Building History

In this small city, made prosperous by copper refining operations of the Anaconda Copper Company, Alexander Pantages opened an outlet of his vaudeville circuit. As was typical of Pantages, he encased his theatre within an office building, an investment that would bring in lucrative monthly rental income. Pantages commissioned the local architect George H. Shanley to design the building, who collaborated with Pantages's trusted designer of theatres, B. Marcus Priteca (1889-1971).

For many years the Rocky Mountain Fire Insurance Company occupied the bulk of office space in the building. Retail shops lined the Central Avenue and 6th Street North facades.

The theatre accommodated 1,200 persons originally, with seats on a main floor, three lower boxes on each side wall and two balconies. The Pantages Theatre operated between 08/1914 and 1924, when ownership changed and it was renamed the "Rainbow Theatre." The Rainbow lasted nine years, before closing in 1935.

Alteration

A fourth floor appears to have been added, as the brickwork has a different color than that of the lower three floors.

A large fire gutted the office building and theatre in 2009, leaving only the building envelope.

PCAD id: 24614