Vaudeville Party at the Top of the Ocean, photograph ordered by the Tacoma Actors Guild.. Man at microphone addressing audience seated at tables around dance floor. Two of the columns in the room have sea shell decorations near top of column. For Tacoma Actors Guild, Frank Murtough.

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Actors Guild (Tacoma); Parties--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Last Round Cafe was located at 1516 Broadway in Tacoma's downtown district. The restaurant was owned and operated by William M. Hamilton. Interior view of the Last Round Cafe; stools and bar area on left side, doorway leading into the kitchen on left corner area; eating booths and jukebox on right side of restaurant. Photo ordered by the Washington State Liquor Board for the tavern's liquor license.

Restaurants--Tacoma; Taverns (Inns)--Tacoma; Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Jukeboxes; Last Round Cafe (Tacoma);

King Fried Chicken customers had a choice of home/business delivery or stopping by the Stoneway entrance to pick up the food themselves. Chicken, prawns, and fish were available for hungry patrons. View of King employee standing next to his delivery van which is parked adjacent to King's large advertising sign. The delivery van is covered with advertising, emphasizing the company's telephone number on both sides and the back doors. James A. Campbell was listed in the 1958 Seattle City Directory as owner of the catering company. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.

King Fried Chicken (Seattle); Signs (Notices);

This cheery interior may be one of the dining rooms of the Ole King Cole restaurant. Checkered tablecloths and floral curtains in addition to the wood paneling and casual modern chairs provide for a comfortable dining experience. Each table came with candles, either the tapered variety or glass-enclosed. Fluorescent lighting gave additional brightness to the room, even with its curtains closed. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW television.

Restaurants; Dining rooms; Chairs; Tablecloths; Table settings & decorations;

The interior of this unidentified restaurant shows several wooden tables and chairs placed close together with kitchen facilities to the rear. The walls are covered in wallpaper of a past era, showing a couple strolling among trees and stately buildings. This pattern is repeated throughout the design. The carpeted floor and stairway have a busy flower motif. Drapes and dangling lamps add to the cozy atmosphere. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers for KTVW.

Restaurants; Wallpapers; Floor coverings;

Night exposure- Busch's Drive-In. It appears that patrons preferred to dine in at Busch's Drive-In on a cold winter's night. Busch's provided both curb-side service and interior dining at their South Tacoma Way restaurant. Extensive neon lighting would make the restaurant visible for several blocks. Purchased by Bill & Thelma Busch in 1943, the restaurant was a popular spot for both young and old alike. It was later renamed Busch's Round Table Restaurant. Photograph ordered by Busch's Drive-In Restaurant.

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma);

Earl Russell, Mr. Banjo, the featured banjo virtuoso at Steve's Gay '90s poses with two banjos. Steve's was famous in the fifties and sixties for its old fashioned home grown entertainment and for good food at a reasonable price. It was the brainchild of Steve Pease, whose goal was to create a wholesome family entertainment spot which providing dining and entertainment for one low price.

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Musicians--Tacoma; Banjos; Russell, Earl;

Jennie Wheeler poses with a menu at Steve's Gay Nineties in front of the Opera House Entertainment Coliseum in June of 1956. The public preview of the newest edition to Steve's was scheduled for June 14-17, 1956. The Opera House was the main entertainment venue, where the floor show was performed every Friday and Saturday night. The Gay Nineties revue featured can-can girls, keystone cops, banjo playing and old time sing-a-longs. Steves, owned by Steve Pease and John Stanley, grew in 10 years from a 20 customer cafe and the adjoining tavern to include 5 major dining, entertaining and banquet areas under one roof. The ornate gold facade to the Opera House formerly faced the Banker's Trust Building and its crystal chandeliers came from the recently razed Seattle Opera House. Pease did endless research to preserve portions of the most beautiful buildings of the area and place them in the perfect place in his restaurant. (TNT 6/13/1956, pg. C-9- C-11) (Ms. Wheeler's identification supplied by a former employee at Steve's)

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Wheeler, Jennie;

