Madora Dawkins worked up at Paradise Inn up at Mount Rainier, as a waitress in the 1940s. She says back then, “They always gave us real nice employee parties”. It was a way to keep spirits up, especially when some of the employees were kids far away from home for the first time.
These parties were put on by the employees, full of skits and homemade props. In the first picture Madora is on the right in the front. The larger man in a white dress is Mr. Poppajohn.
The second picture was also taken at one of the parties.
Mardora says they made sets from things they found around the place — from sheets to it appears wheelbarrows and baby buggies.
Photos courtesy of Madora Dawkins.
Click on images to enlarge.
Eatonville To Rainier 