{{short description|Historic theater in Chehalis, Washington}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = St. Helens Theater | nickname = The House of Hits | image = {{multiple image |border = infobox |total_width = 290 |perrow = 1/2/2 |caption_align = center |image1 = Chehalis, WA — Former St. Helen's Theater, St. John's Garage.jpg |caption1 = Former St. Helens Theater |image2 = St. Helens Theater 04.jpg |caption2 = Theater next to St. Helens Hotel |image3 = St. Helens Theater 05.jpg|thumb |caption3 = Front entrance, 2022 |image4 = St. Helens Theater 06.jpg |caption4 = Exterior details, 2023 |image5 = Chehalis - former St. Helens Theatre detail 01.jpg |caption5 = Exterior detail }} | image_map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_relief = | fullname = | former_names = St. John's Garage | address = 456 N Market Blvd{{efn|Before a city-wide renumbering of addresses in the city in 1975,<ref>{{cite news |title=Mailing addresses unaffected |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1975/08-12/page-5 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=August 12, 1975 |page=5}}</ref> the original address was 886 Market.<ref name="GA"/>}} | city = | location = | coordinates = {{coord|46|39|53.9964|N|122|58|7.914|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline}} | owner = Arthur St. John, Twin City Theater Company, United Theatres Company | operator = | designation = | type = | event = | seating_type = | suites = | capacity = 850 | record_attendance = | dimensions = | field_shape = | acreage = | surface = | screens = 1 | current_use = | production = Film, live theater performances | broke_ground = | built = | opened = May 12, 1924 | renovated = 2008 | expanded = | closed = March 12, 1954 | demolished = | rebuilt = | years_active = | architect = Jacque DeForest Griffin | website = {{URL|https://www.cityfarmchehalis.com|City Farm Chehalis}} | embedded = }}
The '''St. Helens Theater''' is a former single-screen movie house in Chehalis, Washington. The theater is situated within the Chehalis Downtown Historic District and is located next to the St. Helens Hotel; both the district and hotel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building was originally an automobile dealership owned by a prominent Chehalis businessman. Remodeled beginning in 1923 in Italian Renaissance style, the St. Helens Theater was designed by architect Jacque DeForest Griffin. The playhouse opened on May 12, 1924 featuring the movie, Sporting Youth. Used as well for vaudeville, the theater contained a stage, large lobby, and was known for elaborate design flourishes. The "House of Hits" featured a $20,000 Kimball International organ.
Managed by a regional theater company since the movie house began, the theater remained operational until March 12, 1954, when it was closed. With the advent of larger movie screens and competition from a newer, more modern Pix Theater in the downtown district, a remodel of the St. Helens was found impractical due to expense and the footprint limitations of the structure. The building was converted into an office building, remaining so into the 21st century.
In 2008, the building was renovated to be used as a private event and rental venue. The restoration led to the finds of numerous theater details that were preserved.
==History== thumb|left|upright=0.6|St. Helens Theater, as the St. John's Garage, ca. 1914–1915 {{see also|History of theaters in Chehalis, Washington}} The St. Helens Theater,{{efn|The words, "theater" or "theatre", are used equally when describing the St. Helens in sources, even from its beginnings. No source has yet been found to convey which spelling is considered official. See sources throughout the article.}} designed by architect Jacque “Jack” DeForest Griffin,{{efn|Jack Griffin is often incorrectly mentioned as the architect of the St. Helens Hotel, the confusion arising from the theater being located immediately next to the inn.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Skinner |first1=Andy |title=Jack DeForest Griffin: Architect That Changed Chehalis |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/jack-deforest-griffin-architect-that-changed-chehalis,80648? |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=The Chronicle |date=September 5, 2014}}</ref>}} was located next to the historic St. Helens Hotel in the downtown district.<ref name="SHTIC"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Skinner |first1=Andy |title=Get to Know Jack DeForest Griffin: The Architect Who Changed Chehalis |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/get-to-know-jack-deforest-griffin-the-architect-who-changed-chehalis,19440? |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=February 14, 2018}}</ref> The building occupied by the St. Helens Theater was originally utilized as a Ford dealership; a gas station was located at the site. Known as the St. John's Garage, the dealership and theater were owned by Arthur St. John, who also had ownership stakes for several years in The Dream and Liberty theaters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Skinner |first1=Andy |title=Arthur St. John Helped Lewis County Usher in the 'Era of the Auto,' Flight |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/arthur-st-john-helped-lewis-county-usher-in-the-era-of-the-auto-flight,19494? |access-date=November 27, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=February 12, 2018 }}</ref>
Plans to convert the garage to a movie house, initially estimated to cost $75,000, were begun in July 1923 with proposals including an {{convert|18|x|50|ft|abbr=on}} stage and a large lobby.<ref name="NTFC">{{cite news |title=New Theaters For Chehalis |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1923/07-27/page-1 |access-date=October 9, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=July 27, 1923 |page=1}}</ref>
