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Clinkerdagger

A kitchen worker slides a plate of food over the counter to a waiter at the Clinkerdagger restaurant.

Back of Photo:
Pet Petersen (left, and Ray Causey sip a beer at eh Shoboat Cabaret (owned by Causey) in Ruston. Petersen's tavern (Pete's Place tavern --clever name!) is in South Tacoma.
Photo by Jeff Larsen

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Magoo's Pub Features Shake Exterior
Photograph by Bob Rudsit

ca. 1934. The lunch counter of the Fifteen-Eighteen Cabaret, 1518 Pacific Avenue. Signboard menu offers sandwiches ranging from a dime hamburger to a fried oyster sandwich for a quarter. Men seated in front of counter; manager in tuxedo and waiters in white jackets behind the counter. All are reflected in the large mirror, which is surrounded by ornate columns.

Fifteen-Eighteen Cabaret (Tacoma); Eating & drinking facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Eating & drinking--1930-1940; Nightclubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1934. Exterior view of the Fifteen-Eighteen Cabaret located at 1518 Pacific Avenue. A neon lit marquee extends out from the building. Fabric draping and liquor bottles decorate the front picture windows.

Fifteen-Eighteen Cabaret (Tacoma); Eating & drinking facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Eating & drinking--1930-1940; Nightclubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Around 1935, three unidentified men stopped in at Rowe's Cabaret, 1104 So. K St., where an unidentified bartender served them a refreshing beer. Rowe's is listed in the 1935 City Directory as a "Beer Parlor." It was owned by Guy S. Rowe. (filed with Argentum)

Rowes Cabaret (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1930-1940; Barrooms--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bartenders; Beer halls--Tacoma;

ca. 1933. Bohemian Club, for Mr. Columbino. Bartenders behind bar, man who appears to be owner or manager in foreground. Customers at bar in background. Caption reads "Good Luck and Prosperity to the Bohemian Club." The Bohemian Club was located at 1325 1/2 Broadway in the Langert Building; the building has since been demolished.

Bohemian Club (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1930-1940; Nightclubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bartenders--1930-1940;

ca. 1926. The central building in the picture is 1113 Broadway, viewed from the Commerce Street side. It was built in 1890 and designed by Kissam & Morris, architects. Over the years it has had many tenants, including the Tacoma Daily News. In 1926, on the ground floor was the "Heather Bell Restaurant." The address for the cafe was 1114 Commerce. It was known as the Heather Bell from 1925-28, later as the "Bell Cafe." Above the Heather Bell were the offices of L. R. Clark, dentists. To the right of the picture is 1112 Commerce, the location of F. Kuchera & Son Co., wholesale leather and findings. The company was owned jointly by Edward, Frank Jr., William, Otto and Marie (Frank Sr's widow) Kuchera. The building, although greatly changed, is still standing in downtown Tacoma.

Heather Bell Restaurant (Tacoma); F. Kuchera & Son Co. (Tacoma);

Banquet for "Pop" Reed at Rau's Chicken Diner. Pop Reed center in dark suit. Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp.

Restaurants--Graham; Banquets--Graham--1940-1950; Group portraits; Rau's Club (Graham);

Reopening of the Central Cafe, for Nick A. "Vic" Zvolis. Mr. Zvolis, the owner, is standing behind the counter on the right in this October 24, 1942, photograph. To the left of Mr. Zvolis are four women and two other men, probably employees. Mr. Zvolis was widely known in wrestling circles as a former competitor and a referee.

Central Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Zvolis, Nick;

Reopening of the Central Cafe, for Nick A. "Vic" Zvolis. Mr. Zvolis, the owner, is standing behind the counter on the right. To the left of Mr. Zvolis are four women and one other man, probably employees. Mr. Zvolis was widely known in wrestling circles as a former performer and a referee.

Central Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Zvolis, Nick;

Dick Bevington's new Triple X Barrel drive-in restaurant. Dick and Gwyne Bevington pose behind the counter with a large congratulatory flower arrangement in this May 29, 1940 photograph. Triple XXX Root Beer barrel dispenser in background. The Bevingtons had the restaurant constructed at a cost of $29,000 and actually resided in an apartment on the premises.

