Building History

This theatre operated briefly in 1913 as the "Orpheus Theatre" but was purchased by exhibitor Clarence Farrell in 12/1913, and renamed the "Colonial."

In late 1935, the venue was renamed the "Audion Theatre." (See "Theatergoers Proclaim Audion One of Finest in Northwest," Ellensburg Evening Record, 12/02/1935, p. 2.)

The building stood vacant for many years during the mid-twentieth century.

An antique mall operated in the former Orpheus/Audion Theatre building between c. 1987 and 2007. By 2017, the Audion Theatre housed a yoga studio.

Alteration

A fire caused about $2,000 worth of damage to the Audion Theatre on 02/17/1938. The Spokane Spokesman-Review said of the blaze: “Ellensburg’s first fire in 1938 caused an estimated $2,000 damage to the Audion theater here yesterday afternoon. Discovered just an hour and a half before the doors of the theater were to open for the evening show, the blaze was said by Fire Chief Leon Kirk to have been smoldering under the floor for at least five hours. Dense smoke forced firemen to don gas masks and smoke and water damage was heavy. Clarence Farrell, proprietor, who discovered the blaze, said he believed the fire was caused by a match picked up by a vacuum cleaner which had been placed in the storeroom under the floor. The theater was remodeled two years ago.” “Theater Flares, Damage Is $2000,” Spokane Spokesman-Review, 02/18/1938, p. 7.)

PCAD id: 24024