Bedecked with Hawaiian leis, entertainer Alfred Apaka and members of the Tacoma Athletic Commission enjoy an evening at the Top of the Ocean. Mr. Apaka, shown here in white shirt and cloth lei, was asked to bring his orchestra to Tacoma to perform at the T.A.C. Hawaiian dinner-dance in October, 1950. Smiling for the camera are J.J. Petrich (in background); others seated are Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wannberg, Mr. Apaka, Elsie Pitzen. Standing are Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lichtenwalter. (TNT 10-8-50, p. D-8)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Apaka, Alfred; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

A woman contortionist performed on the dance floor with her legs elevated on two tables on either side of her body in a split formation . Her body is lower than her feet. Groups of people who are seated at tables around dance floor applaud her performance during the Halloween party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean. Ordered by Will Maylon.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life; Stunt performers--Tacoma; Entertainers--Tacoma;

T.A.C. officials and guests. Husky quarterback Sonny Sixkiller (back row, third from right) and three of his teammates paid a visit to the Tacoma Athletic Commission on December 3, 1970. T.A.C. members seated (left to right) are: Hank Semmern, Tom Paine, professional golfer Ken Still, and president Hal Brotman. Forrest Rodgers (extreme right) is in the back row along with Sonny Sixkiller and his teammates. Teammates Rank Baty, Ace Bulger and Rick Huget are all graduates of Washington high schools. (teammates order unknown) Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT article 12-8-70, p. 16)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Sixkiller, Sonny; Semmern, Hank; Paine, Tom; Still, Ken; Brotman, Hal; Rodgers, Forrest; Baty, Rank; Bulger, Ace; Huget, Rick;

Interiors of the Lakewood Ice Arena. An instructor ties his skates surrounded by smiling young students. Although the home of several competitive skaters, the rink also offered affordable lessons to children and adults at all skating levels from beginners on up. Public free skating time was also available and if you didn't own your own skates, they could be rented. ("History of Figure Skating in Pierce County, Lakewood Arena")

Ice skating--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Lakewood Figure Skating Club (Lakewood); Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Ben and Marian Cheney smile broadly as they pose with guest Andy Gilbert (left) at the 1963 Washington State Sports Hall of Fame banquet sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission on February 6, 1963. Also at the top of the stairs on the upper right is Tacoma Athletic Commission president William (Bill) Gazecki. Mr. Cheney was a well known sports fan whose generosity allowed thousands of Tacoma youngsters to participate in organized sports. He was instrumental in bringing the Tacoma Giants Pacific Coast League baseball team to Tacoma to play in Cheney Stadium. Mr. Gilbert was the newly named manager of the Tacoma Giants. His pro career spanned twelve years as he performed at every position other than catcher. In his rookie season in the Ohio State League, Mr. Gilbert broke his neck sliding head-first into second base. Undeterred, he returned to baseball the following year. (TNT 2-4-63, p. 14-article) (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Awards; Washington State Sports Hall of Fame (Tacoma); Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Marian; Gilbert, Andy; Gazecki, William;

In jest, William Gazecki was wrapped in resplendent robes and crowned the new " king" of the Tacoma Athletic Commission on February 12, 1963. Four TAC officers posed with their newly elected president as one member places a gilded crown on his head. William Larson, Peter Stojack, Marv Tommervik and Bob Danhausere form a half-circle around William Gazecki . A more traditional picture of this group was chosen to run in the February 17, 1963, edition of the News Tribune. The TAC is a local volunteer-run sports and civic booster organization. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 2-17-63, B-10)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Crowns; Larson, William C.; Stojack, Peter; Tommervik, Marv; Danhausere, Robert; Gazecki, William;

Cupid, victory cigar in mouth, draws back his bow to attempt a fifth arrow at the telephone target on January 10, 1958. He has already successfully hit the target four times. He does appear to be rather close to the designated target. The archer is dressed in a towel covering his waist and part of his suit wound around his shoulder and hip. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.

Archery--Tacoma; Bows (Archery); Targets (Sports); Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Cupid retrieves his arrows in a January 10, 1958, photograph. He has apparently hit his target, a telephone in a circle, with all four arrows at a rate of 100%. The smiling archer has a towel wrapped around his waist and perhaps part of his suit draped over his shoulder. He is clutching a large bow. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.

Archery--Tacoma; Bows (Archery); Targets (Sports); Telephones; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Seattle skier Don Fraser, left, winner of the Men's Slalom in the Tacoma Winter Carnival at Paradise, shakes hands with another man on January 30, 1937. Fraser, a member of the 1936 Olympic team, later married Gretchen Kunigk, the Tacoma skier who medaled at the 1948 Olympics. He would go on to capture the 1938 Men's Slalom race at Paradise as well.

