Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
G64.1-118
Date(s)
- 1930-10-06 (Creation)
Extent
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The entire front of the Community Theatre, 5441 South "M" St., was heavily damaged by explosives in the early morning hours of Sunday, October 5, 1930. 3-5 sticks of dynamite were shoved through the bars of the ticket office window. Parts of the ticket booth were blown across the street and door castings, drapes, plaster and glass blown inward as far as the stage. A loudspeaker and projection machine were also damaged. The bombing caused damage to stores across the street with multiple shattered windows and buildings and houses in nearby blocks were shaken with minor damage. This was one of two bombings of neighborhood theaters that morning. At 3:00 a.m., roughly 55 minutes after the Community Theater's bombing, the Sunset Theater at Sixth & Prospect had a stick of dynamite or small bomb explode on its roof. It blew a hole two feet in diameter in the roof but little other damage. Guards were placed at all 11 smaller theaters in Tacoma after hours. Police Chief M.D. Guy indicated that these may have been outside efforts to discredit the Tacoma Motion Picture Operators Union who was involved in a dispute with theater management. On October 6, 1930, another attack against a theater was reported, this time in Portland, when a rear wall was dynamited at the Granada Theater but with no damage. (TDL 10-6-1930, p. 1-article)
Community Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bombings--Tacoma; Explosions--Tacoma; Crimes--Tacoma--1930-1940;