In April of 1935, Paradise on Mount Rainier was home to the national downhill and slalom competitions. This was the first time that this major skiing event had ever been held in the west. Seventy skiers were scheduled to compete. The flags of four of the competing nations waved proudly above the snow. They are the flags of, left to right, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States.The men's alpine competition was won by Austrian Hannes Schroll who delighted the crowd of spectators by yodeling as he sped down the course. Stock negative.

Skiers--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Flags;

Winning skiers claim their trophy at the Paradise Winter Sports Carnival on Sunday, February 13, 1938. First place winner in the Service Club downhill race is Orville Stewart, center, representing the Junior Chamber of Commerce. On the left is Leonard Berglund of the Young Men's Business Club. The woman is unidentified. (photo is misnumbered) (TNT 2/14/1938, pg. 1)

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Winter sports--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Stewart, Orville; Berglund, Leonard;

On April 13-14, 1935, the nation's premier alpine event was held at Paradise, Mount Rainier. The Northwest slopes were the site of the national downhill and slalom championships. Also at stake were positions on the 1936 US Olympic team. This was the first time that a major US skiing event had been held in the west. Skier number 59 was photographed maneuvering through the competition course. Over 70 skiers, 59 men and 11 women, threw their hats into the ring for a chance at the national title. Hannes Schroll of Austria won the men's downhill, slalom and combined. Ellis-Ayr Smith of Tacoma won the women's downhill and combined with her sister Ethlynne (Skit) taking the prize in the slalom. Stock negative.

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940;

Tacoma sisters Ellis-Ayr (left) and Ethlynne ("Skit") Smith (later Babson) smile broadly for the camera on April 14, 1935 after winning the first ever Women's Downhill and Slalom national titles. The national championships were held for the first time in the west April 13-14 at Mount Rainier's Paradise Valley. The competition was also part of the trials for the 1936 Olympic team but at that time women did not compete in the Olympics in either event. The sisters, who had only been skiing for a couple of years, had attended Stadium High School, the University of Washington and were members of the Washington Ski Club. (T. Times, TNT, TDL 4/12-15, 1935)

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Athletes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Babson, Ethlynne; Smith, Ethlynne; Smith, Ellis-Ayr; Families--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Tacoma sisters Ellis-Ayr (left) and Ethlynne "Skit" Smith posed for photographers on Mount Rainier on April 14, 1935 after winning the first ever women's National championships in downhill (Ellis-Ayr) and slalom (Skit) on April 13-14. The two day national competition, held at Paradise on Mt. Rainier, attracted skiers from throughout the United States and Canada and from several European countries including Switzerland and the Netherlands. The pair had only been skiing a couple of years but were devoted to the sport. They skied every weekend by hiking up Mount Rainier to the glaciers where there was snow year round. The all around athletes also rode horses, played tennis and golf, and swam. (TNT 4/15/1935, pg. 1) TPL-9424

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Athletes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Babson, Ethelynn; Smith, Ellis-Ayr;

Ethlynne (Skit) Smith, a light dusting of snow on her hair and clothes, posed for the camera during the first ever Women's National Championships in downhill and slalom held at Mount Rainier April 13-14, 1935. "Skit," 23 years old, would triumph and become the first woman national champ in the slalom. She and her sister Ellis-Ayr, who won the downhill, had been skiing about two years. The pair had graduated from Stadium High School, where Skit had earned her nickname by writing a humor column for the school newspaper. She later married and continued to win ski races under the name Skit Babson.

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Athletes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Babson, Ethlynne;

Tacoma's best hope for a medal in the Men's National Championships in downhill and slalom in 1935 was Carlton Wiegel. The competition was held April 13-14, 1935 at Mount Rainier. The contest also served as the finals in the US Olympic trials and it was the greatest sporting event ever held in the Northwest. Wiegel was a native Norwegian who inherited his love of the sport. At the time of the competition however, he was hampered by an old ankle injury and finished 13th in the Downhill and failed to finish in the first 20 of the slalom. (TT, TNT, TDL 4/12-15, 1935)

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Athletes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Wiegel, Carlton;

Hannes Schroll, the Austrian daredevil on skis, came to the Northwest in April of 1935 to compete in the US national men's downhill and slalom competition. He finished the competition by winning both events as well as the combined. A member of the European ski racing elite, he was the holder of 87 European titles when he came to the US. He remained to become the director of the Badger Pass resort in Yosemite. In 1937, he and an Austrian copatriot purchased 696 acres at Donner Summit in California. The pair, with a group of investors including Walt Disney, developed the Sugar Bowl resort and ski area. But Tacoma will always remember him best as the Wild Man who yodeled as he hurtled down the mountain at 75 mph. (TT, TNT, TDL 4/12-15, 1935)

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Schroll, Hannes;

Having spent a busy night on December 24, 1946 visiting every good little girl and boy in Tacoma/Pierce County, on Christmas Day Santa took in a baseball game. On December 25, 1946 the unidentified players on the 3 and 0 Club helped prove that it is never too late in the season for a good baseball game. This photograph was taken by Walde Krauklis, the husband of Genevieve Louise Richards Krauklis, when he worked as a photographer for the Richards Studio.

Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Santa Claus--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; 3 and O' Club (Tacoma);

Walde Krauklis picture of baseball team. View of Tacoma's 3 and 0' Club playing baseball on Christmas Day, fans are in background cheering them on.

Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma; 3 and O' Club (Tacoma);

ca. 1936. Skiers waiting in line and watching a skier maneuver through the snow. Flags mark the ski trail.

Sports - Winter Sports - Skiing

Tacoma Times Carriers won their last game of the season against the Spokane Chronicle Carrier's team, 37-29. The game was played at the YMCA in downtown Tacoma. View of the Tacoma Times Carriers, Spokane Chronicle Carriers and some of their sponsors and supporters (T. Times, 3/29/47, p. 7).

Basketball players--Tacoma; Basketball--Tacoma; Balls (Sporting goods); Uniforms; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Young Men's Christian Association (Tacoma);

Tommy Gibbons, the former heavyweight title contender from St. Paul, Minnesota who went 15 rounds with Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1923, visited the Tacoma Boys Club in April of 1947. He spent some time with the boys giving them boxing tips and signing boxing gloves. Gibbons, the 13-year Sheriff of Ramsey County, Minnesota, had long been interested in boys club activity. He had stopped in Tacoma on his way home from touring the West Coast. He was trying to sway the 1951 American Bowling Congress to St. Paul, Minnesota. The boys in the photograph were not identified in the newspaper articles. (T.Times, 4-30-47, p. 13-article; T. Times, 5/1/47, p. 18-article on visit to Tacoma).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Publicity photographs; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma; Gibbons, Tommy;

Tommy Gibbons is back in the ring, only this time he is giving the boys at the Tacoma Boys Club boxing tips. Gibbons is now the Sheriff of Ramsey County, Minnesota and is very active in aiding to prevent juvenile delinquency. Tommy's stop in Tacoma was one of many throughout the West Coast, he was campaigning to get support for the 1951 National Bowling Congress (T. Times, 5/1/47, p. 18).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Publicity photographs; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma; Gibbons, Tommy;

Group portrait of Miller & Donovan Tigers Baseball Team at Tiger Ball Park, also known as Tacoma Baseball Park. The Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma Club of the Western International Baseball League) was sold to the San Diego Club of the Pacific Coast League for $109,000 in October 1947. The sale included the Tacoma Tigers park property in Tacoma, the players, team franchise in the Western International League and all other franchises and privileges of the club. (TNT, 10/2/1947) TPL-6690

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma;

In July of 1947, Art Spencer, the athletic supervisor of the Metropolitan Park District, presented a trophy to Chuck Miller of the Tacoma Boys' Club baseball team, winners of the Class C City Championship. The team included: (front row) Chuck Miller, Fred Dietrick; Ray Schatz, Bob Morris and Coach Bill Mullen; (back row) John Aires, Larry Hoover, Ron Schiesz, Jim Cartwright, Jack Morris, and Bob Gariepy. (T.Times, 7/11/1947, p.2)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Spencer, Art; Miller, Chuck; Dietrick, Fred; Schatz, Ray; Morris, Bob; Mullen, Bill; Aires, John; Hoover, Larry; Schiesz, Ron; Cartwright, Jim; Morris, Jack; Gariepy, Bob;

Wayne Hanby, a Clover Park High School guard wearing his regulation leather helmet, was ready for action in the upcoming Grid-Go-Round on September 19, 1947 at the Tacoma Stadium. Ten thousand fans attended the 5th annual event, sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, that pitted Lincoln, Stadium, Bellarmine and Clover Park against one another. Bellarmine came out on top, with Clover Park finishing last. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, Ed Honeywell. (T.Times, 9/15/1947, p.11)

Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grid-Go-Round (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Hanby, Wayne; Clover Park High School (Lakewood);

Close up of several football players for Grid-Go-Round, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Ed Honeywell. Wayne Hanby played guard on the Clover Park team in the 1947 Grid-Go-Round. Wayne was also president of the Clover Park student body. The Clover Park Warriors made their season debut in the eighth annual Puget Sound conference jamboree. (TNT, 9/9/1947, p.10)

Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grid-Go-Round (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Hanby, Wayne;

This close up of halfback Otto Fink, in his battered leather helmet, was taken just before the September 1947 Grid-Go-Round football game sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. Otto Fink, a letterman at Bellarmine, had been on both the all-Northwest Catholic team and the all-City team in 1946. As a returning senior, he helped the Bellarmine Lions defeat Lincoln to win first place in the Grid-Go-Round. Stadium took 3rd place over Clover Park (T.Times, 9/19/1947, p.12; TNT, 9/12/1947, p.20) Tacoma Athletic Commission, Ed Honeywell

Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grid-Go-Round (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Fink, Otto;