Skiers; Fraser, Don, 1914-1994; Shaking hands;

Groups in North End Tacoma after a snow storm. Three young skiers: Jean McKie, Gwen McKie, and Jean Osborne are pictured on Carr St. Boy with a sled and large homes in background. The week was starting out with new low temperatures. The Tacoma Field weather station recorded a low of 2.7 degrees above zero. City Hall recorded 15 degrees above. Motorists were advised to stay home or drive with chains. Police reminded the public that pulling a sled behind your car and driving recklessly were against the law. At least another 24 hours of record low temperatures was forecast for the local area. (T. Times, 1/11/1937, p. 1)

Skiing--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Snow--Tacoma--1930-1940; Sleds & sleighs; Winter; McKie, Jean; McKie, Gwen; Osborne, Jean;

Golf tournament at the Tacoma Country Club. A large crowd of spectators walk on the course at the golf event. The club house building and water tower are visible in the background. (T. Times).

Sports - Ball Games - Golf - TournamentsFacilities - Sports Facilities - Golf CoursesOrganizations - Clubs - Social Clubs - Country Clubs - Tacoma Country Club

Stadium High School Tigers Track Team, circa 1937. Eight team members pose for portrait with school turrets and finials in background. Team members' last names were, in no particular order, McCord, Londos, Reynolds, Bennatts, Smith, Watts, Long and Johns. (T. Times)

Track athletics--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--Sports;

In April of 1935, Paradise at Mount Rainier was home to the US national alpine championships in the downhill and slalom. Most of the competitors were also vying for positions of the 1936 Olympic ski team. Spectators hiked an average of two miles one way in 12-20 foot snow to view the events. They also did a little skiing of their own. Skiers were photographed skiing off the roof of a snow-covered Paradise Lodge. Several groups of skis and ski poles have been placed on-end in the snow. Stock negative.

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940;

Richard (Dick) Durrance, head of the formidable Dartmouth ski team, finished second in combined points at the National Mens final in the downhill and the slalom held April 13-14, 1943 at Paradise, Mount Rainier. The precision skier was favored to win in the slalom, but took a fall trying to equal the speed of fellow competitor Hannes Schroll and finished third. The competition was also a trial for the US Olympic team for the 1936 games in Germany. Durrance was named to the team and finished 8th in slalom and 11th in downhill. During his career, he was a 17 time national champion and was one of the first Americans to compete successfully with the Europeans. Following World War II, he managed the Aspen Ski Corporation and put Aspen on the map by making it the site of the 1950 World Championships. He died June 13, 2004. Stock negative.

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Durrance, Richard;

Hannes Schroll, the madman of the Alps, threw all caution to the wind and won the National Men's Championship in downhill and slalom in a burst of speed. The contest was held April 13-14, 1935 at Paradise, Mount Rainier, and it was the greatest sporting event ever held in the Northwest. Austrian Schroll was already the holder of 87 European titles before winning the downhill, slalom and combined at Paradise. He travelled a blazing 75 mph on his wooden skis, startling spectators as he zoomed out of the fog yodeling and waving his Alpine hat. The 25 year old skier also ran a tourist bureau in Austria and did guide work in the Alps. He stayed in the US to act as director of the ski resort at Badger Pass in Yosemite. In 1937, he went in with a number of investors to purchase 696 acres at Donner Summit in California. This area became the Sugar Bowl ski resort. Stock negative.

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Schroll, Hannes;

This is a close-up of Tacoma skiers Ethlynne "Skit" Smith (later Babson) at left and Ellis-Ayr Smith. The Tacoma sisters dominated the first women's national downhill and slalom competition held at Paradise, Mount Rainier, on April 13-14, 1935. Ellis-Ayr won the downhill with her sister taking the win in slalom. The girls had been skiing about two years at this time and were members of the Washington Ski Club. They resided with their mother at 3012 North 16th Street in Tacoma. At the 1936 Winter Olympic Games at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Ellis-Ayr was a member of the United States team but did not compete. Stock negative.

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Athletes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing--Tournaments--1930-1940; Babson, Ethlynne; Smith, Ethlynne; Smith, Ellis-Ayr; Families--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Cropped close-up of an unidentified hockey player in Alt Heidelberg uniform with stick.

Ice hockey; Ice hockey players--Tacoma;

ca. 1939. Large group of young female skiers at Mount Rainier, most likely from Annie Wright Seminary.

Skiers--1930-1940; Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940;

A skier receives some instructions during the 1938 Winter Carnival and ski races held at Paradise Valley, Mount Rainier National Park. Both young skiers show off their skies, poles and 3/4 length alpine style pants.

Skiers;

John Anderson, age 12, of Longmire receives the first place trophy for the Junior event at the 1938 Winter Carnival and Ski Races held at Paradise, Mt. Rainier from Gilbert Richards of the Young Mens' Business Club on the 13th of February. Young Mr. Anderson was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Rice Anderson of Longmire; where the senior Mr. Anderson operated the snow plow. John began skiing at the age of 9 years old. (T.Times 2/14/1938, pg 11; 2/11/1937, pg. 15)

Skiers; Athletes; Paradise Inn (Wash.); Anderson, John; Richards, Gilbert;

Ski races. A skier maneuvers through the race course at Paradise Valley in Mount Rainier National Park during the February, 1938, Tacoma Winter Sports Carnival. Crowds on the sidelines watch the event. Although there were many races for varying abilities, the women and men's open slalom races may have drawn the greatest attention. There were no money prizes but winners did have their names engraved on impressive trophies and bracelets and watches awarded. Don Fraser and Virginia Boden (Bowden) were declared winners of the men's and women's open slalom races.

