Interior- Tacoma Savings & Loan. The new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building on So. 9th Street had been opened for several months at the time of this November 21, 1957, photograph. The spacious first floor, measuring 96' by 75', included the customer service area as well as the safe deposit vault. There were no apparent walls in the customer service area; desks and bank employees were in plain view of customers. View of teller stations, semi-circular staircase, and employee work area which are all on fine carpet. Office furniture is very modern and sparse with movable chairs; desks are cleared except for telephone, ashtray, pen set, typewriter and tray. For another view of first floor, see A107589-1. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment, Inc.
King Fried Chicken customers had a choice of home/business delivery or stopping by the Stoneway entrance to pick up the food themselves. Chicken, prawns, and fish were available for hungry patrons. View of King employee standing next to his delivery van which is parked adjacent to King's large advertising sign. The delivery van is covered with advertising, emphasizing the company's telephone number on both sides and the back doors. James A. Campbell was listed in the 1958 Seattle City Directory as owner of the catering company. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.
This cheery interior may be one of the dining rooms of the Ole King Cole restaurant. Checkered tablecloths and floral curtains in addition to the wood paneling and casual modern chairs provide for a comfortable dining experience. Each table came with candles, either the tapered variety or glass-enclosed. Fluorescent lighting gave additional brightness to the room, even with its curtains closed. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW television.
The interior of this unidentified restaurant shows several wooden tables and chairs placed close together with kitchen facilities to the rear. The walls are covered in wallpaper of a past era, showing a couple strolling among trees and stately buildings. This pattern is repeated throughout the design. The carpeted floor and stairway have a busy flower motif. Drapes and dangling lamps add to the cozy atmosphere. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers for KTVW.
In February of 1958, this group of young men was prepared for a long wait as they settle in before the closed doors of the Washington Hardware Co. store, 922-24 Pacific Ave. The store was having their annual Washington Birthday Sales and these teens may have camped out overnight. They are warmly dressed against the cold winter weather and have brought along the comforts of home: chairs, books, and food. Besides the lure of sporting goods and various hardware, the teenagers may have been attracted by the presence of KTAC radio which was broadcasting live from the sale. Photograph ordered by Washington Hardware Co.
Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Teenagers--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Night exposure- Busch's Drive-In. It appears that patrons preferred to dine in at Busch's Drive-In on a cold winter's night. Busch's provided both curb-side service and interior dining at their South Tacoma Way restaurant. Extensive neon lighting would make the restaurant visible for several blocks. Purchased by Bill & Thelma Busch in 1943, the restaurant was a popular spot for both young and old alike. It was later renamed Busch's Round Table Restaurant. Photograph ordered by Busch's Drive-In Restaurant.
Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma);
Smoke drifts from a chimney toward the looming hills in Elbe on a rainy February day. The streets appear quiet with no visible traffic proceeding on the two-lane road. There are no cars outside the Chevron pumps at M. Gilliardi's Standard Oil station. A grocery store is further down the road across from a B & O boxcar. Elbe is a small community on the Nisqually River at the east end of Lake Alder in the south central section of Pierce County. Photograph ordered by Standard Oil Co. of California. TPL-8363
Standard Oil Co. of California (Elbe); Automobile service stations--Elbe; Signs (Notices);
Individual clothes pressing machines are in use at a local laundry in April, 1958. Each machine has an operator on hand to place the piece of clothing into the press, over an ironing board apparatus. A battery of twenty press line units insured that gentle hand care was combined with automation for perfect garment finishing. After pressing, the clothes are removed and slung on a rack. This laundry and dry cleaning facility was probably the Tacoma-Olympic Laundry and Pantorium Cleaners. They were still settling claims from a recent fire for damaged and missing clothing. Photograph ordered by Howard R. Smith Advertising Co., for Home Service Co., Inc. (TNT ad, 4-14-58, p. 12)
The one-branch North Pacific Bank had been in the South Tacoma area for over 40 years. Located at the corner of South 56th & South Tacoma Way, the bank was a brick structure designed by architects Lundberg & Mahon. Protruding from the bank's exterior was a Time and Temperature sign, a combination which was becoming more common in the 1950's. The sign was designed to show both the actual time and temperature at that location. Attached to the sign was a smaller one indicating the bank offered 3% time certificates. Photograph ordered by American Sign & Indicator Corp., Chicago.
