Tacomans turn out in droves at 11 a.m. on August 22, 1936 to see the first circus parade in years, passing by the Roxy Theatre, 901 Broadway, now known as the Pantages. The Cole Brothers- Clyde Beatty Circus is in town, featuring young wild animal trainer Clyde Beatty. Marquees indicate the Roxy Theatre, the Music Box, at 902-14 Broadway, destroyed by fire 4/30/1963, and the Rialto, 310 So. 9th. In the back right of the photo is the First Baptist Church, 902 Market St.

Circus parades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Horse teams--Tacoma; Flags; Spectators--Tacoma; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Music Box Theatre (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (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;

Mayor Harry P. Cain, far left, watches actors laying a commemorative plaque in front of Roxy (Pantages) Theater before the premiere of "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" on October 18, 1940. L to R: Donald Crisp, Ronald Reagan, Marjorie Rambeau , Hedda Hopper and Alan Hale, Sr. Tacoma was the site of the world premiere of the movie. Other activities included in this whirlwind visit were official receptions and tugboat rides. 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; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

Henry Foss (far left) of the Foss Launch and Tug Company was one of the invited guests who spoke at the world premiere of "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" on October 18, 1940. Standing in front of the Roxy (now Pantages) Theater are five of the Hollywood celebrities who came to Tacoma for the premiere: (l to r) Ronald Reagan, Marjorie Rambeau, columnist Hedda Hopper, Alan Hale, Sr. and Donald Crisp. Foss tugs were used in the making of the movie. As part of the ceremony a brass plaque reading "Dedicated to Tugboat Annie - 1940 - Pioneer Spirit of Puget Sound" was affixed in the sidewalk in front of the theater. The plaque is currently in storage. ALBUM 1 TPL-2664

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-; Hale, Alan; Rambeau, Marjorie; Crisp, Donald; Hopper, Hedda; Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986;

Ronald Reagan at the microphone in front of the Roxy (Pantages) Theater during ceremonies before the premiere of "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" on October 18, 1940. Mr. Reagan was spokesperson for the film at each of the three theaters where it was shown, the Roxy, Blue Mouse and Music Box. Beside him are Marjorie Rambeau, Alan Hale, Sr., and Hedda Hopper. Ground has already been prepared for the placing of the commemorative plaque which is dedicated to Tugboat Annie.

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

On October 30, 1941 troops of the 3rd Division's Infantry Battalion maintained close-order formation as they passed the Roxy Theater, turning from Broadway to march down South 9th Street. One of the largest crowds to ever watch a parade in Tacoma gathered to view the Army Day extravaganza. The parade of over 10,000 soldiers, with their support vehicles, stretched for over 6 miles. (TTimes 10/30/1941 p. 1)

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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;

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;

Five infantry battalions marched in a military parade on Washington's Birthday in 1949. The one and one-half hour parade included over 4,000 troops. 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. Photo taken for Sandegren, Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 2/23/1949, p.1) TPL-9062

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950;