Tacoma photographer Chapin Bowen described Luther "Dad" Sullins as "a real silk salesman" when he took this portrait of Sullins in Wright Park. Silk was a multi-million dollar business on Puget Sound, as well as in Vancouver, B. C., starting around 1913 and still active in 1927. Raw silk from Japan and China arrived on cargo ships. The delicate raw silk bales were immediately transferred to railroad cars pulled by steam locomotives. The silk trains, carrying multi-million dollar cargos and displaying white flags, had the track right-of-way as they traveled at 80-mile-an-hour speeds to New York and eastern mills. BGN 092.

Tacoma's grand opera house, the Tacoma Theater was built at 902 Broadway in 1889. It was converted into a motion picture theater in 1927 and renamed the Broadway Theater (or Theatre, as on its marquee). Workmen are seen preparing the new marquee in January of 1927. Over 20,000 people attended the grand opening on Feb. 4, 1927. Renamed the Music Box Theater in 1933, the building was destroyed in a spectacular fire on April 30, 1963.

Adela Rogers St. Johns, on location of "The Patent Leather Kid," March 24, 1927. Striking a relaxed pose, Miss St. Johns wears her helmet tilted as she sits in a director's chair while visiting the filming of "The Patent Leather Kid" at Camp (Fort) Lewis. She wrote the screen adaptation of Rupert Hughes' short story of the same name. Miss St. Johns was a noted journalist and writer who was known for her distinctive, emotional style. A reporter for the Hearst newspapers, she also interviewed celebrated actors for Photoplay magazine, wrote short stories for various periodicals and also wrote many screenplays. She did not restrict herself to a genre but wrote on such varied subjects as the controversial Dempsey-Tunney "long-count" fight, the 1935 Bruno Hauptmann trial, the assassination of Senator Huey Long and the abdication of King Edward VIII of Great Britain. After retiring from newspaper work in 1948, she went on to write books, including her autobiography "Honeycomb," and to teach at a series of universities. Old age did not deter her; she returned to newspaper work at age 82 to report for the San Francisco Examiner on the bank robbery trial of Patricia Hearst. She died at the age of 94 in 1988; she was still working at the time of her death on a book regarding Jesus Christ. (Britannica Online: Women in American History) BGN-163

Arthur Edeson, cameraman, First National Productions' "The Patent Leather Kid," March 29, 1927. Mr. Edeson positions his camera which is mounted on a wheeled cart. He was the director of photography for the film which was lensed on the grounds of Camp (Fort) Lewis. A founder of the A.S.C. (American Society of Cinematographers), he later pioneered location sound photography as the cameraman of "In Old Arizona" (1929). "Stella Dallas,' "All Quiet on the Western Front," " Mutiny on the Bounty ," "They Drive By Night," "Maltese Falcon," and "Casablanca" were just a few of the many films Mr. Edeson worked on. He retired at the age of 58 after a career spanning the silent and sound eras. (Film Encyclopedia, p. 373) BGN-165

Filming of the "Battle of Argonne" war scenes of "The Patent Leather Kid," March 24, 1927, at Camp (Fort) Lewis. "German" soldiers charge down a hill, dodging explosives, while others hunker down in trenches. They would soon be overpowered by the superior numbers of American troops and tanks. BGN-111

Battle of Argonne filmed on location at Camp (Fort) Lewis on March 24, 1927. German troops huddle in trenches behind rock and vegetation barriers as they await the charge of American soldiers during the filming of "The Patent Leather Kid." Camp (Fort) Lewis was apparently ideally suited due to its natural resources as a prime substitute for France and thousands of military personnel were made available for use as extras with the permission of the Army. The location of the "Big Drive," scene of the fierce fighting of the Argonne forest, is almost the exact replica of the famous war sector according to Army technical advisers. BGN-113

