge: Palace of Sheets; Ice Cream; Graham Wolfe. Partially visible sign above the awning: Red Wing. Two women are standing in front of the store. Visible business signs on adjacent buildings from left to right: Monroe Theatre; Savoy Hotel; Real Estate; Job Printing. Sign over the street at image right edge: Baseball. Sun 2:30. Cancelled stamp and personal message addressed to Mr. A. Johansen on reverse.
Eatonville Wa. 1942
Photographic image of commercial buildings on one side of an Eatonville, Pierce County, WA street, 1942. Two story building in image center is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall. The U.S. Post Office is on the first floor of the building. Sign in the post office street window: Register Now (Selective Service). The Roxy Theatre is in a building near image right edge. A bicycle is leaning against the street curb in front of the post office.
Gig Harbor’s First Theatre
In late 1924-25 Austin and Harriett Richardson and Andrew Gilich built the first theatre building seating 450 people in downtown Gig Harbor.
The first order of business was in February 1925 when the manager, Mr. OM Jacobson of The Movie Show inaugurated a contest to name the new theatre. The winner would win $10 and the second and third winners would each receive a 30-day pass.
Previously plays, movies and vaudeville acts were performed at the Community Hall. A couple of those early acts according to news accounts were “The Chorus Lady” starring Pat O’Brien and Margaret Livingston; “The Beloved Brute” starring Marguerite de la Motte, Victor McLaglin and others.
The winning name was Empress Theatre and it opened the doors to a packed house on April 12, 1925. Bebe Daniels starred in the vaudeville act “Miss Bluebeard” with the Alvord Kiddies as the feature act performing dancing, singing, acrobatics and telling jokes. For the movie, it was the usual Mack Sennett comedy, followed by Pathe Review with Mrs. Higgins of Gig Harbor, Miss Hazel Hoydon of Tacoma and Mr. J. S. Bogan singing. Admission was 35 cents for adults and 15 cents for children.
On November 8, 1929, O. M. Jacobson who owned and managed the theatre for the past five years sold his interests to R. P. Burfield, an experienced showman. The theatre was closed while it installed the updated Holmes Sound Equipment and underwent interior decoration improvements at a cost of $10,000. The grand opening was scheduled for November 15, 1929, showing talkies for the first time in Gig Harbor. It was leased to D. C. Milward and Marvin Dymess of Seattle. G. Donald Gray, baritone with KOMO and Sidney Dixon of KJR, both appeared at the grand opening. The new management ran shows on Saturday and Sunday with matinees on both days; prices remained at 35 cents for adults and 15 cent for children with the matinee price at 25 cent for adults and 10 cents children.
In May the front of the theatre building was treated to new decoration which, according to The Peninsula Gateway, vastly improved the building. On May 30, 1930, Mr. Burfield, manager of the Empress Theatre decided to change the name of the playhouse and has given the high school students the opportunity to choose the new name. Mr. Burfield and Mr. Richardson, building owner, would pick the best suited name on June 1, 1930. The name they chose was Peninsula Theatre. For some strange reason the name suddenly appeared as Peninsulan Theatre with no explanation on November 7, 1930. But by December 19, 1930 they were back to using Peninsula Theatre again. By the end of 1930 the theatre started experiencing strong competition from the New Community theatre in Port Orchard.
With the effects brought on by the Depression and other international events including the conflict in Europe, the theatre suffered. It was renamed The Blue Eagle Theatre and was named for Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s National Recovery Act. They planned on opening for programs Friday and Sunday with the first show August 4, 1933 being “King Kong.“ Due to the economic condition, it did not succeed and was closed for at least a year.
On February 14, 1936 the theatre was sold to M. H. Thompson and F. M. Higgins. However, by June 1936 Mr. Higgins gifted his share to the Thompson family and was no longer involved. The Thompsons renamed the theatre The Roxy. Rex Thompson, son of M. H. Thompson, reopened the Roxy with A. E. Merry as manager. Movies again had become big time entertainment and the Roxy ran three movies every night. Westerns were very popular in Gig Harbor at the time.
The Merrys continued to run the theatre until 1955 when Mr. Merry locked the door for the very last time and the building stood empty for a long time.
As time passed, the final occupants were a large colony of working bees that produced a bonus of honey when the building was torn down.
History courtesy Catherine Adelle:
“Address was 701 1st Avenue, Pioneer square.
