Four men, bodies slathered with silver paint, rode atop the YMCA float during the Narrows Bridge/McChord Field Parade on July 1, 1940. Accompanied by a giant globe, they provided visions of brawny Atlas to the 60,000+ parade viewers. A photograph of the same quartet taken from ground level can be seen at D9944-25.
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Parade; Young Men's Christian Association (Tacoma); Body painting--Tacoma;
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade, July 1, 1940. A variety of cars, trucks and floats took part in the 1940 celebratory parade for the new (first) Tacoma Narrows Bridge and opening of McChord Flying Field. View of automobile decorated as a float with crepe paper streamers for Skansie Brothers' Richfield Service; it was parked across the street from American Marble on Jefferson Avenue. A woman is seated on the car's fender.
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Parade; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paper products--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade. A shiny delivery van pulls the Brown's floral company float with its "Say It With Flowers" sign during the massive July 1, 1940, parade honoring the opening of the (first) Tacoma Narrows Bridge and McChord Field. A young florist delivery boy sits on the automobile hood with a man, possibly the owner of the company, standing next to the van. Four women are seated on the float decorated with floral sprays. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Parade; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brown's Conservatory of Flowers (Tacoma);
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade, July 1, 1940. These five children and two adults reportedly represented the Norwegian Community on a float in the Narrows Bridge-McChord Field Parade through downtown Tacoma streets on July 1st. They were not the only international groups as floats representing Switzerland, Sweden and Japan were also entered. Over 60,000 parade viewers enthusiastically greeted all participants. Tacoma set aside June 29-July 4 for celebrating the opening of the (first) Narrows Bridge and the new McChord airbase. (T.Times, 7-2-40, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Parade;
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade. Among the sixty or so floats in the July 1, 1940, parade commemorating the grand openings of the (first) Tacoma Narrows Bridge and McChord Flying Field, one of the most charming might have been the float bearing four children riding on playground equipment, a Merry-Go-Round float pulled by a sedan. The name of the company is partially obscured; the four children, all wearing hats, may belong to employees of the firm.
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade, Tacoma Elks Lodge #174 Golden Jubilee float. Celebrating the lodge's 50th anniversary in Tacoma and the openings of the (first) Narrows Bridge and new airbase, McChord Field, the Elks contingent was the first float in the massive July 1, 1940, parade. They followed hundreds of marching soldiers and National Guard units. More than 400 Elks marched in the parade; 30-40 members carried a huge U.S. flag and more than 300 were in the Elks Band. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 3).
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade, Tacoma Elks Lodge #174 Golden Jubilee float. On July 1, 1940, the Elks Lodge float had the honor of being the first float in the massive parade honoring the grand openings of both the (first) Tacoma Narrows Bridge and McChord Field. A stately elk is nearly hidden among the flowers and greenery, while a large clock, encircled with greens, points to 11 o'clock. The lodge was celebrating its 50th anniversary in Tacoma and more than 400 Elks marched in the parade. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p.1, 3).
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade, Port Orchard float. One of two floats entered by Port Orchard in the July 1, 1940, parade depicting an aerial view of the "new" Port Orchard, "Proposed Improvement of Port Orchard's New Waterfront." The aerial view is similar to an architectural model. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 1)
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade. The Tacoma Wholesalers float was one of several commercial floats in the July 1, 1940, parade. It featured an attractive brunet seated in front of a cornucopia. A model of the Narrows Bridge appears on the side. The parade through downtown Tacoma streets dually celebrated the openings of the (first) Narrows Bridge and the newest national airbase. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 1).
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Parade;
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade. Commercial floats like this one from the Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau were crowd favorites during the 1 1/2 hour parade through downtown Tacoma on July 1, 1940. Three women on the float peek out from decorated large hats. Tacomans probably saved their goofy and stylish hats from the Golden Jubilee celebration the previous year to wear them once again during the weeklong festivities. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 1)
Knights of Pythias members ride on a float sponsored by the lodge's Pythian Sisters, Washington Temple No. 6 and Tacoma Temple No. 58, during the 1940 Narrows Bridge-McChord Field Parade. The men, who are outfitted in lodge regalia, pause for a Richards' photographer while waiting for the event to begin. To add a patriotic note, Uncle Sam hitched a ride on the float. Mention was made that one of the Knights lost his beard temporarily as the float passed in front of the reviewing stand. The event celebrated the opening of the first Narrows Bridge and the new U.S. Army Air Corps base. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 1).
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Parade; Fraternal organizations; Knights of Pythias (Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Costumes;
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade, Old Tacoma Improvement Club float. Designed by Walt Sutter, the Old Tacoma Improvement Club float was possibly the most original of those entered in the July 1, 1940, celebratory parade. It featured a series of "firsts," replicas of Old Tacoma: first church (St. Peter's Church), first home (Job Carr cabin), first electric power plant, first shipment of lumber, first survey of Puget Sound, and the oldest bell tower in America. Tacoma was celebrating the grand openings of the (first) Narrows Bridge and the country's newest airbase, McChord Field. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 1)
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade, Gig Harbor - Peninsula float, July 1, 1940. Young women on evergreen-bedecked float with sign: "The Peninsula. Playground of the Northwest. Gig Harbor." Tennis and swimming were two of the activities profiled on the Gig Harbor float. There were over 60 floats entered in the July 1, 1940, parade commemorating the openings of the (first) Tacoma Narrows Bridge and McChord Flying Field. The Peninsula area was heavily represented with floats and other entries from the Gig Harbor, Key Center and Port Orchard communities. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Parade;
Tillicum Tacoma Summerland float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue. People wave in swimming suits and baseball caps with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background.
Shriner Circus float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building in the background.. The float has a large clown head at the top and pushes a small see saw cart that is occupied with jesters. Two Shriners flank the float.
Unidentified float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. The float depicts a mountain made out of daffodils, a sheet for the snowcap and green crepe paper grass. There is a Paul Bunyan character skiing down the mountain with a beard and a red cap.
Jordan's Sunbeam Bread float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue. Children are on float waving and Union Station can be seen in the background.
Pacific Lutheran Church's Parkland of Playland float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. A person rides under a candy cane canopy over the slogan, "Learn to Work, Play, Live Better."
The Rotary International float at the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. The float is in the shape of a yacht, strung with bunting with a person in a sailing hat at the front.
Steve Pease & Wife in carriage being pulled by a horse wearing a hat at the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background.
Morton Loggers Jubilee float at the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background.. The float appears to be a flatbed vehicle covered in daffodils and green crepe paper and is carrying a large log.
Rhodes Brother Department Store float at the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. The float features models waving in dresses with large, anthropomorphic fish and coral and starfish figures. The Rhodes Brothers logo can be seen inside of a shell.
United State Naval Reserve Station float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue. The float has five people waving, including a somewhat obscured daffodil queen.
The Independent Order of Foresters Float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. The float has multiple people in uniform waving and holding flags with felled log in the center of the vehicle.
An unidentified float carrying five waving people in swim suits in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background.
A parade of military personnel marching down Pacific Avenue holding flags in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue. A large Coca Cola sign and what is now the Murray Morgan bridge can be seen in the background.
Float for The Bon Marche with participants in a variety of different themes costumes 1954 Daffodil Parade. The sign at the top of the float reads, "United Good Neighbors Build Tacoma Youth."