Portrait of Al Santell, director of "The Patent Leather Kid," on location at Camp (Fort) Lewis on March 24, 1927. A jaunty beret and Army-issue jacket protect him from the often inclement weather. Mr. Santell was chosen to helm the war drama starring Richard Barthelmess and Molly O'Day. A San Francisco native, he was a comedy writer, set decorator and occasional actor before directing comedy shorts at the age of 20. He subsequently directed a number of silent and sound films of all types. He is perhaps best known for his film adaptations of Maxwell Anderson's "Winterset" (1936) and Eugene O'Neill's "The Hairy Ape." (1944). BGN-116

Troop of soldiers relax during the filming of "The Patent Leather Kid" on March 29, 1927, on the grounds of Camp (Fort) Lewis. An exceptionally tall soldier certainly stands out in the crowd of his compatriots. These men were probably portraying American foot soldiers in a vivid enactment of the Battle of the Argonne. First National Studio arranged to have the outdoor battle scenes filmed at Camp (Fort) Lewis and thousands of regular USA personnel as well as ROTC units from the University of Washington and 600+ civilians participated in the filming. BGN-117

Actor Richard Barthelmess, writer Adela Rogers St. Johns & director Al Santell on location at Camp (Fort) Lewis during filming of "The Patent Leather Kid, " March, 1927. Miss St. Johns wrote the screen adaptation of Rupert Hughes' short story of the same name. She had arrived in Tacoma on March 22, 1927, to help the continuity of the script. Mr. Barthelmess played the role of a self-centered boxer who learns to face death with the same courage he had faced his ring opponents. He was a Best Actor nominee at the 1927-28 Academy Awards for "The Noose" and "The Patent Leather Kid;" Mr. Hughes also received a nomination for Original Writing. Director Santell was praised by the New York Times critic Mordaunt Hall for bringing out Mr. Barthelmess' flawless acting and while realizing the full pictoral values of his scenes, never permitting them to interrupt the trend of the story. Mr. Santell would go on to direct dozens of silent and sound films of all genres, including The Arizona Kid (1930), Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1932), Winterset (1936) and The Hairy Ape. (1944) BGN-438

Tacoma greets movie stars at the Union Depot. A hearty greeting from the City of Tacoma was offered to the actresses and actors appearing in the H.C. Weaver Productions studio film, "Totem Pole Beggar," on March 5, 1926. Shaking hands with star Wanda Hawley, wearing a voluminous fur coat, is believed to be A.D. Bjornstad. Mr. Bjornstad had attended school with Miss Hawley ten years previously and was currently employed as auditor at the Weaver Studios. The couple is flanked by two city policemen on motorcycles; the police officers are dressed for the cold weather with leather boots, gauntlets with long gloves and thick coats. "Totem Pole Beggar," whose title would later be changed to "Eyes of the Totem," would be the second film produced by the H.C. Weaver Productions studio. It would begin filming on March 8, 1926, and open at the Broadway Theatre on June 10, 1927. (TDL 3-6-26, p. 1)

Perched high above the flight deck of the U.S.S. Lexington on the 8-inch guns of the forward turrets, these young women do not appear at all nervous during their visit to the aircraft carrier in December, 1929. The Navy did permit tours of the ship which was tied up at Baker Dock from mid-December, 1929, to mid-January, 1930, to provide power to the City of Tacoma. Schoolchildren and Boy Scouts were among those who visited the large ship. On December 23, 1929, Freda Gardener, of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, Ethel Haasarud, RKO cashier, and Naomi Dykeman, head usher, Fox Rialto, were present to promote the Chamber of Commerce's big dance for the Lexington's enlisted men to be held on December 26 at the Greenwich Coliseum. They would be the judges awarding prizes to the most handsome, most happy and best dancer present at the dance. TPL-1774 (T.Times, 12-23-29, p. 1)

Founded in Tacoma in 1924, the Pacific Match Company produced over 80 million wood stick matches per day at its peak production. White pine from Eastern Washington and Idaho was turned into brand name matches such as Sunset, Fire Chief, Lite King and Red Head in the factory at 3223 So. Union Avenue. Pacific Match closed in 1964, largely due to competition from the Diamond Match Company of Ohio. Bowen 2647.

