Known Years of Operation

Jan 20, 1921 - Dec 31, 1959

Number of Seats

520

Owner/Managers

C.A. Gage

 

Article About Liberty Theatre
The Coquille Valley Sentinel, January 30, 1925, pg. 10, Historic Oregon Newspaper Database
Cooking School Advertisement
The Coquille Valley Sentinel,  June 12, 1936, pg 3, Historic Oregon Newspaper Database

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Liberty Theatre of Coquille, Oregon, was located roughly thirty miles inland from Coos Bay. In this small town, logging was a prominent business and was one of many small towns in the area. The Liberty Theatre started as a vaudeville theatre and progressed into a picture house. Sound equipment was added on February 16, 1930. Before that there was musical accompaniment. Throughout the years, this theatre hosted many community events, from cooking schools to fiddling competitions. The Theatre was managed by Clyde Gage, and had an occupancy of 520 seats. The theatre was located on the outskirt of downtown, on the corner of First Street and Willard Street.

Liberty Theatre Ad about Sound Equipment
The Coquille Valley Sentinel, January 24, 1930, pg. 3, Historic Oregon Newspaper Database
Fiddlers Contest Ad
The Coquille Valley Sentinel, January 24, 1930, pg. 3, Historic Oregon Newspaper Database

 

 

Ad about the reopening of the Liberty Theatre
The Coquille Valley Sentinel, May 29, 1936, pg. 6, Historic Oregon Newspaper Database
Opening day flyer for theater reopening
The Coquille Valley Sentinel, May 29, 1936, pg. 7, Historic Oregon Newspaper Database

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Liberty Theatre underwent renovations after briefly being closed in the early 1930's. This restoration included heating and new plumbing, along with new seats and a new sign. Most importantly, there was a vital addition of a new sound system for the theatre that was fully equipped and ready for the advancement of sound in film. The city of Coquille was growing at this time and the remodel of the theater solidified its growth, as the theatre would operate well into the 1950s and possibly early 60s. The theatre stayed standing and was converted into housing until it was completely demolished in 2024. There is no photos of the theater in use but there is still evidence featured in the Sanborn Fire map, and pictures of the abandoned building. There was also a Mural that was featured on the side of the building, painted in 1995.

 

 

Photograph of the Mural that was painted on the side of the Liberty Theatre
Highsmith, Carol M., Photograph, May 7, 2018, Library Of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Sanborn Fire Map of Liberty Theatre in Coquille
"Coquille June 1920", Sanborn Fire Map, 1920: 6. Proquest Digital Sanborn Maps.

Works Cited

  • The Film Daily. The Thirty-Third Edition of the Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures: Nineteen Fifty-One. New York: The Film Daily, 1951.

    Highsmith, Carol M., photographer. "This Large, Eerily Realistic Mural in Coquille, Oregon, Was Painted in 1995 by Lee Wilder Snide. It Depicts Authentic Scenes of Coquille Businesses in the Early 20th Century." May 7, 2018. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.

    "Electric Cookery School.", Advertisement,The Coquille Valley Sentinel, June 12, 1936, 3. Historic Oregon Newspaper Database.
     

    Advertisement, The Coquille Valley Sentinel, May 29, 1936, 7. Historic Oregon Newspaper Database.

    Advertisement, The Coquille Valley Sentinel, May 29, 1936, 6. Historic Oregon Newspaper Database.

    "About Sound Equipment Coming.", Advertisement, The Coquille Valley Sentinel, January 24, 1930, 3. Historic Oregon Newspaper Database.

    "Old Time Fiddlers Contest.", Advertisement, The Coquille Valley Sentinel, January 24, 1930, 3. Historic Oregon Newspaper Database.

    "Liberty Theatre Popular Show House.", Advertisement, The Coquille Valley Sentinel, January 25, 1930, 3. Historic Oregon Newspaper Database.