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;
The ghostly USS Macon, a dirigible, flew over the Jones Building (now known as the Pantages) in downtown Tacoma on August 22, 1934. The eerie airship was almost disguised by the clouds. Thousands of spectators lined the streets and rooftops of buildings to watch the dirigible make a wide circle over the city around 8 a.m. The Daily Ledger called the airship "a great silver fish of the skies." The Macon was lost over the waters of the Pacific Ocean offshore from Point Sur on February 12, 1935. (T. Times 8/22/1934, pg. 1)
Airships--Tacoma; Jones Building (Tacoma); Historic buildings--Tacoma;
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;
Audience watches in fascination at the Roxy Theatre, operated by John Hamrick's movie theatres. This view of the audience as seen from the stage shows both the lower and the balcony seating. One boy in the front row covers his face with his hands. The Roxy at this time was operating as an opulent movie house. Ordered by Rev. Vickers, Tacoma Council of Churches. The theatre now operates as the Pantages Theatre, a legitimate stage house named after the original builder.
Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Tacoma Council of Churches (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Motion pictures; Motion picture audiences--Tacoma--1950-1960;
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);
The rear and north side of the Jones Building which was built in 1917 as one of the Pantages Theaters featuring vaudeville. The back of the building shows beautiful detail in the brickwork creating lines and arches reminiscent of the architecture found on the north and west sides of the building as well as the interior. The north side has architectural details with arches and balconies built into the stone facade. Terra cotta details are seen as ornaments against the stone. Lanes Grill is seen at 904 Commerce Street and Tryfon Hatters is at 908 Commerce Street. TPL-9064
Jones Building (Tacoma); Historic buildings--Tacoma; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Lanes Grill (Tacoma); Tryfon Hatters (Tacoma);
The north-west corner of the Jones Building which currently housed the Roxy Theatre. The theater's neon sign is attached to the corner to be visible from both Broadway and North 9th Street and the marquee announces "The Lusty Men" starring Robert Mitchum and the "Wac from Walla Walla". The Broadway side of the building has two more stories than the rear of the building which served as offices for Poe Real Estate and Insurance, Ruby & Leroy's Beauty Salon, a chiropractor, dentist, architect, several physicians, lawyers, accountants, and A-1 Employment Agency among others. This view south along Broadway shows two-way traffic and Christmas decorations hanging over the street. TPL-821
Jones Building (Tacoma); Historic buildings--Tacoma; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Marquees--Tacoma;
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;
On July 14, 1926, Vaudeville performer "Countess Sonia," at the wheel of her new Hudson Brougham, posed with her fellow thespian Alex Sherer outside of the Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway. Their act entitled "Countess Sonia in the Revue Satiricon with Alex Sherer" was packing them in at the theater through Sunday. They purchased the Hudson in Seattle the previous week and continued the rest of their trip over the vaudeville circuit in it, ending up back in New York City in the fall. The 1926 Hudson sold over 228,000 units and was the first vehicle to introduce the starter button on the instrument panel. By 1929, the company was third in sales, behind General Motors and Ford. The local distributor for the Hudson was the Allen Motor Co. Photograph ordered by Allen Motor Co. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7/18/1926, pg. G-4) G67.1-140
On the same night as the grand opening of the nearby Broadway Theater (formerly the Tacoma Theater), the Pantages decided to also draw a large crowd with the appearance of a Bell Line Stages' railroad car. The Pantages was currently showing "Dancing Mothers" staring Clara Bow and Alice Joyce but the railroad car was promoting an upcoming dance contest and a free all expense round trip to Hollywood. Adults, small children and even a curious dog surrounded the exhibit.
ca. 1931. RKO Orpheum Theater, 901 Broadway. Six ushers posed in front of the movie palace dressed as jockeys. Banners on their chests say "Starting Monday, Sweepstakes." "Sweepstakes" was a 1931 RKO Pathe racetrack movie about a jockey and his horse, starring Eddie Quillan, James Gleason, Marion Nixon and Lew Cody. The playbill advertisement in the background refers to the Burns & Allen comedy act "Dizzy."
In July of 1931, the Veterans of Foreign Wars drum & bugle corps posed in front of the RKO Orpheum Theater (now the Pantages,) 901 Broadway. Behind the group was a sign stating "March with the Veterans of Foreign Wars to the RKO Orpheum to see RKO Vaudeville Larry Rich and Marion Sunshine." A ticket at the Orpheum got you into to see a movie, Richard Dix in the "Public Defender," and a vaudeville show, with headliner Larry Rich and his Oompahs. Larry Rich was a comic bandleader who toured the vaudeville circuit with his own show, featuring his band the 14 Oompahs and singer Marion Sunshine. Ms. Sunshine would impersonate Maurice Chevalier and Ruth Etting and then sing her own songs, including the one for which she penned the English lyrics, "The Peanut Vendor." Larry Rich was the father of jazz drummer and bandleader Buddy Rich. A crowd had gathered between the VFW and the theater. Bowen #310-26 ?
In July of 1931, the marquee at the RKO Orpheum Theater (now the Pantages) shown brightly in the night advertising Larry Rich & his Oompahs. The Orpheum offered the discriminating viewer both a movie, Richard Dix in the "Public Defender," and a vaudeville style stage show. Band Leader Larry Rich toured the RKO circuit with his own show; he served as master of ceremonies and his band, the Oompahs, backed up the other performers. One of the featured singers was Marion Sunshine. She impersonated popular singers of the day and then sang her own songs, including "The Peanut Vendor," for which she wrote the English lyrics. In addition to creating as a composer and lyricist, Marion Sunshine acted in movies and performed as half of the sister act "Tempest and Sunshine" during her theatrical career. Bowen # 310-26?
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.
