Telenews Theatre was originally built in 1914, it was first known as the Colonial Theater. The theater was renamed several times, in 1945 it became the Telenews Theatre. View of people (right side) lined up to see the "White Zombie" and "The Lash of the Penitentes", movie posters advertising the movies, and cardboard cutouts of the "White Zombie" and Grim Reaper from "The Lash of the Penitentes" are next to the movie usher.

Marquees--Tacoma; Motion picture posters; Motion pictures; Horror dramas; Motion picture audiences--Tacoma; Motion picture theaters--Tacoma; Telenews Theatre (Tacoma);

On June 13, 1924, five usherettes, all with the latest in bobbed hair, posed in their new summer uniforms, blousy top and slacks in combinations of black and orange, in front of the Colonial Theater, 916-18 Broadway. The women were identified by the News Tribune as, left to right, Evelyn Durrin (head usher,) Mary Marko, Isobelle Pallis (assistant head usher,) Mildred Barnes and one unidentified usherette. The marquee advertised "The Last Hour" with Milton Sills, Carmel Myers, Walter Long and Pat O'Malley, which opened June 14, 1924 and ran at the Colonial for one week. "The Last Hour" was issued in 1923 by Mastadon Films. The Colonial Theater was designed by Roland Borhek and built in 1914. In the thirties, it became the Beverly Theater and in the 40's the Telenews Theater. It has since been demolished. Boland B10313, BU 11,145 (TNT 6/19/24, pg. 8)

Colonial Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ushers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motion picture industry--1920-1930;

In February of 1941, a British American War Relief Committee ambulance was on display in front of the Beverly Theater, at 916-18 Broadway. The offices of the British American War Relief Headquarters can be seen upstairs at 914 1/2 Broadway. The ambulance was on a fund raising tour prior to being shipped to Britain. (T. Times 2/8/1941, pg. 3)

Ambulances--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; British American War Relief Committee (Tacoma); Beverly Theater (Tacoma);

Western singer and motion picture actor Gene Autry at the microphone of Studio A at KMO in the Keyes Building in Tacoma. Mr. Autry was a guest on Cherokee Jack's live 5 pm. broadcast on July 15, 1949. Later that evening Mr. Autry would appear at the College of Puget Sound's Memorial Fieldhouse with many other radio and motion picture entertainers in a Western variety show. Cherokee Jack Henley, guitar in hand, is standing to the right of the versatile singer/actor. Shorty Justis is sitting behind, and to the right, of Jack. Shorty went on to work at KTNT-TV, Channel 11 as a switcher. ALBUM 8.

Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Singers; Autry, Gene, 1907-1998; KMO Radio Station (Tacoma); Radio stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henley, Jack;

Western singer and motion picture actor Gene Autry (left) was photographed with Cherokee Jack Henley of the Western Rhythm Ridin' Wranglers during a broadcast from the KMO studio in the Keyes Building on Broadway on July 15, 1949. Cherokee Jack appeared with his Wranglers at dance halls throughout the area. His radio program frequently featured country/western celebrities when they were either performing in or passing through Tacoma. Mr. Autry had flown in that Friday, July 15, 1949, in his own private plane for a one-night variety show co-sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission and the College of Puget Sound. Mayor C.V. Fawcett had proclaimed July 15th as Gene Autry Day in Tacoma. TPL-4753 ALBUM 8. (TNT ad for Cherokee Jack, 7-14-49, p. 27; 7-14-49, p. 27-proclamation)

Autry, Gene, 1907-1998; Singers; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henley, Jack;

ca. 1926. On July 24, 1926, Reginald Denny's newest comedy "Rolling Home" opened at the Colonial Theater, 916-18 Broadway. A crowd of young people gathered around the theater for the Reginald Denny Day festivities. Mr. Denny (1891-1967) was an actor who made 200 films between 1898 and 1966, but he was also a pioneer in the field of radio-controlled pilotless aviation. At the left foreground of the theater was a couple of barrels covered with cloths that sported a sign for Royal Ice Cream and its slogan "It's the Cream." Royal Ice Cream Co. was located in Tacoma on Pacific Avenue at 25th. It was a wholesale ice cream, milk and cream company. Boland B15392, BU-11146

Colonial Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motion picture industry--1920-1930;

The Beverly Theater at 916-918 Broadway was named after the daughter of Mike Barovic, the theater's manager, and opened in 1934. The Building, which had been home to the Colonial Theater, was completely remodeled in 1931, with a shiny black vitrolite and nickel-silver exterior. The Beverly was replaced by the Telenews Theater in 1945, and the building was demolished in 1988.

