A man is captured in mid-dive onto a large trampoline during the Tacoma Athletic Commission's August, 1950, water carnival festivities. Phil Skiff and George Lewis of the Ski-Quatic Follies of Seattle demonstrated stunts on the trampoline. There were seventeen acts to entertain the large crowds gathered on Ruston Way.(TNT 8-25-50, p. 20, 8-27-50, p. B-10))

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Bedecked with Hawaiian leis, entertainer Alfred Apaka and members of the Tacoma Athletic Commission enjoy an evening at the Top of the Ocean. Mr. Apaka, shown here in white shirt and cloth lei, was asked to bring his orchestra to Tacoma to perform at the T.A.C. Hawaiian dinner-dance in October, 1950. Smiling for the camera are J.J. Petrich (in background); others seated are Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wannberg, Mr. Apaka, Elsie Pitzen. Standing are Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lichtenwalter. (TNT 10-8-50, p. D-8)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Apaka, Alfred; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

A woman contortionist performed on the dance floor with her legs elevated on two tables on either side of her body in a split formation . Her body is lower than her feet. Groups of people who are seated at tables around dance floor applaud her performance during the Halloween party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean. Ordered by Will Maylon.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life; Stunt performers--Tacoma; Entertainers--Tacoma;

Awarding sweaters to high school allstar football team on November 29, 1950. Football players and families listening to speaker. Presentation at Pontiac automobile dealership.

Awards; Football--1950-1960; Football players--1950-1960; Automobile dealerships--1950-1960;

Ray Kanzler and one of the bowling teams posed for this studio portrait during the 1951 leagues.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bowling balls;

On May 1, 1951, to mark the opening of the summer season at the Fircrest Golf Club, 1000 Regents Blvd., the club's women came dressed in costume. Four of the weird, wonderful and well dressed women seen at the links were: (l to r) Mary E. (Mrs. Frank H.) Murray, as a jailbird; Laura E. (Mrs. Roy L.) McGinn, pioneer woman; Freida (Mrs. Ben) Rome, Hindu; and Louise (Mrs. Frank) Severson, as Daniel Boone. First prize for best costume went to Mrs. M.C. Thompson who came dressed as a Fiji islander, complete with grass skirt. (Ordered by the Tribune.) (TNT, 6/6/1951, p.D-1)

Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murray, Mary E.; McGinn, Laura E.; Rome, Freida; Severson, Louise; Costumes

Cupid, victory cigar in mouth, draws back his bow to attempt a fifth arrow at the telephone target on January 10, 1958. He has already successfully hit the target four times. He does appear to be rather close to the designated target. The archer is dressed in a towel covering his waist and part of his suit wound around his shoulder and hip. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.

Archery--Tacoma; Bows (Archery); Targets (Sports); Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Cupid retrieves his arrows in a January 10, 1958, photograph. He has apparently hit his target, a telephone in a circle, with all four arrows at a rate of 100%. The smiling archer has a towel wrapped around his waist and perhaps part of his suit draped over his shoulder. He is clutching a large bow. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.

Archery--Tacoma; Bows (Archery); Targets (Sports); Telephones; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Bobby Hicks, featherweight from the Chemeres Boxing Club of Seattle (in the dark trunks), takes a vicious punch to the head in his bout with Gil Durey on January 20, 1956. He ultimately beat Durey, an Oregon State College student, in the opening bout of the Eighth Annual Golden Gloves held at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse by decision. Sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, the tournament attracted 59 entries from six major Northwest cities plus military representations. Going into the fight, Hicks had a record of thirteen knockouts in 29 fights. (Photograph ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission.) (TNT 1-20-56, p. 20, TNT 1-22-56, B-11)

Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

Golden Gloves tournament. It appears that the boxer is winding up for a massive punch against his opponent during this semi-final match at the eighth annual Golden Gloves tournament on January 21, 1956. The amateur boxer to the left is believed to be Tommy Delveccio, representing the South Hill Club of Vancouver, B.C. His opponent, hair flying, may be Clifford Sam, Burns, Oregon, who lost to Delveccio in a decision. Delveccio went on to win the 139 pound class in a split decision over Ruggles Larson of the Seattle McPhersons Club. The Tacoma Athletic Club once again hosted the Golden Gloves. (TNT 1-22-56, B-11)

Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

The 1956 Tacoma Cheney Studs baseball team. The team was made up of the best amateur players from local high school and college teams. Bottom row, third from left, is Joe Budnick, Studs manager and University of Washington coach. The 1956 Studs contained many of the team members from the previous year, plus several new outstanding players. To the right of Joe Budnick are Luther Carr, George Kritsonis and George Grant. In the back row, third from the right is Ron Dodge. Other players included Mel Manley, Monte Geiger, Pete Walski and Gary Moore. The team won the Seattle City League Crown, finished second in Tacoma's City League and third in the Northwest International League. They lost to Tacoma's Shoemen in the Washington State Amateur Baseball Championship. The Shoemen came from behind to win 5 straight games, including one double header, to be the representative for the state. The Shoemen continued on to win the Amateur World Series, the American Amateur Baseball Congress, in 1956.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);