Close up of several football players for Grid-Go-Round, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Ed Honeywell. Dick Boyle played fullback for Stadium in 1947 although he had played center the year before. The Tacoma Athletic Commision sponsored the 5th annual Grid-Go-Round in 1947. The game brought together the teams from Lincoln, Stadium, Bellarmine and Clover Park in the local football inaugural. (T.Times, 9/12/1947, p.18; TNT, 9/14/1947, p. A-16)

Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grid-Go-Round (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Boyle, Dick;

Close up of several football players for Grid-Go-Round, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Ed Honeywell. LeRoy Little played defensive end for the Lincoln team for the second year. The Grid-Go-Round was played as an elimination affair with the four teams drawing for first round opponents, looser playing looser in the third period and the winners meeting in the final stanza. The Lincoln "Railsplitters" were defending champions in 1947. In the other four years of the Grid-Go-Round Lincoln and Stadium have each won twice. (T.Times, 9/12/1947, p.18; TNT, 9/14/1947, p.A-16)

Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grid-Go-Round (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Little, LeRoy;

PLC football players, Metcalf, Times. Jack Carbone played guard on the Pacific Lutheran College football team in 1947.

Football players--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Carbone, Jack;

PLC football players, Metcalf, Times. The scrimmage line during football practice at Pacific Lutheran College in September of 1947. Marv Tommervik was head football coach in 1947.

Football players--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Football--Parkland--1940-1950; Coaching (Athletics)--Parkland--1940-1950;

PLC football players, Metcalf, Times. Gene Strandress and Lowell Knutson jump to throw a long pass. Coach Marv (Thommy) Tommervik observes while the team practices at Pacific Lutheran College on September 10, 1947. They are preparing for their opening game in Tacoma Stadium September 20, 1947, against St. Olaf of Northfield, Minnesota, champions of their league in 1946. (T.Times, 9/16/1947, p.11)

Strandress, Gene; Knutson, Lowell; Tommervik, Marv; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Football--Parkland--1940-1950; Football players--Parkland; Coaches (Athletics)--Parkland--1940-1950;

PLC football players, Metcalf, Times. Three players run interference for their ball-carrying teammate at Pacific Lutheran College in September of 1947. Harold Schrupp, #55, played end. Ted Kauth, #58, was a quarterback. Duane Rose, #56, played halfback. The player between Schrupp and Kauth was not identified. No helmets were worn during this drill. TPL-9964

Football players--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Football--Parkland--1940-1950; Schrupp, Harold; Kauth, Ted; Rose, Duane;

PLC football players, Metcalf, Times. The football players practice blocking with the help of their coach, Marv Harshman, at Pacific Lutheran College in September of 1947. Norm Cromarty, #68, Reid Ponton, #59, and Dick Mason, #65, watch as Dick Weatherman, #80, throws the block.

Football players--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Harshman, Marv; Cromarty, Norm; Ponton, Reid; Mason, Dick; Weatherman, Dick;

Times. Coach Frank Patrick gives the team a chalk talk during the pre-game briefing. They are all crowded into the team's locker room. This was Coach Patrick's second season as Logger grid coach. He turned in his resignation at the completion of the 1948 grid season. The loggers won four and lost five during the season. (CPS Tamanawas Yearbook 1948, p.92)

Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Football--Tacoma--1940-1950; Coaching (Athletics)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Locker rooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Stadium High School and Bellarmine High School were getting ready to battle it out for the 1947 City League Title. Both football teams had done exceptionally well during this first part of the season, a tough game was anticipated. The game would be played at Stadium Bowl in Tacoma, view of high school football players getting ready for their big game.

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

In October of 1947, Tacoma welterweight Charley Johnston, alias the Blond Tiger, prepared in Amundsen's Gym to take on his opponent "Irish Bob" Kelly of Seattle for the third time. The regional welterweight title bout was scheduled for October 16th at the Tacoma Ice Palace. The first time the happy-go-lucky, debonair Kelly and the stoic, serious Johnston had fought was a six round near draw, awarded to Johnston on points. The second bout was stopped in round 2 by the State Examining Physician when Johnston opened up a gash over Kelly's left eye. The third bout was the decider; when before a crowd of 2,100 fans, Johnston knocked out Kelly in the 4th round. Charley Johnston went on to have a respectable 25 match career with 17 wins (11 by knock out,) 6 losses and 2 draws. Johnston was managed by Jack Connor. (T. Times, 10/15/47, p. 6; www.boxrec.com). TPL-10444

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Johnston, Charley;

Jimmy Fitzpatrick is clean cut, serious and determined to beat Eddie "Torpedo" Reed, from California, when they meet and fight for the welter weight title in their division. They have a ten round event scheduled at the Tacoma Ice Palace. Jimmy has been practicing and getting ready at Amundsen's Gym. Jimmy is wearing "Everlast" boxing shorts (T. Times, 10/29/47, p. 6).

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Fitzpatrick, Jimmy;