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Bevington's Triple XXX Root Beer Restaurant (Tacoma); Bevington, Dick; Bevington, Gwyne; Flower arrangements;

Dick Bevington's new Triple X Barrel drive-in restaurant. View of kitchen area, four cooks in white uniforms, equipment and utensils, customers at counter visible through food pass out windows. The kitchen was advertised as having the latest in modern equipment and round the clock service. The chief cook was Ray Seger, assisted by Joe M. Powell and Dale Porter. [photographs taken 5/28-30/1940) (T. Times 6/4/1940, pg. 7)

Fast food restaurants--Tacoma; Bevington's Triple XXX Root Beer Restaurant (Tacoma);

Dick Bevington's new Triple X Barrel drive-in restaurant. View of kitchen area, four cooks in white uniforms, equipment and utensils, customers at counter visible through food pass out windows. Triple XXX referred to the brand of root beer served in the restaurant. The modern, all electric kitchen was run by chief cook Ray Seger, assisted by Joe M. Powell and Dale Porter. [photographs taken 5/28-30/1940) (T. Times 6/4/1940, pg. 7)

Fast food restaurants--Tacoma; Bevington's Triple XXX Root Beer Restaurant (Tacoma);

Six carhops wearing capes with gold braid, short skirts and white cowboy boots served the cars in front of Kruger's Triple XXX Root Beer Barrel drive-in at 3505 South Tacoma Way in June of 1941. Frank J. Kruger opened his new Triple XXX Barrel restaurant in October 1936 with free root beer to one and all. He came west with a Triple XXX Barrel franchise in August of 1931 and had opened at a smaller location. The new building was 55' x 41' with both booths and stools indoors. There was room in their parking lot for at least 300 cars. In 1943 the building was purchased by Bill and Thelma Busch and became Busch's Drive-In.(T.Times, 10/23/1936)

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Triple XXX Barrel (Tacoma); Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Top of the Ocean was one of the most popular restaurants in Tacoma. They opened for business on December 15, 1946, and quickly became a top choice for many clubs, associations and organizations to hold their activities. The Tacoma Athletic Commission had private facilities within the restaurant. Located on the waterfront near the foot of McCarver St. on Ruston Way, the Top of the Ocean was destroyed by an arson fire on April 3, 1977. David Willard Levage was convicted for starting the fire. This photo appeared in a Tacoma Times advertisement. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5). TPL-2130

Restaurants--Tacoma; Nightclubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

On the afternoon of June 30, 1947, a bevy of women fromTacoma's social set turned out for a reception at the Tacoma Athletic Club's Clubhouse, located at the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way. The reception was to honor the "Queen for a Day" that had been chosen on the 10 a.m. broadcast from the Ice Palace the same morning. Unfortunately, neither of Tacoma's daily papers listed the name of the lucky winner. The Henry Mill and Timber Co. burner can be seen in the background.

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts;

Twelve men at New Yorker Cafe, R.W. Russell. Ten men join together in a toast. The man in the middle holds a frame with individual photographs of many young men.

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Men--Tacoma--1940-1950; Toasting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits--1940-1950;

Exterior view of the "Top of the Ocean". Automobiles are parked outside and banners are hung from the upper deck and over the top of the new restaurant and night club. The Top of the Ocean provided an invitation to all to dine and participate in an informal opening December 7th, 1946, at 5 p.m. It was called, the "most beautiful luxury dine and dance liner". She was not, however, a ship but was constructed on pilings at a cost of $262,000 by her owners Allen Rau and Bert Sundgren. Paul and Mendle Riggs were in charge of the boat facilities which provided docking sites for visiting yachts. There were four dining rooms on the main deck and a private suite for the Tacoma Athletic Club upstairs. Prices on complete dinners began at $1.50. The Top of the Ocean was destroyed by fire on April 3, 1977. (TNT, 3/21/1946; T.Times, 12/5/1946, p.11) TPL-423, TPL-2395

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nightclubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Athletic Commission Dinner for Gretchen Kunigk Fraser. Tacoma skier Gretchen Kunigk Fraser, winner of 1948 Olympic Gold and Silver medals for Alpine skiing, in a publicity photo for the Tacoma Athletic Commission on April 5, 1948. Gretchen is seen here with her mother, Clara Kunigk, of Tacoma. The man on the left is not identified. The man on the right is possibly her brother, Bill Kunigk. The Tacoma Athletic Commission honored Gretchen Fraser with a dinner/reception at the Top of the Ocean; over 600 people were in attendance.

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Kunigk, Clara;

Grand Opening, Blue Moon Tavern, John Monta. Interior of the tavern with Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Long (Marcia J. Long) by the bar. The couple look proud of the work they have put into preparing the tavern for their grand opening. The lights over the mirror are turned on, the bouquets from well wishers and the shiny equipment make a welcoming interior. Format 5' x 8'

Blue Moon Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Long, Charles L.; Long, Marcia J.; Bars (Furniture); Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The interior of the High Hat Tavern located at 8920 South Tacoma Way showing booths and counter seats. An alcove for Mel McLaughlin's Trio has been added along the far wall close to the jukebox. Ordered by Mr. Pep Greco.

