Music Box Theatre
902 Broadway,
Tacoma,
WA
98402
902 Broadway,
Tacoma,
WA
98402
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1963 fire
Music Box theatre burns 01 May 1963, Wed The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington) Newspapers.com
Renamed Music on February 11th, 1933. Another ad posted.
1890 grand opening ad posted
1959 night photo added courtesy Ken Widmeyer.
Here are some additional photos of the old theater, specifically in regard to the 3/14 Robert Morton pipe organ.
Music Box (a/k/a Tacoma, Broadway) Theatre Broadway & 9th, Tacoma, Washington Organ installation timeframe: 1920s – 1963
Link to photos here: http://www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/tacoma/music-box.htm
1925 stage photo courtesy of the Tacoma Public Library.
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/images/dt6n.asp?un=1&pg=1&krequest=a670&stemming=On&phonic=&fuzzy=&maxfiles=5000
The Pantages and Rialto in Tacoma are still active theatres as is the Blue Mouse.
Nice picture of the fire,I like the name Music Box Theatre.
Great additional photos! Thanks for the link. So nice to see where my Gram was for a performance she never forgot and always talked about.
Here are links to scans of my grandmother’s program from The Tacoma when she saw Anna Pavlowa’s farewell performance there in the 1920s.
View link
View link
View link
Here is a 1907 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/285qyq
“On the evening of May 1st, 1963 fire destroyed the Music Box Theatre, originally known as The Tacoma Theatre and a downtown Tacoma landmark since 1890, causing damage that may amount to one million dollars or more.
The Tacoma Theatre’s extravagant opening January 13th, 1890 heralded 73 years of entertainment for the people of Tacoma. Situated in the center of downtown Tacoma, the theatre was considered the heart of the huge 9th and Broadway landmark.
For 38 years the greatest of the entertainment world graced its huge stage. Names as Henery Irving, David Warfield, Lily Langtry, Lillian Russell, Maude Adams, Otis Skinner, The Barrymores, Walker Whiteside, Harry Lauder, Kolb & Dill, Al Jolson and many, many more."
(from http://www.districtone.com/end1964.htm)
This page at the City of Tacoma’s web site has information about this theater, and has two small photographs of it, including one of the building in flames on May 1st, 1963.
The name of the architect is given as J.M. Wood of Chicago, assisted by A.F. Heide, with exterior design by John Galen Howard and interiors by Sydney Lowell. The 1927 renovation was by architects Heath, Grove & Bell.