Cable Car Room At Steve's Gay '90s restaurant. TPL-6698. The decor in this room was inspired by the actual cable car that owner Steve Pease purchased from the city of San Francisco. Attention to detail and constant additions made the decor always of interest. Much of the murals and signage were done by Bill Knabel. A bar lines the right hand corner of the picture, a historic relic from 1890 Red Front saloon in South Tacoma, with a lunch counter in front of it. A romanticized portrait of a bountiful semi-nude is on the ceiling over the bar. The marble tabletops were rescued from the old Fidelity Building. The Cable Car Room served cocktails and food 6 days a week. (TNT 6/13/1956, pg. C-9- C-11) TPL-6698

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Grand opening of Deans Tavern at 759 So. 38th St., owned and operated by Charles Zigmont. Flowers line the front of the mirror at the back of the bar, good luck tokens from well wishers. A refrigerator and what is possibly the door to a walk in freezer can be seen in the foreground behind the bar. For another view of the tavern, see A100233-1. The Grand Opening was scheduled for Thursday, August 2nd, between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. (TNT 8/1/1956, PG. A-6 & A-11)

Deans Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Barcott's Sea Food restaurant. Tables are set in a narrow room with rough hewn walls and exposed beams. Barcott's signature life preservers with the restaurant's name decorate the walls. Barcott's was owned by John E. Barcott Jr., a member of one of Tacoma's best known families of restauranteurs. It opened in 1953.

Barcott's Sea Food (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Grand opening of Deans Tavern at 759 So. 38th St., owned and operated by Charles Zigmont. Flowers line the front of the mirror at the back of the bar, good luck tokens from well wishers. A refrigerator and what is possibly the door to a walk in freezer can be seen in the foreground behind the bar. For another view of the tavern, see A100233-1. The Grand Opening was scheduled for Thursday, August 2nd, between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. (TNT 8/1/1956, PG. A-6 & A-11)

Deans Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In October of 1956, three, smiling uniformed carhops pose single handedly wielding trays loaded with food and treats at the Buschs Drive In at 3505 So. Tacoma Way. Bill and Thelma Busch bought the former Triple XXX Barrel Restaurant in 1943 and made it into the cruising capital of 1950's Tacoma. Carhops delivered burgers, fries and shakes right to the window of your car, so that teens could see and be seen and young families did not have to fret with crying babies. In addition to burgers, the restaurant also served breakfast, chicken pot pies and steaks. The carhop at the far right was Ellissa Quaschnik at the time this photo was taken; the carhop at the far left was named Marie.

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma);

Interior of the Pioneer Room at the Oregon Trail Restaurant. The room has an innovative buffet shaped like a chuck wagon.

Oregon Trail Restaurant; Buffets (Cookery);

A bartender tops off a glass of Heidelberg for a waiting customer as other customers already have schooners in hand. Beer was cheap in March, 1957; Heidelberg on tap cost 10-15 cents a glass, 20 cents for a schooner, fifty cents a pitcher and only $1.25 for an entire gallon. If you wanted to take home a six-pack of Heidelberg, it would only cost $1.15 or should you splurge, $2.25 for two. The bartender could also supply his customers with eggs, pickles, pepperoni, and sardines. He could even whip up clam nectar, oyster or beef stew and chili for those hungry. Photograph ordered by Heidelberg Brewing.

Bars; Alcoholic beverages; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Interior of Inferno Charcoal Broiler Restaurant. An unusual lattice ceiling, artificial tree with spreading branches and potted plants brought the outdoors into the Inferno restaurant. Chairs and drapes were decorated in a floral pattern to further accentuate the garden atmosphere. Part of the walls were apparently draped in sack-like materials, with masks staring at the seated customers. The Inferno Charcoal Broiler Restaurant was located at 7430 Pacific Avenue. TPL-9662

Inferno Charcoal Broiler Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ceilings--Tacoma; Masks--Tacoma;

