The Elks Club had more than 100 members working on the upcoming Christmas benefit. The children would attend the annual Christmas Day party in the morning at the Elks Temple and receive their Christmas gifts. The Elks would also have a Christmas dinner for the blind at the Towers restaurant. View of Elks Club members standing in front of a "1948 Stocking Fillers 1948" banner (T. Times, 12/8/48, p. 2).

Men--Clubs--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Banners--Tacoma; Christmas presents; Christmas--Tacoma; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Elks Club members, Raymond Tarr and John H. Anderson, were planning and the activities for the annual Christmas Stocking Fillers program, they had a chart indicating when the events were scheduled. View of boys who volunteered for Christmas program, some boys are wearing Boy Scout uniforms, making toys, the children on the right side appear to be adding wheels to carts and ducks (T. Times, 12/8/48, p. 2).

Men--Clubs--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Toys; Boys--Tacoma; Christmas presents; Christmas--Tacoma; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Don P. Tyler and George Nischan, meat specialists from the National Livestock and Meat Board conducted a program for retail meat dealers in Tacoma at the Elks Temple. The Meat Packers of the Northwest sponsored the program with Karl J. Maxwell of Carstens Packing Company as chair. A group of 35 people gather in front of the stage. (T.Times, 5/6/1947, p.18) TPL-8115

Meat Packers of the Northwest (Tacoma); Exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits; Stages (Platforms);

Two men and a woman view a large cut of meat while a man describes the uses and additional cuts for this piece. A variety of cuts of meat cover a table in front of them. Don P. Tyler and George Nischan, meat specialists from the National Livestock and Meat Board conducted a program for retail meat dealers in Tacoma at the Elks Temple. The Meat Packers of the Northwest sponsored the program with Karl J. Maxwell of Carstens Packing Company as chair. (T.Times, 5/6/1947, p.18)

Meat Packers of the Northwest (Tacoma); Exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meat; Meat cutting;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. Two men stand by a display for K-Veneer and its uses. Numerous new plywood products were exhibited such as surfacings for panels and combination products, some manufactured from sawdust and other substances previously considered waste. (T.Times, 6/11/1947, p.1)

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Initiation of SeattleTacoma Shipbuilding Corporation employees at Elk's Club. Man at microphone on stage. [Also dated 03-29-1943]

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Elks Club (Tacoma);

A memorial service was held for Walter Sutter at the Elks Club on October 3, 1947. Although one of Walt's last requests was that no flowers be sent, many arrangements were sent in his honor. Money that would have been spent on flowers was asked to be donated to the Tacoma Boy's Club. The Elks Club was planning a musical show to be presented on stage with new sets produced for this occasion. View of portrait of Walt Sutter, with two fellow Elks members paying their respects (T. Times, 10/1/47, p. 8).

Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Sutter, Walter H.--Commemoration; Portraits; Bouquets; Flowers--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Emmett Anderson, the past Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks No. 174, is visiting Tacoma and will be delivering the eulogy at the annual Elk's memorial services. The public is invited to attend the memorial services. Max Frolic is the event's chairman and the ritual will be conducted by Jerry Geehan, the current Grand Exalted Ruler. View of Emmett T. Anderson standing in front of his caricature, other Elks members are standing by him (T. Times, 12/2/47, p. 18).

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Caricatures; Visiting; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Commemoration--Tacoma; Men--Clubs--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Anderson, Emmett T.;

Exterior view of Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174. The Elks building had just been painted and repaired, additional remodeling would also be done on the interior of the building. Elks members chose this site in 1914 and it was officially opened in 1916. The stairs are spanish style and have a decorative balustrade between Broadway and Commerce Street. The style of the building could be classified as part of the Beaux-Arts movement with many classical and renaissance features including the symmetrical facade, grand arched openings, medallions and decorative swags. The Elks relocated to a new temple on So. Union Ave. in 1965.

Men--Clubs--Tacoma; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Balustrades--Tacoma; Balusters; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Elk's Temple (Tacoma);

Elks, Father and daughter night. A young girl sits on a reindeer cutout next to her father. The decorations around the carousel follow a Valentine's theme.

Fathers & children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Merry-go-rounds--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Parties; Children's parties;

Exalted Ruler and trustee at Elks Club, Jack Brouillard, Elks Club. Two men are working out at the Elks Club playing handball. They are wearing gloves on both hands to be able to hit the ball with either hand.

