| Coliseum Theatre |
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| Address |
500 Pike Street |
| Opening Night Seating Capacity |
2200 |
| Original Theater Owner |
Greater Theatres Company |
| Original Theater Architect |
B. Marcus Priteca |
| Years of Operation |
1916-1990 |
| Type of Musical Accompaniment |
Eight-piece orchestra and Moller theater pipe organ (1915-1918); later a Wurlitzer theater pipe organ (1918-1950?) |
| Current Status |
Converted to retail store |
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The Coliseum Theatre was a first-run house. The opening night dedication on 8 January 1916, was presided over by actress Anita King. The opening night feature film was The Cheat (1915). The Coliseum originally had a Moller concert pipe organ installed. In June 1918, a Wurlitzer theater pipe organ replaced the Moller. Seattle organist Warren Wright performed at the Coliseum. By circa October 1929, the theater had been sold to William Fox.
The Coliseum was still in operation until the early 1980s, although in serious internal disrepair under the ownership of a Portland, Oregon, theater chain. Remnants of the Coliseum’s former glory are still be to seen by the historically-sensitive eye in the theater’s current incarnation in downtown Seattle, a Banana Republic retail store.
References: FilmDaily-1926 p. 590 : Variety-19291106 p. 10 : Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society website.
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