KIRO crowd at Roxy for Sears style show. More than 2,000 women lined up outside the Roxy Theatre hoping to get in to see the Charmode Corsetry Style Show, sponsored by KIRO Radio and Sears. All women who got in received a card entitling them to purchase nylon hosiery at Sears. The show featured a wide array of post war undergarments (T. Times, 4/25/46, p. 7).
Tom Breneman's "Breakfast in Hollywood " film at Tacoma's Roxy (Pantages) Theater in August, 1946. Masters of Ceremonies Bill Gunning and Al Priddy of Radio Station KJR advertising Kellogg's "All Bran" and "Pep" cereals. They hold up industrial-sized boxes of breakfast cereal. A cardboard cutout, perhaps of star Tom Breneman, is propped up between the men. KJR would rebroadcast Mr. Breneman's program the day of the movie opening, August 20, 1946. (T.Times, Ad, 8-18-46, p. 6) TPL-1396 ALBUM 7.
Tom Breneman's "Breakfast in Hollywood Show" at Tacoma's Roxy (Pantages) Theater on August 20, 1946. KJR Radio Masters of Ceremonies giving a prize to a fan. Al Priddy (L) and Bill Gunning present Mrs. May Matson a beautiful orchid for being the oldest mother, age 81, present at the opening of "Breakfast in Hollywood." Mrs. Matson indicated that it was only the second orchid she had ever received; the first was when she got married. The "oldest mother" was just one of the many contests held during the course of the movie's run to celebrate the transfer of the popular radio program onto the big screen; others included goofiest hat, youngest bride and oldest lady. (T.Times, 8-21-46, p. 1) ALBUM 7.
Cecil B. DeMille's "King of Kings" was presented at the Roxy (Pantages) Theater March 22 - 26, 1948. Admission was free as sponsored by the Tacoma Council of Churches. The theater was nearly filled for the showing of the film when this photograph was taken on the 26th. The Pantages was built as a vaudeville theater in 1917. Motion pictures replaced vaudeville shows and the name was changed to the RKO Orpheum in 1930 and changed again in 1932 when the new Roxy opened. The Pantages was rededicated after restoration in 1983. Ordered by, Council of Churches, Loyal Vickers. (TNT, 3/21/1948, p. A-12). TPL-1773
Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Tacoma Council of Churches (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion pictures; Motion picture audiences--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Military Parade, Times, Sandegren. Four of the five infantry battalions that marched in the Washington Birthday one and one-half hour parade show a massed strength of 2,400 men. This view shows the battalions marching north along Broadway. Soldiers marching at the front are just turning the corner in front of the Roxy Theater onto South 9th Street. Several spectators are standing on the awning over the sidewalk in front of the Roxy. (T.Times, 2/23/1949, p.1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950;
On the count of three, everyone including Mayor Harry P. Cain, in white, heaves their pot or pan over the chicken wire fence enclosing the aluminum collection area. Used aluminum was being collected in Tacoma during a week long drive, July 21-29, 1941. The melted down metal would be used to manufacture bombers. In the background is the marquee of the Roxy Theater where Don Ameche and Betty Grable are starring in "Moon Over Miami." (TNT 7/21/1941, pg. 14)
Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Home Defense Corps (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Marquees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950;
The Winthrop Hotel, the Pantages Theater, the Washington Building and the Bostwick Block are the buildings at the base of Mount Rainier, whose top is lost in the clouds. circa 1930.
Printed on front: Mount Tacoma, "50 Miles from Business District". Tacoma, Washington
ca. 1907. Jones Block ca. 1907. Also known as the Gross Brothers Store prior to 1899. Located at 901 Broadway, the occupants included Tacoma Bazaar, Christoffersen, Campion & Co. and Bay View Hotel on upper floors. The Olympic Club was located at 902-06 Commerce; sign visible at left corner. The Jones Block was later demolished in 1916 to make way for the Pantages Theater. Copy of customer print ordered by Harry Roegner. TPL-5476
Jones Block (Tacoma); Bay View Hotel (Tacoma); Tacoma Bazaar (Tacoma); Christoffersen, Campion & Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);
Interiors--Jones Building. This July, 1974, view highlights the copper color walls, steps and elevator door and the marble-like staircase and wall enhancements found within the venerable Jones Building, 901 Broadway. A crystal chandelier casts a warm glow over the area. Color photograph ordered by North Pacific Trade Center.
Chandeliers; Elevators; Stairways--Tacoma; Jones Building (Tacoma);
The RKO Orpheum Theater, 901 Broadway, was decorated with bunting and banners on August 3, 1931, when Frank Capra's newest movie "Dirigible" starring Jack Holt and Fay Wray opened in Tacoma. But the decorations were not for the movie. They were to welcome the U.S. Navy. July 31 to August 7,1931, was "Fleet Week" in Tacoma. Four battleships, two destroyers, and a hospital ship were at anchor in Commencement Bay. (TDL July 31, 1931 p.1) Bowen # 310-274
ca. 1932. View of the Roxy Theatre, ca. 1932. "The Thirteenth Guest " was the feature film showing at the Roxy at the time of this photograph. The film was released in 1932 and starred Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot. Movie marquee advertised that there was "Always a better show at your Roxy." Apparently cost of a ticket was 20 cents after 5 p.m. The former RKO Orpheum theater reopened as the Roxy in 1932; it is now known as the Pantages.
In January of 1926, an unidentified uniformed usherette stood at attention beside the ornate ticket booth within the exterior foyer of the Pantages Theater, the movie palace located at 901 Broadway. The silent film "A Lovers Oath" starring Ramon Navarro and Kathleen Key opened at the Pantages on January 16, 1926 and ran for the traditional one week. Loosely based on the "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam," the film was Navarro's first starring role. It was made in 1922 and, unable to find a distributer, laid in the vault until after the 1925 release of "Ben Hur" with Navarro. Also advertised as "now playing" is the Pantages "Songolog" of Joy featuring Arnold Leverenz at the organ. The organ was used to provide musical accompaniment to the silent films. In the fifties, Leverenz would be a featured performer at Steve's Gay Nineties. In the back is a poster for Lew and Mad Wilson in "Nothing in the Mouth" and an advertisement for Mezzo Photography Studio in the Bernice Building. G65.1-021, BU-11192, TPL-10476
Pantages Theater (Tacoma); Movie theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1932. View of the Roxy Theatre, ca. 1932. "The Thirteenth Guest " was the feature film showing at the Roxy at the time of this photograph. The film was released in 1932 and starred Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot. Movie marquee advertised that there was "Always a better show at your Roxy." Apparently cost of a ticket was 20 cents after 5 p.m. The former RKO Orpheum theater reopened as the Roxy in 1932; it is now known as the Pantages.
