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American (Beck's, Metropolitan) Theatre Back to the Washington Original Theatre Installations page
According to facts provided by the Whatcom Museum, Beck's Theatre was built by Jacob Beck, a German immigrant and Whatcom area developer. The theater was designed in Louis XIV style and built of Chuckanut sandstone at a cost of $150,000. Total seating capacity was 2,200.
Postcard ad for Beck's Theatre, 1911 Jacob Beck died in 1914, and in 1915-1916, the upper balcony was removed. The theatre was renamed American at this time. Removal of the second balcony in progress, c.1916. Scaffolding from the stage to the upper balcony was used to bring down the seats and take up materials. Photo courtesy Jeff Fox & Whatcom Museum. Removal of second balcony completed, c.1916. Photo courtesy Jeff Fox & Whatcom Museum.
The red light bulb shown above was purchased by Jeff Fox for $1.00 at the Lighthouse Mission second hand store in Bellingham in 1962. According to Jeff, when he went to purchase the bulb, the older lady working there mentioned that she was the one who had donated it to sell in the store. She told Jeff that her brother was a janitor at the American Theatre many years ago and he had brought this bulb home. The bulb measures 6 inches from tip to tip and it still works! Chester Walton at the Morton accompanying a play, title unknown. Photo courtesy Jeff Fox In the photo above, note the inset on the proscenium arch. According to Jeff Fox, this was added in 1916 when the theatre became a photo-play house and the name changed to American. Its purpose was to frame the screen but it narrowed the opening for live shows. The clocks were most likely added at this time as well. The grand piano is a Baldwin. Beck's Theatre program for the week of May 4, 1919. Courtesy Jeff Fox. According to Jeff, "Chester E. Walton was organist and Charles Bowen was assistant organist at this time. Bowen had a piano studio in the Fine Arts Bldg. on East Holly Street in Bellingham." American Theatre, c.1921. Photo by J. W. Sandison, courtesy Whatcom Museum
Photos by J. W. Sandison, courtesy Whatcom Museum. Complimentary pass coupon, 1935. Courtesy Jeff Fox. Looking North on Cornwall Ave. American Theatre on left, c.1940s c.1940s The Balcom & Vaughan opus lists indicates that Wurlitzer opus 69 went to Larry Langevin of Yakima in the 1950's. Its history immediately after the theatre is unknown.
The Robert-Morton organ was removed to storage. Some ranks such as the Muted Horn were taken but the great majority of the instrument went to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sedro Woolley where it remained until about 1976. The following ad appeared in the Bellingham Herald, November 1974.
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