Mount Tahoma High School photo with female student wearing a custom sweater with Samish style folk art embroidery.

Holding a set of blueprints is Gil Smith while Hal Newsome, level in hand, looks on. The two men posed on May 4, 1960, as architect and builder for an upcoming brochure. They are standing on a large white paper-like carpet at the site chosen for the new Mount Tahoma High School. The school, set on 76 acres, would open on September 5, 1961. Photograph ordered by Cole & Weber advertising agency.

Smith, Gil; Newsome, Hal; Blueprints;

These young students appear to be getting an early start at Mount Tahoma High School in mid-June, 1961, since the school did not open until September of that year. Built to accomodate the growing South End neighborhoods, the award winning school was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price using an open campus style. The tower pictured on the upper campus would later house a bell; it would become a tradition for seniors to ring the bell on the last day of school. Photograph ordered by the Weyerhaeuser Co. for the cover of the company magazine.

Mount Tahoma High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1960-1970; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bell towers--Tacoma;

Not all the barbershop melodies sung at the November,1971 "Music Americana" were cheerful in nature. The group above, believed to be the Most Happy Fellows, perform behind a large cutout of a dead Army mount, stabbed by a lance, next to a falling Calvary standard. The "Music Americana" was the third annual barbershop music show sponsored by the Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. Photograph ordered by Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. (TNT 11-4-71, A-7 article)

Barbershop quartets; Musical ensembles--Tacoma; Singers; Cutouts;

Members of Sweet Adelines caught in song as they "ride" in a antique car cutout during the "Music Americana" program held in the Mount Tahoma High School auditorium in early November of 1971. This may have been the featured women's group, the "Embers," who had placed second in international competition the year before. Both the "Embers" and the featured male barbershop quartet, "Most Happy Fellows," had performed in USO tours in the Far East. Photograph ordered by the Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. (TNT 11-4-71, A-7, article)

Singers; Musical ensembles--Tacoma; Cutouts;

Harmonizing behind the intriguing sign "Do Not Spit On The Floor" is believed to be the award winning barbershop quartet, the Most Happy Fellows. The singers were featured in "Music Americana," the third annual barbershop musical show sponsored by the Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. This photograph was taken during dress rehearsal at Mount Tahoma High School on November 4, 1971; the actual show performances were on November 5th and 6th. Members of the Most Happy Fellows were: tenor Robert Hodge, baritone William Thurmon, bass Kenneth Hawkinson and lead Larry Hassler. Photograph ordered by the Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. (TNT 11-4-71, A-7 article)

Barbershop quartets; Musical ensembles--Tacoma; Singers;

Group portrait of Sweet Adelines. The Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. sponsored the third annual barbershop musical show held in November of 1971. Entitled "Music Americana," the show featured the Adelines quartet, the "Embers," and the male barbershop quartet, "Most Happy Fellows." It was held at the Mount Tahoma High School auditorium. Photograph ordered by the Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc.

Choirs (Music); Singers; Musical ensembles--Tacoma;

Choir in green evening gowns and elbow length white gloves perform at the "Music Americana" sponsored by the Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc., in early November of 1971. Large posters of noted Americans John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Abraham Lincoln hang on the curtains of the Mount Tahoma High School Auditorium. A silvery Statue of Liberty is center stage. Color photograph ordered by Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. (TNT 11-4-71, A-7 article)

Choirs (Music); Singers; Musical ensembles--Tacoma;

Barbershop quartet. Their faces seem to say it all - perhaps an editorial expressed in song - as this barbershop quartet hold up posters of the Democratic and Republican symbols on November 4, 1971. Election day had just occurred. The singers are probably the Most Happy Fellows, a well-known local quartet who had recently won top regional honors in Vancouver, B.C. and who had often appeared at Steve's Gay 90s. They were practicing for the "Music Americana," the third annual barbershop music show by the Sweet Adelines of Tacoma. The show would run on November 5th and November 6th in the Mount Tahoma High School auditorium. Members of the Most Happy Fellows were: tenor Robert Hodge, baritone William Thurmon, bass Kenneth Hawkinson and lead Larry Hassler. Photograph ordered by the Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. (TNT 11-4-71, A-7 article; TNT 10-24-71, D-18 -article on Most Happy Fellows)

Musical ensembles--Tacoma; Singers; Barbershop quartets;

Rehersal for "Music Americana." With heads barely peeking over cutouts, this singing group practiced for the third annual barbershop music show sponsored by the Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc., to be held on November 5th and 6th at Mount Tahoma High School. These ladies may have been the "Embers," an Adelines group who placed second in international competion in 1970 and would be featured in the "Music Americana" program. Photograph ordered by the Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. (TNT 11-4-71, A-7 article)

Musical ensembles; Singers; Cutouts;

On April 18, 1968 the students of Mount Tahoma High School squeezed into one of the school's courtyards for a good natured group portrait. By 1968 Mt. Tahoma, which opened in September of 1961 was full to overflowing with students. This photograph was used in an advertisement that ran in the News Tribune in support of a school bond proposition which, if passed by the voters, would fund the construction of two new high schools. Tacoma's high schools were adding 450 students a year and there were already 2,400 more high school students than the state Office of Public Instruction recommended. The May 21st school bond election failed due to low voter turnout. "Tightwad Hill" next to Cheney Stadium was chosen in 1969 as the site for Tacoma's next high school; the Henry Foss High School opened there in 1973. (Photograph ordered by the Citizens Committee for School Support.) (TNT 5-17-68, B-6)

Mount Tahoma High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1960-1970; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Ben and Marian Cheney posed with their AAU-sponsored basketball team, the Cheney Studs, on the floor of the new Mount Tahoma High School gym on November 27, 1961. Ben Cheney, lumberman and philanthropist, is standing second to the right with Doug McArthur at his side (far right) . The Cheney Studs logo is prominently displayed on the team's jackets and shorts; "Studs" is also written on the basketball. The Tacoma Studs opened the 1961-62 season with a benefit game against the Bremerton Nygaards at the new Mount Tahoma High School gym on November 28th. Proceeds were earmarked for the school's activity fund. The coach of the high school team, Don Moseid (kneeling third from left), was also the starting guard for the Studs. The Studs would play a 42-game schedule under the leadership of coach Ron Billings, a former Pacific Lutheran University star athlete (standing next to Marian Cheney). Players included PLU greats, Jim Van Beek (#22, back row, fifth from left) and Roger Iverson (#14, third from right in back row) Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber. (negative also dated 1-8-62) (TNT 11-26-61, B-14) (additional identification by a reader)

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Marian; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Billings, Ron; Moseid, Don; Iverson, Roger; Van Beek, Jim; McArthur, Doug;

This quartet of women, hands cupping their faces, were part of the harmonizing Sweet Adelines of Greater Tacoma. They were in dress rehearsal for the Adelines third annual barbershop musical show to be held on November 5 and 6, 1971, at Mount Tahoma High School. Reader and participant Mary Briskey identified this particular group as being part of the "Escapades". From l to r in the photo are Amy Ayers, Lollie Neyhart, Clara Wheeler (face hidden) and Lois Wittenberg. Photograph ordered by Greater Tacoma Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc. (TNT 11-4-71, A-7 article)

Musical ensembles--Tacoma; Singers;