Employees of the Northern Pacific Railroad enjoy a safety awards banquet on May 27, 1954, in the Fellowship Hall at the Masonic Temple. Those seated at the head tables on the stage are presumably dignitaries. A five piece orchestra and singers provided music while 900 employees and guests dined on turkey dinners. The banquet was to honor the South Tacoma Shops for their near perfect accident record in the Northern Pacific Railroad's national safety competition. There was only one reportable accident among 800 employees in over a year's time. George L. Ernstrom, general mechanical superintendent of Northern Pacific, was chosen to give the award to R.H. Spellmeyer, shop superintendent at the South Tacoma Shops. (TNT 5-27-54, A-10, TNT 5-28-54, p. 14)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Guitars; Saxophones;

Members of the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association display Lynden Broadbreast Turkeys during their luncheon at the Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall on December 8, 1954. The Lynden firm is part of the Cooperative and provided ready to roast turkeys. This group is standing in front of a large poster demonstrating how the Co-op's eggs "go to market"; egg production was just one of the many enterprises they supported. 1600 Co-op members from District #6 attended the annual meeting and dined on turkey. At the meeting, Roy McChord was congratulated as the new manager of the Tacoma Station, replacing Dale Smith, who assumed management duties at the Co-op's credit division in Seattle. (TNT 12-12-54, F-8)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Turkeys; Posters;

Hundreds fill the Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall on December 8, 1954, at the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's luncheon and meeting. The group had begun decades ago as an egg and poultry cooperative but had expanded into the feed and grain business. Farmers found that they were able to get better prices and new markets for their products if they participated in a cooperative.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

This photograph of the new Masonic Temple, 47 Saint Helens Avenue was taken in November of 1927. The Temple Theatre (then called the Heilig Theater), built within the Masonic Temple, had celebrated its grand opening on October 18, 1927. The theater was leased by Calvin Heilig and was decorated in an Egyptian motif. Loges were installed on the lower floor. The Masonic Temple itself would be dedicated on December 1, 1927, six weeks after the theater's grand opening. The $550,000 building rose ten stories from the Broadway level. It was 124 x 170 feet in size and built of steel and concrete. The facade consisted of stone finish with brick trimmings. Sixteen Masonic bodies would utilize the structure as a meeting space. TPL-632; G65.1-136 (TNT 11-19-27, p. 1-2)

Masonic Temple (Tacoma); Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

Will Maylon and Margaret Nixon of the Maylon Players theatrical troupe are parked in a vintage Winthrop Motor Company car in front of the Heilig (later Temple) Theater at 47 Saint Helens Avenue in June of 1929. The theater's huge arched roofed marquee and glassed-in playbill announce the troupe's appearance in Tacoma. The automobile, a 1904 Reo, was on display at Winthrop Motors; it was still functional and could reach speeds up to 20 mph. TPL-9778; G64.1-053 (T.Times 6-22-29, p. 23)

Actors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Maylon Players (Tacoma); Maylon, Will; Nixon, Margaret; Reo automobile; Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

Pierce County Democratic Party banquet. State Senator Martin Durkan of Issaquah at podium; Tacoma Mayor Gordon Johnston is third from right in photo; State Insurance Commissioner Karl Hermann, fifth from right. Large photos on wall of US Senator Warren G. Magnuson (L) and Congressman Floyd V. Hicks (R). Nearly 700 people attended the $12.50 plate fundraiser for the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day at the Fellowship Hall on April 10, 1970. Commissioner Hermann, featured speaker, indicated that price controls and rationing were better methods to control inflation than the Nixon course of unemployment. (TNT 4-10-70, A-2-article; TNT 4-11-70, p.3-article) ALBUM 14.

Johnston, Gordon N.; Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980; Durkan, Martin; Hermann, Karl; Banquets--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Governor Clarence D. Martin looks unsmilingly into the camera at December 28, 1937's Community Achievement Dinner. He is seated directly under a large poster of FDR entitled "Our President." Joining him at the head table are Sixth District Congressman John Coffee, Puget Sound Bank's Reno Odlin, and U.S. Senator Homer T. Bone. Governor Martin would later address the 1000+ diners on the reawakening of the industrial spirit in our state. He would also advocate a renewed push for vocational education for the state's children. (T.Times, 12-29-37, p. 1) ALBUM 10.

