Venue & History

Built in 1927, Mount Baker Theatre was one of the last grand vaudeville movie palaces to be built in the Pacific Northwest. From silent films to live performing arts, MBT has preserved history while also serving the demands of modern, continuously changing economy, technology, and society.

Learn more about the theatre below, or take a tour with one of our volunteers who is passionate about our history.

History

Mount Baker Theatre (MBT) first opened more than 97 years ago to fanfare from the local Whatcom County community. On April 29, 1927, at 6:00 p.m. whistles shrieked from Bellingham Bay, fire engine sirens rang into the night, and streetcars carrying passengers to the theatre clanged their bells. The doors to the luxurious movie palace opened at 6:30 p.m., letting in the crowd of people who were lined up around the block. That same day, The Bellingham Herald published an article predicting, “The whole town will be gay! Joy will reign supreme.” 

MBT is the only survivor of five similar movie palaces built in Whatcom County between 1914 and 1930. But exactly how has it been able to survive and thrive over these past 97 years? The city and county, as well as, hundreds of volunteers, businesses, and other donors pitched in to save, restore, and renovate MBT along the way. Through tremendous community effort, MBT has evolved into the premiere Pacific Northwest cultural destination that it is today.

MBT opened in 1927, during the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds of similar theatres opening every year between 1925 and 1930. MBT was built by West Coast Theatre, controlled by William Fox of 20th Century Fox Studios, and designed by architect R.C. Reamer. Reamer created MBT’s Moorish-Spanish design, a mix of classic styles with extravagant ornamentation. Today, patrons can still see Reamer’s artistry in the combination of different, unique styles, including French Baroque, High Gothic, Moroccan, Mediterranean, Spanish Gothic, Italian Renaissance, and Egyptian Revival.

Builders broke ground for the theatre on April 6, 1926. The building was completed after only one year, and was built with the most modern construction methods at the time. Several different contractors and over 80 craftsmen experienced in stone masonry, carpentry, and plaster casting were employed to create the building that would embellish Bellingham’s skyline for 97+ years.

The 130 by 250-foot theatre was outfitted to accommodate vaudeville stage productions on a 26 by 75-foot main stage. Dressing rooms and practice rooms behind the stage were connected by a tunnel to the orchestra pit, and the best in counter-weight lighting systems were used to enhance the live performances at MBT. In addition to motion pictures, MBT had the latest in projection room equipment and gadgetry, a flying screen, and the largest stage in the State of Washington at the time. Last but not least, was the top-of-the-line Style 215 Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, which still remains at MBT today. Everything that could be found in the finest playhouses across the country was put into Mount Baker Theatre in 1927.

⭐ Fun Fact: The project equipment still lives in the project room at MBT today.

On opening day the searchlight from the historic battleship Oregon revolved atop MBT’s tower, creating light rays visible within a sixteen-mile radius — from Burlington to Lynden. This gigantic relic, from the sea hero of Spanish American war days, let Bellingham and the surrounding community know that Mount Baker Theatre was open for business.

The interior and exterior of the theatre was a spectacle, with three massive electric signs reading “Mt. Baker” adorning the tower. Bellingham local Ruth Hill, who was 16 when the theatre opened, remembers the hundreds of people waiting to see “Slide, Kelly, Slide”, the first show MBT presented.

MBT was to be one of the last grand vaudeville and silent movie palaces built in the entire Pacific Northwest. The theatre was known for hosting vaudeville greats like well-known brother and sister dance team Fanchon and Marco Wolff. Many stars began their career with Fanchon and Marco, including Bing Crosby and Judy Garland. Later in MBT’s opening year, “The Jazz Singer” became the first feature-length talking motion picture to show widely across the country, which eventually led to the end of the vaudeville era and a shift towards the talkies, film, and television. 

In 1929, the Great Depression began, instantly ending investment in lavish movie palaces. To this day MBT still honors its roots, patrons can still enjoy the occasional silent film at MBT, with expert organ accompaniment played on the original Wurlitzer pipe organ.

Joy Brown was the original organ player at MBT. Brown and the organ rose into full view of the audience, a novel experience for theatre goers of the time. Gunner Anderson also played MBT’s Wurlitzer organ as the matinee organist and relief player until the decline in silent films. But, in the 1950s Anderson returned to MBT and continued to play. Alongside other organ lovers, Anderson is credited with helping the Wurlitzer become one of the only original and operational theatre organs still in use thanks to his continual use and care during the time. 

Following World War II television and suburban migration, there was a decline in movie ticket sales, and most movie palaces and independent theaters were forced to shut their doors. The ones that survived, like MBT, were converted to multiple screen venues or performing arts centers that operated as regular theaters, showcasing concerts, plays, and operas.

