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    Seattle's Music Venues
    Seattle's Music Venues
    Seattle's Music Venues
    Ebook192 pages46 minutes

    Seattle's Music Venues

    By Jolie Dawn Bergman

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    About this ebook

    The varieties of music venues in Seattle have been as vital and vibrant for the people of the Emerald City as the genres that have graced these famous halls. These houses of music have nurtured the entertainment legacy of this region. Each holds a beautiful, haunting, and unique history that has helped shape the Pacific Northwest s musical culture, which, in turn, has helped shape our community. Out of the ashes of the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the vaudeville age took Seattle by storm. The cultural and community centers harmonized with operas and symphonies. From the 1962 World s Fair to world-famous street musicians, Seattle s Music Venues will take the reader on a pictorial journey through 100 years of images compiled from the photographic collections of the Seattle Public Library, Seattle Municipal Archives, Library of Congress, and the author s personal collection.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateJul 1, 2013
    ISBN9781439643594
    Seattle's Music Venues
    Author

    Jolie Dawn Bergman

    Jolie Dawn Bergman is a fourth-generation Seattle resident who is a proud supporter of the preservation of historic Seattle locations and an active member of the local arts community for more than 15 years. She lives in the Ballard neighborhood where she owns an independent business that specializes in uncovering Seattle�s forgotten histories.

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      Book preview

      Seattle's Music Venues - Jolie Dawn Bergman

      opportunity.

      INTRODUCTION

      Music has always played an important role in the Pacific Northwest. From the first community center in the 1860s to today’s Folk Life Festival, these locations have housed cultural and creative significance for generations of Seattleites.

      Seattle, although wrought with mud, conflict, and social upheaval in the beginning, was still determined to move forward as one of the most important cities on the West Coast. The once unknown community grew quickly, attracting laborers and their families, as well as businesses looking for a new start. With a fast-growing city built predominantly out of wood, fire became an increasing concern, and unfortunately that apprehension was met with reality when in 1889 the Great Seattle Fire destroyed a majority of the city center. Seattleites, not to be detoured by a total structural catastrophe, marched forward with a new city made of buildings that were more durable. The structures were either built directly on top of the ashes or land was moved around the remaining structures in a project that created the Denny Regrade.

      By 1914, Seattle boasted the largest shoe factory, dry docks, and brewery on the Pacific Coast. It was also known for having the largest fisheries and lumbering interests in the country. By 1923, Seattle was recognized as being one of the healthiest cities in the United States and the second most literate while boasting a population over 300,000. This combination of business success, employment security, and a growing populace provided a haven for entertainment venues that advertised fire-safe theaters, clever comedy, and world-famous operas.

      During the early part of the 20th century, Seattle also boasted a successful jazz scene. Military personnel, while active, were not permitted to attend these attractions. They were even given a map of where not to go when stationed in the area, as these venues of vice were full of booze, women, and dancing. Still, the music scene prevailed in such hot spots as the Black and Tan Club, the Spokane Club, Royal Esquire Club, Savoy Ballroom, and the Rocking Chair, a location often attended by Ray Charles. These businesses often turned a blind eye to racial differences, instead relaying on each other to help build successful enterprises for the community.

      Neighborhood centers and clubs developed a stronghold in the area as waves of immigrants were calling Seattle their new home and trying to integrate with unfamiliar neighbors. For instance, the Nippon Kan hall in Seattle’s International District was an entertainment and education center for many citizens. Japanese Nisei dances were held not only in this hall, but also the Olympic Hotel, Queen Anne Field House, and the Collins Field House. The Washington Hall, Swedish Club, Sons of Norway Hall, and Skandia Ballroom also brought the Nordic countries together in dance as well as community events so that neighbors could congregate to take care of each other in times of joy or need.

      While the world propelled forward into the mid-20th century, Seattle became host to the World’s Fair. This event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the latest technological and cultural advancements of the generation. Seattle was ready for that spotlight, although it meant changes to the city. A significant proportion of the lower part of Queen Anne Hill neighborhood was cleared out to make room for the event. Over 50 years later, this area is still host to some of the largest outdoor musical events on the West Coast.

      Spanning the last 150 years, Seattle has been a musical hub for visionaries and risk takers. Many venues portrayed in this book have been locations where new ideas were hatched, couples met, the community came together, and creativity was inspired. In all, the music venues of Seattle have showcased growth, entertainment, understanding, drama, inspiration, comedy, and of course have brought people together through the universal language of music.

      One

      FROM COOKHOUSE

      TO OPERA SEATS

      In the 1850s, as Seattle was forming, the Yesler Mill Cookhouse not only housed the jail, military headquarters, and hotel at times but also acted as the community auditorium for local and traveling shows. Over a relatively short period of time, larger establishments began to grow around the shack foundations of the city, such as Plummer’s Hall, Yesler’s Hall, and Yesler’s Pavilion. By 1879, Squire’s Opera House opened its doors as Seattle’s first official theater.

      As the population grew, so did the size and number of establishments. Venues became more elaborate and sophisticated, all the while more community centers and park pavilions expanded to accommodate the rise of residential neighborhoods. Just as quickly as the city was being built, new houses of entertainment were erected to welcome the millions of visitors to the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition in 1909 and the first Golden Potlatch festival in 1911. By the first quarter of the 20th

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