Elks Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Handball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sport clothes; Athletes--Tacoma;

The Elks Club at 565 Broadway was a full service club with its own barbershop. In this photograph from 1948, Exalted Ruler Cecil Walrath gets a haircut and shave with both giant scissors and a giant straight edge razor. The man holding the scissors is Swan Johnson; the one with a razor may be Harold R. Johnson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Elks. Mr. Walrath doesn't seem too worried as he continues to read his Esquire magazine.

Hairdressing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Barbershops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaving; Shaving equipment; Combs; Elks Club (Tacoma); Barbers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Walrath, Cecil; Johnson, Swan; Scissors & shears;

Gloria Ellexson, of Sumner, performed her award winning majorette routine for the Tacoma Elks Lodge on Wednesday June 30, 1948. A student at the College of Puget Sound, she had recently won the title of state champion in the majorette competition held in Aberdeen at the Elks' State Convention. She was the majorette for the Tacoma Elks Band, which , under the leadership of J. R. Gress, was also awarded state champion that year. (T. Times, 6/28/48, p. 1).

Baton twirling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Majorettes--Tacoma; Contests--Tacoma; Drum majoring--Tacoma; Costumes; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Ellexson, Gloria;

The faces of three girls can be seen through the valentines that decorate the stage at the Elks Temple for the annual Father and Daughter Valentines party. Cutouts of butterflies decorate the draperies and swags of tinsel hang over the stage.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Children's parties; Valentines;

Max Frolic, owner of a popular roadside cafe on Pacific Highway in Lakewood, plays violin in March of 1952 at the Elks Temple despite the complaining antics of five club members.

Frolic, Max; Violins; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Elks installed new officers in early April of 1954. Burritt B. Anderson, left, is the retiring exalted ruler. He has passed the gavel and symbol of office on to Arthur J. Emery. Both men are wearing tuxedoes and boutonnieres. Mr. Anderson was honored with a no-host party held recently at the Fircrest Golf Clubhouse with 250 people in attendance. (TNT 4-4-54, A-11, TNT 4-8-54, A-5)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Emery, Arthur J.; Anderson, Burritt B.; Tuxedoes;

The Tacoma Elks Club held their annual Extravaganza in the spring of 1953. Elks members owned many businesses in Tacoma; view of billboard with signs listing individual member-owned businesses, many signs have caricatures. The largest sign is that of Jack Roberts, co-owner of Narrows Marina.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Caricatures;

Ben Cheney, president of Cheney Lumber Company, at Elks Club with daughter Sandra. The young girl is wearing a crisp, striped dress with matching organdy pinafore. Her father is gently holding her gloved hand.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Sandra; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Family; Fathers & children--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The unidentified dancers in this chorus line from the Elks Club Extravaganza of 1953 were not afraid to show a little leg. The Extravaganza was produced and directed by Max Frolic (far right), well known former vaudevillian and band leader. Each of the heavily made up dancers has a distinct mole painted on his face, ala Marilyn Monroe. (TNT 3-24-53, p. 14)

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Entertainers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Frolic, Max

October of 1953 was officially designated as "Restaurant Hospitality Month." The celebration in Tacoma culminated in a luncheon for the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce and industry leaders on October 21st at the Elks Temple. 400 guests were expected to attend the banquet sponsored by the Washington State Restaurant Assn. and Culinary Local No. 61. Pictured L-R behind a display of food are E.J. Zarelli, Poodle Dog Cafe & Pres. of the Washington State Assn., Joe Carbone, a national director of the Int'l Stewards & Caterers Assn., Jimmy Osenton, chief instructor Tacoma Vocational School culinary dept., Archie Douglas, sec. Culinary Local 61, C. Vern Powell, Vern's Sandwich Shop & pres. Pierce County Assn., Wes Jensen, Louise Davelaar, John W. Swan, Medical Arts Coffee Shop & past pres. Wa. State Assn., John Honan and H.B. Crawford, sec-mgr of Pierce County unit. Excess delicacies were distributed to three childrens' homes: Childrens' Home on the Hill, Girls Club & Dyslin Boys Ranch. (TNT 10-23-53, C-4)

