Bing Crosby Theater is a performing arts theater located in Spokane, Washington which was designed by theater architect Edwin W. Houghton. The theater was originally built in 1914 as an 800-seat movie theater called Clemmer Theater.[2] Between May and October 1925, local singer Bing Crosby was a regular performer at the theater.[3]
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| Former names | Clemmer Theater, State Theater, Metropolitan Performing Arts Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 901 West Sprague Avenue |
| Location | Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°39′25″N 117°25′31″W / 47.65694°N 117.42528°W |
| Public transit | Spokane Transit Authority |
| Owner | Jerry Dicker |
| Type | Theatre |
| Capacity | 756 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1914 |
| Renovated | 1988 |
| Architect | Edwin W. Houghton |
| Website | |
| www | |
Clemmer Theater | |
| Architectural style | Chicago, Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002758[1] |
| Added to NRHP | December 1, 1988 |
Over the years the theater fell into disrepair until it was purchased by a local company in 1988 and refurbished. The theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 1988.[1] It was re-opened as the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center and was used for concerts, lectures, and movies. The Met was purchased by local businessman Mitch Silver in 2004 and in 2006 renamed after Bing Crosby when a local historian noticed that the city did not have any landmarks named after the multimedia star, who grew up in Spokane.[4][5]
References
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ Flom, Eric L. (February 22, 2003). "Clemmer Theatre in Spokane opens in 1914". Essay 5273. HistoryLink. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
- ^ "Bing Crosby. Day By Day". bingmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Spokane honors most famous hometowner Bing Crosby by naming theater after him". The Associated Press. December 7, 2006. pp. One. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
- ^ Sowa, Tom (September 29, 2006). "Met Theater will be renamed to honor Bing Crosby". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 13, 2014.