Exterior bowling alley. The new Sky Lane Bowling center in Seattle was newly opened for business in October, 1955. Owners provided a long covered walkway leading to the entrance of the bowling alley so that customers could be protected from the region's elements. The familiar semi-curved roofline probably signified to passersby that a bowling alley was contained within. The bowling center was owned by Western Bowling Managers Inc. It had ample parking for customers and also a fine restaurant, owned by Mrs. Kena Jensen and Mrs. Eva Harris. Photograph ordered by Sky Lane Bowl.

Bowling alleys--Seattle; Sky Lane Bowl (Seattle);

These beaming teenagers and their coaches were believed to have represented Ben Cheney's Cheney Studs team in the Tacoma Connie Mack League in 1967. The boys, all dressed identically in pinstripe uniforms and caps bearing the Cheney Studs logo, were thought to have been photographed at Heidelberg Park in Tacoma in July of 1967. They had an outstanding 10-2 record that year but failed to obtain entry into the State Connie Mack tourney due to an August loss to North Shore of Seattle, eventual Washington State champs. (TNT 8-2-1967, B-8-article on game)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Uniforms;

Members of the Cheney Studs Courteers basketball troupe share a laugh at practice on the floor of the Western State Hospital gym on December 2, 1967. The smallest member on the right deftly dribbles his ball without sparing a glance downwards. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Changing of the guard at the T.A.C. The presidential gravel exchanges hands on January 4, 1968, as new officers of the Tacoma Athletic Commission are announced. Stan Naccarato, seated left, accepts the gravel from outgoing president Tom Cross while Howie Krewson looks on. Standing and observing are : (L-R) Treasurer Joe Macaluso, Secretary Robert Nelsen, Third v.p. - Bill Rohrs and Second v.p., Hal Brotman. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 1-7-68, B15)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Naccarato, Stan; Cross, Tom; Krewson, Howard; Macaluso, Joe; Nelsen, Robert; Rohrs, Bill; Brotman, Hal;

For many years the Tacoma Athletic Commission sponsored a Fourth of July show featuring elaborate fireworks. George P. Sheridan, chairman, and Howard Krewson, ticket chairman, pose with three children and a variety of fireworks on a grassy lot on July 1, 1965. Cecelia Harris rides bareback on a small pony while Denise Michael is perched on a Schwinn bicycle. Patricia Harris holds an enormous firecracker. The bicycle and pony would be given away during the gigantic fireworks show at the Stadium Bowl on Monday, July 5th. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 7-2-65, p. 1)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Children & adults; Sheridan, George P.; Krewson, Howard; Harris, Cecelia; Michael, Denise; Harris, Patricia; Ponies; Bicycles & tricycles; Fireworks--1960-1970;

Richards Studio notes indictate that these young ballplayers were the Seattle Cheney Studs who posed at Heidelberg Field on June 19, 1966. Ben Cheney, lumberman philanthropist, sponsored many teams over the years in a variety of sports. They were all called "Cheney Studs" regardless of the sport. Thanks to Mr. Cheney's generosity, thousands were able to participate in amateur sports with Mr. Cheney picking up the tab for uniforms and fees. One of these young men would have a long career in the major leagues: Ron Cey, Mt. Tahoma graduate, who is seated second to the right. Manager George Grant is standing at far left. The 1966 Seattle-Tacoma Cheney Studs marched steadily toward their goal of American Amateur Baseball Congress titleholders by sweeping the Northwest League, State Stan Musial Tournament and Pacific Northwest AABC. They fell just short of the national title with a loss to Dallas on September 19, 1966. (TNT 9-20-1966, p. 22-article on title game)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Uniforms; Cey, Ron; Grant, George;

Ten boys wear the uniforms marking them as "Cheney Studs" as they pose in the Wilson High School gym on February 22, 1969. The beaming man standing next to the team is presumably their coach. Thanks to Ben Cheney's generosity, thousands of area youngsters were able to participate in amateur team sports. Color photograph ordered by the Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Uniforms;

Ben Cheney's philanthropic endeavers in amateur sport extended beyond Tacoma as he also sponsored teams outside the local community. This baseball team of Cheney Studs was labeled the "Connie Mack" team and believed to be based in King County. Players 16-18 would be able to participate in league play. Cloy Sykes of Kent was listed as the coach. The team was photographed in July of 1969 at Moshier Field near Sea-Tac. Color photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball players--Washington; Baseball--Washington;

Half-brothers Sugar Ray Seales (l) and Dale Grant (r) assume a typical boxing pose in this October, 1973, studio portrait. Tacoma was well represented at the 1972 Olympic games by Mr. Seales who would become the sole American boxing gold medal winner. His younger brother, Dale Grant, also was a notable local boxer who was named the US Amateur Boxer of the Year in '72 for his outstanding record. Mr. Seales was born in the Virgin Islands in 1952 while his father was stationed at an Army post there. He became involved in the Tacoma Boys Club in Tacoma after moving here in 1965 and was coached for many years by Joe Clough. Mr. Clough would resign as Mr. Seales' manager in May of 1973 after his first seven victories as a professional. Bill Dickson would then manage Mr. Seales. Photograph ordered by Larry Morris.

