In the past we have shared historical photographs of the Green Lake Theater (now the home of Pacfic Color Inc and La Escuelita) and the Bathhouse Theatre in Green Lake Park.
Today, via seattlepi.com, here are some archival photos of another Green Lake theater of days past: the Arabian Theater:
The Arabian Theater operated as a movie theater at 7610 Aurora Ave N. It opened in 1925 and stayed running for more than 30 years.
The above photographs were taken in 1956, the last year the building was an operating movie theater.
According to Casey McNerthney at seattlepi.com, the nearly 7,200-square-foot building was renovated in 1975 and it is now owned by the Saint Germain Foundation, a religious organization. The building has been modified, but the stained glass window from the theater remains.
Here is a shot of the building as it looks now:
Thanks for the tip, Shana!
Perhaps worth noting that the Arabian and the old Green Lake Theater are connected through one Lorenz Lukan, who “operated the Beacon, Arabian and other suburban theaters in Seattle as Lukan’s Far West Theatres” in the 1930′s. More here:
http://pauldorpat.com/seattle-now-and-then/seattle-now-then-the-green-lake-theatre-1947/
A view of the Arabian during its heyday here:
http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm-ayp/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/seattle&CISOPTR=1067&CISOBOX=1&REC=7
Oooh, good stuff. Thanks, seattler0cks!
Wow – seattler0cks that link you supplied really brings it to life – fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
There are all kinds of historical tidbids buried in these old photos. For example, this:
http://nwda-db.orbiscascade.org/print/ark:/80444/xv66016
provides a list of photos of theaters dating from the 30′s (you have to scroll down). The Arabian appears twice, but under different ownership
Here is is in 1930:
http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm-ayp/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/seattle&CISOPTR=204&CISOBOX=1&REC=2
when Bruen owned the place. Note the street address in the list is given as:
“7610 Woodland Park Avenue North”
When Aurora got rammed through in 1932, Woodland Park Avenue became Auroa Avenue.
If you look at the bottom of the list you’ll see:
“Lukan’s Woodland Theatre, 608 North 65th Street”
Lukan, of course, also owned the Arabian and later the Green Lake Theater. The Woodland Theatre appears here:
http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm-ayp/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/seattle&CISOPTR=71&CISOBOX=1&REC=1
Here it is today (building on the far right):
http://www.urbanspoon.com/u/photo_list/8104?photo_id=93288
You’d never know.