Director Al Santell and actor Richard Barthelmess flank Al Rockett, First National producer, at a train station in March, 1927. The stars and crew of "The Patent Leather Kid" arrived by special train in Tacoma for filming at Camp (Fort) Lewis where vivid battle scenes would be shot. Mr. Barthelmess would be later nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of a boxer who eventually enlists in the war and engages in the Battle of Argonne. (TNT 3-16-27, p. 1)

Eddie Barry & H.C. Weaver on location of "The Patent Leather Kid," March 15, 1927. Mr. Barry was a visiting First National studio executive. Carrying a portfolio, he appears to be in deep conversation with H.C. Weaver, head of H.C. Weaver Productions, Tacoma's local motion picture studio. Later that summer, Mr. Weaver's third film, "Heart of the Yukon," would be opening at the Rialto Theater. BGN-104

Bursting of shrapnel during filming of "The Patent Leather Kid," on March 15, 1927, at Camp (Fort) Lewis. Trenches were dug and explosives laid before filming of the big battle scenes depicting the "Battle of the Argonne." 27,000 similar shrapnel shells were made and stored at Camp Lewis. Thousands of spectators had the opportunity to watch the filming until further into the war manuevers when it was decided that it was potentially too dangerous. Gravel and rocks were strewn over a wide area when the charges of powder exploded. An assistant powderman for First National studios, Walter Holt, was seriously injured in an explosion when a rock badly fractured his skull. He stayed on the job for half-an-hour to set off the complicated explosives before finally collapsing. (TNT 3-25-27, p. 1, TNT 3-16-27, p.1) BGN-103

On March 15, 1927, an unidentified logging crew at Camp #1 was taking a lunch break next to giant logs stacked and ready to be transported. Some of the men found that a cut log makes a fairly comfortable perch. Metal lunch pails were scattered around the area and there were clumps of snow visible. TPL-2445; G75.1-102

Loggers; Logs; Lumber industry--1920-1930; Eating & drinking;

Soldiers at attention during filming of "The Patent Leather Kid" at Camp (Fort) Lewis in March, 1927. The filming of this war drama involved the usage of thousands of soldiers from the 4th Infantry (Fort Lawton), 7th Infantry (Vancouver) and ROTC units from the University of Washington. Actual soldiers played screen soldiers on both sides in the First National production, although most of the enemy soldiers were played by the U.W. college students who had to cut their film careers short to return to school after spring break. The studio had to recruit hundreds of extras to replace them. This group pictured above of Imperial German soldiers seems unsure whether all should salute or not. TPL-10377

Lights! Cameras! Action! Cameras roll as filming occurs on Camp (Fort) Lewis with "The Patent Leather Kid" in March, 1927. One of the cameramen is believed to be Arthur Edeson, director of photography, a founder of the A.S.C. (American Society of Cinematogophers). He pioneered location sound photography in later work as the cameraman of the successful Western "In Old Arizona." Both he and the other cameraman are wearing protective helmets. Camp Lewis was used by the First National Inc. studios for outdoor photography with indoor scenes filmed in California. Multiple cameras captured the fierce battle action in the "Argonne" where thousands of soldiers from the 4th Infantry, 7th Infantry and ROTC from the University of Washington served as extras. The artillery range was used for the main part of the picture with the construction of five French villages and a cathedral. BGN-115

Filming of "The Patent Leather Kid" at Camp (Fort) Lewis in March, 1927. Cameras on top of platforms are protected under large umbrellas; ladders must be utilized by cameramen and director(s) for access to the platforms. Groups of actors and military personnel appear to be waiting for the next scene. BGN-114

Between scenes of "The Patent Leather Kid" on Camp (Fort) Lewis, March, 1927. Making films, even back in the silent era, involved lots of downtime. Scenes needed to be set up, camera angles discussed and positioned, and actors herded into place. Some of the actors, probably extras, stand in a group with their guns at rest while others lounge in a truck. Four giant loudspeakers would give plenty of warning when action was ready to commence. BGN 124

Dressed in Army gear, a squad of "German" soldiers awaits instructions during the filming of "The Patent Leather Kid" on the grounds of Camp (Fort) Lewis in March, 1927. They do not bear arms but carry rucksacks and wear, in some cases, badly fitting helmets. Thousands of regular USA personnel participated in the filming of the war drama and 600+ civilians were recruited as extras. This particular platoon of Imperial Germans spent the day drilling under the direction of Army officers and also hiked several miles. (TNT 3-22-27, p. 1) BGN-607

Tacoma photographer Chapin Bowen described Luther "Dad" Sullins as "a real silk salesman" when he took this portrait of Sullins in Wright Park. Silk was a multi-million dollar business on Puget Sound, as well as in Vancouver, B. C., starting around 1913 and still active in 1927. Raw silk from Japan and China arrived on cargo ships. The delicate raw silk bales were immediately transferred to railroad cars pulled by steam locomotives. The silk trains, carrying multi-million dollar cargos and displaying white flags, had the track right-of-way as they traveled at 80-mile-an-hour speeds to New York and eastern mills. BGN 092.

