While there are many results while researching “Liberty Theater” in Bend, OR, there have been some difficulties in determining which Liberty Theater the newspapers were referring to as there have been two in Bend. One, the one I am researching, opened on July 29, 1917 and the other on April 20, 1924. The Liberty I am researching was used for films as the other Liberty was used as a performing arts theater and still is to this day.
From now on, I will only be discussing the Liberty Theater that opened in 1917. As previously stated, The Liberty Theater or “Liberty Arts Collaborative” was opened on July 29, 1917. According to newspapers from around the theaters time, I have discovered a few interesting details about the theater. The theater showed a plethora of movies including “Greased Lightning” starring Charles Ray, “The Money Corral” starring Williams S. Hart, “The Home Town Girl” starring Vivian Martin and “Hulda from Holland” starring Mary Pickford. Another interesting find was an excerpt from the manger, Ward H. Coble, addressed to the “Bend Theater Patrons” informing them on a sequel like followup to the film “Old Wives for New” and the new film titled “Don’t Change your Husband.” In this letter, Coble details how the first film sparked a lot of talk around Bend at the time with many women arguing that “isn’t the men often to blame?” And so, “Don’t Change your Husband” is written by Jeanie Macpherson, a woman, so, as Coble says, “We think you will find the woman’s angle, written by a woman, as interesting as the man’s viewpoint, written by a man.”
The theater remained in operation for more than 70 years before the theater closed in the late 1980s when it was called “Fine Arts Theater” and only the balcony was being used for this as the orchestra area was converted for retail space. Years later, “At Liberty Arts Collaborative” opened at the same address and is described as a “dedicated arts space, contemporary gallery, and cultural hub.” In 2020, At Liberty gifted “Scalehouse Collaborative for the Arts” most of its assets. It appears the actual building that was once Liberty Theater at 849 NW Wall Street Bend, OR has been vacant since At Liberty’s website domain has been erased and the art space has been completely merged into Scalehouse.
