Fairyland and Christmas parade for children, 1935. Clowns and toy blocks standing by the Three Wise Men float on Broadway. Brandes-Madsen Co. building and Broadway Service Station Mobilgas station and Willis-Tacoma Motor Service in background.The dancing blocks spelling "TOYS" followed Santa and proceeded the Three Wise Men on the camels. Some of the favorite characters in the parade were the clowns and the paraders wearing the huge heads. This parade was sponsored by the Broadway and Pacific Ave. merchants and took place the day after Thanksgiving, officially beginning the Christmas shopping season. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)
Fairyland and Christmas parade for children, November 29, 1935. A tall figure on a float moving along the street in front of Brandes-Madsen Co. and the Broadway Service Mobilgas station. This float depicts the giant that Jack killed in Jack and the Bean Stalk. All the floats were peopled with characters from Fairy Tales. Thousands of Tacoma youngsters turned out to wave to their favorite imaginary character. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)
1937 Daffodil Parade. Three patrolmen on motorcycles proceed a military unit, military band and flag bearers marching down Ninth Street to Pacific Avenue. (T. Times, 4/10/1937, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1937 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Marching bands--Tacoma--1930-1940;
1937 Daffodil Parade. Close-up of Festival Queen Dorothy I (Lyons) and her attendants, Eugenia Spencer of Tacoma and Hazel Phillips of Puyallup, standing on the reviewing stand at Tenth Street and Pacific. (T. Times, 4/10/1937, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1937 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Reviewing stands; Lyons, Dorothy; Spencer, Eugenia; Phillips, Hazel;
The 6th Avenue Business Men's Club entry in the 1935 Daffodil Parade and the winner of the $25 Sweepstakes prize for best float. The float features a flora replica of the Narrows Bridge. Disaster was narrowly averted the night before the parade when decorators ran out of flowers at midnight with the float unfinished. A delegation of volunteers journeyed out to pick 3,000 daffodils by moonlight at the Fox Island fields of Arthur Wright. The float was finished and declared the best of the fifty entered floats. It has over 18,000 blooms. (T. Times 3/25/1935, pg. 16) (filed with Argentum)
Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma);
A flower bedecked car representing the Tacoma Seed Company passes in front of the reviewing stand for the 1936 Daffodil Parade. The 35 foot tower made of 200,000 daffodils was erected at South 10th and Pacific Avenue. Queen Helen Edgerton and her court viewed the parade from this vantage point after the passage of their own float. 35 floats with hundreds of thousands of blooms thrilled the parade watchers. (T. Times 4-17-36, p. 1-article; T. Times 4-18-36, p. 1-article; T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Reviewing stands; Daffodils; Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Like flower fairies, Mary Frances Cavanaugh, left, and Weda Claire Dykeman peek and smile from the inside of giant daffodil blossoms during the 1936 Daffodil Parade. Mary Frances is the daughter of Cecil Cavanaugh, of Cavanaugh Lumber Co., and Weda Claire is the daughter of Doug Dykeman. The 1936 Daffodil Parade was the third annual parade, and the first held in April. The first two parades were held in March. (T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cavanaugh, Mary Frances; Dykeman, Weda Claire;
A small flower-covered float moves along Pacific Avenue during the 1936 Daffodil Parade and over the street car tracks. It passes in front of the reviewing stand at Tenth Street, presided over by the Daffodil Queen and her Court. (T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;
The 35-feet-high, four-tiered reviewing stand for the 1936 Daffodil Parade on So. 10th Street & Pacific. The stand is covered with 200,000 bright yellow daffodils. The Stationers Inc. at 926 Pacific Avenue can be seen in the background. The picture windows have been cleared of displays to set up chairs for viewing the parade. Children dangle their feet from open third story windows as they wait for the parade to start. Those not having these lofty perches to view the parade have lined up several people deep on the ground. (T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Reviewing stands;
On April 18, 1936, Queen Helen Edgerton enjoys the parade from her throne in the base of the 35 foot daffodil "tower" that served as a reviewing stand for the Daffodil Parade. On either side of her are members of her court. At this time, the princesses did not wear matching dresses, so each member of the court is dressed differently with the wide brimmed hats being the only unifying element. The Princesses are, left to right, Esther Kaufman of Puyallup, Alice Margaret Woods of Tacoma, Helen Rockway of Sumner and Joy Lundrigan of Puyallup.
