Chelans Historic Ruby Theatre

Experience “Cinema in Memorable Surroundings” at Chelan’s Historic Ruby Theatre.

The Historic Ruby Theatre offers a year-around schedule of first run movies for the whole family.  For the last 109 years the Ruby Theatre, a National Historic Landmark, has been Chelan’s favorite venue for movies and community events. From the early Chaplin and Buster Keaton “photoplays,” to Hollywood’s current “Barbie” and “Wonka,” the Ruby has shown tens of thousands of films to five generations of residents and visitors.

The theatre interior with its horseshoe balcony, ornate tin ceilings, original projection room, and plaster proscenium arch is essentially as it was when the Ruby opened in 1914. The Ruby is a classic example of early movie theater design used for thousands of small town and neighborhood theaters built between 1915 and 1940.  The building may be old, but is well maintained, energy efficient, the new seats are comfortable, and the projection equipment is “state of the art.” 

The Ruby recently brought back another historic dimension to the theatre.  The owners have installed a rare 1919 Wurlitzer Model “O” photo player, christened as “Valentina.” Valentina “replaces” a 1922 photo player used for a short time in the 1920’s to accompany silent films.  Valentina is a self-playing “One Man Band,” as she was originally advertised, with a full piano keyboard, percussion section, set of bells, four ranks of pipes and an assortment of sound effects.  The Ruby may be the only remaining movie theater in the world with a working photo player, of the 9,000 to 10,000 theaters that had photo players in the early 1920’s.

This year the Ruby will be adding regular, “Silent Saturday” programs to its schedule.  “Silent Saturdays” will show a series of early silent “photoplays” in their original style accompanied by “Valentina,” our resident photo player.

The Ruby is also available for private rentals.  The theatre is ideal for business meetings, musical performances, family gatherings, parties, and school field trips. 

Come early and enjoy our historical pre-shows and personal movie introductions. The popcorn is fresh and the staff is welcoming.

For more information and current movie schedule visit our website, rubytheatre.com, or call 509-687-3210.