Enthusiastic members of the newly formed (South) 38th Street Boosters Club wanted to let prospective customers know that they were ready to "talk turkey" (sales lingo meaning to "make a deal"), so they held a turkey derby in December of 1939. Members attempted to coax 30 turkeys to race to a feed bag at the end of a set course. At the event's conclusion, birds were to be given free to spectators. Ordered by "Ryan's Weekly." (T. Times 12/7/1939, p. 5).

Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Racing--Tacoma; Turkeys; Costumes; 38th Street Boosters Club (Tacoma);

Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade, Tacoma Central Labor Council automobile. 1940 was a political campaign year; the Central Labor Council made its presence known in the parade with its late model sedan, flags stuck in the grill, and large banner. Four people are pictured in this July 1, 1940, photograph, perched on the car's running board. Civic, fraternal and labor organizations worked together to put forth a massive celebration of the new Narrows Bridge and the opening of the country's latest airbase, McChord Field. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 1)

Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Parade; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Flags--United States;

The Carstens Packing Company was represented in the Tacoma Narrows Bridge/McChord Field Parade of 1940 by two company princesses and "Ham Head." They rode on a large float during the 1 1/2 hour parade that passed through downtown Tacoma streets. Crowds were apparently delighted with the bowing Ham. Carstens was founded in 1897, and was one of the early Tacoma businesses to locate on the tideflats. In 1952 the company was sold to Hygrade Food Products Corp. Hygrade closed its Tacoma plant in 1990. (T. Times 7-2-1940, p. 1)

Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Narrows Bridge/ McChord Field Parade; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carsten's Packing Co. (Tacoma);

1940 Y.M.B.C. Water Carnival at Point Defiance. Four men in Narrows Bridge / McChord Field Jubilee Hats with souvenir hatbands selling "Last Ferry Boat Ride" tickets. The ferry Kalakala would be making its last trip across the Narrows on July 2, 1940. Tickets for nearly 1400 would be available through the Young Men's Business Club membership. Voyagers were asked to dress in costume to compete for prizes; dancing would be provided by Louis Nomellini's orchestra. (T. Times, 7-1-40, p. 5)

Festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations--Tacoma; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

1940 Y.M.B.C. Water Carnival at Point Defiance. Racing boats lined up at pier. Many races held during the one-day water carnival sponsored by the Young Men's Business Club including inboard motor, hydro, sailboats. The event drew thousands to Point Defiance to bask in the sun, watch races and air shows, and view the city fireboat perform an exhibition. (T. Times, 7-1-40, p. 12)

Festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations--Tacoma; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Racing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Regattas--Tacoma;

YMBC Water Carnival 1940. An unidentified man in a naval costume looks out to sea with a spy glass. He is possibly viewing the planned boat parade or races. (T.Times, 7-1-40, p. 12)

Festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations--Tacoma; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Point Defiance Boat House (Tacoma);

One of the highlights of the June 30, 1940, Young Men's Business Club Water Carnival was a demonstration of trick water skiing. An unidentified man in formal dress, top hat firmly in place, swooshes by on one ski with his cane and other ski held high in the air. Thousands of spectators thronged Point Defiance for the annual event which featured boat races, stunts, funny hats and lots of ice cream. In 1940 the Water Carnival honored the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and McChord Field dedication celebrations. (T.Times, 7-1-40, p. 12-article)

Festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Water skiing--Tacoma--1940-1950;

June, 1940 Commencement at College of Puget Sound. Solemn graduates in traditional black gowns are walking up the steps to Jones Hall, the school's main building. Man on the left appears to be photographing the moment.

Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Jones Hall (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

First Annual Bicycle Race Meet and Parade held August 5, 1938. Bird's-eye view of parade of bikes and people downtown. The parade started at 2:30p.m. Friday afternoon as hundreds of young people pedaled their decorated bikes from 8th and Commerce through downtown streets and ended up at the Stadium Bowl.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Hundreds of costumed children on gaily decorated bicycles filled the streets of Tacoma on August 5, 1938 as they took part in the First Annual Bicycle Race Meet and Parade. The parade started at 8th & Commerce, wound through the downtown streets and ended at the Stadium Bowl. The riders were cheered by thousands of spectators. Kids without bicycles could get loaners so that they could take part in the races held in the Stadium Bowl. Prizes were given for best decorated bikes, funniest costumed riders, craziest looking bicycles and oldest bicycles. The top prizes were new, 1939 Schwinn "World" bicycles with all of the latest accessories. (T. Times 7/25/1938, pg. 1- 8/6/1938)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

