Bing Crosby Theater

Bing Crosby Theater is a historic performing-arts venue in downtown Spokane, Washington. The building was designed by theater architect Edwin W. Houghton and opened in 1914 as the Clemmer Theater, an approximately 800-seat movie house. Its early identity was tied to cinema, but the venue later became associated with concerts, lectures, films, and other live cultural programming. The theater also has a personal connection to Bing Crosby, the singer, actor, and entertainment figure who grew up in Spokane. Between August and October 1925, Crosby performed regularly at the venue while he was still a local singer. That association became central to the building's later naming, although the theater was not originally named for him. Over the decades, the property deteriorated and eventually required substantial rehabilitation. A local company acquired and refurbished the theater in 1988. In December of that year, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its architectural and cultural significance. Following the restoration, it reopened under the name Metropolitan Performing Arts Center and was commonly known as The Met. The renovated venue supported a broad mix of concerts, lectures, and movie screenings rather than operating solely as a conventional cinema. Local businessman Mitch Silver purchased the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center in 2004. In 2006, the venue was renamed Bing Crosby Theater after a local historian pointed out that Spokane lacked a landmark commemorating Crosby, who had spent his formative years in the city. The renaming connected the restored historic building with one of Spokane's best-known cultural figures while preserving its role as a multipurpose entertainment venue. The theater's brand is therefore based less on a conventional commercial product portfolio than on place, heritage, and programming. Its principal offering is access to a historic venue for live performances, public talks, film presentations, and related events. Its significance comes from the combination of early twentieth-century theater architecture, Spokane history, Bing Crosby's documented performances there, and its continued use as a cultural space.

Bing Crosby Theater began life in 1914 as the Clemmer Theater, a movie theater in Spokane, Washington. The building was designed by Edwin W. Houghton, a theater architect, and originally accommodated about 800 people. Its initial purpose was primarily cinematic, reflecting the growth of purpose-built movie theaters during the early twentieth century. The building later acquired an important connection to Bing Crosby. Crosby grew up in Spokane and, before becoming an internationally recognized singer and actor, performed locally. From August through October 1925, he was a regular performer at the theater. This period provided the historical basis for associating the venue with Crosby, although the building retained the Clemmer name for many years afterward. The theater eventually fell into disrepair. In 1988, a local company purchased the property and carried out restoration work. The rehabilitation helped preserve the historic structure and enabled it to return to public use. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 1988, formalizing its importance as a historic Spokane landmark. After restoration, the venue reopened as the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center. It was also known as The Met. Its programming expanded beyond the building's earlier movie-theater identity, with concerts, lectures, and movies presented in the refurbished space. This multipurpose use allowed the venue to function as both an entertainment site and a community cultural facility. Mitch Silver, a local businessman, purchased the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center in 2004. Two years later, in 2006, the building was renamed Bing Crosby Theater. The change followed an observation by a local historian that Spokane did not have a landmark named for Crosby, despite his connection to the city and his performances at the venue during the 1920s. The new name highlighted that local history and gave the restored theater a more distinctive public identity. The venue's history consequently spans several overlapping roles: an early movie theater, a deteriorated historic property, a restored performing-arts center, and a landmark associated with a major Spokane-born entertainment figure. Its continuity is rooted in the building itself and in its ability to host different forms of cultural programming over time.

• 2006

  Renamed Bing Crosby Theater

  [1]Bing Crosby Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The venue adopts the Bing Crosby Theater name to recognize Crosby's Spokane connection and his performances at the building in 1925.

• 2004

  Mitch Silver purchases the venue

  [1]Bing Crosby Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Local businessman Mitch Silver purchases the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center.

• 1988

  Restoration and historic designation

  [1]Bing Crosby Theateren.wikipedia.org

  A local company acquires and refurbishes the deteriorating theater. The building is placed on the National Register of Historic Places in December.

• 1988

  Reopens as Metropolitan Performing Arts Center

  [1]Bing Crosby Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Following refurbishment, the venue reopens under the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center name and presents concerts, lectures, and films.

• 1925

  Bing Crosby performs regularly at the venue

  [1]Bing Crosby Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Between August and October, Spokane-raised singer Bing Crosby appears regularly at the theater before his later national and international fame.

• 1914

  Clemmer Theater opens

  [1]Bing Crosby Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The building opens in Spokane as the Clemmer Theater, an approximately 800-seat movie theater designed by Edwin W. Houghton.

A historic Spokane cultural venue combining early twentieth-century theater heritage, Bing Crosby associations, and multipurpose live-entertainment programming.

• Performing-arts venue · 1914

  Bing Crosby Theater venue

  The theater's central offering is a historic performance and event space in Spokane. The venue originated as an approximately 800-seat cinema but later developed into a multipurpose cultural facility presenting concerts, lectures, films, and other live programming. Its value combines functional event capacity with preserved architectural character and an association with Bing Crosby's early performing career.

• 2006

  Rename the venue for Bing CrosbyStrategy

  Background

  A local historian noted that Spokane lacked a landmark named for Bing Crosby, who grew up in the city and had performed at the theater in 1925.

  Action taken

  The Metropolitan Performing Arts Center was renamed Bing Crosby Theater.

  Aftermath

  The new name emphasized the building's connection to Spokane history and to Crosby's early career while retaining the venue's multipurpose performing-arts role.

  Source

• 1988

  Restore and reposition the deteriorated theaterStrategy

  Background

  The former movie theater had fallen into disrepair and required a new operating and preservation strategy.

  Action taken

  A local company purchased and refurbished the building, then reopened it as the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center for concerts, lectures, and movies.

  Aftermath

  The restoration returned the property to public cultural use and was followed by its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

  Source

1. 1Bing Crosby Theateren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Bing Crosby Theater official websitebingcrosbytheater.com