Santa appears to have made an early stop at the Ben Cheney household in Browns Point on December 23, 1957. Presents of all shapes and sizes, all colorfully decorated, are scattered throughout the living room. Little Piper Cheney and big sister Sandy are dressed in robes; Piper has ensconced herself in a little red wagon and is holding a small gift. Marian Cheney looks up and smiles while displaying a present while husband Ben leans over her shoulder. Ben Cheney was a well-known local lumberman and philanthropist. Sepia photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Marian; Cheney, Sandra; Cheney, Piper; Christmas trees; Christmas presents; Toys;

Christmas time at the Ben Cheney residence meant lots of gifts for the children and mom and dad. Presents are spilling over onto the living room floor, including a nearby coffee table. A bright red Flyer wagon is ready for a small child to hop on for a ride, or load up with toys and pulled. The Norfolk pine tree stands tall, perfectly fitting in with the beautiful wood walls; ornaments can be displayed at their best advantage. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts; Christmas presents; Christmas trees; Toys;

ca. 1957. Santa and his prancing reindeer, six choir boys and a quartet of angels are illuminated on a winter's evening as these cutouts are propped up before the Hopkins' residence. One large picture window of the home, unusual in its semi-circular shape, is opened to display the glittering Christmas tree. The Christmas cutouts are made of wood and could easily have been constructed using simple instructions from a kit. The 50's was still the decade of the do-it-yourselfer and many families found that they were skilled enough to create their own holiday decorations, without the help of professionals. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. See A111074-3 for daylight version of this photograph.

Christmas decorations; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Students at the Parkland Elementary School do their part to help in the drive to conquer polio by assisting in the 1958 March of Dimes campaign. Each child has a palm sized collection card with slots for coins. Parkland Elementary, in the Franklin-Pierce School District, had led all schools in the county in March of Dimes contributions for several years. Parkland Elementary School principal Paul Larson holds up a poster urging all to help stamp out polio by bringing in dimes. Dale Phillips, chairman of the March of Dimes drive for the Parkland area, stands next to Mr. Larson. Teacher Elsie Blandau is at center rear. Despite the discovery of the Salk vaccine, polio was still infecting many Americans. Money collected through the March of Dimes would not only help fund further research but also aid those already afflicted. Photograph ordered by the March of Dimes. (TNT 1-12-58, A-13)

Parkland Elementary School (Parkland); School children--Parkland; March of Dimes (Tacoma); Fund raising--Parkland; Larson, Paul; Phillips, Dale; Blandau, Elsie;

A series of photographs were taken on January 8, 1958, of workers at the Weber Lumber Co., 1744 N. 30th St. They appear to be nailing together box beams. Stacks of plywood are in the background. Weber Lumber is absent in the 1958 City Directory; at its site remained the Timber Fabrication Co. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Weber Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Albertson's Food Centers were starting to expand in the Tacoma/Pierce County communities. There were two Albertson's outside city limits: one in the Lakewood Square shopping center and the other in University Place. View of Lakewood Square's Albertson's Food Center also shows the trend of placing supermarkets in shopping centers; customers could then combine grocery shopping with additional browsings and parking would not be a problem. A Montgomery Ward outlet and a Singers store can be spotted close by. Albertson's followed the practice of posting specials on the storefront windows with apple pies selling for 49 cents, chickens at 33 cents a pound, TV dinners for 59 cents, and pork roasts for 29 cents a pound. Sepia photograph ordered by Loveless Brothers, Inc. , investment brokers, of Olympia.

Albertsons Food Center (Lakewood); Supermarkets; Signs (Notices);

Although there is no snow on site, the Hopkins family is ready for the 1957 Christmas season. Cutouts, painted and made of wood, of Santa and his sleigh pulled by reindeer, a quartet of angels and a small boys choir, decorate the spacious lawn. The brick one-story home, with its unusual semi-circular windows, faces the tiered landscape. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Christmas decorations; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

