Lacey Street Theatre

Lacey Street Theatre was a historic movie theatre building at 500 Second Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska. It was constructed in 1939 for Austin E. “Cap” Lathrop, an important Alaska businessman who developed a chain of cinemas across the territory. The theatre was designed by B. Marcus Priteca, a prominent theatre architect whose work included specialized entertainment venues in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and was built by C. W. Hufeisen. The building opened to the public on January 25, 1940. Its Art Deco design made it an architectural landmark as well as a commercial cinema. During the middle decades of the twentieth century, it was one of only two movie theatres operating in Fairbanks into the 1960s, giving it an important place in the city’s local entertainment history. The theatre ultimately closed in December 1980 as its original cinema use came to an end. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, recognizing its architectural and historical significance. In 1992, the former theatre was repurposed as the Fairbanks Ice Museum, converting the building from a cinema into a visitor attraction focused on ice sculpture and related displays. The surviving structure therefore represents both Fairbanks’s historic theatre culture and the adaptive reuse of a landmark commercial building. The Lacey Street Theatre is no longer an operating cinema, but its building remains associated with the Fairbanks Ice Museum.

Lacey Street Theatre was built in 1939 at 500 Second Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska. The project was commissioned for Austin E. “Cap” Lathrop, whose business interests included a chain of movie theatres serving communities across Alaska. The building was constructed by C. W. Hufeisen and designed by B. Marcus Priteca, a noted theatre designer. Its Art Deco architecture made it visually distinctive within Fairbanks and reflected the period’s interest in purpose-built cinemas that combined entertainment functions with prominent architectural styling. The theatre opened on January 25, 1940. For much of the mid-century period, it served as one of Fairbanks’s principal cinema venues. It was one of only two movie theatres in the city into the 1960s, making it an important part of local social and commercial life. The available historical record does not identify a complete sequence of operators, owners, executives, film programs, or financial results, but the theatre’s long operation established it as a recognized Fairbanks landmark. Cinema operations ended in December 1980. Rather than being documented as a continuing theatre business, the building later entered a preservation and adaptive-reuse phase. In 1990, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The designation acknowledged the structure’s architectural character and its relationship to the history of entertainment and development in Fairbanks. In 1992, the former theatre was repurposed as the Fairbanks Ice Museum. This conversion changed the building’s public function from motion-picture exhibition to tourism and museum presentation, while retaining the historic structure. The site is consequently remembered both as the Lacey Street Theatre and as the building that houses the Fairbanks Ice Museum. It is a defunct cinema brand and a surviving historic building rather than an active theatre chain.

• 1992

  Adaptive reuse as the Fairbanks Ice Museum

  [1]Lacey Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The former theatre building was converted into a museum of ice sculpture.

• 1990

  National Register listing

  [1]Lacey Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

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

• 1980

  Cinema operations end

  [1]Lacey Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre closed in December 1980.

• 1960

  One of Fairbanks’s two principal cinemas

  [1]Lacey Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre remained one of only two movie theatres in Fairbanks into the 1960s.

• 1940

  Public opening

  [1]Lacey Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Lacey Street Theatre opened on January 25, 1940.

• 1939

  Theatre building constructed

  [1]Lacey Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  C. W. Hufeisen built the Lacey Street Theatre in Fairbanks for Austin E. “Cap” Lathrop. B. Marcus Priteca designed the Art Deco theatre.

A historic Fairbanks cinema and Art Deco landmark rather than an active contemporary entertainment brand.

• Cinema · 1940

  Movie theatre operations

  The Lacey Street Theatre’s original and defining offering was public motion-picture exhibition. It operated as a purpose-built cinema in Fairbanks and formed part of Austin E. “Cap” Lathrop’s chain of Alaskan movie theatres. The available references do not provide a detailed record of its individual screens, concession program, ticket prices, or film lineup.

• Architecture and heritage · 1939

  Historic theatre building

  The Art Deco building is the enduring physical expression of the Lacey Street Theatre. Designed by B. Marcus Priteca and built in 1939, it is recognized as a historic Fairbanks structure and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

• Museum and tourism attraction · 1992

  Fairbanks Ice Museum

  Since 1992, the former theatre building has hosted the Fairbanks Ice Museum, a visitor attraction centered on ice sculpture. This is an adaptive reuse of the historic cinema building rather than a continuing Lacey Street Theatre product or service.

• 1992

  Adaptive reuse as an ice museumStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of theatre operations and the building’s 1990 historic-register listing, the property was given a new public function.

  Action taken

  The former cinema was repurposed as the Fairbanks Ice Museum.

  Aftermath

  The building continued as a visitor attraction while retaining its association with the historic Lacey Street Theatre.

  Source

• 1980

  End of cinema operationsStrategy

  Background

  After decades as a Fairbanks movie theatre, the venue closed in December 1980. The available source does not state the commercial reasons for the closure.

  Action taken

  The building ceased operating as a cinema.

  Aftermath

  The structure was later preserved and adapted for museum use.

  Source

1. 1Lacey Street Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Fairbanks Ice Museumfairbanksicemuseum.com