Adams in Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
America's Oldest Continually Operating Movie Theatre
Photographed by Tatiana Zavala, June 6, 2024
1. America's Oldest Continually Operating Movie Theatre Marker
America's oldest continually operating movie theater opened on this historic site in 1914 as the Majestic. In 1929, as the Roxy, it featured "talkies." In 1946, it became known as the Bay. In 2000, with the opening of The Majestic Bay, we start a new tradition, a dream of being the nation's finest neighborhood theater and restoring movie house magic to Ballard.
Erected by Marlene & Kenny Alhadeff, Elttaes Theaters LLC.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.
Location. 47° 40.128′ N, 122° 23.056′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It is in Adams. It is on Northwest Market Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2044 NW Market Street, Seattle WA 98107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mural at Bergen Place (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Carnegie Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Ballard Centennial Tree (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Marvin Sjoberg (about 300 feet away); The Ballard Avenue Landmark District Historic Marker Project
this page online
More about this marker. The marker is located at the left entrance wall to the theater facing the ticket box.
Also see . . . The Majestic Bay (Wikipedia). Overview:
The Majestic Bay Theater, built in 1914 in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, was the oldest continuously operating movie theater in the United States prior to its closure in 1997.[1] In 1998, it was renovated and transformed from a bargain single-screen theater to a well-appointed triplex(Submitted on May 23, 2025.)
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, February 21, 2026
2. America's Oldest Continually Operating Movie Theatre
Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2025, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California. This page has been viewed 2,265 times since then and 1,394 times this year. Last updated on February 23, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1. submitted on May 23, 2025, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California. 2. submitted on February 23, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. photo of the marker within its surroundings • Can you help?
