By September, 1957, shoppers could purchase groceries, clothing, household goods, tires, and now glasses at Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Binyon Optometrists opened a second store in the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center in late summer, 1957. They maintained their original Tacoma store at 9th & Broadway but chose to attract new customers in the suburban areas of Pierce County. The Villa Plaza branch was managed by Dr. Arthur L. Clark. It was close to Woolworth's and Foreman & Clark and appeared to occupy the same building as Richardson's Sportswear, Helen's, and Saunders Health Service. Binyon's believed itself to be the most modern in the Pacific Northwest and had new scientific equipment installed for eye exams. Binyon Optometrists was organized in 1913 by Dr. J.R. Binyon and had offices statewide. Photograph ordered by Binyon Optometrists. (TNT 9-22-57, A-8)
Binyon Optometrists (Lakewood); Opticians' shops--Lakewood; Facades--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood);
Exterior - new bank building. Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association built a new bank building in Portland, Oregon, in 1957. View of Oregon structure shows a multi-story modern corporate style of construction. It emphasized balance and regularity with particular emphasis on the vertical. The building was probably constructed of steel and concrete with many glass windows. As with the Tacoma headquarters of Pacific First Federal Savings, the Portland branch had a revolving corner clock. Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Portland); Banks--Oregon--Portland;
ca. 1958. Exterior view of a newly constructed Pacific 1st Federal Savings building located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. A large outdoor clock would be later mounted above the lower roof extension. The financial institution opened their Villa Plaza branch on January 2, 1958. The 2000+ sq. foot structure had an exterior of pre-cast marble Mosaic and large roof-to-ground windows. It was designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. Pacific 1st Federal was the largest savings & loan in the Pacific Northwest with offices in Washington and Oregon. It served more than 57,000 families. Rudolph J. Tollefson of the well-known Tacoma family of Tollefsons was the first branch manager at the Villa Plaza location. He had been with Pacific 1st Federal since 1935. (TNT 1-2-58, A-6-text only)
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
View of front entrance to new Industrial Development Co., Inc., offices; photograph was taken on December 15, 1957. Located near So. 38th & Pine Streets, the Industrial Development Co. was a firm of mechanical engineers managed by Dale L. Schubert. The 14,000 square foot brick & concrete building with front windows facing east was recently completed in late 1957, and would hold an open house on December 13. The roof over the front doorway apparently has lights as well as possibly circular skylights. Photograph ordered by Industrial Development Co., Inc. (TNT 12-12-57, A-13)
Industrial Development Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Additional view of Gifford Motor Company, Rambler and Hudson dealership, with roller rink upstairs. Three vehicles protrude from the large building. Gifford Motors was heavily promoting the arrival of the new Ambassador model of Rambler; the public was invited in for a special preview. Hudson and Rambler neon signs were on separate sides of the building. The Puyallup Roller Rink was on the second floor of the car dealership. A sign on the rooftop indicates that the rink was open for skating that evening. A separate entrance to the rink, with neon sign above, is to the far right of the picture. Later becoming the home of Larson Rambler, the building was destroyed by fire circa 1965. From series, customers of KTVW-TV, Ch. 13.
Automobile dealerships--Puyallup--1950-1960; Nash automobile--Puyallup; Gifford Motor Co. (Puyallup); Skating rinks--Puyallup; Electric signs--Puyallup;
A little boy, with some coaching from a woman, perhaps mom, appears to be placing his order at Gil's Hamburgers, a fast food restaurant. They are standing outdoors and speaking to an employee through a small slot in the window. Hamburgers were selling at 19 cents each with cheeseburgers at 24 cents and french fries for only 11 cents. Shakes could be made with the Sweden Shake Maker models, or ice cream cones purchased for 5 to 10 cents. Gil's Hamburgers had three locations in the Seattle area; this particular site was not identified. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.
Drive-in restaurants--Seattle; Fast food restaurants--Seattle; Gil's Hamburgers (Seattle); Signs (Notices);
King Fried Chicken offered delivery service of their chicken, prawns, and fish with only a phone call. Customers calling EVergreen 0010 between 3:30 pm and 3:00 a.m. could enjoy King's tasty meals. View of King Fried Chicken delivery van, back doors open, with driver walking boxes of food to waiting customers. It appears that deliveries may have been made often to workers in industrial areas; van is parked in a two-hour parking zone and warehouses are visible in the background. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.
