(click to enlarge photos)
Published in The Seattle Times online on Nov. 23, 2023
and in PacificNW Magazine of the printed Times on Nov. 26, 2023
Sam can no longer play it again at torched University Theater
By Jean Sherrard
Recently, sad news came from Nick Collecchi, a buddy who had toiled for decades in Seattle-area movie houses. After projecting movies at the University Theater, 5510 University Way N.E., he managed the Seven Gables, Landmark Theatres and Sundance Cinemas until the pandemic ended those reels.
He asked me about the site of his first gig: “Did you hear the University Theater burned down?”
This undistinguished box was where I first encountered silver-screen classics — directors from Frank Capra to Alfred Hitchcock, actors from Humphrey Bogart to Bette Davis. Another Seattle movie house bit the dust.
It also was “the oldest surviving movie theater in northeast Seattle,” says cinema historian David Jeffers. Erected by U-District booster and developer Charles Cowen in 1915, the vaudeville/silent movie house was an attractive addition to the neighborhood. Its name, Cowen Park Theater, reminded locals of Cowen’s generous, 8-acre donation to the city west of Ravenna Park.
The 250-seat gem drew enthusiastic crowds, including 10-year-old Ronald Phillips, future Seattle Symphony principal clarinetist (and cigar aficionado), who earned four bits a night playing reeds in the house band.
The venue, however, had a limited run. In the early 1920s, it was repurposed as the Cowen Park Garage, then as a real-estate office and home-improvement store.
Rarig Motion Pictures, a producer of educational and promotional films, took up residence in the 1950s, converting the erstwhile auditorium into a sound stage.
In 1971, William DeNault, a former revival-house owner from Berkeley, Calif., leased the building from owner Andy Shiga. DeNault, a skilled carpenter, began restoration from the ground up. Removal of flat flooring revealed the raked concrete slope of the original theater, buried for 50 years. “We just put down tarpaper,” son Bryan recalls, “and dropped the flat floor right onto the sloping cement.”
The theater’s rebirth cheered film enthusiasts citywide. For another two decades, Sam played it again.
In 1999, the Paradox Theater, an all-ages haven for punk rock, occupied the joint until Jet City Improv took over in 2003, painting the building canary yellow. Its exuberant theatrical offerings reprised the location’s vaudeville origins until March 2020.
Abandoned since COVID, the theater was torched four months ago, on July 24.
“After it burned,” Jet City artistic director Mario Orallo says, “I felt a deep-rooted grief at the loss of a wonderful place to perform, but also a sense of reverence for the thousands of people over the decades who shared the vibe of art and community. For me, it will always be a sacred space.”
WEB EXTRAS
In the late breaking additions category, historian Pete Blecha shares a couple of rare delights. One, from a newspaper clipping, reveals the names of early Cowen Park Theater managers and their clever ploy to increase attendance.
The second is a remarkable, time-worn poster from the theater’s heyday:
Canadian-American actress Billie Burke is better known to modern audiences for her role as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in The Wizard of Oz. Twenty years earlier, she was a romantic lead.
In addition, a detailed comment from theater historian David Jeffers, who’s inestimable aid is always keenly appreciated:
“More sadness. I have a good deal of personal history with this theater, mostly from the mid-1970’s through the 80’s when I lived in the neighborhood. Many, many midnight movies were seen here. I watched numerous films for the first time in this theater. There are fond memories of waiting in line with friends, most of the time slightly intoxicated, late at night in the cold and rain to see shows for a dollar. One of the local FM album rock stations (KISW?) sponsored Friday and Saturday night “99¢” movies. In those days, college towns across the country had a play list of old and new films they’d offer on a repertory schedule. A few examples I saw at University Cinema were: Little Big Man (1970), 200 Motels (1971), A Clockwork Orange (1971), North by Northwest (1959) and countless others. For a couple of years, I also did my laundry next door.
“5510 14th Avenue Northeast (later re-named University Way NE) first appears in the 1915 Polk’s Seattle City Directory as the New Home Theatre. Polk’s shows a name change to Cowen Park Theatre from 1916 to 1917. Christopher Skullerud’s unpublished Seattle theater catalogue also supports these dates. Tax records show a build date of 1920, which suggests either the latter date is incorrect, or prior to 1920 there was another structure at the same location showing motion pictures to the public. I am inclined to believe 1915 is the correct date of the surviving structure. 1920 may have been the date of a significant building remodel. Considering the highly combustable nature of cellulose nitrate film stock and the frequency of fires it caused, it’s possible the theater closed after a booth fire and never reopened. After 1917 this movie theater disappears from directory listings. I recall reading it existed as an auto repair shop for many years. An entry in the 1925 Sanborn Fire Atlas for Seattle lists this building as roofing material storage. Many years later, following renovation and remodel, this address re-appears in 1971 as University Cinema, through the late 1980’s, followed by a decade of abandonment. In 1998 the building was purchased and renovated. From 2000 to 2003 it was opened as The Paradox, an all ages music venue. The lease was assumed by Wing-It Productions in 2003 and the theater was reopened as Jet City Improv, with occasional movie screenings. All this would seem to indicate this structure is the oldest surviving movie theater in northeast Seattle. Despite those facts, 5510 University Way NE has virtually no architectural significance itself. My recollections are that of a large, moldy, dump of a place with broken seats and filthy carpeting. Its primary importance is longevity and the fond memories of innumerable college kids. The building had been scheduled for demolition prior to the fire, to be developed as yet another ugly block of cheaply made, overpriced tiny apartments.”
