Hungry teenagers gather around prepared to dine on hamburgers and hotdogs in this spring, 1960, photograph. Loaves of Hansen's Sunbeam bread and packages of skinless wieners plus buns and relish are on display. These were students from Pacific Lutheran University enjoying the school's annual Basket Social at Spanaway Park on May 22, 1960.

Eating & drinking; Teenagers--Spanaway--1960-1970; Students--Spanaway--1960-1970; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970;

Smiling teenagers look eager to see who will receive the wrapped gift the jovial m.c. holds in this spring, 1960, photograph. There are numerous gifts on the picnic table before the young, derby-wearing man. Pacific Lutheran University students celebrated the school's annual Basket Social at Spanaway Park on May 22, 1960. They enjoyed a traditional hotdog and hamburger picnic.

Teenagers--Spanaway--1960-1970; Students--Spanaway--1960-1970; Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland)--1960-1970; Gifts; Hats--1960-1970;

The newly completed Ben Cheney Stadium stood empty on May 18, 1960 when this aerial photograph was taken. The Tacoma Giants, playing in the Pacific Coast League, were out of town playing the San Diego Padres. The $840,000 Cheney Stadium was completed in just three months, fourteen days. As shown above, the parking lots were not yet paved due to slight sinking but a temporary surface made of sand was being applied. Also planned were bleachers to seat another 650 fans on the left field side of the grandstand. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber. (TNT 5-27-60 p. 23) TPL-9727

Aerial photographs; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

Interior of roller rink. The smooth glossy floor of the Tacoma Roller Bowl is empty for the moment of customers in this May 18, 1960, photograph. There are paintings on the walls of the rink of skaters gliding, spinning and jumping. Tacoma Roller Bowl was located at 7455 South Tacoma Way and according to the 1960 City Directory, owned by Roger W. Adams. TPL-9256

Tacoma Roller Bowl (Tacoma); Skating rinks--Tacoma;

21 women in evening gowns pose at the USO Center on May 17, 1960, along with one military officer. These women belonged to the Navy Mothers Club, a national organization, and quite active here.

Navy Mothers Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Exterior Smyth Moving & Storage building. Taken from across the street on May 17, 1960, the Smyth Moving & Storage fleet of trucks and Volkswagons surround the company's Puyallup Avenue location. Smyth's utilized North American Van Lines as a world wide moving service along with its own smaller trucks. Known as "Smyth the Smoother Mover," the company handled household moving, local and long distance packing and moving, and storage.

Smyth Moving & Storage Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970;

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.

Barcott's Sea Food (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices);

Group picture of Pederson Fryer Farms' baseball team. Sixteen players and their manager posed for this May 14, 1960, photograph at Heidelberg Field. They represented Pederson Fryer Farms in the 1960 AAU City League. They would join Cammarano Bottlers, Criswells, Puget Sound Renders, 4th Division Trains of Fort Lewis and defending champion Woodworth Contractors in the 6-team league. Al Faulkner, formerly of the Valley League, was the new manager of Pederson's. His team consisted, among others, of ex-PLC stars Ron Coltom, Jerry Curtis, Chuck Hobbs, and city-loop veterans Don Martelli and Ray Wing, outfielders, along with Gary Moore, Chuck Robbins and new acquisition, right hand pitcher Al MaCoy. Pederson's and Cammarano Bottlers, the previous year's runner-up, were scheduled to open the City League season in the first half of a double bill on May 30, 1960. That game was apparently cancelled due to rain and Pederson's would open their season with a 3-2 victory over the 4th Division Trains on June 3rd with southpaw Ron Coltom credited for the win. (TNT 5-8-60, B-15, 5-15-60, B-10, 6-4-60, p. 9)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Pederson Fryer Farms (Tacoma); Uniforms;

Pioneer Sand and Gravel Co.; aerial view of the gravel pit located at Steilacoom, Wa. The company specialized in sand, gravel, concrete and building materials. TPL-9238

Industry--Steilacoom; Sand--Steilacoom; Digging--Steilacoom; Waterfronts; Harbors--Steilacoom; Sandstone quarrying--Steilacoom; Industrial facilities--Steilacoom; Aerial views; Pioneer Sand & Gravel Co. (Steilacoom);

Exterior of Tacoma Telco Federal Credit Union taken on May 6, 1960. The contemporary one-story building featured large windows, a flat roof, and stone/brick foundation. Tacoma Telco F.C.U. was opened on March 20, 1959. The 1960 City Directory listed Donald M. Beardsley as Treasurer and Mrs. Myrtle A. Beardsley as Assistant Treasurer.

