THE GUM WALL PIKE PLACE MARKET

at Unexpected Productions' Market Theater 1428 Post Alley, Seattle , 98101 United States

1. Theatre
2. Tourist Attraction
3. Sports & Recreation
4. Arts/Entertainment/Nightlife

Unexpected Productions Market Theater Wall of Gum, Seattle, Washington! A bizarre tradition at Seattle's Market Theatre in Post Alley has turned into a fascinating yet very germy attraction: a giant wall of gum.

Description

New patrons waiting in line outside of Unexpected Productions’ Market Theater may be startled by what they see on the front wall of the theater: designs made by thousands of pieces of chewed gum. The wall began more respectably. Early 20th century farmers coming to the Market to sell produce shelters their horses in the stable located in the Economy Building. Later the building housed a movie theater. Established improv theater company, Unexpected Productions, began leasing the building 1991. Soon after, a patron waiting in the ticket line to see Theatresports, a popular competition improv comedy show (still running today), stuck a piece of chewed gum to the wall, topping it with a penny. Others followed suit. By the end of 1995, the wall was covered with coin-topped chewed gum offering. One day, someone in need of money to all the coins, but left the gum. The idea stuck. The landlord – Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) was offend that theatergoers would deface the historic brick building and asked Unexpected Productions to remove the gum. The gum quickly returned, and the PDA asked that the wall be again be scraped clean. 1998, after patrons reconstructed the wall a third time, the Market finally gave up as the tradition was in full swing. The wall continues to grow and evolve. Much like an improv performance, it is different every single day. Since the gum wall’s inception there have been reports of walls of gum created in various communities across the United States. However, none of them has gained the fame (actually infamy) of the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market Creators of the gum wall have taken their time, spelling out their name or their significant other’s name along the wall. Others have posted their hometown or their home country. And a few have even put up messages of hope and peace. Seattleites use the gum wall in a variety of ways, even as an unusual backdrop for wedding photos, something the theater staff sees about twice a month. Photographs of the wall also have graced business brochures. Tour groups visiting the Market stop daily to see it.

How To Get to THE GUM WALL PIKE PLACE MARKET

Unexpected Productions' Market Theater are located downtown in Pike Place Market, in the heart of Seattle's Tourist District. On foot, go to the main entrance of the Pike Place Market at 1st and Pike. There, you'll find Rachel, Pike Place Market's full size brass piggy bank, beneath the neon sign and clock, right by the famous Pike Place Fish Company. From the pig, go down the stairs and around the corner into Post Alley, where you'll find the Unexpected Productions at the Market Theater, along with the famous Gum Wall!

Specialities

Price category

$ (0-10)

General Info

“One of the 10 greatest places to sample quirky Americana.” USA Today “2nd germiest place on the planet after The Blarney Stone” Tripadvisor At 8 feet high and 54 feet wide, there are an estimated over 50 pieces of gum per brick or over 250,000 wads of gum on the wall.

Company Rating

44711 Facebook users were in THE GUM WALL PIKE PLACE MARKET. It's a 3 position in Popularity Rating for companies in Arts/Entertainment/Nightlife category in Seattle, Washington

6197 FB users likes THE GUM WALL PIKE PLACE MARKET, set it to 15 position in Likes Rating for Seattle, Washington in Arts/Entertainment/Nightlife category

Summary

THE GUM WALL PIKE PLACE MARKET is Seattle based place and this enity listed in Theatre category. Located at Unexpected Productions' Market Theater 1428 Post Alley WA 98101. Contact phone number of THE GUM WALL PIKE PLACE MARKET: (206) 587-2414