A South Sound history through words and pictures
100 YEARS AGO TODAY: AUG. 31, 1912
When labor takes a holiday there is not much else doing, and consequently all Tacoma will take a day off Monday, known the world over as “Labor Day.” All public offices and business houses will close, some the entire day and all a part of the day. Members of the labor organizations will celebrate the day with a big picnic and general jollification at American Lake, going out on the Pacific Traction cars. Beginning at 9 a.m., cars will leave 9th and C streets every 10 minutes until the crowd is cared for. A double header service will be given for the first hour, and longer if necessary.
75 YEARS AGO TODAY: AUG. 31, 1937
That same spark of ambition and the same urge to go forward, which is responsible for most of the world’s progress, will send some four-score young girls and boys to the wire this evening in the first of the series of four preliminaries in the Bing Crosby talent contest being conducted by The News Tribune and Moore’ Rialto theater. Manager Sidney Dean of the Rialto reports enthusiasm on the part of all contestants to be at fever heat, all with only one thought and that to convince the judges that he or she is the one to represent Tacoma in the finals at Spokane.
50 YEARS AGO TODAY: AUG. 31, 1962
Channel 11, KTNT-TV, terminates its affiliation with the CBS Television Network tomorrow and begins an independent schedule that will give viewers “a new world of entertainment,” station manager Max Bice said today. “There’s a lot of variety, and good, solid entertainment,” he continued. In addition to the public affairs, discussion and children’s program, the Tacoma-Seattle station has chosen a number of top-rated adventure shows: “Adventures in Paradise,” “Overland Trail,” “Dragnet,” “Sea Hunt,” “Cimarron City,” and “Suspicion” are among them.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.