Exterior cleaning of the Roxy Theatre. The Boedecker Co., in business since 1919, was in the process of cleaning the venerable Roxy Theatre in early February of 1974. According to Richards Studio notes, the 9th St. side of the theatre had yet to be cleaned. A Boedecker C. truck is parked under the theatre's canopy. Color photograph ordered by the Boedecker Co., Inc.

Cleaning--Tacoma--1970-1980; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Boedecker Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Exterior cleaning of the Roxy Theatre. The Roxy Theatre's side facing Broadway has had its exterior cleaned by the Boedecker Co. in February of 1974. According to Richards Studio notes, the building's 9th St. side has yet to be cleaned. The Roxy would anchor one end of the new Broadway Plaza pedestrian mall which had its groundbreaking on May 8, 1973. In an effort to attract more customers to the downtown business district, the Broadway Plaza was created between South 9th and 13th Sts. as a pedestrian-friendly area with limited traffic access. Color photograph ordered by the Boedecker Co., Inc.

Cleaning--Tacoma--1970-1980; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Boedecker Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Broadway Plaza (Tacoma);

ca. 1931. Photograph, circa 1931, taken from the Medical Arts Building looking down on the buildings on the east side of Broadway beginning at 9th after dark. A good view of the RKO Orpheum lit up at night. Rust and Washington Buildings in background.

Streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pantages Theater (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On August 22, 1934, several men standing on the roof of the Jones Building (now known as the Pantages) craned their necks to watch the airship Macon fly over the downtown skyline. Thousands lined the streets and rooftops of buildings to watch the dirigible make a wide circle over the city around 8 a.m. Construction of the dirigible cost the US two and a half million dollars. Tacoma was also visited by airships Shenandoah in 1924 and Akron in 1932. The Macon was lost over the Pacific Ocean offshore of Point Sur Feb. 12, 1935. (T. Times 8/22/1934, pg. 1)

Airships--Tacoma; Jones Building (Tacoma); Historic buildings--Tacoma;

Ronald Reagan and unidentified man during broadcast outside Roxy (Pantages) Theater for"Tugboat Annie Sails Again" premiere on October 18, 1940. The future President and his co-stars, Marjorie Rambeau and Alan Hale, Sr., had journeyed to Tacoma for their motion picture premiere. Also accompanying them were actor Donald Crisp and Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper. For star-struck Tacomans, it was a chance to see actual movie stars in person as the celebrities made appearances not only at the three theaters premiering the film but at a water carnival and massive banquet as well.

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-;

On October 18, 1940, (l to r) Donald Crisp, Ronald Reagan, Marjorie Rambeau (nearly hidden), columnist Hedda Hopper, and Alan Hale, Sr. helped lay a commemorative plaque in front of the Roxy Theater, 901 Broadway. They were in Tacoma for the world premiere of the movie "Tugboat Annie Sails Again." The lettering on the plaque reads "Dedicated to Tugboat Annie - 1940 - Pioneer Spirit of Puget Sound." The plaque later was moved to the south wall of the theater. It was removed when the theater was being remodeled to become the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts (Pantages Theater), and is currently in storage. ALBUM 1;

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-; Hale, Alan; Rambeau, Marjorie; Crisp, Donald; Hopper, Hedda; Plaques--Tacoma;

October 18, 1940, sepia photograph of actors laying commemorative plaque in front of Roxy (Pantages) Theater before premiere of "Tugboat Annie Sails Again." L to R: Donald Crisp, Ronald Reagan, Marjorie Rambeau , Hedda Hopper (partly hidden), Alan Hale, Sr. The plaque later was moved to the south wall. Miss Rambeau and Mr. Hale played rivals in the tugboat business while Mr. Reagan portrayed Eddie Kent, a poor sailor who falls in love with rich socialite Jane Wyman. ALBUM 1

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-; Hale, Alan; Rambeau, Marjorie; Crisp, Donald; Hopper, Hedda; Plaques--Tacoma;

Tom Breneman's "Breakfast in Hollywood Show" at Tacoma's Roxy (Pantages) Theater on August 20, 1946. Masters of Ceremonies, Al Priddy and Bill Gunning (with microphone) from KJR Radio giving a prize to Mrs. Bernice Busick, a participant in the Goofy Hat contest. She would eventually carry home top honors in this category. Her vegetation-bedecked bonnet would consist of a candy Easter Bunny clutching a carrot complete with greens and small matches, tied on with a big bow. (T.Times, 8-21-46, p. 1) ALBUM 7.

Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Awards; Priddy, Al; Gunning, Bill; Busick, Bernice;

Opening night of Tom Breneman's "Breakfast in Hollywood Show" at Tacoma's Roxy (Pantages) Theater, August 20, 1946. KJR Radio's Masters of Ceremonies with a contestant in the Goofy Hat contest. Al Priddy and Bill Gunning, KJR announcers, stand with the eventual Goofy Hat winning contestant, Mrs. Bernice Busick of Puyallup. Her unique hat sported dainty matches, carrot and greens, lace curtain veil and a tiny candy Easter Bunny. ALBUM 7. (T.Times, 8-21-46, p. 1)

Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Priddy, Al; Gunning, Bill; Busick, Bernice;

Tom Breneman's "Breakfast in Hollywood Show" at Tacoma's Roxy (Pantages) Theater on August 20, 1946. Masters of Ceremonies, Al Priddy and Bill Gunning, from KJR Radio giving a prize to a fan. This is possibly Mrs. T.A. Page who won an orchid for being the youngest bride present; she had only been married two weeks. It appears that the theater management sponsored many contests to promote interest in the opening of the new motion picture, including "goofy hat," "oldest mother," and the above "youngest bride." A young man on a mule, both wearing hats, advertised the movie on downtown streets. The popular radio program of the same name had been transferred onto the big screen and attracted a large crowd on opening night. (T.Times, 8-21-46, p. 1) ALBUM 7.

Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Orchids--Tacoma; Priddy, Al; Gunning, Bill;

Roxy Theater. A tall young man wearing a wide-brimmed black hat and black cape stands outside the theater on November 19, 1946 announcing the movie now showing, "Cloak and Dagger" starring Gary Cooper.

Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Marquees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Costumes; Advertising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion pictures;

Crowd for radio personality Tom Breneman's "Breakfast in Hollywood Show" at Tacoma's Roxy (Pantages) Theater on opening night, August 20, 1946. Roxy Theater neon sign and marquee are very prominent in background. The popular radio program has been transferred to the big screen starring Mr. Breneman, Bonita Granville, singer Andy Russell, Zasu Pitts, Hedda Hopper, and Spike Jones & his City Slickers. Tacomans of all ages, some in the Armed Forces, queue up beneath the marquee. KJR radio would re-broadcast Mr. Breneman's radio program that same night at the theater. Director Harold Shuster's film provided an extra attraction for families of those involved in the film: nearly 100 extras and minor characters, some of whom had never had screen credit before, got the chance to call out their own names and hometowns on camera. ALBUM 7. (T.Times, 8-20-46, p. 6)

Marquees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Queues--Tacoma; Theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma);

In September of 1950, an unidentified young officer questions a small boy in front of the Roxy Theater. The boy, who seems to have made a lunch of chocolate at a matinee and retains most of it on his face and hands, may be looking for his mother. Ordered by the Tribune city desk. TPL-7116

Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Military Parade, Times, Sandegren. A brass band is about to turn the corner from Broadway onto South 9th Street during the Washington Birthday parade held in Tacoma in 1949. Men are playing trombones, sousaphones, tubas and drums. The crowd along the sides of Broadway are holding umbrellas and the streets are wet from rain.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brass instruments; Marching bands;

The old switchboard at the Jones Building, also known as the Pantages Theater, at 909 Broadway. Ordered by Westinghouse Electric Supply Company, Van Hodgins.

Jones Building (Tacoma); Switchboards--Tacoma; Historic buildings--Tacoma; Westinghouse Electric Supply Co. (Tacoma);

Architects in the firm of Jensen & Mills examine a small display of Douglas Fir Plywood Association promotional material in their Jones Building office on November 19, 1954. The plywood association always stressed the stringent quality controls utilized in approving plywood for numerous uses. The DFPA label on plywood meant that customers could count on the association standing behind its product. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Jensen & Mills (Tacoma);

ca. 1890. Gross Brothers store at 901 Broadway. The large staff of the Gross Brothers store lined up on the sidewalk in front of the main entrance and also on the second floor balcony to promote its "Anual" (sic) Clearance Sale circa the winter of 1890. The holiday season was over and it was time to clear the store for the influx of new merchandise. Every item in the huge department store, at one time the city's largest, would be reduced and customers were urged to take advantage of lower prices until February 1st. Built in 1889, the magnificent property was later known as the Jones Block and was demolished in 1916 to make way for the Pantages Theater. This particular photograph was selected for a daily feature of long-ago pictures displayed in the News Tribune on May 24, 1934. Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-55 BU-12722 G56.1-015 (TNT 5-24-31, p. 11 -"In Tacoma's Family Album")

Gross Bros. Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Banners; Facades--Tacoma--1890-1900;