The newly selected Ms. Downtown Tacoma, Donna McNamara, receives a buss on the cheek from Stan Naccarato, master of ceremonies for the June 24, 1974, event held at O'Briens Restaurant. Representing the Bank of California, she is carrying a bouquet of long stemmed red roses. Ms. McNamara, 23, is a loan processor in the real estate department of Bank of California. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Woody Harter and married to Frederick McNamara. A graduate of Lincoln High School, she had danced with the Tacoma Civic Ballet and Ballet Tacoma. Ms. McNamara was chosen from nine other young women representing downtown Tacoma businesses. She would be making many public appearances at parades, ribbon cuttings, and grand openings during the next year. (TNT 6-17-74, B-2 article on contestants; TNT 6-25-74, A-14-article on Ms. McNamara)
The tug "Mohawk" steadily pulls a much larger barge through one of Tacoma's waterways on June 22, 1974. The "Mohawk" was believed to have belonged to PAC, a tug firm that had an ocean going base in Tacoma. Photograph ordered by PAC.
Kaiser Aluminum plant. This aerial view of the Kaiser Aluminum plant was taken on June 10, 1974. The plant was located in Tacoma's tideflats at 3400 Taylor Way. The wisps of smoke emerging from the plant's 500-foot stack appear to blend into the heavy cloud formation. Color photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.
Aerial photographs; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;
Aerial of Kaiser Aluminum plant as viewed on June 10, 1974. Smoke drifts from the 500-foot stack near the aluminum rod mill. 32 years later in July of 2006, the smokestack was demolished in front of hundreds of fascinated spectators. Color photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.
Aerial photographs; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor celebrated its grand opening on May 21, 1974, with dignitaries enjoying a bite of red licorice instead of the traditional red ribbon snipping. Located in the west end portion of the Tacoma Mall, Farrell's offered delicious hamburgers and other delicacies as well as mountains of ice creams in many flavors. It was an old fashioned ice cream parlor, believed to be the 84th in a large chain. Food was not served sedately but with much horn blowing and drum beating, especially for soon-to-be popular birthday parties. Color photograph ordered by Gerber Advertising, Portland. (TNT 5-22-74, B-12 -article)
On May 16, 1974, at Richards Studios, an unidentified model is demonstrating how the Rug Doctor can thoroughly clean carpets. The Rug Doctor product, at that time, was only two years old. Founded in 1972 by Roger Kent, the firm serviced both the professional and the do-it-yourselfer market through the manufacture, sale and service of these powerful cleaning machines and cleaning products. Since the time of this May, 1974, photograph, Rug Doctors have become more compact in size while still retaining its reputation for fast, convenient and thorough cleaning without scrubbing. Photograph ordered by the Boedecker Co.; Boedecker's would deliver the Rug Doctor to a customer's home without an extra charge. (www.rugdoctor.com; TNT ad 5-2-74, C-1)
Two-year-old Zamba extended a friendly paw to his trainer, Ron Whitfield, on May 14, 1974 while perched on one of the cement blocks surrounding the Broadway Plaza fountain at South 11th and Broadway. Zamba was one of the 150 animals performing during Circus Vargas' three-day run at Tacoma's new Downtown "pedestrian mall." In 1973 Broadway from South 9th to South 13th was closed to vehicles; the street was replaced by trees, planters and kiosks. In 1984, after years of limiting traffic to pedestrians and pigeons, Tacoma's Broadway Plaza was reopened to vehicles. Photograph ordered by the Downtown Tacoma Association. (TNT 5-15-74, A-3; TNT 5-9-74, C-9 article on circus)
Color studio portrait of the Dave Bunker Show. Posing in the familiar "totem pole" position on May 10, 1974, are members of the Dave Bunker Show. The troupe, headed by native Washingtonian Dave Bunker (apex), were a staple in Las Vegas, performing for many years at the Golden Nugget casino on Fremont Street. Color photograph ordered by Dave Bunker.
Wearing another of their coordinated outfits was the Dave Bunker Show; the troupe posed for a color group portrait on May 10, 1974. The women, believed to be part of the Wilkinson family of entertainers, have the big bouffant hairstyles of the era and are dressed in denim-like jumpsuits. They are holding of the two-neck guitars created by Dave Bunker. Mr. Bunker is standing on the left; the other male musician is unidentified. Color photograph ordered by Dave Bunker.
Studio portrait of the Dave Bunker Show. Dave Bunker (extreme left) of Sumner is a well-known musician and consummate guitar builder. For many years Mr. Bunker and his troupe, including the Wilkinson family, performed in Las Vegas at the Golden Nugget casino. It is reported that Mr. Bunker built all the guitars used by his group which were very original in appearance. Photograph ordered by Dave Bunker.