Governors; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Coffee, John; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Bone, Homer Truett, 1883-1970; Legislators--Washington--1930-1940; Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Posters;

Civic and political leaders join in song at the Community Achievement Dinner held at the Masonic Temple. L-R are Sixth District Congressman John Coffee, Governor Clarence D. Martin, Puget Sound National Bank president Reno Odlin, U.S. Senator Homer T. Bone and Tacoma Mayor George Smitley. Over one thousand people attended the achievement dinner which was combined with the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet. Governor Martin predicted a brighter future for our state with the initiation of a million dollar advertising campaign to bring more people, industry and payrolls to this area. (T. Times, 12-29-37, p. 1) ALBUM 10.

Governors; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Coffee, John; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Bone, Homer Truett, 1883-1970; Legislators--Washington--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Posters; Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Tacoma Mayor George A.Smitley (L) shaking hands with Harold A. Allen, retiring president of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Allen had held the post for two years. The Chamber of Commerce combined their usual banquet with the city's Community Achievement Dinner on December 28, 1937, in the Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall. Governor Clarence D. Martin and a host of political and civic leaders attended the dinner, as did approximately 1000 residents. Toastmaster Reno Odlin presented Mr. Allen with a framed check for $2 as a humorous gesture for his years of service. (T.Times, 12-29-37, p. 1) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Allen, Harold A.; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Afifi Temple Arab Patrol, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine. Group of men photographed in June of 1932 wearing Masonic costumes on the steps of the Masonic Temple. The "Shriners" were founded in 1872 as a fun fraternal organization for men who had completed their requirements in the Scottish or Knights Templar (York rite) Masonic organizations. (filed with Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Afifi Arab Patrol (Tacoma); Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

This is the Afifi Temple Arab Patrol, photographed within the Masonic Temple, 47 Saint Helens Ave., in June of 1932. It is the same photograph as 411, image 9 except that part of the background has been lightened.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Masonic Temple (Tacoma); Afifi Arab Patrol (Tacoma);

Miss Mercer; Children's Party. Large group of children standing on steps of the theater at the Masonic Temple in June of 1934. (filed with Argentum)

Temple Theatre (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

ca. 1935. Masonic Temple at 2nd and St. Helens, with the adjoining Temple Theatre. The Temple opened in 1927. It was designed by A.J. Russell, architect, and is on the City Registry. The interior is Greek with Egyptian detail. The theatre was originally known as the Heilig Theatre, but became Hamrick's Temple Theatre in 1931. It could seat 1800. At the time of the photograph, the theatre is showing Charlie Chan's Greatest Case plus Myrt & Marge. The Kernel Mosely big white popcorn wagon is parked across the street from the theatre. A sign on the wagon advises lovers of good popcorn that they will be popping corn at night. On the ground floor of the Masonic Temple, left to right, is the Harter Dance of Dance and the Clark Cafe, serving lunch and dinner and Clark's Tobaccos, selling Kools and cigars. TPL-822

Masonic Temple (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

Shriners of the Afifi temple. Floyd Kinnear, Robert P. Allen, W.H.Mierow, Walter Sutter, Clinton Hull, and E.M. Densmore are on the committee in charge of Tacoma's Temple's Golden Jubilee ceremony and ball. Framed photographs show Tacoma in 1888 including a view of Pacific Avenue looking north and cargo ships docked near a lumber company. (T.Times, 12/1/1938, p. 18).

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Afifi Temple (Tacoma); Kinnear, Floyd; Allen, Robert P.; Mierow, W.H.; Sutter, Walter H.; Hull, Clinton C.; Densmore, E.M.;

Tacoma Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Eugene Linden playing concert on stage at Temple Theatre. The orchestra disbanded from 1938-1939 due to financial losses incurred in the movement of the concert series from the Jason Lee auditorium to the Temple Theatre. Late in 1939, the orchestra was once again rehearsing for a concert series, this time in the Jason Lee auditorium. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Philharmonic Orchestra (Tacoma); Orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Concerts--Tacoma--1930-1940; Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

The Grand Chapter of the State of Washington, Order of the Eastern Star, opened their "Victory Session" at Fellowship Hall in the Masonic Temple on June 18, 1942. The Grand Officers posed for a group portrait for the 59th annual meeting. Hanging above them are flags from many nations. Since America was at war then the flags shown are from some of their allies, including Great Britain and the USSR. Silhouettes of Presidents Washington and Lincoln flank the officials on stage. 1500 Eastern Star members attended the meeting. Mayme Harmony of Seattle and Irwin Jones were selected as worthy grand matron and worthy grand patron, respectively. (T.Times 6-17-42, p. 8-article; T.Times 6-19-42, p. 9-article)

Order of the Eastern Star (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Flags; Silhouettes; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ivanhoe Commandery No. 4 was the local chapter of the Knights Templar of Washington. View of Ivanhoe club members gathered together for their April, 1946, meeting at the Masonic Temple. Man in front row, second from left is wearing the grand commander cloak, cap and sash.

