Merchandise on display at Ted Brown Music. A peek through the large window at Ted Brown's Broadway store could provide tempting to many a musician. Kimball pianos and a complete drum kit could give hours of pleasure to those at home but Ted Brown also wanted to allow music of a more portable nature. The store urged customers to "Take Music With You...Wherever You Go!" and stocked the window with samples of Melodicas and regular harmonicas. These lightweight instruments could accompany travelers wherever they might roam. ALBUM 15.

Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Music stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Window displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Mouth organs; Signs (Notices);

Window display at Ted Brown Music. A sign in Ted Brown Music recommends for summer fun, take music along wherever a person may travel. Nothing might be more portable than a harmonica and as Ted Brown's window display indicates, there were a multitude of sizes and sheet music to select from. Ted Brown Music announced they had the most complete selection of harmonicas on the West Coast, featuring the Hohner brand as played by Steve Allen and Larry Adler. Kimball pianos and a $499 drum set are also displayed. Photograph ordered by Ted Brown's.

Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Mouth organs; Sheet music covers; Signs (Notices);

Perhaps looking to purchase a new television console or high fidelity stereo, Marcella Blanchette and William Thornton, Jr., look interested in Ted Brown employee Bob Merrick's selection of records on April 30, 1960. As the curtains above the television indicate, Ted Brown emphasized the Magnavox brand of electronics. The salesman holds out a Magnavox demonstration record and Eddie Heywood's Canadian Sunset stereo recording to the engaged couple. Marcella Blanchette would wed William Thornton, Jr., of Seattle on June 4, 1960, at St. Leo's Catholic Church. Photograph taken for the News Tribune's Bridal Section. (TNT 5-17-60, C-16, 6-9-60, B-10)

Blanchette, Marcella; Thornton, William; Merrick, Bob; Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Televisions--1960-1970; Sound recordings; Shopping--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1935. Ted Brown Music Store; interior of newly remodeled store. The facility underwent a $4500 remodel to accomodate the music company. The staircase leads to offices and practice rooms on the mezzanine. Columns support two-story ceiling in customer area where pianos, radios, and sheet music are displayed. Cases surround the room. Plans called for the second floor to contain soundproof music studios and a recital hall. (T. Times 11/29/1934, pg. 5; 1/1/1935, pg. 9) (WSHS)

Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Music stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pianos;

ca. 1935. Ted Brown Music Store; interior of newly decorated store. Pianos in the "piano salon" circle around the room and the window looks out on surrounding businesses' neon signs. The salon was capable of accommodating 20 grand pianos. The new Ted Brown building, 1121-23 Broadway, was located across the street from the downtown J. C. Penney store. The premises underwent a $4500 remodel to accomodate the music company. The lower floor was occupied by Ted Brown, which moved from its old location at 755 Broadway. Plans for the second floor included soundproof music studios available for rent by music instructors and a 200 person recital hall. The mezzanine contained practice rooms and offices. Ted Brown Music Store was established in 1931 by Ted W. Brown. (T. Times 11/29/1934, pg. 5; 1/1/1935, pg. 9)

Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Music stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pianos;

In November of 1937, Arnold Leverenz was photographed playing the organ at Ted Brown Music Co., 1121-23 Broadway. Ted Brown was in business at this location from 1934-2001. Mr. Leverenz was a noted local musician. He provided background music at the Pantages during the silent film era and was a featured performer at Steve's Gay Nineties in the 1950's. (filed with Argentum)

Leverenz, Arnold; Musicians--Tacoma; Organs; Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Window display at Ted Brown Music Store, circa 1937. Photograph ordered by the Sunset Electric Company. View of display window featuring Philco Radios.Two small dolls, several portable and floor model radios, one with cardboard cutout of woman standing by it. (filed with Argentum)

Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Radios; Window displays--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma;

Three men are placing pennants in the Ted Brown music store window for the 9th annual United Tacoma Sale which will run three "big" days--October 31, November 1 and 2.. Fifty-one downtown businesses are participating in the event including: 11 women's clothing stores; 8 men's clothing stores; 6 department stores; 3 drug stores; 2 furniture stores; 4 jewelry stores; 7 shoe stores; 5 variety stores; and one florist, food store, grocery store, music store and paint store. Of the 51 stores, today Ted Brown's Music Co. is the only one that remains.

