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 launching of the U.S. Navy Destroyer 408, the U. S. S. Wilson, took place April 12, 1939 at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton. At 90% complete, the vessel was 341-feet-long with 1725 tons displacement. It carried a complement of 9 officers and 175 men. It was commissioned July 5, 1939 and received eleven battle stars for service in World War II. After sustaining damage during the war, it was selected as a target during the atom bomb test at Bikini Atoll in July of 1946. It was decommissioned in August of 1946 but remained afloat and was finally scuttled off Kwajelein in March of 1948. (T. Times, 4/13/39, p.20)

Launchings--Bremerton--1930-1940; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Bremerton); Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton--1930-1940; Government vessels; Warships--Bremerton--1930-1940;

Launching of the U.S. Navy Destroyer #408, the U. S. S. Wilson, on April 12, 1939. The ship was decorated with pennants and bunting and photographed at dock in the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton. Ship launchings at the Navy yard differed from those at Tacoma Shipyards. The craft was built in a construction dock which was flooded for launching, much like a bathtub. The launching consisted of the gates being opened and the boat towed out into the Sound. The destroyer under construction in the background was almost entirely submerged during the ceremony. (T. Times 4/13/1939, p. 20)

Launchings--Bremerton--1930-1940; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Bremerton); Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton--1930-1940; Government vessels; Warships--Bremerton--1930-1940;

Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Three girls representing Tacoma Assembly No.2, Rainbow Girls, ride a float covered with daffodils. (T.Times, 4/1/1939, p. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);

Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Lakewood Community Center floats moves down Pacific Avenue passing Merit Paint Store with "cut-rate prices", Stationers, and Washington Hardware. T.Times, 4/1/1939, p. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);

Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Lakewood Community Center float passes the Riviera Theatre. Spectators line sidewalks. By 1939, only one stage theater, The Little Theatre, is listed in Tacoma; all others are motion picture theaters. (T. Times, 4/1/39)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);

On April 1, 1939, all the best dressed parade riders were wearing daffodils. These two unidentified young women rode on a float credited to the sixth annual Daffodil Parade wearing dresses and hats made completely of flowers. They smiled brightly from under flower covered hats tied with chiffon bows underneath their chins and carried umbrellas.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);

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);

Jubilee Princess Elizabeth Johnson presents trophies to the winners of the motorboat races at the Water Carnival, held July 16, 1939. The Water Carnival was the kick-off celebration for the Washington State Golden Jubilee. It was attended by over 30,000 spectators. The 3 1/2 hour show included inboard and outboard races. (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Racing--Tacoma; Johnson, Elizabeth;

Golden Jubilee Royalty, Hostess Queen, selected on July 10, 1939. Two contestants, Margaret Franich, left, and Amy Lou Murray pose with a replica of the state seal. 21-year-old Gravelly Lake resident Amy Lou Murray was crowned Miss Hostess Queen at the Music Box Theater with Margaret Franich, 23, as Miss Pierce County. Because the voting was so close, both women would be sent to the Miss Washington competition the following week. (TNT 07/11/39, p. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Franich, Margaret; Murray, Amy Lou; Evening gowns--Tacoma;

Publicity photograph for the "Saga of the West" theatrical presentation planned for the Golden Jubilee celebration. Man dressed in tails with top hat "courts" two 1860's belles wearing elaborate costume gowns next to the Elks Temple. They are posed next to a pillar capped with a floral container planted with nasturtiums. They are, left to right, Herman Huesby, Floralla Milleson and Leva Atkins. The pageant would be produced July 20,21 & 22, 1939. A chorus of six men and two women would speak all the parts while the actors and actresses go through the motions eliminating the need for moving microphones. The extravaganza boasted a cast of over 2,000. (T. Times 6/13/1939, pg. 2)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Historical pageants--Tacoma; Elks Temple (Tacoma); Huesby, Herman; Milleson, Floralla; Atkins, Leva;

Scenes from a preview performance of "Saga of the West," held July 18, 1939. The pageant would cover the history of Washington from its earliest times to the present and be presented July 20, 21 and 22nd at the Stadium Bowl. This scene depicts the pioneers first crossing the Naches Pass. A pioneer woman, Gretchen (Mrs. Percy C.) Rollins, is being assisted from her "prairie schooner" by a trio of Scouts, actually soldiers from Fort Lewis. Unfortunately the July 18th dress rehearsal was rained out about halfway through; the cast would convene the following evening for a full rehearsal. (T. Times 7/19/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Historical pageants--Tacoma; Rollins, Gretchen;

Scenes from a preview performance of "Saga of the West." The pageant would cover the history of the west and be presented July 20, 21 and 22nd of 1939 at the Stadium Bowl. Titus Motor Co. offered the use of their 1906 Ford "Model N' for the pageant. The automobile is being cranked by Titus Service Department Superintendent Dick Frayne and is ready to go into action. This dress rehearsal on the 18th was interrupted by a downpour halfway through, causing the actors to take cover. The cast would reconvene on July 19th to complete the rehearsal.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Historical pageants--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Ford automobile; Frayne, Dick;