Venetian Theatre
241 1st Avenue W,
Albany,
OR
97321
241 1st Avenue W,
Albany,
OR
97321
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Tri-State Theaters Inc. (OR)
Functions: Church
Previous Names: Bligh Theater, Globe Theater
Nearby Theaters
Early in 1913 theater tycoon T. G. Bligh and property owner Conrad Meyer Sr. announced plans to build a community theater. Contracts were awarded and construction began in late-spring. On July 26, Conrad Meyer Jr. (Meyer’s son) was named local manager. Meyer announced that “moving pictures will be shown only when other (live) attractions are not available.
In September 1913, the Bligh Theater opened with Eugene Walker’s “The Wolf” featuring local as well as company actors.
By 1922 the theater had been renamed the Globe Theater and continued showing vaudeville acts until the 1930’s when the theater became a movie house for motion pictures and Saturday matinees. On January 19, 1932 the theatre was named the Venetian Theatre, and screened George O'Brien in “Rainbow Trail”. In 1937, the building was “modernized” with a stucco finish over the brick exterior. It remained the Venetian Theatre through remodelings in the 1970’s and again in the 1980’s.
It was renovated in 1999 and returned to its roots as a performing arts center. It closed in the early-2000’s and became a church.
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
A few years ago it was bought by a church. It is now a church.
The Venetian was part of the Adamson theater chain in the early sixties. Adamson Theaters also ran the Rialto in Albany, as well as the Parkrose Theater and Canyon Drive-In in Portland and the Oregon State and Varsity in Corvallis.
The Globe Theatre is mentioned in the August 12, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World: “Albany.â€"B. A. Rolfe, of the Rolfe theater, and C. A. Myers of the Globe have formed a corporation to handle both theaters. The Rolfe will only run two days a week and the Globe every day.”
Status should be closed. Function is now church. (Fusion Faith Church)
Reopened as Venetian on January 19th, 1932.
Venetian theatre opening 1 Mon, Jan 18, 1932 – 4 · Albany Democrat-Herald (Albany, Oregon) · Newspapers.com
and
Venetian Theatre opening 2 Mon, Jan 18, 1932 – 5 · Albany Democrat-Herald (Albany, Oregon) · Newspapers.com