B. Marcus Priteca papers, 1914-1928

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Priteca, B. Marcus (Bernard Marcus)
Title
B. Marcus Priteca papers
Dates
1914-1928 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.04 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Collection Number
1746 (Accession No. 1746-001)
Summary
Seattle Architect's work as architect for Pantages Circuit of Vaudeville Theatres
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Benjamin Marcus Priteca (1889-1971), an architect of Jewish-Scottish descent, moved to Seattle during the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909. In 1911, Priteca designed the San Francisco Pantages, the first of a series of theaters he built for Alexander Pantages, vaudeville tycoon, owner of 20 theaters and leaser of 28 others. In 1913, he built the Seattle Pantages, later called the Palomar, which was demolished in 1963. Altogether, Priteca designed 220 Theaters, spanning the United States and Canada, through not solely for Pantages.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, specifications, contracts, bids, maps, photographs. Primarily concerns Priteca's work as architect for Pantages Circuit of Vaudeville Theatres.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by B. Marcus Pritchett, 9/28/1971.

Separated Materials

Three photographs from this accession have been transferred to Visual Materials collections: (1) Bikur Cholim Synagogue; (2) a construction shack; (3) the Coliseum Theater, with Priteca on the right, Seattle 1914.

Related Materials

Special Collections also maintains an "Architects' File" on Priteca. It contains interviews with priteca, newspaper articles about his career, and drawings (reproductions) of his theater designs.

Processing Note

Processed in 1993. Although there is a folder of Pantages correspondence, additional letters of Priteca are scattered throughout the project files. Material not attributable to a specific project have been placed under the subgroup "Personal Papers."

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Series 1:  Pantages Circuit of Vaudeville TheatersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
General Correspondence - Pantages, Alexander
1919-1922
1/2
Incoming Letters
1919-1925
1/3
Outgoing Letters
1919-1925
1/4
Interoffice Correspondence
1925
1/5
Project File - Des Moines
1920-1921
1/6-7
Project File - Kansas City General Correspondence
1919-1922
1/8
Project File - Los Angeles General Correspondence
1919-1928
1/9
Project File - Los Angeles Contracts
1/10
Project File - Los Angeles Architects Certificates
1/11
Project File - Memphis General Correspondence
1919-1925
1/12
Project File - Memphis Superintendence Controversy
1/13
Project File - Memphis Bids
1/14
Project File - Memphis Drawings
1/15
Project File - Memphis Miscellaneous
1/16
Project File - Minneapolis General Correspondence
1917-1922
1/17
Project File - Minneapolis Contracts/Lease
1/18
Project File - Minneapolis Bills/Bid
1/19
Project File - Minneapolis Specifications
1/20
Project File - Minneapolis Maps
2/1
Project File - New Orleans Outgoing Letters
1920-1921
2/2
Project File - New Orleans Incoming Letters
1920-1922
2/3
Project File - New Orleans Incoming Letters - bids
1920-1921
2/4
Project File - New Orleans Specifications
2/5
Project File - New Orleans Maps
2/6
Project File - New Orleans Photographs
2/7
Project File - New Orleans Ephemera
2/8
Project File - New York
1921
2/9
Project File - Portland
1926-1928
2/10
Project File - Salt Lake General Correspondence - Contractor
2/11
Project File - Salt Lake General Correspondence
2/12
Project File - Salt Lake Telegrams of J.E. Gilbert
1919-1920
2/13
Project File - San Francisco
1920-1925
2/14
Project File - Seattle General Correspondence
1913-1925
2/15
Project File - Seattle Bids
2/16
Project File - Seattle Estimates
3/1
Project File - Seattle Contracts
3/2
Project File - Seattle Bills
3/3
Project File - Seattle Log
1914-1915
3/4
Project File - Seattle Miscellaneous
3/5
Project File - Spokane
3/6
Map
3/7
Agreement

Series 2:  Personal PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/8
General Correspondence
1920-1925
3/9
Investments and Insurance
3/10
Orpheum Theatre
3/11
Various Projects
3/12
Bills
3/13
Photographs
3/14
Miscellaneous

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architecture--Northwest, Pacific
  • Architecture--Washington (State)
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Theater architecture
  • Theaters--Washington (State)

Personal Names

  • Priteca, B. Marcus (Bernard Marcus)--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Pantages Circuit of Vaudeville Theatres
  • Pantages Theatre (Seattle, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Northwest, Pacific--Architecture
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Business, industries, and trades--Architects
  • Washington (State)--Architecture
  • Washington (State)--Business, industries, and trades--Architects

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Gilbert, John E (creator)
    • Pantages, Alexander (creator)