Tacoma Athletic Commission celebrated the formal opening of the organization's new headquarters, now located at the Top of the Ocean. The Tacoma Athletic Club had arranged for a permanent private suite on the upper level of the Top of the Ocean. Over 1,500 members and associate members attended the celebration. Interior view of dining room. The Tacoma Athletic Commission purchased the restaurant building, site and equipment of the Top of the Ocean in October 1948. (T. Times, 12/31/46, p. 12; TNT, 10/21/1948, p.1).
Banquet halls--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);
The Top of the Ocean restaurant had their grand opening in December 1946. They were one of the most beautiful and luxurious dine and dance liners in the Northwest. View of Hal Gullett and his orchestra playing at the Top of the Ocean restaurant. Hal Gullett is playing the saxophone and Micky McDougall is singing (T. Times, 1/13/47, p. 7).
Restaurants--Tacoma; Music ensembles--Tacoma; Musicians--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Gullett, Hal;
The Top of the Ocean had a private suite for the Tacoma Athletic Commission on their top deck. An advertisement stated they have the "most beautiful dance floors in the Northwest"and would be featuring Hal Gullett and his orchestra nightly. View of Micky McDougall on left, and Hal Gullett on right side (T. Times, 1/13/47, p. 7).
Restaurants--Tacoma; Music ensembles--Tacoma; Musicians--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Gullett, Hal; McDougall, Micky;
Bill Slater was the head chef in charge of the Top of the Ocean galley crew. Slater was a world famous chef who had been featured in "Ripley's Believe It or Not". View of stainless steel finished kitchen, stoves and oven are below "Top of the Ocean" sign. Photo ordered by Dohrmann Hotel Supply.
Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stoves--Tacoma; Appliances; Restaurants--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);
In November of 1947, Tacoma's Top of the Ocean was in such high demand, that the restaurant had to reduce the general operating hours for the public. Clubs and organizations now had more time options in reserving private dining rooms. Interior view of the main dining room and dance floor. Orchestra area in background, where Hal Gullett's Orchestra appeared on the weekends, photo ordered by Condon Advertising. The Top of the Ocean was also home to the Tacoma Athletic Commission. They maintained their own private club on the upper level with its own private entrance. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5). TPL-8248
Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Table settings & decorations; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Interior decoration; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Captain's Quarters at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Club located at the Top of the Ocean restaurant. Tacoma's Top of the Ocean was likely the most popular place in town. It was conveniently located in Tacoma's Old Town waterfront. Interior view of a smaller dining room with dance floor and jukebox, bar in foreground, photo ordered by Condon Advertising (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5).
Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jukeboxes; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Interior decoration; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Photograph taken in November of 1947 of the Captain's Quarters at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Club, located on the upper level of the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way. Top of the Ocean housed Tacoma Athletic Commission, which retained its own private Club on the top level. The lower portions of the facility were open to the public. Organizations could also rent the facilities for parties. A cocktail area in the TAC Club is pictured; with a small dance floor, cocktail tables and comfortable chairs, a full bar and slot machines against the back wall. Photo ordered by Condon Advertising. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5).
Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);
Captain's Quarters at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Club located on the upper level of the Top of the Ocean. Top of the Ocean housed Tacoma Athletic Commission, but its main dining room was also open to the public. They advertised smorgasbord dinners for $1.00 and dinners from their menu for $1.75 to $3.50. Interior view of a smaller dining room with dance floor, a fully stocked bar with mirrors in background, photo ordered by Condon Advertising (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5).
Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Interior decoration; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Tacoma Athletic Commission was located on the top levels of the Top of the Ocean restaurant. The club had private facilities and a separate entrance, available to all club members and their guests, many private events were scheduled in this area. View of snack bar at Tacoma Athletic Commission, nine stools surround the leather padded bar, coffee pots, menu board, and flower vases on the back counter; salt, pepper and sugar are located on the lunch counter.
Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Snack bars--Tacoma; Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);
Tacoma Athletic Commission was busy planning many summer events, the baseball excursion was coming up and the club's facilities would be used to host a pre-baseball party and a victory celebration after the double header and return trip home. View of snack bar and lounge at Tacoma Athletic Commission, dance floor in center, tables, chairs and loveseats help create a relaxed atmosphere.
Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Lounges--Tacoma; Snack bars--Tacoma; Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);
Employees and guests of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company enjoy a retirement dinner at the Top of the Ocean on August 8, 1950. Pacific Telephone & Telegraph was located at 757 Fawcett Avenue.
Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Telephone companies--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma--1950-1960;
In celebration of their 25th anniversary, radio and television manufacturer Packard Bell hosts their dealers at the Top of the Ocean. N. Earl Davisson, Packard Bell distributer, was the host. The phenomenal growth of the television industry was outlined in a speech by company Vice President Joe E. Spain. In prewar 1940, Packard Bell's total volume of business was $1,600,000. The war brought a shift to military communications manufacturing. Post war business volume was $6,000,000 in 1949 and $18,000,000 in 1950. (TNT 2/8/1951, pg. B-6)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Packard Bell Co. (Tacoma);
The Washington State Tavern Association hosted a luncheon for women of the association and members' wives at the Top of the Ocean during the three day convention held in Tacoma. The large group of women are seen in front of and on the covered ramp up to the unique restaurant built in the shape of a ship. A sign advertises: "Smorgasbord Daily". (TNT, 10/21/1952, p.2)
Restaurants--Tacoma; Nightclubs--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Washington State Tavern Association (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Banquet for Gonzaga University Alumnae Association. Gonzaga alumnae from the Tacoma & Olympia areas and parents of current students gathered at the Top of the Ocean on 11/21/1953 to hear the president's report delivered by the Very Rev. Francis E. Corkery, S.J., president of the University. (TNT 11/15/1953, pg. B-5)
Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Alumni & alumnae--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gonzaga University Alumnae Association (Tacoma);
ca. 1956. Telephone Pioneers of America. A group composed of employees from the early days of phone service pose in a group picture around a sign stating "It's fun to be a pioneer." The annual banquet of the Telephone Pioneers was scheduled at the Top of the Ocean. Over 275 pioneers from Washington and British Columbia attended. (TNT 6-11-1956, pg. 26)
Telephone Pioneers of America (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Architect's sketch of design for a Marine Terrace adjacent to the Top of the Ocean restaurant on Ruston Way by Lance, McGuire and Muri, Architects with a cost estimated at $80,000. The plan included a retaining wall surrounding the ship like restaurant that would be 150 feet long extending 70 feet out into Commencement Bay with a 170 foot width. A landing dock would permit sea craft direct access to the club facilities. Within the retaining wall, the space would be filled with dirt and landscaped surrounding a salt water swimming pool. Proposed by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, then owners of the Top of the Ocean, the facility was not built. (TNT 3/26/1950 pg. A-5)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Architectural drawings;
Lt. Governor Emmett Anderson, 1956 Republican nominee for Governor, 3rd from right in photo, with family at a testimonial dinner held at the Top of the Ocean. Mr. Anderson served as Lt. Governor from 1953-1957. He won the Republican nomination for Governor in 1956, defeating fellow Republican and State Attorney General Don Eastvold, but was to lose the general elections in November to State Senator Albert Rosellini, Democrat. (TNT 9-8-56, p. 2) ALBUM 4.
Anderson, Emmett T.; Anderson, Emmett T.--Family; Political elections--Tacoma--1950-1960;
