7th Street Theatre
|
|
|
|
Location: | Hoquiam, Washington |
---|---|
Built: | 1928 |
Architect: | Huntington & Torbitt, Griffin,Edwin St. John |
Architectural style: | Renaissance, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
Governing body: | Private |
NRHP Reference#: | 87001334[1] |
Added to NRHP: | August 6, 1987 |
The 7th Street Theatre is a theatre in downtown Hoquiam, Washington. It is one of the few remaining examples of an atmospheric theatre that remain in the United States.[2] The not-for-profit 7th Street Theatre Association runs the theatre and coordinates a series of live shows, second-run feature films. The group aims to restore the Theatre, including new seats, rigging, and a digital projector.
The theatre was built in 1928 by Olaf T. Taylor, and was designed by Edwin St. John Griffith as a Spanish atmospheric theatre. There are murals on the ceiling in the lobby, along with a fountain. The fountain is not currently in use. Additionally, the auditorium features twinkling lights in the ceiling, and a recently installed sound system. It is currently undergoing a rigging replacement project, and a seat restoration pledge drive.
On March 20, 2008, volunteer staff unloaded a truck delivering the Theatre's original organ. By 1944 theatre organs had fallen out of fashion, and the organ was sold to Parkland's Trinity Lutheran Church by Balcom & Vaughan. Records indicate that three additional ranks were added at this time bringing the instrument up to a 2/7 (minus the toy counter and percussions). In 1960, the instrument was purchased by George Martin of Tacoma. Mr. Martin studied organ with Martha Green and Arnold Leverenz in the Seattle/Tacoma area between 1951 and 1953. He eventually moved the organ to his home in Clute, TX. It was purchased by a donation primarily from Tom Quigg and Pat Oleachea, and moved by truck back to the 7th Street Theatre. Estimates put the organ installation as complete as early as 2012, at a cost of approximately $12,000.
The 7th Street was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
|