Two white horses pulling a four-wheeled sulkey and driver proceed up Ninth Street in the Cole Brothers- Clyde Beatty Circus parade. Palomino horses with riders carrying American flags follow behind the two-horse team. A large crowd of spectators watch the parade. This was the first circus procession in Tacoma in years and it was to announce the arrival by train of the Circus, which would be making a one day stop in Tacoma with performances in the afternoon and evening. The show would pitch tents on the Union Pacific RR circus grounds, opposite Union Station and across the 15th Street Bridge.

Circus parades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Horse teams--Tacoma; Flags; Spectators--Tacoma;

A circus wagon pulled by an eight horse team turned the corner at South 9th Street and Pacific Avenue as hundreds of Tacomans lined the parade route and watched. The Cole Brothers-Clyde Beatty circus came to Tacoma in August of 1936 for a one day stop. With 1,080 performers and support staff and over 800 animals, including 30 elephants, the circus had the population of a good sized town. The featured performer is young Clyde Beatty, noted wild animal trainer. (T. Times 8/21/1936, pg. 13)

Circus parades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Horse teams--Tacoma; Flags; Spectators--Tacoma;

Tacomans turn out in droves at 11 a.m. on August 22, 1936 to see the first circus parade in years, passing by the Roxy Theatre, 901 Broadway, now known as the Pantages. The Cole Brothers- Clyde Beatty Circus is in town, featuring young wild animal trainer Clyde Beatty. Marquees indicate the Roxy Theatre, the Music Box, at 902-14 Broadway, destroyed by fire 4/30/1963, and the Rialto, 310 So. 9th. In the back right of the photo is the First Baptist Church, 902 Market St.

Circus parades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Horse teams--Tacoma; Flags; Spectators--Tacoma; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Music Box Theatre (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

It was "Westward Ho" at the Bremerton Children's Pet Parade on August 29, 1936. The Richards photographer captured some children re-enacting a pioneer event--westward movement. A boy with a fake white mustache was photographed sitting on a toy horse pulling a girl with a baby doll in a covered wagon. 264 youngsters took part in the parade sponsored by the Retail Merchants' Association. (Bremerton Sun 08/31/1936, pg. 1).

Parades & processions--Bremerton; Children--Bremerton--1930-1940; Toys; Dolls; Children playing adults;

On August 29, 1936, the Bremerton Retail Merchants' Association sponsored a Childrens' Pet Parade. Parade participants are captured in the act of parading down the street, toward the water, in Bremerton's business district. Many children have entry numbers on their backs. Sidewalks are lined with spectators. The Piggly Wiggly market and the Pantorium are on the right. (Bremerton Sun 08-31-1936, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Bremerton; Children--Bremerton--1930-1940; Commercial streets--Bremerton; Piggly Wiggly (Bremerton); Pantorium (Bremerton);

On August 29, 1936, the Retail Merchants' Association of Bremerton, sponsored a Children's Pet Parade. Over 264 children responded to the call, marching with family pets, favorite dolls or dressed as their favorite characters. The youngest entrant was six month old Georgia Gay Scott, gaily smiling in her ruffled bonnet and dress, and seated in a flower-decorated wagon pulled by her dog. Posed beside her is Bill Isbell, #117, scowling slightly at the camera and jauntily attired in a sailor suit, his black and white dog held by a leash. (Bremerton Sun 10-31-1936, pg.1).

Parades & processions--Bremerton; Children--Bremerton--1930-1940; Pets; Scott, Georgia Gay; Isbell, Bill;

Bremerton Fire Chief S. B. "Skippy" Lent, motions to costumed children to smile for the camera during the Children's Pet Parade, held August 29, 1936. Two small children are standing by a toy boat which is mounted on a skirted wagon and pulled by a boy is dressed in a sailor suit. An older girl standing nearby is wearing a very shiny "Bo-Peep" style dress. Over 264 youngsters took part in the parade. (Bremerton Sun 08/31/1936, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Bremerton; Children--Bremerton--1930-1940;

On August 29, 1936, the sub teen crowd in Bremerton turned out to participate in the Pet Parade, sponsored by the Retail Merchant's Association. One of the most unusual pets was the pet goat held by Hazel Vosgien, left. Donna Dorene Ames, wearing a hunter's vest with shotgun shells and holding a toy rifle in emulation of the female sharpshooter Annie Oakley, posed with her Irish Setter dog. Over 264 youngsters took part in the fun. (Bremerton Sun 08/31/1936, pg. 1).

