Internationally known restaurateur, Trader Vic, had brought his world famous menu items to Tacoma. The Winthrop Hotel and Trader Vic enterprises have remodeled the restaurant site, at an estimated cost of $45,000, and opened up the Sabre Room. View of Mayor C. Val Fawcett (center) with Trader Vic (left) and an unidentified man at the grand opening celebration of the new Trader Vic's Sabre Room, located in the Winthrop Hotel (T.N.T., 9/21/49, p. 2).

Hotels--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Sabre Room (Tacoma); Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Bergeron, Victor J.;

Hotel Winthrop was inviting all of Tacoma to join them in the grand opening celebration for the new Trader Vic's Sabre Room. Trader Vic is an internationally known restaurateur, and he has now brought his world famous menu items to Tacoma. The interior of the Sabre Room is modeled after an authentic old English tap room, with figured red carpet, copper bowl lamps, the walls give the impression of aged plaster in a driftwood color. Trader Vic and his wife will host the grand opening celebration.

Restaurants--Tacoma; Dining rooms--Tacoma; Dining tables; Hotels--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Sabre Room (Tacoma);

This photograph from December 1949 of the Sabre Room in the Winthrop Hotel shows the popular Tacoma restaurant three months after its official opening in September. Created by Trader Vic to look like an authentic old-English tap room, the Sabre room was decorated in authentic English style and featured open hearth food service where you could see expert chefs prepare the food. The menu included roast beef cooked in rock salt, barbecued ribs, and steak and kidney pie - desert included trifle. The room could seat 110 persons, including the ladies' cocktail lounge. (TNT, 9/24/1950, p.6)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Lounges--Tacoma; Buffets (Cookery)--Tacoma; Cooks; Waitresses--Tacoma; Bartenders--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma;

The Sabre Room, Winthrop Hotel, Mr. Boyd. A well-dressed gentleman sits at a desk talking on the telephone. He is looking at a card pulled from a small, metal card file. The desk has a day calendar open at the back edge and a lamp with a carved head base is lit. Another lamp is lit in the background. The man's cuff-link shines in the light. The Sabre Room opened in September 1950. Trader Vic, who specialized in designing unusual spots, had a personal hand in creating the new addition to the Hotel Winthrop. (TNT, 9/24/1950, p.6)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Telephones; Calendars; Cuff links--Tacoma; Desks; Lamps;

Chairman and officers of the Capital District, Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs, in the Daffodil Room at the Hotel Winthrop. A group of seventeen women from the various local garden clubs have gathered for a lunch meeting prior to the opening of the second annual Christmas show by the group, "Twas the Week Before Christmas", held at the Hotel Winthrop. Funds generated from the show were to be used to establish a garden center building fund. More than 85 garden clubs from the district responded with exhibits to the show. Ordered by Mrs. Fred Gordon.(TNT, 12/16/1949, p.C-10)

Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Group of approximately 30 at Winthrop Hotel, Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis, R. Ralstad. It was reported earlier in the month that Edward A. Lane had been elected president of the North-West Tacoma Kiwanis Club for 1950. (TNT, 11/10/1949, p.C-11)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Kiwanis Club (Tacoma); Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Comus Club held a ball, "Winter Fantasia" at the Crystal Ballroom, Hotel Winthrop, January 21, 1950. Two couples are helping themselves to punch from the punchbowl set in a large square of ice. Ordered by the Tribune by Barbara Dana, Society editor. (TNT, 1/16/1950, p.5; 1/29/1950, p.B-3))

Dance parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Comus Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Comus Club dance at Winthrop Hotel, circus theme, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The Comus Club held their February dance, the "Comus Circus," in the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom on February 19, 1949. Four men wearing black ties, tuxedos and tall, conical hats stand in front of a picture of a female dancer. The man on the left points over his shoulder at the picture.

Comus Club (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Comus Club dance at Winthrop Hotel, circus theme, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The Comus Club held their February dance, the "Comus Circus," at the Hotel Winthrop February 19, 1949. The welcoming committee is seen at the main entrance to the dance party, L-R, Ethelyn and Joseph Baker, Al and Florence Kemp, Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Peters, and James A. and Verona J. Melbostad. (TNT, 2/27/1949, p.D-1)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Comus Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baker, Joseph; Baker, Ethelyn; Kemp, Al; Kemp, Florence; Miller, Roscoe; Peters, Harold;

Comus Club dance at Winthrop Hotel, circus theme, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The Comus Club held their February dance, the "Comus Circus," at the Hotel Winthrop February 19, 1949. Choosing favors at the circus table are, L-R, Erma Otto, Elmer H. Otto, William Webber, and Ann B. Webber. (TNT, 2/27/1949, p.D-1)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Comus Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Otto, Erma; Otto, Elmer H.; Webber, William; Webber, Ann B.;

