Historic Theatres Statewide Survey and Physical Needs Assessment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HISTORIC THEATRES STATEWIDE SURVEY AND PHYSICAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT WASHINGTON STATE HISTORIC THEATERS SURVEY AND PHYSICAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT 1 This report commissioned by the Washington state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Published June 30, 2008 Cover image of the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center, Spokane. Susan Johnson, photographer, Artifacts Con- sulting, Inc. Digital edits by Matthew Stoffel, Rusty George Creative. 2 WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION Contributors The authors of this report wish to extend our deepest thanks to the following persons, departments, govern- ment and nonprofit entities that worked so hard to provide information and facilitate research and study. Without their help this project would not have been possible. Our thanks to the:Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Allyson Brooks, Ph.D., State Historic Preservation Officer, Greg Griffith, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, Michael Houser, Architectural Historian, Megan Duvall, Certified Local Government & Survey Coordinator, Russ Holter, Preservation Design Reviewer, Loren Doo- little, Financial Manager, Zee Hill, Administrative Assistant; Washington State Arts Commission, Kris Tucker, Executive Director; Certified Local Government Contacts Bob Nacht, City of Chehalis, Brandi Eyerly, City of Ellensburg, Brent Lambert, Snohomish County, Dave Grove, City of Ritzville, Dave Koenig, City of Ever- ett, Jackie Lynch, City of Bellingham, Jacqueline Kamp, Clark County, Jennifer Kenny, City of Olympia, John McDonagh, City of Port Townsend, Julia Park, Pierce County, Julie Kohler, King County, Kris Bassett, City of Wenatchee, Karen Gordon, City of Seattle, Laura Hudson, City of Vancouver, Matthew Morton, City of Cle Elum, Polo Enriquez, City of Centralia, Reuben McKnight, City of Tacoma, Rob Chave, City of Edmonds, Sandy Strehlou, Town of Friday Harbor, Sarah Stahl, City of Roslyn, Stephanie Warren, Bainbridge Island, Steve Langdon, City of Longview, Teresa Brum, Spokane City/County, Trina Cole, City of Dayton, Vaughn McBride, City of Yakima; Cinema Treasures, Ken Layton; County Assessor Offices; Jefferson County Historical Society; Kittitas County Historical Society, Lauren Walton; League of Historic American Theatres; National Archives, Pacific Alaska Region, Kathleen Crosman; Northwest Diversified Entertainment, Victoria Hawker; Pend Oreille County Historical Society; Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society (PSTOS), Tom Blackwell; Senator Karen Fraser, Washington State Congress; Stevens County Historical Society, Janet Thomas; United Theater Service, Doro- thea Mayes; Washington State Historical Society; Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. We are especially grateful to all the participating theater owners, managers, staff and volunteers for their excitement and hospitality of allowing surveyors through their buildings and the wealth of practical informa- tion and examples contributed. We are appreciative of the dedication and hard work of the following: Breon & Joni Williams, Concrete Theatre; Adam Moomey, ACT Theatre; Aleena Schneider, Jill Carter & Scot Whitney, State Theater/Harlequin Productions; Ann Olson, New Ritz Theater; Anne Kearson & Thatcher Bailey, Joseph Wheeler Theater; Audrey Henley, Capitol Theater/Olympia; Bill Huls, Renton Civic Theater; Bill Leigh, Kig- gins Theater; Blake & Lynn Willeford, Clyde Theater; Brian Ritter & Harvey Morrison, Martin Woldson The- ater at the Fox; Bryan Cooke, Wenatchee Productions; Burt Pierard & Phyllis Bowersock, Richland Players; Carol Fischer, Tekoa Empire Theater; Carol Hays, Lincoln Theater; Cathy Johnstone, 5th Ave Theater; Cindy Walker, North Bend Theater; Community Builders (Larry & Rosemary Putnam, Brooke Hendrickson), Vogue Theater; Daryl Lund, Chehalis Theater; Dawn & Mike Julian, Kelso Theater Pub; Debbie Wallace & Jennifer Johnson, Princess Theater; Diana McLeod, G Theatre; Dirk Reinauer, Sunset Theatre; Gian Morelli & Kelly Ragsdale, Columbia Theatre; James Dixon, Nifty Theatre; James Pettenger, Audian Theatre; John Bauer, Em- ily Weiner and Brad Burdick, Mount Baker Theatre; Jon Douglas Rake, Tacoma Musical Playhouse/Narrows Theater; Kevin Wright, Roxy Theatre/Newport; Kingsley Hall, Elma Theater; Larry Hibbard, Ruby Theatre; Lori Hughes, Everett Theater; Lou Magor, Kenyon Hall; Mary & Larry Lassila, Omak Cinema; Michael Smith, Metropolitan Performing Arts Center; Mickey Thurman & Lane Youmans, 7th St. Theatre; Mike Miles, Seattle Theatre Group/Paramount Theatre; Patricia Henness, Pantages Theater & Rialto Theater; Polo Enriquez & Konrad Lawrence, Fox Theater; Rebecca Watson, Raymond Theater; Reid Helford, Liberty Theater; Richard Wiley, Uptown Theatre & Wheel-In Motor Movie; Robb Hunt, First Stage/Village Theatre; Robert Margoshes, Seattle Theatre Group/Moore Theatre; Rocky Friedman, Rose Theatre; Roger Aydelott, Clark Fork Theater; Scott Nolte, Taproot Theatre Company; Steve Garrett, Admiral Theater; Steve Wisner, Alpine Theater & Auto Vue Drive-In; Sue Evans, Blue Mouse Theater; TJ Faddis, Lynwood Theatre; and Warren Houtz &staff, Capitol Theatre/Yakima. WASHINGTON STATE HISTORIC THEATERS SURVEY AND PHYSICAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT 3 Circa 1936 photograph of the Grand Theater, Seattle. Image courtesy of PSTOS. 