It is now a parking garage.
My Great Uncle John Q. Clemmer started The Dream Theatre, it was on the first floor of the Kenneth Hotel which was named after my grandfather Kenneth Myers. According to my uncle there was a Speakeasy in the basement and a brothel on the 7th floor.”
Address was 405-407 S. Lincoln Avenue.
Confirmed demolished via Tamarack Public Library.
Flickr image as Liberty Theatre below.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/149161843@N08/47586768002/?fbclid=IwAR3ZEFpm5nhuZud0zMe807LgH1L8b6swgDt_aE0KDooQ_nF-F_yJhYiptqs
2019 article about the restoration effort.
https://texashillcountry.com/mission-theatre-menard-restoration/
1967 photo as Gem-Art Theatre added.
2015 article with photos.
https://hiddencityphila.org/2015/03/then-now-20th-and-market/
World Premiere of “Giant” was October 10, 1956 at the Roxy Theatre. One image added, and premiere ticket images below.
https://natedsanders.com/scarce-ticket-to-‘'giant’‘-premiere——james-dean’s-last-film——with-liz-taylor,-rock-hudson-lot7254.aspx
Reopening with original signage Friday July 24, 2020 at 6465 River Rd. Article and new website below.
https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/coronavirus/bozemans-iconic-starlite-drive-in-theatre-makes-its-return/article_5250e390-243c-5a7a-bae0-2564b86cf345.html?fbclid=IwAR2ew5-IDoOmSS4SUGoJuLW69hBf2dm6m-zNo6q53blN13p91xZyS9PbFww
https://www.starlitedriveinmontana.com/
Additional history credit The Evergreen Run-Down"
“The Bagdad Theatre at 2218 Market Street opened May 28, 1927 and remained in business until 1949. The building was designed by local architect Frederick J. Peters and is known as the Eagles Building. The theatre showed movies, had 1000 seats, and a Persian decor.”
1946 photo credit Webster & Stevens.
February 1923 photo added.
Monroe ca. 1910
Black and white, fairly close oblique angle photographic image of stores on one side of Main Street, a dirt road, Monroe, Snohomish County, WA, ca. 1910. Signs on an awning over a store front near image left edge: Palace of Sheets; Ice Cream; Graham Wolfe. Partially visible sign above the awning: Red Wing. Two women are standing in front of the store. Visible business signs on adjacent buildings from left to right: Monroe Theatre; Savoy Hotel; Real Estate; Job Printing. Sign over the street at image right edge: Baseball. Sun 2:30. Cancelled stamp and personal message addressed to Mr. A. Johansen on reverse.
I posted a 1910 photo of the first Monroe Theatre. Until I can do more research and set up a page for it.
Eatonville Wa. 1942 Photographic image of commercial buildings on one side of an Eatonville, Pierce County, WA street, 1942. Two story building in image center is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall. The U.S. Post Office is on the first floor of the building. Sign in the post office street window: Register Now (Selective Service). The Roxy Theatre is in a building near image right edge. A bicycle is leaning against the street curb in front of the post office.
1937 postcard by Ellis.
Below history copied & pasted, originally posted by Harbor History Museum. © 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved. References to images in link removed. (Link would not post here due to CT reading it as spam)
Gig Harbor’s First Theatre In late 1924-25 Austin and Harriett Richardson and Andrew Gilich built the first theatre building seating 450 people in downtown Gig Harbor.
The first order of business was in February 1925 when the manager, Mr. OM Jacobson of The Movie Show inaugurated a contest to name the new theatre. The winner would win $10 and the second and third winners would each receive a 30-day pass.
Previously plays, movies and vaudeville acts were performed at the Community Hall. A couple of those early acts according to news accounts were “The Chorus Lady” starring Pat O’Brien and Margaret Livingston; “The Beloved Brute” starring Marguerite de la Motte, Victor McLaglin and others.
The winning name was Empress Theatre and it opened the doors to a packed house on April 12, 1925. Bebe Daniels starred in the vaudeville act “Miss Bluebeard” with the Alvord Kiddies as the feature act performing dancing, singing, acrobatics and telling jokes. For the movie, it was the usual Mack Sennett comedy, followed by Pathe Review with Mrs. Higgins of Gig Harbor, Miss Hazel Hoydon of Tacoma and Mr. J. S. Bogan singing. Admission was 35 cents for adults and 15 cents for children.
