Watching TV in Tollefson Plaza?
Spotting life in Tollefson seems a lot like spotting a Sasquatch in the Cascades … especially given the quality of this cameraphone pic. What’s going on? What kind of trouble? Folks were watching television in Tollefson Plaza this evening. With all our ideas on how to activate the space, I don’t think this one has come up before …
An Exit133 reader stopped by the scene 45 minutes after the photo was sent to us to speak with the mysterious TV watchers. Unfortunately, they were gone. POOF.
Thank you, Marty
Filed under: Downtown Tacoma, Neighborhoods, Tollefson Plaza
23 comments
T Thorax O'Tool August 25, 2008
That is among the most awesome things I have ever seen.
E Erik B. August 25, 2008
An Exit133 reader stopped by the scene 45 minutes after the photo was sent to us to speak with the mysterious TV watchers. Unfortunately, they were gone. POOF.
Many have tried to invade Tollefson Plaza, most are driven out within a short while. The pole climbing folks last year were able to stay in there awhile though.
O onbroadway August 25, 2008
Speaking of which, I saw a Festivus pole there last year, and it stayed (probably unnoticed) the entire day of Festivus.
R RR Anderson August 25, 2008
that’s damn funny. what’s next people playing with their wii ? people shopping QVC? People watching city council meetings???
E Erik B. August 25, 2008
that’s damn funny. what’s next people playing with their wii ? people shopping QVC? People watching city council meetings???
Its almost like they took it as a dare.
Hauling in chairs and a tv from a couple of blocks away to make a statement or a physical achievement.
R RR Anderson August 25, 2008
with a laptop and a digital projector you could watch movies on the wall of the marriot. Tollefson drivein!
D Derek staff August 25, 2008
with a laptop and a digital projector you could watch movies on the wall of the marriot.
I have my vintage 8mm projector and a bunch of silent films. I like the idea of B&W movies against the backdrop of the convention center and Marriott.
B Bryan August 26, 2008
Boe’s got nothin on RR.
M Marty August 26, 2008
You can’t see it very well in the picture, but there is about 5 TVs stacked up and they is an orange extention cord running to the power supply under the big silver box in the fore ground.
We have always imagined a movie in the park projected to replicate a theater. Why not have a bunch of TVs and comfortable chairs and have it be Tacoma’s living room?
P Pizza Tosser August 26, 2008
I like the B&W films idea. Shakey’s Pizza was built on the concept.
Y You're Welcome August 26, 2008
I would support B&W movies at Tollefson. Especially if we were going “Gorilla Style.”
U uoaaa181 August 26, 2008
Our goal was to activate the space, get people to say “what the – “ and maybe inspire others :)
The t.v.s were a bit of social commentary and an evolution from the original idea of movies projected on to the side of the art museum
We’ll be having fun w/ more random ideas spread around downtown’s interesting but inactive spaces
Thanks for noticing us!
E Erik S August 26, 2008
Awesome. Deeply, deeply awesome.
Erik B, are the folks who are “driven” from Tollefson being moved along by the fuzz, or are they forced out by the inherent awfulness of the design?
I’d hate to think that the authorities are discouraging the use of a public plaza like parents telling kids the dining room’s off-limits, keeping it “nice” for some unknown purpose in the distant future.
E Erik B. August 26, 2008
Erik B, are the folks who are “driven” from Tollefson being moved along by the fuzz, or are they forced out by the inherent awfulness of the design?
Tollefson Plaza is completely dead empty 99 percent of the time.
Thus, it is statistically difficult for one group to even see another.
For one group to drive another out would take some real planning on both of their parts to show up at the same time.
One would have to lay “in wait” for days on the cement steps for someone to show up.
E Erik S August 26, 2008
You pose an interesting challenge for the amateur camouflage enthusiast, Erik.
T Thorax O'Tool August 26, 2008
An Erik B and an Erik S?
I’m gonna start needing name tags.
D David Boe August 26, 2008
9. “Boe’s got nothin on RR.”
I pity the fool…(and I hope that RR does indeed have nothin on me).
T Thorax O'Tool August 26, 2008
Now we have two Thoraxes as well!
Anyhoo, I don’t really watch TV, but I really like the idea of it… something so ordinary and mundane made extraordinary by doing it in an unusual place.
And B&W films is awesome too!
I suggest “The Freshman” by Harold Lloyd. Not only is it a great movie, but Harold Lloyd had many ties to and frequently visited our fair city.
He was also a patron of the Java Jive in the 20’s and 30’s.
Who’s on board for Harold Lloyd in Tollefson?
R RR Anderson August 26, 2008
I interpret the TeeVee in the park as a giant insult to the park creators. You’re basically saying there is nothing better to do in your park than watch TeeVee. Brilliant subversive statement.
I salute the performance artists AND look forward to more hijinks.
I love the idea of silent movie street night. India has been kicking our asses in street theater for years! In the words of our president bring it on!
V Vidiot August 28, 2008
Stadium Video would be glad to help.
J justin camarata August 31, 2008
pasadena does something like this every summer. it’s fantastic. they project old movies and student short films on weekend nights in a crowded urban area, the screen surrounded by restaurants and shops. it’s an incentive to eat outside, congregate, etc. – exactly what should happen in a healthy city environment.
check it out:
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/67505
so yes, i fully support this happening in tacoma. let’s make it happen.
M michaeld September 1, 2008
In the International District in Seattle, there is a small concrete plaza(smaller than Tollefson) and they had movies playing there on some kind of big blowup screen. It looked like a big TV that was blown up with a machine and the screen in the middle, showing black/white movie w/sound. Lots of druggies around too while this was going on, saw them bugging people for money. Great Idea!
M Mofo from the Hood September 1, 2008
Whenever I’m down at Tollefson Plaza watchin’ T.V. and someone walks past, I always welcome them in a global fashion like this: “!Mi plaza es su plaza!”