The Industrial Development Co., Inc., moved into new quarters near So. 38th and Pine Streets in late 1957. They were mechanical engineers formerly located on Chandler St. The firm was managed by Dale L. Schubert. View of modern, 14,000 square foot, one-story concrete and brick building faced with multiple windows but with an unpaved parking lot. The name of the company is in large letters on a brick wall. Industrial Development Co. specialized in designing automatic machines for the hardboard industry. They had projects worldwide. They engineered plant and product surveys, proposed plant layout and engineering, designed special automatic machinery and conveying systems. The firm had been in the Tacoma area for almost seven years. Photograph ordered by Industrial Development Co., Inc. (TNT 12-12-57, A-13)

Industrial Development Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mansfield Corporation, located at 2928 South "K" St., were boat builders. An example of their boat construction was this Mansfield Custom Line pleasure craft on display at 2201 Pacific Avenue. It was either 16 feet or 20 feet long. This sleek model may have been a speed boat. Other boats can be seen dimly in the building's garage. Photograph ordered by Mansfield Corporation.

Mansfield Corporation (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1958. Interior of Pacific 1st Federal Savings building, Villa Plaza. The 2000+ sq.ft. savings & loan opened at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on January 2, 1958. It held an open house from January 2-10th. Tones of brown and gold decorated the building's interior. Its lobby had a white granite fireplace. Pacific 1st Federal was the largest savings & loan in the Northwest and served more than 57,000 families at the time. It had its main office in downtown Tacoma and branches elsewhere in Washington and Oregon. Rudolph J. Tollefson was the Villa Plaza location's first manager. He had been associated with the savings & loan since 1935 and prior to that had been employed by the University National Bank in Seattle and Bank of California in Tacoma. Mr. Tollefson was the brother of Congressman Thor Tollefson and Tacoma Mayor Harold Tollefson. (TNT 1-2-58, A-6-text only)

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

This view of the new Tacoma Building, 1015 A Street, designed by Frederick G. Frost & Associates of New York, was taken for the Cole & Weber Advertising Agency on December 31, 1957; to the left of the building, Mt. Rainier is barely visible through the haze hanging over the Tacoma tideflats. The old Tacoma Building, 1017-21 A Street, is next door. It is also twelve stories and was built in 1910. The original Tacoma Building was first occupied by the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. and the Tacoma Commercial Club. The new modern style building became the Weyerhaeuser Bldg. after the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. moved its corporate offices into the new structure. In 1971 the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. built another headquarters building in Federal Way.

Tacoma Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1957. Copy of customer print. The lobby of the new Industrial Development Co., Inc., is well-lit on a winter's evening. Large insulated glass panels mark the entrance door and adjoining wall. An unusual architectural design extended and curved an inner wall outward to form a small roof over the entry way. Additional lighting was set under the roofline to further illuminate the building. The firm of mechanical engineers was located at 3828 So. Pine near Barcott's Sea Food restaurant.

Industrial Development Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lobbies--Tacoma; Engineering--Tacoma;

Art Randle Motor Co. specialized in used cars. Owned by Arthur H. Randle, the business was located at 7201 South Tacoma Way. A large sign indicates an offer of "Cash for Your Car." View of rainswept South Tacoma Way; angled view of rows of automobiles for sale. Fred C. Hoiland Motors is next door; it also offered auto painting as well as cars for sale. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW television.

Art Randle Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fred C. Hoiland Motors (Tacoma);

Ray Ridge Motors, Lincoln/Mercury dealer. New automobiles in showroom windows. Ford station wagon, Oldsmobile, 1958 Mercury, Chevrolet, small foreign car, likely a Simca, and Ford pickup truck at curb. From series, customers of KTVW-TV, Ch. 13.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Television advertising;

On March 11, 1958, Miss Tacoma Home Show of 1958, Marilyn Ganes, was photographed leaning out of the front door of a BMW Isetta 300 parked near the Tacoma Totem Pole. The small car, quite an oddity with its door that opened from the front where the engine normally would be, was introduced to compete with the Volkswagen "Beetle". The Tacoma Home Show presented its annual week long collection of new ideas for the homeowner at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. Each year a new queen was selected as Miss Tacoma Home Show. Marilyn Ganes was 17 at the time of her selection; she was a junior at Franklin Pierce High School. Photograph ordered by National Home Shows, Inc. (TNT 3-16-58, A-1) TPL-10239

Beauty contestants--Tacoma; Ganes, Marilyn; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Totem Pole (Tacoma);

Four beauticians, all with neatly coiffed hairstyles, pose for a January, 1958, photograph. They are standing in a row, slightly sideways to the camera. Each is wearing a white short-sleeved uniform. Beauticians prior to the more casual '70's generally wore uniforms to present a tidy, professional appearance. These women were believed to be employees of the Pixie Beauty Salon on No. Pine St. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.

