1937 Stadium vs. Lincoln Thanksgiving Day football game in Stadium Bowl. Team members line the field. The stadium's concrete bleachers are filled with with the record turnout of 12,000 spectators. The game pitted the undefeated Stadium Tigers against the almost equally flawless Lincoln Abes. Stadium triumphed in a 34-0 shutout, the largest point spread since the Turkey Day Classic was inaugurated in 1923. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg. 1- story only)

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Redskins in full body makeup represent the importance of the Native Americans in the West. These cast members took part in the recreation of an early Indian village in the historical drama "Saga of the West." The show opened with the area's earliest native settlers, known as the "Squallys." The pageant was performed July 20-22, 1939 as part of the celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Historical pageants--Tacoma;

As the West was settled, cities were formed. This scene is typical of that lifestyle. A woman reaches down to cluck the toddler in the wicker stroller under the chin while the proud parents look on. The pair of young men on the left appear to be planning some mischief. It was all taking place during the preview performance of "Saga of the West." The pageant was performed July 20-22, 1939 as part of the celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood. Three cast members wait for their cues in the stands with bored expressions on their faces. The young man in the checks is tentatively identified as Donald MacDonald and the woman pushing the pram as Barbara Bonnell. The extravaganza, with its cast of 2,000, was made up of 14 scenes. This appears to be from the Gay Nineties street scene.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Historical pageants--Tacoma;

During a July 19, 1939 rehearsal, a team of dogs pulled a sled and rider past the massive sets used for the historical pageant "Saga of the West" staged in the Stadium Bowl. The heavily bearded man "mushing" the dogs was Earl Hammond. Hammond stopped in Tacoma on his way to Alaska to take part in the Saga and parade. He was a professional "Santa Claus," performing in Christmas pageants back east. His dogs were white Siberian huskies and white marked black Siberians. The framework at the rear of the sets can be clearly seen and costumed cast members representing different time periods in Washington's history line up to watch the show. The pageant was performed July 20-22, 1939 as part of the celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood. (T. Times 7/20/1937, pg. 2)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Historical pageants--Tacoma;

Go West young man seems to be the catch phrase for this group of cast members from the historical pageant "Saga of the West." They are all attired as frontiersmen and pose in front of a covered wagon. The pageant was performed July 20-22, 1939 as part of the celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood. The extravaganza boasted a cast of 2,000, as well as horses, stage coaches, covered wagons, Indians, cowboys, soldiers and sailors. The actors pantomimed, with all voices portrayed by seven narrators over microphones. Musical accompaniment was supplied by an orchestra, 200 voice choir and an organ.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Historical pageants--Tacoma;

Cast members of the historical pageant "Saga of the West" pose in front of Stadium Bowl seating. The seats are only sparsely occupied for this preview performance, mostly by cast members; the opening night audience would number over 15,000. The pageant was performed July 20-22, 1939 as part of the celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood. The pageant was directed by William Marlatt of the John B. Rogers pageant company, was fully costumed and had a cast of 2,000. It also had horses, stage coaches, covered wagons, automobiles and a fire engine.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Historical pageants--Tacoma;

Searchlights from the Pacific Fleet light up the night sky over the Stadium Bowl during the historical pageant "Saga of the West." The pageant was performed July 20-22, 1939 as part of the celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood. Also in port for the Jubilee were six US battleships and 8,000 sailors and officers. Search light drills would be performed nightly at 10:15p.m.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Historical pageants--Tacoma; Searchlights--Tacoma;

These cast members appear to depict British officers and sailors in the historical drama "Saga of the West." The pageant was performed July 20-22, 1939 as part of the celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood. They are possibly part of the depiction of Capt. George Vancouver's exploration of the Puget Sound area in 1792. The Saga would cover Washington's history from the earliest times to 1939, with 14 special events highlighted in scenes.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Historical pageants--Tacoma;

Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce, publicity for Stadium July Fourth Show. Two men wearing suits, ties, fedoras, posing with fireworks sign above Stadium Bowl. Stadium and Washington State Historical Society Museum in background. The July 4th show ran over two hours and attracted an audience of over 7,000, covering 2/3 of the Bowl.

