On May 26, 1924, the Los Angeles Newsboys' Quartette posed in front of the Tacoma Hotel. They were on a cross-country singing tour from L.A. to "Noo Yawk" and had been engaged by the Rialto Theater for a week, in conjunction with the showing of "When A Man's A Man." They had also performed at the Tacoma Advertising Club luncheon that day. Pictured left to right are Ernest Davis, first tenor; Buckles Brente, second tenor; Leon Lyons, baritone and John Myers, basso. The boys, who billed themselves as real newsboys, had recently finished an engagement at Grauman's Theater in Los Angeles. Written on the back of their touring vehicle are the names of all the cities they have performed in so far on their cross country tour. To the right of the Tacoma Hotel is the famed Tacoma totem pole. G30.1-140 (TNT 5-27-24, p. 2; T. Times 5/31/1924, pg 2 & 3) BU-11933, TPL-1395

Los Angeles Newsboys' Quartette (Los Angeles); Davis, Ernest; Brente, Buckles; Lyons, Leon; Myers, John; Singers--1920-1930; Music ensembles--1920-1930; Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Totem poles--Tacoma;

A large contingent of druggists and their wives pose outside the Hotel Tacoma on June 23, 1924. The style of the day called for hats, long dresses and ankle-length coats for the women and standard business attire for the men. They were preparing to join a caravan of 50 and more cars to Olympia for a three-day convention. In addition, the Tacoma druggists met delegations of fellow pharmacists from other parts of Washington state who were on the way to the Olympia annual convention and took them on brief tours of Tacoma. G30.1-097 (TNT 6-19-24, p. 8-article; TDL 6-24-24, p.12)

Pharmacists--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

Famed orator, presidential candidate, and Secretary of State (under Woodrow Wilson), William Jennings Bryan visited Tacoma in September of 1924. Mr. Bryan is shown shaking hands with William R. Lee, Democratic nominee for Lt. Gov., in front of the Tacoma Hotel, 913 A Street, where an invitation-only breakfast was held in his honor. Mr. Bryan would later lecture at the First Methodist Church on "Problems confronting government, society, and religion." He also made a brief radio address on KGB, the Tacoma Ledger broadcasting station. Mr. Bryan was on his farewell lecture tour to the West; he died July 26, 1925. The man on the right has been identified as attorney Robert E. Evans. He was the president of the newly organized Young People's Democratic Club of Tacoma. Mr. Evans was a longtime member of the Tacoma bar and was later appointed Pierce County Superior Court Judge by Governor Clarence Martin. He was a partner in the well-known law firm of Ellis, Fletcher and Evans; all of whom became judges. Robert E. Evans was the last survivor of this pioneer legal firm and passed away after a long illness on December 7, 1941. (TDL 9-16-24; TNT 9-15-24, p. 1; T.Times obituary 12-8-41) G67.1-134

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925; Evans, Robert E., 1876-1941; Lee, William R.; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Lawyers--Tacoma;

William Jennings Bryan visited Tacoma in Sept of 1924. This photograph was taken outside the Tacoma Hotel, 913 A St., where an invitation-only breakfast was held in his honor. The famed orator had been a Presidential candidate and Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State. Mr. Bryan was on a farewell lecture tour of the West and stopped in Tacoma to give an address at the First Methodist Church and a brief talk on local radio station KGB. He would pass away the following year on July 26th, at the age of 65. (TDL 9-16-24; TNT 9-15-24, p.1-article)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925;

The American Barred Plymouth Rock Club held a banquet at the Tacoma Hotel, 913 A Street, on December 5, 1925. Barred Plymouth Rocks were excellent producers of eggs and meat. The breed was generally known as good general farm chickens and their owners, like those pictured above, could be assured of docility, hardiness and broodiness in their flocks. Members of the club had participated in the annual Tacoma poultry show put on by the Tacoma Poultry Association and held December 1-6, 1925, the same time as the national Barred Plymouth Rock exhibition. This was the first time that the national meet had been staged west of Omaha. Attendance at the poultry show had broken previous local records with the News Tribune reporting daily on activities and awards. Cleve Stout of Anglum, Missouri, was elected president of the American Barred Plymouth Rock Assn. in a business meeting held after the banquet. G6.1-097; G31.1-001 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-18-25, G-10-article; TNT 12-5-25, p. 5-article; TNT 12-7-25, p. 4-article)

Banquets--Tacoma--1920-1930; American Barred Plymouth Rock Club (Tacoma); Poultry industry--Tacoma;

ca. 1925. In May of 1925, the Tacoma Hotel at 913 A Street was nearing the completion of a $150,000 remodel and renovation. One of the additions to the venerable hotel was what the News Tribune at the time described as a nine hole golf course on the east lawn overlooking the bay. There was not room enough for a true nine hole course; the hotel's course appears to be a large putting green. In the background, the glass enclosed dining room can be seen. The Tudor style hotel, originally built in 1884, was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935. (TNT 5/13/1925, pg. 4; TDL 4/12/1927, supplement pg. 6) (WSHS- negative A842-0)

Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Putting (Golf); Golf--Tacoma--1920-1930; Golfers;

