Kiggins Theatre

Kiggins Theatre is a historic single-screen cinema and event venue at 1011 Main Street in downtown Vancouver, Washington. The venue takes its name from John P. Kiggins, a former Vancouver mayor and businessman. It was built during the mid-1930s and opened to the public on April 24, 1936, with a screening of She Married Her Boss, starring Claudette Colbert and Melvyn Douglas. Its location and architecture have made it a recognizable part of Vancouver’s downtown streetscape. Designed by architect Day Walter Hilborn, the building is an example of Art Deco theater design. Its construction used formed concrete, and both the exterior and interior incorporated decorative motifs. The original neon Kiggins sign and some interior light fixtures survived through later changes, while the original marquee was replaced during a late-1950s modernization. An elaborate interior mural that once formed part of the theater’s decoration is no longer extant. The theater initially operated continuously as a conventional movie house from 1936 through 1955. In 1958, it underwent interior and exterior renovation and reopened under the Adamson Theaters chain, which operated it for approximately the next two decades. In 1980, a local church acquired the theater, after which it stopped presenting commercial films and shifted toward Christian film programming. An electrical fire in 1981 caused moderate smoke and water damage, keeping the building closed for nearly two years. Following repairs and additional renovation, the theater reopened in 1983 and presented second-run double features through 1996. Further renovation in early 1997 restored some architectural features and upgraded projection and sound equipment. The theater reopened under new management in May of that year, but financial difficulties led to another closure in May 2010. A subsequent renovation and management change brought the Kiggins back into operation in September 2011. The building’s historical importance was formally recognized in 2012, when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Kiggins is positioned less as a multiplex than as a heritage cinema centered on a distinctive single-screen setting. Its programming has historically included first-run or conventional movie exhibition, Christian films, second-run double features, and, in its contemporary role, movie screenings and other live or community events. Its appeal combines film presentation with the preservation of a notable downtown building, original visual elements, and a long local history. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current corporate parent, owner, executive roster, financial profile, or detailed present-day programming schedule.

Construction of Kiggins Theatre began on September 20, 1935, in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Designed by architect Day Walter Hilborn, the building adopted an Art Deco vocabulary expressed through formed-concrete walls, decorative exterior and interior motifs, a prominent neon sign, and purpose-built theatrical detailing. The venue was named for John P. Kiggins, a Vancouver mayor and businessman. It opened on April 24, 1936, presenting She Married Her Boss, a film starring Claudette Colbert and Melvyn Douglas. For its first two decades, the Kiggins functioned as a conventional movie theater and operated continuously from 1936 to 1955. A substantial renovation in 1958 changed both the interior and exterior. The original marquee was replaced during this work, although the original neon Kiggins sign and some interior light fixtures remained. After the renovation, the theater reopened as part of the Adamson Theaters chain, which managed the venue for roughly twenty years. An elaborate mural that had originally decorated the interior did not survive into the later history of the building. In 1980, ownership or control passed to a local church. The theater’s programming consequently moved away from commercial movie exhibition and toward Christian films. The building then suffered moderate smoke and water damage in an electrical fire in 1981. The resulting closure lasted nearly two years. Repairs and renovation allowed the theater to reopen in 1983, after which it operated with second-run double features until 1996. Another renovation followed in early 1997. This project restored selected architectural features and installed more modern projection and sound equipment. Kiggins Theatre reopened under new management in May 1997 and continued operating for more than a decade. Financial difficulties forced another closure in May 2010. The building was renovated once more and reopened under new management in September 2011. Its historic status was strengthened the following year when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Across its different operating periods, the Kiggins has functioned as a first-generation neighborhood cinema, a chain-operated theater, a church-controlled film venue, a second-run movie house, and a restored heritage theater. Its enduring identity rests on the combination of a single-screen film experience, downtown location, Art Deco design, and surviving original elements. Public reference material does not identify current executives, a corporate parent, a confirmed owner, or detailed current programming beyond its role as a cinema and event venue.

