Classical Music Venues With Non-Classical Histories: Mount Vernon’s Lincoln Theater

Theaters of the 1920’s were nothing short of magical. Elaborate architecture and stunning decor housed vaudevillian acts and traveling shows for an evening or two, while making way for a rapidly growing hunger in America – a desire for movies. The Lincoln Theater in Mount Vernon was born during this enchanting time of art and growth and today serves as a home to performances and culture in Skagit county.  

The Lincoln Wurlitzer has gone through several restorations and upgrades and remains functional today. Courtesy of The Lincoln Theater.

The Lincoln was the brainchild a newspaper publisher E.W. Pollock, bringing together decor ideas from his business partner Edwin Halberg and Seattle Architect William Aitken. It opened its doors in April 1926 to thrill the public and impress critics as a home for silent movies and vaudevillian shows. The shining star of the newly opened Lincoln was a Wurlitzer Pipe organ, costing an astounding $22,000 ($337,000 in today’s terms). The organ was to be the perfect accompaniment to silent movies and shows, but in an unlucky example of technological advancement, the first “talkie” premiered in 1927 and the need for a Wurlitzer was greatly diminished.  

The Lincoln remained a popular destination for traveling shows, jazz and movies throughout the next few decades. Many upgrades and restoration efforts have kept the Lincoln alive and well into the 21st century as the only remaining functioning 1920’s theater in Mt. Vernon. The Lincoln remains full of history – you can still see its original Spanish style décor and 1920s splendor, admire the signatures of performers from over the last 100 years that decorate the walls and doors backstage, and there are even a few ghosts that call the theater home. Today it is maintained by The Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation and volunteers, and serves the Northwest Youth Symphony Association, local productions and the community as a performing arts center for all kinds of art.