The exterior of the Avenue Cafe is shown at night with neon signs in the front windows, above the upper windows and on the sign perpendicular to the front of the cafe. Another neon sign spelling "Cocktails" over the entrance is not lit. The cafe advertises food to go. Vittorio Perniconi owned Avenue Cafe at 1516 Pacific Avenue and Reno Rose served as manager. The cafe was renamed "Bimbo's Avenue Cafe" in 1953. (TNT, 1/31/1952, p.12) TPL-3841
Avenue Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Central Bank held an open house for their new K Street branch at K street and South 12th. At the rear of the new facility were private offices for conferences, finished in walnut panels and divided by folding doors. Safe deposit booths, also finished in walnut and affording complete privacy, were also available in this area. This view shows the safety deposit box vault with the vault door open. The door to an office is open on the left. (TNT, 1/24/1952, p.9)
Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Central Bank (Tacoma); Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma; Safe-deposit boxes--Tacoma;
This view shows the shaft built for the escalator being installed inside Fisher's department store. Steel beams have been added to suppport the structure and plywood has been used to cover the exterior of the shaft.
Department stores--Tacoma; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Escalators--Tacoma;
Outdoor teller windows at the National Bank of Washington annex provided an early form of drive-up banking. A neon sign announces, "Parking Reserved for Exterior Window Banking". A man is seen at one of the windows completing an transaction.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A view looking northeast along Jefferson Avenue towards Pacific Avenue and north along Broadway on the left featuring the triangular building in the center of the photograph. The building was located at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Broadway. No tenants were listed for the building in 1951. The Hotel Earle at 1552 Jefferson with the 1555 Tavern on the corner can be seen behind and above the triangle building Schoenfelds can be seen on Pacific Avenue. Ordered by Electrical Products Consolidated. TPL-9777;
Hotel Earle (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Jordan Baking Company banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. The bakery was introducing a new and improved loaf of bread, "Sunbeam Bread". The new trademark showed a little blonde girl eating a slice of bread and butter. "Sunbeam Bread was an achievement of many years experimentation to produce a truly superior loaf of bread," according to Arthur K. Jordan, owner of the bakery. The new wrapper design was executed in a light blue and white with a floral border and a picture of the girl eating a slice of bread and butter. Arthur K. Jordan is seated in the middle of the front row wearing a lei. (TNT, 3/6/1952, p.16)
Jordan Baking Co. (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Jordan, Arthur K.; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);
Workmen are laying the stone veneer on the new home of Bill Tietz, a contractor from Lakewood. This view of the large house in Narrowmoor is from the Suspension street side looking up the hill. The large windows and covered outdoor area will provide breathtaking views of the Tacoma Narrows.
Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Tietz, Bill--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interior views of Tietz home showing construction progress. Appears to be West Slope house, perhaps on Fernside Drive. Post and beam construction with flagstone fireplace and room divider. For Tietz Construction Company. Possibly 1274 So. Fernside Dr., the home of contractor Bill Tietz.
Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Tietz, Bill--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The interior of Lincoln Electric's showroom features lines of Hotpoint appliances. Electric stoves are seen in the center. Televisions and refrigerators are seen on the left while hot water heaters dominate the display on the right.
Lincoln Electric (Tacoma); Appliance stores--Tacoma;
Progress photographs on construction of Puget Sound National Bank's temporary Lakewood Branch. The Lakewood Branch opened in temporary headquarters - a 35 x 75 foot plywood building - 10 working days after obtaining the Comptroller's approval. Plans for a permanent building to be located adjacent to the temporary building and on Gravelly Lake Drive were to begin immediately. The permanent branch opened on October 5, 1953. (TNT, 3/8/1952, p.A-3)
Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;
Interior view of living room in Bill Tietz's new residence, believed to be 1274 So. Fernside Dr. View toward television alcove., glass block trim on right. For Tietz Construction Company.
Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Tietz, Bill--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interior exposure of new W.P. Fuller & Co. building, for Clark Richardson Advertising Agency. Fuller & Co. sold paints, varnishes, glass, sash, doors and mirrors. Two men discuss a color chip paint card amidst the counters loaded with paints and painting supplies.
Exterior exposure of H.A. Briggs store, located at 38th & Center in the Oakland building, for Associated Grocers. Hosea A. Briggs was the president of H.A. Briggs Stores, Inc. He was married to Ruth and resided at 523 Alta Vista Place in Fircrest. H.A. Briggs was also a building contractor and a member of Tacoma Master Builders. The windows of the grocery market advertise fresh bread and dairy. Stands holding Mandeville and Northrup King seeds are outside.
