seattle

I own one of the terracotta lions from this theater, the one on the corner under the sign which held a steel anchor rod for the marquee. I can even see the lion in the 1917 photo.
I know the one I have came from the corner as it has drips of green paint on it from the tall sign on the corner next to it.

A story in the Times on May 12 1946, titled "Fremont: A District That Thrives" mentions that in the early days, "The present intersection of Fremont Avenue and Fremont Place was a swamp with the sign advertising Denny and Hoyt's Addition in the middle of it!" Perhaps this is the sign in question.

Yes, perhaps it is! Great little tidbit to add. Thanks.

The Tom and Jerry Market (whose sign is visible in the background) was at 2455 4th Ave S, between Stacy and Lander Streets, in Seattle. The USPS still owns most of the block where this photo was taken, maintaining a post office there at 2420 4th Ave S. The Seattle Times reported on 1949-05-27 that the band had made its first public performance, being "made over from the mailmen's Drum and Bugle Corps", and was hosting dances to raise funds to pay for the NALC's biennial convention to be held in Seattle in 1950. The '52 convention was held in New York, and according to the Times, both the band and the Ladies' Auxiliary Drill Team won first place in their respective competitions.

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/32573662@N00] Thank you for sharing this additional information. I will certainly pass this along to my colleagues at Smithsonian's National Postal Museum. Are you from the Seattle area? Do you have a personal history with USPS? Always interested in learning more! Sincerely, Susannah Smithsonian Institution Archives

Smithsonian Institution I live in Seattle, but don't have any personal connection to the USPS beyond that of any other average citizen. I just get a kick out of old photographs of the area, and trying to pin down unknown dates and locations based on bits of signage, landmarks, etc. Thanks for posting the photo!

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/32573662@N00] Hey, that's reason enough! We do appreciate your comments, and thank you for your interest in Smithsonian photography! Susannah Smithsonian Institution Archives

Turns out I goofed in my earlier location identification. We're actually on the 2400 block of 3rd Ave S, not 4th. When I found the Tom & Jerry address on 4th Ave and saw that the USPS currently owns the land across the street to the east, I assumed that must be the spot—I didn't actually hunt down the post office's address back then to double-check. But it turns out that back in the day the USPS was at 2401 3rd Ave S, a block west of its current location. So instead of being on the east side of 4th looking west, we're on the west side of 3rd looking east; the Tom & Jerry sign is on the back side of the market. Looks like the USPS sold the property in 1982. The hill really should've made me realize my error: West Seattle does rise to the west of this area, but it's much farther off; instead, that's Beacon Hill to the east. The large Liberty Court apartment buildings on top of the hill behind the band (built during WWI to house shipyard workers and still standing today) are another giveaway. Oh well, at least I figured it out eventually.