7th Street Theatre

7th Street Theatre is a historic theatre and cinema in downtown Hoquiam, Washington. Built in 1928 by Olaf T. Taylor and designed by architect Edwin St. John Griffith, the building is a Spanish atmospheric theatre, a design style that uses architectural decoration, painted effects, and lighting to create the impression of an outdoor setting within an auditorium. It is one of the relatively few surviving examples of this type of theatre in the United States. The building’s identity is closely tied to its atmospheric interior. The lobby contains ceiling murals and a fountain, although the fountain is not currently operating. The auditorium ceiling incorporates twinkling lights intended to evoke a night sky. The theatre also retains historic seating that was restored by McNeil Island Correctional Institute. A replacement sound system has been installed, and the stage rigging was replaced in 2008. Repairs to the ceiling were undertaken in 2009, while later preservation work included efforts to address the rear wall. The venue is operated by the not-for-profit 7th Street Theatre Association. Rather than functioning as a conventional commercial cinema chain, the organization combines heritage preservation with community programming. Its activities include live shows and screenings of second-run feature films, while its stated preservation objective is to restore the theatre as closely as possible to its original appearance and function. The organization’s current identity therefore rests on three connected roles: historic landmark, performance venue, and community cinema. A notable part of the theatre’s heritage is its original organ. By 1944, theatre organs had largely fallen out of fashion, and the instrument was sold by Balcom & Vaughan to Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland, Washington. Records indicate that three additional ranks were added at that time, bringing the instrument to a 2/7 configuration, excluding the toy counter and percussion effects. In 1960, George Martin of Tacoma acquired it and later moved it to his home in Clute, Texas. The organ was eventually returned to 7th Street Theatre in 2008 after fundraising led principally by Tom Quigg and Pat Oleachea. Installation was estimated to have been completed as early as 2012, at an approximate cost of $12,000. The theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It became the first building in Hoquiam to be placed on the city’s historic register in 2008. Its preservation work has depended on volunteers, nonprofit administration, donations, and targeted restoration projects rather than on a large corporate operating structure. As a result, the 7th Street Theatre brand is best understood as a place-based cultural institution whose value derives from architectural authenticity, local stewardship, historic programming, and continued public access.

Constructed in 1928, 7th Street Theatre was designed by Edwin St. John Griffith for builder Olaf T. Taylor as a Spanish atmospheric theatre. Its interior was conceived as an immersive environment rather than a plain screening room, using lobby murals, a decorative fountain, auditorium lighting effects, and other architectural details to suggest an outdoor Spanish-inspired setting. The theatre’s survival gives it particular importance because comparatively few atmospheric theatres remain in the United States. Over time, the building experienced the technological and commercial changes that affected many historic cinemas. Theatre organs declined in popularity by the 1940s, and 7th Street’s original organ was sold in 1944 to Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland by Balcom & Vaughan. The instrument was expanded with three additional ranks, producing a 2/7 specification apart from its toy counter and percussion components. In 1960, it was purchased by Tacoma resident George Martin, who had studied organ with Martha Green and Arnold Leverenz in the Seattle and Tacoma area during the early 1950s. Martin later relocated the organ to his home in Clute, Texas. The theatre’s historic significance was formally recognized when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. In 2008, it became the first building in Hoquiam to be placed on the city’s historic register. That same year, the theatre’s original organ began its return journey: volunteer staff unloaded the instrument on March 20 after it was transported back to Hoquiam. Funding for the acquisition came primarily from donations associated with Tom Quigg and Pat Oleachea. Installation was reported as potentially complete by 2012, with an estimated cost of approximately $12,000. Preservation has continued through a series of practical restoration projects. The stage rigging was replaced in 2008, and the ceiling was repaired in 2009. The seats were restored by McNeil Island Correctional Institute. The lobby fountain remains an architectural feature but is not currently in operation. By 2018, the theatre’s board was raising money for repairs to the rear wall, illustrating the continuing maintenance demands associated with a large historic building. The 7th Street Theatre Association, a nonprofit organization, operates the venue and coordinates live shows and second-run feature-film screenings. Its mission links ongoing public use with conservation: the theatre is not preserved merely as a static historic shell, but maintained as a functioning community venue. The resulting institution serves local audiences while also attracting interest from people concerned with historic theatres, atmospheric design, cinema history, and theatre organs.

• 2018

  Fundraising for rear-wall repairs

  [1]7th Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre’s board is raising funds to repair the building’s back wall.

• 2012

  Organ installation reaches completion

  [1]7th Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The returned theatre organ is estimated to have been fully installed by this period, following fundraising and relocation work.

• 2009

  Ceiling repairs

  [1]7th Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Repair work is carried out on the theatre’s ceiling as part of continuing preservation efforts.

• 2008

  Local historic-register listing and restoration work

  [1]7th Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The building becomes the first in Hoquiam to appear on the city’s historic register. Its stage rigging is replaced, and the original organ returns to the theatre on March 20 after volunteer-led transport.

• 1987

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

  [1]7th Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre receives federal historic recognition through inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1960

  Organ enters private ownership

  [1]7th Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  George Martin of Tacoma purchases the organ and later moves it to his home in Clute, Texas.

• 1944

  Original organ is sold

  [1]7th Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  As theatre organs fall out of fashion, the original instrument is sold by Balcom & Vaughan to Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland, Washington.

• 1928

  The theatre is built

  [1]7th Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Olaf T. Taylor builds the theatre in downtown Hoquiam, Washington, to designs by Edwin St. John Griffith. It opens as a Spanish atmospheric theatre.

A nonprofit historic venue combining preservation of a rare atmospheric theatre with accessible community entertainment, live performances, and second-run cinema.

• Performing arts programming

  Live shows

  The 7th Street Theatre Association coordinates live performances in the historic auditorium. The programming forms part of the venue’s community role and helps keep the building in active public use rather than treating it solely as a preserved monument.

• Cinema exhibition

  Second-run feature films

  The theatre screens second-run feature films, providing a community-oriented cinema offering within a preserved atmospheric-theatre setting. This programming supports the association’s goal of combining regular public access with historic-building stewardship.

• Heritage instrument · 1928

  Historic theatre organ

  The original theatre organ, expanded to a 2/7 configuration after its 1944 sale and later returned to Hoquiam, is a major heritage feature. Its repatriation involved volunteer transport and donated funding, with installation estimated to have been completed by approximately 2012.

1. 17th Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org