North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Sears opened a new farm and garden store in the spring of 1958, just beyond Tacoma city limits at 8720 South Tacoma Way, where Hwy. 99 intersects with Steilacoom Blvd. Besides the usual appliances and televisions, customers could peruse garden items, farm equipment, pet supplies, and place catalog orders. View of Sears' exterior with customers examining garden shop outdoor exhibits, including a "Shrub-O-Rama" of evergreens at $2.77 each. Signs indicate that the store was open on Sundays. Photograph ordered by Sears. TPL-9910
Washington Cleaners and Launderers, Ft. Lewis. Washington Cleaners had its main dry cleaning and laundry plant in Tacoma, but it had seven branches at Fort Lewis to serve the military. This appears to be the interior of the main Fort Lewis branch, at 3rd & Pendleton. Several women stand behind the counter, taking orders and delivering the clean uniforms to their owners. Several uniformed military men lean in against the counter. Most of the competed hanging clothes are uniforms. (TNT 5/13/1956, pg. A-15)
Washington Cleaners and Launderers (Fort Lewis); Cleaning establishments--Fort Lewis;
Stanley Amusement Co.; exterior of building. The sign over the entrance reads "National shuffleboard sales company of Tacoma; Exclusive distributors for the entire state of Washington, USA." This structure was built in 1922. According to the 1956 City Directory, the company was owned by Stanley Kolitzoff and George Sellers.
One business suited man hands something to another, possibly the keys to these new trucks for Washington Cleaners and Launderers. Drivers stand beside their new vehicles. Washington Cleaners offered pickup and delivery and would need a lot of vehicles. They also offered 24 hour service. Photographs ordered by South Tacoma Motor Company. Photograph used in advertisement for Washington Cleaners. TPL-2332 (TNT 5/13/1956, pg. A-15)
Washington Cleaners and Launderers (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Washington Cleaners and Launderers, photographs for advertising campaign. The clothing cleaning company was owned by Edward Lane. The full service cleaners offered pick up and delivery, fur and wool cleaning and storage, garment dying and 24 hour service. Here the three women employees fill out orders for the clothing and attach identifying markers. The clothes are then thrown into the hamper with wheels to go out for cleaning. (TNT 5/13/1956, pg. A-15)
Washington Cleaners and Launderers (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma;
Earl Russell, Mr. Banjo, the featured banjo virtuoso at Steve's Gay '90s poses with two banjos. Steve's was famous in the fifties and sixties for its old fashioned home grown entertainment and for good food at a reasonable price. It was the brainchild of Steve Pease, whose goal was to create a wholesome family entertainment spot which providing dining and entertainment for one low price.
Jennie Wheeler poses with a menu at Steve's Gay Nineties in front of the Opera House Entertainment Coliseum in June of 1956. The public preview of the newest edition to Steve's was scheduled for June 14-17, 1956. The Opera House was the main entertainment venue, where the floor show was performed every Friday and Saturday night. The Gay Nineties revue featured can-can girls, keystone cops, banjo playing and old time sing-a-longs. Steves, owned by Steve Pease and John Stanley, grew in 10 years from a 20 customer cafe and the adjoining tavern to include 5 major dining, entertaining and banquet areas under one roof. The ornate gold facade to the Opera House formerly faced the Banker's Trust Building and its crystal chandeliers came from the recently razed Seattle Opera House. Pease did endless research to preserve portions of the most beautiful buildings of the area and place them in the perfect place in his restaurant. (TNT 6/13/1956, pg. C-9- C-11) (Ms. Wheeler's identification supplied by a former employee at Steve's)
Plywood barricade around the construction site for the new headquarters for Tacoma Savings & Loan; ordered by Simpson Plywood Barricades. The barricade reminds passerby that despite the inconvenience of the construction site, the bank is building for the future. Founded in 1899, it is the city's oldest savings & loan. The new headquarters is being built across the street from the current facility, and the bank has a branch at the Lakewood Center. Ketner Brothers are the general contractors for the project.