Tacoma Telco Federal Credit Union (Tacoma);

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;

Perhaps looking to purchase a new television console or high fidelity stereo, Marcella Blanchette and William Thornton, Jr., look interested in Ted Brown employee Bob Merrick's selection of records on April 30, 1960. As the curtains above the television indicate, Ted Brown emphasized the Magnavox brand of electronics. The salesman holds out a Magnavox demonstration record and Eddie Heywood's Canadian Sunset stereo recording to the engaged couple. Marcella Blanchette would wed William Thornton, Jr., of Seattle on June 4, 1960, at St. Leo's Catholic Church. Photograph taken for the News Tribune's Bridal Section. (TNT 5-17-60, C-16, 6-9-60, B-10)

Blanchette, Marcella; Thornton, William; Merrick, Bob; Ted Brown Music Store (Tacoma); Televisions--1960-1970; Sound recordings; Shopping--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Bob Bogle, one of the founding members of the internationally acclaimed rock group "The Ventures." Bogle played bass guitar on the instrumental guitar hits of the group. Robert Lenard Bogle was born on January 16, 1934 to a farming family at their rural residence near Wagoner, Oklahoma. About 1940, the family relocated to the West Coast. They travelled up and down the coast trying to find steady work, with the boys doing farm work before and after school. They settled near Portland, Oregon where Bob's father found employment in a saw mill. Bogle started playing the guitar at 12 and at 15, without completing the 9th grade, left home and started work in the construction field. At around 23, he moved to Seattle to work as a construction foreman. He met Wilson, who was then selling cars, and got him a job in construction. Bogle and Don Wilson formed the group when they found out that they had a common interest in music. The group made its professional debut at a Tacoma club and burst on the national scene with its first hit single "Walk, Don't Run." (information from The Ventures website www.theventures.com)

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bogle, Bob;

Publicity for the Tacoma rock group "The Ventures." Original band members L to R: Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards, Bob Bogle, Howie Johnson and Tacoma native Don Wilson. The Ventures recorded two gold singles, five gold albums, the "All Time" Number 1 Song in Japan of 1994 ("Ginza Lights" written by Nokie Edwards), sold one million albums each year from 1961-66, were responsible for 25% of Liberty records total record sales and became the only foreign group to ever receive the Japanese Grand Prix Award. From their origination in Tacoma in 1959, they have continued to record and tour throughout the world into the new millenium. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Johnson, Howie; Wilson, Don;

In April 1960, Tacoma originated rock group "The Ventures" posed for a publicity photo with an unidentified woman admirer. Left to right: Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards, Bob Bogle, Don Wilson, Howie Johnson. The most popular and influential instrumental rock band of all time got its start at the Blue Moon in Tacoma. At that time, band originators Bogle and Wilson were playing as a rock duo "The Versatones." They wooed lead guitarist Nokie Edwards and drummer Skip Moore (later replaced by Johnson) away from country performer Buck Owens to record "Walk, Don't Run" as The Ventures. From the beginnings of this gold single, they became guitar legends. The Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2008. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Wilson, Don; Johnson, Howie;

On April 26, 1960, the members of the Tacoma based rock group "The Ventures" modeled their clean cut rock look with matching blazers, ties and khakis for the photographers at Richards Studio in Tacoma. The fresh faced young musicians, (l to r) Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards, Bob Bogle, Howie Johnson and Don Wilson, posed with their shiny new Fender guitars for one of their earliest photo shoots. They went on to become the world's biggest selling instrumental rock group of all time, with their popularity now entering its fifth decade. Their popularity was so great in Japan that during the Beatles heyday in the sixties, The Ventures outsold them 2 to 1. They have had 80 plus releases in the U.S., and over 150 albums released in Japan. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Johnson, Howie;

Publicity for the original members of the Tacoma-based rock group "The Ventures". L to R: Howie Johnson- drums, Tacoma native Don Wilson-rhythm guitar, Bob Bogle- bass guitar, and Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards- lead guitar. Johnson holds a microphone up to Wilson's mouth, but The Ventures music was all instrumental. Their music stood out from that of other early sixties bands, because it was so simple and pure. Other bands had numerous instruments, brass and strings, and vocalization. The Ventures had the guitar, pure and simple. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Johnson, Howie;

Publicity for the original members of the Tacoma-based rock group "The Ventures". L to R: Howie Johnson- drums, Tacoma native Don Wilson-rhythm guitar, Bob Bogle- bass guitar, and Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards- lead guitar. Wilson appears to be questioning the microphone held up by Johnson and rightly so, the music of The Ventures was all instrumental. It was based on the guitar as a musical art form and influenced a generation of guitar players to form their own garage bands. The band released a flood of albums over 40 years, becoming the largest selling instrumental performers of all time. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Johnson, Howie;