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seales, Ray; Grant, Dale; Families--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Tacoma Twins baseball team. Tacoma's Twins were a minor league team affiliated with the Minnesota Twins. 1974 was the third year that the team was based in Tacoma. The team is pictured above in August of 1974 with executive vice-president and general manager, Stan Naccarato (third row, extreme left) and manager Cal Ermer (second row, seated, second to the right).

Baseball--Tacoma--1970-1980; Baseball players--Tacoma--1970-1980; Naccarato, Stan; Ermer, Cal;

University of Washington quarterback extraordinaire Sonny Sixkiller visited Tacoma Athletic Commission headquarters, 735 Commerce St., on December 3, 1970. The T.A.C. official standing next to Mr. Sixkiller has not been identified. A sophomore from Ashland, Oregon, Mr. Sixkiller was a full blooded Cherokee. Never highly recruited by Oregon schools because of his (then) size, Mr. Sixkiller would finish his season as the country's #1 passer. His teammates, Rank Baty, Ace Bulger and Rick Huget (pictured in D159368, image 8) accompanied him to Tacoma. The UW rebounded from a dismal 1-9 record the year before to finish at 6-4, including a crushing 61-20 defeat of the UCLA Bruins. Mr. Sixkiller's passing became the Dawgs' chief offensive weapon. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 12-8-70, p. 16 - article)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Sixkiller, Sonny;

Cheney Stadium. Tacoma Twins general manager Stan Naccarato and two guests look over Cheney Stadium's playing field in mid-February of 1976. With baseball season just around the corner, the stadium and seats would not be empty for long. A portion of Henry Foss High School is visible behind the balllpark's advertisement-filled plywood walls. Photograph ordered by Pacific Coca-Cola Bottling Co. TPL-10542

Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1970-1980; Naccarato, Stan; Henry Foss High School (Tacoma);

Studio portrait of a boxer. This young man in stocking feet is poised to make a run in the annual Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament coming up in early February of 1979 at the University of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. The tournament had been sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission since 1949. A close-up of the boxer is D169239, image 5. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission.

Boxing--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

Baseball clinic. This is believed to be Tacoma Twins catcher Glenn Borgmann who certainly has the attention of his "class," as he demonstrates proper catching techniques. One youngster to the left has his hand out apparently imitating the pro player. This was just a small section of more than 1200 young athletes who visited Cheney Stadium for a two-hour baseball clinic on May 20, 1972, sponsored by the Tacoma Twins and Carling Brewery. The club urged that those attending bring gloves, spikes, and even wear their Little League uniforms if they chose to do so. This was the Tacoma Twins' first year in Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Twins. (TNT 5-17-72, C-16 -article; TNT 5-212-72, D-1) TPL-10073

Baseball--Tacoma--1970-1980; Baseball players--Tacoma--1970-1980; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

These six unidentified golfers were just a fraction of the participants in the Northwest Pro-Presidents golf tournament held at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club on April 28, 1972. Western Washington golf professionals and club presidents teed off in twosomes at the one-day tournament. In 1972 the Northwest Pro-Presidents golf tournament was subdivided into three parts; each of the three branches of the northwest section of the PGA would have its own tournament. Host pro Gerry Mehlert had the best round of the day -69. Color photograph ordered by Gerry Mehlert. (TNT 4-27-72, C-11 -article; TNT 4-29-72, p. 10- article)

Golf--Tacoma--1970-1980; Golfers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1970-1980;

46 twosomes teed off at the Northwest Pro-Presidents golf tournament held at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club on April 28, 1972. The participants for the one-day tournament were drawn from Western Washington professionals and club presidents. Bob Lundgaard, president of the Olympia Country Club and pro Rick Adell combined for a winning score of 10-under par. Color photograph ordered by Gerry Mehlert. (TNT 4-27-72, C-11- article; TNT 4-29-72, p. 10- article)

Golf--Tacoma--1970-1980; Golfers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1970-1980;

15-year-old Alexina Slater, in cap and swimsuit, was the only female entrant in the first organized channel swim from the Tahlequah Ferry Terminal on Vashon Island to Point Defiance held on September 26, 1926. She finished fourth with a time of 1 hr. 20 minutes, outracing nine other swimmers. The Stadium High School student was only 18 minutes behind Gerhard Bahr's winning time of 1 hr. 2 minutes. While Bahr received the roars befitting the champion, Miss Slater was also heavily applauded by the crowd of 10,000. Her picture appeared on the front page of the News Tribune and the headline actually read " Girl Given Cheer as She Swims Point Defiance Channel." Miss Slater, of 5517 N. 45th St., began swimming at age 4 under the direction of her father. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-26-26, p. 1, TNT 9-27-26, p. 1)