Parades & processions--Bremerton; Girls--Bremerton--1930-1940; Pets; Vosgien, Hazel; Ames, Donna Dorene;

Youngsters brought favorite dolls, stuffed animals and pets to a children's parade, sponsored by the Retail Merchants' Association, in downtown Bremerton on August 29, 1936. A large group of girls wait patiently in front of Parker Lumber Company for the 1936 event to begin. Over 264 youngsters joined in the parade, showing off a wide variety of dolls and pets of all sizes. (Bremerton Sun 08/31/1936, pg. 1).

Parades & processions--Bremerton; Girls--Bremerton--1930-1940; Toys; Dolls; Pets; Parker Lumber Co. (Bremerton);

On August 29, 1936, Bremerton's Assistant Fire Chief Ernest Yett, left, and Fire Chief S.B. "Skippy" Lent posed with four unidentified girls and their favorite dolls prior to the Bremerton Pet Parade. Over 264 youngsters marched in the parade sponsored by the Retail Merchant's Association. They carried dolls, wore costumes or were accompanied by their pets. Fire Chief Lent would retire in 1936, after 26 years of service with the department; 11 as a volunteer and 16 years as Fire Chief. Assistant Chief Lett was the only man in the city eligible to test for the vacant Chief position. (Bremerton Sun 8/31/1936, pg. 1; 12/12/1936, pg.1 - Lent retirement).

Parades & processions--Bremerton; Girls--Bremerton--1930-1940; Toys; Dolls; Fire fighters--Bremerton--1930-1940; Yett, Ernest; Lent, S.B.;

Bremerton's children's pet parade, held August 29, 1936. Several children holding dolls and pushing doll carriages walk in the parade past the Shell service station and Parker Lumber Co. The two children in the lead are a boy and girl dressed in Dutch costumes. The streets are lined with spectators of all ages. (Bremerton Sun 08-31-1936, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Bremerton; Girls--Bremerton--1930-1940; Toys; Dolls; Parker Lumber Co. (Bremerton);

Thousands of Roosevelt supporters paraded at night through the streets of downtown Tacoma preceding the Democratic Rally at the Coliseum on October 24, 1936. The crowd waved American flags and carried signs indicating support for Roosevelt from the Timber Workers and Longshoremen. The parade started at Union Station and ended at the Coliseum, 407 South 13th St., where the group cheered speeches by U.S. Senator Lewis B. Schwellenbach and local Democrats. Prominent in the background of this photograph is the Greenwich Coliseum, 407 So. 13th St., built in 1926 and demolished in 1975. In the thirties, it was an arena and ballroom with wrestling on Monday, boxing on Thursday and dancing on Friday and Saturday. In 1940, the structure became the Coliseum Bowling Palace and hosted decades of bowlers until it closed in 1972. (T. Times 10/26/1936, pg. 1)

Greenwich Coliseum (Tacoma); Political parades & rallies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945--Political parades & rallies;

Charter No. 10 of the Hotel Greeters and auxiliary and guests enjoyed a banquet at the Winthrop Hotel on October 28, 1936. Well-known hotel managers A.C.C. Gamer, L.L. Benbow, and George Calvert were spotted in conversation during the event. Mr. Gamer was president of the organization. (T. Times 10-29-36, p. 7).

Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gamer, Albert C.C.; Calvert, George; Benbow, L.L.; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Army-Navy Game at Stadium Bowl. Flag bearers march in front of the officials stand where Rear Admiral T.T. Craven, Maj. Gen. David L. Stone, Mayor George A. Smitley, and others give honorary salutes. A large unit of soldiers stand at attention on the sidelines. A 21-gun salute fired from the 75 mm guns of Fort Lewis opened the military pageant which preceded the second annual football contest between the two Armed Forces branches. Musicians from the USS Idaho and the 10th Field Artillery supplied the obligatory marching tunes. (Bremerton Sun; T. Times 11-12-36, p. 1).