• 2012

  National Register listing

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

• 2011

  Renovated theater reopens

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Kiggins Theatre reopened in September 2011 after renovation and a change in management.

• 2010

  Closure caused by financial difficulties

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater closed in May 2010 after operating under its 1997 management arrangement.

• 1997

  Restoration and technical upgrade

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Early-year renovation restored selected architectural features and upgraded projection and sound equipment; the theater reopened under new management in May.

• 1996

  Second-run double-feature period ends

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The period of second-run double-feature programming that followed the 1983 reopening ended in 1996.

• 1983

  Post-fire reopening

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  After repairs and renovation, the theater reopened and began showing second-run double features.

• 1981

  Electrical fire

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  An electrical fire caused moderate smoke and water damage and led to a closure lasting nearly two years.

• 1980

  Local church acquisition

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A local church acquired the theater, which shifted from commercial movie programming to Christian films.

• 1958

  Major renovation and Adamson Theaters reopening

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Interior and exterior renovations were completed, including installation of the current marquee, and the theater reopened under the Adamson Theaters chain.

• 1955

  First continuous operating period ends

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater’s initial uninterrupted period as a movie venue, which began in 1936, ended in 1955.

• 1936

  Theater opens

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Kiggins Theatre opened on April 24, 1936, with a screening of She Married Her Boss.

• 1935

  Construction begins

  [1]Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the Art Deco theater began on September 20, 1935, in downtown Vancouver, Washington.

Historic single-screen cinema and event venue in downtown Vancouver, Washington, combining film exhibition with Art Deco architecture and local heritage.

• Cinema programming · 1936

  Single-screen movie exhibition

  The Kiggins’s core offering is film exhibition in a historic single-screen auditorium. Across its history, the venue has presented conventional commercial films, Christian films, and second-run titles. Its single-screen format distinguishes it from multiplex operators and emphasizes the atmosphere, architecture, and communal character of a traditional downtown theater.

• Film programming · 1983

  Second-run double features

  Following its 1983 reopening after fire-related repairs, the theater operated with second-run double features through 1996. This programming model used the venue’s established cinema infrastructure to present two films in a single theatrical outing, reinforcing its role as a local neighborhood movie house.

• Events

  Live and community events

  The venue is also associated with live and community-oriented events in addition to movie screenings. Available reference material identifies events as part of the theater’s broader offering but does not provide a complete current schedule or a definitive list of event formats.

• 2011

  Reopen as a renovated heritage cinema and event venueStrategy

  Background

  Financial difficulties had resulted in closure in May 2010.

  Action taken

  The building was renovated and placed under new management, reopening in September 2011.

  Aftermath

  The theater subsequently received National Register of Historic Places recognition in 2012.

  Source

• 1997

  Modernize projection and sound systemsGeneration change

  Background

  The theater underwent another renovation after its second-run programming period.

  Action taken

  Selected architectural features were restored and more modern projection and sound equipment was installed.

  Aftermath

  The theater reopened under new management in May 1997 and continued operating until its 2010 closure.

  Source

• 1980

  Shift to church-oriented film programmingStrategy

  Background

  A local church acquired the theater in 1980.

  Action taken

  Commercial movie exhibition was discontinued in favor of Christian films.

  Aftermath

  The venue later suffered fire damage in 1981 and reopened in 1983 with second-run double features.

  Source

• 1958

  Reopen under the Adamson Theaters chainStrategy

  Background

  After operating independently or under earlier arrangements from 1936 to 1955, the theater underwent interior and exterior renovation.

  Action taken

  The renovated theater reopened as part of the Adamson Theaters chain, with a replacement marquee installed during the work.

  Aftermath

  Adamson Theaters operated the venue for approximately the next two decades.

  Source

1. 1Kiggins Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kiggins Theatre official websitekigginstheatre.com