A view, taken in June of 1951, of the interior of the Rainbow Tavern showing customers seated at the counter, at booths along the far wall and playing amusement machines placed in the middle of the floor. Jukebox listings are available from a selector box at the counter and in the booths. The jukebox is standing along the far wall between two booths.

Rainbow Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Jukeboxes;

The interior of Post House Tavern showing the bar, stools, and booths. The bar and lowered ceiling over the bar have been decorated with padded, studded leather-like material. A cool case is seen against the far wall as well as a pay phone. Ordered by Mrs. Teresa Diseth, owner of the tavern.

Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Post House Tavern (Tacoma);

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);

This building at 3812 So. Yakima was originally built in 1930 as a post office. In 1951, the year of this photograph, it was converted into a restaurant, the Golden City Cafe. Originally owned by George Lew, Lung F. Louie, and Jung Git, the Golden City Restaurant is still in business at this address.. TPL-9066

Golden City Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The interior of the Golden City Cafe showing a counter and stools along one side of the room and two rows of booths along the other side. Selection boxes for the juke box can be seen along the counter. TPL-9067

Golden City Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Jukeboxes;

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;

Exterior of Max Frolic's Cafe. Owned and operated by former vaudevillian, violinist and band leader Max Frolic, the restaurant had been in business since May of 1938. It would undergo remodeling in 1958 including a new dining room and spruced-up exterior.

Restaurants--Lakewood--1950-1960; Max Frolic's Restaurant (Lakewood);

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;

Interior view of Fife's Poodle Dog restaurant taken in August, 1951, shows waitress serving area, comfortable upholstered bench seating, and a variety of murals on the restaurant's walls. The Poodle Dog is a long-time Fife mainstay; originally opened in 1933, it was demolished and rebuilt on the same site in 1949 and then replaced by the current building in 1967. Richard's Commercial Photography would decorate the walls with photo murals, including a copy of a large backlit illustrated Washington State map, shown on the right hand side of the photograph. (TPL-3231)

Diners (Restaurants)--Fife; Poodle Dog (Fife); Murals--Fife; Equipment;

According to the 1953 City Directory, Frank A. Johnson owned and operated the Turf Restaurant, Smoke Shop, and Bar, all located at 911 Commerce St. View of interior of bar portion of the building; murals of horses and their riders decorate the walls. Apparently the bar was also known as the Tack Room, in keeping with the horse riding motif. There is a jukebox in a corner of the room in front of a mural showing a horse and rider jumping a fence. (TNT 11-7-51, p. 26)

Turf Bar (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Murals--Tacoma; Jukeboxes; Johnson, Frank A.;

911 Commerce Street housed the Turf Smoke Shop, Turf Bar and Turf Restaurant. View of empty restaurant at 11:27 a.m.; glimpse of Smoke Shop portion can be seen through the arched doorway. There are plenty of stools at the counter for casual dining, along with booths for those who chose to have more space and privacy. The restaurant celebrated a grand reopening in November, 1951, as the dining area doubled in size. A customer could order a roast turkey special with all the trimmings for only one dollar. Frank A. Johnson is listed as the owner of the Turf enterprises according to the 1953 City Directory. (TNT 11-7-51, p. 26)

Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Turf Restaurant (Tacoma); Turf Smoke Shop (Tacoma); Stools; Johnson, Frank A.;

Front entrance of the Turf Restaurant. The Turf Restaurant was located at 911 Commerce Street. The same building also contained the Turf Smoke Shop and Turf Bar. View of daytime exposure of front entrance to the Turf Restaurant; large neon signs decorate the building, including two with hats and riding sticks on the restaurant's windows. The Turf restaurant celebrated its grand reopening in November, 1951, with full page ads in the News Tribune. It would be open 24 hours a day. (TNT 11-7-51, p. 26) TPL-8119

Turf Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--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);

New Yorker. This portion of the "new" New Yorker spotlighted the cocktail lounge, called the "Manhattan Room," with its subdued lighting and lighted replica of the New York City skyline. The "new" New Yorker, at Sixth & Cushman, celebrated its grand opening on November 16, 1951. It was owned and operated by Pat and Mike De Voto. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11-alt. photo)

Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960; New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma);

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;

Cocktail lounge with New York skyline against mirrored wall and upholstered boothes and chairs at tables. This was the "Manhattan Room," the cocktail lounge of the "new" New Yorker, located at Sixth & Cushman. Subdued lighting, comfortable seating and a eye-catching replica of the NYC skyline made the "Manhattan Room" a good choice for quiet reflection and conversation. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11)

Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960; New Yorker Cafe (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;

Dining room with band in center right on elevated stage and dance floor below. This was the "Coney Island" room of the "new" New Yorker restaurant prior to its grand opening on November 16, 1951. Operated by Pat and Mike De Voto, it featured "big time floor shows and dancing nightly" and well-prepared food. The spacious "Coney Island" room had two stages with a permanent platform. Art Mineo's 10-piece orchestra performed there as well as special guest entertainers. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11)

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

The exterior of the Avenue Cafe is shown at night with neon signs in the front windows, above the upper windows and on the sign perpendicular to the front of the cafe. Another neon sign spelling "Cocktails" over the entrance is not lit. The cafe advertises food to go. Vittorio Perniconi owned Avenue Cafe at 1516 Pacific Avenue and Reno Rose served as manager. The cafe was renamed "Bimbo's Avenue Cafe" in 1953. (TNT, 1/31/1952, p.12) TPL-3841

Avenue Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The interior of Avenue Cafe shows the cooking area in the left foreground with the lunch counter further along the left side. Tables and benches are placed along the right. The long room is divided with pillars that have been faced with mirrors. The newly remodeled cafe held a grand opening January 31, 1952. The cafe was opened in 1921 by Vittorio "Bimbo" Perniconi and John Teglia. It was named Avenue Cafe in 1935 and renamed Bimbo's Avenue Cafe in 1953. The restaurant closed in 2001 when the City of Tacoma bought the property to make way for the new convention center. (TNT, 1/31/1952, p.12) TPL-6414

Avenue Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960;

With its large, U-shaped bar down the middle of the room, the Kit-Kat Tavern was a fixture on Pacific Ave., across the street from the Olympus Hotel, from 1947 to 1971. In this photograph from March of 1952, a large crowd of men and women fills every booth and stool. The Kit-Kat claimed to have the "best draft beer in town", and a large California wine was only 25 cents. TPL-8249

Kit Kat Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma; Bartenders--Tacoma;

The "Corral Room" at the Olympus Hotel. Wood siding, a rough beam ceiling and pastoral paintings give this banquet room a rustic feel. The impression of being in a barn is assisted by the painting of a horse peeking out a stall door. The table, chairs and flooring are very simple. The Corral Room was also used as a coffee shop and served cocktails.

Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Washington State Tavern Association hosted a luncheon for women of the association and members' wives at the Top of the Ocean during the three day convention held in Tacoma. The large group of women are seen in front of and on the covered ramp up to the unique restaurant built in the shape of a ship. A sign advertises: "Smorgasbord Daily". (TNT, 10/21/1952, p.2)

Restaurants--Tacoma; Nightclubs--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Washington State Tavern Association (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The main dining room at Lakewood Terrace maintained its quiet reserve following remodelling in 1952. The grandfather's clock still ticks against the far wall. The huge colonial white-paneled fireplace with its 20-foot mantel still dominated the room. An "Anglo-Persian" carpet was added, however, as well as new wallpaper featuring huge clusters of rose-red blossoms and a dado which topped the wainscot for an extra colonial touch. Harold F. Chavis was manager of the restaurant and cocktail lounge at this time. Ordered by the Lakewood Development Company. (TNT, 10/31/1952, p.C-1)

Lakewood Terrace (Lakewood); Eating & drinking facilities--Lakewood; Restaurants--Lakewood;

The remodeled Lakewood Terrace included the Snack Shop for lunches, dinners, after-the-show snacks. It had been re-done and enlarged. A lunch counter with stools is seen on the left and tables and booths are seen along the right an in the rear. (TNT, 10/31/1952, p.C-4).

Lakewood Terrace (Lakewood); Eating & drinking facilities--Lakewood; Snack bars--Lakewood;

A new cocktail lounge, the "Terrace Room", was added when the Lakewood Terrace was remodeled in 1952. Mrs. Edwin Booth created a unique atmosphere decorating with combed redwood, black wrought iron against stark white, with bits of brick here, panels of grass-woven linen there and living greenery. The small tables set about the floor were made of redwood planks. The chairs were white matchstick plastic and each table had a white ash tray and a black plastic basket housed a big white candle. (TNT, 10/31/1952, p.C-11)

Lakewood Terrace (Lakewood); Eating & drinking facilities--Lakewood; Lounges--Lakewood;

Combed redwood was featured in the Terrace Room that was added when Lakewood Terrace was remodeled in 1952. The face of the bar, the tops of the small tables and a portion of the walls were covered with redwood. To soften the back-of-the bar lighting a redwood egg-crate lattice was added overhead. The stools had redwood-slat seats on top of tall black iron legs. A brick floor was chosen to add to the textural highlights in the room. (TNT, 10/31/1952, p.C-1)

Lakewood Terrace (Lakewood); Eating & drinking facilities--Lakewood; Lounges--Lakewood;

The entrance to the new cocktail lounge, the Terrace Room, that was added when Lakewood Terrace was remodeled, has been decorated with a continuation of the highly textured theme that was chosen for the lounge. Black-framed panels of straw-woven linen separate the waiting room alcove from the lounge. One of the famous Terrace roosters has found a new home in the greenery of the red brick planter and vines and philodendron provide more texture. (TNT, 10/31/1952, p.C-1)

Lakewood Terrace (Lakewood); Eating & drinking facilities--Lakewood; Lounges--Lakewood;

Smitty's Coffee Mug was a small restaurant located at 3838 South Tacoma Way. It was owned and operated by Hugh O. Smith. Besides offering coffee as a beverage, a large sign also promises a "soda bar". View of business storefront with large electric sign, other signage. The Tahoma Motel, "best known motel in Tacoma", is located next door at 3836 South Tacoma Way. Photograph ordered by Smitty's Coffee Mug.

Smitty's Coffee Mug (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tahoma Motel (Tacoma);

Hugh O. Smith owned two restaurants in Tacoma; Smitty's Drive In on Puyallup Avenue and Smitty's Coffee Mug on South Tacoma Way. View of interior of Smitty's Coffee Mug in November, 1952; a customer could either sit at the U-shaped counter on a stool or choose to sit in a booth. Besides purchasing a cup of coffee, one could select a soda from their "soda bar" or enjoy some Medosweet ice cream. Photograph ordered by Smitty's Coffee Mug.

Smitty's Coffee Mug (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stools;