Interiors of the Lakewood Ice Arena. An instructor ties his skates surrounded by smiling young students. Although the home of several competitive skaters, the rink also offered affordable lessons to children and adults at all skating levels from beginners on up. Public free skating time was also available and if you didn't own your own skates, they could be rented. ("History of Figure Skating in Pierce County, Lakewood Arena")

Ice skating--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Lakewood Figure Skating Club (Lakewood); Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A young baseball player with the 1955 Washington Cheney Studs team. The Cheney Studs were an amateur team made up of the most talented high school and college talent in the Seattle-Tacoma area. This is possibly Fred Emerson who played outfield for the Studs. During the school year, Fred attended the University of Washington. He was 18 years of age, 5'11", 180 pounds and a native of Kent, Wa. After a stellar winning season, the Studs finished second at the American Baseball Congress in Battle Creek, Michigan, behind the team from Houston, Texas.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);

A trio of young ladies appear to be crooning into the microphone at the Seattle banquet honoring the Washington Cheney Studs baseball team. The October 30, 1955, gathering was to acknowledge the feats of the young amateur players, and award them with trophies and new jackets. A portrait of sponsor Ben Cheney graces the occasion. Sepia photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banquets; Awards;

Group portrait-- Washington Cheney Studs. Members of the Cheney Studs baseball team and their coaches gather in front of a portrait of benefactor Ben Cheney and the massive trophies awarded them at the September American Baseball Congress tournament. The players were being honored at a banquet held in Seattle on October 30, 1955. Trophies and new jackets with the Cheney Studs logo were given to the team at that time. Sepia photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banquets; Awards; Group portraits;

Pictured on September 6,1955, is a member of the Cheney Studs, a baseball farm team. The young player appears to be looking intently off in the distance as he leans on a wooden bat. Until his death in 1971, Ben Cheney sponsored thousands participating in the sports of baseball, football, basketball and bowling in the Pacific Northwest. Cheney was instrumental in obtaining the Pacific Coast League franchise for Tacoma in 1960; the team would be called the Tacoma Giants with the San Francisco Giants as their parent club.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Uniforms; Sporting goods;

Making a road trip easier and more comfortable, the Cheney Studs baseball team traveled by private railroad car in early September, 1955. The team was sponsored by Ben Cheney, owner of Cheney Lumber. Three young players are shown here enjoying the passing scenery. The team may have been on their way to Watertown, S.D., to compete in the initial rounds of the American Baseball Congress national tournament. They would be successful and eventually play in the championship match against defending champs Houston in Battle Ground, Michigan, where the Studs wound up in second place.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma;

Preparing for a run, Jim E. Jones cradles the football with both hands as he poses for a November 1, 1955, photograph. Jones was on the varsity squad at Lincoln High School. Lincoln suffered only one loss in the 1955 season which was to the co-titlist Olympia High School Bears. Jim E. Jones also served as the manager of the varsity track team. (1956 Lincolnian yearbook, p. 51, 69)

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Jones, Jim E.;

The golf course at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. The sky seems striped with clouds as several golfers try out their skills on the green. In 1894, golf was introduced to Tacoma by a small group of displaced Scotsmen who negotiated to lease 280 acres of prairie land in Edison (now South Tacoma.) By 1904, the club made plans to relocate and the R.B. Lehman farm on the eastern shore of American Lake was purchased. This purchase, along with some adjacent property, gave the club 237 acres to stretch out on. This became the first permanent home of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club, the oldest continuing country club west of the Mississippi. ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Golf--Tacoma--1950-1960; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This photograph shows the clubhouse of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club on American Lake as it looked from the lake side of the building in September of 1956. It was built in 1910 from plans by the architects Russell and Babcock to replace the original clubhouse which was destroyed by fire. By 1956, it was known as "The Grand Old Lady". Its most prominent feature was a spiral staircase in the entry hall, which appears in many wedding and party pictures of the time. A fire gutted the structure in 1961. TPL-5740 ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--Buildings; Clubhouses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Clubhouse at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. In June of 1909, a fire that started in the servant's quarters burned the original clubhouse to the ground. This regal building, known as the "Grand Old Lady," rose in its place. It was best remembered for its gracious spiral staircase in the entrance hall, shown in many wedding portraits. A fire gutted this structure in 1961. TPL-5741 ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--Buildings; Clubhouses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

People took bowling very seriously in the 1950's. It was a very popular sport, with many companies sponsoring teams in various leagues. Results were often reported in the local newspapers. These five ladies were probably on the women's team sponsored by the Bailey Co., a real estate firm. Madge, Esther, Marge, Nona and Lois all had their names stitched onto their bowling shirts and engraved on their Brunswick balls as well. Photograph ordered by the Bailey Co.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling balls; Bailey Co. (Tacoma);