A sharp contrast in size can clearly be seen between this tiny poodle and the much heftier German shepherd mix. The two dogs were photographed on May 8, 1974, on behalf of Pacific Northwest Bell.
1974 Richards stock footage. Construction of the new Liberty House/Rhodes department store at the Tacoma Mall is proceeding rapidly during the spring of 1974. The two-story building is being built at the Mall's far west end for an estimated $2,000,000. There would be 128,093 square feet of floor space. The store was scheduled to open in the fall of 1974. Also included in this May, 1974, aerial view of the shopping center: the Tacoma Mall Office Building (in rear), the 10-month old west end addition to the Mall, Nordstrom, and the Bon Marche. (TNT 1-13-74, F-8 article)
Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Mall Office Building (Tacoma); Bon Marche (Tacoma); Liberty House (Tacoma);
Aerial view of the City of Tacoma as seen from the industrial Tideflats. The City (now Thea Foss) Waterway separates the bustling industrial area from Tacoma's downtown business district. This May, 1974, photograph aptly captures how the ready availability of rail, water, and highway transport attracted such companies as Hooker Chemicals and St. Regis to Tacoma.
Aerial photographs; Aerial views; City Waterway (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;
1974 Richards stock footage. A look at the Tacoma Mall by air in the spring of 1974 shows that the Mall continues to grow with the building of the new Liberty House/Rhodes department store at the Mall's extreme west end. The store was scheduled to open that fall. I-5 runs nearly vertically at the photograph's right, allowing easy access to the shopping center. The wooded area east of the freeway would eventually be dotted with new homes; businesses would also take the place of the homes located at the bottom of the photograph.
1974 Richards stock footage. Aerial view of the Tacoma Mall and surrounding south end neighborhoods. This May, 1974, view by air makes it plain that one of the main attributes of this popular shopping center was its ready access by freeway and its enormous free parking lots. Should a visitor to the Mall decide to bypass the freeway, the Mall would still be accessible through well traveled local streets such as Pine, South 38th and South 48th. The Mall had opened its west end addition in July of 1973 to add 20 more stores to the shopping center; in May of 1974, construction was proceeding rapidly with the new Liberty House/Rhodes department store at the far west end of the shopping center. TPL-5876
1974 Richards stock footage. Aerial view of the Tacoma Mall Office Building. The six-story structure was dedicated in December of 1969. It was one of the first new major office buildings built in Tacoma in many years. Parking was not a problem at this location; should, by chance, the lots surrounding the building be full, a customer could always park across the road at the Tacoma Mall itself. The area behind the office building has been developed since the time of this May, 1974, photograph.
1974 Daffodil Festival Queen. 17-year-old Wilson High School senior Lori Weber became the 1974 Daffodil Festival Queen in impressive ceremonies on April 1,1974, on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University. She was chosen from a field of eighteen princesses. Queen Lori I is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Weber of Fircrest. She is a cheerleader at Wilson and a pianist for the school choir. Miss Weber was crowned by Congressman Floyd Hicks. (TNT 4-2-74, A-1, 3)
Weber, Lori; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1974 : Tacoma);
Some of the 65-member Tacoma workforce of Cascade Pole Co., many in hard hats, posed on company property at 1002 Port of Tacoma Road on April 12, 1974. The firm, headed by Chrm. of the Board J. Robert McFarland and president G.L. Monahan, dealt in treated wood products. The company would announce plans in early June of 1974 to move from its longtime 12-acre site leased from the Port to a new 45-acre location. Workers had already commenced peeling poles at the new site located on E. 18th St. between Stewart & Marc St. in the tideflats. The move would take about two years and work would continue at both sites. Cascade Pole peeled and treated utility poles, pilings for marine installations, building foundations, and treated railroad ties and bridge timbers. Color photograph ordered by Cascade Pole Co. (TNT 6-2-74, G-8 article on company)
Cascade Pole Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;
A large contingent of Afifi Arab Patrol poses proudly on the front steps of the Masonic Temple, 47 Saint Helens Ave., on April 6, 1974. The men, dressed in colorful regalia, would be marching that day in the 41st annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Grand Parade. Color photograph ordered by the Afifi Arab Patrol.
Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Afifi Temple (Tacoma); Afifi Arab Patrol (Tacoma);
1974 Daffodil Parade. Passing by Pearl & Eddie's Restaurant at 8th & Pacific was the entry from the Pacific National Exhibition which had traveled from Vancouver, B.C. Entitled "Love-A-Fair," the Canadian float was colorfully decorated in red, white and yellow blossoms and several tall whirligigs. A cheerful clown and small animal-filled carousel along with two smiling African American young ladies completed the float. The float won the Festival trophy for best from another festival.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1974 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;
1974 Daffodil Festival Parade. The Afifi Temple had an appropriate float for the April 6, 1974, Daffodil Festival Grand Parade whose theme was "What the World Needs Now..." The country was suffering from a shortage of gasoline so the Afifi entry which had paused on its route down Pacific Avenue to "fill" up a clown's tiny cycle, probably spoke volumes to the parade spectators. A daffodil "oil derrick" is displayed behind a flower-bedecked tent. Several persons dressed in colorful "Middle Eastern" garb monitor the distribution of oil and gas. Fresh palm branches were imported and placed among the 35,000 daffodils. The clever Afifi Temple float captured the Grand Award, runner-up to the FTD Sweepstakes.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1974 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;
1974 Daffodil Parade. "Fun and Laughter" certainly exemplified the Bates Vocational-Technical Institute's entry in the 1974 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Grand Parade. Raggedy Ann and Andy rode on top of the golden daffodil-covered float along with a giant Jack-in-the-box, brightly colored blocks and a small carousel. Two clowns, one on a unicycle, and four marching "blocks" completed the entertaining float. With an artful use of 40,000 daffodils, the Bates float captured the FTD Sweepstakes Award for the best in show.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1974 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Clowns;
1974 Daffodil Parade. The Seattle SeaFair entry spoke of "Pride" and arose patriotic feelings with its display of the American flag in appropriate flowers and a golden eagle at the float's head. Waving to the crowd aboard the float was a young lady dressed in yellow and clutching a bouquet of daffodils; she may have been "Miss SeaFair." This out-of-town entry was selected as the Judges' Award winner for "most original" and was one of the 24 floats included in the parade.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1974 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;
Joe's Quality Beef Too. With a clever misspelling, this is the second location of Joe's Quality Beef in Tacoma. It was located at 3919 Sixth Ave. The one-story building appears to have a Mansard styled shake roof. Joe's Quality Beef (located at 126th & Pacific in Parkland) and Quality Beef Too stated in a May 31, 1974, News Tribune ad that they would not be undersold. Joe's provided free cutting and double wrapping at both locations. Beef sides sold for 73 cents a pound (350-500 average pound weight) and steak loins for $1.09. (average weight 50-90 pounds) Photograph ordered by Pacific Northwest Beef, Seattle. (TNT Ad 5-31-74, A-4)
Rhodes Department Store parking garage. This is believed to be the huge 2000+ parking garage built by the Rhodes Department Store in 1961 at 11th & Market Sts. The store foresaw the problems with downtown parking and tried to alleviate the situation by constructing a massive parking lot for its customers. The garage was a ramp-style, self-parking lot with four levels of parking. A skybridge (shown above) was added in 1967 that allowed customers to park their cars in the garage and then walk over, protected from the elements, to the department store. Color photograph ordered by Liberty House/Rhodes, Oakland, CA.
Parking garages--Tacoma--1970-1980; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);
Exterior of downtown Rhodes Bros. Department Store. This is the 11th & Broadway corner of the venerable Rhodes department store. The photograph was taken in late March of 1974, nine months before the flagship downtown store was to close. Liberty House/Rhodes was building a large, two-story store at the west end of the Tacoma Mall which was scheduled to open in the fall of 1974. Rhodes, which had opened in November of 1903, was well-known for its slogan, "All roads lead to Rhodes." The building staved off demolition for several years and eventually became the new location of the University of Puget Sound Law School in 1980. August 13, 1999 was the last day of the law school in Tacoma as it officially moved to Seattle. Three years before the move, the State of Washington purchased the building to house several state offices but needed to wait until the law school actually vacated the space before remodeling. The Tacoma Rhodes Center was later put up for sale by the state in February of 2007. Color photograph ordered by Liberty House/Rhodes, Oakland, CA.
Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1970-1980;
Another elevated view of the downtown Rhodes department store as photographed on March 27, 1974, for Liberty House/Rhodes, Oakland, CA. A skybridge connects the upper level of the store to a massive 2000+ car parking garage. Other customers apparently have chosen this day to park on the street outside of Rhodes even though the street has metered parking. Rhodes had already begun construction of a new two-story store in the west end addition of the Tacoma Mall. Once it was completed, it would announce closure of the downtown flagship store.
Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1970-1980;
Rhodes Department Store - Villa Plaza location. Rhodes was the first store to open at the (then) new Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood in March of 1957. It was also the largest store in square footage. The exterior of the store appears basically the same, with the exception of a different paint scheme, in 1974 as it did in 1957. Rhodes would close their downtown flagship store in December of 1974 shortly after construction of a new Liberty House/Rhodes at the Tacoma Mall. Color photograph ordered by Liberty House/Rhodes, Oakland, CA.
Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1970-1980; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1970-1980;
