First Theater

3, Svetlanskaya Street

Tikhy Okean Theater

In 1899, on the corner of Svetlanskaya and Koreyskaya (now Pogranichnaya) Streets, the merchant A. Ivanov constructed a big masonry building intended for the theater Tikhy Okean (Pacific Ocean); this was the first such theater structure in the Russian Far East. Crowned with a large lyre, this new artistic establishment became one of the main attractions of Vladivostok. Renowned actors performed here, for example N. Sikorskaya during her world tour.

In the spring of 1901 a cinematograph--an early type of motion-picture camera--was on display in the city, and on April 15, about 2,000 passers-by were filmed near the largest department store, the Kunst and Albers Trading House (see 35, Svetlanskaya Street). This film was subsequently shown at the Tikhy Okean, with large numbers of people, both curious and vain, returning several times to see themselves on the screen. Unfortunately, the theater was closed in 1908, because it failed to meet fire-safety standards. The upper floors have been used as living quarters since 1910 when the building was remodeled. Several different stores have occupied the ground floor, including a confectionery shop, and “Prestige,” a well-equipped food store with Russian and American goods.

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