High Hat Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma;

Opened in 1933, and then rebuilt on the same site in 1949, Fife's Poodle Dog restaurant advertised "Good Food" with a variety of items ranging from hamburgers to fancy seafood. Interior view of serving area; carts full of clean cups and glasses, silverware drawers and clean plates on counter in a U-shaped kitchen area. Rollaway serving table with used dishes and dirty pan in containers is next to a metallic cabinet. A black rotary phone is hung on an adjacent wall. TPL-9691

Diners (Restaurants)--Fife; Poodle Dog (Fife); Business enterprises--Fife; Equipment;

Scene from the Grand Opening of the Gay Nineties Room at Steve's Cafe (later commonly known as Steve's Gay '90s.) Employees pose in Nineties costumes, with frilly garters on their sleeves. Steve's was owned and operated by local restaurateur John Stanley and Steve Pease, the "unofficial mayor of South Tacoma." They merged Stanley's coffee shop and Pease's tavern in 1949 when, with the passage of liquor by the drink, Pease found he needed a restaurant in order to retain his liquor license. Providing new and unique environments and entertainments during the next twenty years, such as the Cable car room and the Opera House with its can can dancers, the Gay '90s remained a popular tourist attraction throughout the fifties and sixties. They closed in 1977. (TNT 4/4/1951, pg B6-B7)

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1890-1900;

The kitchen at the Viking Smorgasbord was furnished with the latest in modern equipment including odorless gas equipment. Well trained staff were selected by John E. Berglund and Maja Lisa Lindberg, both professionals in food catering. (TNT, 4/14/1951, p.C-5)

Viking Smorgasbord (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma; Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The 1950s were cruising years for teenagers in everywhere USA. Carhops delivered burgers and cokes on trays that attached to rolled-down car windows. Cruising was car hopping--teenagers met friends and wannabe friends at these 1950s social gathering places. In Tacoma, Busch's Drive-In restaurant was the place to be on Saturday nights. Bill and Thelma Busch bought the former Triple XXX Barrel Restaurant in 1943 and it remains today as Busch's Restaurant along with the memories of "cruising". TPL-830

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Night photographs; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma);

The Golden Gloves Committee met at the Top of the Ocean. Amateur boxers from as far away as Vancouver, B.C. and Eugene, Oregon, were expected for the fourth annual Tacoma Golden Gloves tournament that was held at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. There were 48 entrants in the 1951 bout and 85 were expected this year. Shown are, L-R, seated: Carter Lee, Ken Purchase, Ples Irwin, George Sheridan, Ray Kelly, Henry Auge, and Charles Funk. Standing: Howie Welsh, John Rockway, Bob Martin, Jim Rondeau, Al Kemp, Vernie Reed, Clay Huntington, and Harry (Scotty) Weinstone. Ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT, 1/25/1952, p.C-9)

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Oscar Peterson and Bill Harris express exaggerated shock at the prices on the menu of the newly remodeled New Yorker Cafe. Holding the menu are possibly owners Patricia and Michael DeVoto. The presence of the jazz greats at the opening was a happy surprise. Peterson and Harris were performing in Seattle with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show when they called old pal Art Mineo, now settled in Tacoma and hired to provide music for the opening, to "sit in" with his orchestra. The rest is history as the group jammed until closing, providing a memorial night of jazz for the opening night club goers.

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peterson, Oscar; Harris, Bill;

The "Staten Room" was the main dining room of the "new" New Yorker restaurant located at Sixth & Cushman in 1951. It had a capacity of 150 diners. The rubberized folding walls made it possible to have smaller private rooms for special occasions. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11)

Dining rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

South Tacoma's Main Yon Cafe had the grand opening of their new dining room in early November, 1951. The Main Yon's new dining room had comfortable booth seating and was beautifully decorated with a Chinese themed wall mural. Orchids for the ladies and ice cream and coffee were offered free during the grand opening. Owned and operated by "Charlie" Eng Sing Poy, the Main Yon had been in business for 16 years. Originally from Canton, China, Mr. Eng Sing Poy received his naturalization papers in October, 1951. Photograph ordered by Udall Construction Company. TPL-8120 (TNT 11-6-1951, p. 7)

Main Yon Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eng, Sing Poy; Murals--Tacoma; Udall Construction Co. (Tacoma);