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The entrance in the barricade to the bleacher seating, the best seat in town to watch the ongoing construction of the Tacoma Savings & Loan building. The new home office was being built across the street from its former headquarters. The city's oldest savings & loan was constructing a new aluminum and glass office building at this site. The new building would be 95 x 73 feet, on a lot that measured 120 x 75 feet. It had a basement, ground floor, mezzanine and penthouse for a total square footage of 21, 096 plus room for 2 additional floors. (TNT 6-27-1957)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Cable Car Room At Steve's Gay '90s restaurant. TPL-6698. The decor in this room was inspired by the actual cable car that owner Steve Pease purchased from the city of San Francisco. Attention to detail and constant additions made the decor always of interest. Much of the murals and signage were done by Bill Knabel. A bar lines the right hand corner of the picture, a historic relic from 1890 Red Front saloon in South Tacoma, with a lunch counter in front of it. A romanticized portrait of a bountiful semi-nude is on the ceiling over the bar. The marble tabletops were rescued from the old Fidelity Building. The Cable Car Room served cocktails and food 6 days a week. (TNT 6/13/1956, pg. C-9- C-11) TPL-6698
B & B Glass & Paint Co.- interiors of shop, showing glass top on counters and sliding doors. B& B sold glass for all purposes, including auto and mirror glass, plexiglas plastics and Pabco paints. They were owned by Benjamin E. Bassett and LeRoy O. Bertheau and had a Lakewood store at 11104 Gravelly Lake Drive. In the photograph, there is a counter to the left with a cash register, and shelves underneath with sliding plexiglas doors. A large desk occupies the space behind the counter, topped with a typewriter and a phone. A large adding machine sits on a stand nearby. Plexiglas sheets do duty as room dividers.
B & B Glass & Paint Co. (Tacoma); Glass industry--Tacoma;
Capital Finance Co. interiors. This loan company was managed by Clarence E. Cubbage. A single office area is occupied by four loan officers and two female secretaries or accountants. The women's desks sport an adding machine and typewriter. A counter with open spaces for customer interaction stands at the front.
Bert's Mens Wear at 938 Broadway was closing to make way for Leeds Shoe Store in June of 1956. The large signs in the front windows read "Lease expires! We must vacate!" and "Closing out entire stock! Fixtures for sale!" Bert's sold men's clothing, such as Lancer shirts and Jarman shoes. Wilbur Meier was the manager.
Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Berts Mens Wear (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);
Grand opening of Deans Tavern at 759 So. 38th St., owned and operated by Charles Zigmont. Flowers line the front of the mirror at the back of the bar, good luck tokens from well wishers. A refrigerator and what is possibly the door to a walk in freezer can be seen in the foreground behind the bar. For another view of the tavern, see A100233-1. The Grand Opening was scheduled for Thursday, August 2nd, between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. (TNT 8/1/1956, PG. A-6 & A-11)
I.B.M. offices, ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association highlighting Reeds Fixtures. International Business Machines Corp was located in Tacoma at 12 Tacoma Ave. No. At 11:15, the office is empty. Almost each desk and the area over the rear door is emblazoned with a placard admonishing one to "THINK." Framed portraits, possibly of company founders, hang on the left wall. Fluorescent lighting boxes hang down from the ceiling. The free standing fixture at the front left contains printed information about IBM products and a write up from the Wall Street Journal. Dark tile squares cover the floor.