Advertising; Signs (Notices); Window displays; Music stores--Tacoma;

Seven of Washington's public school music supervisors got together for an informal "jam session" at the Ted Brown Music Store, 1121-23 Broadway, on Sept. 19, 1941. They were in Tacoma for the 5th Annual School Music Leaders Conference. The conference represented a sizeable cross section of music leaders from Tacoma and southwest Washington. The Ted Brown store, with its wide selection of musical instruments, was a favorite stop every time they were in Tacoma. (T. Times 09/19/1941 p.7)

Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Music Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On September 19, 1941, some of Washington's public school music supervisors got together for an informal "jam session" at the Ted Brown Music Store, 1121-23 Broadway. They were in Tacoma for the 5th Annual School Music Leaders Conference. The conference represented a sizeable cross section of music leaders from Tacoma and southwest Washington. The Ted Brown store, with its wide selection of musical instruments, was a favorite stop every time they were in Tacoma. (T. Times 09/19/1941 p.7)

Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Music Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The new Arthur Murray's Dance Studio was opening in downtown Tacoma on January 9, 1947. The studio was remodeled and redecorated to provide a modernistic atmosphere. Interior view of dance studio, photo ordered by Frances W. Grafton. Ms. Grafton was an interior decorator, possibly one of the interior decorators who worked on this project (T. Times, 1/3/47, p. 9).

Dance--Tacoma; Dance halls--Tacoma; Dance floors--Tacoma; Choreography; Studios--Tacoma; Arthur Murray's Dance Studios (Tacoma);

Arthur Murray's Dance Studio would be operated by Helen J. Healy, an official Arthur Murray trained instructor. This studio is the 86th studio established, other studios can be found throughout the United States and internationally. Interior view of dance studio, photo ordered by Frances W. Grafton. Ms. Grafton was an interior decorator, possibly one of the interior decorators who worked on this project (T. Times, 1/3/47, p. 9).

Dance--Tacoma; Dance halls--Tacoma; Dance floors--Tacoma; Choreography; Studios--Tacoma; Arthur Murray's Dance Studios (Tacoma);

The reception area at Arthur Murray Studios has been decorated in the mid-century modern look with upholstered chairs and sofas placed in conversation groupings on a rug sculpted with colors in broad curved shapes. A painted screen is seen on the left.

Dance--Tacoma; Dance halls--Tacoma; Studios--Tacoma; Arthur Murray's Dance Studios (Tacoma);

Overhead view of reception area

Dance--Tacoma; Studios--Tacoma; Arthur Murray's Dance Studios (Tacoma);

Reception area

Dance--Tacoma; Studios--Tacoma; Arthur Murray's Dance Studios (Tacoma);

In March of 1953, the familiar outline of a graceful couple dancing was prominently displayed on the Arthur Murray Dance Studio neon sign attached to the Ted Brown Music Store building, 1121-23 Broadway. There were three Arthur Murray Dance Studios in the Puget Sound region in 1953, including one in Seattle and one in Bremerton. They were part of the 210 chain of studios throughout the United States and Canada. The Arthur Murray concept of dancing had been in existence for 33 years; it was promoted as an easy method of learning how to dance using one master step. This night exposure of the entrance to the Arthur Murray Studio in the Ted Brown Music building also shows the National Dollar Stores and the Murray Hotel, both at 1125-27 Broadway. Photograph ordered by H. J. McGrath & Associates.

Arthur Murray's Dance Studios (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A couple has the floor to themselves during the graduation party at Arthur Murray Dance Studio. The studio advertised that, "psychologists say that dancing is the best of all social games for improving personality and self confidence". Benjamin C. Hartl was manager of the Tacoma studio.

Arthur Murrays Dance Studios (Tacoma); Ballroom dancing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dance parties--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In February of 1951, the skilled staff of television technicians who worked for the Ted Brown Music Company posed in their service department headquarters at the Commerce Street entrance of the store. This photo was used in advertising copy for the News Tribune 2/23/1951 Television Special section. The ad stated that "Ted Brown is very proud of its expert television technicians." The company had a policy of expert service and its staff attended classes at television factory and wholesaler schools and at Tacoma Vocational TV School. Ted Brown was one of the few independent companies in 1951 to do all of its own installation and service on TVs. Pictured standing, left to right, are Elroy Burnett, Don Dovey, Charles Laybourn (Service Manager) and Jimmy Johansen. Pictured kneeling are Axel Olson and Claus Anderson (fine-woods cabinet workman.) (TNT 2/23/1951, pg. C-8) TPL-10157

Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Burnett, Elroy; Dovey, Don; Laybourn, Charles; Johansen, Jimmy; Olson, Axel; Anderson, Claus;