Also, Nick Collecchi shares photos of the recent demolition of the Guild 45th, another lost movie house he served as manager. (thanks for the correct attribution, Gavin MacDougall)
Familiar territory! I grew ups at 5511 12NE and often went to Campbells Drug Store on the corner of 55th and U Way. Had a close friend who lived a few doors north of the theatre. House is still there! Thanks for the story and photos.
More sadness. I have a good deal of personal history with this theater, mostly from the mid-1970’s through the 80’s when I lived in the neighborhood. Many, many midnight movies were seen here. I watched numerous films for the first time in this theater. There are fond memories of waiting in line with friends, most of the time slightly intoxicated, late at night in the cold and rain to see shows for a dollar. One of the local FM album rock stations (KISW?) sponsored Friday and Saturday night “99¢” movies. In those days, college towns across the country had a play list of old and new films they’d offer on a repertory schedule. A few examples I saw at University Cinema were: Little Big Man (1970), 200 Motels (1971), A Clockwork Orange (1971), North by Northwest (1959) and countless others. For a couple of years, I also did my laundry next door.
5510 14th Avenue Northeast (later re-named University Way NE) first appears in the 1915 Polk’s Seattle City Directory as the New Home Theatre. Polk’s shows a name change to Cowen Park Theatre from 1916 to 1917. Christopher Skullerud’s unpublished Seattle theater catalogue also supports these dates. Tax records show a build date of 1920, which suggests either the latter date is incorrect, or prior to 1920 there was another structure at the same location showing motion pictures to the public. I am inclined to believe 1915 is the correct date of the surviving structure. 1920 may have been the date of a significant building remodel. Considering the highly combustable nature of cellulose nitrate film stock and the frequency of fires it caused, it’s possible the theater closed after a booth fire and never reopened. After 1917 this movie theater disappears from directory listings. I recall reading it existed as an auto repair shop for many years. An entry in the 1925 Sanborn Fire Atlas for Seattle lists this building as roofing material storage. Many years later, following renovation and remodel, this address re-appears in 1971 as University Cinema, through the late 1980’s, followed by a decade of abandonment. In 1998 the building was purchased and renovated. From 2000 to 2003 it was opened as The Paradox, an all ages music venue. The lease was assumed by Wing-It Productions in 2003 and the theater was reopened as Jet City Improv, with occasional movie screenings. All this would seem to indicate this structure is the oldest surviving movie theater in northeast Seattle. Despite those facts, 5510 University Way NE has virtually no architectural significance itself. My recollections are that of a large, moldy, dump of a place with broken seats and filthy carpeting. Its primary importance is longevity and the fond memories of innumerable college kids. The building had been scheduled for demolition prior to the fire, to be developed as yet another ugly block of cheaply made, overpriced tiny apartments.
Thanks so much, David, for your keen insights and superb theatrical history! I’m bumping your detailed comments up into the main part of the blog.
That ancient movie poster is wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing. Imagine taking a streetcar through the woods to see this wonderful mixed program with LIVE musical accompaniment! Luke’s Society Mixup (1916) is an early, pre-glasses character of Harold Lloyd. Once Charlie Chaplin became the biggest star on the planet, everyone tried to copy his Little Tramp. One attempt was a silly, mustachioed character created by Lloyd and Hal Roach, Lonesome Luke. Beginning with Spit-Ball Sadie (1915), the character appeared in sixty-seven one and two reel shorts, ending with We Never Sleep (1917). Luke’s Society Mixup was the twenty-sixth. On this program, it would have been shown before the feature. Gloria’s Romance (1916) was one chapter of a twenty episode serial, which would have been shown first. The Lionel Barrymore pot boiler has a vigorously dramatic scenario. It would have been an energizing evening. Unfortunately, the survival status of this entire program today is either unknown or presumed lost. Check your attic!
Very interesting! Good to see my old friend Nick!
I owned the building next to the University Theater (formerly a print shop remodeled into a recording studio in 2001). I left town in 2017 and sold it to the current owner. I heard about the fire last summer (2023). Sad story. I knew the person(s) involved it it. A BAD scene altogether.
I also worked at the Guild 45th in Wallingford in the mid 80s. Sad to see that place go too.
Seattle ain’t what it used to be. Thanks for keeping the memories alive.