Liberty Theatre |

Photograph by Frank Jacobs (1924); Silent Era image collection. |
Address |
1520 First Avenue |
Opening Night Seating Capacity |
2000 |
Original Theatre Owner |
John G. von Herberg
C.S. Jensen |
Original Theatre Architect |
unknown |
Years of Operation |
1914-1955 |
Type of Musical Accompaniment |
Wurlitzer theater pipe organ |
Current Status |
Demolished |
The Liberty Theatre was a first-run house. The Liberty was immediately a Seattle theatre sensation, by virtue of its spectacular Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ that was initally played by Henry Murtagh. The exterior of the theatre was adorned in ornate plaster decorations and 1200 electric lights in eight colors.
Owner John G. von Herberg served on the board of directors of Associated First National Pictures, Incorporated, circa 1922.
The Liberty Theatre building has long been demolished. It remains now what it was forty years ago, an open parking lot on the east side of First Avenue facing Seattle’s famous Pike Place farmer’s market. The lot sits between two buildings that once nestled the theatre, one brick building housing trendy street-level shops, another a home to an adult arcade and strip club.
References: Bowers-Nickel p. viii; FilmYearBook-1923 p. 384; FilmYearBook-1926 p. 590 : Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society website.
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