In a scene reminiscent of the day after Christmas, anxious crowds pour into the Washington Hardware store to snap up bargains in hardware and sporting goods. Even the cold, damp weather is not enough to deter shoppers attending Washington Hardware's Washington Birthday Sales in 1958. As the crowds push through the doors, young boys who had hopped onto the store's thin cement wall try to maneuver their way over the bodies of others. As an added attraction, KTAC would be broadcasting direct from within the store. Photograph ordered by Washington Hardware Co.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Crowds--Tacoma;

Washington Hardware Washington Birthday Sales. The cashiers stand ready before their registers as they await purchases at the 1958 Washington Hardware Co.'s Washington Birthday Sales. Some of the items bought would be destined for presents as three girls were prepared to gift wrap. The store is packed with customers, bargain hunters and just plain browsers. Moose and elk heads are mounted on the walls along with stuffed swordfish and birds. Guns, tools, and outdoor clothing are on display. Photograph ordered by Washington Hardware Co.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Crowds--Tacoma;

Washington Hardware's annual Washington Birthday Sales always drew large crowds. Even on a cold, damp, day people of all ages flocked to the Pacific Avenue location in anticipation of finding bargains in sporting goods and hardware. View of crowds milling about the two store entrances; photograph ordered by Washington Hardware Co.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Crowds--Tacoma;

Smoke drifts from a chimney toward the looming hills in Elbe on a rainy February day. The streets appear quiet with no visible traffic proceeding on the two-lane road. There are no cars outside the Chevron pumps at M. Gilliardi's Standard Oil station. A grocery store is further down the road across from a B & O boxcar. Elbe is a small community on the Nisqually River at the east end of Lake Alder in the south central section of Pierce County. Photograph ordered by Standard Oil Co. of California. TPL-8363

Standard Oil Co. of California (Elbe); Automobile service stations--Elbe; Signs (Notices);

Eighteen years after the first Selden's store opened on 13th & Broadway, the original five employees who made up the entire staff were still employed by Selden's. The News Tribune ran a multi-page feature on Selden's in the April 6, 1958, issue, to celebrate the grand opening of Selden's new and larger location at 11th & A Sts. They found a picture of the staff in 1940 and had them pose identically in 1958. Seated from L-R are Ozzie Ellingson, manager-floor covering sales, Mrs. Angeline (Grubisa) Graham, office manager, Sydney C. Selden, president of the firm. Standing are Wally Squires, head of the contracting division and Ed Selden, brother of Sydney and manager of the Lakewood branch of Selden's. To view the 1940 photograph, see C113556-2. Selden's had grown immensely from a rug and floor coverings store stuffed in a tiny 30 x 70 space to a 65,000 square foot multi-floor complete home center, featuring furniture, appliances and floor coverings. Sepia photograph ordered by Selden's, Inc. (TNT 4-6-58, B-2)

Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Ellingson, Ozzie; Graham, Angeline; Squires, Wally; Selden, Ed; Selden, Sydney C.;

Sears opened a new farm and garden store in the spring of 1958, just beyond Tacoma city limits at 8720 South Tacoma Way, where Hwy. 99 intersects with Steilacoom Blvd. Besides the usual appliances and televisions, customers could peruse garden items, farm equipment, pet supplies, and place catalog orders. View of Sears' exterior with customers examining garden shop outdoor exhibits, including a "Shrub-O-Rama" of evergreens at $2.77 each. Signs indicate that the store was open on Sundays. Photograph ordered by Sears. TPL-9910

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Lakewood); Signs (Notices);

On March 30, 1958, customers flocked to the new Sears farm and garden store at 8720 South Tacoma Way, near the outskirts of Tacoma, to examine the products on sale. Besides the usual appliances and televisions, customers could peruse garden items, farm equipment, pet supplies, and place catalog orders. Kenmore floor sample washers and dryers could be purchased at a reduced price with no payments due until June 1st. Several browsers checked out the merits of the appliances while others were more interested in buying a 16 inch chain saw for $149.88. The pet shop portion of Sears was located to the rear of this photograph with tropical fish apparently on display.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Lakewood); Signs (Notices); Appliances; Washing machines;

Selden's had been located on Broadway since 1942. They advertised themselves as being "first in floor coverings and furniture" and did not charge for their professional decorating service. They were a complete home center, offering the finest in carpets, draperies, furniture, tile & linoleum and shades. A full line of Parker Paints, Frigidaire Home Appliances and Hoover vacuum cleaners were carried by the store. Selden's had two locations in the Tacoma area, one in the Lakewood Center and the main store now located at 11th & A St. View of 65,000 square foot main store was taken on March 30, 1958; rows of Selden's fleet of 26 delivery trucks and vans are lined up on two sides of the two-story building. A large sign with the company's name is prominently on display. Selden's held their grand opening on April 6, 1958. This downtown location was formerly the site of the O.F.Kegel store, opposite the post office. Photograph ordered by Selden's. (TNT 4-6-58, B-2)

Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior- Selden's. Selden's, a home furnishings store featuring floor coverings and appliances, moved their main downtown store from Broadway, where they had been located since 1942, to 11th & A St in the spring of 1958. View of store with row of delivery trucks and large Selden's signage. Selden's had been in business in various Tacoma locations since 1940. The downtown store would remain the main store; five branches would be scattered throughout the state from Olympia to Moses Lake. The store would undergo extensive remodeling by G. Kirkebo & Son, contractors, using the design of Lea, Pearson & Richards, architects, in 1964. Eleven years later, in late 1975, the building would be demolished. Photograph ordered by Selden's. (TNT 4-6-58, B-2)

Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The one-branch North Pacific Bank had been in the South Tacoma area for over 40 years. Located at the corner of South 56th & South Tacoma Way, the bank was a brick structure designed by architects Lundberg & Mahon. Protruding from the bank's exterior was a Time and Temperature sign, a combination which was becoming more common in the 1950's. The sign was designed to show both the actual time and temperature at that location. Attached to the sign was a smaller one indicating the bank offered 3% time certificates. Photograph ordered by American Sign & Indicator Corp., Chicago.

North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The North Pacific Bank T & T sign shows the time to be 12:10 p.m. which corresponds to the smaller clock in the window of the bank. The T & T sign would also give the current temperature. The North Pacific Bank had been in the same South Tacoma location since 1914. It was run by Clarence W. Wallerich, president, Bert R. Magnuson, vice-president and Peter K. Wallerich, cashier. Clarence Wallerich also owned the South Tacoma Motor Co., Western States Investment Group, City Motor Co., and managed the City Insurance Agency. The one-branch bank, which offered general banking and safe deposit vaults, had capital, surplus, reserves and undivided profits over $900,000 in 1958.

North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Individual clothes pressing machines are in use at a local laundry in April, 1958. Each machine has an operator on hand to place the piece of clothing into the press, over an ironing board apparatus. A battery of twenty press line units insured that gentle hand care was combined with automation for perfect garment finishing. After pressing, the clothes are removed and slung on a rack. This laundry and dry cleaning facility was probably the Tacoma-Olympic Laundry and Pantorium Cleaners. They were still settling claims from a recent fire for damaged and missing clothing. Photograph ordered by Howard R. Smith Advertising Co., for Home Service Co., Inc. (TNT ad, 4-14-58, p. 12)

Cleaning establishments--Tacoma;

Women employed by a local laundry appear to be in the process of operating a giant sheet iron and folder in an April 9, 1958, photograph. The new machinery, by American Trumatic and American Sylon, ironed and folded fourteen sheets per minute. The Tacoma-Olympic Laundry and Pantorium Cleaners were part of the Home Service Co., Inc., operated by Jack G. Hersey, president. The Home Service Co. advertised their services as dependable and "lusterized" their dry cleaning. Customers could be assured that the most up-to-date equipment would be used to clean their linens, pillows, laundry, blankets, rugs and furs. Photograph ordered by Howard R. Smith Advertising Co., for Home Service Co. (TNT Ad 4-14-58, p. 12)

Cleaning establishments--Tacoma; Machinery;

Puget Sound National Bank had a drive-in branch at South 13th & A St. downtown. There were two drive-up teller windows in the customer parking lot. The drive-up tellers, opened on April 1, 1958, replaced the less convenient singular drive-up window at the rear of the main bank building on Court A. Now a bank customer could cash checks, make checking/savings deposits, and pay loans without getting out of his car. Puget Sound Bank called itself "Tacoma's Friendly Bank" with convenient neighborhood branches and free customer parking. Under the capable hands of Reno Odlin, the bank's deposits had increased almost 50% between 1950 & 1960. This was accomplished through internal growth and not through the purchase of other banks or mergers. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co. (Provorse: Banking on Independence, p. 116, TNT ad 3-31-58, p. 15))

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

IBM had been located at its 12 Tacoma Ave. No. address for about seven years. It appears that some remodeling had been done since its initial move in 1951; double glass doors are now in place at the entrance. Large picture windows facing the sidewalk show most of the interior while the exposed side of the building has limited windows and plenty of brickwork. The Connoisseur Shop is located next door. The Tacoma branch of IBM was managed by William C. Bethke.

