Broadway Theatre
916-18 Broadway,
Tacoma,
WA
98402
916-18 Broadway,
Tacoma,
WA
98402
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Sterling Theaters, Inc., Telenews Theaters
Architects: Roland Borhek
Styles: Art Deco, Colonial Revival
Previous Names: Colonial Theatre, Beverly Theatre, Telenews Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Colonial Theatre opened on October 21, 1914. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 4 manual 9 ranks organ. The building was completely remodeled in 1931, with a shiny black Vitrolite and nickel-silver exterior. The Wurlitzer organ was transferred to the new Fox Theatre, Spokane in 1931. On August 21, 1934 it was renamed Beverly Theatre, named after the daughter of Mike Barovic, the manager of the theatre.
The Beverly Theatre name was replaced by the Telenews Theatre on September 15, 1945. The new owners remodeled the theatre and gave it a new neon marquee. The Telenews lasted until 1949. For the most part, it showed newsreels, travelogues and documentaries. On June 23, 1949, it became the Broadway Theatre, owned by L.E. Allen. I am unsure how long it ran as the Broadway Theatre.
The building was demolished in 1988 and the site became a parking lot.
Contributed by
Katie Mac
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
The Telenews can be seen in this 1948 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/mj2o7n
A brief biography of Tacoma architect Roland Borhek credits him with the original 1914 design of the Colonial Theatre, as well as that of the Rialto Theatre in 1918. The PSTOS page chuck linked to misspells his first name.
Actually, the PSTOS page for the Colonial/Broadway doesn’t even mention Borhek. It’s their page for the Rialto that misspells his name.
Was this theater being used by a community theater group in 1963-64? I recall seeing a live production then in a former movie theater downtown.
The Tacoma Public Library doesn’t provide permlinks for photos, so I don’t know if this will work, but if it does this photo should show the Colonial Theatre in 1920.
The Colonial Theatre opened on October 21st, 1914. Grand opening ad posted.
Reopened as the Beverly on august 21st, 1934. Grand opening ad posted.
Reopened as Telenews on September 15th, 1945. another ad was posted.
Renamed Broadway on June 23rd, 1949 with still another ad posted.
Currently a parking lot.