On November 8, 1929, O. M. Jacobson who owned and managed the theatre for the past five years sold his interests to R. P. Burfield, an experienced showman. The theatre was closed while it installed the updated Holmes Sound Equipment and underwent interior decoration improvements at a cost of $10,000. The grand opening was scheduled for November 15, 1929, showing talkies for the first time in Gig Harbor. It was leased to D. C. Milward and Marvin Dymess of Seattle. G. Donald Gray, baritone with KOMO and Sidney Dixon of KJR, both appeared at the grand opening. The new management ran shows on Saturday and Sunday with matinees on both days; prices remained at 35 cents for adults and 15 cent for children with the matinee price at 25 cent for adults and 10 cents children.
In May the front of the theatre building was treated to new decoration which, according to The Peninsula Gateway, vastly improved the building. On May 30, 1930, Mr. Burfield, manager of the Empress Theatre decided to change the name of the playhouse and has given the high school students the opportunity to choose the new name. Mr. Burfield and Mr. Richardson, building owner, would pick the best suited name on June 1, 1930. The name they chose was Peninsula Theatre. For some strange reason the name suddenly appeared as Peninsulan Theatre with no explanation on November 7, 1930. But by December 19, 1930 they were back to using Peninsula Theatre again. By the end of 1930 the theatre started experiencing strong competition from the New Community theatre in Port Orchard.
With the effects brought on by the Depression and other international events including the conflict in Europe, the theatre suffered. It was renamed The Blue Eagle Theatre and was named for Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s National Recovery Act. They planned on opening for programs Friday and Sunday with the first show August 4, 1933 being “King Kong.“ Due to the economic condition, it did not succeed and was closed for at least a year.
On February 14, 1936 the theatre was sold to M. H. Thompson and F. M. Higgins. However, by June 1936 Mr. Higgins gifted his share to the Thompson family and was no longer involved. The Thompsons renamed the theatre The Roxy. Rex Thompson, son of M. H. Thompson, reopened the Roxy with A. E. Merry as manager. Movies again had become big time entertainment and the Roxy ran three movies every night. Westerns were very popular in Gig Harbor at the time.
The Merrys continued to run the theatre until 1955 when Mr. Merry locked the door for the very last time and the building stood empty for a long time.
As time passed, the final occupants were a large colony of working bees that produced a bonus of honey when the building was torn down.
© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.
Posted by Harbor History Museum
December 1949 photo credit Frank Shaw.
As Broadway Theatre.
1959 night photo added courtesy Ken Widmeyer.
History courtesy Catherine Adelle: “Address was 701 1st Avenue, Pioneer square. It is now a parking garage. My Great Uncle John Q. Clemmer started The Dream Theatre, it was on the first floor of the Kenneth Hotel which was named after my grandfather Kenneth Myers. According to my uncle there was a Speakeasy in the basement and a brothel on the 7th floor.”
Website with renovation plans, but undated.
https://thedesmoinestheater.org/index.php/renovation-plans/
Demolition photos added credit New Hanover County Public Library.
Circa 1914 photo credit Chicago History Museum. David Higgins in “His Last Dollar” on the marquee. Released October 29, 1914.
2018 link with images.
http://blogs.dailybreeze.com/history/2018/12/29/the-paradise-theatre-becomes-westchesters-second-theater-on-sepulveda/
Links to the Getty Images photos of the Beverly Theatre.
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/exterior-view-of-the-beverly-theater-located-at-95th-and-news-photo/99252539?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/exterior-view-of-the-beverly-theater-showing-the-ticket-news-photo/99252692?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/interior-view-of-the-beverly-theater-showing-seating-in-the-news-photo/99254722?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/interior-view-of-the-beverly-theater-showing-seating-in-the-news-photo/101596485?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643
1953 photo, Bryant Theatre marquee in the background. Scroll down.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7027827/Newly-discovered-color-images-offer-rare-glimpse-1950s-America-boom-years.html
Reopened in 2020. Website and Facebook page below.
https://www.westwinddi.com/locations/santa-barbara-di
https://www.facebook.com/SantaBarbaraDI/?tn=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARAF1EyhEjsA87CKBiaQZQF1vt9Xah4TpBgrqq1IMrWEsMKWhIoyT09bEItUiuR2OElFT-1qvKCKpv-D