Fireworks--1930-1940; Holidays--1930-1940; Fourth of July celebrations; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma);

Mayor George Smitley shakes hands with Maj. Gen. David L. Stone during the second annual Armistice Day Army-Navy football game at Stadium Bowl. General Stone is the commander of Fort Lewis. His counterpart, Rear Adm. T.T. Craven, head of the 13th Naval District, was also in attendance. Ten thousand-plus fans watched the football game and military pageant which saw Navy triumph 14-0. Navy had also won the previous year's contest 6-2. Sepia photograph taken on November 11, 1936. (T. Times 11-12-36, p. 1, 17) ALBUM 11. TPL-10453

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Stone, David L.; Generals; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Army-Navy football game at Stadium Bowl. A large unit of Army troops stand at attention and salute stadium spectators from the center field of Stadium Bowl. Over 10,000 people were present to watch the second annual Army-Navy football game held in Tacoma; for the second year in a row, Navy was triumphant. Navy defeated Army 14-0 before the eyes of Rear Admiral T.T. Craven and Fort Lewis commander, Maj. Gen. David L. Stone. (Bremerton Sun, T. Times 11-12-36, p. 1, 17).

Military parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Saluting--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Football--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Army-Navy Football game at Stadium Bowl. Rear Admiral T.T. Craven and Mrs. Craven, in fur coat, watch the activities while in the officials' stand at Stadium Bowl on Armistice Day, 1936. A military pageant preceded the second annual Army-Navy football game. Adm. Craven's counterpart, Maj. Gen. David L. Stone of Fort Lewis, was also in attendance. The Navy team would go on to defeat Army 14-0; a larger margin of victory than the previous year. (T.Times, 11-12-36, p. 1, p.17)

Craven, T.T.; Craven, T.T.--Family; Admirals--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Soldiers, sailors, and marines from Fort Lewis and Bremerton faced off against each other in Tacoma's Stadium Bowl for a charity Army-Navy football game on Armistice Day, November 11,1935. Taps for the war dead preceded the gridiron conflict, and a 21-gun salute closed the event. Although a cold rain fell throughout the day, dampening the enthusiasm of the crowd and turning the field into a sea of mud, the Fort Lewis men put up a valiant struggle against the Navy team. In the end, neither team had much to show for their time or effort. The final score was Navy 6, Army 2. (T.Times 11/12/1935)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flags--United States;

On November 11, 1935, 8000 hardy fans braved the rain to pack the Stadium Bowl for the second annual Armistice Day gridiron battle between Northwest Navy and Army teams. The spectators protected themselves from the elements with umbrellas, while the pictured sailors were covered with slickers. Stadium High School loomed in the background over the stadium. The playing field for the game was a muddy mass of slime due to the cold rain that fell most of the day. The charity match was preceded by a military pageant, celebrating the end 17 years prior of the first World War. The game itself was a thriller where a forward pass in the closing minutes of the game gave Navy a 6-2 victory over Army. (T. Times 11/11/1935, pg. 1; T. Times 11/12/1935, pg. 1 & 11; Bremerton Sun 11/11/1935, pg. 1- all articles story only)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Sailors--Bremerton--1930-1940;

Lincoln High School beat Stadium High School, 13 to 7, in the big Thanksgiving Day football game classic at Stadium Bowl. Lincoln High School's football team won two titles in the 1948 season--Cross State Champions and City League Champions. View of the players in action at the big game at Stadium Bowl; students, families and friends of Tacoma's two rival high schools pack the bleachers to cheer for their favorite team at this annual event. (T. Times, 11/26/48, p. 1).

