Exterior view of the "Top of the Ocean". Automobiles are parked outside and banners are hung from the upper deck and over the top of the new restaurant and night club. The Top of the Ocean provided an invitation to all to dine and participate in an informal opening December 7th, 1946, at 5 p.m. It was called, the "most beautiful luxury dine and dance liner". She was not, however, a ship but was constructed on pilings at a cost of $262,000 by her owners Allen Rau and Bert Sundgren. Paul and Mendle Riggs were in charge of the boat facilities which provided docking sites for visiting yachts. There were four dining rooms on the main deck and a private suite for the Tacoma Athletic Club upstairs. Prices on complete dinners began at $1.50. The Top of the Ocean was destroyed by fire on April 3, 1977. (TNT, 3/21/1946; T.Times, 12/5/1946, p.11) TPL-423, TPL-2395

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nightclubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Athletic Commission Dinner for Gretchen Kunigk Fraser. Tacoma skier Gretchen Kunigk Fraser, winner of 1948 Olympic Gold and Silver medals for Alpine skiing, in a publicity photo for the Tacoma Athletic Commission on April 5, 1948. Gretchen is seen here with her mother, Clara Kunigk, of Tacoma. The man on the left is not identified. The man on the right is possibly her brother, Bill Kunigk. The Tacoma Athletic Commission honored Gretchen Fraser with a dinner/reception at the Top of the Ocean; over 600 people were in attendance.

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Kunigk, Clara;

Grand Opening, Blue Moon Tavern, John Monta. Interior of the tavern with Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Long (Marcia J. Long) by the bar. The couple look proud of the work they have put into preparing the tavern for their grand opening. The lights over the mirror are turned on, the bouquets from well wishers and the shiny equipment make a welcoming interior. Format 5' x 8'

Blue Moon Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Long, Charles L.; Long, Marcia J.; Bars (Furniture); Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The interior of the High Hat Tavern located at 8920 South Tacoma Way showing booths and counter seats. An alcove for Mel McLaughlin's Trio has been added along the far wall close to the jukebox. Ordered by Mr. Pep Greco.

High Hat Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma;

Opened in 1933, and then rebuilt on the same site in 1949, Fife's Poodle Dog restaurant advertised "Good Food" with a variety of items ranging from hamburgers to fancy seafood. Interior view of serving area; carts full of clean cups and glasses, silverware drawers and clean plates on counter in a U-shaped kitchen area. Rollaway serving table with used dishes and dirty pan in containers is next to a metallic cabinet. A black rotary phone is hung on an adjacent wall. TPL-9691

Diners (Restaurants)--Fife; Poodle Dog (Fife); Business enterprises--Fife; Equipment;

Scene from the Grand Opening of the Gay Nineties Room at Steve's Cafe (later commonly known as Steve's Gay '90s.) Employees pose in Nineties costumes, with frilly garters on their sleeves. Steve's was owned and operated by local restaurateur John Stanley and Steve Pease, the "unofficial mayor of South Tacoma." They merged Stanley's coffee shop and Pease's tavern in 1949 when, with the passage of liquor by the drink, Pease found he needed a restaurant in order to retain his liquor license. Providing new and unique environments and entertainments during the next twenty years, such as the Cable car room and the Opera House with its can can dancers, the Gay '90s remained a popular tourist attraction throughout the fifties and sixties. They closed in 1977. (TNT 4/4/1951, pg B6-B7)

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1890-1900;

The kitchen at the Viking Smorgasbord was furnished with the latest in modern equipment including odorless gas equipment. Well trained staff were selected by John E. Berglund and Maja Lisa Lindberg, both professionals in food catering. (TNT, 4/14/1951, p.C-5)

Viking Smorgasbord (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma; Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The 1950s were cruising years for teenagers in everywhere USA. Carhops delivered burgers and cokes on trays that attached to rolled-down car windows. Cruising was car hopping--teenagers met friends and wannabe friends at these 1950s social gathering places. In Tacoma, Busch's Drive-In restaurant was the place to be on Saturday nights. Bill and Thelma Busch bought the former Triple XXX Barrel Restaurant in 1943 and it remains today as Busch's Restaurant along with the memories of "cruising". TPL-830

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

The Golden Gloves Committee met at the Top of the Ocean. Amateur boxers from as far away as Vancouver, B.C. and Eugene, Oregon, were expected for the fourth annual Tacoma Golden Gloves tournament that was held at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. There were 48 entrants in the 1951 bout and 85 were expected this year. Shown are, L-R, seated: Carter Lee, Ken Purchase, Ples Irwin, George Sheridan, Ray Kelly, Henry Auge, and Charles Funk. Standing: Howie Welsh, John Rockway, Bob Martin, Jim Rondeau, Al Kemp, Vernie Reed, Clay Huntington, and Harry (Scotty) Weinstone. Ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT, 1/25/1952, p.C-9)

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Oscar Peterson and Bill Harris express exaggerated shock at the prices on the menu of the newly remodeled New Yorker Cafe. Holding the menu are possibly owners Patricia and Michael DeVoto. The presence of the jazz greats at the opening was a happy surprise. Peterson and Harris were performing in Seattle with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show when they called old pal Art Mineo, now settled in Tacoma and hired to provide music for the opening, to "sit in" with his orchestra. The rest is history as the group jammed until closing, providing a memorial night of jazz for the opening night club goers.

