From 1913 to the 1950s, pioneer motion picture exhibitor John Danz saw his company, Sterling Theatres (later Sterling Recreation Organization or SRO), grow into the largest independent theater circuit in the Pacific Northwest, with 25 theaters in the Seattle area. Danz was born in Russia in 1877 and came to the United States with his family circa 1882. From 1903 to 1914 he owned Sterling Men's Wear in Seattle. Danz sought to increase foot traffic to the store by installing a nickelodeon, and after the movie house became more profitable than the clothing store, he built his business, Sterling Theatres Inc. By 1936 Danz had six movie houses and relocated his company to the former Pantages Theatre Building, where he worked until 1961. Danz married Jessie Mohr of Staten Island; they had three children. He died in 1961, after which his son Fredric continued to build SRO until it became, in the 1980s, the largest motion picture theater company in Washington.
From the description of Danz family photograph collection, 1890-1953 (bulk 1930-1953). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 62308644
