Steve Pease, owner of the popular Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant in South Tacoma, often had an entry in the city's Daffodil Parades. His buggy is decorated with hundreds of blooms as it is pulled along Pacific Avenue during the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Two "street cleaners" in white uniforms stand behind an equally dazzling white wheeled trash can and a sign proclaiming "Steve's smorgasbord" as the "cleanest in town!"
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Stephen O.; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The men of Sigma Chi Fraternity from the College of Puget Sound took second place in the "Comic" category of the 1954 Daffodil Parade. A cardboard "Toss Fug" is pulling a trailer piled with "radioactive" soil, a fish skeleton, and signs warning "atomic pile", "world renouned Tacoma aroma", and in keeping with the vacation theme, "Vacation Tacoma - where debris meets the sea." Viewers are invited to "Watch Tacoma Grow". (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sigma Chi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Tacoma Elks were perennial entrants in the Daffodil Parade. In 1954, their float was festooned with blossoms, including the elks' reins and sides of the wagon. Washington "vacation land" seemed to be their theme that year; members involved are wearing fishing and skiing attire. There were 52 floats entered; awards were given in many categories. While the Tacoma Naval Station won the Sweepstakes award, the Elks entry did capture first place in Fraternal Groups. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);
Bathing beauties on the Rhodes Brothers Department Store ocean-themed float wave happily to the packed reviewing stands during the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Over 100,000 people turned out to watch the 21st annual parade and television stations provided access to thousands more. The Rhodes entry was awarded first place in the Retail division. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);
Nearly 1,000 dogs and their masters participated in the Commerce Street Dog (Mutt) Parade on Saturday morning April 22, 1939. Sponsored by the Commerce Street Business Men's Club, over seventy prizes were distributed to the winners in various catagories. No youngster went without some award, as each participant received a free ice cream bar, a baseball cap and a balloon - and every dog received a special treat. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
The Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade, held on April 22, 1939. Children walking with their dogs in a parade on Commerce Street. One child dressed in a clown suit, straw hat, & beard, is holding two costumed dogs on leashes as they pass by the Roxy Theatre. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1).
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
1939 Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade. Judges pose for portrait on the flatbed of a truck. Prizes, including a "Hi Speed" wagon, are lined up on the front of the wagon. The Red Rooster Cafe's neon sign is prominent in background. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Judges--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Toys; Red Rooster Cafe (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Commerce Street Business Men's Dog Parade. The April 22, 1939, parade has ended, sidewalks clear, and parents, children, and dogs wait for the judges' decisions. Proud children pause to pamper their faithful pets. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1).
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
Commerce Street Dog (Mutt) Parade. Several children are standing and holding onto their dogs as they wait for announcement of winners. Although some were disappointed, all received baseball caps, ice cream, and doggy treats.(T. Times, 4/24/1939, p.14).
Commerce Street Business Mens' Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
The Commerce Street Dog Parade was held on April 22, 1939. A young girl with her puppy, tagged number 73, receives a Tacoma policeman's admiration. Another girl holds her sleeping puppy and does not seem to approve of the attention. Any child 16 and under could parade with their dog and over 1,000 turned out to compete for over 75 special prizes. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);
Commerce Street Businees Men's Club Dog Parade. Lining-up and receiving last minute instructions, adults and children with their dogs are backed-up on Commerce Street north of the Winthrop Hotel for the dog parade. 1000 dogs were entered and marched before crowds estimated in the thousands. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p.1)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
Commerce Street Business Men's Dog Parade. A cluster of girls walk with their dogs in the April 22, 1939, parade. One, wearing a nurse's costume, is pushing her pet in a doll buggy. Smiles on faces in the crowd show it was a fun day for all. Several of the girls wear the baseball caps given to each participant. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
Commerce Street Dog Parade passes in front of two flatbed trucks parked end to end. Standing and seated on the back of the trucks are judges, announcers,children, and a photographer. Restaurant signs visible. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)
Commerce Street Business Mens' Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade, April 22, 1939. A large crowd of spectators line the sidewalks along Commerce St., north and south of Ninth St. "Dave's Lunches/Billiards" sign projects over the sidewalk in the foreground, Winthrop Hotel on left. (T. Times 4/24/39)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Spectators--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);
Commerce Street Business Men's Dog Parade, April 22, 1939. View of the dog parade moving down the 800 block of Commerce Street. The clock tower of (Old) City Hall is prominently in the background. A large crowd of delighted spectators, numbering in the thousands, line the sidewalk. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Spectators--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);
1939 Commerce Street Dog Parade. Clowns carry a banner announcing "Dog Show, Sat. Sun. April 29th. 30th." This was an advertisement for the upcoming all breed dog show to be held on those dates. A large parade of children and dogs follow behind the banner along Commerce St., south of Ninth St. (T. Times 4/24/1939, p. 1)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
1939 Commerce Street Dog Parade. Children and their dogs follow a marching band and "Dog Show" banner in front of Jacks Griddle Restaurant at 912-14 Commerce St. Two children wear signs on their backs: "Berg's Tavern" and "Booths for Ladies." (T. Times, 4/24/39)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Jacks Griddle (Tacoma);
Commerce Street Dog Parade, April 22, 1939. Children and dogs anxiously wait to hear the winners' numbers announced for 70 prizes awarded after the parade. Nearly 1,000 dogs were shown. Participants wear baseball caps they received. Each participant received a cap, an ice cream treat and a treat for their dog. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
The Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade was held on April 22, 1939. The grand prize winner, Shirley King poses with 14-year-old Bummer and runner-up Donald Grassfield, right. A man announces the winner of the dog parade over a microphone. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1).
