PSTOS - Pantages (Roxy) Theatre, Tacoma Washington

Pantages (Roxy) Theatre - 3/10 Robert Morton
Tacoma, Washington
901 Broadway
Organ installation timeframe: 1925 - 1964

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Arnold Leverenz with the console, date unknown

Pantages Theatre, c.2008. Tom Blackwell photo

Pantages Theatre, c.1929

Click to go to the Larry Bullis Pantages Theatre Auditorium page
Ornate auditorium with glass ceiling dome. Photo ©Larry Bullis 1983. Designed by the famous B. Marcus Priteca and built in 1918, the Pantages has been rennovated several times. It seats 1186. It has been a vaudeville house, a movie house, and in 1983 became the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.

Interestingly, the current building was not the first Pantages Theatre in Tacoma. The original Pantages was located on Pacific Avenue. This building was vacated in 1918 when the new Pantages building was completed. The Victory Theatre later moved in.

During the 1940's, 50's & 60's, the house operated under the name "Roxy Theatre."

c.2008, Tom Blackwell photo

Roxy Theatre, looking East across Broadway, c.1940

In recent years, the theatre has been totally restored as Tacoma's primary performing arts house and it has been given back its original Pantages name. Unfortunately, the organ chambers have now been converted to other uses, including air conditioning.

Pantages Theatre, c.1921 The Pantages originally had a three-manual Robert Morton theatre pipe organ installed in 1925. As was typical for Pantages houses, chambers were located under the stage.

In 1964, the organ was purchased and removed by Bill Morrison of Everett, Washington.

Pantages Theatre, c.1920's

Promotional character outside the theatre, c.1956
Roxy snack bar, c.1950s

The organ was eventually sold to a couple in Portland and placed in storage for many years. It was later purchased by the late Father Terrence Wager and has been installed in the parish hall of St. Columban Catholic Church in Yelm, Washington.

Broadway and 9th St, Winthrop Hotel in background, c.1947

c.1948. Winthrop Hotel on left

Looking North on Broadway, c.1948

Looking east on 9th St, c.1953. Music Box Theatre also shown

Intersection of Broadway and St. Helens Streets, c.1950s

Postcard view looking South on Broadway. Roxy Theatre on left, date unknown.

Roxy Theatre on right, early 1940's