The Washington State Press Club
Jack Gordon, AKA “Mr. Seattle” has been given credit for the revival of the Washington State Press Club following World War II, as writers, ad-men, columnists, publicists, photographers, and the rest of the mostly print world started to trickle back to Seattle and the Evergreen State.
As one of Walter Van Camp’s first hires at Greater Seattle, after Van Camp was lured away from the Minneapolis Aquatennial, Jack convinced many of his buddies at the Press Club that dressing up as pirates for the “SEAFAIR Festival” celebrating the Seattle centennial would be lots of fun. The original Seafair Pirates were known as the “Davy Jones” operation of the Ale and Quail Society.* (from the October, 1951, issue of Gentlemen of the Press, the newsletter of the Washington State Press Club.)
As he developed the “Seafair Legend“ over the years, Jack managed to work the fun loving Press Club Pirates into the story.
Identified by Jack Gordon as taken sometime in 1947 or ’48, the members include (unfortunately not in the order they are in the photo) Jack Sullivan (Times, Post-Intelligencer, TV Guide), Jerry Hoeck (Miller, Mackay, Hoeck, and Hartung), Cal Druxman (publicist), Joe Miller (Senator Jackson), Charles Regal (Post-Intelligencer), Lenny Anderson (Times, Post-Intelligencer), Bob Ackerly (radio), Roy Scully (Times photographer), John Class (Times photographer), Jack Gordon (Senator Magnusen, Catholic NW Progress, VFW), Bob Callan (navy), and Larry Dion (Times photographer), plus five unidentified Press Club members.
Jack Gordon is 4th from the right in the back row (with a round pin in his lapel).
Members of the Washington State Press Club in their infamous “Ale & Quail” fezzes. From the photo credit, they must have been in our nation’s capitol for a convention. During the late 40’s and early 50s Jack Gordon criss-crossed the country on various occasions for Seattle University, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Dave Beck and the Teamsters, as well as his own publicity firm Williams and Gordon. That’s Jack with a big grin and a bow tie in the back row.
The writing on the fezzes says “Washington State Press Club Chapter”.
Founded shortly after World War II, the Press Club still lives on through the Pirates.
And no, you’ll never see a photo of Jack Gordon dressed up as a pirate. Think of him more as our manager.