International Business Machines (Tacoma);

Interior - Primo's Wagon Wheel. The interior of Primo's Wagon Wheel appears to have been heavily decorated with wood panels, matching the rustic exterior of the tavern. A mounted deer's head would have been staring at the customers lined up on the bar stools before the polished bar. The Wagon Wheel had been at its 8602 South Tacoma Way location since 1938; the space had formerly been occupied by Babe's Inn. It had celebrated a grand reopening in 1940 after extensive remodeling, and another grand opening in June, 1958. Known as the "Home of the Singing Gondolier", the business was owned by Primo Gasperetti. It now had room for 350 people and offered dance music six nights a week. Photograph ordered by Primo's Wagon Wheel. (TNT 6-18-58, B-2, B-3)

Primo's Wagon Wheel (Lakewood); Bars--Lakewood; Bars (Furniture)--Lakewood; Hunting trophies;

The grand opening of Primo Gasparetti's newly remodeled Wagon Wheel restaurant at 8602 South Tacoma Way was held June 18-21, 1958. The redecorated and expanded building now had room for 350 people, up from 50, and two well-lighted and well-patrolled parking lots. "Corky" Corcoran and his four-piece band supplied dancing music six nights a week. Primo Gasparetti owned several businesses on or near the same lot near the city limits of Tacoma on the 8600 block of South Tacoma Way. One year later in July of 1959 the Play Boy Cabaret, operated by Jimmy Carbone, opened at this location. (Photograph ordered by Primo's Wagon Wheel.) (TNT 6-18-58, B-2, B-3)

Primo's Wagon Wheel (Lakewood); Bars--Lakewood; Signs (Notices); Facades--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Exterior - Max Frolic's cafe. Well-known entertainer Max Frolic opened his restaurant in 1938 at the (then) South Tacoma Way location. It was designed and built by Mr. Frolic and William Thornburg because of the rerouting of U.S. Highway 99 from Lakeview Drive to the newly extended South Tacoma Way. On June 20-22, 1958, Max Frolic's celebrated its grand opening to highlight its new exterior and new dining room. Neon signs advertised sea foods and fried chicken as part of the menu. Colorful awnings help to shade the windows of this brick and wood building. Max Frolic was a former vaudevillian, violinist and band leader. He directed the Elks Club Extravaganzas for many years. He also was the music director, arranger and conductor of the Pantages Theatre orchestra from 1920-1932. Mr. Frolic died at the age of 89 on December 14, 1974. Photograph ordered by Max Frolic's Restaurant. TPL-5799. (TNT 6-20-58, p. 4, History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 421)

Max Frolic's Restaurant (Lakewood); Restaurants--Lakewood; Electric signs--Lakewood;

Interior - Max Frolic's cafe. Well-known entertainer Max Frolic opened his restaurant in 1938 at the (then) South Tacoma Way location. It was designed and built by Mr. Frolic and William Thornburg because of the rerouting of U.S. Highway 99 from Lakeview Drive to the newly extended South Tacoma Way. On June 20-22, 1958, Max Frolic's celebrated its grand opening to highlight its new exterior and new dining room. Neon signs advertised sea foods and fried chicken as part of the menu. Colorful awnings help to shade the windows of this brick and wood building. Max Frolic was a former vaudevillian, violinist and band leader. He directed the Elks Club Extravaganzas for many years. He also was the music director, arranger and conductor of the Pantages Theatre orchestra from 1920-1932. Mr. Frolic died at the age of 89 on December 14, 1974. Photograph ordered by Max Frolic's Restaurant. TPL-5799. (TNT 6-20-58, p. 4, History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 421)

Max Frolic's Restaurant (Lakewood); Restaurants--Lakewood; Interiors--Lakewood;

Steel Container Corporation of Tacoma was situated in the Tideflats at 1424 Thorne Rd. near Allied Chemicals and Dye Corporation and Woodlam, Inc. Headed by Arne K. Strom, the company were barrel manufacturers. Steel Container's drums were shipped to major oil, chemical, food and paint industries in the Pacific Northwest. The company managed to keep their prices unchanged despite several steel price increases. They shipped orders the same day they were received. Thomas Tinsley, Jr., was the plant manager. View of Steel Container's exteriors taken from the northeast side shows a rectangular concrete building with overhanging roof and barrels lined up on display. Richard Studio's photographs were to be used on a television program called "Success Story" to be broadcast on July 1, 1958. Sepia photograph ordered by Steel Container Corporation of Tacoma. (TNT 9-1-58, C-11)

Steel Container Corporation of Tacoma (Tacoma); Barrels--Tacoma;

A new exterior sign for Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan has just been delivered to the building site on Pacific Avenue early on June 30, 1958. The Sunnen crane is in the process of lifting the sign from the truck bed in preparation of its erection. Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan was located at 1007 Pacific Avenue, flush between the Bank of California and Hunt's Office Supply. The W.H. Opie Co. can be spotted at the corner with the Security Building across the street. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle.