Comus Club dance at Winthrop Hotel, circus theme, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The Comus Club held their February dance, the "Comus Circus," at the Hotel Winthrop February 19, 1949. A thoroughly amused group stands below a circus rider, L-R, Edgar J. and Mary E. Murnen, Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Thompson, and Arleyne I. and Russell W. Ross. (TNT, 2/27/1949, p.D-1)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Comus Club (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murnen, Edgar J.; Murnen, Mary E.; Thompson, E.D.--Family; Ross, Russell W.; Ross, Arleyne I.;

Stadium High School would be performing a musical version of Robin Hood; the students would perform this theatrical production in three acts for three nights. Left to right: Don Mooney, Margaret Zeferin, Bill Winden, Bart Redfield, Don Foreman and Gene Johnson on stage performing their musical version of Robin Hood; Sherwood Forest scenery in background (T.Times, 3/27/49, p. 27).

Costumes; Actors--Tacoma; Musical revues & comedies--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Rotary Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Irving E. Stimpson from Seattle, was elected President of Washington State Junior Chamber of Commerce, Jack McCullough was elected one of the eight new vice-presidents. View of members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce at the Winthrop Hotel, campaigning for the presidential and vice presidential candidates (T.N.T., 4/23/49, p. 1).

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Winthrop Hotel's new Daffodil Dining Room will have a full restaurant, coffee bar and shop. Ann Rickard, Western Hotels' decorator, stated the room will have a strong yellow over the ceiling, two tones of red and chartreuse on the walls, pebble cloth drapes and deep green on eight chandeliers; Victor Jones and Associates of Seattle are the architects. Interior view of Winthrop Hotel's Daffodil Dining Room being painted for its upcoming grand opening (T. Times, 3/30/49, p. 6 & 7).

Painting--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ladders; Paints & varnishes; Restaurants--Tacoma; Hotel employees--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

More than 600 members of the Washington State Junior Chamber of Commerce attended the state convention held in Tacoma at the Winthrop Hotel. The Junior Chamber of Commerce would be electing new officers for this year; and they designated Spokane as next year's site for the state convention. The convention consisted of several meetings and programs and would wrap up with a Saturday night banquet at the Top of the Ocean restaurant. View of members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce at the Winthrop Hotel (T.N.T., 4/23/49, p. 1).

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Tacoma was the nation's leader in the plywood industry. Douglas Fir Plywood Association and the Plywood Research Foundation were working on developing new and additional products that could be manufactured from parts of the tree not already being utilized. View of two unidentified DFPA representatives at the annual DFPA conference, being held at the Winthrop Hotel; conference welcome sign in background.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

The brand "Douglas Fir" plywood is known as the "wood of 1,000 uses." This plywood undergoes a series of laboratory and field tests. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association has helped establish and maintain Tacoma as the plywood center of the world, by setting up a industry maintained quality control laboratory here. View of U. S. Senator, Harry P. Cain (right) with a DFPA representative at the annual DFPA conference, being held at the Winthrop Hotel on May 13, 1949.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Legislators--Washington--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association was hosting their 13th annual meeting in Tacoma's Winthrop Hotel in May of 1949. Tacoma continued to be the worldwide leader in plywood production. View of informational Douglas Fir Plywood charts, these indicate: "Effective Promotion + Aggressive Selling = Healthy Order Files;" chart on left side has information about the Douglas Fir Plywood industry today.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Charts; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Douglas Fir Plywood Association held their annual meeting to discuss the Douglas Fir plywood industry at the Winthrop Hotel. Douglas Fir plywood is the "Wood of 1000 Uses", used in houses, advertising, boats, and hundreds of other products. View of unidentified DFPA representative at the annual DFPA conference, which is being held at the Winthrop Hotel; DFPA plywood sign in foreground.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Pacific Coast Hockey League was holding their annual meeting in Tacoma at the Winthrop Hotel. Ice Hockey representatives from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Fresno, Oakland, California; Vancouver, British Columbia; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle and Tacoma attended the meeting. The Fresno franchise made the surprise announcement of withdrawing from the League; and the Victoria, British Columbia franchise applied to enter the League. Representatives names appear in newspaper (T.N.T., 4/29/49, p. 24).

Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Ice hockey--Tacoma; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Tacoma was celebrating the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day with a dinner party at the Winthrop Hotel; Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver would be speaking at the event. Left to right: George Sheridan of Tacoma, State Chairman of the Jefferson-Jackson Day affair; Senator Estes Kefauver; and Harry Henson, Executive Secretary of the Democratic State Committee (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. A-14).