Customers could dine from 12 noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays and weekdays and until 1 a.m. on weekends at the Branding Iron restaurant. The neon cactus and the restaurant name itself gave some indication of the type of food it served--dishes from the American West, including lots of beef. Parking facilities were available in front and on the side of the brick and wood building. A broad porch would shelter patrons from inclement weather. The Branding Iron restaurant was located at South 84th and Pacific; it was owned by Leo Balistreri and Ernie Zarelli. See A112067-4 for interior of restaurant. Photograph ordered by the Branding Iron.
Branding Iron (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Women employed by a local laundry appear to be in the process of operating a giant sheet iron and folder in an April 9, 1958, photograph. The new machinery, by American Trumatic and American Sylon, ironed and folded fourteen sheets per minute. The Tacoma-Olympic Laundry and Pantorium Cleaners were part of the Home Service Co., Inc., operated by Jack G. Hersey, president. The Home Service Co. advertised their services as dependable and "lusterized" their dry cleaning. Customers could be assured that the most up-to-date equipment would be used to clean their linens, pillows, laundry, blankets, rugs and furs. Photograph ordered by Howard R. Smith Advertising Co., for Home Service Co. (TNT Ad 4-14-58, p. 12)
Puget Sound National Bank had a drive-in branch at South 13th & A St. downtown. There were two drive-up teller windows in the customer parking lot. The drive-up tellers, opened on April 1, 1958, replaced the less convenient singular drive-up window at the rear of the main bank building on Court A. Now a bank customer could cash checks, make checking/savings deposits, and pay loans without getting out of his car. Puget Sound Bank called itself "Tacoma's Friendly Bank" with convenient neighborhood branches and free customer parking. Under the capable hands of Reno Odlin, the bank's deposits had increased almost 50% between 1950 & 1960. This was accomplished through internal growth and not through the purchase of other banks or mergers. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co. (Provorse: Banking on Independence, p. 116, TNT ad 3-31-58, p. 15))
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Tacomans of all ages wait their turn to meet television host and columnist Ed Sullivan and to get his autograph at Ray Ridge Lincoln-Mercury on Tacoma Avenue during a personal appearance on June 9, 1954. While waiting they can check out the new 1954 Mercurys in the showroom. For 23 years, America invited Ed Sullivan into their homes on Sunday evenings for shows that featured opera, rock music, comedic acts, ballet and dramatic readings, often on the same telecast. The show's name changed from "Toast of the Town" to simply "The Ed Sullivan Show" in September, 1955. Mr. Sullivan's famous saying was "We have a 'really big shew' for you." The former journalist with the awkward wooden delivery also had a sentimental side which appeared in his conversations with the Italian mouse, Topo Gigio, and in his continuing press for more children's medical facilities. He was in Tacoma for the cornerstone ceremony at the new Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. ALBUM 7.
Sullivan, Ed, 1902-1974; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Autographing--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Television host and columnist Ed Sullivan signs autographs and chats with fans at Ray Ridge Lincoln-Mercury on Tacoma Avenue during a personal appearance. Mr. Sullivan flew in on June 9, 1954, specifically for the cornerstone laying of the new Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. He delivered an address at the ceremony in which he remarked "This will always be my memory of Tacoma, one of human values and sacrifice." (TNT 6-9-54, p. 1) ALBUM 7.
Sullivan, Ed, 1902-1974; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Autographing--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Crowd waiting for appearance of television host and columnist Ed Sullivan at Ray Ridge Motors on June 9, 1954. Sullivan made a brief publicity stop at the dealership prior to taking part in the cornerstone laying ceremonies for the new Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. Four Tacoma Police Department motorcycles await their riders; they are parked in front of a convertible in which Mr. Sullivan will be transported. There is a small banner welcoming Mr. Sullivan on the automobile. ALBUM 7.