During World War II, MBT remained quite unchanged. The theatre hosted local dance schools, like it still does today, and crowds gathered to watch the newest talking motion pictures. Long-time MBT Manager (1951-1986) LeRoy Kastner prevented several attempts to redecorate, leaving the original design untouched except for minor changes and maintenance to the carpet and paint. By 1978, MBT was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

In the early 1980s, William Fox sold the theatre to a Canadian firm, which planned to divide the theatre into multiple screens. Vigorous public protest squashed that effort but the building was also in need of significant repair and at one point became slated for demolition. Bellingham architect James Zervas was instrumental in rallying the community to save it.

In November 1983, the community developed a partnership between the city, county, state and local businesses and citizens, making MBT a city-owned facility managed by the Mount Baker Theatre Corporation, a 501(c)(3) citizen-based nonprofit. Through the cooperative efforts of the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, the State of Washington, the citizen-based non-profit, and numerous private donations, the historic Mount Baker Theatre underwent extensive restoration and remodeling of the 1,517-seat facility to assure a permanent and useful place in the cultural life of the community. It remains true to its heritage of stage presentations and community use events.

From that point forward, MBT’s ongoing operations have been covered by a mix of show-related revenue streams, support from MBT Members, sponsors and volunteers, and various grants. Capital investments and improvements throughout many phases of renovation were fueled by over $14 million in private donations. Today, the theatre is still kept alive through the generosity of our community, audiences, members, donors, and sponsors.

Several important changes occurred during this time period. A Historic Community Theatre Development Grant in 1991 allowed for safety repairs and restoration of the marquee and tower lighting, while other donations and grants provided for painting of theater walls including the restoration of the old paint in the lobby. The beautiful plaster ceiling was restored and the theatre’s seats were reupholstered. A truss and fly system — a system of ropes, pulleys, and counterweights used to hoist stage crew members into the air —  was installed on the stage and the orchestra pit was covered with an apron.

In 2003, more renovations began with the purchase of small storefronts that were part of the original theatre building. With the added space, MBT created the  Harold and Irene Walton Theatre, a versatile 200-seat studio theater with state-of-the-art acoustics, sound and lighting. The newer space accommodates events ranging from meetings to more intimate full stage productions.

The exterior of the building was renovated with careful respect for the original design, including the restoration of the original sandstone façade and tile parapet. Behind the scenes multiple spaces were improved, including the dressing rooms, green room, and the stage access. 

In 2008, MBT closed for nine months to continue renovation of the theater and lobby spaces. During those nine months MBT created a new ticket office and administrative space, acoustical upgrades, lighting upgrades, and an upgrade of the mechanical and electrical systems. Air conditioning was added to the balcony area to improve comfort and air flow. Funds for the renovation came in-part from state capital funds, a federal Housing and Urban Development grant, and the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District.

MBT’s incredible Wurlitzer pipe organ (Opus 1558) was maintained for decades with the help of local volunteer organ aficionados, formally organized as the Mount Baker Theatre Organ Society. Only 2,143 Wurlitzer pipe organs were created, 14 of which were made especially for Fox West Coast Theatres. MBT’s organ is one of only 12 worldwide that is still used in its original venue. When it was installed the organ was considered the largest instrument of its caliber in town, with an operating facility that enabled the organist to play the equivalent of four instruments at one time. 

The society’s final act before disbanding the group was to raise funds to support the digitization of the organ. They turned over those funds to MBT with the understanding that the work would be done and the organ would continue to be played. In 2012-13 the organ was professionally converted to digital. The air still goes through each historic pipe, but now an infra-red laser beam reads electronic signals instead of the original — and degrading — electrical wiring. Once named one of the top ten functioning organs in the U.S., the magnificent instrument is still played by traveling organist Dennis James several times a year during silent films at MBT.

Although MBT recently celebrated its 97th birthday, it’s still an active, thriving performing arts center in excellent shape. The theatre currently supports more than 400 events and 110,000 visitors annually including more than 17,000 Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and upper Snohomish Counties’ public, private and homeschool communities via MBT’s educational programs.

In addition to hosting world class entertainment like traveling Broadway shows and legendary music performers, MBT also serves the local community. Local groups and organizations have access to the restored building and professionally-managed stage to make their events incredible. Bellingham Symphony Orchestra, local performing arts schools, film festivals, Bellingham Technical College and speakers from various civic and community groups use the spaces every year. 

As a community-owned Pacific Northwest performing arts and education center, MBT is a stunning example of how history can be preserved while serving the demands of modern, continuously changing economy, technology and society.

Mount Baker Theatre was the creation of a nationwide movement to construct formidable theater buildings in the hearts of American cities. Now, decades later, the theatre is involved in a new movement, this time to preserve a wonderful heritage and to restore the structure for community use, performing arts, and entertainment centers.