The brick-and-tile Italian Renaissance style theater, with a final renovation cost of $100,000, opened on May 12, 1924. The venue had an occupancy of 850 and was home to a $20,000 Kimball organ.<ref name="SHTIC">{{cite web |last1=Flom |first1=Eric L. |title=St. Helens Theatre in Chehalis opens on May 12, 1924 |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/5126/ |website=HistoryLink |access-date=October 6, 2023 |date=January 26, 2003}}</ref><ref name="FSHT"/><ref>{{cite web |title=St. Helens (Fox) Theatre – 2/6 Kimball |url=https://www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/chehalis/st-helens.htm |website=Puget Sound Pipeline |access-date=October 6, 2023}}</ref><ref name="TSHTR"/>{{efn|Initial reporting listed the organ's cost at $15,000 and the instrument shipped in two pieces due to its size.<ref name="TWTBR"/>}} Billed as the "House of Hits",<ref>{{cite book |last1=McDonald-Zander |first1=Julie |title=Images of America – Chehalis |date=2011 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9780738576039 |page=93 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NaVwkcPhFwEC |access-date=November 27, 2023}}</ref> the theater's first presented film was Sporting Youth.<ref name="SHTIC"/>
While the movie house exhibited films, the venue was used as well for live theatrical performances, particularly vaudeville.<ref name="SHTIC"/> The playhouse was under the ownership of the Twin City Theater Company.{{efn|The Twin City Theatres Corporation was formed by local movie venue owners A. F. Cormier, Frank A. Graham, and E. T. Robinson shortly before the loss of Centralia's Grand Theatre to fire in April 1924. The company's formation allowed for a monopoly of the remaining movie houses in the two cities.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Flom |first1=Eric L. |title=Fire strikes the Grand Theatre in Centralia on April 15, 1924 |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8399 |publisher=HistoryLink |access-date=March 24, 2025 |date=December 10, 2007}}</ref>}} Along with the Dream Theater in 1927, the St. Helens was sold to the United Theatres Company as part of a $1.0 million purchase of theaters in the region.<ref name="OMTDI">{{cite news |title=$1,000,000 Theater Deal Interests Local People |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mzBLAAAAIBAJ |access-date=November 22, 2023 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=April 29, 1927 |page=13}}</ref>
The St. Helens installed a Movietone sound system in 1929, becoming the first theater in the city to host a talkie.<ref>{{cite news |title="Talking Movie" Is Here Sunday |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1929/03-15 |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 15, 1929 |page=1}}</ref> The first talking picture shown was the George Jessel comedy-drama, ''Lucky Boy''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Movie Critic Praises George Jessel's Art |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1929/03-15/page-5 |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 15, 1929 |page=5}}</ref> The advancement was of such value that a two-page spread advertisement was published in the ''Chehalis Bee-Nugget'' newspaper, with local businesses congratulating the theater.<ref>{{cite news |title=Advertisement |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1929/03-15/page-20 |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 15, 1929 |pages=20–21}}</ref>
===Closure=== In 1952, the organ was sold for $1,000 to a resident of Seattle where he installed it in his parents' home.<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Helens (Fox) Theatre – 2/6 Kimball |url=https://www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/chehalis/st-helens.htm |website=Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society |access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref>
In a February 1954 announcement, the St. Helens Theatre was to close on March 12, 1954 after the building was sold by the Twin City Theatre Company to F and S Improvement Company of Centralia. The sale was part of a business interest swap for the theater company, acquiring the Centralia Liberty Theatre building in return from another entity. The St. Helens venue was to be converted into a commercial building with a 15-year agreement that the remodeled structure could not be used for theater purposes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Theatres of Twin Cities in Property Sale |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1954/02-13 |access-date=March 25, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=February 13, 1954 |pages=1, 8}}</ref>{{efn|The sale of the St. Helens was for the building only, not the St. Helens Theatre name or company, which necessitated the 15-year non-compete agreement.<ref name="TSSC"/>}}
thumb|upright=0.8|Marquee, 1930 The sale of the St. Helens was made necessary due to the lack of space for a wider movie screen at the theater, a feature becoming more common at the time. With alterations of the St. Helens proven to be limited and expensive, moviegoers opted for the competing Pix Theater at the north end of the downtown district, which was considered newer and more modern, offering better sightlines and comfort. Transfer of some film projection equipment from the St. Helens to the Pix began shortly after the sale announcement.<ref name="TSSC">{{cite news |title=Theatre Sale Shows Change |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1954/02-16/page-9 |access-date=March 25, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=February 16, 1954 |page=9}}</ref>
In its final week, the movie house showcased the films Mogambo, featuring Clark Gable and Ava Gardner, and the Oscar-winning documentary, The Sea Around Us.<ref>{{cite news |title=Two Adventures At St. Helens |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1954/03-09/page-9 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=March 9, 1954 |page=9}}</ref> The final films shown at the St. Helen's Theater was the last Disney-released RKO Radio Pictures film, Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue, and the war film, El Alamein.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Krefft |first1=Bryan |title=St. Helens Theatre |url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/15722 |website=Cinema Treasures |access-date=November 27, 2023}}</ref>
