902-14 BROADWAY, TACOMA

Item
1890

Part of Homes and Buildings Photograph Collection

Item
1907

ca. 1907. The W.D. Harney Photogravure Company of Racine, Wisconsin captured the beauty of Tacoma in a series of photographs taken in 1907, including this view looking south from the intersection of 9th and Broadway. The Tacoma Theater building (destroyed by fire in 1963) stands at right. A wall advertisement can be seen on the Pythian Temple building to the south. Horse drawn carriages and street cars still predominate over the new but increasingly popular automobile. (also Richards C164600-142 and TPL-5454)

Tacoma Theatre (Tacoma); Pythian Temple (Tacoma);

BU-13333

Item
1907

Part of Homes and Buildings Photograph Collection

BU-11260

Item
1918-06

Part of Homes and Buildings Photograph Collection

BOLAND G65.1-112

Item
1918-06-10

Part of Marvin Boland Photographs

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;

BOWEN G40.1-017

Item
1920

Part of Chapin Bowen Photographs

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

BU-13250

Item
1924-08

Part of Homes and Buildings Photograph Collection

BOLAND-B11536

Item
1924-12-15

Part of Marvin Boland Photographs

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;

A670-1

Item
1925

Part of Richards Studio Photographs

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;

BU-11269

Item
1926

Part of Homes and Buildings Photograph Collection

BOWEN TPL-2640

Item
1927-01

Part of Chapin Bowen Photographs

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.