Receptions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Legislators--Tennessee--1940-1950; Dinner parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Clothing & dress--1940-1950; Jefferson-Jackson Day (1949 : Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Members of the Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau were meeting at the Winthrop Hotel in May of 1949 to make the final arrangements for the upcoming annual United Tacoma Days. Participating merchants would be offering customers the best possible values in their stores for three days. Left to right: Karl Richardson; W. H. Mierow, President; Ted W. Brown; and E. G. Rufner, Chairman (T.N.T., 5/18/49, p. B-10).

Richardson, Karl; Mierow, W.H.; Brown, Ted ; Rufner, E.G.; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Posters; Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Tacoma Garden Club, Tribune, Barbara Dana. Lois J. (Mrs. Mark) Servey, Sr., general chairman of the Tacoma Garden Club's 25th annual show, and an unidentified woman admire a large bouquet of peonies. The show was held at the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom in early June of 1949. (TNT, 6/2/1949, p.15)

Tacoma Garden Club (Tacoma); Peonies--Tacoma; Gardening--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bouquets; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Servey, Lois J.; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Dinner for Mahncke staff at Hotel Winthrop, Wallace Silversmiths. Employees from Mahncke & Company are shown during a banquet presenting silver service from Wallace Silversmith. Mahncke & Company were a jewelry store at 919 Broadway.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Mahncke & Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Silverware; Tableware; Dining rooms--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The members of Tacoma's "Mickey Mouse Band" were photographed in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop in December of 1936. The band, in reality a youth orchestra, was made up of young musicians aged 10 - 17 years old. The Mickey Mouse Band was originally sponsored by the John Hamrick Theatres. It was organized in 1932 by Bill Conner, Assistant Hamrick Manager, who also directed. In 1935, Louis Wersen took over as director, assisted by Doug Tilton and Frank Anarde. They developed the group into a fine young orchestra. The Tacoma Times took over sponsorship in January of 1938. On January 18 the newspaper declared that the organizations name would be changed because Mickey Mouse was deemed "not appropriate for the organization as it exists today." (T. Times 1/6/1938, pg. 1)

Mickey Mouse Band (Tacoma); Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children playing musical instruments; Musicians--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Chandeliers;

Monarch Club banquet at the Winthrop Hotel, Presidential Suite. The Presidential Suite was the most elaborate of the 24 "parlor" suites in the Winthrop. The living room was finished in Philippine Mahogany with paneled plastered walls and special lighting fixtures. (WSHS)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Monarch Club (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Convention Banquet, "Culinary Alliance" Cooks and Waiters Union, Local 61, at the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. (Argentum)

Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Culinary Alliance Union Local 61 (Tacoma); Cooks; Waiters; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

This group of young people are dancing Thanksgiving Night away at this holiday dance at the Hotel Winthrop sponsored by the Nite Owls Club. The Club was organized at Stadium High School and is marking its anniversary with its 11th annual dance. Left to right: Barbara Bonnell, Phillip Carstens, Bernard Chambers (chairman of the dance), skier Gretchen Kunigk (later Fraser) and Edwin Chambers Jr. TPL-5196 (T. Times 11/28/1936, pg. 9)

Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Bonnell, Barbara; Carstens, Phillip; Chambers, Bernard; Chambers, Edwin; Nite Owls (Tacoma); Dance; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Lou Henry (Mrs. Herbert) Hoover, Honorary National President of the Girl Scouts and former first lady, presents the "Golden Eaglet," the highest award in scouting, to Dorothy Bachelor on February 16, 1936. Helen Cannon, guard of honor, and Dorothy Hitchcock watch over the ceremony which was held in the Crystal Ballroom at the Hotel Winthrop. Mrs. Hoover spent the weekend in Tacoma, one of several trips she made to the city of behalf of the Girl Scouts. (T.Times, 2/17/1936, p. 9). ALBUM 1

Presidents' spouses; Hoover, Lou Henry, 1875-1944; Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bachelor, Dorothy; Cannon, Helen; Hitchcock, Dorothy; Awards;

Lou Henry (Mrs. Herbert) Hoover, National President of the Girl Scouts and former first lady, flanked by Tacoma Girl Scout Commissioner. Dorothy (Mrs. B.E.) Buckmaster (right in photo) and Mrs. Otis B. Wright during ceremony at Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop. (T.Times, 2/17/1936, p. 9). ALBUM 1

Presidents' spouses; Hoover, Lou Henry, 1875-1944; Buckmaster, Dorothy G.; Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);