Coliseum Theater
Coliseum Theater was a landmark Seattle movie palace that operated as a cinema from 1916 until 1990.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Coliseum Theater was a historic movie theater in Seattle, Washington, distinguished by its architectural ambition, elaborate terra-cotta exterior, and long association with the city’s downtown entertainment landscape. It opened on January 8, 1916, during the silent-film era, and was designed by theater architect B. Marcus Priteca. The building was Seattle’s first theater constructed specifically for motion pictures, rather than adapted from another entertainment use, and was conceived at a time when cinema operators were using monumental architecture to present film as a major cultural experience. At its opening, the theater was promoted as “the world’s largest and finest photoplay palace.” Its scale and decoration reflected the movie-palace tradition then emerging across the United States. The exterior featured extensive terra-cotta ornament, while the original interior was similarly elaborate. Silent-film presentations were accompanied by a seven-piece orchestra and an organist. The large theater organ was manufactured by Moller, and contemporary publicity emphasized the status and pay of the musicians, who were described as Russian and reputed to be among the highest-paid movie-theater musicians in the country. Anita King attended the opening and delivered a dedication speech. The Coliseum remained a first-run cinema through the late 1970s and continued screening films until 1990. Its final film presentation was the science-fiction horror film Tremors, after which the theater closed on March 11, 1990. The closure ended its role as a functioning cinema but not the building’s commercial life. The structure was renovated into a 15,000-square-foot Banana Republic clothing store, which opened in 1994. That retail use continued for decades before the store closed in 2020. The building’s historic importance was formally recognized when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It is also an official Seattle city landmark. These designations reflect both its architectural significance and its place in the development of American movie theaters. A 1931 Journal of the Royal Institute of Architects article characterized the Coliseum as the first of the world’s movie palaces, an assessment that helped reinforce its reputation beyond Seattle. After the Banana Republic store closed, the space was associated with plans for temporary arts use by XO Seattle in 2023. XO Seattle subsequently moved out after its co-founder, Austin Bellamy Hicks, was accused of sexually assaulting two women. Since 2024, the building has been occupied by Actualize AiR, described as a women-run artist collective. The Coliseum Theater therefore remains an identifiable historic property and cultural landmark, but its original cinema business and movie-theater brand are defunct.
History
The Coliseum Theater was built in Seattle during the rapid expansion of motion pictures as a commercial and cultural form. It opened on January 8, 1916, as Seattle’s first theater designed specifically for showing films. Its architect was B. Marcus Priteca, whose work helped establish the movie palace as a distinct architectural type. Rather than treating film exhibition as a modest storefront activity, the Coliseum presented cinema through a monumental building intended to convey luxury, novelty, and civic importance. The theater’s exterior was richly decorated with terra-cotta ornament, and the original interior was comparably elaborate. Its opening occurred during the silent-film period, when cinemas relied on live performers to supply music and atmosphere. The Coliseum advertised a seven-piece orchestra and an organist, supported by a large Moller organ. The theater’s musicians were described in contemporary accounts as Russian and were reputed to be among the highest-paid movie-theater musicians in the United States. Anita King attended the opening and gave a speech dedicating the venue. The Coliseum was promoted in exceptionally ambitious language, including the claim that it was the world’s largest and finest photoplay palace. Its reputation later extended beyond Seattle. In 1931, the Journal of the Royal Institute of Architects referred to it as the first of the world’s movie palaces. That description placed the building within the international development of purpose-built cinema architecture and reflected the importance of its design at a time when movie theaters were becoming prominent urban landmarks. As film technology and exhibition practices changed, the Coliseum continued operating as a first-run theater. It retained that role into the late 1970s and continued to show films until 1990. Its final screening was Tremors, and the cinema closed on March 11 of that year. The closure ended nearly three-quarters of a century of movie exhibition at the site. The building’s architectural and cultural importance had already received formal recognition. In 1975, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is also an official Seattle city landmark. These recognitions preserved the building’s connection to Seattle’s entertainment history even after its original use ended. In 1994, the former cinema was renovated into a 15,000-square-foot Banana Republic clothing store. This conversion gave the historic structure a new commercial function while retaining its identity as a notable building. The store closed in 2020. The site was subsequently connected with plans for a temporary art space by XO Seattle in 2023. XO Seattle later moved out after co-founder Austin Bellamy Hicks was accused of sexually assaulting two women. Since 2024, the property has been occupied by Actualize AiR, a women-run artist collective. The Coliseum Theater is consequently no longer an operating cinema, but its building continues to serve as a landmark associated with Seattle’s movie-palace heritage and later creative reuse.
- 2024
Artist collective occupancy
[1]Actualize AiR began occupying the former theater as a women-run artist collective.
- 2020
Retail closure
[1]The Banana Republic store occupying the building closed.
- 1994
Conversion to retail space
[1]The former theater reopened as a 15,000-square-foot Banana Republic store.
- 1990
Cinema closure
[1]The Coliseum ended movie screenings on March 11 after showing Tremors.
- 1975
National Register listing
[1]The theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as a Seattle city landmark.
- 1931
Recognition as an early movie palace
[1]The Journal of the Royal Institute of Architects described the Coliseum as the first of the world’s movie palaces.
- 1916
Opening of the Coliseum Theater
[1]The purpose-built movie theater opened in Seattle on January 8, featuring elaborate architecture, live musical accompaniment, and a dedication speech by Anita King.
Products and positioning
A grand early twentieth-century photoplay palace that combined first-run cinema with monumental architecture and live musical accompaniment.
Cinema programming · 1916
First-run film exhibition
The Coliseum operated primarily as a first-run movie theater for much of its life. It continued presenting new theatrical films into the late 1970s and remained a film venue until its final screening in 1990.
Live-accompanied cinema · 1916
Silent-film presentations
During the silent-film era, the theater combined motion pictures with live musical performance. Its opening-era presentation included a seven-piece orchestra, an organist, and a large Moller organ.
Controversies
Brand decisions
1994
Conversion into a Banana Republic storeStrategyBackground
Following the theater’s closure, the historic building was repositioned for commercial retail use.
Action taken
The structure was renovated into a 15,000-square-foot Banana Republic clothing store, which opened in 1994.
Aftermath
The site remained in retail use until the store closed in 2020.
1990
End of cinema operationsOtherBackground
After operating as a movie theater from 1916, the Coliseum continued showing films until the end of its cinema run in 1990.
Action taken
The venue closed on March 11, 1990, after screening Tremors.
Aftermath
The building was later adapted for retail use rather than continuing as a cinema.
Sources1 sources
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