4 WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION Project Team The project team included a broad and unflaggingly enthusiastic group. Mary Thompson’s extensive experience in preservation policy and state government informed the funding history as well as tools and ideas for contin- ued theater preservation. Our team is deeply grateful for the architectural expertise of Tim McDonald, princi- pal with Artifacts Consulting, Inc. Mr. McDonald, a retired licensed architect, contributed as co-field surveyor and authored the physical needs chapter as well as many of the physical highlights and condition assessments. He worked with Jim Collins, structural engineer, vice-president, PCS Structural Solutions, to develop the cost estimate sections. We are immensely grateful for the tireless dedication of Susan Johnson, historic preservation consultant, project manager, and co-field surveyor. Ms. Johnson set up the field visits and crafted a majority of the report narrative. Christy Johnson of Artifacts Consulting, Inc. assisted in the edits and completed all of the database entry for each theater surveyed. Erica Sage of Sage Editing edited the volumes of draft text for the report. Renee Petterson and Matthew Stoffel of Rusty George Creative provided the report graphics and design. Michael Sullivan of Artifacts Consulting, Inc. served as the principal-in-charge providing vision and direction for this diverse team. Spencer Howard, partner, provided project support. WASHINGTON STATE HISTORIC THEATERS SURVEY AND PHYSICAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT 5 Clyde Theatre, Langley. Source: Artifacts Consulting, Inc. 2008. 6 WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION Contents Contributors 3 Project Team 5 Overview 9 Scope 11 Purpose 13 Methodology 14 Physical Needs Summary 17 Non-Physical Needs Summary 18 1.0 Resource Types & Development 19 1.1 Theater Ages 21 1.2 Theater Type Classification 23 1.3 Theater Locations 36 2.0 Physical Assessment 39 2.1 Patterns of Operational Issues 41 2.2 Patterns of Physical Issues 48 2.3 Patterns of Other Issues 58 2.4 Capital Repair Priorities 63 2.5 Capital Repair Cost Data 69 3.0 Preservation Support Mechanisms 201 3.1 Why are historic theaters important? 203 3.2 State Funding History 207 3.3 Existing Incentives 213 4.0 Ideas & Considerations 225 4.1 Business Related Technical Assistance 227 4.2 Proposed Historic Theaters Program 229 5.0 Supplemental Material 233 5.1 Maps 235 5.2 Bibliography 239 WASHINGTON STATE HISTORIC THEATERS SURVEY AND PHYSICAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT 7 8 WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION Overview Photograph by Susan Johnson, Artifacts Consulting, Inc. WASHINGTON STATE HISTORIC THEATERS SURVEY AND PHYSICAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT 9 his report is the product of a statewide survey and physical needs assessment of historic theaters con- ducted by Artifacts Consulting, Inc. under contract to the Washington state Department of Archaeol- ogy and Historic Preservation (DAHP). The primary objectives are to identify patterns of physical Tneeds shared statewide amongst historic theaters and to provide DAHP and the state legislature with a body of knowledge that informs decision-making on how best to preserve our state’s important heritage of historic theaters. This report will also be a resource for the theaters’ stewards and their communities. Capitol Theatre, Yakima. Source: Artifacts Consulting, Inc. 2008. 10 WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION Scope Overview Artifacts Consulting, Inc. (Artifacts) compiled a statewide list of the majority of operating theaters at least fifty years of age, built originally as theaters. This included a total of eighty live-performance, cinema (indoor and TypesResource & Development Physical drive-in), and combination performance/cinema theaters. Survey teams comprised of two Artifacts staff mem- bers visited selected theaters, meeting with theater operators/owners and conducting a thorough exterior and interior walk-through. The survey collected basic structural, use, condition, and historical information on each theater. This historical information includes date of construction (DOC), building materials, and the primary physical concerns.