About

Address: 4619 Rainier Ave S, Seattle WA (Columbia City)

Columbia City Theatre was built in 1919 and today is the oldest existing Vaudeville theatre in Seattle. Since its inception in what is now marked an historic Seattle neighborhood, this landmark theatre has been an underground mecca of culture and host to some of Seattle’s most well-known icons.

Since its inception, the theatre has been host to many different forms of artistic display. Its original name was the Columbia City Theatre, but that too has changed numerous times over the past 86 years to include various cinemas; a Kung Fu studio where Bruce Lee held exhibitions; a practice and performance space for Jimi Hendrix before he hit the big time; and an underground jazz club that hosted Quincy Jones in the 60’s. For a time in the 70’s it became a hedonistic disco club.

In the 80’s Columbia City Theatre was called the “Barracades,” an underground club used by punk bands for their live shows. The 90’s found the theatre transformed into Seattle’s most used and recognized space for underground raves which showcased some of the world’s most well-known DJ’s.

The 21st centur..