Ideal Theatre
Black Cat Theatre
Alaska Theatre
Strand Theatre |
|
Address |
1114 2nd Avenue |
Opening Night Seating Capacity |
1200 |
Original Theatre Owner |
unknown |
Original Theatre Architect |
unknown |
Years of Operation |
Opened 1909
Remodeled and reopened on 12 May 1914
Operated 1914 through at least the 1930s
|
Type of Musical Accompaniment |
Skinner Opus 217 theatre pipe organ |
Current Status |
unknown |
The Ideal Theatre may have originally opened as a legitimate theatre venue exclusively and was in operation until 1911, at which time the house was renamed the Black Cat Theatre. It is not known whether the Ideal or the Black Cat exhibited motion pictures.
The Alaska Theatre, not to be confused with the storefront Alaska Theatre, was remodeled with the intent to be operated as a motion picture venue. Management ordered a theatre pipe organ in 1914, which was not installed before the theater’s reopening. Renown organist Jesse Crawford performed at the Alaska Theatre in the 1910s.
Late in 1915 or in early 1916, the theatre’s name changed to the Strand Theatre, and was the venue was operated as a first-run house. Seattle organists Warren Wright and Fred Feringer performed at the Strand.
References: FilmYearBook-1926 p. 590 : HistoryLink.org website; Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society website.
|