Members of the Phantom Club enjoyed a banquet on April 1, 1922. The club, apparently consisting only of men, was made up of employees from the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. G64.1-012

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Banquets--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Built in 1914 at a cost of $10,000, this theater at 11th & Broadway was originally named the Apollo. Eight years later, it reopened as the Blue Mouse, operated by theater chain founder John Hamrick. The Blue Mouse was a favorite of Tacoma movie buffs until its demolition in 1960 to make way for a new street escalator. "A Connecticut Yankee" was the first movie shown at the Blue Mouse starting on April 15, 1922. In this April, 1922, photograph, a small boy in an usher's uniform stands outside the theater entrance while another uniformed man is next to the movie placard. The Blue Mouse was the first theater in Tacoma to show "talkies," running "The Jazz Singer" in January, 1928. Its sister theater, the Blue Mouse Junior, opened in the Proctor District in 1923. G64.1-027; TPL-6355 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-2-22, E-5-article)

Blue Mouse Movie Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Marquees--Tacoma;

April, 1922, view of one end of a large boiler, manufactured by the Birchfield Boiler Co., 2503 E. 11th St. The company had opened at this Tideflats site in March of 1921 and was run by H.E. Warren, President, and E.E. Birchfield, Vice-President. They built steel heating boilers and performed welding and boiler repairs. Birchfield boilers were in heavy demand in 1922. The company had been receiving orders at the rate of one per day since May 1st and the plant was forced to put on a double shift to handle the demand. Later they would expand into building steel ships. G36.1-136 (TDL 6-26-22, p. 6-article)

Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Boilers; Boiler industry--Tacoma;

Tommy's Produce Stand, run by the Inouye family, was one of several businesses located in the Sanitary Public Market, 1108-14 Market St., in 1922. The Sanitary Public Market, designed by architects Heath & Gove, was constructed in 1917 for $20,000. There downtown residents could shop for fish, local produce, coffee, and baked goods. Tommy's Produce Stand had fresh corn, celery, cauliflower, home-grown tomatoes and melons on sale on this particular September day in 1922. TPL-1375; G39.1-138; BU-12209;

Tommy's Produce Stand (Tacoma); Sanitary Public Market (Tacoma); Japanese American families--Tacoma; Japanese Americans--Tacoma;

Display of furnaces and fans. The National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (then called National Blower Pipe Co.), established in 1890, was located in the industrial Tideflats at 1127-31 Saint Paul Ave. The firm manufactured blower and ventilation systems and also did business in general sheet metal. The display pictured above in September of 1922 included venlitating, exhaust and blower fans which were electrically driven and a Superior Furnace. G35.1-068

National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Tacoma); Machinery industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fans (Machinery); Furnaces--Tacoma;

S-T-U-D-E-B-A-K-E-R! Salesmen Tommy Burns, Tom Lea and Ben Johnson (l-r) are in fighting mode as they prepare to set Studebaker sales records for the month of March, 1923. The men were employed by the pioneer automobile dealership, B.H. Kennedy Company, located at 753 Broadway. Owned and operated by Burton "Bert" Kennedy, the firm had an up-to-date service department and competent Studebaker mechanics. The B.H. Kennedy Co. had sold $27,000 of Studebakers in February of 1923 and were confident of repeating their successful month. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 3-11-23, C-1)

B.H. Kennedy Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Burns, Tommy; Lea, Tom; Johnson, Ben;

Construction is well under way in June of 1923 at the Wilkeson Garage in downtown Tacoma's auto row. Built of concrete and measuring 120 feet by 131 feet, it was declared the "largest of its kind on the Pacific Coast." All units of the big service station were completed by November of 1923. Built by L.E.Wilkeson, the new structure was to reflect the "department store idea for the motor car." A parking lot on top with room for 100 cars was finished in April of 1924. G18.1-089; BU14,356 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-29-23, C-1-article)

Wilkeson Garage & Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Walker Cut Stone Co. operations. Walker Cut Stone had just completed building a new plant located at 2403 Center St. in 1923. Workers are shown plying their trade on July 16, 1923. Walker Cut Stone supplied the tons of Wilkeson sandstone used in the construction of Olympia's Temple of Justice and its stone would be used in the Bank of California building and the Walker Apartments. The hard surfaced stone was brought in from the Company's quarry near Wilkeson, cut to size with a stone saw, milled into a shape and hand carved into finished shape with ornamentation. Prior to Robert Walker, no one had been able to utilize the hard stone. He designed special tools for cutting the stone. TPL-9101; G33.1-113

Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Walker Cut Stone Co. Employees of the Walker Cut Stone Co. stand outside their new plant located at 2403 Center St. on August 21, 1923, with samples of their stone work mounted on a Pierce-Arrow commercial truck. The durable sandstone was brought in from the company's quarry near Wilkeson and then cut and formed by workers in Tacoma. TPL-962; G75.1-184; G33.1-120

Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pierce-Arrow trucks;

