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Overview

In the 1910s-1920s, the Metropolitan had the reputation in Seattle as being the premier venue in which to see live theatre or musical performances. It formed part of the Metropolitan Tract, a large-scale commercial real estate development owned by the University of Washington in downtown Seattle, WA, begun in 1909. The theatre, a beloved Seattle institution, closed in 1954, and was torn down in early 1956.

Building History

The New York architecture firm of Howells and Stokes designed the facility using a steel and reinforced concrete frame. The front facade, notable for its elaborate cross-bond brickwork and florid classical ornamentation in terra cotta, stood three stories high. The eclectic facade, with its patterned brickwork and tightly grouped, arched windows, derived its character from Venetian and Neoclassical prototypes. Working in concert with Howells and Stokes, Abraham H. Albertson (1872-1964) served as an Associate Architect on the Metropolitan Theatre.

An early, grandiose conception for the Metropolitan Theatre Building, had it contained in the center of a large office block across University Street from the unbuilt Grandin Building. A segmental arched roof of glass would cover University Street attached to the Grandin and Metropolitan Theatre Buildings, shielding patrons entering the theatre. This conception, probably far too expensive, remained unbuilt. In 1923-1924, the Olympic Hotel would be built around the central Metropolitan Theatre, its conception consistent with this early design for a Metropolitan Theatre office building of 1910.

Plans for the construction of the Metropolitan Theatre arrived in Seattle by 11/10/1910. According to the Seattle Daily Times: "Tentative plans for the new Metropolitan Theatre, which Klaw & Erlanger of New York, will build at the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and University Street in this city, were received yesterday by the Seattle office of Howell & Stokes, architects in the Henry Building, and were later submitted to Building Inspector Francis W. Grant, who will approve them, it is said, providing certain minor alterations are made. It is believed here that the actual work of construction will be begun some time next month. A representative of Stone & Webster, the contractors, who will have this work in charge, is now in New York conferring with Mr. Klaw." (See "Metropolitan Plans Arrive," Seattle Daily Times, 11/11/1910, p. 6.)

Ground was broken for the Metropolitan Theatre on 11/28/1910. The Seattle Daily Times stated in its Sunday review of the week's real estate events: "Another important building event was the breaking of ground last Monday for the new $250,000 Metropolitan Theatre to be constructed by Klaw & Erlanger at the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and University Street." (See "Building Review Reveals Activity," Seattle Daily Times, 12/04/1910, p. 46.)

During the period c. 1948 through 1954, at least, Hugh N. Becket, Sr., (d. 1986 in CA) had the lease for the Metropolitan Theatre. In 11/1953, Becket, a relative of the Los Angeles architect Welton Becket (1902-1969), negotiated a lease to occupy Seattle's Moore Theatre for his theatrical company, when the discussions began to raze the Metropolitan. An article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer stated: “Hugh N. Becket, who has been operating the Metropolitan Theater, announced Thursday that he had acquired the Moore Theater on lease in the name of the Metropolitan Theater Production Co., Inc., of which he is president and owner. The lease on the Moore, of 10 years’ duration with a 10-year option, will start May 1, 1955. The theater is presently being leased to ‘Brother Ralph’ for religious purposes. Becket’s lease on the Metropolitan will expire on November 1, 1954, at which time, under an arrangement entered into by the Olympic Hotel with the University of Washington Board of Regents, the hotel will acquire the theater property. The hotel expects to raze the theater to provide for a new main entrance to the hotel. The Moore was built in 1907 and for years accommodated vaudeville. Becket said he understood the house seats 1,500 persons on the first two floors (orchestra and balcony) as compared with the Metropolitan which seats only 1,037 on the first two floors. Total seating at the Metropolitan, including the gallery, is 1,439, Becket said. ‘I am told that with the gallery at the Moore, the Moore will seat more than 1,600 persons,’ Becket said. “Becket said he was pleased with the Moore’s stage which is larger than that of the Metropolitan and ‘has the switchboard on the left side of the stage, looking toward the stage. Our switchboard at the Metropolitan has been on the wrong side for best, operational use.’ Becket said he plans to redecorate the Moore when he acquires it ‘but it is too early to announce plans; we’ve got to get costs first.’” (See "Theater Plans: Hugh Becket Gets Lease on Moore,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 11/13/1953, p. 8.)

Building Notes

On 06/08/1910, the Metropolitan Building Company signed a contract with Klaw and Erlanger, theatrical booking agents from New York, to supply talent to the Metropolitan Theatre.(See "Theatre Contract Good News for Klaw & Erlanger," Seattle Daily Times, 06/08/1910, p.1.) The arrival of this large syndicate in the Pacific Northwest to stage productions irritated some local impresarios, most notably, John Cort. (See Edgar H. Thomas, "Syndicate, in Announcement of New Metropolitan Theatre for Seattle, Accept John Cort's Kind Invitation to Come to Northwest; with Both Factions on Ground, It's up to Each to Make Good," Seattle Daily Times, 06/12/1910, p. 72 and "Small Houses Seeking Plays of Syndicate," Seattle Daily Times, 07/20/1910, p. 1

The Viennese opera, "The Spring Maid," produced by Werba and Luescher, began its engagement at the Metropolitan Theatre on Sunday 11/12/1911. (See "Amusements," Seattle Daily Times, 11/07/1911, p. 22.)

The Standard Grand Opera Company of Seattle debuted at the Metropolitan Theatre on 04/21/1914. (See "Seattle and State Advance During Year 1914," Seattle Daily Times, 01/03/1915, p. 24.)

The renowned thespian Helen Hayes (1900-1993) appeared in Laurence Housman's production of "Victoria Regina" at the Metropolitan Theatre in 1937.and performances of the play "Harriet" on 05/28/1945, 05/30/1945, 06/02/1945, 06/06/1945 and 06/09/1945.

In the 1950s, the Metropolitan Theatre had 85 feet of street frontage, and could seat 1,439 patrons.

Demolition

The Metropolitan Theatre was torn down during the months of January through June of 1956. It was removed to provide more space for a $1,500,000 addition to the Olympic Hotel that surrounded it. (See "Regents Study Extension of Hotel Lease," Seattle Daily Times, 1956-07-15, p. 21.) The theatre was razed to make room for the hotel's new drive-in entrance, restaurant and meeting hall. Architects reused existing roof supports (shortening them from 65 to 56 feet) and at least one, 15-ton, steel truss from the theatre to support the roof of the new hotel addition. (See "Ticklish Job," Seattle Daily Times, 04/24/1956, p. 14.)

PCAD id: 6072