International Business Machines (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Logos; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office equipment & supplies;
B & B Glass & Paint Co.- interiors of shop, showing glass top on counters and sliding doors. B& B sold glass for all purposes, including auto and mirror glass, plexiglas plastics and Pabco paints. They were owned by Benjamin E. Bassett and LeRoy O. Bertheau and had a Lakewood store at 11104 Gravelly Lake Drive. In the photograph, there is a counter to the left with a cash register, and shelves underneath with sliding plexiglas doors. A large desk occupies the space behind the counter, topped with a typewriter and a phone. A large adding machine sits on a stand nearby. Plexiglas sheets do duty as room dividers.
B & B Glass & Paint Co. (Tacoma); Glass industry--Tacoma;
Barcott's Sea Food restaurant. Tables are set in a narrow room with rough hewn walls and exposed beams. Barcott's signature life preservers with the restaurant's name decorate the walls. Barcott's was owned by John E. Barcott Jr., a member of one of Tacoma's best known families of restauranteurs. It opened in 1953.
Grand opening of Deans Tavern at 759 So. 38th St., owned and operated by Charles Zigmont. Flowers line the front of the mirror at the back of the bar, good luck tokens from well wishers. A refrigerator and what is possibly the door to a walk in freezer can be seen in the foreground behind the bar. For another view of the tavern, see A100233-1. The Grand Opening was scheduled for Thursday, August 2nd, between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. (TNT 8/1/1956, PG. A-6 & A-11)
Crowds gather in the sales room of Mallon Motor Company to admire the new 1957 Fords. The car in the right front of the photo is a '57 model Ford Fairlane. What appears to be a station wagon can be seen in the background. Long and sleek and sized for comfort in these days of inexpensive gasoline, the back of the cars still have fins, the fronts are long and house V-8 engines. The passenger cars of 1957 represented the biggest change in the modern history of the Ford car. The new cars were longer and lower and for the first time offered in two basic sizes, the Fairlane and the custom. Nineteen different models were offered. The Fairlanes were 9 inches longer and 4 inches lower than the 1956 model with increased head room. Other basic changes were wide hooded headlights, forward slanting grille, windshields that wrapped farther around the sides and the distinctive rear fender fins slanting slightly outward to emphasize contoured sides. Also, for the first time the high performance V-8 engine was available as an optional power plant on all Ford cars. (TNT 10/1/1956, pg. 3; 10/2/1956, pg. 4)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mallon Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Ford automobile;
A day shopping at the downtown Tacoma Rhodes Department Store in October of 1956 was not necessarily just a quick shopping junket; it could be an elegant all-day affair including a luxurious shampoo and style at the pictured beauty salon and lunch at the store's cafe. The store at 950 Broadway was elegantly appointed and intended to provide a full shopping experience with a beauty shop, restaurant and full selection of goods and services. The store's new Beauty Salon was located on the 6th floor and offered skin care, hair styling and tinting and nail care. It was open until 9 p.m. on Monday through Friday. For this publicity photograph, the stylists posed beside their stations. The men wore coats and ties and the women dresses with corsages. The Rhodes store opened in 1903 and closed in 1974, a victim of the desertion of downtown for suburban shopping. The most forward stylist on the left is believed to be Paul Faust and behind him, Bernard Natucci. The front two stylists on the right are believed to be Lee Amundson and Lorraine Hudson. (TNT 11/11/1956, pg D-11- see ad for individual stylists' pictures) (Additional identification provided by a reader)
Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Beauty shops--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The beauty salon at Rhodes Department Store. A day shopping at the downtown Tacoma Rhodes Store in the mid fifties was not just a quick shopping junket; it could be an elegant all day affair including a luxurious shampoo and style at the beauty salon and lunch at the store's cafe. Women would dress up in hats, gloves and dresses to peruse the latest in fashions and home apparel and enjoy the day at the store. The salon is beautifully appointed with elegant lighting, a mirrored makeup table and a receptionist stand with styling stations behind. The standing hair dryers can just be glimpsed in the background.
Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Beauty shops--Tacoma--1950-1960;