Sullivan, Ed, 1902-1974; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Motorcycles--Tacoma; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);
Exterior of Woolworth store. Long a downtown Tacoma fixture, the F.W. Woolworth Co. store was built on the Fidelity Building site at 9th and Broadway and celebrated its grand opening in November, 1950. The four story building had entrances both on Broadway and on Commerce Street. Thousands of shoppers flocked to Woolworth's during its tenure as Tacoma's premier five-and-dime store until its closure in 1993. View of Woolworth Building on Broadway with Rust Building in background. TPL-9909
Display of office equipment. The H.D. Baker Company was a family owned and operated business; the company sold business machines including cash registers, typewriters and adding machines. In 1954, they were located in downtown Tacoma at 1015 Pacific Avenue. View of various models of cash registers, Remington and Smith-Corona manual typewriters, and Victor adding machines. Photograph ordered by Llewellyn Advertising. TPL-9383
This was how the interior of Smitty's Hilltop Drive-In Restaurant, 2508 So. 38th St., appeared on June 8, 1954, prior to its Grand Opening. Houston O. Smith was listed in the 1955 City Directory as the owner of this drive-in restaurant. When it opened for business, it was the first of its type in Tacoma. Open seven days a week, Smitty's featured the famous 19 cent hamburger among other entrees, and customers were served minutes after their orders were placed. Mr. Smith had spent over a year doing research for the best possible design and operation. The site of Smitty's Hilltop Drive-In is now the massive Borders Books & Music store. (TNT 6-11-54, p. 13)
Exterior beauty salon. The Grandchamp Beauty Salon in Seattle was a modern, well-equipped beauty shop. Not only was hair cut, curled and permed on the premises but like the beauty salon of today, various beautifying products were also sold to the salon's customers. Hazel Bishop's collection and Dermetics skin care were just a few of the items offered. Comfortable, modernistic chairs were provided for those waiting, with wide picture windows for viewing the busy Pine Street activities. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Beauty Supply Co.
Grandchamp Beauty Salon (Seattle); Beauty shops--Seattle; Show windows--Seattle; Facades--Seattle; Tacoma Beauty Supply Co. (Tacoma);
ca. 1930. Copy of customer print. Employees of the Tacoma Bread Co. stand proudly in front of their fleet of delivery trucks in a photograph possibly taken in the 1930's. This was a far cry from the horse and buggy used to deliver bread to South Tacoma families when the bakery first started in the 1920's. The Tacoma Bread Co. was a long-time local bakery that was well-known for Manthou's Kream Krust Bread. Run by the Chris Manthou family, it expanded its facilities many times through the years. This old print was copied for the Tacoma Bread Co. on August 23, 1954; actual date of print is unknown.
Exterior of Barks Musicians Supply Co. Owned by Theo R. Barks and Earl E. Barks, the Barks Musicians Supply Co. had moved from their South 7th and Saint Helens Avenue address to a modern spacious new store in the Bernice Building in September, 1954. The Barks Musicians Supply supplied Tacoma's musicians with band instruments, accessories and sheet music. They also sold televisions, radios and high fidelity phonographs; a complete repair department was also available to customers. Barks celebrated its grand opening on September 29, 1954. Children received musical toys at the grand opening when accompanied by their parents. Theo R. Barks had 47 years experience in the music business. He formerly was one of the leading clarinetists on the West Coast. Earl Barks was the former assistant director for the 13th and 17th Naval District bands. View of exterior of Barks showing window displays of saxophones, trumpets, drums and stringed instruments; neon signs with musical notes decorate the exterior. (TNT 9-28-54, A-4)
Barks Musicians Supply Co. (Tacoma); Music stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A Naturalizer shoe display at Lloyd-Friesen, Inc. on 9th and Broadway was photographed for Family Circle magazine on September 23, 1954. Small posters advertising Naturalizer's Scottie twins are placed on and in front of the tables holding the shoes. The shoes are displayed at an angle, with some lifted as if an invisible woman were in the process of walking. Only six pairs are on display, leaving the tables relatively uncrowded, with a copy of Family Circle magazine upright in the center. Photograph ordered by Family Circle Magazine, New York.
Shoes; Shoe stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lloyd-Friesen, Inc. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Family Circle Magazine (New York);
Exterior shopping center. Lakewood was already a thriving community by 1954 as residents were starting to move from crowded urban areas to more open land in the suburbs. The Lakewood Thriftway supermarket was located in a small shopping center along with a Texaco gas station and Hamlin Cleaners. Built by the March Building Co., it was a concrete block contemporary styled building with a parking lot that would hold 300 cars. The supermarket would hold its grand opening October 7-9, 1954, with free entertainment and gifts for customers, including a performance by Cherokee Jack, merry-go-round and pony rides for children, free orchids, coffee, cake and ice cream plus free groceries. Lakewood Thriftway would offer soft background music played while the customers shopped and seven ultra-modern checkout stands. View of empty parking lot of shopping center with Texaco station to the left foreground and the dry cleaners and Thriftway to the rear. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co., Inc., possibly for advertising purposes. (TNT 10-6-54, B-5)
Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Grocery stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Automobile service stations--Lakewood--1950-1960; Hamlin Cleaners (Lakewood); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Employees of United Pacific Insurance Company are shown scrutinizing typed reports at company headquarters on October 28, 1954. The man seated is possibly Morris Brown, company vice-president. United Pacific Insurance had 15 branch offices throughout the county in addition to several claims offices. It was not just a local firm but was a presence nationally in 32 states plus the District of Columbia and Alaska. United Pacific moved into new quarters in January, 1955, as a $500,000 addition to the Medical Arts Building was finally completed. Photograph ordered by United Pacific Insurance.
