The three new can-can dancers at Steve's Gay '90s (l to r) Vickie Conner, Kathy Tamburelle and Pamella Conner posed while on stage in December, 1967. They were photographed while performing a special Christmas holiday stage show which was presented on weekends.The dancers had a variety of costumes but all featured tall plumes, ruffles and fishnet stockings. The new dancers replaced the can-can trio of Connie Moisio, Callie Mathews and Hazel Gjerde, who retired in November, 1967, after 14 years at Steve's. Steve's Gay '90s was a longtime South Tacoma fixture that offered reasonably priced cuisine along with entertainment harking back to the America of the 1890's. (Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s.) (TNT 11-9-67, D-11, TNT 12-22-67, p. 20) TPL-9874
Two entertainers at Steve's Gay '90s; photograph taken on December 8, 1967. Both are dressed in the fashions of bygone days. The woman seated at the piano was identified as "LuluBelle" in a News Tribune ad later on February 19, 1968; she carries a paper fan. LuluBelle was proclaimed being "back in town," and entertaining each Saturday evening at the Old Piano Table. The man is believed to be Jack Richardson, "King of the MCs." Steve's Gay '90s was a very popular restaurant in South Tacoma that offered family-styled entertainment. Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s.
Two can-can dancers on stage at Steve's Gay '90s. Dressed in plumes, fishnet stockings, and ruffled costumes, the dancers were part of Steve's famous floor shows which provided family-oriented entertainment for its diners. Pamella Conner and Vickie Conner were part of a new trio of dancers who replaced the dancing Mernaugh sisters, Connie (Moisio) and Callie (Matthews) and Hazel Gjerde. The Mernaughs had been performing at Steve's for 14 years. Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s. (TNT 11-9-67, D-11, TNT 12-22-67, p. 20)
The cast of "The Drunkard" posed for a variety of shots on February 27, 1967. The 1890's melodrama, directed by Dorothy Jean Heffernan, was held at Steve's Gay '90s, 5238-40 South Tacoma Way, in March and April of 1967. Kathie McCulloch, as Mary Wilson, is pictured above with her hands aloft and mouth open in dismay at the appearance of the play's mustached villain, Jack Richardson, who stars as Lawyer Cribbs. Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s. (TNT 3-3-67, A-6)
ca. 1967. Doughnut Shop at Fort Lewis. Fort Lewis was, in essence, a miniature city. The Army military base provided its soldiers and their families with goods and services that could normally be found off-base. Here in 1967 soldiers could enjoy doughnuts at the Doughnut Shop pictured above or "take 'em home." Color photograph ordered by Puget Sound Area Support Center, Fort Lewis.
Three can-can dancers in fishnets, ruffles and plumes, entertain at Steve's Gay '90s in May, 1966. They included Connie and Callie Mernaugh. Steve's, a South Tacoma fixture for decades, offered good food and entertainment at very reasonable prices. Floor shows, including the above dancers and rollicking piano tunes, were suitable for the entire family. Steve's would be marking its 17th anniversary with a new show, "World of Burlesque" with performances on Friday and Saturday nights. Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s. (TNT 6-16-66, D-11)
Cascade Room restaurant - Bon Marche. Sliding wood-paneled doors are partially opened to reveal a small lobby leading to the Cascade Room restaurant found within the Bon Marche. An assortment of modern furniture including black leather chairs can be glimpsed inside the restaurant which contain polished walnut paneled walls and brass wall sconces. A cocktail lounge and Corner House snack shop was included. Johnny Maddox would be the first performer in the Cascade Room Lounge once the Bon Marche opened at the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center in early August, 1964. Located on the lower level, direct entrance was also possible from the parking lot even when the rest of the store had closed. (TNT Ad 7-31-64, p. 21, TNT 8-2-64, B-6)
Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices); Sconces;
The February, 1961, sun casts a long shadow of the photographer on the dark parking lot of Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In Restaurant. The drive-in had opened in 1960 near the intersection of Sixth and Orchard. It was owned by William Busch, who also owned a Busch's Drive-In on South Tacoma Way. View of large lot, with extended roof that offered partial coverage of vehicles and walkway to dine-in service at the restaurant.