In September 1955, you could watch (l to r) Beverlee Crombie, Callie Mernaugh and Connie Mernaugh every Friday and Saturday night in the Gay Nineties room at Steve's Gay Nineties, 5238 So. Tacoma Way. Steve's was famous for its use of local talent and was known as a place where the whole family could enjoy an evening out. The Mernaugh girls were twins and graduates of Stadium High School. Their dancing was an artistic outlet, not a profession; both girls held "day jobs." Connie worked at Northwest Chair and Callie worked at St. Regis. Connie Mernaugh was Miss Tacoma of 1956. Beverlee Crombie left Tacoma for Los Angeles where she studied dancing with Vera Ellen, Leslie Caron and Sheree North. By 1956, she was appearing in the revue at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas and was booked for an engagement at the Moulin Rouge in Los Angeles. Miss Crombie was a 1955 graduate of Clover Park High School. (TNT 5/9/1956, pg. A-13, 5/29/1957 pg. 4, 8/12/1956, pg. D-12) TPL-8435

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Dancers--Tacoma; Entertainers--Tacoma; Costumes; Crombie, Beverlee; Mernaugh, Callie; Mernaugh, Connie;

The interior of Ben-Dew's Patio Cafe on Sixth Avenue provided a cozy, rustic atmosphere for dining on the restaurant's well-advertised fried chicken in May, 1954. Up to 60 customers could sit on bar stools resembling logs, paneled booth seating, or regular tables. Lanterns hung from long horizontal poles in the ceiling. The building had formerly housed the landmark Patio Shop before it was extensively remodeled and reopened in late May, 1954. Ben-Dew's was owned and operated by Dewey Tei and had been located formerly on Commerce Street. Nearly fifty years after this photograph was taken, Ben-Dew's Clubhouse Grill is still in its same location on Sixth Avenue. (TNT 5-28-54, p. 11)

Ben-Dew's Patio Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lanterns;

This was how the Montello Block at 202 St. Helens Avenue appeared in September of 1958. It was kitty-corner to the Temple Theater. The Montello Block dates back to 1890 when builders H.S. Huson and Nicholas Lawson constructed the Montello Hotel on this property. Fire broke out in 1899, necessitating rebuilding and remodeling. It has since been occupied by a series of businesses. In 1958, the Tarry Tavern, owned by Wilbur Nash and Grayson McCain, was listed at that corner. The other units in the building were apartments. The building was destroyed by arson in November of 1997 and subsequently demolished. Next door was Temple Motors' used car division. Currently it is occupied by Doyle's Public House. Photograph ordered by National Mortgage, Inc.

Tarry Tavern (Tacoma); Temple Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exposure of architect's scale model for the new expansion at Busch's Restaurant, ordered by architect Percy Ball. Photograph shot near the Top of the Ocean. The remodel appears to include a two story interior dining room.

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Architectural models;

Interior of Barcott's Sea Food. This May 16, 1960, photograph was taken prior to opening as the dining room is empty. Cloth napkins, silverware and coffee cups have been placed on the rectangular tables. Each table has been draped with a tablecloth. Barcott's emphasized their delicious seafood entries including fried ocean scallops at $2.00; to accompany the meals was a selection of California wines and champagne. Barcott's had been at their Pine St. location since May, 1953.

Barcott's Sea Food (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices);

The February, 1961, sun casts a long shadow of the photographer on the dark parking lot of Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In Restaurant. The drive-in had opened in 1960 near the intersection of Sixth and Orchard. It was owned by William Busch, who also owned a Busch's Drive-In on South Tacoma Way. View of large lot, with extended roof that offered partial coverage of vehicles and walkway to dine-in service at the restaurant.

Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1959. The new "Golden Era Cafe" at Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant featuring the fireplace and bric-a-brac from the demolished Yorktheimer mansion. This hand carved spool type entry way came from the mansion. The mansion was located at 27 Broadway and was built in 1887. When it was demolished in August of 1959 to make way for the Belmont Terrace apartments, part of the building's ornaments were purchased by Steve Pease for the remodel of his Gay Nineties restaurant. The restaurant had recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and was well recognized as the #1 spot to entertain out of town guests. It was also the largest entertainment emporium in the northwest, occupying six historic buildings. Steve's had recently demolished an adjoining service station to build its own parking lot. (TNT 11/26/1959, pg. D 2-3)

