The Seattle Seafair Pirates Our Illustrious History

According to legend: It was in the year 1949 when George E. Gunn Jr., a retired industrialist, and possible descendant of one Ben Gunn of "Treasure Island" fame, was asked to head a committee to arrange a giant celebration to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Seattle's founding in 1852. Gunn and a landlubber named Walter Van Camp, who was a transplant from Minnesota, felt Seattle would be better served with an annual civic event rather than a one-shot anniversary celebration. This idea was accepted by the committee.

The next year, centers within the complex of Greater Seattle were established. West Seattle, Ballard, Greenwood, The University District, Wallingford, Lake City, The International District, and the Central Area. Van Camp took on the responsibility of Managing Director as no one else had "the vision." Seattle's main attraction at that time was water, so the handle "Seafair" as a cutesy name for the celebration was built around the water theme.

In those days, Seattle had sort of a "lesser complex" when compared to other major cities of the West Coast except for Tacoma, which was ignored for its historical infractions (and perhaps rightly so) against the "Emerald City," many of which will probably never be forgotten. There are volumes written on early day rivalries between the two pioneer cities.

One example was when the Great Northern Railroad decided to make Tacoma its western terminus even though Seattle was the bigger city and busiest port. Much was said and done over the issue between the two cities as both knew only too well the economic impact that the railroad would have upon the region. Political infighting was rampant as the very life of Seattle depended upon rail service. The Chairman of the Board for the Northern Pacific was a man named C.B. Wright and for several reasons he had a great personal disdain for our village and its early day fathers. He was reported to have said that he would live to see the day when grass would grow in Seattle's streets ... that no locomotive would ever turn its wheels in our city.

For 20 years, the City of Seattle fought for its life against that man and the City of Tacoma who not only tried to put Seattle out of existence but also change the name of our great "State" from Washington to Tacoma much to the delight of Pierce County and Tacoma officials. Mr. Wright actually introduced a bill in Congress requesting statehood for the territory along with the name change. For a long time Tacomans had ridiculed Seattle with such little ditties as "Seattle, Seattle ... Death Rattle, Death Rattle" and by referring to our majestic town with such belittling terms as Yeslerville after one of the pioneer businessman and founders.

For years there'd been a fight between the two cities over whether or not Mt. Rainier should be called that or Mt Tacoma. This mountain renaming thing still pops up to this day, the most recent noise was raised just last year, 1989!

Anyway, so it was that Seafair Centers were established with Van Camp serving as the Managing Director. Seattle was promoted as a place to do business, to live, to love, to work and mess around in. It was a minor league city, but yet, the Gateway to the Orient! The last stop to the great land, Alaska! A place to boat, fish and swim. We had it all! The Seattle Rainier's Baseball Team was the pride and joy of the great Pacific Northwest in 1950 as they were the pennant winners in the old Pacific Coast League. We fondly remember the San Francisco Seals .. The Hollywood Stars ... The Sacramento Solons .. The Los Angeles Angels ... The Portland Beavers and the San Diego Padres. Maybe there were one or two others in that league I don't remember now, but oh, how I remember how much we loved those Rainiers!

By this time everybody was getting in on the act. There were hydroplane races on Lake Washington. Aqua follies at Green Lake, and the outskirts of Seattle joined in with a Water Follies in Des Moines, parades in Bellevue, Kent and Issaquah. Similar celebrations sprung up in Everett Puyallup, Bellingham Marysville, Port Townsend, Sequim. In every town, except maybe Tacoma, from Portland, OR to Vancouver, B.C., and wherever there were community celebrations, the Seattle Seafair Pirates could be found. Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Back to Seafair. Of course, publicity was needed in the worst (and least expensive) way possible to promote this festival. Some of the publicity was of a somewhat negative variety (as still happens from time to time.) I remember one very popular disc jockey on the most popular Seattle radio station of the time refer to Seafair as "Seafarce." Others would not mention the celebration at all for whatever shortsighted reasons with a total lack of insight as to the overall positive promotional impact on the entire area. This is where the younger men of the Washington State Press Club made themselves available to the sponsoring body, "Greater Seattle Inc." From that smoldering, sputtering (yet gutsy) core, Greater Seattle accepted the much needed help in the way of articles in print describing the fun of Seafair.

From this publicity-aid came related support from the earlier sleepy radio and TV stations. Since then, a sort of matrimonial bond between the mediums has materialized and now everybody talks and writes about Seafair during the summer. They began to realize that Seafair is a fun time for everybody. There are still those who don't see the civic benefit of the events of Seafair and would like to see something else rise to the front and replace it, but as one of Seattle's most respected radiomen and one of this area's greatest promoters put it to me a few years ago, "It seems that no one likes Seafair except the people!"

The idea of Seafair, like every community event of this magnitude, had its complications. Something or someone was needed to draw the strings together. A stabilizing symbol of the sea itself perhaps? "What if King Neptune himself were to descend upon Seattle and bless us with all of his manifested fragrances in the way of beautiful princesses and queens and a royal ball, and Lordly costumes and ... and ... and ... ?" The King of the seas coming to Seattle?

And so it came to pass and Seafair nearly had it together. The King and his Prime Minister came forth to each and every community event, but it seemed that the powers of Seafair felt it was necessary that the King and his royal court cater to the high brow and social elite rather than the ordinary citizen. It was probably imperative that it was done in this way. Seafair desperately needed (and still does) funding and of course "the elite" were the business leaders and the big money people of Seattle. Without their donations, even today Seafair could not operate and we are all indebted to their generosity.