Washington State Restaurant Association (Tacoma); Zarelli, E.J.; Powell, Vern; Carbone, Joe; Osenton, Jimmy; Douglas, Archie; Swan, John W.; Crawford, H.B.; Jensen, Wes; Davelaar, Louise; Honan, John;

Tacoma Police Department graveyard shift on the Spanish Steps at the Elks lodge. Police officers display beards and mustaches in keeping with the request for Tacoma men not to shave during the month of August. The city sponsored a beard contest as a part of the ceremonies celebrating the Northwest Territory Centennial. TPL-8748

Police--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This group of churchwomen standing at the foot of the Spanish steps, near the Elks Lodge, have volunteered to prepare and serve lunches to workers in the War Chest fundraising campaign. They are standing on the steps at the entrance to the Elks Ballroom where the daily campaign report lunches will be served. The campaign is scheduled to begin October 19th. The women represent a variety of churches. (T. Times 10/9/1942, pg. 13- names in caption)

Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma);

On October 20, 1942, a "pay your own way" report lunch was held in the ballroom of the Elks Lodge at 565 Broadway. The purpose of the lunch was for workers in the fund raising campaign to report back with how much money they had raised.

Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Welders and Helpers Union #568 collected $700 from members to help locally during the 1942 Christmas season. The donated money was divided equally between the Elks Stocking Fillers and the Tacoma Orthopedic Association. Here a night deposit sack containing $350 is presented to the Elks to help pay for their annual Christmas morning party for needy children. Gathered around the big Stocking Fillers cash register are, from left according to the News Tribune: Harry J. Lynch, Erling O. Johnson, Fred Humbert, Carl Webb, Harry T. Salle, Carvel Leighton, Verne Johnson, Raymond T. Tarr, Paul Drake, Merrill C. Thompson and A.T. "Skipper" Delplaine. (TNT 12/22/1942, pg. 7)

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Welders and Helpers Union #568 (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gifts; Cash registers;

Tacoma's Own Quiz Kids pose on the Spanish steps at the Elks Lodge in October of 1942. The ninth graders from Mason Intermediate School had written and prepared a script that discussed the various agencies and functions of the War Chest of Tacoma. With the upcoming War Chest fund raiser, the students were available to speak at public functions. Pictured left to right are Jack Brouwer, Claire Duerfeldt, Jean McCrae, Janet Hufford, Marshall Day, David Curtis and Pat McCarthy, holding the script. The Quiz Kids was a popular radio program that originated in June of 1940 on NBC radio from Chicago. On the program children chosen for their high IQs were asked "general knowledge" questions covering all manner of subjects. (TTimes 10/8/1942 p.2 - alt. photograph)

Mason Junior High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brouwer, Jack; Duerfeldt, Claire; McCrae, Jean; Hufford, Janet; Day, Marshall; Curtis, David; McCarthy, Pat; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Fifty two members of area law enforcement agencies took part in the American Red Cross first aid class held in the Elks Temple Auditorium at 565 Broadway on February 20, 1945. Over seventy people participated in the class led by Gordon "Red" Tatum, Tacoma's safety engineer (standing, far right), including Tom Ross the Tacoma Chief of Police (front row, center) who is practicing his first aid technique on Safety Commissioner Einar Langseth.(T. Times, 2/21/45, p. 3) TPL-7972

First aid--Tacoma; Police--Tacoma; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Health care--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Publicity photo of a group of 5 for Elks Extravaganza, Elks Auditorium. The 5th annual Tacoma Elks Extravaganza, under the direction of old time vaudeville star Max Frolic, was presented March 25-26, 1952. The Wednesday performance was exclusively for local lodge members and the Thursday performance was open to all Elks, their ladies and friends. The show featured 15 attractions: singers, dancers, dramatic acts and a 15 piece orchestra under the direction of Bert Kool. Pictured, left to right, are Mike J. LaVelle, Ballet Director, Max Frolic, with violin, E.J. "Bud" Weller, hero in the drama "Never Weigh the Hand," Joe Gorman, Irish Tenor and Rinaldo Keasal, First Assistant. (TNT 3/23/1952, pg A-14)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Frolic, Max; LaVelle, Mike J.; Weller, E.J.; Gorman, Joe; Keasal, Rinaldo;