By July 1954, the conversion of the theater was underway, with a Chehalis Chamber of Commerce committee requesting that exterior improvements to the appearance of the old venue be "worked out".<ref>{{cite news |title=Newly-Organized Chehalis Chamber Group Meeting |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1954/07-09/page-3 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=July 9, 1954 |page=3}}</ref> The balcony was sealed off and converted to office space.<ref name="FSHT"/> During a dismantling of the interior in September, a piano and a birch door were stolen from the premises. County sheriffs found the items in November sitting in the front room of a house, the Chehalis resident claiming that the items were being stored and was unaware of their provenance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheriffs Get Busy Holiday |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1954/11-12/page-1 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=November 12, 1954 |page=1}}</ref> A man was arrested for the theft weeks later in Roseburg, Oregon.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trio Back To Face Charges |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1954/11-29/page-1 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=November 29, 1954 |page=1}}</ref>
After the remodeling of the St. Helens Theatre, the first business to occupy the revamped space was Pacific Telephone and Telegraphy Company of Chehalis (PT&T), opening a new office in the building in July 1955.<ref>{{cite news |title=PT&T Due To Move Office |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1955/06-03/page-7 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=June 3, 1955 |page=7}}</ref> The Chehalis Flower Shop opened next to the PT&T office the following month.<ref name="GA">{{cite news |title=Grand Opening |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1955/08-18/page-2 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=August 18, 1955 |page=2}}</ref>
The theater was used for a time in the 1970s as offices for the local Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{cite news |title=It's Your Business – Remodeling upstairs |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/1994/09-12/page-5 |access-date=April 15, 2024 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=July 14, 1977 |page=25}}</ref> The site was remodeled beginning in 2008 and converted into a rental venue that restored large parts of the original theater footprint and fixtures.<ref name="FSHT">{{cite news |last1=Tomtas |first1=Justyna |title=Former St. Helens Theatre in Chehalis to Open as Event Center |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/former-st-helens-theatre-in-chehalis-to-open-as-event-center,33188 |access-date=October 6, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=March 21, 2017}}</ref> A ghost sign for the Chehalis Bee-Nugget newspaper was found during the remodel and was preserved.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pittman |first1=Mitch |title='It's a labor of love:' Old Chehalis theater gets new life |url=https://komonews.com/news/local/its-a-labor-of-love-old-chehalis-theater-being-brought-back-to-life |access-date=July 10, 2021 |work=KOMO 4 News |date=March 31, 2017}}</ref>
==Geography== The St. Helens Theater is located within the Chehalis Downtown Historic District and immediately next to the St. Helens Hotel. Both the district and hotel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=97001407}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Chehalis Downtown Historic District |publisher=National Park Service|author= |date= |access-date=March 27, 2024}} With {{NRHP url|id=97001407|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}{{source-attribution}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=91001497}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: St. Helens Hotel |publisher=National Park Service|author= |date= |access-date=March 27, 2025}} With {{NRHP url|id=91001497|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}{{source-attribution}}</ref>
==Architecture and features== The St. Helens Theater had a footprint of {{convert|50|x|110|ft|abbr=on}} and contained office space off the lobby. The building was furnished, at a cost of $19,000, with Hartford-Saxony designed carpeting, featured a garden next to the stage, an orchestra pit, and was adorned with decorative panels on the walls and grillwork on the ceiling. The machinery was considered top-of-the-line for its day and the seating was air-cushioned, including some that were upholstered in leather. The stage was listed as {{convert|22|x|24|ft|abbr=on}} and the dark blue, gold-accented curtain was raised and lowered via electricity. Dressing rooms were located across the alley from the theater, as was the $10,000 worth of equipment to provide heat and cooling to the auditorium.<ref name="TSHTR">{{cite news |title=The St. Helens Theater Ready |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r0tUAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 9, 1924 |pages=1, 15}}</ref><ref name="TWTBR">{{cite news |title=Theater Work To Be Rushed |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1923/11-02/page-1 |access-date=October 9, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=November 2, 1923 |page=1}}</ref>
<gallery class="center"> File:St. Helens Theater (Chehalis) 01.jpg|Ghost sign, Chehalis Bee-Nugget File:St. Helens Theater 03.jpg|Light fixture and grill, 2019 File:St. Helens Theater 02.jpg|Second floor, interior, 2019 </gallery>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== * {{commons category-inline|St. Helens Theatre}} {{reflist}}
{{Chehalis, Washington|state=collapsed}}
Category:1924 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Buildings and structures in Lewis County, Washington Category:Chehalis, Washington Category:Cinemas and movie theaters in Washington (state) Category:Former cinemas and movie theaters in the United States Category:Italian Renaissance Revival architecture in the United States