Alexina Slater, showing the vitality of youth, shrugs off her grueling 2-mile swim across the Point Defiance channel and dances the Charleston in front of a movie camera on September 26, 1926. The 15-year-old Stadium High School student was the only female entry in the race from Talequah to Point Defiance but she outswam nine others to finish fourth. Her time of 1 hr. 20 minutes was only 18 minutes slower than the winner, Gerhard Bahr. The massive crowd of 10,000 heartily cheered and applauded her efforts. Miss Slater, of 5517 N. 45th St., was presented a trophy from Mahncke & Co. in honor of her accomplishment. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-26-26, p. 1, TNT 9-27-26, p. 1)

Bowling has long been popular in Tacoma, producing such greats as Earl Anthony. The Tryfon Hatters bowled for John Tryfon whose hat store was located at 944 1/2 Commerce Street beginning in 1921. Greek-born Tryfon, affectionately known as "the Madhatter of Commerce Street", retired in 1973.

ca. 1937. Frozen in time in the middle of a windup is Floyd "Lefty" Isekite of the Tacoma Tigers. "Lefty," a southpaw, pitched in the Western International League in the 1930's. He had a blazing fastball and pitched a no-hitter in 1937 against the Wenatchee Chiefs. "Lefty" last pitched for the Tigers in 1940. He was named to the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame in 1972. Floyd Gill "Lefty" Isekite passed away in April, 1992. TPL-150. (TNT 11-14-39, p. 20, TNT 8-28-49, B-9)

ca. 1938. Members of the Tacoma Tigers baseball club pose for a 1938 team picture prior to their game with Yakima. William "Hack" Wilson was the Tigers' playing catcher and also their manager. He is believed to be in the back row, third from the right. TPL-4747.

On July 4th, 1919, the Tacoma Speedway was packed with 35,000 racing fanatics for the annual races. The Speedway was one of two "Class A" racing locations in the United States, the other being Indianapolis. It was also a favorite of the drivers because of the abundant recreation opportunities of the area. Three races would be held on this day, 40 miles, 60 miles and 80 miles. By 1919, the track was 2 miles round and 50 feet wide, an adjustment done in 1914, and covered with 2 x 4 Washington fir planks laid end to end with gravel and sand filling the gaps and barrels of Richmond road oil applied hot to the surface. Indianapolis had shut down due to World War I and all the greats came to Tacoma. The five drivers surviving after the trials were Louis Chevrolet, Dario Resta (both in Tacoma for the first time,) Cliff Durant, Eddie Hearne and Ralph Mulford (in his first Tacoma appearance since 1913.) Eddie Rickenbacker, WW I flying ace and former race car driver, would referee the race. (TDL 7/2/1919, pg. 8-9) (Information on track construction: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, circa 1915) Boland B2066, Speedway-025

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Spectators; Grandstands;

The stands look a little empty for the start of the July 3, 1914, InterCity 100-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway. Drivers and their accompanying "mechanicians" are lined up in their race cars two abreast. These included at front: Tacoma driver Jack Croston in car #1, a Chevrolet; #2 -believed to be Barnes in his Romano; #5 -Joe Thomas in his Mercer; #26 - N. Latta of Seattle in his Lozier. This particular race was restricted to cars from Pacific Northwest cities. Total prize money was $1500 with first place winner Jim Parsons getting the lion's share of $750. Mr. Parsons, of Seattle, had won the event for the second straight year. TPL-5697;

Croston, Jack A.; Thomas, Joe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Chevrolet automobile; Mercer automobile; Lozier automobile; Romano automobile;

ca. 1914. Jim Parsons' #7 Frantz race car is parked in the pit area of the Tacoma Speedway circa 1914 while a vehicle carrying a load of tires slowly backs in front of it. Other tires have already been unloaded and are piled upright nearby. The grandstands are nearly empty indicating this may have been practice time at the Speedway instead of the actual July races. Jim Parsons, from Seattle, would go on to win the InterCity 100 race three consecutive years, 1913-1915, allowing him to keep the perpetual challenge trophy. TPL-4424

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Frantz automobile; Tires; Grandstands--Lakewood;

ca. 1915. Although photographer Marvin Boland has labeled the driver as "Earl Cooper" in his "Stutz," and the condition of the Tacoma Speedway board track identifies it as being post-1913 (the last year of the dirt track), it is not certain that this was a race during the 1915 Montamara Festo. In 1915 Mr. Cooper came in a close second during the Montamarathon on July 4th, as he attempted to win the big 250-mile race for the third consecutive year. He did run a Stutz in that year but it was the #8, not the #4 shown above. He earned $1500 for second place, sandwiched between the winner, Grover Ruckstell and Mr. Ruckstell's Mercer racing partner, Eddie Pullen, who came in third. TPL-4423

