Actor Dale Robertson belted out a song with backing from the Doodletown Pipers during a September 24, 1970, afternoon Grandstand Show at the Western Washington Fair. The group performed six shows in three days from September 22 through the 24th. Mr. Robertson, best known for his television and motion picture acting roles as a cowboy, was also a country western singer. He was booked as a last minute replacement for singer Patti Page, of "Tennessee Waltz" fame, who cancelled because of illness. ALBUM 7.

Actors; Robertson, Dale, 1923- ; Singers; Doodletown Pipers; Singing; Fairs--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Concerts; Celebrities;

The 70 piece Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific Northwest perform at the annual USO Music Festival, held at Point Defiance Park on July 28, 1946. The orchestra, conducted by Dr. Francis Aranyi, was photographed on the temporary bandstand erected in the natural amphitheater at the entrance to the park. The concert was attended by over 7,000 people. (TT 7/27/1946, pg 2 and 7/28/46, pg 1; TNT 7/27/46, pg.1 and 7/29/46, pg. 1& 2; Photo by F.L. Powell, YMCA, Tacoma)

The Puget Sound Navy Orchestra, from Seattle, performed jazz at the second annual music festival on July 28, 1946, at Point Defiance Park. The orchestra was under the direction of Ensign William Paul Currence. Watching and waiting for their turn to play, right, was either the 448th Special Service Band or Sharps and Flats, both groups from Fort Lewis. The newspapers classified their sound as "Boogie-Woogie." The 448th was under the direction of Sgt. Benjamin W. Martin; Sharps and Flats was under the direction of Joe Jordan. The concert, held in the natural amphitheater at the entrance to the park, drew over 7,000 listeners. It was also broadcast over the Mutual Network by KMO. (TT 7/27/1946, pg 2 and 7/28/46, pg 1; TNT 7/27/46, pg.1 and 7/29/46, pg. 1& 2; Photo by F.L. Powell, YMCA)

This photograph from the Helen Stafford collection is dated July 29, 1945, meaning it was taken at the first USO music festival at Point Defiance. Six thousand attendees sat on the grass to listen to the 362nd Army Band from Fort Lewis play Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Also performing were the 29th Special Service Band directed by Sgt. Earnest Hayden and the 25 voice Naval choir from Bremerton. (TNT 7/29/1945, PG. 1; Photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

Beatrice Houdini, widow of the famous magician Harry Houdini, with Tacoma's Ray Gamble seated at a restaurant booth. Caricature drawings on the wall in background. Ray Gamble was a Tacoma business magnate and a dedicated amateur magician. It is as a magician that he made close friends with the magic community as well as the Hollywood film set. He was also a world traveler and collector. TPL-5100, TPL-6693

Magicians; Houdini, Harry--Family; Houdini, Beatrice; Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972;

Beatrice (Bessie) Houdini, in white, is in Tacoma to visit Ray Gamble, left, and Gamble's wife Addie, right. Bessie worked alongside her famous husband as his stage assistant from the time of their marriage in 1894. Harry Houdini, the world renowned escape artist and magician, died in 1926. Mrs. Houdini visited with the Gambles on several occasions. Gamble, an industrialist by trade and a magician by avocation, is sitting next to Mrs. Houdini's personal secretary Mr. Edward Saint.

Magicians; Houdini, Harry--Family; Houdini, Beatrice; Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Rowboats; Fishing; Saint, Edward; Gamble, Addie;

Beatrice (Mrs. Harry) Houdini being helped out of a boat. Ray Gamble stands on dock at left. Edward Saint (man in dark hat) steadies the boat. The woman seated in the boat is Addie (Mrs. Ray) Gamble. (T. Times).

Magicians; Houdini, Harry--Family; Houdini, Beatrice; Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Rowboats; Saint, Edward; Gamble, Addie;

College of Puget Sound Play. "Petrified Forest" by Robert Sherwood. Full cast on stage, character of Duke Mantee is at far left in photo. (filed with Argentum)

Actresses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stages (Platforms); Stage props; Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Actors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Actors Jimmy Durante, right, and Lionel Stander, left, sitting on a bench in a locker room circa 1939. Both are wearing San Diego baseball uniforms. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Actors; Baseball; Durante, Jimmy, 1893-1980; Stander, Lionel; Uniforms; Locker rooms;

