Pantages Theater
901 Broadway,
Tacoma,
WA
98402
901 Broadway,
Tacoma,
WA
98402
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A four-page article about the remodeling of the Roxy Theatre, formerly the Pantages, appeared in Boxoffice of October 22, 1955. The remodeling project was designed by the architectural firm of Carlson, Eley, Grevstad.
How did B. Marcus Priteca’s first and middle names get reversed in the architect field?
August 2010 photo of the Pantages Theatre. Click to Enlarge.
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On last nights Fox TV News, they devoted several very interesting minutes to show viewers the in’s and out’s of this lovely old palace.
As Tacoma is within a reasonable drive from the Portland, OR., area, my wife and I plan to see a show this coming weekend. Yup!!!
Here is some additional history of the Pantages Theater.
8-27-07 photo by Rob Bender of exterior especially vertical blade sign:
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Randall: The Seattle Pantages is here under the name Rex Theatre.
What about the Pantages in Seattle? Why isn’t it on this site?
I have one of the large terra cotta lions that held up the marquee
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Here is a 2007 photo of Pantages Theater.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976
Pantages Theatre *** (added 1976 – Building – #76001902)
Also known as Jones Building;The Roxy
901 and 909 Broadway, Tacoma
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Priteca,Benjamin Marcus
Architectural Style: Other, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals
Area of Significance: Architecture, Invention, Entertainment/Recreation, Commerce
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Auditorium, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
A Robert-Morton organ was installed in the Pantages Theater in 1925.
A photo of the Pantages' Vertical
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The Pantages operated as the Roxy until 1978 when it was closed to be renovated. My father took my older brothers and sisters to see “Star Wars” there in May 1977.
Complete history & photos:
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Before this theater became the Roxy theater, it was the RKO Orpheum Theater as Katie Mac has already posted. Movies were playing at the Orpheum as early as 1931, possibly earlier than that. The first link shows the name change from the RKO Orpheum Theater to the Roxy Theater took place in September of 1932. The second link shows the movie “Dirigible” was playing at the RKO Orpheum in August of 1931.
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Regarding ghamilton’s recent comment: The Temple Theatre is alive and well, but not serving as a movie theater. It is now the Landmark Convention Center at 47 St. Helens Ave. I just submitted the Temple as a new listing for Cinema Treasures, so more details should be coming soon. The Landmark/Temple’s site is www.tacomaslandmark.com
This theater was known as the RKO Orpheum from 1930 to 1932.
I remember viewing TWO FOR THE ROAD at the Roxy,other films at the Rialto across the street.To the S on the same street had been two other fine facilities in ancient time that would bear research.What has happened to the huge Temple Theater two blocks to the North?
Pantages Trivia:
“The Pantages Theater, built in 1918 by Alexander Pantages, was partially funded with financial assistance from his mistress, Kate Rockwell. Known as "Klondike Kate” and “Queen of the Yukon”, she brought grace and style to the dance halls and saloons of the Pacific Northwest. She held miners spellbound with her flame dance and took their breath away when she appeared in a $1,500 French gown. Her lush ballads brought tears to their eyes and inspired a shower of gold nuggets.
Between performances she would dance with lonely miners for a dollar a dance, and drink champagne with them for which she received $7.50 a bottle. “We were vendors of laughter and music to men who were starved for beauty and gaiety,” she said. “And we give good measure for all the gold the miners showered upon us.”
In the first four months she was in Dawson, Alaska, Kate received a hundred proposals of marriage, though the only man she wanted to marry was Alexander Pantages, who in the end, took her money and broke her heart. After Pantages married a woman of higher social standing, Kate sued him but never fully recovered her financial loss. She struggled for the rest of her life to make ends meet".
Yet again, a B. Marcus Priteca design
The Pantages Tacoma Theatre is located at 901 Broadway and was placed on the National Register in 1976. The Pantages operated during the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s as the Roxy Theatre.
The Pantages is a single-screen theater.
The interior of this theater is amazingly similar to the Pantages in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis theater is missing its side boxes and , rear acoutic arch corbels and original lobby though. ( all thanks to Ted Mann, a local hero for some, a destroyer of fine theaters to others.) The Tacoma theater served as a model for restoring the Minneapolis Pantages.
Another old theater designed by the great theater architect B. Marcus Priteca.