Two young boys stand next to a dog that is harnessed to a model circus wagon in this April, 1929, photograph. There is a pup (maybe two) in the wagon. Note on original negative sleeve says, "Newman builds circus wagon for boy & dog parade. Made at Kuehn residence near Lakeview." Bowen # 290-091

On July 19, 1929, Harold Bromley arrived at Tacoma Field after a flight of 8 hours 17 minutes from Los Angeles in his new bright orange Lockheed Vega monoplane named the City of Tacoma. Bromley and his plane had captured the attention and newspaper headlines of Tacoma. He was planning, with the backing of Tacoma businessmen, to make the first transPacific flight, a distance of 4,762 miles. The planned flight on July 28th ended in disaster when spewing gasoline blinded Bromley in take off and the plane crashed nose down just off the runway, with Bromley's tail cockpit nine feet off the ground. Three more planes were built over the next 2 years, but Bromley never reached his goal of a record flight.

On July 25, 1929 at Tacoma Field, nine year old Clasina Buffelen broke a be-ribboned bottle of Puget Sound water across the nose of Harold Bromley's bright orange Lockheed Vega, christening it the "City of Tacoma." Assisting her in the ceremony was seven year old Evelyn R. Miyazaki, dressed in a kimono. Clasina was the daughter of John Buffelen, one of Bromley's backers. Evelyn was the daughter of C.S. Miyazaki, secretary of the Japanese Association of Tacoma. The plane that Bromley was planning to fly from Tacoma to "Tokio" had the flags of the United States and Japan on her wings. She was covered with floral tributes from fans, including a replica of the plane formed of flowers. The attempted flight on July 28th was a failure, when gasoline from the overfilled tanks blinded Bromley and he crashed on takeoff. (TDL 7/26/1929, pg. 1-article & alt. photographs)

At approximately 5:30a.m. on July 28, 1929, a figure turns the propeller on Harold Bromley's plane "City of Tacoma," as Bromley prepares to take off on a 4,762 mile solo flight from Tacoma to Tokyo, Japan. A crowd of 25,000 had been gathering since 2 a.m. to watch Bromley fly into the history books. At 4 a.m., the long process of filling the plane with over 900 gallons of gasoline began. The take off was pushed back to after 6 a.m. As the day grew warmer, the gas expanded; and as the plane roared down the 100 foot ramp at dawn, gasoline began to spew from the now overfull tanks onto the windshield. As Bromley leaned to the side to get a clearer view, the gas splashed onto his goggles and as he pushed them up his head, the gas splashed into his eyes. The plane careened off the runway, crashing nose down in a pool of gasoline. Although Bromley was unhurt the crash ended this attempt to fly to Tokyo. BGN-310N

View from ground level, looking up at Harold Bromley's Lockheed monoplane, the "City of Tacoma," poised at the top of a 100 foot ramp prior to sweeping down the ramp on takeoff. The momentum gained in the descent down the ramp was the equivalent to an extra 1,000 feet of runway. Bromley makes a dashing figure in the open cockpit near the tail, in his aviators coat, helmet and goggles. He was attempting to be the first pilot to make a solo, nonstop trans-Pacific flight. His attempts ended in disaster as gasoline from the overfilled tanks blinded him and he crashed the plane. The feat would not be accomplished until October of 1931 by barnstormer Clyde Pangborn and wealthy financier Hugh Herndon, who landed in Wenatchee after departing from Japan. BGN-310B