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;

Two employees of Sunnen Auto Freight & Heavy Hauling Co. steady the enormous vertical sign for the Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan Assn. on June 30, 1958. A portable crane has lifted the sign in preparation for its erection. In order not to cause a traffic hazard, the work was accomplished at 6 o'clock in the morning. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle.

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;

Even at 6 o'clock in the morning, cranes plus electric signs still equaled a fascinating draw for spectators. Military personnel are among those viewing the erection of a new Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan sign on the edge of the narrow building. The savings & loan was located between Hunt's Office Supply and the Bank of California on Pacific Avenue. A large sign on the side of the building indicated that a 3 1/2% dividend was paid currently on accounts with savings federally insured up to $10,000. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle.

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Hoisting machinery;

The staff of this Safeway store probably had a lot of fun dressing up for the supermarket's "Country Carnival Days" promotion on June 30, 1958. The men wore bow ties and striped vests topped off with jaunty derbys while the women checkers, in bonnets, wore "buttons and bows." There is even an old-fashioned policeman with truncheon handy to keep order. Photograph ordered by the Retail Clerks Union.

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Publicity photographs;

A Sunnen crane carefully lifts a new Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan exterior sign into place early in the morning on June 30, 1958. The tall vertical structure has three separate horizontal signs welded a few feet apart. Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan was located on Pacific Avenue between the Bank of California and Hunt's Office Supply. The building was constructed in 1888; it had been remodeled in 1954. Deposits were now federally insured up to $10,000. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle.

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma);Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;

A trio of checkers, dressed in "old-timey" clothing, sashay for the camera to advertise Safeway's Country Carnival Days. Adorned in ruffles and bonnets, the women are posed next to a cartoon cutout of a carnival barker. This June 30, 1958, photograph may have been taken at the Safeway store at 1102 South "M". Photograph ordered by Retail Clerks Union.

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

This was the crowded Little J.E.M Dining & Dancing Cafe parking lot on July 16, 1958. Every Wednesday night from 8-12 was "Teen-age Hop" night with admission at 75 cents. The place was packed that Wednesday, crammed with kids anxious to listen and rock to the sounds of the Bluenotes, one of first rock bands in the area. In July of 1958 the Bluenotes included Robin Roberts on vocals, Bill Engelhart on guitar, Buck Ormsby on bass, Frank Dutra on sax and Lassie Aanes on drums. The Little J.E.M. was located on Highway 99 just past the Puyallup Bridge, and outside of Tacoma's city limits. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Little J.E.M was opened from 11 am to 2 am for dancing with live music. (TNT ad 7-23-58, A-10)

Little J.E.M. Cafe (Tacoma); Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This was the crowded Little J.E.M Dining & Dancing Cafe parking lot on July 16, 1958. Every Wednesday night from 8-12 was "Teen-age Hop" night with admission at 75 cents. The place was packed that Wednesday, crammed with kids anxious to listen and rock to the sounds of the Bluenotes, one of first rock bands in the area. In July of 1958 the Bluenotes included Robin Roberts on vocals, Bill Engelhart on guitar, Buck Ormsby on bass, Frank Dutra on sax and Lassie Aanes on drums. The Little J.E.M. was located on Highway 99 just past the Puyallup Bridge, and outside of Tacoma's city limits. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Little J.E.M was opened from 11 am to 2 am for dancing with live music. (TNT ad 7-23-58, A-10)

Little J.E.M. Cafe (Tacoma); Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In 1958, Anton's Restaurant was located in the venerable Roberts-Parker Building at 11th and Tacoma Avenue South, across the street from the Tacoma Public Library. It was owned and operated by Tony and Mary Anton. This view of Anton's interior shows a long, curved lunch counter with a chef and waitress ready for customers. Tony Anton is the chef by his grill and his wife Mary is seated across the counter from him. There are four women are seated at upholstered booths. There is an Arden's Milk clock mounted on the colorful wallpaper. Anton's was later succeeded by Siri's Restaurant and then Kelly's at the same location. After extensive remodeling, the SideBar Bistro opened in this building in June of 2010. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Anton's Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anton, Tony; Anton, Mary;

A three-alarm blaze caused $47,000 in damages to the Imported Motors facility on August 6, 1958. A leaking gasoline tank that fell caused the fast-spreading fire. Twenty cars were saved but nine expensive foreign cars were badly damaged. Imported Motors was owned by Tom Carstens who flew in via a small plane immediately from Seattle to inspect the damage. This photograph taken 30 hours after the fire shows the heavy damage to the overhead roof area; parts of the laminated beams are still intact while others have been burned, leaving the building exposed to the elements. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc. (TNT 8-6-58, A-1)

Imported Motor Cars, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;