September 1st, 1957 Lincoln Bowl Tacoma, Wa

September 1st, 1957 Lincoln Bowl Tacoma, Wa

I was buying some vintage glass yesterday. The seller was an older gentleman and was clearing his 95 year old mother's house to sell. I ended up buying all the glass and he gave me several free items. He had a big scrap pile in the backyard and I quickly spotted this light in the pile. I told him I wanted it..and it turns out, it has very interesting history!

His dad had all sorts of interesting items that he had salvaged and kept. There was an intercom system fron a Tacoma fire station. It was too far gone to save. I do have another mystery item I will list shortly. More research is needed, but so far very interesting..

LINCOLN BOWL
Originally the Lincoln high school field was located behind the school. In 1947 a new field was built next to it. In 1957 Elvis, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana and Scooty Moore performed there during their small Pacific northwest tour.

DAD & KIDS AT THE GATE
The owner told me.."Lincoln high football field was Lincoln bowl. Elvis played there on his first tour. The light as the story was told by mom was, it came from Lincoln bowl where dad worked the gate as part time to let vehicles into the field area during events. Even the Elvis concert."

This gate would've been the one for Elvis' limo and crew.

TEDDY BEARS FROM ELVIS
"I was too young to go but my sister and brother(8 and 6 years old)went with my dad on the gate. Elvis arrived and got along well with them and gave them hound dogs. I have not been able to prove he gave these to them. Even the Elvis museum has no record."

Not surprising as Elvis gave out many stuffed animals and even had a bunch in his own house.

"One was pink, the other brown. They had big eye lashes. They are very dirty and well loved as we played with them."

SEPTEMBER 1ST, 1957
"On September 1, 1957 – Elvis Presley performed a matinee concert at Tacoma’s Lincoln Bowl as part of a five-show sweep of the Pacific Northwest over Labor Day weekend."

Around 5,000 fans enjoyed a fairly intimate performance, with seating on the floor of the Bowl directly in front of the stage, as well as in the stands. Judging by photographs from the concert, the vast majority of those in attendance were teen girls.