Elsinore Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Elsinore Theatre is a theatre located in Salem
, Oregon
, United States
, that first opened on May 28, 1926.
Gothic
style meant to resemble the castle in the city of Elsinore
from Shakespeare's play Hamlet
. Ellis F. Lawrence
, the first dean of the University of Oregon
school of architecture, was the project's principal architect. The building features stained glass
by the Povey Brothers
and a Mighty Wurlitzer
theatre organ
similar to the original, which was dismantled in 1962. Originally the Elsinore was designed for live performances and silent films. Three years after its construction in 1926, Guthrie leased the theatre to Fox West Coast Theatres. It was at this time that sound movies came to the theatre. One year after the lease to Fox Theaters, Guthrie leased it out to a different theater company, Warner Brothers Theaters which ran it as a movie theater until 1951.
In 1954, the theatre began a general decline from its once great status in Salem into a second-run movie theater. In 1980, the Elsinore was set to be demolished. A grassroots effort known as the Save the Elsinore Committee did not want to let this historical treasure be demolished, and so began to work hard with local authorities to save the theatre. While the theatre was eventually saved from demolition, the committee was unable to effect any other major changes, as the two ballot measures pertaining to the theatre, one for its purchase and restoration, and another for long term operating funds, were defeated in 1981.
During the 1980s, the Save the Elsinore Committee obtained the consent of the owner to use the theatre for 18 days of the year for free community events in order to spark public interest about the theatre and its fate. The free events drew attendance of over 75,000 people.
Until 1987, the theatre was one of only three active movie theaters in downtown Salem (the others being the Capitol Theater
just around the corner and an arthouse theater). Many of its customers came from Willamette University
, drawn both by low admission prices and by the fact that the Elsinore was only two blocks off campus. In 1987, the Moyer family opened a new 7-screen movie theater several blocks away and converted an older multiplex theater elsewhere in Salem to a second-run movie house, effectively ending the Elsinore's life as a commercial movie theater.
In approximately 1989, the theatre was sold to ACT III Theaters in conjunction with several other local movie theaters in the possession of Tom Moyer, who was the owner at the time. ACT III continued to allow the community to have limited use of the theatre. ACT III did not have any interest in a 60-year-old movie theater however, and thus put it up for sale in 1990. The Save the Elsinore Committee jumped at the chance to gain ownership of the theatre and launched a fundraising drive to purchase it. The funds were raised, and the theatre was purchased. It continued to raise money for its operational costs through fundraising in the community and was graced by appearances from many stars at the turn of the millennium, most notably by actors James Earl Jones
and Gregory Peck
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1994.
Finally, in February 2002, a deal was cut with Curry Brandaw, the architectural firm also responsible for Salem's Riverfront Carousel, to help restore the Elsinore completely at an estimated cost of $3.2 million. Over the next three summers, massive restoration undertakings were set in motion to restore the theatre to its former grandeur. The project was completed in the summer of 2004, and the theatre celebrated its 80th anniversary in May 2006.
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, that first opened on May 28, 1926.
Construction and early years
Owner George Guthrie enlisted the firm of Lawrence and Holford to design the theatre in a TudorTudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style meant to resemble the castle in the city of Elsinore
Elsinore
Helsingør is a city and the municipal seat of Helsingør municipality on the northeast coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. Helsingør has a population of 46,279 including the southern suburbs of Snekkersten and Espergærde...
from Shakespeare's play Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
. Ellis F. Lawrence
Ellis F. Lawrence
Ellis Fuller Lawrence was an American architect who worked primarily in the U.S. state of Oregon. In 1914, he helped found and was the first dean of the University of Oregon's School of Architecture and Allied Arts, a position he held until his death.Lawrence concurrently served as campus...
, the first dean of the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
school of architecture, was the project's principal architect. The building features stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
by the Povey Brothers
Povey Brothers Studio
Povey Brothers Studio, also known as Povey Brothers Art Glass Works or Povey Bros. Glass Co., was an American producer of stained glass windows based in Portland, Oregon. The studio was active from 1888 to 1928. As the largest and best known art glass company in Oregon, it produced windows for...
and a Mighty Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
theatre organ
Theatre organ
A theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....
similar to the original, which was dismantled in 1962. Originally the Elsinore was designed for live performances and silent films. Three years after its construction in 1926, Guthrie leased the theatre to Fox West Coast Theatres. It was at this time that sound movies came to the theatre. One year after the lease to Fox Theaters, Guthrie leased it out to a different theater company, Warner Brothers Theaters which ran it as a movie theater until 1951.
Decline and restoration
During the 1980s, the Save the Elsinore Committee obtained the consent of the owner to use the theatre for 18 days of the year for free community events in order to spark public interest about the theatre and its fate. The free events drew attendance of over 75,000 people.
Until 1987, the theatre was one of only three active movie theaters in downtown Salem (the others being the Capitol Theater
Capitol Theater (Salem, Oregon)
The Capitol Theater was located at 542 State Street in Salem, Oregon, United States. It was built in the 1920s for vaudeville. During its heyday, it housed a Wurlitzer pipe organ, which is now in private ownership in Washington.- Decline and demolition :...
just around the corner and an arthouse theater). Many of its customers came from Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
, drawn both by low admission prices and by the fact that the Elsinore was only two blocks off campus. In 1987, the Moyer family opened a new 7-screen movie theater several blocks away and converted an older multiplex theater elsewhere in Salem to a second-run movie house, effectively ending the Elsinore's life as a commercial movie theater.
In approximately 1989, the theatre was sold to ACT III Theaters in conjunction with several other local movie theaters in the possession of Tom Moyer, who was the owner at the time. ACT III continued to allow the community to have limited use of the theatre. ACT III did not have any interest in a 60-year-old movie theater however, and thus put it up for sale in 1990. The Save the Elsinore Committee jumped at the chance to gain ownership of the theatre and launched a fundraising drive to purchase it. The funds were raised, and the theatre was purchased. It continued to raise money for its operational costs through fundraising in the community and was graced by appearances from many stars at the turn of the millennium, most notably by actors James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
and Gregory Peck
Gregory Peck
Eldred Gregory Peck was an American actor.One of 20th Century Fox's most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1960s, Peck continued to play important roles well into the 1980s. His notable performances include that of Atticus Finch in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird, for which he won an...
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1994.
Finally, in February 2002, a deal was cut with Curry Brandaw, the architectural firm also responsible for Salem's Riverfront Carousel, to help restore the Elsinore completely at an estimated cost of $3.2 million. Over the next three summers, massive restoration undertakings were set in motion to restore the theatre to its former grandeur. The project was completed in the summer of 2004, and the theatre celebrated its 80th anniversary in May 2006.