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;

Army football game at Clover Park High School. Large crowd at Walter J. Thompson Field. (T. Times)

Sports - Ball Games - Football Facilities - Sports Facilities Military Personnel

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);

Arms extended upright, an unidentified skier is caught by the camera in his attempt for maximum distance at the Snoqualmie Ski Bowl on March 2, 1941. He is soaring over the bunting-clad stand holding assorted press members although only a couple are actually watching him compete. One of the cameramen may have been Howie Clifford.

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

Metropolitan Park District announced that the playgrounds were officially opened for Summer. Many recreational and educational activities have been planned. View of playground leaders and supervisors for Tacoma Parks. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 6/19/46, p. 3).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Physical education--Tacoma; Tacoma Metropolitan Park District (Tacoma);

Gretchen Kunigk Fraser accepts flowers from Mayor C. Val Fawcett during a Tacoma Athletic Commission reception in honor of her victory at the 1948 Winter Olympics. Husband Don Fraser is far left in this April 5, 1948, photo. More than 600 people jammed the Top of the Ocean to pay tribute to the hometown gold & silver medalist. Mrs. Fraser won her medals in skiing at the Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. ALBUM 9.

Athletes; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Fraser, Don, 1914-1994; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Roses; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tommy Gibbons, the former heavyweight title contender from St. Paul, Minnesota who went 15 rounds with Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1923, visited the Tacoma Boys Club in April of 1947. He spent some time with the boys giving them boxing tips and signing boxing gloves. Gibbons, the 13-year Sheriff of Ramsey County, Minnesota, had long been interested in boys club activity. He had stopped in Tacoma on his way home from touring the West Coast. He was trying to sway the 1951 American Bowling Congress to St. Paul, Minnesota. The boys in the photograph were not identified in the newspaper articles. (T.Times, 4-30-47, p. 13-article; T. Times, 5/1/47, p. 18-article on visit to Tacoma).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Publicity photographs; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma; Gibbons, Tommy;

The Tacoma Athletic Commission dance committee sips tea and discusses upcoming plans for the 5th annual TAC Birthday Celebration to be held 2/19/1951. The committee is meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard R. Smith, co-chairmen. Pictured (left to right) are Mrs. Edwin Johnson, Jeanette B. (Mrs. William I.) Shaw, Ruth M. (Mrs. J. Robert) Brooke, Edith V. (Mrs. Harold) Tollefson, and Ethyl (Mrs. Howard R.) Smith. The party was planned to start with 6:30 p.m. cocktail service in the TAC lounge on the upper deck of the Top of the Ocean, followed by a buffet dinner at 7:30 p.m., and a vaudeville show and dancing to top off the evening from 9 p.m. to midnight. Also included was the presentation of the "Sportsman of the Year" award to Jim McCarthy, Clover Park High School student and National Junior Medal Play Golf Champion the previous summer. (TNT 2/11/1951, pg. D-6)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Committees--Tacoma--1950-1960; Johnson, Edwin--Family; Shaw, Jeanette; Brooke, Ruth; Tollefson, Edith; Smith, Ethyl A.; Smith, Howard R.--Homes & haunts;

Aspiring hockey stars Jack Stewart, Mike Johnson and Mike Shork all manage to fit in the goal as they prepare for an Under 12 peewee league game in November, 1951. The boys would be on the ice between the first and second periods of the Tacoma Rockets-New Westminster Royals match sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. Dave Tuell, T.A.C. president and Joey Johns, commissioner of the junior league, flank the young players. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 11-11-51, p. B-14) TPL-7194

Ice hockey--Tacoma; Ice hockey players--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Stewart, Jack; Johnson, Mike; Shork, Mike; Tuell, Dave; Johns, Joey;

Three men hold ukeleles with heads stuck on top of the necks while they sing in front of a microphone at the Halloween party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean. A man in the background is playing a white piano while the crowd looks on. Ordered by Will Maylon.

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

Diane Dapper invited her friends for a skating party at Lakewood for her 10th birthday party. Diane is 9th from the left in a white skating outfit. She was the daughter of Mathias J. and Adah H. Dapper. Fourteen girls, all friends at Annie Wright Seminary, pose by the barrier at the Lakewood Ice Arena wearing various skating outfits. A snowy mountain scene made of plywood is seen above them. (TNT, 12/11/1950, p.4)

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Dapper, Diane; Birthday parties--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Western Washington ice skaters were gathering together at the Lakewood Ice Arena in January of 1949 to raise money to support young skaters working towards National, Coast and Northwest events. View of hand-colored black and white photograph of Diane Jacobsen, student at Lincoln High School and a champion ice skater. Diane performed in the Lakewood Ice Club ice skating fundraiser (T. Times, 1/16/49, p. 14 & 1/20/49, p. 16). ALBUM 15.

