One hundred years of entertainment — and community

Lincoln Theatre’s Centennial Campaign aspires to build a sustainable future.

Mount Vernon’s historic Lincoln Theatre will hit its 100th anniversary of bringing stories to life on stage and screen on April 21. To celebrate, the theater has launched its Centennial Campaign to build an inclusive, accessible and sustainable future.

The touring International Guitar Night is often a sell-out show at the Lincoln Theatre. (Courtesy Damian Vines)

A celebration will take place April 24-26, to “support this important effort that will keep the Lincoln going strong for another 100 years,” said Jere LaFollette, a longtime supporter in Mount Vernon.

The celebration will include:

The Centennial Concert, April 24 — live music featuring local artists Chris Eger and Savanna Woods with the winner of Lincoln Theatre’s April 4 Battle of the Bands event as the opening act.
The Community Showcase, April 25 — a variety show including local groups that regularly perform at the Lincoln.
A silent film event — Live ragtime by Karen and the K Cats, a selection of silent cinema from 1926 including cartoons, news reels, travelogues and a feature-length film accompanied by a live score featuring the Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ.

Downtown Mount Vernon will offer a walking tour of its historic theaters, a driving tour of historic theaters in Skagit County and a new blog about the history of the Lincoln.

A replica of Lincoln Theatre’s proscenium is featured at La Conner’s Museum of Modern Art, “Behind the Curtain: 100 Years at the Historic Lincoln Theatre,” on display through May 3. (Courtesy Timothy Mickleburgh)

Now through May 3, La Conner’s Museum of Northwest Art is showcasing “Behind the Curtain: 100 Years at the Historic Lincoln Theatre,” a display of artifacts and replicas of the history and current art forms at the theater that appeals to all ages, including interactive displays, photographs, audio and physical models.

Tradition and innovation

The Lincoln Theatre officially opened on April 21, 1926, as a vaudeville and silent movie house. Now it serves as a cultural hub where community members work together to bring a variety of programs to the stage.

Jessica Waggoner, director of operations, said the Lincoln averages just over six events per week, ranging from fundraisers and local school performances to classic and contemporary movies and touring theater productions. The theater hosts performances by the Skagit Symphony and the Starry Night Chamber Orchestra, along with annual school band concerts.

Lincoln Theatre’s backstage is one area in need of expansion. (Courtesy Damian Vines)

LaFollette said that in these difficult times a sense of community could not be more important, both for mental and social health. Volunteers keep the theater humming, serving as ushers and ticket-takers, pouring wine, dishing up popcorn, and acting as stagehands.

Some of the films screened recently at the Lincoln include “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “Barefoot in the Park,” the Metropolitan Opera’s “Live in HD: ‘I Puritani’,” a “Frozen” sing-along and National Theatre Live’s “Life of Pi.”

Live music coming up includes Irish folk group Lunasa, Seattle’s Polyrhythmics and Iris Dement.

Upcoming theatrical productions include the return of the popular “Always, Patsy Cline” and “Psychic” comedian Peter Antoniou.

Joani Pfeiffer, who’s volunteered at the Lincoln for about six years and is on the Lincoln Foundation board, said that the theater’s goal is to provide something for everyone. There’s likely something that will anger almost everyone, such as the controversial original musical “Pray the Gay Away” in 2019, but she believes that one of the theater’s missions is to be inclusive.

“People can just make the choice to not participate in something that does not fulfill their entertainment values,” she said.

Fred Beck is one of the volunteers who play Lincoln Theatre’s Wurlitzer Organ for silent films and other events. (Courtesy Damian Vines)

According to the website, of the 98 Wurlitzer organs remaining in their original theaters in the United States, the Lincoln’s Wurlitzer is one of only two 2-manual, 7-rank D-2 Full Unit Orchestra models. That means it features seven ranks of pipes, an original Wurlitzer remote piano and a complete sound effect system for silent films, including beats, castanets, drums, cymbals, glockenspiels and marimbas, as well as a set of silver chimes mounted on the auditorium’s painted columns.

Campaign goals

The Centennial Campaign — with a goal of $4 million leading up to the April celebration — will allow the theater to:

Improve comfort and safety for audiences and performers through infrastructure upgrades including an up-to-date HVAC system. This will allow a safe and comfortable temperature year-round.
Install a comprehensive fire suppression system to bring the theater up to current safety standards. This will protect this historic building and everyone who gathers within this facility.
Improve the behind-the-scenes educational classrooms and performance preparation space.
Expand accessibility by removing physical barriers.

“We need to ensure that we keep our great volunteers, engaged community members and both our national and local partners who help us bring in stellar programming,” Waggoner said.

— By Margaret Bikman