SeattleChange
The Historic BAL Theatre originally opened on July 1946 and has continued to be run as a multi-cultural performing arts theatre, special events, movies, live music, comedy conferences and so much more.
Billed as "the Bay Area's most modern theater," the local press described the new BAL Theatre as "dazzling" and "lavish" when it opened on July 1, 1946. The theatre included a replica of the sidewalk at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, complete with hand and footprints of Hollywood stars. With radio personality Dean Maddox as Master of Ceremonies, Dick Jürgen’s and his Big Band, movie star Virginia Wiedler christened the theatre's box office with a bottle of champagne as airplanes dropped streamers and confetti on the crowd below. The opening evening's feature was a double bill of The Bandit of Sherwood Forest and Getting Gertie's Garter and hosted entertainment.