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Athletes--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Jacobsen, Diane;

On August 29, 1948, the Tacoma Athletic Commission (TAC) drew crowds to their second annual water show in Commencement Bay near Old Tacoma. Spectators watched the water carnival from both the Old Town Dock and the decks of the Top of the Ocean. TAC offered a two hour water extravaganza featuring the water skiing talents of the Seattle Skiquatics Follies. The parking lot in the distance was filled as Tacomans flooded the area to watch the free show. Photograph ordered by Bob Sanders, TAC.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Old Town Dock (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts;

Parked automobiles lined the railroad tracks, McCarver St. and Ruston Way in Old Tacoma on August 29, 1948 as people rolled into the area to view the second annual Tacoma Athletic Commission Water Show. The show took place Sunday afternoon from 4-6pm in Commencement Bay in front of the boat shaped Top of the Ocean restaurant and club. The Top housed the headquarters of the TAC. The show featured the skiing talents of the Seattle Skiquatic Follies. In the photograph, a man crosses the tracks holding the hands of two small children.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Old Town Dock (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts;

The second annual Tacoma Athletic Commission Water Carnival was held on August 29, 1948, in front of the TAC headquarters at the Top of the Ocean. Spectators filled both decks of the boat-shaped restaurant and the Old Town Dock to watch the water skiing exhibition put on by the Seattle Skiquatics Follies. More spectators are perched on a couple of boats tied up at the dock, including the "Georgia" (left) owned by fisherman Antone Mariani. The Top of the Ocean was destroyed by an arson fire in April of 1977. (Ordered by Bob Sanders.) TPL-7970

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Old Town Dock (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts;

Many boats were tied up at the Old Town Dock on August 29, 1948, as spectators tried to get the best seats to watch the second annual water show, sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. The large boat fifth from left was the "Georgia," owned by fisherman Antone Mariani. The dock was lined with people, as were the decks of the Top of the Ocean, in the foreground. Water skiing excitement was provided by the Seattle Skiquatic Follies in a two hour show.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Old Town Dock (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts;

Maintaining a sportsmanlike atmosphere at all athletic events and encouraging participation in all sports at all levels were two of the primary goals of the Lettermen's Club at Lincoln High School. Three of the officers during the 1956-57 school year were: (l to r) Jerry Cecchi, sergeant at arms; Dick Pruett, Vice-president; and Roger Coleman, secretary-treasurer. All three lettered in two or more sports during their high school careers. For some reason club president Herm Magnuson was not photographed with the other officers. Photograph ordered by the Lincolnian yearbook. (1957 Lincolnian, p. 107)

Athletes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cecchi, Jerry; Pruett, Dick; Coleman, Roger; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interiors Lakewood Ice Arena. Several young skaters and what appear to be instructors watch while a more experienced skater makes a graceful curve on a thin blade of steel. The building formerly known as the Oakes Ballroom and briefly as the Towers was purchased by developer Norton Clapp, future Weyerhaeuser chairman, in 1936 and converted into the Ice Arena in 1938. The building was remodeled to resemble a Swiss chalet with murals on the walls and a draped ceiling approximating clouds. The Lakewood Figure Skating Club at the Ice Arena produced many champions through the years. The building itself however went through some trying times. In 1948, the roof collapsed and the building had to be restored. There was a major remodel in 1959 and in 1974 a temporary closure by the fire marshalls. In October of 1982, the roof caved in once more, forcing the demolition of the historic building. ("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;

Exterior of the Lakewood Ice Arena. Lakewood industrialist Norton Clapp purchased the old Oakes dance pavilion on the shores of Steilacoom Lake in 1936, largely due to his wife's interest in ice skating. After two years as a private party place, it was remodeled to resemble a Swiss mountain chalet and opened to the public in 1938. It had parking space for 500, an attractive glass enclosed "Wirtschaft" (snack bar) and spectator seating for 600. The opening crowds were so large that the opening went on for 2 days. Over the years, the Lakewood Ice Arena became known as the "Home of Champions" due to the large number of world class figure skaters that its club produced. In 1974, the building was closed temporarily as a fire hazard. On Oct 1, 1982, the roof and the west wall collapsed; a few months later the building was demolished. ("History of Figure Skating in Pierce County, Lakewood Arena") TPL-9322

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

Jack Walters Night at the Tacoma Athletic Commission. Jack and Jeanne Walters pose with an unidentified couple plus a statue and caricature of Jack after his triumph in the National Left-handed golf championships. Jack, a winning southpaw golfer since he was 16, won on his seventh attempt at the championship. The golfer, known for his long drives, competed in his first national in 1937. In the 1940s, he took time out from golf to serve with the infantry as a sergeant during the Philippines campaign. He contracted malaria in the tropics and recuperated before returning to golf. His wife was a former city womens and Champion of Champions titlist. (TNT 7/19/1953, pg. B-9)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Walters, Jack J.; Walters, Jeanne; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

These nine young athletes from Holy Rosary won the 1954 parochial track championships. The boys are dressed in track uniforms with the initials "H.R." on their tank top shirts. Don Holmberg (left center) and Serge Grant grasp the trophy awarded to the recent parochial track kings. The Holy Rosary team scored 49 points to win the meet for 7th and 8th graders. Front row, from left to right are: Teddy Fick, John McCarthy, Don Holmberg, Serge Grant, Dick Zimbrick, Tom Hulscher. Second row: Jim Rubattino, Larry Loughlin, Kenneth Miller. Holy Rosary's school was the first Catholic elementary school in Tacoma, started in 1891 by Father William Eversmann. It is still in existence today. (www.holyrosarytacoma.org., TNT 5-30-54, B-5-alternate photograph)

Track athletics--Tacoma; Holy Rosary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Awards; Holmberg, Don; Grant, Serge; Fick, Teddy; McCarthy, John; Zimbrick, Dick; Hulscher, Tom; Rubattino, Jim; Loughlin, Larry; Miller, Kenneth;