The Showbox

The Showbox
Marquee of venue circa 2007
Former names Showbox Theater (1939-48)
Showbox Ballroom (1953-60)
The Gathering (1967-74)
Talmud Torah (1975-79)
Showbox (1979-91)
Showbox Lounge (1992-94)
Showbox Comedy and Supper Club (1994-2007)
Showbox at the Market (2007-14)
Address 1426 1st Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Location Pike Place Market
Owner AEG Live
Capacity 1,100[1]
Opened July 24, 1939 (1939-07-24)
Closed 1948-53; 1962-67
Website
showboxpresents.com

The Showbox[2] (originally known as the Showbox Theater) is a music venue in Seattle, Washington. It has been owned by AEG Live since 2007.[3]

History and usage

Founded in 1939,[4] the Showbox has hosted a diverse offering of music over the decades. From the Jazz Age to the Grunge Era, the ballroom has featured shows by Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters and the Ramones — as well as local artists such as burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee, and grunge bands Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, TAD and Screaming Trees.[5]

After many years of operating as the Improv Comedy Club, restaurateur Tony Riviera and Barry Bloch purchased the Improv with the intent of continuing operating the Venue as The Improv. Riviera and Bloch discovered old photos and historical information and articles about the Showbox and decided to recreate the venue to its original look and reopened New Year's Eve 1995 as The Showbox Comedy and Supper Club which they operated for several years before deciding to sell the Venue. Riviera went on to open numerous restaurants up and down the West Coast.[5][6]

Other acts to perform at The Showbox have included Al Jolson, Mae West, Nat King Cole, Jimmy Durante and Dizzy Gillespie, The Police, XTC, X, Blondie, Gang of Four, Iggy Pop, Devo, Dead Kennedys and Jerry Cantrell.[7][8] More recent performers include The Weeknd, Snoop Dogg, Dave Matthews, Kanye West, Lorde, Robbie Williams, Modest Mouse, Death Cab For Cutie, Public Enemy, PJ Harvey, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, Daft Punk, Kasabian, Old 97's, Elliott Smith, Peter Murphy, Guided By Voices, Built To Spill, Billy Idol, David Bazan, Bebel Gilberto, Cat Power, Spiritualized, Sleater-Kinney, Minus the Bear, Coldplay, Bright Eyes, The Roots, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Dita Von Teese, Maroon 5, The Shins, The Melvins, My Morning Jacket, LL Cool J, DJ Shadow, Scissor Sisters, TV On The Radio, Ke$ha, Kimbra, Marina and the Diamonds, B-52's, Lady Gaga, Ice Cube, Paul Simon, Macklemore, JoJo and many more.[9][5]

In July 2018, the property was acquired by Vancouver-based developer Onni Group, and is planned to be redeveloped into a 42-floor apartment tower.[10]

Seattle musicians such as Duff McKagan,[11] Alice in Chains,[12] Death Cab for Cutie[13] and Macklemore have voiced their support for preserving the Showbox.[13] A petition on Change.org to name the Showbox an official City of Seattle landmark has garnered over 90,000 signatures.[11] Omni Group filed a lawsuit against the city of Seattle to prevent them from designating it a historic landmark.[14]

Showbox SoDo

Showbox SoDo
Former names Fenix Underground
Premier
Address 1700 1st Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98134
Location SoDo
Owner AEG Live
Capacity 1,800
Opened 1992 (1992)

Showbox SoDo opened in 2007 and belongs to "Showbox Presents" family. It is located at 1700 1st Avenue South, Seattle, Washington. It takes its name from the SoDo district, referring to an area south of Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field.

It has hosted concerts for M.I.A, Heart, Josh Ritter, The Hives, Kid Rock & Adam Lambert, among others.[9]

The Showbox added to its family in 2007 with the addition of the larger Showbox SoDo, a converted-warehouse-turned-concert venue located just south of the sports stadiums in the SoDo district. The space has wood-beam and brick architecture. In its short history, the venue has already hosted events featuring Kid Rock, Heart, The Pogues, M.I.A, The Hives, Dropkick Murphys, Josh Ritter, Counting Crows, Panic! at the Disco, Adam Lambert, Odd Future, The WhiteTrash Whiplash and many more.

This Showbox SoDo was originally built as a truck warehouse in 1935 for John Eddy Franklin who was also responsible for the Columbarium at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home. The main part of the warehouse had a dirt floor and a gas pump.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Scanlon, Tom (August 13, 2007). "Music & nightlife | Fenix closes; Showbox Sodo will take over club | Seattle Times Newspaper". Seattletimes.com. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ Rose, Cynthia (May 23, 1996). "Living | Reinventing Itself Again - The Showbox Has Housed Acts From Duke Ellington To Punkers, From Taxi-Dancing To Hip-Hop, Even Bingo. Now It Returns To Its Classier Roots. | Seattle Times Newspaper". Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  3. ↑ "AEG Live Buys Showbox | Line Out | The Stranger's Music Blog | The Stranger | Seattle's Only Newspaper". Lineout.thestranger.com. December 6, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  4. ↑ Blecha, Peter (July 9, 2014). "The Showbox (Seattle)". HistoryLink. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "The History of the Showbox in Seattle". Seattle Magazine. July 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Dv8'S The Place: L7, Dinosaur Jr. Headline Two Happening Concerts". The Seattle Times. November 4, 1994.
  7. ↑ "Jerry Cantrell Concert Setlist at Showbox Comedy and Supper Club, Seattle on October 31, 1998". Setlist.fm. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Jerry Cantrell Headlines with Mad at Gravity Supporting". antiMusic. September 12, 2002. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Showbox Presents :: Home". Showboxonline.com. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Seattle's Showbox apparently to be demolished for apartment high-rise". The Seattle Times. July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan wants to save the Showbox". My Northwest. July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Alice In Chains on Instagram: "A Seattle institution. #savetheshowbox savetheshowbox.com"". Instagram. July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Can the Showbox Be Saved?". Seattle Weekly. July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  14. ↑ https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/09/06/31912568/showbox-owner-sues-the-city-to-block-preservation-seeks-40-million
  15. ↑ Personal knowledge,Franklin was my great grandfather. I may have some paper records/plans.

Coordinates: 47°36′30″N 122°20′22″W / 47.60833°N 122.33944°W / 47.60833; -122.33944

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