Nole Floyd (Nokie) Edwards, the original lead guitarist for the Tacoma based rock group "The Ventures." Edwards was born in Lahoma, Oklahoma, but raised from the age of seven in Puyallup (City Directories of the fifties identify an Edwards family of E. Pioneer Ave.) He is the son of Elbert L. and Nannie May Edwards of Oklahoma. His family was extremely musical; his father played the violin and his siblings played instruments as well. He taught himself to play guitar at 5. By 12, he was performing on live radio and played all the stringed instruments. In 1959, he was playing around Washington with Buck Owens when Bob Bogle and Don Wilson heard him and convinced him to play with The Ventures. He started with the group on bass, but soon exchanged positions with Bogle and played lead guitar. Edwards left the band in 1967, returned in 1972 and left again in 1984 to pursue his own musical career. He still occasionally records and tours with the band. As a talented guitarist with a wide range of musical interests, he has a huge following in both the U.S. and Japan. In 1993-94, he was residing in Randle, Wa. (per Phone America West.) He and his wife Judy resided in Elmira, Oregon where they corresponded with his many fans via his website, when they were not touring the world with his music. (most information obtained from the Edwards website www.nokie-edwards.com). Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Edwards, Nole F.;

Publicity for Tacoma native Don Wilson, of the rock group "The Ventures." The band had top 40 hits in 1960 with "Walk, Don't Run" and in 1969 with the theme from the television program "Hawaii Five-O." Don was born in Tacoma on February 10, 1933. His early interest in music was influenced by the Big Band sound and Country and Western music. His first instrument was a trombone, with the guitar being only a sideline. He played the trombone with the Army regimental band in Germany. After returning home from the Army, he went to work as a used car salesman. He met Bob Bogle, sold him a car, and went to work on his construction site. They soon found a common interest in music, and armed with second hand guitars from the pawn shop and instructional books, began to practice together. They were soon putting in 10 hour days as construction workers and playing Tacoma clubs at night as "The Versatones." (information from The Ventures website www.theventures.com)

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don;

Don Wilson, Tacoma native and co-founder of the internationally acclaimed rock group "The Ventures." Wilson and Bob Bogle formed the group when they met at a Seattle construction site and discovered their mutual interest in music. The group made their professional debut in Tacoma. When Wilson's mother's attempts to interest established record companies in the group failed, the boys and Josie Wilson formed their own label, the Blue Horizon Record Co. The label released "Walk, Don't Run." The single was an immediate hit locally, was released nationally by Liberty records and the boys were catapulted into the national limelight. Wilson continued to play rhythm guitar throughout the group's over 40 year long recording career.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don;

Publicity photo for Tacoma based rock group "The Ventures." Original band members left to right: Don Wilson, Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards and Bob Bogle. Wilson and Bogle originated the group and its instrumental sound and have played together since 1959 to the present. Edwards joined the group prior to their recording of "Walk, Don't Run." He left the group in 1967, returned in 1972 and left again in 1984 to pursue his own musical career, spanning all styles of music. He still tours and records with the group occasionally. The Ventures are the most popular instrumental rock band of all time, and were the inspiration of young rock guitarists of the 60's and again in the '80's. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob;

Publicity for Tacoma-based rock group "The Ventures." L to R: Howie Johnson, Tacoma native Don Wilson, Bob Bogle, Nokie Edwards. Attired in the rock look of the early sixties; white shirts and ties, blazers and khakis, the group is poised on the brink of national fame. Their first record "Walk, Don't Run," released in 1960, became a solid gold hit. Their style, based on the instrumental guitar sound and simple arrangements, influenced a generation of guitar players to form bands. They released over 80 records in the U.S. and sold one million records each year from 1961-1966. They left the U.S. to tour Japan in the seventies and became the number one recording group there, releasing over 150 albums in Japan. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona. TPL-5559.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Johnson, Howie;

Howie Johnson, drummer for the rock group "The Ventures." Bob Bogle and Don Wilson started the group as a rock duo and added the third guitar, Nokie Edwards, and the drum as they prepared to record their first single. Skip Moore recorded on the single "Walk, Don't Run" but did not want to leave Tacoma. He was replaced by Howie Johnson, who recorded on the band's first album. Johnson stayed with the band until 1963, when he was unable to return after an automobile accident. He was replaced on the drums by Mel Taylor, who played with the band for 32 years. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Johnson, Howie;