Walker Cut Stone Co. Parked outside the new Walker Cut Stone Co. plant on Center St. in August of 1923 is a Pierce-Arrow heavy duty commercial truck displaying two pieces of stone work. The man standing near the truck's hood is believed to be company owner, Robert Walker. The two other men in the photograph have not been identified. TPL-963; G75.1-185; G33.1-121

Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pierce-Arrow trucks;

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association operations. The office staff of the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association, 100 So. 9th St. in downtown Tacoma, is pictured on September 12, 1923, conducting daily operations. An unidentified woman is making an entry on a ledger while her co-worker, seated at a large adding machine, observes. The Tacoma Savings & Loan Association, with assets (then) of over 3 1/2 million, was located in the white marbled Bowes Building. It was established in 1899 and was one of the city's oldest financial institutions. G13.1-009

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Office workers--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Window display - H.D. Baker Co. The H.D. Baker Co. window is filled with materials promoting the new $100 price for the Victor adding and listing machine. Noting that this was the "biggest value $100 ever bought," a free trial and easy payments were promised. The Victor had a capacity of $1,000,000. The H.D. Baker Co., established in 1905, was located downtown on A Street. In addition to the Victor, the firm also sold typewriters. G56.2-171

H.D. Baker Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Office equipment & supplies; Window displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices);

C.S. Barlow & Sons, Inc. exhibit at Puyallup Fair. The C.S. Barlow & Sons, Inc., company had an exhibition booth at the 1923 Western Washington Fair which included samples of household finishes, sheetrock, tools and promotional materials. Originally known as the Tacoma Trading Co., it was renamed C.S. Barlow & Sons in 1917. The building materials firm was located at 1715 Dock St. G33.1-109

C.S. Barlow & Sons, Inc. (Tacoma); Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Building materials;

Circular tank located at Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. property in the Tideflats on February 14, 1924. Standard Oil Co. plant in the distance. Construction had begun in late 1923 of a new $250,000 plant on 4 1/2 acres on South River Road. The above tank is a 250,000 cubic feet gas tank. The old Tacoma Gas & Fuel plant was to be abandoned next summer upon the connection of mains to the new plant. G35.1-046; TPL-258 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-7-23, 8-E-article; TNT 1-24-24, p. 6-article)

Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel tanks; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Exterior view of the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co., located on Steilacoom Lake, as pictured in March of 1924. The plant was situated on what is approximately 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. The firm was listed in the 1917-22 City Directories but not in the following 1923 or 1924 years. Edward C. Hill, president of the manufacturing company, had apparently moved on to the South Tacoma Mill Co. as its secretary/treasurer, per the 1923 City Directory. TPL-2700; G35.1-004

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;

Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. Situated on the banks of Steilacoom Lake was the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. facility per this March, 1924, photograph. Its approximate address was 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. G35.1-012

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood; Lake Steilacoom (Wash.);

Raising the sunken ship "Rubaiyat." Hart Construction Co. rig used in the raising of the sunken steamer "Rubaiyat" which went down with the loss of four hands on September 29, 1923. The ship, which sank within 30 seconds of capsizing in Commencement Bay, lay in 35 fathoms of water, or more than 200 feet, and was thought initially not able to be salvaged. The "Rubaiyat" was valued at $20,000. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-30-23, p. 1-article) G49.1-017

Hart Construction Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

Acme Transfer & Storage Co. advertised in the 1924 City Directory that "We Move Anything Any Time Any Place." Pianos and furniture deliveries were their specialty. Items were stored in a steam heated warehouse to prevent rust and mold. The company was located at 901 Tacoma Avenue South. This view of one of their delivery trucks was taken on March 23, 1924, in front of the Lucerne Building. G66.2-112

Acme Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Acme Transfer & Storage delivery truck as viewed on March 29, 1924. The moving company was located at 901 Tacoma Avenue South with telephone number Main 722. Its delivery trucks were decorated with advertising that stated plainly the types of jobs accepted and their competitive rates. Acme Transfer & Storage was operated by Fred Sheldon. Photograph ordered by Heilig Advertising. G66.2-111

Acme Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Automobile dealers of the 1920s built palaces of prestige to showcase their latest models. Architect C.F. W. Lundberg designed the Mutual Motors Building for pioneer Tacoma automobile dealer Edward P. Leonard. The Lincoln dealership opened in June 1925. Later, a giant milk bottle was installed on the building's roof to identify it as the Olympic Dairy Products plant. As of 2000, Washington Tent & Awning, Inc. occupies this building on Martin Luther King Way. B12455, BU-10023, TPL-5683

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mutual Motors (Tacoma); Building construction;