Cooper, Earl; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Stutz automobile;

Encouraged by 16,000 screaming racecar fans, three cars rush to the finish line in the "Golden Potlatch," one of two races run on July 5th, 1913 at the Tacoma Speedway. The race was 200 miles, 58 laps of 3.516 miles each, run on a dirt track and open to Class "E" non-stock cars with a winner's purse of $3,500. Earl Cooper and his white Stutz won the race in 1913 after "Terrible Teddie" Tetzlaff dropped from the lead with a broken cam shaft. Cooper's time was 2:49:32. 1913 was a victorious year for Cooper; he won 7 of 8 major road races and claimed his first national championship. The Tacoma Speedway racetrack had opened in July of 1912, financed by a group of Tacoma businessmen led by Arthur Pritchard, President of the Tacoma Automobile Association. During its years of operation, 1912-1922, most of racing's greats sped around the track, which was rated one of the three best in the United States. TPL-5481, Speedway Glass- 020 (TDL 7/6/1913, pg. 1, www.historylink.org, www.hickoksports.com)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

Tacoma to Seattle in 30 minutes and 55 seconds! Harry Barsamian, shop foreman of the Pacific Car Company, with mechanic Victor Williams, completed the feat in a stock Overland 90 Touring Car, driving from Tacoma city limits to the Seattle city limits. On June 19, 1919, Barsamian started from Sitcum Avenue on the Tacoma tideflats. The two men clipped down the rugged dirt Highline Road through Northeast Tacoma and onto Des Moines where they hit pavement and finished with a smooth ride to Seattle in record-breaking time. (TDL 6/22/1919, p. 8C). G11.1-073

Barsamian, Harry; Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1920. Map of the Tacoma Speedway from about 1920 showing, in detail, the layout of the track and stands. Note that the prices for tickets to sit in the stands are listed. Seats in the open stands were $2.50 or $3.00 plus tax. Seats in the covered stands were $3.50 to $6.00 plus tax. In March of 1920, an arson occurred at the track, forcing massive reconstruction of the grandstands. All improvements would be in place in time for the 1920 225 mile classic, the biggest race in Tacoma's racing history. The Indy had placed a requirement that all top finishers compete in Tacoma and crowds turned out to see them. The new grandstands could seat 16,000, with 960 feet of the stands covered. There was room for 10,000 cars to park in the center of the 2 mile track and a tunnel for spectators to cross under the track to the stands. The new entries allowed cars to enter two abreast and they could cross a bridge from the main entrance into the center parking, even with the race in progress. Other improvements included fences, the pits, a water tower and a renewed track. The race would be 225 miles with a purse of $22,500, to be divided into seven prizes. Over 40,000 fans turned out to watch the race. Speedway-053 (TDL 6/20/20, pg. 1-C; 6/27/1920, pg. 1)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

ca. 1920. Race car driver Joe Boyer and his riding mechanic posed in Boyer's Frontenac on an unidentified brick track in 1920. Boyer had led the pack in the 1920 Indianapolis 500 for the first 250 miles and then hit a brick wall, taking him out of the race. His Frontenac was the topic of much conversation, since the vehicle designed by the Chevrolet brothers had made its first appearance in the Indy. Boyer, a young millionaire from Chicago, would later compete in the July 5th 1920 Tacoma Classic. He was out of the race in the 97th lap. In 1924, Boyer was co-winner of the Indianapolis 500 replacing LL Corum during the race. Boyer was killed later that year in a crash at the Altoona Speedway. (TDL 6/27/1920, pg. B-2) Speedway 013

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; Boyer, Joe;

These are the first and second string football teams representing Stadium High School during the fall of 1922. Despite only having three returning lettermen, with two of the three being seniors, Stadium High School fought valiantly during their inter-city clashes with Lincoln High School. The school would lose the city championship for the first time in six years. First team members, as noted by the school yearbook, "Tahoma," were: (in no particular order) fullback Max Mika, center Herman Brix (later Olympian and "Tarzan" actor Bruce Bennett), guard Max Hoff, tackle Stanley Long, fullback Sam Hanson, center Robert McCullough, end Ed Cooper, halfback Ted Graham, tackle Harold Anderson, quarterback Bayard Mosher, end/halfback Stanley McDowell, end Harold Walker, guard Einar Larsen, guard/center Loren Baldwin and halfback Lon Crosshwaite. (1923 Tahoma p.139-141; TNT 10-26-22, p. 23-last names only listed) TPL-8199; G46.1-038; G54.1-004

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;