On February 3, 1927, T.F. McGettigan, left, test engineer, and his helper E.R. "Red" Randolph, in doorway, pose with the great electric locomotive #5007 that they accompanied from Pittsburgh to Tacoma. The locomotive was constructed for the Great Northern Railroad by Baldwin Locomotive Works and Westinghouse Electric Co. working together. On completion, it was hitched to a through freight train, destination Everett, Wa. Although the engine was not working, it still needed care during the trip and McGettigan and Randolph were assigned that task. Freight trains make few stops and do not usually carry passengers, so the pair packed a ham and 13 dozen eggs and set up a small stove on the engine. They slept on planks suspended over the machinery and endured temperatures of 40 degrees below zero when crossing the Rockies. The behemoth locomotive was on display in Tacoma on February 2 (see G44.1-069) and then proceeded on to Portland, then Everett, where it was placed into service. (TNT 2/3/1927 p.14)

On display at the Union depot, 1717 Pacific Avenue, in early February of 1927 was the giant Great Northern electric locomotive #5007. It had made its way from East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Washington State, a distance of 2600 miles. This unidentified group of men, some of the hundreds in attendance, took the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the latest "Iron Horse" before it left town. #5007 weighed in at 715,000 pounds and had an overall length of 94'4". G44.1-097; G44.1-069 (TNT 2-3-27, p. 14-article)

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Union Station (Tacoma);

Mayor Melvin G. Tennent and several Tacoma commissioners joined the hordes of Tacomans on February 2, 1927, in viewing the giant Great Northern electric locomotive #5007 on display at the Union depot. The latest and greatest "Iron Horse" had an overall length of 94'4" and a total weight of 715,000 pounds. It was built jointly by Baldwin Locomotive and Westinghouse Electric. A banner on the locomotive proclaimed it to be the "most powerful motor-generator electric locomotive ever built." It had traveled from East Pittsburgh, Pennyslvania to Skykomish, Washington, a distance of 2600 miles, hitched to the end of a through freight. After stops in Portland and Everett, it would be put into service. From L-R above are: Mayor Tennent (on steps), Commissioners Jesse Silver & Dyer Dyment, Commissioner Ira S. Davisson, and Llewellyn Evans, superintendent of City Light. The two men standing on the ground were not identified. (TDL 2-3-27, p. 12; TNT 2-3-27, p.14-article) G44.1-069; TPL-675; TPL-5813

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Silver, Jesse; Dyment, Dyer; Davisson, Ira; Evans, Llewellyn; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930; Banners--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

Members of the Western Retail Lumbermens' Association pose in February of 1927 in front of a little bungalow erected on the roof of the Winthrop Hotel in honor of the group's annual convention. The bungalow was made entirely of local wood and demonstrated its use in construction. When the 24th annual convention concluded February 26, 1927, new leaders had been elected for the coming year. Pictured leaders are, back row, left to right: George A. Heilman (Wyo.), H.J. Sawtelle (Mt.), W.B. Hussman (Idaho), I.G. Kjosness (Idaho), and R.O. Bushong (Ore.) Front row, left to right, F.C. Kendall (Spokane), J.W. Burt (Mt.), Robt M. Graham (Mt.), R.M. Cross (Utah) and E.J. Ostrander (Idaho.) (TDL 2/27/1927, pg. A-5; TNT 2/23/1927, pg. 7) (WSHS- negative A893-0)

Washington Lumber Dealers Association (Tacoma); Business people--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Employees of the Skansie Shipbuilding Company, in Gig Harbor, posed around a Fairbanks Morse engine intended for the "Defiance," the Pt. Defiance to Gig Harbor ferry which had been launched on January 16, 1927. By the mid 1920's, ferries were being designed to carry automobiles. The Skansie Brothers yard in Gig Harbor was one of the first to build the auto ferries. The "Defiance" had an 70-car capacity. Mitchell Skansie pioneered the use of diesel engines in ferries and the "Defiance" had a 360 hp engine which could travel with a speed of 10 knots. (Neal & Janus "Puget Sound Ferries") G66.1-091 (TNT 1-15-27, p. 14-article; TNT 1-17-27, p. 15-article)

Ferries--1920-1930; Skansies Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Boat engines;

ca. 1927. A man holds a stop sign at an unidentified Railroad crossing. In the background is a factory. Photograph is labelled "NO. 1." (WSHS)

Railroad crossings--1920-1930;