Beauty shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hairstyles;

Molten showers were not an unusual occurrence at the Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel works in Seattle. The steel manufactured at Bethlehem's facilities was used in many structures locally, including the Alaska Way Viaduct and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The Bay area's Carquinez Straits Bridge utilized Bethlehem Corporation's steel in the approaches to the bridge and Bethlehem's shipbuilding division in Quincy, Mass., produced the steel used in 25,000 to 106,500-ton tankers. Bethlehem plants nationwide were booming and a new basic steel research center was being built in the adjoining site to Lehigh University in Pennsylvania to carry on vital new research projects. (TNT ad, 1-2-58, B-8)

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Steel industry--Seattle; Industrial facilities--Seattle;

Three men look intently at an Evinrude motor catalog in a 1958 photograph. They may be comparing the catalog to the new Evinrude model before them. Dangling flags are advertising a "dreamboat contest" sponsored by Evinrude where the winner would be able to choose his own boat and motor with a cash bonus thrown in. The contest would begin February 22 and end on March 23. The Evinrude motors were advertised as being safe, sound-sealed and quiet. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW television.

Boat engines; Boats; Signs (Notices);

A new bowler places her ball, fingers inserted, into the Brunswick Brunsmeter with help from the bowling alley employee. Shelves besides the two are filled with boxes of Hyde bowling shoes and assorted bowling covers. Bowling remained popular throughout the 1950's with many companies sponsoring teams of both men and women. Results of tournaments were steadily reported in local papers. For another view of the bowler and employee, see D112200-145. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW television.

Bowlers; Bowling balls;

Seated on colorful cushions on tatami flooring, three diners at Seattle's Bush Garden enjoy a meal cooked at their table by their kimono-clad waitress. She may be cooking sukiyaki as her platter is full of sliced beef and vegetables. Seated at low tables, the guests would need to put their legs in the deep opening created under the covered tables. Shoji doors could be closed for privacy; a telephone was also provided for the convenience of guests. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.

Bush Garden (Seattle); Restaurants--Seattle; Waitresses--Seattle; Kimonos;

It was a pleasant Valentine's Day in 1958 at the Ben Cheney residence when the Cheneys hosted a reception for the victorious Cheney Studs basketball team. Ben Cheney holds a trophy proclaiming the Cheney Studs the City League champions. Marian Cheney has an opened box of fresh carnations in her arms. The basketball players had just concluded games at Fife High School. Flanking the Cheneys are believed to be the O'Brien twins, former basketball stalwarts from Seattle University and currently members of the Studs team. The O'Briens, Eddie and Johnny, would be heading south for spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 2-11-58, C-4)

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Marian; Awards; Carnations--Tacoma; Receptions--Tacoma;

Interior- Diamond Jim's. A customer at Diamond Jim's appears to be pretty happy to greet the chef bearing a platter of freshly cooked steaks in a January 31, 1958, photograph. Diamond Jim's, or "D.J.'s", per the advertising placard, was located at 7401 Aurora in Seattle. It specialized in family styled chicken dinners and steaks. Waiting patrons could observe daily activity on busy Aurora Avenue through the many view windows. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.