Harold Bromley's plane "City of Tacoma" after its crash taking off on a proposed nonstop flight Tacoma to Tokyo. The year was 1929 and America was aviation crazy. In 1927, Lindbergh had flown solo over the Atlantic and returned to a hero's welcome. A nonstop Pacific flight was the grand prize to all ambitious pilots. Twenty eight year old Harold Bromley was backed by Tacoma money in his quest to fly Tacoma to Tokyo. On July 28, 1929, his wooden Lockheed Vega monoplane roared down the specially constructed 100 foot wooden ramp designed to give it more lift. Its tanks had been filled early in the morning, as departure time grew nearer, the day grew warmer and the gasoline expanded. As the plane attempted to take off, the gasoline spewed back onto the windshield. As Bromley leaned to one side for a clearer view, the gasoline hit his goggles and then his eyes. The plane careened off the runway to the left and crashed, its right wing crushed and the fuselage cracked in several places. Bromley was unhurt. BGN-724

Last minute fine tuning being done on Harold Bromley's all wood Lockheed Vega monoplane "City of Tacoma," in which he planned to fly solo and nonstop to Tokyo Japan. The plane was financed by a group of Tacoma businessmen headed up by lumber czar John Buffelen. The big orange low wing craft was built in California and designed by Los Angeles aircraft engineer Woody Deeds. It weighed 8,850 pounds including its load. It had an open cockpit near the tail, a 425 horsepower engine and carried 885 gallons of gasoline and 30 gallons of oil. A 5,400 foot runway was completed at "Tacoma Field," the new airport located at South Tacoma Way & Steilacoom Blvd., now a part of McChord Air Force Base. A 100 foot wooden ramp was erected at the beginning of the runway to give the heavy plane additional momentum. BGN-310C

Eddie Barry & H.C. Weaver on location of "The Patent Leather Kid," March 15, 1927. Mr. Barry was a visiting First National studio executive. Carrying a portfolio, he appears to be in deep conversation with H.C. Weaver, head of H.C. Weaver Productions, Tacoma's local motion picture studio. Later that summer, Mr. Weaver's third film, "Heart of the Yukon," would be opening at the Rialto Theater. BGN-104

Bursting of shrapnel during filming of "The Patent Leather Kid," on March 15, 1927, at Camp (Fort) Lewis. Trenches were dug and explosives laid before filming of the big battle scenes depicting the "Battle of the Argonne." 27,000 similar shrapnel shells were made and stored at Camp Lewis. Thousands of spectators had the opportunity to watch the filming until further into the war manuevers when it was decided that it was potentially too dangerous. Gravel and rocks were strewn over a wide area when the charges of powder exploded. An assistant powderman for First National studios, Walter Holt, was seriously injured in an explosion when a rock badly fractured his skull. He stayed on the job for half-an-hour to set off the complicated explosives before finally collapsing. (TNT 3-25-27, p. 1, TNT 3-16-27, p.1) BGN-103

Richard Barthelmess & Harry Dillon on set of "The Patent Leather Kid," Camp (Fort) Lewis, March 29, 1927. Harry Dillon was a real-life boxer from Canada who was in Tacoma to defend his light heavyweight crown against Eastern Washington's Fred Lenhart. He was on the set of the First National studio's motion picture, "The Patent Leather Kid," to meet a celluloid boxer, Richard Barthelmess, who is dressed in a doughboy 1917 service uniform with tin hat. Mr. Barthelmess was cordially invited to attend the boxing match on March 31, 1927, at the Greenwich Coliseum. (TNT 3-30-27, p. 10) BGN-118

N Yakima Avenue at N Carr Street, looking west up the small hill, taken on January 16, 1927. Grassy strip on the right with small bare trees and lamppost. Paved street at center turns up an incline; houses on both sides.

