Two unidentified men speak into a radio microphone for station KMO on January 5, 1940. On this date, representatives of the Ford Motor Company met with local reporters and car dealers to show them the official log book that they were keeping on their Mercury "economy car" and its mileage and gas usage. The car is parked at 916 Broadway in front of the Beverly Theater. The two men standing behind and to the left are Ford dealers Tommy Mallon, left, and Leon Titus. (T. Times 1/6/1940 p.8)
Theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beverly Theater (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mallon, Thomas; Titus, Leon E.;
Telenews Theatre marquee, "Garden of Allah" staring Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer. The popcorn sales girl stands by her booth which is outside next to the ticket booth. Offices of Personal Loans are above the theater entrance. TPL-2536.
Telenews marque and front of theatre. The interior of the theatre which used to be the "Beverly Theater". 400 patrons filled the Telenews Theatre at the grand opening. People will be able to see "history in the making" and catch up on what happened during the week. The story of the atomic bomb was revealed opening night as well as other late news pictures. (T.Times, 9/15/1945, p.4) TPL-9262
As World War II came to an end, American troops came back to the United States for their first peace time Christmas and New Years since December 7,1941. Returning service men from the Pacific swamped all the western port cities. The Telenews Theatre at 916 Broadway usually showed newsreels of current events. For Dec. 24, 1945 through New Years, they added a feature film to the regular newsreel program because 8,000 to 12,000 enlisted men who had come in through the port in Tacoma could not be transferred on because transportation was not available. (T.Times, 12/24/1945, p.8)
New 1940 Mercury-8 Economy Run Test automobile parked with two other Mercurys in this photograph dated January 5, 1940. Beverly Theater and Arctic Fur Co. in background.
This photograph provides proof that the American automobile industry was genuinely concerned about gasoline mileage as long ago as January 1940. On January 5, 1940, representatives of the Ford Motor Company met with local reporters and car dealers to show them the official log book that they were keeping on their Mercury "economy car." The car is parked at 916 Broadway in front of the Beverly Theater. Presenting the log book, dressed in light colored overcoat and hat, is J.J. Jaeger of the Ford Motor Co. The man to the right of the woman in the striped coat is Leon Titus of the Titus Motor Company. Tommy Mallon, president of Mallon Motors, is at the far right. (T. Times 1/6/1940 p.8)
