Exposure of amateur boxing brothers Pat and Mike McMurtry and their family for the Tacoma Athletic Commission boxing awards at the Top of the Ocean. A "no host" dinner was given March 16, 1951 to honor local amateur boxing stars Pat and Mike McMurtry. It was sponsored by TAC which had placed Pat's name on its Hall of Fame plaque in the Club's lounge. Pat won the Northwest Golden Gloves Golden Boy 1951 award as well as the light heavyweight title of that classic in Seattle. He was the winner of the 1951 Tacoma Golden Gloves crown for that division, as well as the Western Canada Diamond Belt Championship in Vancouver, B.C. Mike, the younger brother of Pat, won the Oregon state heavyweight title and the Western Canada Diamond Belt crown. Between them, the brothers scored five title victories during the last Northwest amateur season- a Tacoma record. Burt McMurtrie, newscaster and long time booster of the brothers, was the master of ceremonies. (TNT 3/16/1951, pg. 26)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); McMurtry, Pat; Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960; McMurtry, Mike;

The Tacoma Athletic Commission dance committee sips tea and discusses upcoming plans for the 5th annual TAC Birthday Celebration to be held 2/19/1951. The committee is meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard R. Smith, co-chairmen. Pictured (left to right) are Mrs. Edwin Johnson, Jeanette B. (Mrs. William I.) Shaw, Ruth M. (Mrs. J. Robert) Brooke, Edith V. (Mrs. Harold) Tollefson, and Ethyl (Mrs. Howard R.) Smith. The party was planned to start with 6:30 p.m. cocktail service in the TAC lounge on the upper deck of the Top of the Ocean, followed by a buffet dinner at 7:30 p.m., and a vaudeville show and dancing to top off the evening from 9 p.m. to midnight. Also included was the presentation of the "Sportsman of the Year" award to Jim McCarthy, Clover Park High School student and National Junior Medal Play Golf Champion the previous summer. (TNT 2/11/1951, pg. D-6)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Committees--Tacoma--1950-1960; Johnson, Edwin--Family; Shaw, Jeanette; Brooke, Ruth; Tollefson, Edith; Smith, Ethyl A.; Smith, Howard R.--Homes & haunts;

Lee Croft, left, and Harold Bird, right, strap on the boxing gloves as Honorary Referees for the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Golden Gloves Tournament, Feb. 8-9, at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. The two long time buddies remained friends despite Bird's defeat of Croft in the 1950 Sheriff election. They had much in common, having both been professional boxers in their younger days. Croft, a promising young heavyweight in the early 1900's, was persuaded by his aristocratic family to trade in boxing for a grand tour of Europe, including English ancestral lands. His last professional bout was in 1910, although he maintained an interest in boxing and served as an official Board Member for the Tacoma Boys Club. He and Bird became friends in 1917, during WW I, when Bird was stationed here and boxed professionally as a light and welterweight. Bird eventually married a Tacoma girl and settled here. Croft became the proprietor of a local hotel and Bird became owner of Lumber Retail, a lumber and building supplies business, at 2301 South Tacoma Way before they branched off into civic duties. (TNT 1-28-1951, pg. B-10)

Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Croft, Lee; Bird, Harold;

Studio portrait of Joe Bowles, 325 Supply Squadron, AI 15432518, McChord Field. The young airman stopped by the Richards Studio on December 23, 1950 to have his photograph taken while in dress uniform.

Bowles, Joe; Military personnel--1950-1960; Military uniforms;

Diane Dapper invited her friends for a skating party at Lakewood for her 10th birthday party. Diane is 9th from the left in a white skating outfit. She was the daughter of Mathias J. and Adah H. Dapper. Fourteen girls, all friends at Annie Wright Seminary, pose by the barrier at the Lakewood Ice Arena wearing various skating outfits. A snowy mountain scene made of plywood is seen above them. (TNT, 12/11/1950, p.4)

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Dapper, Diane; Birthday parties--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Awarding sweaters to high school allstar football team. Portrait of allstar football players standing in front of PonTiac sign in automobile dealership.

Awards; Football--1950-1960; Football players--1950-1960; Automobile dealerships--1950-1960;

Awarding sweaters to high school allstar football team on November 29, 1950. Football players and families listening to speaker. Presentation at Pontiac automobile dealership.