Military parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flags--United States; Flag bearers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flag salutes--Tacoma;

This group of elaborately costumed Tacomans took part in the annual Toyland Parade on the morning of November 27, 1936 through the streets of downtown Tacoma. The first float in the parade carried Santa Claus in a giant sled pulled by 2 white reindeer. The Toyland Parade was the official opening for the Christmas shopping season. (T. Times 11-28-1936 p.11)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Costumes; Masks

The 1936 Toyland Parade kicks off the day after Thanksgiving in a dense fog. The parade celebrates the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. It is made up of 10 elaborate Mother Goose floats, three marching bands and 75 costumed characters, such as these clowns. This is a cropped version of D733 image 3. (Tacoma Times 11/28/1936, pg. 11)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The 1936 Christmas Toyland Parade kicked off in a genuine Puget Sound fog that almost demanded street lights. The Old Lady who lived in a shoe is almost obscured by the dense fog. This float is one of ten elaborate floats inhabited by Mother Goose characters. The parade also included 3 bands- Stadium High School, Lincoln HS and a union band. More that 75 fantastically costumed mannequins with large paper mache heads marched along with the parade. (T. Times 11/28/1936, pg. 11)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The 1936 Toyland Parade, the second annual parade held the day after Thanksgiving, kicks off in a pea soup Puget Sound fog. Pictured are some of the 75 costumed characters that march along with the parade. These clowns hold a sign stating "clowns from Toyland." The 1936 parade is 1/3 larger than the previous year and attended by thousands of anxious school children and their parents, awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. (T. Times 11/28/1936, pg. 11)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

State Legislature's banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. Women speaking to audience at banquet. Flag and Roosevelt poster, "A Gallant Leader," in background.

Events - BanquetsGovernment - Washington State - Legislature

Legislature's banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. Man at microphoneat head table, Roosevelt poster, "A Gallant Leader," in background.

Events - BanquetsGovernment - Washington State - Legislature

The Tacoma Safety Council's "Horror Parade," also called the Safety Show parade. The parade was intended as a macabre reminder of the fruits of careless and reckless driving. The first prize winner was this wrecked automobile in tow with a person portraying an accident victim laying across seat with a sign saying, "Oh Why ! Didn't I Get My Brakes Repaired Yesterday?" (T. Times 2/26/1937, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Safety Council (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Safety Council "Safety Show Parade", also called the "Horror Parade," wound through the streets of Tacoma on Saturday, February 27, 1937. The float sponsored by the Tacoma General Hospital featured two nurses attending a man in traction on the back of a flatbed truck. This group of children watched the parade from the sidewalk across the street from an unidentified Tacoma school. The parade travelled through the major streets of Tacoma for two hours warning parade viewers about the horrors of reckless driving. Another float in the parade showed a body hanging out of the passenger side of a badly damaged car. (T. Times 2/26/1937, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Safety Council (Tacoma); Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

Tacoma Safety Council "Horror Parade," also called the Safety Show parade. Tacoma General Hospital float on the flatbed of a truck. Participants include two nurses and an attendant caring for a man in traction lying on hospital bed. Ice delivery truck and school yard in background. (T. Times 2/26/1937, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Safety Council (Tacoma); Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

In one of its oddest parade turns, the Tacoma Safety Council presented the "Horror Parade," also called the Tacoma Safety Council Safety Show parade. The parade was intended to serve as a tragic reminder for reckless and careless drivers. The first prize winner was this wrecked automobile in tow with a dummy laying across seat. The sign says "Oh Why ! Didn't I Get My Brakes Repaired Yesterday?" Children on bicycles watch the macabre parade which traversed the main streets of Tacoma for two hours. (T. Times 2/26/1937, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Safety Council (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Safety Council Safety Show Parade, also called the "Horror Parade." The parade visually showed the effects of careless and reckless driving to the citizens of Tacoma. The Tacoma General Hospital float has two nurses attending a man in traction on the back of a flatbed truck. (T. Times 2/26/1937, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Safety Council (Tacoma); Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

Enjoying the sunshine on Easter morning in 1937 are churchgoers at the First Congregational Church, 209 So. J St. The many children present, all dressed in their Sunday best, seem to indicate that this may have been the various Sunday School classes at the church. A few of the girls have been identified as front row, left to right: Jean Williams (with lily plant), possibly Joan Finch, Marjory Long, possibly Kathryn Burr, Jane Parker, and Virginia Lee (Wendy) Wagner in polka-dotted dress with hands on wall. Seymour S. Todd (standing, second row at far left) was a teacher at Stewart Junior High School.

