THE HISTORIC THEATER:From Vaudeville to Movies to Musicals
THE HISTORIC THEATER:
After 11 months of construction, The 5th Avenue Theater celebrated its grand opening on September 24, 1926 with a Fanchon & Marco vaudeville production and more than lived up to its promise as a magnificent showplace. Under the guidance of architect Robert C. Reamer and interior designer Gustav F. Liljestrom, the ornate interior of the building was modeled after three of Imperial China’s most spectacular architectural achievements: the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heavenly Peace, and the Summer Palace. The theater was also considered a technological marvel at the time, thanks to its state-of-the-art sound, lighting and ventilation systems.
When moving pictures became popular in the 1930s, The 5th thrived as a movie palace, thanks mainly to the efforts of film exhibitor James Q. Clemmer. Known for his showmanship, Clemmer arranged to have an organ rise from the center of the orchestra pit during a film’s most suspenseful moment and ushers wore costumes that reflected each movie’s theme.
The recession of the 1970s, coupled with the popularity of television and the growth of movie complexes in the suburbs, put The 5th Avenue Theatre out of business in 1978. But a committed group of community leaders who envisioned bringing Broadway entertainment to Seattle responded by raising funds for a much needed building renovation.
At the theater’s grand re-opening on June 16, 1980, actress Helen Hayes christened the stage with a kiss and declared it “a national treasure.” The 5th Avenue Theatre became Seattle’s premier home for Broadway shows, starting with the national tour of Annie. In 1989, The 5th Avenue Musical Theatre Company was established as a resident non-profit theater company and The 5th Avenue expanded its mission from simply presenting touring shows to producing Broadway-caliber productions of its own.