Washington Theatre

Info Updates:

1/26/2010 - Karin

Does anyone remember if Mandrake the Magician ever performed at the Washington Theater?

12/10/2008 - lyle

My father was also a projectionist at the Washington. What I remember best was the popcorn. When I went to work with my father he would send me down with a grocery sack to get popcorn. era 1958-60.

4/17/2005 - Bay Journal

In 1886, the Woods Opera House opened on this historical spot as the citys first building devoted to theater. Fire detroyed the building in 1902, In 1903 a new building opened as the Washington Theater, then in 1916 it became the Washington Strand before returning to simply the Washington Theater in 1925. In 1965, the building was demolished and this historical spot was turned into a parking lot.

2/2/2004 - Jack R. Miller

As a native of Bay City and projectionist in various theatres there, I was acquainted with Ed Johnson who operated it until it closed and was demolished. The top night picture is exactly how it looked til it closed. Showing first run features on a split with the Butterfield Theatres in town. It was magnificent inside and out with a large balcony and box seats on each side of the main auditorium. At one time, I worked with another projectionist there while showing 3-D films which required two projectors "in sync" and 2 projectionists. The Washington did it all!

1/19/2004 - WaterWinterWonderland

The Washington was clearly a beauty, as this night photo shows. Based on these 2 pictures, it evidently underwent some architectural changes over the years. Clearly this house goes back to the late teens or the early twenties.

4/8/2003 - WaterWinterWonderland

This vaudeville theatre was opened in the early 1900s.

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