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)
Harry Kahne dazzled crowds gathered about the Broadway Theater as he hung by his heels suspended from the theater's roof on November 1, 1930. They watched with astonishment as Mr. Kahne wrote upside the latest news in legible cursive script on the large Ledger blackboard several feet above ground. Mr. Kahne was in town for Fanchon & Marco's "Rhythm-a-tic" revue. He was known as "the man with the multiple brain" for his unusual talents. (TDL 10-29-30, p. 7-article only; TDL 10-31-30, p. 4-article only)
On March 10th, 1931, at around 6:30p.m., the sheet iron canopy at the Broadway Theater, 902-14 Broadway, came crashing down from the marquee to the pavement. The metal canopy over the theater entrance at So. 9th and Court C was in the process of having new electric lights installed. The weight of the lights and the workmen was just too much for the metal canopy. Luckily no one was hurt. (TNT 3/11/1931, pg. 1; TDL 3/11/1931 p.1)
Broadway Theater (Tacoma); Motion Picture Theaters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Building failures;
ca. 1930. Theater floodlights, possibly used for special effects during the stage show that often accompanied a new film. The lights are believed to be located at the Broadway Theater, 902-14 Broadway, formerly the Tacoma Theater. TPL-2812