United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Insurance companies--Tacoma;
Although organized in Seattle in the 1920's, United Pacific Insurance Company decided to move their headquarters to Tacoma after purchasing the Medical Arts Building in the early 1940's. Their new addition to the Medical Arts Building would open in early 1955 and contain new quarters for their company. Here two employees of United Pacific Insurance look over data from the Sanborn Map Co. concerning information about North "E" Street on October 28, 1954. Several other Sanborn Map volumes are filed nearby, including Vol. 2 for Tacoma and three volumes for Portland. Photograph ordered by United Pacific Insurance Co.
United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Insurance companies--Tacoma; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Maps;
A long line of trucks and cement mixers is stationed outside the Holroyd Co. plant on South Washington St. in November, 1954. The Holroyd Co., owned by James Holroyd, was a supplier of all kinds of building materials, sand and gravel, steel windows and manufacturers of concrete masonry units. Their products were used throughout Tacoma and Western Washington. Their mixers were capable of churning out several hundred cubic yards of concrete mix a day. View of trucks, mixers, storage units and loading machines; photograph commissioned by the Holroyd Co.
Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Cement industries--Tacoma; Concrete industries--Tacoma; Building materials; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Concrete mixers;
Reno Odlin, president of Puget Sound National Bank, poses in front of his own portrait. This is the formal presentation of the portrait, painted by Tacoma artist Mrs. Horace Fogg, at the Lakewood branch of the bank. The portrait was unveiled January 6, 1955 for bank officials and a few close friends to see for the first time. The unveiling was followed by a buffet supper hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Odlin, with Mrs. Fogg as the guest of honor. The oil painting is one of a number of portraits made by Fogg of well known Tacomans. (TNT 1/9/1955, pg. D-9)
Bankers--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Portraits;
United Pacific Insurance Co.'s Open House, January 4, 1955, in their new office building. The new building was designed by John Graham Co., Architects, to complement the Medical Arts building. The new building would take almost 2 years to complete and cost close to 1/2 million dollars. The five story building would be used primarily by United Pacific for their home office. The company had 15 branch offices throughout the county, plus a number of claim service offices. It operated in 32 states, plus Alaska and the District of Columbia. The main business of the company was contract bonding, but it also offered auto, fire, marine and hazard insurance on a wholesale basis. In this picture, a group of people study the guest register. (TNT 1/5/1955, pg. 18)
Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers, general view from Broadway. New Chrysler in showroom window, neon signs, used car department. Medical Arts building can be seen behind the Stevens structure. Building was also known as the Griggs building and was built in 1917.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chrysler automobile; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Night exposure of Weisfield's Inc. General Electric window, including the free 15 day home trial of small appliances. Weisfield's customers could "try it, then buy it" and on easy credit terms too. Pictured are clocks, clock radios, mixers, toasters, irons, electric frying pans and electric blankets. Window display does not say what the store did with any returned appliances.
Department stores--Tacoma; Window displays; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Weisfield's, Inc. (Tacoma); Appliances;
Barcott's Sea Food; interiors of restaurant as seen in April of 1955. Owner John E. Barcott, Jr. was a member of one of Tacoma's pioneer restaurant operating families. Located near the intersection of 38th & Pine, Barcott's was considered to be at the exact geographical center of the city. Its spacious dining room, as befits a seafood and steak restaurant, was decorated with fishing gear, nets and life rings stamped with Barcott's. The restaurant had its Grand Opening in May of 1953.
Barcott's Sea Food; interiors of spacious restaurant. Owner John E. Barcott, Jr. had 15 years of experience in restaurants, as did his night manager Domi Petronivich. Their seafood and steak house had a nautical theme, decorated with fishing gear and nets. Ample seating can be seen at tables and booths, as well as a counter at the left of the picture. The tables have a small lamp and a bud vase with a few daffodils. Part of the kitchen can be been at the back left hand side of the picture. The cash register area is at the right rear, with a cigarette machine and lighted shelving displaying seashells. Their convenient location near 38th & Pine also had ample free parking.
