When the longest continuously running movie theater in America, Bay Theatre in Ballard, closed its dilapidated doors in 1997, local moviegoers had two choices if they wanted to see a film. They could go with their tails between their legs to downtown Seattle (a place that old-school Ballardites avoid at all costs), or they could drive up the hill to the U-District and sniff exhaust fumes and urine along 45th Avenue. Luckily, this obviously unacceptable situation changed when real estate magnate Kenny Alhadeff decided to buy the property in 1998 and bring movies back to Ballard in the form of a $5 million first-run triplex he named the Majestic Bay Theatres. Alhadeff caught plenty of flack when he and his family sold the Longacres racetrack in Renton to Boeing back in the day, but it seems he has found some redemption as a philanthropist in this working class town.
Brent Siewert, general manager of the Majestic Bay who also worked for the Alhadeff family at Longacres, said they just wanted to renovate and modestly remodel the existing building. But when that proved irrational due the deterioration of the structure, they had to tear it down and start anew. “Part of the plan was to put up a place with some brick character that looked like it belonged in the neighborhood, as opposed to something that is all stainless steel and glass,” Siewert said. Alhadeff and company definitely had a good reason not to be too extravagant, considering the delicate nature of the changing community.
There has been an ongoing debate in Ballard about growth in the once incorporated blue collar neighborhood. Some locals—many of whom are still pissed off that the city of Seattle gobbled up their hometown in the early 1900s—resent the invasion of professional types moving in to live in overpriced condos and sip lattés on Market Street. Some also frown upon the musicians and hipsters that come to live in small apartments or duplexes, work at Hattie’s Hat and drink Pabst on Ballard Ave.
But not all Ballard natives are opposed to the changes; many appreciate the growing local economy. With the new money also comes a cleaner image and sleeker streetscapes. These changes are most evident on Market Street, which has undergone some serious cosmetic surgery in the last five or ten years; the trick has been to avoid overdoing it. Nothing represents this balance better than the Majestic Bay Theatre.
Standing tall between Tully’s and Ben & Jerry’s, a large blue and yellow neon sign draws attention to the theatre. The sign, along with the building, is a combination of classic and modern style. A walk through the thick mahogany doors with gold-rimmed portholes reveals an almost museum-like setting. Directly inside on the center wall hangs a large glass-encased display of autographs and photos of Academy Award winners from every year dating back to 1927. On the west wall of the lobby on either side of the elevator are pictures of the demolition and construction process, as well as old photographs of the Theatre under its three previous names. On the east side of the lobby there is a concession stand with dark granite countertops and the familiar popcorn machine – perhaps the only thing that would alert you to the fact that you are indeed standing in a movie house. The main auditorium features stadium seating, high-back chairs with armrest cup holders, a wall-to-wall screen, Dolby Digital sound, and a retro-style waterfall curtain. There are two smaller theaters upstairs, each holding about 100 people and boasting the same amenities.
When I visit the theater to talk to Siewert, he zips down the stairs with sweat on his brow and a sense of urgency. He has curly brown hair, some of which is wet from perspiration. He tells me apologetically that he can’t talk right now. He’s busy setting up the schedule for the next week and dealing with ad agencies. Siewert runs the place for Alhadeff, who only comes by on Mondays. “I thread the projectors, put the ads together, and clean up the graffiti in the alley,” Siewert told me. He also supervises the work force at the Majestic. Underneath the bustling general manager are three other managers and about 15 part-time employees. Two of them, Kari Jackson and Rosa Laurean, split time between concessions and the box office. Jackson, who has worked at the Majestic Bay since it opened in 2000, says she likes the job because of the laidback atmosphere. “Once the crowd goes into the theatre you get to chill for a couple hours,” she said. “It can get boring sometimes though.” Laurean has a way of dealing with the downtime. “I do a lot of crossword puzzles,” she said. Both of the charming young ladies said they enjoy working with a view of Market Street. “This is Ballard, so weird things happen,” Jackson said. “There’s also a lot of history here.”
The site of the Majestic Bay Theatre is surely a significant part of Ballard history. The original movie house opened in 1914 as the Majestic Theatre; in 1929 there was a change of ownership and it was renamed the Roxy, which featured early “talkies.” In 1949 the name was changed again to the Bay Theatre, which it remained until it closed in 1997. It is unclear why the previous owners of the Bay didn’t renovate the place much earlier, but Siewert offered an explanation for why they abandoned it. “They had more profitable ventures elsewhere, so it wasn’t worth their while to run it anymore. It was a dollar house, showing second-run movies, and I don’t think it was bringing in too much revenue. Also, it was an 80-year-old building, so there were some integrity issues going on with the structure,” he said.
Steve Arnold, 50, has lived most of his life in Ballard, and remembers the Bay Theatre very well. “When my friends and I were growing up we used to go to a lot of Saturday shows. Prices were still cheap, and everything was on the main floor. It was a big enough theater that if you came late you could usually still get a seat,” he said. Arnold also said that children’s TV personalities used to come and do live shows at the Bay. “The Bay was very popular here, even when Ballard was kind of run down and there wasn’t much to do,” he added.
Siewert and Alhadeff have been enjoying the positive feedback. “We’re very happy with the reaction from the public. They seem to be very happy with having the theater here and being able to see new movies in their neighborhood instead of having to get in their car and go elsewhere,” Siewert said.
The most amazing thing about this movie house is that, so far, the Majestic Bay has been able to please all parties; it’s family friendly, one of the few places in Ballard that can make that claim after dark. The keep-it-real hardliners appreciate the fact that it is an independent theater unassociated with any chain, and the new-school, latté-pounding professionals approve of the classy appearance and modern amenities within. Now, of course, it is very important to mention that the Majestic Bay is merely a five-minute stumble from many of Ballard’s finest watering holes, enabling local scenesters to catch a flick after happy hour and before the local punk show at the Sunset. What more could a person ask for?
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