Interior of restaurant, ca. 1961. This is believed to be the interior of Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In Restaurant which opened in 1960 and was owned by William Busch. A long curved laminated counter has room for ten seats; miniature jukeboxes on counter for patrons' listening pleasure. Padded booth seating is also available. Glimpse of diagonal parking with covered walkway.
Exterior of Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In. Directional arrows guide hungry customers to the Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In on February 16, 1961. This was the second Busch's restaurant in the Tacoma area; the first was the longtime establishment famous for its car hops located on South Tacoma Way. Busch's Sixth Avenue was designed by Percy G. Ball and built in 1960. It featured covered parking and walkway along with dine-in service. TPL-5805
A young family waits to select from a menu at Steve's Gay '90s as their hostess smiles in this July 27, 1960, photograph. Three can-can dancers and the m.c. are on the stage behind them in the restaurant's Opera Room. Mrs. LeRoy M. Curtis enjoys a free dinner at Steve's as Steve's Gay '90s was one of ten restaurants where Dine Out Every Month Club members utilized the "Buy one, get one free" method of receiving free meals. For $5.00, Dine Out Every Month Club members would receive a coupon book good for ten meals at participating restaurants. With Mrs. Curtis is her husband and daughter Terry; assisting the Curtis' family is Steve's hostess Vicki Tran. (TNT ad 8-2-60, p. 8)
Interior of Barcott's Sea Food. This May 16, 1960, photograph was taken prior to opening as the dining room is empty. Cloth napkins, silverware and coffee cups have been placed on the rectangular tables. Each table has been draped with a tablecloth. Barcott's emphasized their delicious seafood entries including fried ocean scallops at $2.00; to accompany the meals was a selection of California wines and champagne. Barcott's had been at their Pine St. location since May, 1953.
Interior of Cliff House Restaurant. A busy floral patterned carpet greets customers of the remodeled Cliff House Restaurant in this February, 1960, photograph. Near the entrance is the kitchen/serving area where an enormous black fan catches the eye. It would provide excellent ventilation of cooking odors. The kitchen area appears well equipped with shiny metal appliances.
Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;
Dining room of Cliff House Restaurant. Empty tables with starched tablecloths and napkins await diners of the remodeled Cliff House Restaurant on February 15, 1960. Picture windows facing the Tideflats have their shades removed to the side so that patrons can enjoy the beautiful views. A display of large ferns complements the leafy pattern of the dining room carpet.
Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;
Exterior of Cliff House Restaurant. Large windows of the Cliff House provide its patrons with outstanding views to complement the restaurant's fine cuisine. Built originally as a tavern in 1925, it was later operated by Buz Erhart & Frank Gillihan. The restaurant was remodeled and rebuilt after a 1958 fire by Houston "Hugh" Odum Smith.
Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;
The Cliff House restaurant at 6300 Marine View Drive N.E. still has the same commanding view of Commencement Bay and Tacoma's skyline as it did in February, 1960 when this photograph was taken. It was originally built by W.R. "Bill" Keyes in 1925 as the Cliff House Tavern. That building burned to the ground in 1958 when a beach fire got out of control and the flames spread up the bluff. Hugh O. Smith purchased the property and built a new Cliff House (the one shown here), but instead of a tavern, he built a restaurant. The building has been remodeled several times, first in 1977 and again in 1988.
Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;
Viafore's, a new restaurant located at 2409 Pacific Ave. The restaurant was owned by Edward Viafore and Matt Allegro. This is either the cocktail lounge or a quick service food area.
