Five unidentified members of the Pacific Coast Division of the American Pulp & Paper Mill Superintendents Association performed a "space age" skit involving a hodgepodge of space visitors and robots at their annual conference held at the Hotel Winthrop, 773 Broadway, in December of 1955. Following panel and group discussions on sulphate pulping, sulphite pulping, and papermaking, the delegates ended their annual meeting with an informal banquet in the Crystal Ballroom and a dance in the Wedgewood Room. (Photograph ordered by American Pulp & Paper Mill Superintendents Association.) (TNT 12-4-55, B-11)

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Costumes; Robots; Signs (Notices); American Pulp & Paper Mill Superintendents Association (Tacoma);

Beatrice (Mrs. Harry) Houdini, dressed in a long white coat and hat, photographed at the Hotel Winthrop where she is a guest. She is standing beside an elaborate table on which an ornate potted palm has been placed. Mrs. Houdini was visiting in Tacoma after attending the convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians in Seattle the prior week. As Harry Houdini's assistant for 42 years, she was the only living person who knew all the secrets of his famous tricks and she wasn't giving any away. Houdini had not been able to perform his greatest trick after death, the communication to his wife of a prearranged word and message psychically from the "Beyond." Mrs. Houdini planned the "Seance to end all seances" for October 31, the 10th anniversary of his death. Psychics would be linked by radio coast to coast in a psychic circle to wait for the message, but none came. (T. Times 7/14/1936, pg. 3)

Magicians; Houdini, Harry--Family; Houdini, Beatrice;

Johnny Sheffield, "Boy" in the "Tarzan" films, attends to his studies with tutor Fletcher Clark at the Winthrop Hotel. Sheffield was in Tacoma for an appearance to sell War Bonds. Fletcher Clark was the former teacher of child star Mickey Rooney. (TNT 6/16/1942)

Sheffield, Johnny; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clark, Fletcher; Tutoring; Teachers;

Actress Lana Turner arrives at the Winthrop Hotel in Titus Motor Company's 1923 Lincoln Touring during her visit to Tacoma for a War Bond rally. Mayor Harry P. Cain is to her left. The woman in sunglasses holding a white hat is her mother, Mildred Turner. Miss Turner, a popular actress, would be appearing at the dedication of the new Liberty Center downtown to personally autograph bond applications made during the noon ceremony. Big bond purchasers would be the recipients of kisses from Miss Turner. The bond drive was to be a huge success with over $120,000 sold in 24 hours.

Turner, Lana, 1920-1995; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln automobile; Actresses;

Eleven-year-old Johnny Sheffield visited Tacoma in June, 1942, to help the War Bond drive. He is pictured here at the Winthrop Hotel with Pierce County War Bond Drive chairman Leon Titus. The woman with corsage next to Johnny is his mother, Mrs. Reginald Sheffield. Perched on the registration counter and examining a visitor's guide to Tacoma, Johnny is wearing the uniform of the Cub Scouts; his uniform is decorated with arrows and service badges. He apparently belonged to the Westwood location. Johnny was making a nationwide tour for the Treasury Department called "Buy Tanks for Yanks." He would be making a speech on "A Boy's Place in America" and be accompanied by a giant 13 ton tank, on display in front of the Roxy Theater. The 84 pound 6th grader was handpicked by Johnny Weissmuller to play "Boy" in eight Tarzan films before finally outgrowing the part. He then went on to star in the Bomba the Jungle Boy series for Monogram. ALBUM 5. (TT 6-15-42, pg. 12-picture; TNT 6-13-42, p. 3, TNT 6-15-42, p. 15)

Sheffield, Johnny; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus, Leon E.; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Actress Lana Turner arrives at the Winthrop Hotel in Titus Motor Company's 1923 Lincoln Touring automobile during her visit to Tacoma for a War Bond rally. Mayor Harry P. Cain is pictured between the actress and her mother. A large "Welcome! Lana Turner" banner is strung over the entrance of the Winthrop. The very popular Miss Turner made appearances at Fort Lewis, Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards, and the new Liberty Center downtown. She raised more than $120,000 in war bonds in 24 hours. Miss Turner was not the only celebrity appearing in Tacoma on behalf of the government; child actor Johnny Sheffield of the Tarzan films would be coming to town a few days later. (TNT 6-11-42, p. 1, TNT 6-14-42, p. 1) ALBUM 5. TPL-144

Turner, Lana, 1920-1995; Actresses; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln automobile;

Bob Dickinson (far right) and his Orchestra opened in the Wedgwood Room of the Winthrop Hotel in June of 1948. Dickinson, who could play six different instruments and sing solos, was a longtime friend of Bing Crosby. He and his orchestra had been playing in and around Tacoma for eight years including the old Crystal Ballroom from 1944 through 1946. Previously, he had been music director at both KOMO and KJR radio in Seattle. Sitting on the piano, surrounded by six orchestra members, is vocalist Margie Smith. According to the News Tribune, they are: (left to right) Jan Busbank at the piano, Dave Black, Charles Childs, drums, Francis Coe, bass, Miss Smith, Dean Christian, Tony Bye, saxophone and Bob Dickinson at far right. (T. Times, 6/18/48, p. 8; TNT 6-25-1948, p. 14).

Orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musical instruments--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Dickinson, Bob; Smith, Margie; Busbank, Jan; Black, Dave; Childs, Charles; Coe, Francis; Christian, Dean; Bye, Tony;