Theater
“THE CITY’S (SEATTLE) FINEST SOUNDING ROOM” – SPIN Magazine photo by Dylan Priest The Columbia City theater boasts one of the most beautiful settings for live music and performance in Seattle. The 300 capacity theater re opened on June 25th to rave reviews and even made it into the Seattle Weekly’s “Best of Seattle” list after being open for less than two months and has since been dubbed “The city’s finest sounding room” by SPIN Magazine.
The Columbia City Theater as it stood in the 1950′s The Columbia City Theater was built in 1917 and is the oldest vaudeville theater in the state of Washington. Having played a major role in the Seattle Jazz boom in the 40′s, the theater played host to the likes of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Fats Waller. During the 50′s he theater served as a neighborhood movie theater (pictured above), where residents of Columbia City have recalled attending Saturday morning movies for kids like Flash Gordon and the Our Gang series. Later on during the 60′s the theater began hosting live events once more and is reportedly one of the first venues that the legendary Jimi Hendrix performed in. During the early 80′s it was a home for much of the DIY punk movement and the touring networks that were created to support it. It has since been an art commune, and a place that specifically hosted raves in more recent years under the name “The Lish House”. The Columbia City Theater is located at 4916 Rainier Ave S, Seattle WA 9811 Since re-opening in July 2010 the Columbia City Theater has been proud to host many fantastics artists, some of whom we’ve listed below. The Fleet Foxes Everclear Head and the Heart Pickwick Joan as Police Woman Portland Cello Project The Maldives Damien Jurado Sera Cahoone Tiny Vipers The Atomic Bombshells Emily Wells Lesbian Dyme Def Ravenna Woods Drew Grow & the Pastors’ Wives Baby Gramps Frank Fairfield Campfire OK Grand Hallway Too Beautiful to Live (Imaginary Radio) Ivan & Alyosha and many many more |
