Tacoma Arts Live Facts for Kids

Tacoma Arts Live is a special non-profit group located in downtown Tacoma, Washington. They manage three amazing theaters: the Pantages, Rialto, and Theatre on the Square. These are the biggest group of theaters between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon! Tacoma Arts Live also has a huge performing arts education program, teaching kids and teens about theater, music, and dance.

Since 1918, many famous people and world-class artists have visited these theaters. Some well-known figures include former presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, sports legend Babe Ruth, and entertainers like Queen Latifah, Martin Short, Joan Rivers, and Wanda Sykes.

Explore the Historic Theaters
Famous Visitors and Shows
- Early Years (1920s-1940s)
- Later Years (1980s-2010s)

Explore the Historic Theaters

Tacoma Arts Live takes care of three beautiful theaters, each with its own unique history.

Pantages Theater History

The Pantages Theater

The land where the Pantages Theater stands today used to have a saloon, Tacoma's first library, and a department store. In 1908, William Jones bought the land and cleared the old buildings. A few years later, Alexander Pantages, an immigrant from Greece, dreamed of owning many beautiful theaters across the country. With help, Pantages and Jones raised $400,000 to build the Jones Building and Pantages Theater.

Construction started in 1916, and the new Pantages Theater opened in January 1918. It was the second theater in the Pantages chain. Many people thought the Tacoma Pantages was the most beautiful. It was designed by architect B. Marcus Priteca, who was inspired by a fancy theater in the Palace of Versailles. The Pantages was a live theater for only eight years before it became a movie house. It was sold and its name changed to the Orpheum, then later to the Roxy. In the 1980s, it was finally renamed the Pantages Theater again.

In 1978, the city bought the theater and decided to restore it to its original beauty. The Pantages Theater officially reopened on February 12, 1983. Today, it is the oldest Pantages Theater still in use!

Rialto Theater History

The Rialto Theater

The Rialto Theater, known for its beautiful Beaux-Arts style, opened on September 7, 1918. It was built as a movie house, so it had a smaller stage and dressing rooms compared to other theaters. The lobby was also much smaller than it is today.

The architects who designed theaters during this time focused on making the main hall sound great for music. The Rialto looks a lot like the Redoutensaal in Vienna, which was one of the first "shoe box" shaped concert halls. The original fancy plaster decorations, including small angels called cupids and patriotic eagles, are still in good condition today.

By the 1990s, the Rialto had become a bit run-down and showed discount movies. But Tacoma worked to restore it, and now it's a busy and important part of downtown Tacoma's success once again.

Theatre on the Square History

The third theater, Theatre on the Square, was designed by architects from Portland, Oregon. It cost $11.8 million to build, with money coming from both private and public groups. This theater helped bring new life to the downtown theater district.

Theatre on the Square opened in October 1993. It has 302 seats and is located right next to the Pantages Theater. This theater is fully equipped for shows, with a rehearsal room, a place to build sets, a costume shop, and storage areas.

Famous Visitors and Shows

Over the years, the Tacoma Arts Live theaters have welcomed many incredible artists, performers, and shows. Here are just a few:

Early Years (1920s-1940s)

Later Years (1980s-2010s)

All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:

Tacoma Arts Live Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

Tacoma Arts Live facts for kids

Contents