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. The "Golden Era Cafe" at Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant. The new dining area featured the fireplace and the bric-a-brac rescued from the demolished Yorktheimer mansion, formerly located at 27 Broadway. The mansion had been built in 1887 and was demolished in 1959 to make way for the Belmont Terrace apartments. This hand carved spool type entryway came from the mansion. Steve's had recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and was widely recognized as the premier night spot for out of towners. Pease had decorated his restaurant with bits and pieces from some of the finest homes in Tacoma. The Golden Era Coffee Shop served meals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To see the spool woodwork in the Yorktheimer mansion, see I61 images 1 & 2. (TNT 11-26-1959, pg. D-2-3)

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The three new can-can dancers at Steve's Gay '90s (l to r) Vickie Conner, Kathy Tamburelle and Pamella Conner posed while on stage in December, 1967. They were photographed while performing a special Christmas holiday stage show which was presented on weekends.The dancers had a variety of costumes but all featured tall plumes, ruffles and fishnet stockings. The new dancers replaced the can-can trio of Connie Moisio, Callie Mathews and Hazel Gjerde, who retired in November, 1967, after 14 years at Steve's. Steve's Gay '90s was a longtime South Tacoma fixture that offered reasonably priced cuisine along with entertainment harking back to the America of the 1890's. (Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s.) (TNT 11-9-67, D-11, TNT 12-22-67, p. 20) TPL-9874

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dancers--Tacoma; Entertainers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Costumes; Conner, Vickie; Tamburelle, Kathy; Conner, Pamella;

Two entertainers at Steve's Gay '90s; photograph taken on December 8, 1967. Both are dressed in the fashions of bygone days. The woman seated at the piano was identified as "LuluBelle" in a News Tribune ad later on February 19, 1968; she carries a paper fan. LuluBelle was proclaimed being "back in town," and entertaining each Saturday evening at the Old Piano Table. The man is believed to be Jack Richardson, "King of the MCs." Steve's Gay '90s was a very popular restaurant in South Tacoma that offered family-styled entertainment. Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s.

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Entertainers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fans (Accessories)--Tacoma;

Bar area of The Old Spaghetti Factory. Turn-of-the-century memorabilia was found in abundance within The Old Spaghetti Factory, located in the 1700 block of Jefferson Ave. The restaurant itself was located in a 1904-vintage building, former home to the Tacoma Biscuit & Candy Co. and the Blake, Moffitt, & Towne warehouse. Included among various antiques was the 24-foot oak bar and backbar from the Savoy Hotel, then 75 years old. in addition, booths and benches were made from old bed stands. The Old Spaghetti Factory, opened on July 19, 1971, had a floor space of 10,000 square feet and could seat 200 diners. Color photograph ordered by The Old Spaghetti Factory. (TNT 7-18-71, B-7 - article on opening of restaurant) TPL-6394

The Old Spaghetti Factory (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma;

Interior view of The Old Spaghetti Factory. Vivid colors of red and yellow attract attention to the turn-of-the-century interior of The Old Spaghetti Factory as pictured on January 17, 1973. Hardwood floors, wood furniture, and even the utilization of iron headboards create a comfortable, "homey" feel while dining. A 30-foot, completely refurbished trolley car, parked in the middle of the restaurant and colorfully painted in the same yellow and red tones prevalent throughout the room, surprisingly does not seem out of place. Color photograph ordered by The Old Spaghetti Factory. (TBT 7-18-71, B-7 - article on opening of restaurant)

The Old Spaghetti Factory (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Street railroads--Tacoma;

A young woman and two young men enjoy some quiet conversation and refreshing beverages at the new Papa John's restaurant located in the Tacoma Mall's west end addition. Casual dining appeared to be the theme with the use of canvas-back chairs and plain round tables in an "old world" garden setting. Papa John's, owned by Mike Wrede and managed by Dick Zierman, featured 500 types of domestic and imported wines. Photograph ordered by Papa John's. (TNT 7-24-73, insert on expansion)

Papa John's (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1970-1980;

An unidentified couple is shown entering O'Brien's in April of 1971. The restaurant, located on the fountain level of the new Bank of Washington Plaza, opened on February 1, 1971. It was built in a semi-circle around the plaza's fountain and accessible by the curving staircase shown above and also through the bank tower. Photograph ordered by Ballard & Cannon, Inc.

O'Brien's Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fountains--Tacoma;