At dawn on July 28, 1929 Harold Bromley climbed into his Lockheed monoplane, perched at the top of a ramp, preparing for takeoff on his proposed 4,762 mile "hop" to Tokyo. A crowd of 25,000, some of whom had waited since 2a.m., gathered to see the plane take wing. The wooden vessel carried 904 gallons of gasoline and not much else, a flying gas tank. The new Tacoma airport, built with a $30,000 bond issue, had a 5,400 foot airstrip. An additional ramp was added at the beginning of the strip; when the plane rolled off the ramp it would gain momentum equivalent to another 1,000 feet of runway. At 6:08 a.m., the plane roared down the ramp and continued down the runway before swerving sharply and crashing. BGN-310I

Harold Bromley's Lockheed monoplane, the "City of Tacoma, " poised at top of the ramp at Tacoma Field prior to take off. The ramp was designed to give the large plane more lift. The huge orange Vega had a 48 foot wingspan, a open cockpit near the tail and a cruising speed of 150 miles per hour. Bromley was proposing to make a solo, nonstop 4,762 mile "hop" Tacoma to Tokyo. His flight ended in disaster when the overfilled tanks spewed gasoline, blinding him and he crashed the plane. Bromley, unhurt, oversaw the production of three more "City of Tacoma" planes. Two were designed by Lockheed and crashed during test flights. The final plane, designed by Emsco Aircraft of Downey, California, flew for 1,200 miles until fumes forced Bromley to turn back. BGN-310G

Silent movie star Richard Barthelmess, boxer Harry Dillon, & Hollywood director Al Santell posed for a picture on location at Camp (Fort) Lewis during the filming of "The Patent Leather Kid" on March 29, 1927. Mr. Barthelmess is dressed in doughboy attire for his role as a boxer who enlists in WWI. Mr. Dillon, a Canadian boxer who was known for his knockout right handed "Static Punch," was in Tacoma for his March 31st title fight against Washington native Fred Lenhart to be held at the Greenwich Coliseum. An invitation was extended to the film "boxer" by the real pugilist to attend the bout and Mr. Barthelmess accepted. Mr. Dillon lost his light heavyweight crown by referee's decision. (TNT 3-30-27, p. 10) BGN-164

Crown Prince & German soldier "Battle of Argonne." Arms akimbo and cigarette in hand, the German "Crown Prince" converses with a soldier from the "German" Army during filming of "The Patent Leather Kid" at Camp (Fort) Lewis on March 24, 1927. Even the wooden sign behind them is in the German language. The war scenes filmed were said to be the most vividly real sequences ever made for the camera. Trenches were dug, barb wire strung and fallen trees and other debris were scattered across the war zone. Thousands of extras, mostly Army personnel, were used to depict the sheer magnitude of the bloody battle. 37 Army and National Guard tanks were used as well as 100 army trucks, 15 ambulances and 15 wagon trains. Four batteries of 75 mm guns, two batteries of 155 mm guns, two batteries of 8-inch howitzers were also utilized. BGN-182

Filming of "Battle of Argonne" scenes - "The Patent Leather Kid," March 24, 1927 at Camp (Fort) Lewis. "German" soldiers beat a hasty retreat back to waiting comrades in trenches as their attempt to battle American troops are thwarted by the presence of 27 whippet tanks. Later scenes would show the tanks hurdling German trenches and fierce hand-to-hand fighting .

Actor Richard Barthelmess & champion boxer Harry Dillon shaking hands on location at Camp (Fort) Lewis, March 29, 1927, during filming of "The Patent Leather Kid." Harry Dillon, a Canadian, was in town to defend his light heavyweight title against native son Fred Lenhart at the Greenwich Coliseum on March 31, 1927. He extended an invitation, which Mr. Barthelmess apparently accepted, to watch the bout. Mr. Dillon lost the match by referee's decision; this brought along a mixed reaction by the packed house. (TNT 3-30-27, p. 10) BGN-119

For many years, P. T. Barnum-type side shows were main features at carnivals and fairs. In 1921, at the Western Washington Fair, McGunning-Davis was presenting her "consolidated twin alive--one head and two bodies". Also, a "20th Century Enigma--Australia natives captured in the wilds of Western Australia--First time on exhibition in America".