Open kitchen area at the new Harbor Lights restaurant. The restaurant was opened in February of 1959 by noted Tacoma restaurateur Anton Barcott. Barcott had formerly operated the renowned California Oyster House, opened in 1919 by his father John Barcott Sr. Due to a lack of parking and limited seating space, Barcott had closed the Oyster House after 40 years of operation and chosen this waterfront location. Located 3 blocks north of the Old Tacoma Dock, the main portion of the restaurant was built over the waters of Commencement Bay with unobstructed views of Mount Rainier and the Cascade range. It could seat over 100 and had ample free parking. A 60 foot dock was planned for construction before the summer with moorage for boats. All food preparation was performed in the pictured all electric kitchen in eye view of all patrons. The kitchen also contained a charcoal broiler pit, enabling the restaurant to offer BBQ meats, fish and chicken in addition to seafood. Anton and his daughter LaMoyne (Mrs. John) Hreha represented the third and fourth generation of food catering. Anton was the son of the Oyster House founder John Barcott Sr. and the grandson of famed Yugoslavian inn keepers. Anton started in the business at 12 years of age as a dishwasher and apprenticed to his father for 12 years before taking over the reins of the business in 1946. Photograph ordered by Vermiculite Manufacturing Co. (TNT 2/17/1959, pg. 4-5)
Busch's Drive In restaurant on South Tacoma Way. Busch's had long been a Tacoma landmark famous for its car hops, waitresses that came directly to your car to take and deliver orders. They also featured dine in service. Built in 1936 as the Triple XXX Barrel and purchased by Bill & Thelma Busch in 1943, the building remains today.
Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma;
The Opera House at Steve' s Gay '90s Restaurant. The Opera House opened in 1956 and was the main entertainment venue at Steve's, where a full floor show was performed every Friday and Saturday night. Its crystal chandeliers came from the Seattle Opera House and its walls were adorned with photographs of the beautiful old homes of Tacoma. It was furnished with antiques gathered by owner Steve Pease at estate sales and auctions. In mid June of 1959, Steve's was celebrating its 10th anniversary with "continuous" entertainment Wednesday - Saturday. (TNT 6/16/1959, pg. 8-9)
Exposure of architect's scale model for the new expansion at Busch's Restaurant, ordered by architect Percy Ball. Photograph shot near the Top of the Ocean. The remodel appears to include a two story interior dining room.
Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Architectural models;
Exposure of architect's scale model for the new expansion at Busch's Restaurant, ordered by architect Percy Ball. Photograph shot near the Top of the Ocean. The drive in restaurant with car hops located at 3505 South Tacoma Way was so enormously popular that Percy Ball was designing its enlargement.
Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Architectural models;
Exposure of architect's scale model for the new expansion at Busch's Restaurant, ordered by architect Percy Ball. Photograph shot near the Top of the Ocean. Through the power of photography, Buschs seems to have been magically transported from 3505 South Tacoma Way to Tacoma's waterfront. Clouds could have been added later through super imposition of Richards' stock footage.
Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Architectural models;
In February of 1959, the Original Pancake House, located in Lakewood at 3701 Steilacoom Blvd, was prepared to celebrate its grand opening after extensive remodeling. The restaurant was owned by Roy Rosenthal, Jr., and Morris Plotkin and was franchised through Smitty's Pancake House in Seattle. The building itself had been there since 1930 and was the former home of Pucci's Inn. There were eighteen varieties of pancakes always available. There were actually 120 kinds of pancakes on the list and the restaurant rotated its selection regularly. All pancakes were individually prepared and made from fresh ingredients. The owners did not use prepared mixes. The Original Pancake House was so confident of its cooking that it publicly announced a money-back guarantee if the diner was not satisfied. (TNT 2-13-59, p. 9)
Original Pancake House (Lakewood); Restaurants--Lakewood--1950-1960; Electric signs--Lakewood;
ca. 1959. The new "Golden Era Cafe" at Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant featuring the fireplace and bric-a-brac from the demolished Yorktheimer mansion. This hand carved spool type entry way came from the mansion. The mansion was located at 27 Broadway and was built in 1887. When it was demolished in August of 1959 to make way for the Belmont Terrace apartments, part of the building's ornaments were purchased by Steve Pease for the remodel of his Gay Nineties restaurant. The restaurant had recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and was well recognized as the #1 spot to entertain out of town guests. It was also the largest entertainment emporium in the northwest, occupying six historic buildings. Steve's had recently demolished an adjoining service station to build its own parking lot. (TNT 11/26/1959, pg. D 2-3)
ca. 1959. The "Golden Era Cafe" at Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant. The new dining area featured the fireplace and the bric-a-brac rescued from the demolished Yorktheimer mansion, formerly located at 27 Broadway. The mansion had been built in 1887 and was demolished in 1959 to make way for the Belmont Terrace apartments. This hand carved spool type entryway came from the mansion. Steve's had recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and was widely recognized as the premier night spot for out of towners. Pease had decorated his restaurant with bits and pieces from some of the finest homes in Tacoma. The Golden Era Coffee Shop served meals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To see the spool woodwork in the Yorktheimer mansion, see I61 images 1 & 2. (TNT 11-26-1959, pg. D-2-3)
ca. 1959. Interiors of Steve's Gay Nineties Restaurant. Whenever the old famous structures of Tacoma were in danger of the wrecking ball, owner Steve Pease was first in line, with cash in hand, to purchase as much of the past as possible; and most of it ended up in his Gay Nineties Restaurant. This staircase came from the Hewitt mansion at 501 No. 4th St., once considered to be the most beautiful home in Tacoma. When it was razed in 1957 to make way for a parking lot, Pease purchased this staircase and panelling, among other things. To see a photograph of the staircase in the Hewitt home, see D97664 image 7.
ca. 1959. Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant. This is believed to be the entrance to the restaurant conglomerate. The intricately carved wooden panel to the right came from the recently demolished County Courthouse. A cardboard cutout of Steve's famous can can dancers sits atop the panel. To the left rear is a piano, that also appears to have percussion equipment located at the bottom. This is believed to be the "Orchestron," originally from the Red Front Saloon, and located in the lobby of Steve's. The hand carved, hardwood instrument could play drums, cymbals, chimes, mandolin, organ and xylophone music. Steve's was divided into five restaurant areas, the Golden Era Cafe, the Cable Car Room, the Opera House (with the floorshow), the Gay Nineties Smorgasbord (with the fringed surrey seating) and the Memory Lane Banquet Room. They were celebrating their 10th year in the restaurant and entertainment business. (TNT 11/26/1959, pg D-2 - D-3)
This was how the Montello Block at 202 St. Helens Avenue appeared in September of 1958. It was kitty-corner to the Temple Theater. The Montello Block dates back to 1890 when builders H.S. Huson and Nicholas Lawson constructed the Montello Hotel on this property. Fire broke out in 1899, necessitating rebuilding and remodeling. It has since been occupied by a series of businesses. In 1958, the Tarry Tavern, owned by Wilbur Nash and Grayson McCain, was listed at that corner. The other units in the building were apartments. The building was destroyed by arson in November of 1997 and subsequently demolished. Next door was Temple Motors' used car division. Currently it is occupied by Doyle's Public House. Photograph ordered by National Mortgage, Inc.
Tarry Tavern (Tacoma); Temple Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;
In 1958, Anton's Restaurant was located in the venerable Roberts-Parker Building at 11th and Tacoma Avenue South, across the street from the Tacoma Public Library. It was owned and operated by Tony and Mary Anton. This view of Anton's interior shows a long, curved lunch counter with a chef and waitress ready for customers. Tony Anton is the chef by his grill and his wife Mary is seated across the counter from him. There are four women are seated at upholstered booths. There is an Arden's Milk clock mounted on the colorful wallpaper. Anton's was later succeeded by Siri's Restaurant and then Kelly's at the same location. After extensive remodeling, the SideBar Bistro opened in this building in June of 2010. (Additional identification provided by a reader)
