Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Astoria #16: Liberty Theatre

1203 Commercial Street

Liberty Theatre in Astoria, Oregon on September 24, 2005

The Liberty Theatre is located on the Southeast corner of 12th and Commercial. The entire building is actually known as the Astor Building, and was built in 1924. The Liberty opened in 1925. It is one of the few theaters in the United States with Italian Renaissance architecture. The building was designed by John Bennes and Herman Herzog. The Liberty Theatre originally had a Wurlitzer organ that was sold to a theater in Denver in 1930. When the nearby Astoria Theatre was purchased by the owners of the Liberty in 1933, the Wurlitzer from that theatre was moved to the Liberty, where it remained until 1954. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 7, 1984, and the Liberty Theatre is undergoing a complete renovation, while operating as a performing arts center.

Historical Photos:
Liberty Theatre, August 1975 (American Classic Images)
Liberty Theatre, August 1975 (American Classic Images)
Liberty Theatre, July 1983 (American Classic Images)

For more information on the Liberty Theatre, and to see pictures of the interior, visit:
Liberty Theatre
Liberty Theatre at CinemaTour
Liberty Theatre at Cinema Treasures
Liberty Theatre at Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society

Continue to 17: Stokes Building

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