Baker Theatre

Joe Vogel on December 31, 2017 at 4:55 pm

The “Picture Theatres” section of Gus Hill’s National Theatrical Directory for 1914-1915 lists two movie houses in Baker City: The 600-seat Orpheum, a fifteen-cent house, and the 350-seat Grand, a ten-cent house. Both theater were managed by A. B. Hager. The guide also lists a 951-seat Baker Theatre, presenting music and drama, which was probably the Baker Opera House.

Oddly, the 1914-1915 edition of The American Motion Piture Directoy lists only the Grand at Baker City.

The September 17, 1917, issue of Motion Picture News had this item about the theaters in Baker City:

“THE Orpheum, Grand and Empire theatres at Baker City. Ore., have all been completely remodeled under the direction of J. P. Cotter, owner and manager. New equipment throughout has been installed, with a new pipe organ in the Orpheum. Contracts for the entire Artcraft. Paramount and Fox output have been made. The three houses have a combined seating capacity of 1,275, in a population of 8,000.”

The October 2, 1943, issue of Showmens Trade Review filed this brief report on a fire at the Orpheum:

“A spectacular fire at Orpheum Theatre block in Baker, Ore., caused a loss of $75,000. The cause was undetermined. Frank Buckmiller, owner, was insured.”

Myrtle Buckmiller’s entry into the theater business at Baker City was noted in the January 5, 1929, issue of Motion Picture News:

“Mrs. Myrtle Buckmiller has purchased the interests of the Haselton Theatres, Inc., of Baker, Ore., consisting of the Clarick, Orpheum and Empire Theatres. She will be president of the company and also assume active management of the houses.”

CinemaFan1949 on November 15, 2016 at 9:00 pm

The Baker Orpheum Theater project is moving along nicely. The group has had monthly meetings since March and the building has been deconstructed to the walls. Larry Nicholson architect from Portland completed the feasibility study and grants were submitted for further work. So far the Oregon Community Fund has given a grant along with the Oregon Community Fund. At present Eastern Oregon Regional Theater is waiting for a Leo Adler grant that was applied for. The Leo Adler grant will help pay for the next phase which will be removing the asbestos from the building and removing the false floor to reveal the slope. The plans call for a theater of about 380 seats with a larger stage, new balcony, and many other professional quality features. An acoustics professional will work on the auditorium so as to have top notch sound. The 50’s Baker marquee will return with Orpheum in the space between the reader boards and Baker in big letters above the reader boards as it was after the renovation in the late 40’s. A dinner theater benefit was held at the Geiser Grand on November 12, 2016 and was well attended! The community has embraced the project and is very excited to see it return.

scorpio1949 on March 2, 2010 at 2:35 am

Word has it that a group in La Grande is trying to resurrect the Liberty Theater there for a community multi purpose theater facility. The Baker could be done this way too. It is pretty much intact. The projection room, balcony, under the floor is the original sloped floor and the stage is still there. At a recent Eastern Oregon Regional Theater play another longterm Baker City resident and former business owner mentioned this to me. EORT is trying to find a location for a permanent theater. This space could be restored much like the Liberty. It would be a great addition to downtown. A great space for plays, traveling music events, etc…I spent many enjoyable hours at the Baker as a child.