Beverly Theater (Tacoma);

In 1945 the new owners of the theater at 916 Broadway remodeled the building, gave it a new neon marque, and changed its name to the Telenews Theater. The Telenews lasted for about five years showing only newsreels, travel logs, and documentaries. In the late 1960s, the second floor of this building was taken over by the Court C Coffeehouse and Artists' Mall. The building was demolished in 1988.

Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Telenews Theatre (Tacoma);

Western singer and motion picture actor Gene Autry with his group, the Melody Ranch Hands, during a broadcast from studio A at KMO radio in Tacoma, on July 15, 1949. Mr. Autry was appearing on the show hosted by Cherokee Jack and his Western Rhythm Ridin' Wranglers which broadcast Monday through Friday from 5 to 5:30 pm. The actor/singer, his horse "Champion," and 24 other film stars and radio entertainers performed that evening at the new College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. He was honored with a proclamation by Mayor C. Val Fawcett, declaring July 15 as "Gene Autry Day in Tacoma." TPL-942 ALBUM 8. (TNT 7-15-49, p. 13, 7-16-49, p. 3)

Celebrities; Singers; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Autry, Gene, 1907-1998; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music ensembles; Melody Ranch Hands; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma--1940-1950;

This was how the newly opened Broadway Theater at 916-18 Broadway appeared on August 1, 1949. A new neon sign had been added to signal the name change which occurred on Friday, July 22nd. There had been a motion picture theater at this location since 1914, when the Colonial Theater opened with Charlie Chaplin and Marie Dressler in "Tillie's Punctured Romance." In 1934 it became the Beverly Theater, and in 1945 it was the Telenews Theater. One of the signs in front of the Broadway, managed by L. E. Allen, advertised the "Early Bird Matinee" for 25 cents.

Broadway Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The usherettes at the Colonial Theater, 916-18 Broadway, wore gingham dresses for the opening on February 28,1920 of the silent version of "Pollyanna" starring Mary Pickford. A slightly different version of this photograph appeared in the March 3rd News Tribune; the girls are believed to be (l to r) Edna Fitzmaurice, Fern Chantler (the theater cashier), Nellie Mason, Rosa Fair, Lillian Buth, Stella Church, and Ruth Harkness. Mary Pickford was 27 when she played the film's 12 year old title character; the picture grossed one million dollars for United Artists, the film company owned by D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and her husband Douglas Fairbanks. The Colonial Theater was designed by Roland Borhek, architect, and opened in 1914. It was demolished in 1988. (TNT 3/3/1920 p.9) TPL-5877, BU-10014, Boland-B2760

Colonial Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ushers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motion picture industry--1920-1930;

Wild Bill Shannon brought his famous Alaskan "wolf dogs" (huskies) to the Colonial Theater in March of 1925. Perhaps puzzled at the lack of snow, the team of sled dogs, with their master, stopped outside of the theater for a brief look around. Shannon was advertised as the man who saved Nome, Alaska, during the dreaded diphtheria plague. He had rushed antitoxin from Nenana to Nome. The Pantages would counter with the appearance of Soloman Basco, Alaska native, who mushed into Nome with his seven malamute dogs. Basco also delivered antitoxin and claimed the fastest time, 3 hr., 59 min., at temperatures 50 degrees below. (TDL 3-19-25, p. 8, TDL 3-23-25, p. 6) Photograph ordered by Moore Amusement Co. G66.1-001

Dogsledding; Dog teams; Shannon, Bill; Colonial Theater (Tacoma);