Pantages Theater (Tacoma, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pantages Theatre
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The Pantages Theater in Tacoma, Washington
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 901 and 909 Broadway, Tacoma, Washington |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | B. Marcus Priteca |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Second Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001902 |
| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1976 |
The Pantages Theatre or Jones Building in Tacoma, Washington is a really cool old building. It was designed by a famous architect named B. Marcus Priteca. This special building first opened its doors in January 1918. It was built to be both an office building and a place for fun shows called vaudeville.
The theater's style mixes old-fashioned Renaissance Revival with a more modern Commercial look. The outside of the building, especially above the first floor, still looks much like it did when it was new. Today, it's still a busy spot for entertainment and businesses. It is managed by Tacoma City Theaters.
Contents
Looking at the Outside
The Pantages Theatre stands at the end of a block in downtown Tacoma. This area is full of shops and businesses. It looks much like city streets did in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The building is about 100 feet (30 meters) wide on Ninth Street. It is about 115 feet (35 meters) long along Broadway. The building has a strong steel frame. Its walls are made of reinforced concrete.
What the Walls Are Made Of
The walls facing Ninth Street and Broadway are white. They are covered in shiny, glazed terra cotta. This material looks like ceramic tiles. The wall facing Commerce Street is made of yellowish brick.
Details on Ninth Street
The Ninth Street side of the theater has three main parts. It also has five sections going up and down. The bottom part of this side is simple. This is typical for old Renaissance-style buildings.
The middle part is as tall as three stories. It has three big, arched openings. These arches are not real openings. They are just for decoration. Each arch has a fancy design above it called a cartouche. These are like big, decorative shields.
Tall, fake columns called pilasters frame these arches. They go up all three stories. The outer sections of the wall are less decorated. They have openings with arched tops. Five small balconies are under these openings. They help connect all the sections together.
A heavy, decorative band called an entablature runs across the top. It has a simple bottom part and a fancy middle part. The top part sticks out. It has a row of tooth-like blocks called dentils. Above this is a low wall called a parapet. It has simple square and round designs.
Exploring the Inside
The main part of the theater, called the auditorium, is shaped like an oval. The stage and the big arch around it are on the south wall. Below the stage is a small area for the orchestra. You can get to it from the greenroom. Dressing rooms are on either side of the greenroom.
Because Ninth Street is very steep, there are large spaces below the auditorium. These were used for rehearsals and storage. The heating and electrical systems were put in the lowest level, on the Commerce Street side.
Amazing Decorations
The auditorium is decorated with many beautiful features. The arch around the stage is covered in classic designs. These were made from plaster by skilled European artists. In the center of the arch is a fancy floral cartouche. A torch sticks out from this design.
Fluted columns stand on either side of the stage arch. The auditorium's decorative band has a dentil cornice. It also has shell-shaped decorations called finials. Above this band is a curved ceiling. It has lights hidden in a groove.
Instead of a regular crystal chandelier, the center of the ceiling has a beautiful art glass sunburst. There are special box seats on either side of the stage. Each box is an arch-shaped space. It is decorated with rosettes and a large shell design. The entrance to each box has a complex design of pilasters and decorative elements.
Images for kids
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Jones Building Entrance, West side
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North Front
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Triple-arched blind arcade on the Ninth Street facade
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Stage Front and Proscenium Arch
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Pantages Theater
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Pantages Theater, North facade
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