Bowling teams in the 1950's dressed a bit more formally than today's bowlers. This five-man team sponsored by the Bailey Co. all wore identical long-sleeve shirts and nice slacks to bowl. Since bowling was so popular in the 1940's and 50's, many companies sponsored teams who competed in leagues. Winning teams were frequently mentioned in the sports section of the local newspaper. Sepia photograph ordered by the Bailey Co.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling balls; Bailey Co. (Tacoma);

Group picture of Pederson Fryer Farms' baseball team. Sixteen players and their manager posed for this May 14, 1960, photograph at Heidelberg Field. They represented Pederson Fryer Farms in the 1960 AAU City League. They would join Cammarano Bottlers, Criswells, Puget Sound Renders, 4th Division Trains of Fort Lewis and defending champion Woodworth Contractors in the 6-team league. Al Faulkner, formerly of the Valley League, was the new manager of Pederson's. His team consisted, among others, of ex-PLC stars Ron Coltom, Jerry Curtis, Chuck Hobbs, and city-loop veterans Don Martelli and Ray Wing, outfielders, along with Gary Moore, Chuck Robbins and new acquisition, right hand pitcher Al MaCoy. Pederson's and Cammarano Bottlers, the previous year's runner-up, were scheduled to open the City League season in the first half of a double bill on May 30, 1960. That game was apparently cancelled due to rain and Pederson's would open their season with a 3-2 victory over the 4th Division Trains on June 3rd with southpaw Ron Coltom credited for the win. (TNT 5-8-60, B-15, 5-15-60, B-10, 6-4-60, p. 9)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Pederson Fryer Farms (Tacoma); Uniforms;

The Tacoma Giants played a double-header against the Portland Beavers on April 16, 1960 for opening day in Tacoma's new Cheney Stadium. In this photo from the first game of the day a ballplayer believed to be left fielder Dusty Rhodes makes contact with the ball to the delight of the large hometown crowd in the stands. The Portland squad won the first game 7 - 2 but fell to the home team in the nightcap, losing 11 - 0 due to the 8-hit shutout by future Hall-of-Famer Juan Marichal. Opening day had to be postponed until Saturday, April 16th, due to a 59 mph spring storm, massive rains, and low temperatures. Rhodes had a successful debut with the Tacoma Giants, going 2 - 4 in both games. He had played a major role in the New York Giants World Series victory in 1954 and played for seven years in the major leagues. TPL-9762

Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rhodes, Dusty; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

Opening day ceremonies at Cheney Stadium preceding Pacific Coast League matchup between the Tacoma Giants and Portland Beavers on April 16, 1960. Tacoma Mayor Ben Hanson at the microphone. Ben Cheney, Giants Board of Directors, second from right; next to him is W.D. "Rosy" Ryan, Giants vice president/general manager. "Rosy" Ryan had pitched in three World Series with the old N.Y. Giants. He saw service with Brooklyn, Boston and the Yankees, where he was a roommate of Babe Ruth. He played under skippers Miller Huggins, John McGraw and Casey Stengel. (TNT 4-12-60, D-2)

Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Public speaking--Tacoma; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Ryan, W.D.; Hanson, Ben;

The six giant light towers at the new Cheney Stadium provided excellent lighting for watching Tacoma Giants night baseball games. Spectators could see the action on the field without eye strain on this clear June 9, 1960, evening. The Giants would bounce back from losing a doubleheader the day before and defeat the Vancouver Mounties 6-0 behind the strong pitching of Eddie Fisher. With the victory, Tacoma would tie the Seattle Rainiers for third place, trailing the Sacramento Solons and Spokane Indians. The 5.012 paying customers in attendance would not only enjoy the victory, but pre-game dedication ceremonies and contests as well, and go home with a free souvenir program featuring color photographs of the team and the stadium. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber. (TNT 6-5-60, B-11. 6-10-60, A-1, p. 24) TPL-9682

Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Light fixtures;

ca. 1960. Customer's print. Ben Cheney, standing far left, proudly poses with his Cheney Studs, World's Amateur Champions for 1960. The baseball team was awarded the Quaker Oats trophy for a 50-game winning season. Each member, including the batboy, holds a miniature version of the trophy. The Studs, Seattle division, defeated Detroit 3-1 in Battle Creek, Michigan, on Tacoman Earl Hyder's home run , to capture the national American Amateur Baseball Congress title on September 21, 1960. (TNT 9-22-60, D-6)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Awards; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971;

Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champions Joe Louis, second from left, and Max Baer, far right, signed autographs during a special appearance at Tacoma's B&I Circus Store, 8012 South Tacoma Way, on Saturday May 3, 1958. Joining them at the autograph tables were Frank Stojack (far left), professional wrestling standout and Pierce County Sheriff, and a fourth unidentified man. Boxers Louis and Baer had been flown by helicopter to the B&I from the Lakewood Villa Plaza where they had signed autographs earlier the same day. ALBUM 9.

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baer, Max, 1909-1959--Public appearances; Louis, Joe, 1914-1981--Public appearances; Stojack, Frank; B&I Circus Store (Tacoma); Autographing--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Publicity for Renton 7-Up Ball Club. Close-up portrait of unidentified baseball player taken outdoors on July 23, 1942.

Baseball players--Renton; Uniforms;