Clarence Chesterfield, right, also known by his showbiz moniker "Major Mite," shook hands on the steps of the Tacoma Hotel with George B. Stean, the hotel's new manager, in March of 1926. Maj. Mite had stopped in Tacoma on his way from his home in McCleary, Wa. to New York City. He had recently joined the Ringlings Circus as the Worlds Smallest Man. Although he was 18 years old, he measured in at 28 inches high and weighed 21 pounds. McCleary was located in Grays Harbor, about 49 miles southwest of Tacoma and had a population in 1939 of 1200 persons; making the odds of Maj. Mite being born there 1 to 1,500,000. The venerable Tacoma Hotel was built in 1884 and burned to the ground in 1935. (TNT 3/16/1926, pg. 15; T. Times 6/16/1939, pg. 7) (WSHS- negative A697-0)

Dwarfs; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Chesterfield, Clarence; Stean, George B.; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. A group of guests practices their putting on the miniature golf link of the Tacoma Hotel. The nine hole course was part of a $150,000 renovation completed in 1925. It was located on the east side of the hostelry on the lawn overlooking the bay. The Tudor hotel was renowned all up and down the Pacific Coast for its beauty. It was built in 1884 and was designed by Stanford White. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935. (TNT 5/13/1925, pg. 4; TDL 4/12/1927, supplement pg. 6) (WSHS- negative A843- 0)

Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Putting (Golf); Golf--Tacoma--1920-1930; Golfers;

Ladies Travelers Society at Tacoma Hotel. Sixteen women pose for the camera; most of them wearing wide brimmed hats that shield their faces. (WSHS)

Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Ladies Travelers Society (Tacoma);

ca. 1927. This handtinted photograph of the Tacoma Hotel was taken circa 1927. Built in 1884, and considered by many Tacoma's showcase, the elegant hotel had welcomed many distinguished guests over the decades including Presidents of the United States, actors and sports idols. Magnificent views of The Mountain, Commencement Bay and the City Waterway greeted these visitors. The massive modified Tudor structure occupied an entire block in downtown Tacoma. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935 and not rebuilt. The Tacoma Hotel Annex at 904-06 A St. was remodeled after the fire to serve as the new Tacoma Hotel but never reached the acclaim of the original.

This group of 16 men shown dining at the Tacoma Hotel on January 15, 1928, is believed to have been associated with the Lidgerwood Pacific Company. The firm, with general offices and works in the Tideflats, manufactured steam, gas and electric logging, hoisting and dredging machinery. G31.1-002

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Tacoma Hotel. An arched entryway welcomed guests to the Tacoma Hotel in 1928. 300 rooms were available, some with splendid views of Commencement Bay, and all at reasonable rates. The hotel advertised itself as being famous worldwide for its good food and restful surroundings. Built in 1884, the historic hotel was destroyed by fire in October of 1935. G30.1-112; BU-11,942

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Boland Studio notes indicate that this group of young athletes came from Lincoln High School and were photographed at the Tacoma Hotel on December 6, 1929. In the back row, far left, is coach Homer Post. Bert Beal is at the far right, first row. G47.1-004

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Post, Homer; Beal, Bert;

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey finds himself flanked by prominent Tacomans in this July 25, 1930, photograph taken on the veranda of the Tacoma Hotel. L-R Mike Lavelle, former Pantages manager and current Tacoma Hotel manager Jack Calvert, TNT sports writer Elliott Metcalf, Mr. Dempsey, Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, unidentified, and J. Frank Hickey, president of the elegant Tacoma Hotel. Mr. Dempsey was in town to referee the Tod Morgan - Joey Coffman match at the Greenwich Colliseum that evening. The bout was sponsored by the Kay Street Athletic Club. Mr. Dempsey was clearly the favorite attraction that night with cheers shaking the Colliseum's rafters. A record-breaking crowd was so loud in cheering him that he could not be heard in the ring. (TNT 7-25-30, p. 17-article; TNT 7-26-30, p. 4-article) G67.1-178

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Hickey, J. Frank; Metcalf, Elliott; Tennent, Melvin Green; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lavelle, Mike; Calvert, Jack; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

Members of the First Regiment, U.S. Engineers, enjoyed a reunion banquet at the Tacoma Hotel on September 13, 1930. G24.1-017

Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); First Regiment, U.S. Engineers (Tacoma);

Salvation Army conference at the Tacoma Hotel. Attendees pose for a group portrait on April 22, 1931 on the steps of the hotel. Many are wearing the familiar Salvation Army attire. Among those pictured is Col. Andrew Crawford of San Francisco, second in command of Salvation Army work in the Western states. G21.1-187 (TDL 4-22-31, p. 9-article on convention)

Salvation Army (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

ca. 1931. Attendees of a Pacific Coast Gas Association meeting in the garden of the original Tacoma Hotel.

Pacific Coast Gas Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Hotel was the site of a hardware convention in late January of 1932. Participants, all male, posed for a group portrait on the hotel's steps. The Pacific Northwest Hardware & Implement Association met in Tacoma for the first time in its 37 years of existence. The three-day meeting was to discuss hardware trade problems. A.E. Vaughn of Aberdeen was president of the association. G30.1-088 (TNT1-27-32, p. 11-article)

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pacific Northwest Hardware & Implement Association;