The Theatre Story

In the theater of your mind, picture this: The building that is the Columbia Theatre does not exist. The chandeliers are gone; the stage is no more. The crystal-clear acoustics are dead silent. The ornate frieze work has vanished; the final curtain has dropped on the old hall.

That almost came to pass. In the spring of 1980, a wrecking crew stood ready to tear the building down, reduce it to rubble, destroy the magnificence and the charm, the majesty and the history of the Columbia Theatre. It could still happen, but it won't. Will it?

When Mount St. Helens exploded on May 18, 1980, it not only blew a large chunk of itself to smithereens, but it literally made sure the same thing didn't happen to the Columbia. The contractor hired to demolish the building was called to other duties after the volcano dumped millions of tons of ash and debris over the Lower Columbia region. This drew attention to the destruction of the mountain, and the ravages it caused, and away from the impending demise of the old vaudeville and movie house.

The Columbia's story began with R.A. Long, the Kansas City lumberman whose vision culminated in the building of a new city on the banks of the big river. Some of his top aides formed the Columbia Theatre Amusement Company and hired a noted architect to design what became this building. Imagine the scene on opening night -- April 4, 1925 -- when fully a quarter of the new city's populace easily fit into the 1,000-seat structure. They gazed upon the same lighting fixtures overhead, the same main curtain, the same detailing visible today.

They probably watched an evening of vaudeville and a silent film, accompanied by the resonating tones of the massive organ pipes once hidden in the ornate proscenium arch. They'd see such young stage talents as Clark Gable and Ginger Rogers in touring productions as vaudeville's days waned, and they'd see the same actors as stars of the big screen -- first in silents, later in talkies. Over the years, they'd see the organ dismantled and sold, the orchestra pit covered, the old arc-light stage equipment used less as movies took over the stage. Over the years, television and cineplexes took away the audience.

Then, from the ashes of the volcano, rose a new Columbia Theatre, dedicated to the performing arts -- to the world of the stage, not the big screen.

For a group of visionary citizens led by Virginia Rubin, the eruption was a reprieve and an opportunity. The rescue effort officially began on July 21,1981, when the Columbia Theatre Task Force was created to raise funds to purchase the building and develop it as a performing arts center. That effort failed, but the group persevered . The City of Longview had the vision to realize the historical and cultural significance of the theater and purchased it on December 9, 1982.

Within a month, the Task Force began to convert the vaudeville house-turned-picture show back into a functional theatrical facility. They
restored the original décor, refurbished the 35 abandoned apartments that
flank the theater and several retail spaces on the ground floor, set up a
management and ticket office, and arranged financing for that first phase.

Professional fund-raising efforts were ineffective, and attempts to secure
grant funds fell through. The outlook was bleak, indeed. Abandoning the
elaborate plans drawn up by noted restorer Thomas McCann, the Task Force regrouped and, as the saying goes, "the tough got going." The community -- individuals, merchants, industries, churches and civic clubs -- responded and got to work on what became a giant do-it-yourself project. Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts officially opened its doors on Nov. 22, 1983 with a Southwest Washington Symphony performance; the old house born of vaudeville lives on, a gem in the community.

The city still owns the building, and the old Task Force is now the Columbia Theatre Association for the Performing Arts, but the struggle for operating and renovation funds continues even today. The need for better dressing rooms and production equipment is evident, and audiences are well aware of the limited restroom facilities and lobby accommodations. Nonetheless, the Columbia Theatre remains the Grande Dame of Southwest Washington -- a dynamic, robust performing arts venue.

There are qualities that make her irreplaceable: The acoustics of a theatre built before electronic amplification, the warmth of an auditorium where
every seat is good, the memories that have been created, and the anticipation of great shows to come.

We invite you to join our association and help restore this treasure. Let's
keep this dream alive. Brochures are available in the lobby. Thank you for being a part of the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts.