Fort Nisqually Dedication parade, Labor Day 1934. Motorcycles, most carrying two people, follow automobiles and trucks in the parade as it moves south on Broadway past the Tacoma Theater Building, the Pythian Temple, and Rhodes Brothers. (WSHS)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Business districts--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Theatre (Tacoma);

College of Puget Sound pep rally at Broadway Theatre, circa 1927. Crowd of students in front of box office at South 9th and Court C. Building by J.M. Wood and A.F. Heide, Associated Architects; John Galen Howard, Designer; Sydney Lovell, Interior Designer, 1889. (Argentum)

Theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Broadway Theater (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1928. Oliver Wallace's farewell party at Broadway Theatre. Orchestra and people on stage, painted backdrop of stars and planets. Building by J.M. Wood and A.F. Heide, Associated Architects; John Galen Howard, Designer; Sydney Lovell, Interior Designer, 1889. (Argentum)

Theaters--Tacoma; Broadway Theater (Tacoma);

ca. 1928. Orchestra on stage in front of a giant "Top Hat and Moon" backdrop at the Broadway Theater. Fourteen musicians and director. (WSHS)

Broadway Theater (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma;

Orchestra on stage in front of a giant "Top Hat and Moon" backdrop at the Broadway Theater. Fourteen musicians and director.

Theaters - Tacoma - Tacoma Theater ( Broadway Theater, Music Box Music Ensembles - Orchestras

ca. 1925. When the grand Tacoma Theater was built in 1889, it had the largest stage on the Pacific Coast, measuring 67 feet by 42 feet and 55 feet to the loft. The sheer size and elegance of the stage can be seen in this circa 1925 photograph with a large Baptist choir in attendance. The orchestra is seated and waiting to perform in the orchestra pit below the stage. The building at 9th & Broadway was built by the Tacoma Opera House Company to seat 1,300 (later enlarged to 1,800) and opened in January of 1890. The boards of the Tacoma Theater were trod by such greats as Sarah Bernhardt, Al Jolson and Harry Houdini. When the theater sold in December of 1925, it was the largest single realty transaction in the city's history. The theater closed down for a remodel and reopened in 1927 as the Broadway Theater. In 1933, under new management, it became the Music Box. It was destroyed by fire in April of 1963. (WSHS)

Theaters--Tacoma; Tacoma Theater (Tacoma); Broadway Theater (Tacoma); Choirs (Music)--1920-1930; Orchestras--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A Naturalizer shoe display at Lloyd-Friesen, Inc. on 9th and Broadway was photographed for Family Circle magazine on September 23, 1954. Small posters advertising Naturalizer's Scottie twins are placed on and in front of the tables holding the shoes. The shoes are displayed at an angle, with some lifted as if an invisible woman were in the process of walking. Only six pairs are on display, leaving the tables relatively uncrowded, with a copy of Family Circle magazine upright in the center. Photograph ordered by Family Circle Magazine, New York.

Shoes; Shoe stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lloyd-Friesen, Inc. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Family Circle Magazine (New York);

Sarah Bernhardt appeared at the Tacoma Theatre, 902-14 Broadway, from June 14-16, 1918. Miss Bernhardt, probably the most famous actress in the world, and her company were performing the closing act of "Camille" as the closing bill of the Orpheum Vaudeville season. Also on the bill were soprano Marion Weeks, Mayo & Lynn, Madden & Ford, Albert Donnelly and Bensee & Baird. The theater was built by the Tacoma Opera House Co. and opened in 1890. It originally seated 1,300 and was advertised as having the "largest stage on the Pacific Coast." Later known as the Broadway Theater and finally as the Music Box, it was destroyed by fire on April 30, 1963. BU-11260; TPL-2112; Boland-B1193 (TDL 6/14/1918)

Tacoma Theatre (Tacoma); Theaters--Tacoma--1910-1920; Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Marquees; Bernhardt, Sarah--Associated objects;

Drama League rehearsals at the Tacoma Theater. "The Torch Bearers" was chosen as the designated 1924 mid-winter play of the Tacoma Drama League. Cast members included Mrs. Llewellyn J.W. Jones, Miss Catherine Hurley and Mrs. Rex Roudebush. "The Torch Bearers" was performed on December 16, 1924. G22.1-011 (TNT 12-6-24, p. 9-article)

Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Broadway Theater. The grand opening of the new Broadway Theater (formerly the Tacoma Theater) on Friday, February 4, 1927, drew thousands of Tacomans who jammed the streets surrounding the downtown palace. It was officially opened at 4 p.m. with the first performance at 4:45. Crowds began gathering about 3 p.m. on the streets two blocks around the theater which had been closed to traffic. By the time of this approximately 8 p.m. photograph above, most of Tacoma seemed to have taken advantage of the free one-hour street car ride to downtown to gaze upon the bright banners, bunting and flags which decorated the buildings and were ready for the celebratory jubilee. A big street dance on Market near 9th, a songfest on 9th near Broadway, an informal ball at the Hotel Winthrop and four bands playing contributed to all the excitement. The streets were illuminated by huge lights advertised as two million candlepower. The Broadway's bill that evening promoted the first-run production of Harold Lloyd's "The Kid Brother," Fanchon & Marco's "Pyramids" revue and Oliver Wallace and his "Broadway Revelers" as musical accompaniment. Evening prices were 15 cents per child and 50 cents per adult with lower matinee prices: 10 cents a child and 35 cents for adults. (TDL 2-4-27, p. 1-article; TDL 2-5-27, p. 1 - photo & article)

Broadway Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930;

H.C. Weaver Productions electrical apparatus at the opening of the Broadway Theater on February 4, 1927. Staff from the film studio were pictured along with their portable generator at 7 p.m. All of the studio's lights were on loan to light up the night for the Grand Opening of the Broadway Theater and the street party to follow. The theater had been built in 1889 as a grand opera house; it was reopened as the Broadway from 1927-33. The remodel included a new neon marquee. The theater changed names again in 1933 to the Music Box and remained the Music Box for 30 years until destroyed by fire in April, 1963. H.C. Weaver Productions made three movies in their studio on Titlow Beach in Tacoma between 1924 and 1928. G36.1-213 (TDL 2/5/1927, pg. 1- picture, 2/4/27, pg. 1 & 1/30/1927, pg. H5- story only)

Broadway Theater (Tacoma); H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma); Electrical apparatus;

Group portrait of actors and actresses at the Broadway Theater in February, 1928. It is possible that this is Fanchon & Marco's Road Show #1 from Los Angeles which appeared at the Broadway that February to help celebrate the Broadway's first birthday. The 50-person revue starred Jack North, banjo player extraordinaire (believed to be man in cap in front row) and featured the Roberts Sisters, the Rhinestone Revue, and three stage bands including Alton Redd's Pods of Pepper and the Queen's Hawaiian Band. Ticket buyers also got the chance to see Adolphe Menjou in "Serenade." The Broadway, formerly the Tacoma Theatre, celebrated its grand opening on February 4, 1927. (TNT 2-2-28, p. 8) G64.1-038

Broadway Theater (Tacoma); Actors--Tacoma; Actresses; Musicians--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Organist, Miss Esther Stayner sitting at the organ of the Broadway Theater. BU-11246

Tacoma's grand opera house, the Tacoma Theater was built at 902 Broadway in 1889. It was converted into a motion picture theater in 1927 and renamed the Broadway Theater (or Theatre, as on its marquee). Workmen are seen preparing the new marquee in January of 1927. Over 20,000 people attended the grand opening on Feb. 4, 1927. Renamed the Music Box Theater in 1933, the building was destroyed in a spectacular fire on April 30, 1963.