King Cat Theater
2130 6th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
2130 6th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
6 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 34 comments
Closed by General Cinema in 1992.
The sign is in a coffee shop located on the ground floor of an office building that is diagonally across the intersection of 6th Avenue and Blanchard streets from the King was. The coffee shop is on the Northwest corner of the intersection, the King was on the Southeast corner.
Where is Kitty Corner?
I just discovered the King Cat sign is in a building kitty corner from where it was. Very cool!
Interesting name!!
Hi Dennis. The King had the last carbon arc lamps in use in Seattle. They were Ashcraft Super Cinex lamps. Water cooled, 13.6mm positive and 11mm negative trim. A beautiful light came from those lamps. Even though the screen was not curved, it was very large and the picture from the Norelco DP 70’s was a really nice thing to see. I remember that the bean counters in the Home Office did not seem to understand that we were not Xenon. Each month a Monthly Xenon Report was sent to the theater. It was always filled out showing zero hours of use and no new lamps installed.
I worked at the King as a projectionist in the late 80’s and dprojected Lawrence of Arabia there in 70mm. The best of that was it was Carbon Arc light and not Xenon at the time. It was a beautiful thing to see.
I now work in the Amazon Doppler building which is around the corner on 7th and Westlake.
I’ll have to look for the pieve of the sign! I think I remember Jerry. I want to say I worked there until 1982?
One of several new high rise office towers for Amazon now sits in the site of the KIng. One of the plastic panels from the “King Kat” sign now hangs on the wall of a coffee shop across the street.
Ericrising; I worked there as an infrequent relief projectionist from November of 1981 until October of 1982 when I went full time. When I started, Henry Cannon was the chief projectionist and Jerry Keene was the #2. I replaced Jerry when he left in October 1982. Henry is in his 80’s, still active and happy in retirement. Jerry left town shortly after he left the King.
I wonder if you worked there with me. I was there around 80-81.
I liked the King. Saw The Great Gatsby, Sophies Choice and Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind there in the day. Well designed and every seat a good one. Not as big screen as the fantastic UA 150 across the street but worthy anyway. That was one of the best ever. Too bad they are both history.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Interesting Name.
Thanks!!! I should have looked closer ;–)
anyone have any pics? Worked there in 1980-81
Just wish they would change the name back to “The King”. Wasn’t it changed to King Cat by operators who made it a Jazz club for a while?
According to the article Lost Memory quotes above, King Cat is surely back in the movie business as well as live shows. The owner expects to show Indian films and get involved with local film festivals. (The Indian film “SarKar Raj” has been shown there in the past couple weeks.)
Can’t wait to see how the resurrected King Cat does.