Diamond Jim's (Seattle); Restaurants--Seattle; Signs (Notices); Cooks; Meat;

A young employee of Gil's takes an fast food order from a woman customer in January, 1958. Customers were not permitted inside the restaurant; the only contact with employees was through the small openings in the plate glass windows where food could be ordered and obtained. A wide variety of burgers, shakes, soft drinks and cones could be purchased at very reasonable prices. Gil's Hamburgers had three locations in the Seattle area. This particular location was not identified. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW. TPL-6190

Drive-in restaurants--Seattle; Fast food restaurants--Seattle; Gil's Hamburgers (Seattle); Signs (Notices);

Exterior of burger restaurant. Fords, Hudsons and Chevrolets line up in front of Gil's Hamburgers, a fast food restaurant of the late 1950's. The familiar Richards Studio station wagon is parked third from the left. Gil's had a large overhanging roof to protect customers placing orders for burgers, fried fish, and shakes. Prices looked extremely reasonable with hamburgers at 19 cents, sundaes at 19 cents, milk shakes at 20 cents and fish n' fries at a whopping 39 cents. Complete service was available at all windows and there may have been a small covered patio for outdoor dining. There were three Gil's Hamburgers in the Seattle area, one on East Pine, another on Rainier Avenue and the third on Avalon Way. This particular Gil's was not identified. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW. TPL6189

Drive-in restaurants--Seattle; Fast food restaurants--Seattle; Gil's Hamburgers (Seattle); Signs (Notices); Ford automobile; Chevrolet automobile;

Shelves at this unidentified drugstore are stocked with a variety of "home remedies" as the store's sign indicates. Many brands of the late 1950's are still familiar today, including Anacin, Old Spice lotion, Vitalis, and Pepto-Bismol, although their prices are certainly less. Giant sized Gillette lather sold for 57 cents; Lavoris mouthwash for 89 cents and Kaopectate for $1.13. The shopper in his overcoat may be handing the clerk his shopping list; she accepts with a smile. He already has a magazine and a bottle in his possession. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.

Drugstores--Seattle; Merchandise displays--Seattle--1950-1960;

Pochel Distributing Co., located at South 140th and Pacific Avenue, served the entire Pierce County suburban area. They provided installation and service for all types of household heating equipment, including an automatic fill-up for the various oils. Easy terms would fit most budgets. In addition, Frigidaire appliances and Zenith televisions were also sold by the Roger W. McDonald-owned company. View of Pochel Distributing Co. building shows multi-glass structure with televisions and appliances clearly visible; television repair was also advertised. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.

Fuel trade--Parkland; Appliances; Pochel Distributing Co. (Parkland);

Poole's owner Weldon W. Pascoe dispenses advice regarding Black Magic planter mix outside of his Sixth & Union garden center in January, 1958. Poole's sold nursery stock, seeds, fertilizer, gardening tools and supplies and as their large sign indicates, had a hundred varieties of roses. The company was founded in 1889 by F.S. Poole. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW. TPL-9523

Gardening equipment & supplies; Seed trade--Tacoma; Nurseries (Horticulture)--Tacoma; Poole's Seed & Nursery Garden Supplies (Tacoma); Pascoe, Weldon;

Two men in jumpsuits lean against an Evinrude motor as they check out a pamphlet at Market Marina on Saint Helens Avenue. Several pleasure craft are displayed in the large room; the arched glass windows would provide plenty of natural light. Market Marina was owned by Clayton F. Shaw; the company was a boat dealership. They offered, at no cost, tide books as well as Puget Sound cruising charts, water skiing instructions, and outboard crusing books. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.

Market Marina (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat engines;

Interior - Myers Music. This is possibly Julius Myers, owner of Myers Music, in Seattle in a photograph taken for television station KTVW. He has one foot propped up on a carrying case and is strumming a guitar. Myers Music, located at 1206 - 1st Ave., was a well-equipped instrument dealer. Hanging on nearby walls are several guitars, some electric, mandolins and banjos, and the still popular accordion. Instruments could be securely packed in heavy duty travel cases, samples found on the floor. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.

Myers Music (Seattle); Music stores--Seattle; Guitars;

Three saxophones and six clarinets line the display cases at Myers Music in Seattle. The store was owned and operated by Julian Myers and was located just a short walking distance from the Pike Street Public Market. Myers sold a variety of musical instruments, including guitars, brass, woodwind and keyboards. The saxes and clarinets displayed on February 10, 1958, were not behind glass cases. They were mounted on pegboards so that the customer could easily reach and examine them. Photograph ordered by Myers Music.

Myers Music (Seattle); Music stores--Seattle; Saxophones; Wind instruments; Merchandise displays--Seattle--1950-1960;