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; King, Shirley; Grassfield, Donald; Children & animals; Awards;
Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade, April 22, 1939. A huge crowd of children, dogs, and adults gather on Commerce Street by the City Hall and Elks Temple (at left) to register and wait for the parade to begin. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1).
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Old City Hall (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma);
The Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade, held April 22, 1939. Girls and their dogs walk in one line, boys and their dogs walk in another. Two of the boys are dressed in matching cowboy outfits. Crowds watch from 9th and Commerce. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;
The Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade was held on April 22, 1939. The only requirements to enter were that kids had to be under 16 and have a dog. Over 1,000 kids turned out to parade, viewed by many times that number parents and well wishers. The Grand prize winner, Shirley King (2nd from right) is pictured with her 14-year-old dog Bummer; runner-up Donald Grassfield (right) holds the collar of his German shepherd. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1).
Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; King, Shirley; Grassfield, Donald; Children & animals;
On April 1, 1939, all the best dressed parade riders were wearing daffodils. These two unidentified young women rode on a float credited to the sixth annual Daffodil Parade wearing dresses and hats made completely of flowers. They smiled brightly from under flower covered hats tied with chiffon bows underneath their chins and carried umbrellas.
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);
Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. One of the most elaborate floats was the Rotary International float with girls dressed in international costumes carrying flags of their countries. (T.Times, 4/1/1939, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);
Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Simply dressed, Daffodil Queen Bette I of Sumner, and her royal attendants Lucile and Doris Anderson. 20-year-old Bette Lee is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Lee. Lucile Anderson represented Tacoma and Doris Anderson was Puyallup's representative (T.Times, 4/1/1939, p. 1- alt photograph; TNT 3-22-1939, p. 1-article & photograph of Bette Lee)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Lee, Bette; Anderson, Lucile; Anderson, Doris;
Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Lakewood Community Center float passes the Riviera Theatre. Spectators line sidewalks. By 1939, only one stage theater, The Little Theatre, is listed in Tacoma; all others are motion picture theaters. (T. Times, 4/1/39)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);
Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Pick-up truck pulls float for "Tacoma Parks" decorated with fir tree, flowering trees, daffodils and white doves. In the background: Tacoma Cut Rate Auto Supply, Cut Price Drugs, Strand Market (T. Times, 4/1/39, p. 1).
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);
Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade, April 1, 1939; prize winning "Sons of Italy" float. Couple seated under gondola canopy with a singing gondolier at front of float portraying the city of Venice, Italy. Italians were among Tacoma's many ethnic groups in the 1930s. The 1939 parade took 40 minutes to pass and was nearly 2 miles long. There were 18 bands and 24 floats using 750, 000 daffodils. (T. Times 4/1/1939, pg. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades); Sons of Italy (Tacoma);
Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Unidentified pilot seated in cockpit of airplane float covered with daffodils. Y.M.B.C. initials on wing of Young Men's Business Club entry in the April, 1939, parade. (T.Times, 4/1/1939, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Daffodils;
The Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade was held April 1, 1939. The "Spirit of Electricity" float, possibly entered by the City Light Department, was captured on film as it moved past the Riviera Theatre followed by marching band. Spectators stand several rows deep as well as watching from second story windows and perched on the theater's marquee. (T. Times, 4/1/1939, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);
