A New Play-House for Walla Walla
The Edward Shields company is renovating the Stahl building to create a 600-seat theater.
The Edward Shields company expects to invade the theatrical field of Walla Walla to a very appreciable degree, evidenced by the modern little theater being fitted up in the Stahl building on Alder Street. Carpenters are making rapid progress, and the new playhouse will likely be turned over to the management of the Shields company within two weeks. With the exception of the G.A.R. hall, the theater will occupy the entire second floor. A large stage, 24 feet in width by 40 feet in length, has been put in, and a new balcony capable of seating 300 persons is under construction. The old dancing hall and banquet room have been combined into a single hall 60 by 90 feet, seating about 600. Manager William Rasmus is currently in Portland arranging for season attractions.
“That the Edward Shields company expect to invade the theatrical field of Walla Walla to a very appreciable degree.”
The Stahl building and the subsequent loss of such historic downtown performance venues mark the shifting cultural landscape of Walla Walla's city center over the last century.
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