Summary for this site is under review and the displayed data may not be fully up to date. If you need additional info, please call (206) 684-0464 |
| Historic Name: |
Uptown Theater |
Common Name: |
SIFF Uptown Cinema |
| Style: |
Commercial |
Neighborhood: |
Queen Anne |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1926 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). |
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In the 1920-30s every Seattle neighborhood had one or more movie theaters. Relatively few of these buildings still exist, and even fewer are still used as movie theaters. The Uptown has operated under that name since its construction in 1926. Although altered, it remains a key part of the Lower Queen Anne commercial district. The area was once known as Uptown, from which the theater took its name, and that name has recently been adopted again.
The building has been altered several times. Alterations were made in 1947 and 1953 by B. Marcus Priteca, one of the country's outstanding theater designers. Based on Tax Assessor data, the exterior changes were minor. In the 1980s, the theater expanded by incorporating the building to the south, retaining the corner building's ornamented brick façade while constructing a concrete block structure inside of it. This allowed the theater to remain in business by adding a new auditorium.
The original architect, Victor W. Voorhees, is credited with more than 100 building projects between 1904 and 1929, ranging from cottages and large residences to apartment blocks, industrial buildings, office buildings, stores and hotels. He was also known for publishing a popular book of house and bungalow plans in 1907. Voorhees did a considerable amount of work for the Vance Lumber Company, including renovating the nearby Seattle Engineering School into the Marqueen Apartments in 1926.
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| Appearance |
This theater is a rectangular brick building with a two-story main façade with a stepped parapet. Two bands of brick outline the cornice and the building corners. The basic configuration of the front of the building has been retained. The primary façade is dominated by a large Art Moderne-style marquee. The triangular marquee and neon sign (saying Uptown) sign date back to the 1940s. The marquee is flanked by a window on each side, ornamented by a cast stone surrounds with rosettes and large cast stone scrolls. The building is now painted all white, so the ornament does not show to advantage.
The building originally had a blade sign and suspended canopy. The blade sign exposed four multilight windows with elaborate cast stone surrounds and topped by a large shield medallion; these windows and the surrounding ornament appear to still exist, behind the current sign.
To the south of the building is a concrete block addition, set about six feet back from the sidewalk. At the sidewalk is the brick façade of the building originally on that site; the six foot wide space provides a covered area for the ticket line. The brick façade retains some of its original cast stone ornamental coping and capitols on the pilasters. Metal canopies extend out from the centered marquee to the north and south. The box office was originally recessed beneath the marquee in a projecting booth; however, a later remodel brought the box office wall out flush with the rest of the façade. Contemporary aluminum storefronts now provide access to the building’s interior and recessed within the south bay on the east elevation. Four metal movie poster cases are attached to the brick on the north bay of the east elevation. The building’s brick was also painted sometime between 1954 and 1959, according to historic photographs from the Puget Sound Regional Archives.
The building has had numerous changes over the years and some, like the 1940s marquee, have gained significance in their own right. The building retains its overall form and continues to function as a movie theater, but has had multiple alterations to its original materials.
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Detail for this site is under review and the displayed data may not be fully up to date. If you need additional info, please call (206) 684-0464 |
| Status: |
No - Altered |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Brick, Concrete - Block |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Flat |
Roof Material(s): |
Unknown |
| Building Type: |
Recreation and Culture - Theater |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Masonry - Unreinforced |
No. of Stories: |
one & ½ |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Commerce, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Plan: |
Moderate |
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Changes to Windows: |
Extensive |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Slight |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, ed. Shaping Seattle Architecture, A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994.
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Reinartz, Kay F. Queen Anne: Community on the Hill. Seattle: Queen Anne Historical Society, 1993.
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Photo collection for this site is under review and the displayed data may not be fully up to date. If you need additional info, please call (206) 684-0464 |
Photo taken Nov 10, 2001
Photo taken Feb 26, 2018
Photo taken Feb 26, 2018
Photo taken Jan 01, 1900
Photo taken Jan 01, 1900
Photo taken Jan 01, 1900
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