Football--Tacoma--1940-1950; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sports spectators--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

In 1948, Tacoma had two public high schools; and for many years on every Thanksgiving Day the cross town rivals Stadium and Lincoln met for an epic football battle. The gridiron battle was intersected by a halftime show featuring competitive spectacular performances by girl marching units and the schools' marching bands. Pictured, left to right, were Stadium High School's majorettes: Betty Johnston, Pat Mason, Rosemary Martenson, Joan Mason, Dolores Dessen and five year old Suzanne Ramstad. The girls were wearing their uniforms, boots and plumed hats. This year Lincoln High School won the game 13-7; there was no record of who won the half time show. (T. Times, 11/26/48, p. 1). TPL-9315

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Drum majorettes--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Lincoln High School and Stadium High School were playing their annual Thanksgiving Day football game at Stadium Bowl in 1948. More than 16,000 fans attended the game and cheered on their favorite school. View of half time performances; the Stadium High School drum majorettes are performing with the marching band, watched by thousands packed into the bleachers. (T. Times, 11/26/48, p. 1).

Football--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Marching percussion--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

In July of 1948 close to 100 model airplane enthusiasts took part in the Plymouth Aero League competition held in the Stadium Bowl. Sponsored by Tacoma's Plymouth dealers, the Tacoma contest was for "controlled type" planes; the models competed for speed, stunt flying and "scale model". Ray Welch (kneeling, 3rd from left) won 1st place in the junior scale models competition with his biplane. The young man standing behind Ray Welch holding a plane is probably William Lloyd, who placed first in the "D" junior speed contest. R.C. Sommerville, the general sales manager of the Plymouth corporation, made a special trip to Tacoma from Detroit to watch the contest; he personally handed out the trophies and prizes to the winners. (T. Times, 7/10 & 12/48, p. 1). TPL-10468

Contests--Tacoma; Competition entries--Tacoma; Victories--Tacoma; Awards; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Model airplanes; Airplane racing--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Plymouth Aero League (Tacoma);

All participants in the Tacoma Plymouth Aero League contest received t-shirts for participating in the exciting event. Left to right are Tacoma's model airplane Division winners holding up their trophies, Ray Welsh, Bob Turner, Gerald Thomas, Vic Lichtenberg and Bill Lloyd; Stadium High School in background. The Division winners will be traveling to Detroit, Michigan later this month for the international event (T. Times, 7/10 & 12/48, p. 1).

Contests--Tacoma; Competition entries--Tacoma; Victories--Tacoma; Awards; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Model airplanes; Airplane racing--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Plymouth Aero League (Tacoma);

More than 60 young men signed up to compete in Tacoma's Plymouth Aero League contest. The contest was scheduled for Sunday afternoon at The Stadium. Later this month, Plymouth Motor Corporation was sponsoring the 2nd Annual International Model Plane Aero League Contest in Detroit, Michigan; the five Tacoma Division winners would get to compete in that contest. View of participants with one of the judges (T. Times, 7/10 & 12/48, p. 1).

Contests--Tacoma; Competition entries--Tacoma; Victories--Tacoma; Awards; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Model airplanes; Airplane racing--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Plymouth Aero League (Tacoma);

Young men and boys throughout Tacoma entered their model airplanes, hoping to win one of the five Division titles. Speed Jobs, Club Ships, Gas Model Airplanes flying up to 140 miles per hour, A. J. Fireball gas model airplanes and a model jet plane with a 152 miles per hour record, were all entered in the Tacoma Plymouth Aero League contest. View of contest participants preparing their airplanes for the competition (T. Times, 7/10 & 12/48, p. 1).

Contests--Tacoma; Competition entries--Tacoma; Victories--Tacoma; Awards; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Model airplanes; Airplane racing--Tacoma; Plymouth Aero League (Tacoma);

View of the awards and trophies the Tacoma Division winners received for their participation in the Plymouth Aero League contest. The trophies were given for, "High Point Winner", "1st A-Speed Sr.", "1st Stunt Sr.", "1st Stunt Jr.", "1st Speed Jr." and runner up trophies were also distributed to third place winners (T. Times, 7/10 & 12/48, p. 1).