The First Annual Tacoma "Bike Meet" was held on Friday August 5, 1938. Hundreds of young Tacomans decorated their bicycles to participate in the parade that started downtown and ended at the Stadium Bowl. After the parade, there were competitive races held on the Bowl track. A Tacoma boy dressed like the comic strip character "Major Hoople," in baggy pants and a stuffed shirt, tips his hat as he stands astride his scooter "Leapin Lena." A young boy, in black mask and hat as the Lone Ranger, sits on a rocking horse, a banner with "Hi Ho Silver" on it, flies behind him. The boy on the right has a new take on "paper boy," his clothes are made out of the Tacoma Times. By the end of the day, three lucky Tacoma youngsters had won new bicycles as prizes.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

The second annual Tacoma Yacht Club Daffodil Festival Regatta. Several wooden power motored yachts, including the "Blanche D," gather on Puget Sound. The day of the regatta, April 3rd 1938, proved to be an exciting one. It opened with a morning fire on one of the yachts, continued on with a collision during the power boat race and ended with a small cabin cruiser capsizing, spilling 5 people into the frigid Puget Sound. They were rescued by a Foss tug. (T. Times 4/4/1938, pg. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Regattas--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma);

Western Washington Fair grandstand. During the 1938 Tacoma Day at the fair, 49,690 people walked through the gates. Fifteen thousand people packed the grandstand to the point of sitting on the concrete stairs for shows and races. (T. Times, 9/22/38, p. 1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Grandstands--Puyallup; Spectators--Puyallup;

Fifteen hundred cheering horse race enthusiasts packed the grandstands at the 39th Western Washington Fair on September 21, 1938. There were six races held daily throughout the run of the Puyallup Fair. The 21st was Tacoma Day. By 1 p.m. over 20,000 fair goers had passed through the turnstiles. The official attendance tally for the day was 49,690.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Racetracks (Horse racing)--Puyallup; Horse racing--Puyallup; Jockeys; Horses; Grandstands--Puyallup;

ca. 1938. Italian Dinner Banquet. The large dining room is filled with people at tables eating spaghetti.

Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The 19th century melodrama "United by Love" was being presented on August 23, 1938, on a Works Progress Administration (WPA) travelling stage to an appreciative outdoor audience in South Park. The "Theater on Wheels," a joint enterprise of the WPA and the Metropolitan Parks Board, had presented five complete shows a week since June 13th, playing six times around a circuit of ten Tacoma parks and playgrounds. Members of the Asbury Methodist Church WPA-coached drama club on stage were, left to right, Ruth Bristow, Milo Ernst, Pat O'Conner, Georgia "George" Kisor and Cyril Hansen. More than 100 performers presented shows featuring music by the 6-piece professional WPA orchestra, singing, dancing, dramatic sketches and sound movies. They played to more than 20,000 appreciative theater goers in June and July with August audiences slightly higher. Their season ended on August 31st, retiring the only travelling theater on the Pacific Coast for the year. (T. Times 8/24/1938, pg. 16)

Melodramas; Open-air theatrical productions; Depressions--1929; Bristow, Ruth; Ernst, Milo; O'Conner, Pat; Hansen, Cyril; Asbury United Methodist Church (Tacoma) --People;

Young girls in costumes pose with their decorated bicycles for the judges to decide on the best decorated and funniest at the August 5, 1938 1st Annual Bicycle Race Meet & Parade. The parade of decorated bikes and their riders started downtown and ended at the Stadium Bowl. The days fun was sponsored by the Tacoma Times and the Park Recreation Department of the Metropolitan Park District. The races and parade had over 1500 participants. (T. Times 7/25/1938, pg. 1 - 8/6/1938)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

1938 Haley wedding. At home. Frank Haley in stripe suit with tie; his bride Nell wearing dark dress, jacket with large corsage, and hat. (filed with Argentum)

Weddings--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940; Haley, Frank; Haley, Nell; Haley, Frank--Family;

Haley wedding. Frank Haley, on his wedding day, is in the center of the front row; flanking him are his brother Richard Haley and his father, J.C. Haley, one of the founders of Brown & Haley Confectioners. In the back row, left to right, are the groom's brothers: Cliff Haley, Fred Haley, who succeeded his father in running the business, and Ted Haley. The man at the far right is unidentified. (filed with Argentum) (Additional information provided by a family member)

Weddings--1930-1940; Haley, J.C.; Haley, J.C.--Family; Haley, Frank; Haley, Clifford; Haley, Fred; Haley, Ted;

Commerce Street Dog Parade, April 22, 1939. Children and dogs anxiously wait to hear the winners' numbers announced for 70 prizes awarded after the parade. Nearly 1,000 dogs were shown. Participants wear baseball caps they received. Each participant received a cap, an ice cream treat and a treat for their dog. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)

Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;

