ca. 1946. Diners enjoy a lavish buffet at the Top of the Ocean, a unique dance-and-dine experience, circa 1946. It was designed to resemble an ocean liner and built for approximately $100,000. The Top of the Ocean, often simply called "The Top" by locals, had its formal opening on December 15, 1946. The Tacoma Athletic Commission would purchase "The Top" nearly two years later and it would be the scene of many banquets and meetings for years. The Top of the Ocean was destroyed by fire on April 3, 1977, and never rebuilt.
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Louie Grenier's Orchestra was about to begin playing at the Top of the ocean club and restaurant. The orchestra and their leader would also be participating in Tacoma's annual Musician's Ball at the Century Ballroom. Tacoma's most popular band leaders and their orchestras would participate in this big event. View of the Louie Grenier Orchestra (T.N.T., 4/29/49, p. 19).
Orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950; Entertainers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pianos; Microphones; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Grenier, Louie;
Tacoma Athletic Commission celebrated Saint Patrick's Day with a "Wearing of the Green" party at their club. The club distributed clay pipes, shamrocks and green hats to the guests. Left to right, Ed Weymouth, Don Heerema, Laurilee Coon, Pat Heerema and Edna Weymouth at the Saint Patrick's Day celebration at the Tacoma Athletic Commission facilities (T. Times, 3/20/49, p. 22).
Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Holidays--Tacoma; Saint Patrick's Day--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);
Tribune, Panhellinic Luncheon, Top of the Ocean, Mrs. Hosmer.The Panhellenic Conference held a luncheon at the Top of the Ocean followed by bridge. The conference was attended by 300 guests. Three women are seen leaving the Top of the Ocean. (T.Times, 2/16/1949, p.6)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Panhellenic Conference (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950;
On Friday the 13th of January, 1950, the worst blizzard in years hit Tacoma. The gale brought five foot snow drifts, twenty degree chills, several hours of 40-60 mph winds and an estimated million dollars worth of storm damage in Tacoma. As pictured, the bulkhead near the "bow" of the Top of the Ocean, the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Ruston Way nightclub shaped like a ship, collapsed. However, the club itself did not suffer extensive damage. Waves 20 feet high broke over Ruston Way during the storm. The freezing temperatures brought in by the storm stayed until the middle of the following week. In the background is the Henry Mill. Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. TPL-8836
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts; Storms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Mr. Frank Walters, President of the Tacoma Athletic Commission, and Mrs. Walters posed with a publicity poster for the organization's 4th annual birthday party to be held at the club's headquarters at the Top of the Ocean on February 20, 1950. The party celebrated four years of active promotion of the city's athletic programs. The TAC was unique in the U.S. Organized as the Tacoma War Athletic Commission in 1942, it raised funds for athletic equipment for the thousands of US servicemen stationed in the Pacific Islands. Equipment was sent to fighting forces from Alaska to Australia. Following the end of the war, the group directed its policies to the civic and athletic betterment of Tacoma, particularly in the support of sports activities for youth. (TNT 2-26-1950 D-1, TNT 3/23/1956, pg. 1)
Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clubs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Walters, Frank; Walters, Frank--Family;
The Tacoma Athletic Commission's fourth annual Anniversary party on 2-20-1950 was attended by over 400. The event at the Top of the Ocean included a refreshment hour on the top deck, followed by dinner-dancing, birthday cake and the announcement of Tacoma's Man of the Year in Sports on the main deck.The award was given to E.S. Ostberg, the head of Tacoma's Boys Club, by unanimous decision of a committee of nine. Frank Walters, TAC President, presided, Larry Huseby was Master of Ceremonies, and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith served as chairmen of party arrangements. (TNT 2-21-1950 pg 14, 2-25-1950 D-1 pictorial)
Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Members of Tacoma Athletic Commission pose at fourth annual Anniversary party at the Top of the Ocean 2-20-1950. The party included the announcement of TAC's Sportsman of the Year. The previous year's winner Chuck Congdon, pro golfer, is second from right. Judge Hugh Rosellini is second from left. Future Tacoma Mayor John H. Anderson stands in their middle.
Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Congdon, Chuck; Rosellini, Hugh; Anderson, John H.;
General Wainwright visiting at Tacoma Athletic Commission. General Jonathan M. Wainwright is seen visiting at the Tacoma Athletic Commission. He had been made an honorary member when he was in Tacoma four years earlier on a bond campaign. General Wainwright was in Tacoma to rededicate the recently enlarged school in Fircrest that had been named for him. (TNT, 11/20/1949, p.1)
Wainwright, Jonathan M.; Heroes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Generals--United States--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);
Richard Wagner (center) won this handsome turkey at the Pharaoh Club's 5th annual Thanksgiving dance held on Thursday November 24, 1949 at the Top of the Ocean. Holding Mr. Wagner's turkey, while Miss Janet McMath tickles its breast feathers, is Gene Nelson. The Pharaoh Club was a young men's social group organized by a small number of students in 1939; by 1949 the groups membership had grown. Since Mr. Wagner did not win his turkey until Thanksgiving evening, we must assume that he kept it as a pet - at least until Christmas. (TNT 11/13/1949 p.D-4; 11/27/1949 p.D-1)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nightclubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pharaoh Club (Tacoma); Turkeys; Nelson, Gene; Wagner, Richard; McMath, Janet; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Informal square dancing at Tacoma Athletic Commission, Metcalf. Several couples are enjoying being on the dance floor learning square dancing steps. Several others are lined up in the back for refreshments.
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Square dancing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Tacoma Athletic Commission, Square dancing and style show, Elliott Metcalf. Four couples, wearing skirts and shirts of matching fabric, are demonstrating one of the forms of dancing to members of the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean as part of the square dance revue. Square dancing fever was catching at this time. (TNT, 12/22/1949, p.20)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Square dancing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Square dancing fever was spreading through Tacoma in December of 1949. Members of the Tacoma Athletic Commission put on a dance demonstration at the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way, in appropriate dress. They announced that they were sponsoring a city-wide square dance festival to be held in February in the College of Puget Sound (UPS) fieldhouse. Dressed in contrasting blouses topping skirts in a rick-rack pattern - all worn over pantalettes - are: (l to r) Mrs. John Richards, Allyne (Mrs. Kenneth) Hopper, Gail (Mrs. Melvin) McKenney and Mary L. (Mrs. David) Collier. (TNT, 12/22/1949, p.20)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Square dancing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hopper, Allyne; Collier, Mary L.; McKenney, Gail; Costumes--Tacoma; Bloomers;
Interior of bar to show Christmas decorations, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Metcalf. The Tacoma Athletic Commission decorated the back wall of the bar at the Top of the Ocean with a hand-painted sign showing a snowy scene with a comfortable home snuggled up against a woods. The ground slopes down to a bay with ships on the water and a mountainous island in the distance. An artificial showman has taken over the cash register. Artificial icicles hang over the sign and tinsel hangs over the front of the bar.
Restaurants--Tacoma; Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Lounges--Tacoma; Murals--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Christmas decorations;
Tacoma Athletic Commission, Square dancing and style show, Elliott Metcalf. Bob Starkey was the caller for the square dancing revue put on for the members of the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean. Couples are dancing with arms around each other and the men have crossed arms in the middle. Several couples watch from the side lines. (TNT, 12/22/1949, p.20)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Square dancing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Dinner party at Top of the Ocean, Delta Rho Gamma, c/o Lenora Suesace. Forty members of the Delta Rho Gamma sorority have joined together to celebrate the holidays at the Top of the Ocean. The group was organized for college coeds living off-campus.
Delta Rho Gamma (Parkland); Fraternities & sororities--Parkland--1940-1950; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Students--Parkland--1940-1950; Group portraits;
Ed "Porky" Oliver, nationally prominent professional golfer, from Seattle's Inglewood Country Club was the guest speaker at the awards presentation banquet being held at the Top of the Ocean by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. View of the golfers that participated in the city amateur and the city women's crown golf tournament (T.N.T., 9/16/49, p. D-2).