Contests--Tacoma; Competition entries--Tacoma; Victories--Tacoma; Awards; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Model airplanes; Airplane racing--Tacoma; Plymouth Aero League (Tacoma);

In July of 1948, Tacoma's Plymouth dealers sponsored the preliminary competition for the Second International Model Plane Contest. Gerald Thomas, shown with the three trophies that he won, was one of the big winners of the Tacoma Plymouth Aero League contest. The finals were held in Detroit in August. (T. Times, 7/10 & 12/48, p. 1).

Contests--Tacoma; Competition entries--Tacoma; Victories--Tacoma; Awards; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Model airplanes; Airplane racing--Tacoma; Plymouth Aero League (Tacoma);

A student, taking part of her final driving test on June 2, 1948, maneuvered her car through an obstacle course set up by Driver's Education instructors Frank P. Jones and Lloyd C. Hague (two men at left) inside the Stadium Bowl next to Stadium H.S.. Driver's education started in September 1947 at Stadium High School and a year and a half earlier at Lincoln High School. A total of 45 students from both school had completed the driver's course by the end of the 1947-48 school year. (T. Times, 6/4/48, p. 2).

Driver education--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teachers--Tacoma; Automobile driving--Tacoma; Examinations--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma);

Buildings, churches, schools, and parks made for special edition of Times, studio. Long shadows fall across Stadium Bowl this late February day. Standing tall at the opposite edge of the stadium is the Washington State Historical Society Building. The Washington State Historical Society Museum is a deceptive building. It doesn't look as large as it really is but there are five stories in the structure which is not apparent from the front elevation. Located at 315 North Stadium Way the museum was dedicated in 1911 and the northwest wing was completed in 1915. Puget Sound can be seen in the background. (T.Times, 2/24/1948, p.16)

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Stadiums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bodies of water--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.);

Stadium High School and Bellarmine High School were getting ready to battle it out for the 1947 City League Title. Both football teams had done exceptionally well during this first part of the season, a tough game was anticipated. The game would be played at Stadium Bowl in Tacoma, view of high school football players getting ready for their big game.

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

In September of 1947, the Tacoma Athletic Commission presented Stadium High School with their first modern electric scoreboard. It was dedicated at the September 19th Grid-Go-Round at the Bowl. Pictured were Dick Sallee, on the ladder and standing, L-R, Carl Caddey, secretary of the School Board; George Weller, South Tacoma Business Men's Club; Gerry Waechter, president of TAC; and Joe Fitzpatrick, South Tacoma Kiwanis. Recognition was given during the ceremony to Henry Sallee for his work in constructing the board, Al Davies for the donation of the steel and South Tacoma Business Men's Club and Kiwanis for their financial contributions. An electric scoreboard was also constructed for Lincoln High School, to be installed on the completion of their bowl. (T.Times, 9/16/1947, p.1)

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Scoreboards--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Sallee, Dick; Caddey, Carl; Weller, George; Waechter, Gerry; Fitzpatrick, Joe;

In June of 1947 the Tacoma Police Department drove their entire fleet of Dodge sedans and trucks onto the field of the Stadium Bowl for a "group portrait." By using 21 of their vehicles they were able to create the letters "TPD" - with six panel trucks left over. TPL-9425

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dodge automobile;

Dodge rolling stock, Tacoma Police Department, Irwin Jones. The automobiles are parked together in the field at Stadium High School. A man leans against the fender of the one light colored automobile.

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dodge automobile;

During a Control Line Model Airplane Meet at Tacoma Stadium Bowl, the rescue helicopter from McCord Field made a special appearance at the event. The type R-5A helicopter arrived and gracefully landed, impressing the large Tacoma crowd. The proficient helicopter can drop from any altitude straight down (if air density is favorable) to a spot of 60 square feet. The event was sponsored by the Tacoma Young Men's Business Club. View of men standing in front of the rescue helicopter from McCord Field (T. Times, 1/27/47, p. 47).

Helicopters--Tacoma; Search & rescue operations; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Military air shows--Tacoma;