Serious motion picture production came to Tacoma- Pierce County near the end of 1924. The administration building, in front, and main building of the H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. motion picture studio were nearing completion on December 4, 1924. Located on 5.5 acres at the end of Sixth Avenue near Titlow Beach, the H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc., studio had the northwest's largest floor space without supporting pillars. Construction began in early October, 1924, and was completed in late December of that year at a cost of $50,000. The administration bldg. contained executive offices, a projection room, 15 star dressing rooms and dressing rooms for extras. Furnace rooms were built at each end of the main building to make the stage evenly heated. There were no windows in the main building; the studio decided to make use of artificial lightning when filming inside. An elaborate formal dedication, open to the public, was held on December 14, 1924. (TDL 11-9-24, E-8, 12-14-24, B-1) Boland B11464

H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma); Motion picture studios--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

H.C. Weaver Productions motion picture studio under construction on December 4, 1924. One car is parked on the grounds of the construction site; studio was located on 5.5 acres near Titlow Beach. The formal dedication of the first motion picture studio in the Northwest was scheduled for December 14th, ten days after this photograph was taken. The $50,000 studio, constructed by the firm of Albertson, Cornell Bros. & Walsh, was not yet completed. Scaffolding is still in place on the walls of the main building which would be built sans windows. The lower structure in front of the main building would be the administration unit, containing executive offices, projection room, dressing rooms for the stars and extras. The studio would be 105 ft by 180 ft with a 52 foot ceiling. It would have the largest floor in the Northwest without supporting pillars. Only two larger floors were available, both in Hollywood. Weaver was one of a handful of independent studios capable of handling all aspects of film production, including developing and titling. The studio closed after only four years of operation in 1928; the building was converted into a dance hall in 1932 but was destroyed by fire on August 24, 1932. (TDL 11-9-24, E-8, 12-14-24, B-1) Boland-B11465, BU-13758, TPL-8181

H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma); Motion picture studios--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On August 21, 1926, H.T. Moore of the Moore Amusement Company, owner of the Rialto and Colonial Theaters, joined forces with the new Pacific Northwest Theaters Inc. Moore, left, is shown shaking hands with Harry C. Arthur of Los Angeles, president of the new organization, in front of H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc., movie studio at Titlow Beach. H.C. Weaver, head of the studio, stands with his hands in pocket, on far right in this sepia photograph. Left to right, the group includes J.F. Douglas, Moore, G. C. Kirley, Arthur, L.S. Hamm and Weaver. The group, which was organized to consolidate motion picture distribution in the Pacific Northwest, was touring the studio. The studio was built in 1924. Weaver Productions hoped to lure Hollywood to film extensively in the Northwest; however, the studio apparently only made three motion pictures in their four-year existence. It closed in 1928 and was later converted into a dance hall in 1932 before being destroyed by fire that same year. Boland B15513, BU-13759, TPL-8182 (TNT 8/23/1926, pg. 6)

Motion picture studios--Tacoma; Weaver, H.C.; Shaking hands--Tacoma; H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1931. Weaver Productions; Mrs. Thomas' family and friends. People were photographed seated around a banquet table in what was formerly the movie studio of H.C. Weaver Productions Inc. The building operated as a movie studio only for four short years, 1924-28. After the studio closed down, the Thomas family maintained the building and props used to produce motion pictures in Tacoma. Herbert Thomas, the caretaker of the studio, was struck by a car in Tacoma Dec. 17, 1931 and died. His wife continued on as caretaker until the building was destroyed by fire Aug 24, 1932. Seated around the table are, left side of table left to right, Gertrude (Adams) Thomas, family friend, Louise Pearson, Alice Palmer, Margaret Palmer, Herbert F. Thomas, Esther (Mattson-Pearson) Wyatt and Dennis Wyatt (infant.) Right side- William H. Thomas, Harmon Edwards, Bonnie (Thomas) Mattson, Lauren Mattson (infant), Roy Mattson, Chester Farrow, family friend, Ivan Farrow and Florence (Mattson) Farrow. (names supplied by a Mattson family member)

H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma); Motion picture studios--Tacoma; Thomas, Herbert--Family;

In June of 1932, this photograph was taken at the location of the former Weaver Pictures Studio at Titlow Beach. The building in the foreground, in the course of demolition, was a false front attached to the laboratory. It was decorated as part of the set for a western film. Large building at rear was the movie studio; after the studio closed, it became a dance hall and was later destroyed by fire. (filed with Argentum)

Motion picture industry--Tacoma; H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma);