Art Mineo, at left kneeling with hat in hand, and a group of raucous, laughing musicians. In the top row, third from left is the great jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. This photograph was taken at the opening of the newly remodeled New Yorker Cafe in November of 1951. Peterson, tenor saxophonist "Flip" Phillips (standing, far right) and trombonist Bill Harris (front row center) came down from Seattle, where they were appearing with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show, to sit in and jam for the opening.

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mineo, Art; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peterson, Oscar;

Attilio (Art) Mineo on bass, Dick Morehead on drums, Oscar Peterson on piano, Joe (Flip) Phillips on saxophone and Bill Harris on trombone "jam" in the Coney Island Room on the opening night of Mike DeVoto's New Yorker, in November of 1951. Peterson, Phillips and Harris were performing in Seattle with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show when they saw a notice for the opening. They called Mineo and asked to sit in. Musical history was made as they jammed until closing, leaving Mineo's hired orchestra in the audience to enjoy the music. Art Mineo's career in music began in the 1930s with dance bands on the east coast. He moved to Tacoma after the Second World War and stayed after he married Toni Lento, whose father was a well-known Tacoma musician. The Art Mineo Quartet performed three nights a week at the New Yorker, 1501 6th Ave., for over 20 years. (TNT 11-15-51, C-10, 11& firsthand information supplied by Art Mineo)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mineo, Art; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peterson, Oscar; Phillips, Joe "Flip"; Harris, Bill; Morehead, Dick;

The Coney Island room of the newly remodeled New Yorker cafe and nightclub is packed with dancers enjoying the sweet swing sounds of the Art Mineo Orchestra in a November, 1951, photograph. The showroom had hardwood dance floors and a clever two stages-in-one concept. Nightly dancing and big time entertainment were staples of the New Yorker, owned by Mike and Pat DeVoto. (TNT 11-15-51, C-10, 11)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Mineo, Art; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson "jams" with Art Mineo on bass, Dick Morehead on drums, Joe "Flip" Phillips on tenor saxophone and Bill Harris on trombone on November 12, 1951, the opening night of the newly remodeled New Yorker Cafe. Peterson, Phillips and Harris were performing in Seattle with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show when they called Mineo to sit in at the opening. The jazz greats jammed until closing, creating an unforgettable night of music in Tacoma. Peterson had joined Jazz at the Philharmonic in 1950 as a relative unknown and was rapidly gaining recognition in the jazz world. (information supplied by Art Mineo)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Mineo, Art; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peterson, Oscar; Phillips, Joe "Flip"; Harris, Bill; Morehead, Dick;

Jazz greats, left to right, Art Mineo on bass, Joe "Flip" Phillips on tenor saxophone, Oscar Peterson on piano and Bill Harris on trombone deliver sweet sounds for the opening of the newly remodeled New Yorker Cafe in November of 1951. Mineo and his 10-piece orchestra had been hired to play the opening night when Mineo received a call from Peterson, Phillips and Harris asking to sit in. The trio were playing in Seattle with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show. The result was Tacoma history, as the group jammed into the small hours of the morning, closing the club and sending the lucky audience dancing into the dawn. Art Mineo passed away at age 91 on July 27, 2010. (from information previously supplied by Art Mineo)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Mineo, Art; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Phillips, Joe; Peterson, Oscar; Harris, Bill;

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;

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);

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.;

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;

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.;

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;

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;

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);

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 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 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;

The Dixie Ball was the Spinster Club's annual spring event. The Ball was held at the New Yorker Cafe's Rainbow Room. Three couples are shown relaxing at a table decorated with miniature mammy dolls. The women are wearing strapless evening gowns and rhinestone jewelry. Two of the men wear white dinner jackets. Ordered by the Tribune, Dolores Busch. (TNT, 6/28/1951, p.24)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Parties--Tacoma; Single women; Women--Clubs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Spinster Club (Tacoma);

In 1951 there were five taverns on Pacific Avenue between South 11th and South 13th streets. One of them was the Rainbow Tavern located at 1221 Pacific Avenue. The bar was crowded on this June, 1951, night with patrons at the counter and one woman intently playing on a shuffleboard bowling machine. According to the 1951 City Directory, the Rainbow Tavern was owned by Francis E. Bailey.

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

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 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;

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 exterior of the Poodle Dog after the 1949 rebuild. Regarded as one of Tacoma's major tourist attractions, the restaurant had huge photo-murals that encircled both private dining rooms and a portion of the lobby. The photos by the Richards studio displayed both scenic wonders of the area and local industries and businesses. The internal design was a model of labor saving devices including automatic dishwashing and a circular seating counter that surrounded the waitress stations. The chefs worked at stainless steel counters just beyond the service area, allowing counter diners to watch their food being prepared. Parking surrounded the building. TPL-553

Poodle Dog (Fife); Restaurants--Fife--1950-1960;

This photograph of the Poodle Dog restaurant, owned by E. J. "Jim" Zarelli and Rocco "Mac" Manza, was taken in May of 1951 after it was rebuilt for the second time in 1949. The pair opened the original Poodle Dog as a 13 stool hamburger and short order cubicle in 1933. In 1939, it was torn down to accommodate a new Spanish style building. As materials became available after World War II, that building was torn down in 1949 and replaced by the one pictured, designed by Thomas Albert Smith. The building's interior design was a model of labor saving devices. In 1967 this building was demolished and yet another, new Poodle Dog was built. (TNT 11/08/1949) TPL-9690

Poodle Dog (Fife); Restaurants--Fife--1950-1960;

A banquet is being held at the Viking Smorgasbord. A group of 20 people are grouped in front of the large painting of a Viking ship at the restaurant. (Format 5' x 14")

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

A man, probably John E. Berglund, stands by one of the dining tables at the Viking Smorgasbord holding one of the new restaurant's menus. John E. Berglund was president and manager of the incorporated business. He had started his career in 1916. He had worked in some of the finest hotels and restaurants throughout the world in Paris, Nice, London, Cairo and the old Waldorf Astoria in New York. He managed the "Bit of Sweden" in Hollywood for more than 10 years. Miss Maja Lisa Lindberg joined the restaurant at vice president. Other officers included Mr. and Mrs. Charles O. Anderson and Mr. and Mrs. David Benson. (TNT, 4/14/1951, p.C-5)

Viking Smorgasbord (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma; Menus; Men--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tables at the Viking Smorgasbord sit ready for the restaurant's grand opening April 14, 1951. A large painting of a Viking sailing ship, created by Oke Ockerman, a Swedish immigrant to the Northwest, is seen against the far wall. Tables in this area that can be separated into a banquet room are spaced comfortably throughout the area and are set with white tablecloths and napkins folded decoratively. The restaurant featured Swedish smorgasbord as well as a la carte dinners. (TNT, 4/14/1951, p.C-5)

Viking Smorgasbord (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma;

The interior of the Viking Smorgasbord showing the main dining room in the foreground and the banquet room at the rear that could be separated using a Modernfold door. The banquet room had a separate outside entrance and displayed a large mural depicting a Viking ship under sail in heavy seas. (TNT, 4/14/1951, p.C-5)

Viking Smorgasbord (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma;

The Viking Smorgasbord held their grand opening April 14, 1951, in their recently completed building. The restaurant featured American and Scandinavian foods with a la carte dinners as well as smorgasbord service offered in an atmosphere of old Sweden. A separate entrance has been provided for those attending functions in the banquet room.(TNT, 4/14/1951, p.C-5)

Viking Smorgasbord (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma;

The buffet table at the Viking Smorgasbord boasted one of the finest and largest Swedish smorgasbords in the Northwest with more than 50 Scandinavian and American delicacies displayed on the table which covered an area of 80 square feet. The waitresses wore attractive Swedish Peasant costumes lending authenticity to the Swedish environment. (TNT, 4/14/1951, p.C-5)

Viking Smorgasbord (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma;

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;