Sumner E. Orr and E.J. Gauthier, proprietors of Tacoma's all-night garage Gauthier & Orr, were photographed receiving leases for six Union Oil stations from company officials E.C. Wilson, Tacoma agent, and N.W. Watson, special agent, on July 17, 1928 (order of men in photo unknown). They exchanged the documents at Station #119 located at 601 No. 1st St. The new owners planned for Tacoma motorists to receive the best service possible. They intended to install lifts for grease work and to modernize the equipment at each station. The six stations leased by the pair were located at 58th & S. Union, 25th & Jefferson Ave., N. 1st & Tacoma Ave. (pictured), 21st & Pacific Ave., East 11th & St. Paul Ave. and 302 Puyallup. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-22-28, p. G-5) BU-13106, TPL-9637

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Union Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Orr, Sumner E.; Gauthier, E.J.; Wilson, E.C.; Watson, N.W.;

Gig Harbor's Empress Theater, with its unusual "Moorish" architectural style, opened April 12, 1925, with the silent film "Miss Bluebeard" starring Bebe Daniels and Raymond Griffith. Contractor, and later architect, Gaston Lance designed the building which had a capacity of 450. Renamed the Blue Eagle, the theater closed in 1955, and was demolished a few years later. B12219, BU-10013, TPL-3843

Motion picture theaters--Gig Harbor; Empress Theatre (Gig Harbor);

ca. 1926. On July 24, 1926, Reginald Denny's newest comedy "Rolling Home" opened at the Colonial Theater, 916-18 Broadway. A crowd of young people gathered around the theater for the Reginald Denny Day festivities. Mr. Denny (1891-1967) was an actor who made 200 films between 1898 and 1966, but he was also a pioneer in the field of radio-controlled pilotless aviation. At the left foreground of the theater was a couple of barrels covered with cloths that sported a sign for Royal Ice Cream and its slogan "It's the Cream." Royal Ice Cream Co. was located in Tacoma on Pacific Avenue at 25th. It was a wholesale ice cream, milk and cream company. Boland B15392, BU-11146

Colonial Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motion picture industry--1920-1930;

Winthrop Hotel. The 2 million dollar+ Winthrop Hotel was nearing completion by the end of March, 1925. Exterior work was finished in January of 1925 and hotel furnishings under way. It would have its much anticipated grand opening celebration in May.

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

This is what the intersection of South 33rd and "G" Sts. looked like the evening of March 18, 1925, at 6:13 p.m. The street in the foreground is "G" St. with several cars and a streetcar in the distance. Tacoma Steam Laundry is the large building to the left on South 33rd and Waddy's Battery Hospital and the Bye Thompson Motors (Ford dealership) across the street facing "G." Photograph ordered by Tacoma Rail & Power. G60.12-040; TPL-2417

Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Steam Laundry (Tacoma); Waddy's Battery Hospital (Tacoma); Bye Thompson Motor Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Interior view of Hirsch Cycle Co. shop. Hirsch Cycle, managed by Clarence Potter, was the local Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Columbia bicycle dealership. On February 6, 1925, five Harleys were parked on the stained concrete floor of the firm's repair department. Four men, probably employees, are also in the room. Hirsch Cycle was located at 1010-12 Tacoma Avenue South. G66.1-145

Hirsch Cycle Co. (Tacoma); Motorcycles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Walker Cut Stone located at 2403 Center Street employed a large number of skilled stonecutters at their plant in Tacoma. They were photographed in March of 1925, hand carving the hard surfaced stone. The sandstone, quarried in Wilkeson, was used by the tons in such edifices as the Temple of Justice in Olympia, Bank of California, and the Walker Apartments. G33.1-115; TPL-3182

Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Tommy's Produce Stand. Tommy's stall , located for several years in the Sanitary Public Market, 1108-14 Market St., sold fresh produce and plants grown locally. Employees of Tommy's posed next to the vegetable-laden tables in April of 1925. G39.1-140; TPL-5698,

Produce stands--Tacoma; Tommy's Produce Stand (Tacoma); Japanese American families--Tacoma; Japanese Americans--Tacoma;

On June 22, 1925, Hazel Green, right, and Arline Abel posed boldly in front of the Rialto Theater, clutching pipes in their mouths. They were demonstrating the newest fad, how young ladies were discarding their cigarettes in favor of pipes. The women were performers in the Ziegfeld Follies "Phantograph" advertised on the sign boards. The Follies novelty act preceded the movie and starred six beautiful bathing beauties, a comedian and a German police dog in a live action skit. Each audience member was given an early form of 3-D glasses that brought them up close and personal with the action. Viewers ducked falling ladders and water from the garden hose, screaming and laughing. The act was followed by the feature film "If I Marry Again." (TNT 6/24/1925, pg. 6- picture; TDL 6/21/1925, pg. H-3) g65.1-086 BU-11,224 (filed)

Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma; Vaudeville shows; Green, Hazel; Abel, Arline;

Pacific Tel & Tel Co. at 1101 Fawcett Ave., interior. A long row of women are seated before their switchboards in this June of 1925 photograph while the women standing behind them are perhaps giving instruction. Telephone operators for decades were primarily women. (scan from negative, no print on file) TPL-10529

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Telephone operators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Telephone companies--Tacoma--1920-1930;