Well, that was all fine and dandy, except, it was kind of dull. It needed some spice-a little horseradish seasoning was important to give the pomp and ceremony a little good-time kick in the pants. How about pirates? ... Invaders from the sea .. Captain Kidd and his sidekick from the bottom of the ocean, Davy Jones, with 30 or 40 rollicking', singing', teasing', laughing', noisy pirates! Stealing the airwaves on radio and TV ... The bad guys of Seafair. This was it! Just what the festival needed.

The men of the Washington State Press Club agreed there was a need for this missing link and the "Seattle Seafair Pirates" were born from their membership. Fun loving, talented louts, caring and colorful - they bridged the gap. Joining in an annual fulfilled joust with the do-gooder King Neptune, they would claim the City of Seattle for the nine days of Seafair for themselves.

Each year, one week prior to the start of Seafair, the Pirates "land' with much hoopla upon the beach at Alki just as they have for over 40 years now. The landing itself is a sight to "sea" as thousands of people come out each year to watch. There is an Indian salmon barbecue, live music and dancing into the night as well as tug-o-war competition, badminton, volleyball, and remote broadcasts from Seattle radio and TV stations. The entire community of West Seattle turns out because it is at this event that the new Hi-Yu Queen and her court are shown off for the first time. Hi-Yu, by the way, is the name of the booster organization for West Seattle and always plays a big part in making the Seafair Pirates Landing the success it has been for these many years.

We are proud that there a few of those "Pirates" from the early days (who inspired and excited Greater Seattle to continue with this vision) still with us today. It seems that their energies and talents have not diminished as they are as active today as they were 40 years ago.

Wherever the community celebration and parade is held, be it the Caribbean or somewhere in the State of Washington, The Seattle Seafair Pirates are likely to be there, entertaining the young and old alike with their tricks and songs. Sharing the laughter and good times in the community spirit wherever that community may be.

It really is a hell of a lot of fun, you know? The people indeed love the Pirates as they are not only an integral part of the Seafair Family of Friends but they are recognized as a caring, public-spirited, dedicated group of responsible men who enjoy being the jokers ... the fun men of Seafair .. the organizers of high spirits... "The Seattle Seafair Pirates."

Today's membership is not limited to members of the press or media. "Who are these guys then?" you might ask Over the 40(plus) years that the Seafair celebration and the Pirates have existed, there have been many men who are employed with skills and occupations that are unlikely to be construed as piratical. Businessmen, computer programmers, food salesmen, iron workers, attorneys, railroad engineers, mechanics, policemen, electricians, and many, many more. Really the only thing we have in common is the Pirate's organization itself so we never have a group of guys standing around talking "shop." One other thing, for the most part, we genuinely like each other and when you think about it, it could not be any other way.

The Seattle Seafair Pirates have stem rules of discipline and a Constitution that all members must abide by. If not, there may be a trial with the offending pirate given the "iron boot" never to return to a pirate function again. History tell us that this is much in line with the real pirates of old who, when finding a man guilty of a violation of the Pirate Code of the times, could then cast the poor soul upon a deserted spit of land to suffer and die of thirst or starvation.

Lest ye think we take ourselves to seriously, be assured, we acknowledge and respect the rights of the public and each member of the Pirates and yet the practical jokes and silliness prevail. "Without it, the men would not bind together."

We brag somewhat of our abilities and the attributes that made us Pirates. Yet when it comes down to entertaining, we almost always do best as a group. The Pirates have the unique ability and training to walk into an event be it a hospital ward, a toy auction, nursing home, restaurant or bar whatever and become nearly oblivious to the audience as it goes, being totally wrapped up and involved in what they are doing. (And as the occasion dictates, they get louder and funnier.) Put another way, they are at their best when they entertain each other.

Together, the Pirates form a cacophony of sounds. Grunts, yells, shouts, hollers, loud talking, singing, laughing, and more. Most of these noises are made simultaneously, but not necessarily in unison. Some become annoying even to the Pirates themselves.

Of course, even the best-liked, most popular things in our society are not liked by everyone. It is true with music, books, art, movies, people, architecture, poetry, plays ... you name it.

Such is the case of the Pirates as one of our critics exclaimed after an especially energetic and rousing show at Seattle pub a while back. He was patron and admittedly had been there for more than a while imbibing his favorite libation, and even though he stayed throughout the entire performance (which lasted roughly one hour) he described it thusly: "A vile, beastly, rotten headed, fool begotten, pernicious, priggish, screaming, egotistical, tearing, roaring, perplexing, split-me-crackle, crack-me crinkle, inane, boorish time. Asses of men practicing howling and bellering horribly with such conceit, loudness and pomposity, the devil himself must surely clasp his ears shut. There were times there (during the parade) that I thought my head nearly off from hearing the ghastly noise. They invade our privacy with their volume. Small wonder that the words "noise" and "nausea" have the same Latin root With their blasted arrogance and forceful demeanor, the barking of the mad bitch and the squealing of the filthy sow are no less terrible to my ears. It's the devil's own infernal din that seemed would never end. Confounding God's works with his creatures a truly awful, hell-like combination.'' (And the kids think we're having fun.)

Perhaps it is fortunate that his critique was not then printed or publicly broadcast. Be that as it may, and as surely as I heard these remarks, I caught a twinkle in his eye and his tongue as observed pressed firmly to his cheek. "I wouldn't change any of it even if I could."

The people of Seattle and the great Pacific Northwest indeed do love their Seattle Seafair Pirates as the Pirates are not only an integral part of the Seafair family of friends. but friends of the people and their children.

Talk about your exclusive groups? Try to get into this unique bunch of so-called ruffians-these sea dogs. You are welcome, even encouraged to try. You won't regret it if you make it I'll bet if you want to learn some songs and get a fun gimmick or act of some kind, play an instrument, do tricks... anything wholesome and entertaining to the public and are over 21 years of age but still a kid, you'd make good Pirates. Why don't you get into our act?


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