The Brief
- Travel celebrity and Washington native Rick Steves bought the historic, 100-year-old Edmonds Theater to preserve local film culture.
- The theater will showcase a documentary titled “The Last Picture Show” starting Friday to highlight challenges faced by small American theaters.
- A celebration party featuring a free screening with Steves will take place on Monday.
EDMONDS, Wash. – Travel author and celebrity Rick Steves has purchased the century-old Edmonds Theater in Snohomish County, securing the landmark venue’s future as a local community hub.
Steves, an Edmonds native, bought the historic single-screen theater to protect it from closure and preserve film culture along Main Street.
Preserving a century of Edmonds history
Originally built in 1916 as the Union Theater, the venue changed ownership and names over several decades before officially becoming the Edmonds Theater in 1979.
The venue stands as a local cultural mainstay, offering residents a dedicated space for cinema for more than 100 years.
Protecting local film culture
Steves explained that his decision to purchase the property stemmed from a desire to safeguard the theater’s place in the community.…