Men--Clubs--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ivanhoe Commandery No. 4, Knights Templar (Tacoma);

The Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine were joining many other Northwest Temple Shriners for a Shrine parade in Tacoma. Groups from Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, Portland and many others were going to participate in the Northwest Temples March. The Afifi Temple will host the event. View of Shriners lined up and ready for their parade.

Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Flags; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Afifi Temple (Tacoma);

VIP table at the Pierce County Republican Club's 1944 Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple where Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential candidate and titular head of the party, gave the main address. Mr. Willkie is seated towards the center, wearing a dark suit; next to him is Evelyn Langlie, wife of Governor Arthur Langlie. Two seats away is Gov. Langlie along with Edith Willkie, wife of the guest speaker. There were so many requests for banquet tickets that additional tables had to be inserted behind the head table; approximately 1700 people dined in the Fellowship Hall with additional hundreds in the roof garden. (T.Times, 2-12-44, p. 1)

Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Willkie, Edith; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Langlie, Evelyn; Governors;

Three uniformed majorettes from Lincoln High School in front of the Masonic Temple during the visit to Tacoma of 1940 Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie. Mr. Willkie was invited to address the Pierce County Republican Club Lincoln Day Dinner on February 11, 1944. Shirley Williams, Evalu Clevenger and Joyce Atkins are standing in front of the bunting-draped open automobile in which Mr. and Mrs. Willkie were passengers. Bands from both Lincoln and Stadium High Schools performed at the dinner.

Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Williams, Shirley; Clevenger, Evalu; Atkins, Joyce; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma);

Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson, on left in photo, shakes hands with Eric A. Johnston of Spokane, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, during a Republican banquet in Tacoma. 1500 Republicans attended the gigantic banquet at the Masonic Temple Fellowship Hall which opened the 1944 campaign for Pierce County Republicans. Prosecuting Attorney Tollefson had the honor of introducing Mr. Johnston who gave a rousing speech. Mr. Tollefson would run for a Congressional seat in 1946, defeating incumbent Democrat John Coffee, and hold that seat for the following eight Congresses. Mr. Johnston would serve four terms as head of the C & C and later hold the office of president of the Motion Picture Association of America for 18 years. (TNT 11-13-43, p. 1) ALBUM 4.

Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Johnston, Eric A.;

Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential nominee and titular head of the party, listens to Governor Arthur Langlie speak at Pierce County Republican Club 1944 Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple, where Mr. Willkie gave the main address. Governor Langlie had campaigned together with Mr. Willkie during the Indiana attorney's presidential run as he had sought the gubernatorial post. Mr. Willkie's speech was carried nationally over CBS. To accommodate the overwhelming demand for banquet tickets, extra tables were placed behind the head table. The Tacoma Times noted that Republicans were surprised at the large number of Democrats who attended the function. (T. Times, 2-12-44, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

1940 Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie addressing a crowd in the Roof Garden of the Masonic Temple, including members of Stadium and Lincoln High School Bands, during the Pierce County Republican Club's 1944 Lincoln Day dinner. His main address took place in the Temple's Fellowship Hall; however, he made time to have informal conversations with these young people. (T.Times, 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mrs. Harry (Marjorie) Cain and Harry Jr. (Buzzie) stand to generous applause from a packed house at a tribute to Mayor Cain at the Temple Theatre on October 2, 1944. Ex-Mayor J.J. Kaufman and wife are at extreme left in photo. Mayor Cain, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, served in the European theater from 1943-1945. He was not present at this tribute but hundreds of his supporters attended the free two-hour variety show which honored Tacoma's "fighting mayor." Harry P. Cain would make a successful run for the U.S. Senate in 1946. (TNT 10-3-44, p. 1, T.Times 10-3-44, p. 1) ALBUM 13.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979--Family; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Cain, Harry P.; Kaufman, Joseph J.;

Sorority program at Masonic Temple. Roomful of mostly women watch intently the proceedings in front of them in this photograph from March of 1950. Two men and two women are on a small stage. The event occurred at the Masonic Temple, probably the one at 47 Saint Helens Ave. in Tacoma.

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

The original Black Hills Passion Play was said to one of the most colorful ever presented on a Tacoma stage. The show was sold for most of the matinee and evening performances. The play takes us through the last supper, the crucifixion, the resurrection and the ascension. View of one of the actors in full costume, possibly Pontius Pilate; he was part of the Black Hills Passion Play (T.N.T., 10/5/49, p. 8).

Theatrical productions--Tacoma; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Costumes; Historical dramas; Biblical events; Tacoma Council of Churches (Tacoma); Temple Theatre (Tacoma);