Publicity for the original members of the Tacoma-based rock group "The Ventures". L to R: Howie Johnson- drums, Tacoma native Don Wilson-rhythm guitar, Bob Bogle- bass guitar, and Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards- lead guitar. The group has performed for over 40 years, with some changes in performers. Edwards has left the group at different times, replaced by Gerry McGee, to pursue his own musical career but still occasionally plays with The Ventures. Johnson was replaced in 1963 after an automobile accident by Mel Taylor. Taylor played with the group for 32 years, until his death from cancer. He was replaced by his own son Leon Taylor. The band's instrumental style remains the same, with the accent on skilled guitar playing and an uncluttered sound. They are the most popular, best selling and most influential instrumental group of all time. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Johnson, Howie;

Publicity photo of Tacoman Don Wilson, rhythm guitar with the rock group "The Ventures." Don Wilson and Bob Bogle began playing guitar together in 1959, when their paths crossed in Seattle. Developing their style with second hand pawn shop guitars and instructional guitar books, they were soon putting in 10 hour days as construction workers and playing the clubs four nights a week. They added Nokie Edwards (originally as bass guitar, later as lead guitar) and drummer Skip Wilson prior to recording their gold single "Walk, Don't Run." Skip Wilson was replaced by Howie Johnson before the recording of the album of the same name when Wilson was not interested in touring. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don;

Publicity photo for Tacoma based rock group "The Ventures." Left to right: Don Wilson, Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards and Bob Bogle. The group burst on the national scene in 1960 with the recording of "Walk, Don't Run." The song was written by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith and recorded initially by Chet Atkins on his album "Hi-Fi in Focus." The Ventures simplified the arrangement for 3 guitars plus drums and set it to a rock beat. Unable to get any national recording company interested, Don's mother Josie Wilson formed her own record company "Blue Horizon Records" and recorded the song. It became a regional hit in the Northwest and was distributed nationally by Liberty Records. It became the #2 record in the nation (surpassed only by Chubby Checker and "The Twist") and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. The band continued to record 4-6 albums a year throughout the sixties, emphasizing their spare instrumentation and simple arrangements. During the seventies, they took Japan by storm, selling 20 million records and winning every music award that country has to offer. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob;

Publicity photo of the original members of Tacoma based rock group "The Ventures." Left to right: Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards, Bob Bogle, drummer Howie Johnson and Don Wilson. After their gold single "Walk, Don't Run" in 1960, the band recorded an endless stream of albums, sometimes as many as a half dozen a year. All recordings were instrumental, with the bands signature spare instrumentation and simplified arrangements, all accenting the guitar work. Just when their popularity in the U.S. began to wane with the rise of British vocal groups such as the Beatles, they scored with another gold single "Hawaii 5-O." As the seventies dawned, they continued to tour the Far East, becoming a national sensation in Japan. They are the only foreign group to ever receive Japan's prestigious Grand Prix Award. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Johnson, Howie;

Publicity photo of the original members of Tacoma based rock group "The Ventures." An unidentified woman, in a full fifties skirt with lacy petticoats and a charm bracelet, gazes dreamily at Tacoman Don Wilson. Left to right: Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards, Bob Bogle, Don Wilson and drummer Howie Johnson. The band was composed of lead, rhythm, and bass guitar with drum accents. Their sound, with its spare instrumentation and simple arrangements, influenced a generation of guitar players to start their own rock bands. Their influence in the evolution of rock guitar is legendary, they were the first to do it all with guitars and be successful at it. They were pre-twist and pre-surf and with every passing rock trend, the band was able to alter its sound slightly and ride the crest of each new craze. The seventies were spent overseas, most notably in Japan, where they sold over 20 million records. They returned to recording and touring in the U.S. in the eighties, brought back by Rodney Bingenheimer of KROQ Radio in L.A., who made them aware of their influence on new wave music. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Johnson, Howie;

The original members of Tacoma based rock group "The Ventures" perform a dance step in unison in this campy early publicity shot. Left to right: drummer Howie Johnson, founding members Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, and Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards. The guitar icons started their musical career at the Blue Moon club in Tacoma. Wilson and Bogle worked construction during the day and played the clubs at night as a guitar duo called The Versatones. Prior to recording their first gold record, they added Edwards as bass guitarist (he later switched with Bogle to play lead guitar) and Skip Moore as drummer, and changed their name to The Ventures. Howie Johnson replaced Skip Moore, who did not want to tour. They recorded their first gold record in 1960 "Walk, Don't Run" and their second in 1969 "Hawaii 5-O." During the sixties, they released 4-6 albums a year, with 5 of them going gold. In 2008, the Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona. TPL-9356

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob; Johnson, Howie;