Dining facilities in the Rodeway Inn. Red was the dominant color used in the Rodeway Inn's restaurant/lounge with its cheerful red carpeting, red seats and checkered red-and-white tablecloths. Even the lamps and ceiling were crimson. Gold-toned draperies provided a welcome contrast. The Rodeway Inn, built in 1969, was located close to South 72nd and the freeway. It was part of a large nationwide chain of budget motels. Announcement of the sale of the motel was made on December 18, 1977, as the property was acquired by two Seattle brothers, Nazir and A.B. Damgi, for $2.1 million dollars. The sale reportedly closed on July 31, 1977, but not announced until December. Color photograph ordered by the Rodeway Inn. (TNT 12-18-77, F-10 - small article on sale)

Rodeway Inn of America (Tacoma); Motels--Tacoma--1970-1980; Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980;

This large group of unidentified airline stewardesses posed in the bright sunshine on July 7, 1970, at the Rodeway Inn, 6802 South Sprague Avenue, after receiving their wings. Most of the women were wearing the blue-and-white uniforms and white gloves of the Flying Tiger Line. The Flying Tigers were the first scheduled air cargo airline, but in the 1970's they also supplied military contract charter service from Travis Air Force Base in California to Japan. The airline formed in 1945 and ceased operation in 1989. It got its name from the Flying Tigers fighter unit of World War II. (Color photograph ordered by the Flying Tiger Line.)

Stewards; Flight attendants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flying Tiger Line;

This large group of unidentified airline stewardesses posed in the bright sunshine on July 7, 1970, at the Rodeway Inn, 6802 South Sprague Avenue, after receiving their wings. Most of the women were wearing the blue-and-white uniforms and white gloves of the Flying Tiger Line. The Flying Tigers were the first scheduled air cargo airline, but in the 1970's they also supplied military contract charter service from Travis Air Force Base in California to Japan. The airline formed in 1945 and ceased operation in 1989. It got its name from the Flying Tigers fighter unit of World War II. (Color photograph ordered by the Flying Tiger Line.)

Stewards; Flight attendants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flying Tiger Line;

1969 Richards stock footage. Looking quite a bit different in May of 1969, the area around So. 72nd and the freeway was starting to be developed commercially. The new Rodeway Inn of America was under construction at 6802 So. Sprague, close to the freeway. Travelers could easily exit the freeway to find comfortable lodgings. A Standard Oil station was conveniently located nearby. The 130-unit luxury motor hotel opened in early November, 1969, with a 90-unit addition planned. (TNT 11-2-69, D-14)

Aerial views; Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rodeway Inn of America (Tacoma); Motels--Tacoma--1960-1970; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1960-1970;

1969 Richards stock footage. Closer aerial view of the Rodeway Inn of America under construction in the summer of 1969. Located near So. 72nd and the freeway, the Rodeway Inn would provide comfortable lodgings for the road-weary traveler. The two-story units were built in a modified U-shape. Constructed on five acres leased from Hillcrest Properties, the 130-unit complex was owned by Northwest Motel Co., Seattle. It would open for business in November of 1969. (TNT 11-2-69, D-14)

Aerial views; Rodeway Inn of America (Tacoma); Motels--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970;

1969 Richards stock footage. Colorful aerial view of the new Rodeway Inn of America under construction in May of 1969. Located at 6802 So. Sprague, the motel catered to travelers desiring affordable accommodations. An added plus was the motel's closeness to the freeway. Amenities included a heated swimming pool, the "Village Inn" restaurant/lounge, meeting rooms, and convention and banquet facilities. The Rodeway Inn opened in early November, 1969. (TNT 11-2-69, D-14)

Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rodeway Inn of America (Tacoma); Motels--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial views;

Group portrait of new stewardesses of the Flying Tiger Line, taken on January 16, 1970, at the Rodeway Inn of America. These newly minted stewardesses would operate under the Flying Tiger Line, an airfreight company first formed in 1945 by a group of former C-46 "Hump" flyers with Gen. Claire Chennault's "Flying Tigers" in China during WWII. The airline concentrated on freight operations, supplemented by military transports and by 1969, had upgraded its fleet to consist entirely of jet freighters. Also in 1969, service across the Pacific was added to previous U.S. transcontinental flights. The Flying Tiger Line would participate in both the Korean and Vietnam airlifts, carrying both cargo and military personnel and their dependants, and during the Vietnam War, would perform double duty as the U.S. Postal Service, delivering mail to combatants. The planes were used in the last minute evacuations of Vietnamese refugees during the last hours of U.S. troop withdrawls in 1975. The Flying Tiger Line was taken over by Federal Express in 1989, after 43 years of carrying cargo and people all over the world. (www.flyingtigerline.org/history; www.timetableimages.com/ttimages./ft) Color photograph ordered by Flying Tiger Line, McChord AFB.

Stewards; Flight attendants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flying Tiger Line;