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Reviewing stands; Edgerton, Helen; Kaufman, Esther; Woods, Alice Margaret; Rockway, Helen; Lundrigan, Joy;
Military marching in formation during the May, 1951, Armed Forces Day parade. Spectators line the downtown streets to watch examples of America's military might pass by. In 1951, Armed Forces Day was only two years old, having been created in 1949 to honor Americans serving in the five military branches.
Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960; Armed Forces Day;
The Armed Forces Day parade in downtown Tacoma occurred on May 19, 1951. Sailors with rifles march in formation followed by a group of Army or Air Force men.
Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sailors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960; Armed Forces Day;
St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company's 1951 Daffodil Parade float carried three lovely young ladies representing springtime. The float was a tribute to "Springtime" with two robins in the front, a flowering arbor, and giant butterfly wings. It was the Sweepstakes Winner that year.
Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);
Kappa Sigma fraternity's float "definitely stole the show," according to the News Tribune, during the 1951 Daffodil Parade. The fraternity from the College of Puget Sound provided smiles and laughter with a satire of the City Council and the current problems with vice conditions. "Council members' equipped with pistols waved to the crowd as "Senator Kefauver" shook his broom over their antics. Mayor John Anderson, the "Big John" so noted, joined in the crowd's laughter. (TNT 4-8-51, A-1-article; A-9-alt. photo.)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Kappa Sigma Fraternity (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Tacoma Elks were perennial entrants in the Daffodil Parade. In 1954, their float was festooned with blossoms, including the elks' reins and sides of the wagon. Washington "vacation land" seemed to be their theme that year; members involved are wearing fishing and skiing attire. There were 52 floats entered; awards were given in many categories. While the Tacoma Naval Station won the Sweepstakes award, the Elks entry did capture first place in Fraternal Groups. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);
The annual Daffodil Parade attracted participants from all over the state. Entry #55 in the 1954 parade belonged to the Hanford, Washington, Knights of Pythias organization. A flower bedecked and fringed automobile slowly pulled a daffodil covered pyramid with the large letter "C" along Pacific Avenue past spectators in front of the National Bank of Washington building.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Knights of Pythias (Hanford); Fraternal organizations;
Steve Pease, owner of the popular Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant in South Tacoma, often had an entry in the city's Daffodil Parades. His buggy is decorated with hundreds of blooms as it is pulled along Pacific Avenue during the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Two "street cleaners" in white uniforms stand behind an equally dazzling white wheeled trash can and a sign proclaiming "Steve's smorgasbord" as the "cleanest in town!"
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Stephen O.; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1950-1960;
All of the boats entered in the 1954 Daffodil marine parade were decorated with blossoms; this particular vessel even had its initials spelled out in daffodils. The name of the boat may have been the "Mony Boy". Hundreds of flowers were used to nearly cover the entire boat, leaving barely enough room for the two lounging riders.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
Entry #76 in the 1954 Daffodil marine parade was a long, sleek craft with two large flowered butterflies on display. Three ladies are shown on board, with two waving gently to onlookers. Thousands of spectators watched the parade from Ruston Way, surrounding hillsides and the Old Tacoma Dock. More than 200 boats, all decorated with daffodils, proceeded from the Tacoma Yacht Club to the City Waterway. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1, TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
For 56 years, in 2008, the annual Marine Parade has brought the Daffodil Festival season to a close. Entry #99 in the 1954 Puget Sound Daffodil Regatta was covered with literally thousands of blossoms, including windshield, making it truly a floating garden of daffodils. The boats passed, one by one, in front of a reviewing yacht carrying the Daffodil queen, Mary Carlile, and her guests. Once the last boat had passed from view, the Festival would officially end. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
A man carefully dabs on paint on the "log" cabin as Lincoln Electric prepares its float for the 1953 Daffodil parade. A giant penny is located on one end of the float with Lincoln's head in silhouette; Lincoln Electric also used a silhouette of Lincoln on its building at South 38th and Park. Photograph ordered by Tony Ricono.
Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1953 : Tacoma); Lincoln Electric (Tacoma); Silhouettes;
Kiwanis float in 1952 Daffodil Parade featuring the Soap Box Derby, sponsored by the Kiwanis & the Tacoma News Tribune.The Soap Box Derby was a coaster car race held in July, with prizes for the winning builders and racers. The Kappa Sigma float follows down the parade route turning from 9th onto Pacific Ave.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kiwanis Club (Tacoma); Coaster cars--Tacoma;
Entry from the Tacoma Vocational Technical School in the 1952 Daffodil Festival parade. Women with daffodil-shaped bonnets and clothing resembling the leaves and stems of the golden blossoms ride on the float along with a man with a "scarf" of daffodils. The float is parked outside O'Farrell Distributors, wholesale liquor dealers.
Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Tacoma Vocational Technical School (Tacoma);
This daffodil covered horse and buggy was the entry of Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant in the 1952 Daffodil Parade. The Pease family (l to r) Mary, Steve and Dorothy Jean rode in the buggy. The Pease family was very active in Tacoma, with Steve often called "the unofficial Mayor of South Tacoma." Steve's Cafe (later commonly known as Steve's Gay '90s), 5238-40 So. Tacoma Way, had their grand opening in April of 1951; it closed in 1977. Behind their carriage is a rider in one of the three mounted groups that participated in the 1952 parade. (TPL-8861)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Mary; Pease, Stephen O.; Pease, Dorothy Jean;
Dancing cadets in trim Navy white double breasted mess jackets, possibly the Bremerton "crew", followed by a band led by white clad majorettes in tall headgear, marches down the steep slope of 9th St. from Broadway to Pacific Ave. On the left can be seen the marquees for the Music Box (destroyed by fire in 1963) and the Roxy (now the Pantages.) The Winthrop Hotel can be seen on the right hand side.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Drill teams; Marching bands;
The Bon Marche float in the 1952 Daffodil Parade makes the turn from 9th onto Pacific Ave. followed by a flatbed truck full of young people.The Bon Marche was the third place winner in the commercial catagory. A Tacoma crowd estimated at 200,000 lined city streets in the sparkling sunshine to view the parade judged to be the "best ever." The crowd on 9th street is 9-10 deep, at one place looking like a human pyramid as the people in back stand on ladders. Others watch out of windows and from building awnings. (TNT 4-6-1952, pg. 1)
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The L.L. Hess and Son Furniture Co. float in the 1952 Daffodil Parade has the theme "Harmony in the Home" as it transports four barbershop quartets down the parade route. The conductor not only directs the singing, but also acts the barber, shaving the customer in the chair when the float is quiet. The Ballard Commercial Club Drill Team from Seattle, dressed in western cowgirl outfits, makes the turn from 9th onto Pacific Ave.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; L.L. Hess Furniture Co. (Tacoma);
Float sponsored by Tacoma Savings and Loan Association in the 1952 Daffodil Parade. This float with floral leaping goldfish and daffodil bedecked tall ship won the second place in the organization division. The parade kicked off in Tacoma at 10a.m. on Saturday April 5, 1952 with the 15 mile long parade moving north on Broadway to 9th Street, down 9th to Pacific Ave. and down Pacific to 19th Street. After Tacoma, the parade marched through Puyallup at 1p.m. and Sumner at 2:30p.m. The three sponsoring cities all elected princesses, and took yearly turns having the Queen elected from their ranks. (TNT 4-6-1952, pg. 1)
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma);
ca. 1952. Float sponsored by the Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot for an unidentified parade, possibly May Day or Armed Forces Day, circa 1952. The float is populated by people dressed in costumes of different countries. It features cutouts of tanks and mobile units rolling up to the top of a globe emblazoned with "Unity, Strength, Freedom." The float is hung with red, white & blue bunting. Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot was located approximately 13 miles south of Tacoma between Ft. Lewis, Madigan Army Hospital and McChord Air Force Base. MROD was established in 1942 as a motor base to supply motorized equipment to the Western Defense Command. In addition, it received and repaired all motorized equipment from the Orient and Alaska. It was comprised of 3 warehouses, each more that 1/4 of a mile long, housing 80,000 different items ready for immediate shipment, and two large buildings containing shops and headquarters. It employed approximately 1,600 civilians ( a number that doubled during wartime.) TPL-10389
Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot (Tacoma);
The "Golden Future" is placed securely in the stars with the Independent Order of Foresters' entry, a daffodil bedecked flying saucer. This float won second place in the fraternal organization catagory of the 1955 Daffodil Parade. The driver wears a trench coat and safari hat to protect him from the rain and umbrellas have sprung up all over the crowd.
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Independent Order of Foresters 327 (Tacoma);