Easter--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Congregational churches--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Todd, Seymour S.; Williams, Jean; Long, Marjory; Parker, Jane; Wagner, Virginia Lee;

One of the strangest social events of the 1920's & 1930's was the "Tom Thumb wedding," a mock wedding of a child couple impersonating the 1863 wedding of P.T. Barnum's famous midget couple, Charles Stratton (exhibited as Gen. Tom Thumb) and his miniature bride, Lavinia Warren. The pictured double Tom Thumb wedding was held April 16, 1937 at the St. Paul Methodist Church as a fund raiser, with proceeds going to the missionary society. The participants were, left to right, Harrison Killian (best man), Curtis Killian (Tom Thumb, groom), Shirley Clark (Jennie June, bride), Eddie Goodenough (minister), Buddy Cross (best man), Billy Goettling (Fred Finger, groom) and Barbara Ann Bowen (Nellie May, bride.) All of the children, with the exception of Goodenough, were four years old. Eddie Goodenough was the son of Rev. Frank Goodenough. In all, over 100 children, ages 4-11, took part in the pageant, impersonating wedding members and guests, including Pres. & Mrs. Roosevelt, movie stars and local city officials and personalities. ( T. Times 4/16/1937, pg. 8- picture & article)

Children playing adults; Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940;

On April 16, 1937, St. Paul Methodist Church held a double "Tom Thumb" wedding to raise funds for their missionary society. "Tom Thumb" weddings were held in the early 1900's as a social event; they were recreations of the 1863 wedding of P.T. Barnum's most famous attraction, the midget Charles Stratton (exhibited as Gen. Tom Thumb) and the equally tiny Lavinia Warren. Children doubled in the Tom Thumb pageants as the tiny couple. The St. Paul event starred, left to right, Eddie Goodenough as the minister, Curtis Killian as Tom Thumb, Shirley Clark as the bride Jennie June, Billy Goettling as the second groom Fred Finger and Barbara Ann Bowen as the other bride, Nellie May. The couples were four years old. All together, over 100 children, ranging in age from 4-11, took part in the event, impersonating the wedding party and its famous guests. (T. Times 4/16/1937, pg. 8)

Children playing adults; Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940; Goodenough, Edward; Killian, Curtis; Clark, Shirley; Goettling, William; Bowen, Barbara Ann;

Make way for the Buckingham Apartments version of the 1937 Daffodil Parade! Eight children from the apartment building at 1001 North Yakima Avenue donned costumes and held their own parade on April 8, with dandelions filling in for daffodils. Sharon Lloyd Detlofsen leads off the parade on a tricycle, followed by drum major Roberta Powell, Robert Hagstrom, Queen Marilyn Powell, Delores Detlofsen on her scooter, Press agent Jacqueline Brown, Cowboy Bruce Bowman and clown Roy Howell. Sonny Gange, left on grass, provided what every parade needs, an enthusiastic spectator. (T. Times 4/9/1937, pg. 18-article & alternate photograph)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bowman, Bruce; Detlofsen, Dolores; Detlofsen, Sharon Lloyd; Gange, Sonny; Powell, Marilyn; Brown, Jacqueline; Powell, Marilyn; Howell, Roy; Buckingham Apartments (Tacoma);

Tired of waiting for the official Daffodil Parade, these kids from the Buckingham Apartments,1001 No. Yakima Ave., decided to stage their own parade on April 8th, 1937. Using dandelions to pinch hit for daffodils, the kids, fully costumed and made up, carried a sign stating "See the Daffodil Parade on Saturday." Ready to start their parade are, front row (l to r), bicycle cowboy Bruce Bowman, Dolores Detlofson, Sharon Lloyd Detlofson and Robert Hagstrom. Back row (l to r), Sonny Gange, Queen Marilyn Powell, Parade press agent Jacqueline Brown, Drum Major Roberta Powell, and parade clown Roy Howell. (T. Times 4/9/1937, pg. 18)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bowman, Bruce; Detlofson, Dolores; Detlofson, Sharon Lloyd; Gange, Sonny; Powell, Marilyn; Brown, Jacqueline; Powell, Marilyn; Howell, Roy; Buckingham Apartments (Tacoma);