H.A. Briggs Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Exterior exposure of H.A. Briggs store, located at 2802 6th Ave., for Associated Grocers. Hosea A. Briggs was the president of H.A. Briggs Stores, Inc. He was married to Ruth and resided at 523 Alta Vista Place in Fircrest. H.A. Briggs was also a building contractor and a member of Tacoma Master Builders. The windows of the store advertise summer produce- strawberries $.25 a box, cucumbers $.10 each, bananas 2 lbs for $.25, fresh bread and meats- ground $.49 lb., round $.79 lb, veal $.59-.63 lb. and pork loin $.55 lb. Outside the store are cases of Kerr canning jars, crates of watermelons and stands of seeds.
H.A. Briggs Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Grand opening of the new location of Columbian Optical Co. Photo shows three fitting areas from the front with mirrors on the angled side. The backwall has a cabinet with drawers. Floral displays give the opening a festive air. Columbian sold eyeglasses, contacts and artificial eyes.
Grand opening of the newest location of Columbian Optical Co. This photo shows the backside of 3 fitting areas with the stool where the employee sits to fit the glasses. The receptionist can be seen behind the counter in the background.
Lang and Dennison Hardware. Interior of the store with a woman looking at paint chips in a case; a woman and a girl looking at a paint sample book and a clerk standing behind the book and happily assisting the customer. Cans of Dutch Boy paint stand on the shelves behind them. Ads accent the Dutch Boy "Color Gallery" and "Wonsover," the wonder paint. Ordered by National Lead Company. TPL-1566
Lang & Dennison Hardware (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;Paints & varnishes;
Lang and Dennison Hardware. Exterior of store with four men by door, lawn mower and lawn equipment on sidewalk. Ordered by National Lead Company. Proctor District. This was the type of neighborhood general store that people preferred before the era of the large chains of multi-purpose stores.
Lang & Dennison Hardware (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;Paints & varnishes;
Northwest Radio Company, Sixth Avenue store. Night view of front of building from southwest, showing with neon signs and window displays of Motorola, Philco, and Dumont products.
Northwest Radio, Inc. (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Northwest Radio Company at 3007-11 Sixth Avenue was advertised as "Tacoma's largest radio and television service organization." Taken in June of 1952, this night view of the building's exterior focuses on the large Motorola TV and Northwest Radio neon signs, including a highlighted Mount Rainier and two radio towers, and an unusual circular window next to a modified bay window. Storefront windows display Motorola, Philco, and Dumont products with car radios on sale at $29.95. The company sold and serviced televisions and home and auto radios. Northwest Radio's Sixth Avenue store opened in November of 1951. Northwest Radio had two other locations in town.
Northwest Radio, Inc. (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);
Pacific Oerlikon Company, electrical equipment manufacturers. Interior exposure of circuit breaker. Seven breakers being assembled on a bench. Pacific Oerlikon occupied the former site of Henry Mill and Timber Co. It also erected on this site in 1951 a sheet metal, concrete and glass building used for the machine shop and assembly area. Because of the size of the components constructed, the building was designed to provide ample height for assembly. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)
Pacific Oerlikon Company, electrical equipment manufacturers. Counter with two shelves in front, shop behind with assorted machinery. The company was an offspring of Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland and was entirely Swiss owned. Dr Hans Schindler was president of the company and Lloyd Morgan was executive vice president and general manager of Pacific Oerlikon. The company was incorporated in August of 1950 and shipped its first products in the spring of 1952. It employed 110 skilled workers in 1952, machine-tool operators and mechanical and electrical engineers, with plans to expand to 500 workers. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)
New Yorker. This portion of the "new" New Yorker spotlighted the cocktail lounge, called the "Manhattan Room," with its subdued lighting and lighted replica of the New York City skyline. The "new" New Yorker, at Sixth & Cushman, celebrated its grand opening on November 16, 1951. It was owned and operated by Pat and Mike De Voto. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11-alt. photo)
Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960; New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma);
Baker's Men's Shop celebrated their grand opening of their new branch location at the newly expanded and remodeled Lakewood Community Center in November, 1951. Baker's was owned by brothers Donald T. Baker and Le Roy F. Baker; their Lakewood store was managed by Darrell Sanders. "Personal service with nationally advertised brands" was Baker's sales slogan. View of interior of Baker's Lakewood Center store; store featured large clothing display of suits and topcoats, also Stetson hats and casual wear. (TNT 11-14-51, C-12)
Dining room with band in center right on elevated stage and dance floor below. This was the "Coney Island" room of the "new" New Yorker restaurant prior to its grand opening on November 16, 1951. Operated by Pat and Mike De Voto, it featured "big time floor shows and dancing nightly" and well-prepared food. The spacious "Coney Island" room had two stages with a permanent platform. Art Mineo's 10-piece orchestra performed there as well as special guest entertainers. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11)
Dining rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Lakewood Country Store, Gift Department. Tables and walls filled with glassware, games, and other gifts on display in mid-November of 1951. The Lakewood Country Store was located in the Lakewood Community Center which had recently expanded.
Lakewood Country Store (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Lakewood--1950-1960;