Nearly 1,000 dogs and their masters participated in the Commerce Street Dog (Mutt) Parade on Saturday morning April 22, 1939. Sponsored by the Commerce Street Business Men's Club, over seventy prizes were distributed to the winners in various catagories. No youngster went without some award, as each participant received a free ice cream bar, a baseball cap and a balloon - and every dog received a special treat. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)

Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;

Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade, April 22, 1939. A large crowd of spectators line the sidewalks along Commerce St., north and south of Ninth St. "Dave's Lunches/Billiards" sign projects over the sidewalk in the foreground, Winthrop Hotel on left. (T. Times 4/24/39)

Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Spectators--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Man positioning a hunting dog for show competition. Second Annual All Breed Dog show held at the former Sears Roebuck Building, April 29-30, 1939. (T. Times, 5/1/1939, p. 1)

Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Best of Show, Blue King II, a Kerry Blue Terrier, won first place in Group 4 at the second annual All Breed Dog Show sponsored by the Tacoma Kennel Club and held at the old Sears and Roebuck building. L. to R: A. W. Forbes, president, Tacoma Kennel Club, owner Mrs. William Fox, California, and Eval E. Cravell, chief judge, Vancouver, B.C. The pair of East Indian hand tooled vases awarded to the winner were donated by the Tacoma Times. (T. Times, 5/1/1939, p. 1)

Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Forbes, A. W.;

30,000 Tacomans stood on the tarmac at Mueller-Harkins Airport in sweltering heat to view the final event of the Golden Jubilee celebration on July 23, 1939. The Air Show, sponsored by the Tacoma Young Mens Business Club, was the last big featured Jubilee event. Here a vehicle owned by Ace Service, at 8533 South Tacoma Way, smashes through a wall with the driver laying flat on the hood. The service station was owned by Orville, Roy and Franz Nettlebeck. The majority of the stunts, however, were performed in the air by Tex Harkin, movie stunt pilot, and his "Southern Aces." (T. Times 7/24/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma);

Downtown Tacoma prepares for the Golden Jubilee Parade on July 22, 1939. Elevated view of Pacific Avenue, looking north. Celebration banners are strung across Pacific Ave on wires. Schoenfelds's in right foreground (at 1423 Pacific, with their annex at 1411-17 Pacific), Puget Sound Bank and other buildings in background. For Fisk Flag Company.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Broadway is hung with banners on July 22, 1939 in preparation for the Golden Jubilee parade. Looking north from 13th & Broadway, there are also signs welcoming the fleet as the Navy arrives for the celebration. The fleet arrived July 20th with a contingent of six battleships and 8,000 men. All of Tacoma joined in the week long festivities as Washington State entered its 50th year of statehood. To the left can be seen the sign for the Happy Days are Here Again Tavern at 1302 Broadway. Sears is on the same side of the street at 1148 Broadway. Crossing the street, you can see Broadway Drugs at 1301, Neff Floor Coverings (1155-57), Knapp's Business College (1151 1/2) and, further down, the sign for the Blue Mouse Theater at 1131 Broadway. TPL-1909

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Intersection at Broadway and South 15th Street, looking north. American flags, Washington State Golden Jubilee emblem, Welcom Navy sign hanging overhead, Sears Roebuck Building on left, business district in background. Traffic on street.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Business districts--Tacoma;

On July 20, 1939, Dick Frayne, behind the wheel of Leon Titus's 1906 Model N Ford, poked his finger through the vehicle's nonexistent windshield. He had driven the antique car into the Vehicle Safety Inspection Station during the Washington State Golden Jubilee as a joke. Joe Thomas, director of the station, scratched his head wondering what to do next. There was no windshield for the red inspection sticker. Enjoying his confusion were Lloyd Raab, behind the vehicle in a western hat, Leon Titus, 2nd from right and Larry Pritchett, right. Leon Titus was the owner of Titus Ford Motor Co. and Lloyd Raab was his business partner. (T. Times 7/26/1939, pg. 10)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Ford automobile; Titus, Leon E.; Vehicle Safety Inspection Station (Tacoma); Thomas, Joe; Raab, Lloyd; Pritchett, Larry;

Golden Jubilee Water Carnival at Point Defiance, Sea Scout races held July 16, 1939. Four young men wearing swimming trunks and holding shovels posing on the dock with a fifth man wearing a tee shirt with "Rainbow 112, Tacoma" logo and a nautical hat. Tacoma Sea Scout ship 112 (Rainbow) won first place in two of the races, including this one where the oars were replaced with shovels.The team members were, in no particular order, Dick Smith, Jay Perkins, Wally Royse and DeForest Bullock. The young man in the center is not identified. (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg.1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma); Racing--Tacoma; Sea Scouts (Tacoma);