Stadium High School Senior Class Play. The Stadium Class of '22 presented "Sherwood" as the senior class play in May of that year. Dressed as jovial Friar Tuck and holding a sturdy staff is Edward Hamilton. He, along with Egbert Brix as "Little John," were noted by a News Tribune review for being "enjoyed particularly for the comedy which they added to the play." This photograph, and others, appeared in the 1922 Tahoma yearbook. (1922 Tahoma, p. 92) (TNT 5-20-22, p. 7-article) G64.1-050

Hamilton, Edward; Actors--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma);

Actress, singer and lecturer Mona Darkfeather made a special appearance at the Liberty Theater, 906-08 Pacific Avenue, during the week beginning on August 31, 1918. Advertised as an "Indian Princess," she was actually born Josephine Workman in California and due to her dark, exotic look, became an actress specializing in Native American roles. A small article in the September 5th Tacoma Daily Ledger stated that she had come from one of the oldest and best families in California. It indicated that her father was the owner of the first bank in Los Angeles and her grandfather owned Alcatraz Island. The Princess was said to be one of five heirs to the city of Puenta, California, a matter then being contested. Her name is misspelled as "Mono" Darkfeather on the large sign advertising a special movie feature, "Eyes of the World." Princess Mona, in her "rattlesnake" dress, appeared after each showing of "Eyes of the World" to sing and give advice to all girls with ambition to enter show business. G64.1-130 (TNT 8-31-18, p. 7-ad; TDL 9-5-18, p. 7-article)

Darkfeather, Mona; Costumes; Actresses; Singers; Liberty Theater (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Princess Mona Darkfeather appeared in person on stage at the Liberty Theater, 906-08 Pacific Avenue, for several days beginning August 31, 1918. Photographed in front of the theater dressed in an "authentic" Indian costume, Princess Darkfeather was born Josephine Workman in southern California. She became a screen actress after answering an advertisement, placed by movie producer Thomas Ince, calling for exotic looking girls to play "Indian maidens". She became a popular star in both one-reel Western melodramas and feature films often featured astride her famous pinto pony Comanche. Princess Mona spent several days in Tacoma in 1918, appearing after each showing of "Eyes of the World." She sang and gave lectures to aspiring young actresses. The woman to the right was not identified. (entertainment.msn.com & www.homesteadmuseum.org; TNT 8-31-18, p. 7-Ad; TDL 9-5-18, p. 7-article) G64.1-025, TPL-8837

Darkfeather, Mona; Indians of North America--Tacoma; Singers; Liberty Theater (Tacoma);

John Russell, one of the stars of the TV series "The Lawman;" Tippi Hedren, memorable in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds," and Arthur O'Connell, who was in the TV series "The Second Hundred Years," dined in Lakewood at the Terrace Restaurant, 6114 Motor Ave. S.W., on May 16, 1968. They were visiting Tacoma for the grand opening of the Tacoma Mall Theater. While in Tacoma they made a special trip to Madigan Army Hospital to visit with injured soldiers. Other actors in Tacoma for the theater's premiere were Jody McCrea, Troy Donahue, Madlyn Rhue , Tony Young, and Diane McBain. (TNT 5-16-68, C-6) ALBUM 5.

Actors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Russell, John; O'Connell, Arthur; Actresses; Hedren, Tippi; Fur garments;

Gerrye Schmitt starred as "Nellie Quakenbush" in the musical melodrama, "No! No! A Thousand Times No!" during the spring of 1969. She was part of the Opera House Players who performed in the two-act theatrical review held at Steve's Gay '90s in South Tacoma. The melodrama was directed by Dorothy Jean Heffernan who had previously directed "The Drunkard," held at Steve's in 1967. Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s. (TNT 3-16-69, D-17)

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Melodramas; Actresses; Schmitt, Gerrye; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma);

Knees high, three unidentified song-and-dance men prepared to do their part in the March 10, 1969 rehearsal of "No! No! A Thousand Times No!" The two-act musical melodrama was held in the Opera House of Steve's Gay '90s, 5238-40 South Tacoma Way, in the spring of 1969 and utilized the talents of many of Steve's entertainers. The role the trio played is unknown but apparently involved grasping their straw hats and stealthily crossing the stage. Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s.

