[4] Designed by B. Marcus Priteca, it was Seattle's first theater built specifically for showing movies, and was one of the first cinemas anywhere to strive for architectural grandeur.

"[5] The exterior features elaborate terra cotta work, and the original interior was comparably ornate.

When it opened in the silent film era, it boasted a 7-piece orchestra plus an organist; the giant organ was made by Moller, and the musicians—all Russians—were reputed to be the highest-paid movie theater musicians in the country.

[3] It closed on March 11, 1990, after showing the film Tremors;[6] the building was renovated into a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) Banana Republic clothing store that opened in 1994.

[7] The store closed in 2020 and is planned to be replaced by a temporary art space by XO Seattle in 2023.