Awards; Football--1950-1960; Football players--1950-1960; Automobile dealerships--1950-1960;

Awarding sweaters for High School All-Star Football Team. The young man in the middle with the light-colored sweater is wearing one of the All-Star Team sweaters. Ordered by Llewellyn Advertising Agency, Mr. Van Meter. TPL-9114

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960;

People enjoyed the floorshow at the Halloween Party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean. A group are seen here wearing party hats and holding party favors. Ordered by Will Maylon.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life;

A woman acrobat provided part of the evenings entertainment at the Halloween party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission on October 30, 1950. In this photograph she is balancing on the platform at the top of a small step-platform with her toes pointed straight up at the ceiling. The acrobate is probably Patsy Jean Smith, who studied acrobatics at the Barclay School in Seattle. Mr. Barclay also taught at the Lewis Harter Studios, 945 1/2 Broadway in Tacoma. The Athletic Commission Halloween party was held at the Top of the Ocean. (T. Times 10-06-1948 p.5) Ordered by Will Maylon.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life; Stunt performers--Tacoma; Entertainers--Tacoma;

Three men hold ukeleles with heads stuck on top of the necks while they sing in front of a microphone at the Halloween party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean. A man in the background is playing a white piano while the crowd looks on. Ordered by Will Maylon.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life; Entertainers--Tacoma; Pianos; Ukeleles;

A woman contortionist performed on the dance floor with her legs elevated on two tables on either side of her body in a split formation . Her body is lower than her feet. Groups of people who are seated at tables around dance floor applaud her performance during the Halloween party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean. Ordered by Will Maylon.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life; Stunt performers--Tacoma; Entertainers--Tacoma;

People who attended the Halloween Party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean enjoyed the entertainment as well as the company. Ordered by Will Maylon.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life;

Peeking through the woven bamboo setting are Tacoma Athletic Commission members (kneeling) Salem Nourse and L.B. MacDonald. Standing are Margaret (Mrs. Salem) Nourse and Myra and E.R. Fetterolf. They were part of a large gathering that attended the T.A.C. Hawaiian dinner-dance held at the Top of the Ocean on October 2, 1950. Alfred Apaka, celebrated Hawaiian orchestra leader, and his band entertained. (TNT 10-15-50, p. D-4)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Nourse, Salem; MacDonald, L.B.; Nourse, Margaret; Fetterolf, Myra J.; Fetterolf, E.R.;

Bedecked with Hawaiian leis, entertainer Alfred Apaka and members of the Tacoma Athletic Commission enjoy an evening at the Top of the Ocean. Mr. Apaka, shown here in white shirt and cloth lei, was asked to bring his orchestra to Tacoma to perform at the T.A.C. Hawaiian dinner-dance in October, 1950. Smiling for the camera are J.J. Petrich (in background); others seated are Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wannberg, Mr. Apaka, Elsie Pitzen. Standing are Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lichtenwalter. (TNT 10-8-50, p. D-8)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Apaka, Alfred; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Athletic Commission held a Hawaiian dinner-dance on October 2, 1950, at the Top of the Ocean for members and guests. Alfred Apaka, popular Hawaiian orchestra leader, and his band were the featured performers. T.A.C. members (L-R) Mrs. Jack S. Roberts, Mrs. Dillard Howell and Mrs. Howard R. Smith hold up a grass skirt and flower lei for the approval of (standing L-R) Mrs. James J. Mellinger, Mrs. L.R. Ghilarducci, Mrs. Joseph Lehman and Mrs. Frederick A. Haines, Jr. (TNT 10-1-50, p. D-6)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Costumes;

Bill Hay, on the extreme right, gives pointers to local lawn bowlers during his trip to Tacoma on September 7, 1950. Hay is the president of the American Lawn Bowling Association. From left to right are Jim Dickson, Cy Mentzer, Louis Muscek, Roy Cleveland, Bill Dunckley, Lew Thomas and Hay. The lawn bowling green in Wright Park was built by the W.P.A., and play began there on May2, 1936. (TNT 9-10-50, p. C-14)

Bowling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowlers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Balls (Sporting goods);

Two water-skiers were just one of the acts that entertained the large crowd that gathered on Commencement Bay at the Tacoma Athletic Club's Water Carnival on August 26, 1950. Spectators watched the activities from both decks of the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way. The Ski-Quatic Follies, Seattle, provided the entertainment which included diving, clown jumps, wake jumping and slalom skiing. (TNT 8-25-50, p. 20)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Celebrations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Water skiing--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A man is captured in mid-dive onto a large trampoline during the Tacoma Athletic Commission's August, 1950, water carnival festivities. Phil Skiff and George Lewis of the Ski-Quatic Follies of Seattle demonstrated stunts on the trampoline. There were seventeen acts to entertain the large crowds gathered on Ruston Way.(TNT 8-25-50, p. 20, 8-27-50, p. B-10))

