The venue opened as Baker Theatre, the city's second "palace", at the intersection of Southwest Morrison Street and 11th Avenue on September 17, 1910.

Previously, the building served as a livery stable, and was built to house the Baker Players (operated by George Luis Baker).

However, poor acoustics forced the venue to close shortly after opening and undergo a two-month-long redesign.

Subsequent names for the venue included: Dufwin, Alcazar, Music Box, and El Capitan.

Its name was changed to Playhouse Theatre in 1932; from then on, the venue mostly showed films.