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peterson, Oscar; Harris, Bill;

The "Staten Room" was the main dining room of the "new" New Yorker restaurant located at Sixth & Cushman in 1951. It had a capacity of 150 diners. The rubberized folding walls made it possible to have smaller private rooms for special occasions. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11)

Dining rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

South Tacoma's Main Yon Cafe had the grand opening of their new dining room in early November, 1951. The Main Yon's new dining room had comfortable booth seating and was beautifully decorated with a Chinese themed wall mural. Orchids for the ladies and ice cream and coffee were offered free during the grand opening. Owned and operated by "Charlie" Eng Sing Poy, the Main Yon had been in business for 16 years. Originally from Canton, China, Mr. Eng Sing Poy received his naturalization papers in October, 1951. Photograph ordered by Udall Construction Company. TPL-8120 (TNT 11-6-1951, p. 7)

Main Yon Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eng, Sing Poy; Murals--Tacoma; Udall Construction Co. (Tacoma);

Coffee shop with long bar with stools, rows of booths on right, three rounded booths at rear. This was dubbed the "Long Island Coffee Shop," part of the "new" New Yorker restaurant in November of 1951. The restaurant was celebrating its grand opening on November 16, 1951. The coffee shop faced Sixth Avenue and was open from 7 a.m. to closing (either midnight or 1 a.m.) weekdays. Only food was served on Sundays at the New Yorker. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11-article)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flower arrangements;

Exposures of several after remodeling pictures of Manning's Market. Manning's underwent extensive remodeling in 1950. This photograph, taken on July 31, 1950, shows a multitude of small tables and booths in the cafe section of the store. Recessed lighting, painted murals, and new linoleum flooring enhance the dining atmosphere.

Manning's Market (Tacoma); Manning's Inc. (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma;

Portrait of cooks and servers standing behind buffet-style table at Steve's (Gay Nineties) Cafe. Street scene on wall with representations of Tacoma businesses by Knabel.

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

ca. 1943. Rudder Club, Mr. Avge. Two cooks in the kitchen, one at the griddle. Large pots, baskets, bowls, and utensils are also shown.

Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma); Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pianist Bert Kool (far right) led the distinctive quartet of musicians who provided dance music at the grand opening of the Olympus Cafe and Supper Club in August of 1944. The new club opened on August 12, 1944, and was located directly below the Olympus Hotel, 815 Pacific Avenue, in what was then the heart of Tacoma's civic center. Bert Sundgren, the new owner, stated it was "Tacoma's newest and Washington's finest" restaurant and pledged dance music nightly with no cover charge. The saxophone player has been identified as Gus DeBock, a lifetime member of the Musicians Union. The last dance he played was with his band, Gus DeBock and the Fabulous 4, on August 9, 1991, two months before his death. (T. Times, 8/11/44, p. 11-article; T.Times, 8-12-44, p. 3-photograph used in ad). (Additional identification and information provided by a reader) TPL-10200

Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Olympus Cafe (Tacoma); Kool, Bert; DeBock, Gus; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The newly opened "Olympus Cafe" and Supper Club, located in the Olympus Hotel, is celebrating their grand opening. Lettering on the column at the back of the room reads, "Activian Room". Draperies are open showing another room beyond. TPL-6422

Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Olympus Cafe (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);

Tacoma Athletic Commission, Square dancing and style show, Elliott Metcalf. Bob Starkey was the caller for the square dancing revue put on for the members of the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean. Couples are dancing with arms around each other and the men have crossed arms in the middle. Several couples watch from the side lines. (TNT, 12/22/1949, p.20)

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Square dancing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Banquet at Poodle Dog Restaurant for employees of Mannings Market. Ordered by Mac Manza. This view of the interior includes the photo mural with images of many Northwest industries. TPL-9689

Diners (Restaurants)--Fife; Poodle Dog (Fife); Banquets--Fife--1950-1960; Mannings Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior and exterior of restaurant and tavern, Rainbow Tavern, Mr. Howe. The bar stands along the length of the Rainbow Tavern on the right hand side. Stools are lined up against the bar. Mirrors are hung on the wall at the back. A bartender stands ready to pull a beer from the siphon handles in front of him. A woman and a companion are seated in one of the booths along the other side of the room. A slot machine stands in the middle.

Rainbow Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bartenders--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Stools;

Publicity for Community Chest at Manning's Bakers, Robert Sconce Advertising, Robert Sconce. Four waitresses stand ready to take an order from a gentleman looking into the case of baked goods with cookies and several cakes to choose from. As of Friday, October 29, 1948 some $308,893 had been collected under the just concluded Tacoma Community Chest campaign drive. Businesses and individuals donated the funds to support many social services agencies in Tacoma. The 1948 goal was $358,000 but several groups had yet to report with their donations. TPL-9504 (TNT 10-30-1948, p. 1-article on Tacoma Community Chest)

Manning's Coffee Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waitresses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cakes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cookies; Bakeries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma);

Tacoma Athletic Commission would be remembering the past year's triumphs, including a $12,500 Tacoma Open-Golf Tournament, the Penn State and Washington State football game, Fourth of July Show at Tacoma Stadium and many other events. Howard R. Smith, 1948's T.A.C. club president, admires a mirror decorated for Christmas; his image appears to have been painted with a list of the major 1948 Tacoma Athletic Club events. (T. Times, 1/23/49, p. 21).

Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Christmas decorations; Bars--Tacoma; Lounges--Tacoma; Mirrors; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Smith, Howard R.;

Building on 56th and M showing block construction, Holroyd Company, Mr. Holroyd. The Clipper Restaurant is featured not because of their free coffee or good food but for the two-storied building's construction. It is made of concrete block and the photograph was ordered by the Holroyd Company, manufacturers of concrete building materials. A neon sign over the door advertises the restaurant and another in the window advertises Meadowsweet Ice Cream. Some older automobiles are parked along the street and a public telephone is to be found inside Clipper's. A beauty salon is housed in the opposite end of the building.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Clipper Restaurant (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Banquet at New Yorker in honor of Langlie, John Prins, Republican Central Committee. Arthur B. Langlie appeared before members of the Republican Central Committee in Tacoma. He is standing at the microphone on the far right wall. Arthur B. Langlie ran for governor of the State of Washington in 1940, 1944, and again in 1948. He won in 1940 and 1948. Mon C. Wallgren won in 1944.

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Banquet halls--Tacoma; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors--Washington (State); Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Gus and Mike Peters and family members celebrate the opening of their new restaurant, Peters Golden Gate Oyster House. Gus and Mike immigrated from Greece and have been in Tacoma for more than 30 years. The brothers have 35 years of experience in seafood catering. Interior view of the noon time crowd at Peters Golden Gate Oyster House. (T.N.T., 12/9/1948, p. B9).

Oysters; Restaurants--Tacoma; Restaurant workers--Tacoma; Waitresses--Tacoma; Peters Golden Gate Oyster House (Tacoma);

In 1948, George A. Sample, Jr. took over management of the restaurant in the Rust Building. He changed the name to The Rathskeller, and over the next year, working with the Andrew's Fixture Company, completely remodeled the service area. This photograph from September 1949 shows five unidentified employees standing behind the newly installed counter. The Rathskeller was only in business until 1954, when it was replaced by Lindy's operated by G. Howard Lindholm.

Cafeterias--Tacoma; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Counters--Tacoma; Building materials; Rathskeller (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Andrew's Fixture Co. (Tacoma);

Cocktail bar with bartenders, Murphy's cocktail lounge, Mrs. Lund. The bartenders are lined up behind the bar at Murphy's. Several service men and other men have taken most of the stools at the bar. One of the machines where customers could make their selections from the jukebox is seen next to the sailor in the center of the photograph. Mirrors line the wall behind the bar.

Murphy's (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lounges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sailors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bartenders--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jukeboxes;

Olympus Hotel was owned by Paul Sceva and managed by Virgil West. West had initiated the remodeling project just after he became manager, two years ago. The Frontier Room was accessible through the back entrance and through the main lobby; it was decorated like a 19th century inn, with amber glass and darkened wood rafters, historic murals of Washington State and could accommodate 100 people. Interior view of the Frontier Room, located in the Olympus Hotel; view of bar and restaurant area (TNT 8/29/49, p. 4-5). TPL-3264

Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Table settings & decorations; Tablecloths; Hotels--Tacoma; Frontier Room (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);

Fife's Poodle Dog restaurant was opened in 1933, added on and renovated in 1939, demolished and rebuilt in 1949 at the same location. The famous restaurant would be rebuilt once more in 1967. Richard's Commercial Photography would be displaying a photo mural at the restaurant. Interior view of the Poodle Dog restaurant in Fife; view of the Dining Room, showing photographs by Richard's Studio and domed jukebox. TPL-9686

Photographs; Photography--Tacoma; Dining tables; Dining rooms--Fife; Jukeboxes; Murals--Fife; Interior decoration; Restaurants--Fife; Poodle Dog (Fife);