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Melodramas; Entertainers--Tacoma; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma);

Actor John Forsythe on stage during opening night at the Southcenter Theatre, April 1, 1970. The theater, with one of the nation's last mammoth screens, has since been demolished. Mr. Forsythe had made a special appearance at the Tukwila theater to promote his new film, "Topaz." ALBUM 7.

Forsythe, John; Actors; Motion picture theaters--Tukwila; Southcenter Theatre (Tukwila);

Actor John Forsythe on stage during opening night at the Southcenter Theatre, April 1, 1970. His film, "Topaz," was the first film shown at the theater. It was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and also starred Philippe Noiret and Michel Piccoli. Based on the complex Leon Uris spy novel, Mr. Forsythe played a CIA agent who uncovers Soviet plans to place missiles in Cuba. Mr. Forsythe was perhaps better known in later years as a television star, appearing in "Bachelor Father," the unseen Charlie in "Charlie's Angels," and as oil tycoon Blake Carrington in "Dynasty." ALBUM 7.

Forsythe, John; Actors; Motion picture theaters--Tukwila; Southcenter Theatre (Tukwila);

Actor John Forsythe on stage during opening night at the Southcenter Theatre April 1, 1970. His name was prominently displayed on the theater's marquee as the star of the Alfred Hitchcock film, "Topaz." Motion picture stars at that time still made personal appearances, when requested, at theater openings. Tippi Hedren and Troy Donahue were among many stars who were invited to the grand opening of the Tacoma Mall Theater in 1968. ALBUM 7.

Forsythe, John; Actors; Southcenter Theatre (Tukwila); Motion picture theaters--Tukwila;

Actor Dale Robertson performs with the Doodletown Pipers at the Grandstand show of the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup, September 24, 1970. He holds a microphone in one hand and a pistol in the other. Mr. Robertson performed two shows a day for three days at the Fair, concluding the evening of the 24th. He stepped in as a replacement for singer Patti Page who cancelled because of illness. Better known as a motion picture and television actor, Mr. Robertson also sang country-western. He had hosted television's "Hollywood Palace" variety show three times before his appearance at the Fair and performed "I've Been Working on the Railroad" and "Turkey in the Straw." ALBUM 7.

Actors; Robertson, Dale, 1923- ; Singers; Doodletown Pipers; Singing; Fairs--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Concerts; Celebrities;

Mrs. F.F. Paige, the grandmother of the actress Janis Paige, was shown a special screening of the movie "Her Kind of Man" on Friday May 3, 1946 at the Music Box Theater in Tacoma. Warner Brothers sent a special print of the film to Tacoma because Mrs. Paige had been seriously ill. Janis Paige, the former Donna Mae Jaden, was a 1941 graduate of Stadium High School. "Her Kind of Man" was her first feature film to be released. (T.Times, 5/4/1946, p.4) Album # 5

Actresses; Paige, Janis--Family; Music Box Theatre (Tacoma); Motion pictures--1940-1950;

These three children were the principals in an operetta version of Engelbert Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel" performed before large crowds at the Northwest Music Educators' March, 1939 conference in Tacoma. Harry Lue Aldrich (Hansel) has been lassoed by the wicked witch Charlotte Sands as Dolores Klaiber (Gretel) stands aghast. All three were elementary school students.

Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1930-1940; Klaiber, Dolores; Sands, Charlotte; Aldrich, Harry; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1936. Magician Ray Gamble, seated facing the camera at near right, enjoying a meal with friends in Hollywood. Mr. Gamble and his wife Addie had apparently paid a visit to the famed Sardi's restaurant about 1936. Beatrice Houdini, widow of Harry Houdini, was seated in the next table along with Edward Saint. Caricatures of Eddie Cantor and Peter Lorre, and others, decorate the wall behind Mr. Gamble. From left to right are: Capt. Charles Howard of the Canadian Mounted Police; Mrs. Howard; Dr. J.E. Evedon of Hollywood; Mrs. Gamble; Mrs. Evedon; and Ray Gamble.

