Kiggins Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Kiggins Theatre is a single-screen movie theater
in Vancouver, Washington
. Named for former Vancouver mayor and businessman John P. Kiggins
, it opened in 1936. It is located at 1011 Main Street in downtown Vancouver.
style by architect Day Walter Hilborn. The walls were constructed using formed concrete, with decorative motifs on the exterior and interior. The "Kiggins" neon sign
is original, as are some of the interior light fixtures. The original marquee
was replaced the late 1950s. An elaborate mural
originally painted inside the building no longer exists.
.
The Kiggins operated continuously as a movie theater from 1936 to 1955. In 1958, the interior and exterior of the theater were renovated; the current marquee was installed at that time. The Kiggins reopened as part of the Adamson Theaters chain, which ran the theater for the next two decades. In 1980, the theater was acquired by a church, and stopped showing commercial movies in favor of Christian films. The theater closed after a fire in 1981. From the mid 1980s through 1996, the Kiggins again operated as a movie theater, showing second run double features
. The theater was renovated again in the spring of 1997, when some architectural features were restored, and more modern projection and sound equipment were installed. The theater opened under new management in May 1997, and operated until May 2010, when it closed because of financial difficulties. The theater was renovated and reopened under new management in September 2011.
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
in Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
. Named for former Vancouver mayor and businessman John P. Kiggins
John P. Kiggins
John P. Kiggins was a movie theater magnate, and mayor of Vancouver, Washington.Kiggins was born in Tennessee, but eventually moved to Vancouver, and with the exception of his service in the Army during the Spanish-American War, and a few years following that in Alaska, Kiggins made Vancouver his...
, it opened in 1936. It is located at 1011 Main Street in downtown Vancouver.
Architecture
The Kiggins Theatre was designed in the Art DecoArt Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style by architect Day Walter Hilborn. The walls were constructed using formed concrete, with decorative motifs on the exterior and interior. The "Kiggins" neon sign
Neon sign
Neon signs are made using electrified, luminous tube lights that contain rarefied neon or other gases. They are the most common use for neon lighting, which was first demonstrated in a modern form in December, 1910 by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show. While they are used worldwide, neon signs...
is original, as are some of the interior light fixtures. The original marquee
Marquee (sign)
A marquee is most commonly a structure placed over the entrance to a hotel or theatre. It has signage stating either the name of the establishment or, in the case of theatres, the play or movie and the artist appearing at that venue...
was replaced the late 1950s. An elaborate mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
originally painted inside the building no longer exists.
History
Construction of the Kiggins Theatre began on September 20, 1935. The theater opened on April 24, 1936, with a showing of She Married Her BossShe Married Her Boss
She Married Her Boss is a 1935 film directed by Gregory La Cava, and starring Claudette Colbert and Melvyn Douglas.-Plot:It tells the story of a secretary who married with her boss, however she has a hard time living up to him.-Cast:...
.
The Kiggins operated continuously as a movie theater from 1936 to 1955. In 1958, the interior and exterior of the theater were renovated; the current marquee was installed at that time. The Kiggins reopened as part of the Adamson Theaters chain, which ran the theater for the next two decades. In 1980, the theater was acquired by a church, and stopped showing commercial movies in favor of Christian films. The theater closed after a fire in 1981. From the mid 1980s through 1996, the Kiggins again operated as a movie theater, showing second run double features
Double feature
The double feature, also known as a double bill, was a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatre managers would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown.The double feature, also known as...
. The theater was renovated again in the spring of 1997, when some architectural features were restored, and more modern projection and sound equipment were installed. The theater opened under new management in May 1997, and operated until May 2010, when it closed because of financial difficulties. The theater was renovated and reopened under new management in September 2011.