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In August of 1950 a very agile man performs acrobatic stunts during the Tacoma Athletic Commission's 4th annual water carnival held on Ruston Way. The water events were performed on Commencement Bay directly bayward of the TAC headquarters at 2217 Ruston Way in the Top of the Ocean cafe. The performers were provided by Ski-Quatic Follies from Seattle. The man on the trapeze could be Giff Owen. (TNT 8-25-50, p. 20)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Spectators at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's August, 1950, water carnival have a good view of the day's festivities as they stand and perch on the dock in Commencement Bay. A man in a small boat under the dock has chosen a unique viewpoint. The water carnival is an annual event located near the T.A.C.'s waterfront headquarters.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This publicity photograph for a Tacoma Tigers game against Salem was taken on July 17,1950. Floyd (Lefty) Isekite, one of the great southpaws of the Western International League, demonstrates a pitching grip for Clarence Stave. Stave, peering over his sunglasses, was a retired umpire. Earl Kuper, at the far right, had been a catcher and manager for the Tigers. The three committeemen were promoting Tacoma Athletic Club night, August 1, at Tiger Stadium. (TNT 7-23-50, B-7)

Baseballs; Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sporting goods; Isekite, Floyd; Stave, Clarence; Kuper, Earl;

Allenmore Golf Open party. Following the first day of play Oscar Eliason and Ken Tucker were tied for first place in the 17th Allenmore Open Golf Tournament. Tied for third place were Chuck Congdon and Bob McKendrick. Al Buhre was in fifth. Several of the players are seen with some of the prizes given. Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, Mr. Metcalf. (TNT, 5/17/1950, p.36)

Golf--Tacoma--1950-1960; Allenmore Golf Club (Tacoma); Awards; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Allenmore Golf Open party. Oscar (Ocky) Eliason and Ken Tucker shot identical 70-66--136s on the first day of the 1950 Allenmore Golf Open Tournament. Ocky Eliason (left), unattached Tacoma professional, is grasping the Steve O'Brien trophy. John H. ("Big John") Anderson, Mayor-elect and an ardent golfer, is seen second from the left. Ken Tucker, Everett Golf and Country Club professional, is second from the right, and Al Buhre, a veteran Tacoma amateur is on the right. Elaison and Tucker would battle it out for top money of $200 and the trophy in an 18-hole playoff. Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, Mr. Metcalf. (TNT, 5/17/1950, p.36)

Golf--Tacoma--1950-1960; Allenmore Golf Club (Tacoma); Awards; Anderson, John H.; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eliason, Oscar; Tucker, Ken; Buhre, Al;

Tacoma Baseball Club. The Tacoma Tigers opened their exhibition season in Bakersfield, California, in early April 1950. The Tigers opened in Tacoma April 26, 1950. Dave Nadeau served as auditor for the team that year with James Benson Brillheart as manager of the club. Frank Gillihan was the business manager. (TNT, 4/26/1950, p.18) TPL-4746

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma Baseball Club. Manager Jim Brillheart had put together the 1950 Tigers team with returning reinforcements: "Wimpy" Quinn as the number one first baseman, Dick Wenner as outfielder, catcher Bill Sheets and right-hander, Don Carter. The Tigers won the first inning of their home season and went on to defeat Spokane, 5 to 2, before 3,133 welcoming fans at Tiger Field. (TNT, 4/27/1950, p. 26) TPL-4745

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma Baseball Club. Arnold (Red) Fischer was the number one catcher during the initial fortnight of spring drills at the Tacoma Tigers camp in Bakersfield, California. With the return of Bill Sheets, Fisher was probably crowded out as the first-string receiver, but Manager Jim Brillheart hoped to utilize the youngster's power at the plate and develop him into a third baseman. (TNT, 4/13/1950, p.C-8)

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma Baseball Club. Mel Knezovich, Gordon Walden, Lefty Bob Kerrigan and Cline Hufford were expected to be the "big four" starting pitchers for the Tigers during their 1950 season. They would be backed up by Gil Loust, Bob Penner, Don Carter and Vince Lazor. (TNT, 4/19/1950, p.20)

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma Baseball Club. The Tacoma Tigers opened their 1950 Western International title bid April 19, 1950, against the Salem Legislators. Catcher Bill Sheets, joining when the team came home to Tacoma, would be the number one catcher with Redwood Fischer as his understudy. The outfield was expected to be better than all right with George Nichols in center, Dick Wenner in left, with Dick Greco in right. (TNT, 4/19/1950, p.20) TPL-4744

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma Athletic Commission's 1950 St. Patrick's Day party at the Top of the Ocean. Patrick Steele is on the left, Mrs. Mary Steele is on the far right. Four hundred members and guests of TAC attended the annual dinner and program on St. Patrick's Day. Diners had a choice of prawns or roast beef, with each plate adorned with two fresh rainbow trout.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Saint Patrick's Day; Parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Holidays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hats--1950-1960; Steele, Patrick; Steele, Mary;