Historic Everett Theatre - Batter Up.

HISTORIC EVERETT THEATRE – BATTER UP.by Ed Shaw, Sunday, May 25th, 2014

You say "Theater", I say "Theatre"

It is always refreshing to hear a Venue Manager take the time to remind others which spelling of the word “theater/theatre” that they utilize for business affairs. When they do it is usually the latter, and such is typically a good sign. Such is the case with the Historic Everett Theatre in Everett, WA. Established originally in 1901 as the Everett Opera House, the Everett Theater hosted live music performances as well as theater and vaudeville shows. In it's early years, many of the nation’s most popular performers would take it's stage: Al Jolson, George M. Cohen, Nat Cole (before he became Nat "King Cole", Emmet Miller, Fatty Arbuckle, Helen Hayes, Helen Keller, Lillian Russell, Anna Held to name a few.

Some notable attractions/amenities of the now 800 capacity theatre that have followed it into the 21st century include it's magnificent boiler room (a steampunk dream), as well as an original Kimball Organ, the latest of a series of three, the 1st of which installed in 1918.

Bridging the Gap

Towards the latter part of the 20th century, The Everett Theatre was sent into brief slumber, due to circumstances common to most cyclical generation gaps. Out with the old, in with the new (or so most think at the time). There comes a point in each generational cycle, when the generation at bat realizes that they have been PUNK’D by Mother Nature. Realizing that they’ve just re-invented the wheel, everyone quietly takes a step back, places their gloves and bats on the ground and there is a humbling and peaceful calm that never lasts long enough. After a decade or two, the scoreboard is cleared, the past is forgotten, and the next team is ushered out onto the field. Someone hears “Batter up!” You have just entered The Twilight Zone. Worse-it's only been one minute, and you’ve got a sucker in your mouth.

Interlude:

Entertainment Value, as intangible as it is, can be measured in cold hard cash. Understanding great entertainment is an entirely different matter and of a metaphysical nature. It is sophisticated yet primal. “It” revolves around an objective understanding of human nature. Although environmental variables, science and technology advance in a linear manner, the fundamental principles of entertainment by nature (or design), do not change. Those that possess the ability to see and understand these principles (usually possessing a talent of their own), may in turn harness and utilize this gift as a means to livelihood. With enough left brain thrown into the mix, such livelihood bears potential to evolve into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. For more info,
" title="Search google for "Forer Effect"" target="_blank">google “Forer Effect”. End of interlude.

Re-Opening of Historic Everett Theatre

On or about the year 2000 A.D., a group of thoughtful and caring community members began the slow process of nudging the Theater back to life (to the tune of several 1000s of dollars and man hours). The torch had been successfully passed and it was time for the Everett theatre to get back to business.
Since HG Wells timeline as set in "The Shape of Things to Come" looked to be either slightly off or perhaps delayed, the Historic Everett Theater decided to get back to its roots with respect to entertainment programming-"SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE". Although the concept sounds simple, it is anything but. Ask PT Barnum, who actually coined the phrase. He's been dead for 125 years now. Guess what. Nothing has changed.

“The players may change but the game remains the same”

-Author Unknown

Unless PT Barnum made it into HG Wells' time mac

hine and is in the Boiler Room, someone at The Everett Theater seems to have more than a clue. At first glance, ceteris paribus, the now Historic Everett Theater seems postured to re-assert itself once again as a viable, well-diversified Performing Arts Theater, and one of the oldest in existence west of the Rocky Mountains.

Venue Information:

The Historic Everett Theatre is located at 2911 Colby Ave, Everett, WA 98201. Venue business hours are 2:00pm - 5:00pm Monday thru Saturday. For a calendar of upcoming events at the Historic Everett Theater, or for more information, visit www.historiceveretttheatre.org.

On June 21st, 2014 (Summer Solstice 2014), Everett Theatre presents The Led Zeppelin Experience, featuring No Quarter, a Live Musical Tribute to Led Zeppelin. All-Ages, Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm. Tickets available online at etix.com or www.historiceveretttheatre.org, at the Venue Box Office or by calling (425) 258-6766.