Skiers; Skiing; Athletes;

Fifteen-month-old Jerry Keisler, of Seattle, won the title of "youngest skier on the mountain" at the 1938 Silver Skis competition on Mt. Rainier. Using specially made skis and poles, the youngster skied away from the photographer just after his picture was snapped. Most of the major races at the competition, held on March 27, 1938, had to be cancelled due to 60 mph winds on the mountain. (T.Times, 3/30/1938, p. 5).

Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940; Skiers; Winter sports; Children skiing--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940; Keisler, Jerry;

On March 27, 1938 wearing a big smile, hatless skier Max Hauser, of Sun Valley, slammed through a gate in the special slalom race substituted for the Silver Skis race on Mount Rainier. The Silver Skies was indefinitely postponed due to 60 mph winds above 9,000 feet. The Silver Skis was a grueling race that required participants to trek at daybreak up Mt. Rainier to Camp Muir, 10,000 feet above sea level, and ski down. Hauser finished 6th in the slalom; he had been the favorite to win the Silver Skis. In 1938, the race was cancelled due to poor weather conditions for the second year in a row, disappointing the approximately 8,000 hardy fans who had trekked up to Paradise to watch the race. (T.Times, 3/28/1938, p.11).

Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940; Skiers; Winter sports; Hauser, Max;

When the 1938 Silver Skis race on Mt. Rainier was cancelled due to gale force winds above 9,000 feet, promoters hurriedly threw together entertainment for the crowd of 8,000 spectators. A special jump was constructed for skiers to show off their best stunts. Here Olav Ulland, left, of Norway and Hjalmar Hvam of Portland perform simultaneous somersaults. As they flip through the air, skiers lining the course watch with amazement. Incidentally, neither skier was able to land on his skis. Olav Ulland was for many years co-owner of Seattle's largest ski store, Osborn & Ulland, and was inducted into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame for his ski-jumping prowess. Hjalmar Hvam, who by 1938 was recognized as a leading jumper, cross-county racer and speed skater invented the first mass produced "safety" toe iron, the "Saf-Ski" release. (T.Times, 3/28/1938, p. 1).

Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940; Skiers; Winter sports; Ulland, Olav; Hvam, Hjalmar;

Mountain scenes. Two men and three women enjoy a warm cup of coffee at the counter of a mountain cafe during the Winter season. One of the men is perhaps Paul Sceva, member of the Washington Huskies.

Skiing--Tacoma; Cafes; Eating & drinking--Tacoma; Skiers;

Two ice hockey players, one "Meadowsweet", one "Pioneer" with sticks chasing puck on ice rink.

Sports - Hockey - Ice Hockey

Hockey season closed with Griffin Fuel finishing first against Alt Heidelberg at Lakewood Ice Arena. L to r: Fred Kislingbury, Captain Bill Anderson, Wenatchee Apple Queen Lois Ross, Ed Griffin, and Norton Clapp. (T. Times, 4/2/1939, p. 14)

Ice hockey--Lakewood--1930-1940; Ice hockey players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Kislingbury, Fred; Anderson, Bill; Ross, Lois; Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Clapp, Norton, 1906-1995;

Scenes from the 1939 Silver Ski races on Mount Rainier. A couple on skis stop for a moment near the ski lodge. The woman lifts her bamboo ski pole to point the way to their destination. (T. Times, 4/17/1939, p. 11).

Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940; Skiers; Winter sports;

Three of the winners in the 9th Annual Tacoma Winter Carnival races posed with Orville Stewart, the general chairman of the carnival, on January 28, 1940 at Paradise on Mt. Rainier. Shirley McDonald was the first "Tacoma girl" to win the Rhodes Brothers trophy for the women's slalom. From left to right are: Don French of Portland, winner of the junior downhill; Orville Stewart; Shirley McDonald; and Carl Neu of Seattle, winner of the men's slalom. Mr. Neu skied for the University of Washington. Approximately 3,500 fans watched the races. The field of competitors was one of the largest in the history of the races; 116 total skiers, with 76 of those entered in the men's slalom. (T. Times 1/29/1940, pg. 14- picture; 1/25/40, pg 14; 1/29/40, pg.1)

Skiers; Athletes; Paradise Inn (Wash.); French, Don; Stewart, Orville; McDonald, Shirley; Neu, Carl;

Snoqualmie Ski Bowl meet. A ski jump landing strip appears to be pictured lined with spectators. This is the Class A hill at Cascadia Hyak, Snoqualmie Ski Bowl. The spectators were thrilled to view Norwegian skier Torger Tokle break the North American jump record on March 2, 1941.

Skiers--1940-1950; Snoqualmie Ski Bowl (Snoqualmie);