Magicians; Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Gamble, Addie; Howard, Charles; Howard, Charles--Family; Evedon, J.E.; Evedon, J.E.--Family; Sardi's (Hollywood, CA); Caricatures;

Beatrice (Mrs. Harry) Houdini, dressed in a long white coat and hat, photographed at the Hotel Winthrop where she is a guest. She is standing beside an elaborate table on which an ornate potted palm has been placed. Mrs. Houdini was visiting in Tacoma after attending the convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians in Seattle the prior week. As Harry Houdini's assistant for 42 years, she was the only living person who knew all the secrets of his famous tricks and she wasn't giving any away. Houdini had not been able to perform his greatest trick after death, the communication to his wife of a prearranged word and message psychically from the "Beyond." Mrs. Houdini planned the "Seance to end all seances" for October 31, the 10th anniversary of his death. Psychics would be linked by radio coast to coast in a psychic circle to wait for the message, but none came. (T. Times 7/14/1936, pg. 3)

Magicians; Houdini, Harry--Family; Houdini, Beatrice;

ca. 1936. Beatrice (Mrs. Harry) Houdini, Ray Gamble and other guests sit around a restaurant table believed to be located in the famed Sardi's restaurant in Hollywood circa 1936. On the walls are caricatures of famous visitors . At the table, left to right, are Edward Saint, unidentified, Ray Gamble, Beatrice Houdini, unidentified woman and another unidentified male.

Magicians; Houdini, Harry--Family; Houdini, Beatrice; Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Saint, Edward;

College of Puget Sound Homecoming play "Night of January 16th" by Ayn Rand. Popular play with a "hook"; the jury was selected from the audience before each performance and asked to find the accused guilty or not guilty of murder at the end of the staged trial.

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

Johnny Sheffield, "Boy" in the "Tarzan" films, attends to his studies with tutor Fletcher Clark at the Winthrop Hotel. Sheffield was in Tacoma for an appearance to sell War Bonds. Fletcher Clark was the former teacher of child star Mickey Rooney. (TNT 6/16/1942)

Sheffield, Johnny; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clark, Fletcher; Tutoring; Teachers;

Johnny Sheffield, "Boy" in the "Tarzan" films appears at Liberty Center, 10th and Pacific Avenue during his national "Buy Tanks for Yanks" tour for the Treasury Department. Man on his right is Leon Titus, Pierce County War Bond Drive Chairman. The 84 lb. sixth grader was making his fourteenth appearance as a bond salesman for Uncle Sam. Dressed in his Cub Scout uniform, Johnny would deliver a speech entitled "A Boy's Place in America" which was written for him by the Treasury Department. He had been hand-picked by Johnny Weissmuller from a crowd of 300 boys for the role, even though he was unable to swim a stroke. Tousled hair Johnny would play "Boy" in eight Tarzan pictures before finally outgrowing the part. (TNT 6-13-42, p. 3, TNT 6-15-42, p. 15)

Sheffield, Johnny; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus, Leon E.; Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma;

Johnny Sheffield, "Boy" in the "Tarzan" films appears at Liberty Center, 10th and Pacific Avenue during his national "Buy Tanks for Yanks" tour for the Treasury Department. Man on his right sharing the microphone is Leon Titus, Pierce County War Bond Drive Chairman. The young MGM star followed Lana Turner into Tacoma days later on a similar bond drive. As the large cutout of the eleven-year-old actor indicated, U.S. war bonds and stamps would be available for purchase during his brief appearance. Johnny declined to kiss the purchasers of large bonds, as Miss Turner had done, although he did offer to "rassle" them instead. (TNT 6-13-42, p. 3, TNT 6-15-42, p. 15)

Sheffield, Johnny; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus, Leon E.; Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

Actress Lana Turner with Mayor Harry P. Cain at his office in (Old) City Hall where she is appearing for a press interview on Friday June 12, 1942. She had just arrived from Portland in the company of Leon Titus, local chairman of war bond sales. She stopped in the Mayor's office for an official greeting and to speak with reporters. Her grace and charm earned the Tacoma Times reporter's respect and the observation that she was unspoiled and undemanding. (T. Times 6/13/1942, pg.1)

Turner, Lana, 1920-1995; Actresses; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor Harry P. Cain shows Actress Lana Turner a list of facts about Tacoma during her visit on June 12, 1942 to the Mayor's office in (Old) City Hall for a press interview. Miss Turner, also known as the "Sweater Girl" for her curvy good looks, was in Tacoma on a War Bonds Sale junket. While in Pierce County for her 24 hour stay, she would visit Fort Lewis, the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyard, dedicate Tacoma's new war bond selling center ("Liberty Center") and dispense kisses and autographs to those who bought bonds. (T. Times 6/12/1942, pg. 1)

Turner, Lana, 1920-1995; Actresses; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;