Awards; Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Social life--1940-1950; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Tournaments--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);
Jeanne and Jack Walters were honored by the Tacoma Golf Association at the Top of the Ocean on September 15, 1949, as the city's reigning links champions and as the first husband-wife team to win the city amateur and city women's titles. They had won their championships earlier that summer. Besides their handsome trophies, the Walters were presented with a silver table lighter as a gift from the T.G.A. and a pair of table lamps by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. Jack Walters was only 16 and a student at Stadium High School when he won the first of his 17 Northwest Lefthanders championships. He would go on to win the National Association of Left-Handed Golfers Championships twice, first in 1953 at French Lick, Indiana, and seven years later on the Fircrest Golf Club course. (T.N.T., 9/16/49, p. D-2-article; Gallacci, et. al., Playgrounds to the Pros, p. 281-article).
Awards; Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Walters, Jack J.; Walters, Jeanne; Lamps; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Tournaments--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Golf Association (Tacoma);
Women attending the Northwest Florist Convention were treated to a hat show at the Top of the Ocean. Nearly 50 women pose outside the Top of the Ocean wearing hats decorated with flowers. All appear to be having a wonderful time on this sunny September day in 1949. The Top of the Ocean was destroyed by an arson fire April 3,1977.
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Hats--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northwest Florist Convention (Tacoma);
Tacoma Athletic Commission was hosting the first annual city league dinner and stag party. Frank Gillihan, Tacoma Athletic Commission prexy and evergreen Conference Commissioner of Officials, would be presenting the trophy to the city league baseball champions. Tacoma Athletic Commission officials stated the event was a "strictly stag affair" no women were invited (T.N.T., 8/29/49, p. 8).
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;
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;
Several employees of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company pose at a retirement dinner held at the Top of the Ocean on August 8, 1950. All the women are wearing large corsages along with their broad smiles.
Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Telephone companies--Tacoma;
Seven well-dressed women pose at the Top of the Ocean on July 15, 1950. This group of ladies belonged to the women's auxiliary of the Order of AHEPA, a fraternal organization which met at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.
Order of AHEPA (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Tacoma Chamber of Commerce entertained the armed forces Friday night of Armed Forces Week at the Top of the Ocean in May of 1950. A Military Ball was to complete the week's festivities on Saturday night and was held at the Elks Ballroom. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 5/24/1950, p.11)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military uniforms; Ball dresses;
The Tacoma Chamber of Commerce entertained the armed forces at the Top of the Ocean on Friday night of Armed Forces Week in Tacoma. Henry O. and Agnes Foss are seen on the left. C. Val and Linda M. Fawcett are on the right. Other entertainment for visiting armed forces personnel included theater tickets and the facilities of the Council of Churches Youth Center, the Armed Service Recreation Center and the Christian Service Man'c Center. The crew from the Canadian destroyer "Athabaskan" and the USN fleet oiler "Platt" were in Tacoma for the week. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 5/14/1950, p.D-9; 5/24/1950, p.11)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military uniforms; Ball dresses; Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Foss, Agnes S.; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965--Family; Fawcett, Linda;
A luncheon meeting at the Top of the Ocean was one of the highlights of the annual convention of the Washington State Council of Administrative Women in Education held in Tacoma April 21 and 22, 1950. Visitors came from each of the five branch organizations within Washington. Ordered by Miss Mildred White, President of the Tacoma branch, a concultant in elementary education for Pierce County schools. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 4/21/1950, p.C-5; 4/26/1950, p.12)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Hats--1950-1960; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Council of Administrative Women in Education (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Normanna Male Chorus performed at the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way, on June 2, 1950 for the first annual "Night of the Northern Lights," featuring a genuine Scandinavian smorgasbord, music and dancing. The evening was arranged by the Tacoma Athletic Commission for its members and guests to honor the Scandinavian peoples in Tacoma. The Normanna Male Chorus was one of the oldest vocal groups in the Northwest. Their 30 members were directed by Gunnar Malmin of the Pacific Lutheran College music faculty. (The names of the men pictured are listed in the News Tribune, May 28, 1950 p.B-2.) Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, Mr. Metcalf. (TNT, 5/28/1950, p.B-2)
Choirs (Music)--1950-1960; Normanna Male Chorus (Tacoma); Singers; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);
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;