Several unidentified members of Tacoma's Chamber of Commerce paid a visit to the Danish motorship "Tacoma" when she docked at the Defiance Lumber Mill on her maiden voyage January 14, 1927. They posed with members of the crew for this portrait. The "Tacoma" was built in Copenhagen for the Orient Steamship Company of Copenhagen. She was loading Northwest lumber enroute to Japan. She was 400 feet in length with a beam of 55 feet. She ran under the power of two diesel engines with a crew of 15 officers and 34 crewmen. (TNT 1/14/1927, pg. 20) (WSHS)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Orient Steamship Co. (Copenhagen); Commerce--Tacoma--1920-1930; Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma)--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Rowland Valve Company, Seattle, machinery department. View of machines with belts and pullys. (filed with Argentum)

Machinery; Rowland Valve Co. (Seattle);

ca. 1927. Rowland Valve Co. Machinery Dept., Seattle, Wa. (WSHS)

Machinery; Rowland Valve Co. (Seattle);

ca. 1927. Rowland Valve Company, Seattle, machinery department. View of machine shop with three men in suits. (filed with Argentum)

Machinery; Rowland Valve Co. (Seattle);

ca. 1927. Wheeler Osgood plant, circa 1927. A general elevated view of the door plant, with its various smokestacks, on the Tacoma tideflats with the bay in the background. The Wheeler-Osgood plant was opened in 1889 by George R. Osgood, W.C. Wheeler and D.D. Clark as a millworking plant. By 1927, the 37 year old company was the largest door factory in the world. The plant covered 14 acres, from St. Paul Ave. to the City Waterway, and employed 1500 people. It sawed all its own lumber and had an aerial line connecting the factory with the sawmill at the head of the City Waterway. The plant closed in 1952. It was demolished in the late 50's and caught fire in the process, burning to the ground. (filed with Argentum) (TNT 3/9/1927, pg. 13)

Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Factories--Tacoma--1920-1930; Smokestacks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Believed to be the Danish motorship "Tacoma." The motorship "Tacoma" arrived in Tacoma on January 14, 1927 on her maiden voyage and berthed at the Defiance Mill. The ship was built in Copenhagen for the Orient Steamship Co. of Copenhagen. She was loading northwest lumber enroute to Japan. She was 400 feet in length with a beam of 55 feet. She ran under the power of two diesel engines with a crew of 15 officers and 34 crewmen. (TNT 1/14/1927, pg. 20) (WSHS)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Defiance Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Cargo ships; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Orient Steamship Co. (Copenhagen); Commerce--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Rowland Valve Company, Machinery Department, Seattle. Interior view of machine shop. (filed with Argentum)

Machinery; Rowland Valve Co. (Seattle);

ca. 1927. Man walking along street at railroad crossing. Bridge in the background, Tacoma city skyline also. Storage tank at right. Photograph is labelled "NO. 2." (WSHS)

Railroad crossings--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. A view along railroad tracks. Logs loaded on a railroad car are seen on the left and an automobile traveling along a road that intersects with the railroad tracks is seen on the right. (WSHS)

Railroad tracks;

ca. 1927. A man stands beside railroad tracks. (WSHS)

Railroad tracks--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Man walking beside railroad tracks. A car on the tracks is transporting logs. The skyline of Tacoma can be seen on the hillside behind. (WSHS)

Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Ferry "Wollochet" docked at the Skansie's Shipbuilding Co.'s dock on November 12, 1926. It had been built by the Gig Harbor firm the previous year. TPL-680; G37.1-171

Ferries--1920-1930; Skansies Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Boat & ship industry--Gig Harbor; Piers & wharves--Gig Harbor;

Two unidentified employees operated the new bottling machine, which automatically filled and capped each glass bottle with pure fresh milk, at the Tacoma Dairy in November of 1926. Founded in 1902, the dairy opened a new, modern plant at 1802 East 27th Street in the fall of 1926. The dairy's new bottling operation had a capacity of 3,000 gallons of milk and cream a day. Its eight delivery trucks carried nine loads of milk each on a daily schedule throughout the city. The Tacoma Dairy was taken over by Medosweet Dairies Inc. in the mid-1950s. (TDL 12/12/1926, pg. B4-5)

Tacoma Dairy (Tacoma); Dairy products industry--Tacoma; Milk; Dairy products;

Unidentified man loading boxes of milk bottles onto a conveyor belt at the Tacoma Dairy in November of 1926. The company had recently occupied their new modern plant at 1802 E. 27th St. Most of the plant was electrically operated with push button controls. At the time of the photograph, the plant distributed only milk, but had plans to manufacture buttermilk, cottage cheese and ice cream under the brand name of "Oh-So-Good." (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Dairy (Tacoma); Dairy products industry--Tacoma; Milk; Dairy products;