Bob Tobias

Tarlow: We’re going to start by asking Bob a bunch of questions. Are you ready, Bob? 
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: OK, even though I have asked you maybe some of these questions before I’m going to ask you them again, so that we can get them on tape. Where were you born?
TOBIAS: Portland, Oregon.

Tarlow: When were you born?
TOBIAS: June 22nd, 1929.

Tarlow: Do you know the hospital you were born?
TOBIAS: Good Samaritan.

Tarlow: Was it called Wilcox then?
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: See, I know, too. I want to start off going chronologically, and ask you a little about your childhood.
TOBIAS: I started out at one year old.

Tarlow: You started out at one year old?
TOBIAS: Almost. 

Tarlow: Wow! You’re probably the only person I’ve interviewed…
TOBIAS: That’s why I’m so smart! [laughing] 

Tarlow: You better pay attention to what I’m asking [laughing], we can’t spend time laughing on this thing. Let’s talk about what kind of kid you think you were?
TOBIAS: Well my mother came to Portland so I could be born in the United States because at that time she and my father were living in Winnipeg, Canada. So she came by train, by herself, and I was born here and very shortly thereafter, she and I took the train back to Winnipeg. 

Tarlow: So why did she choose Portland?
TOBIAS:  She chose Portland, I think, because her brother was here, and possibly her parents.

Tarlow: Which brother?
TOBIAS: It would have been Jay. 

Tarlow: Did Jay have a last name?
TOBIAS: Woolach. Same as hers. 

Tarlow: Yes, but not when she came here to birth you. Her name was not Woolach, right?
TOBIAS: That’s correct.

Tarlow: Her name was Anna Tobias.
TOBIAS: That’s correct. 

Tarlow: So you were born here, you went back to Canada, and then what was the next step to come here? 
TOBIAS: We lived in Canada until I was about three and a half years old. My father was an attorney in Winnipeg. He went broke during the Depression, and then came here to work for my uncles, my mother’s brothers. 

Tarlow: What was the work he was going to do here?
TOBIAS: Sell tires.

Tarlow: We’ll get back to the tire business pretty soon. Let’s stick with your childhood. So you grew up in Portland; where did you live?
TOBIAS: We lived on NE 42nd. I don’t remember the street, but it was about four blocks north of Freemont. 

Tarlow: So that’s where you went to school, in that neighborhood?
TOBIAS: Yes. I went to Beaumont Grade School, which isn’t a grade school anymore.

Tarlow: So tell me about that experience for you. 
TOBIAS: It was OK.

Tarlow: What does that mean it was OK?
TOBIAS: I only went there until the fourth grade, then we moved to NE 37th, which was in the Alameda Grade School area.

Tarlow: So then you went to Alameda Grade School?
TOBIAS: Then I went to Alameda Grade School.

Tarlow: And what was that like for you?
TOBIAS: It was good.

Tarlow: How did you get there everyday?
TOBIAS: I lived next-door to it. 

Tarlow: Oh, that was pretty good.  
TOBIAS: It was convenient. 

Tarlow: That was a good plan.
TOBIAS: Yes. 

Tarlow: So, how about your buddies that you had at school, do you remember any of them and what you did with them?
TOBIAS: Oh yes, sure, I remember them. I think the only ones that I see today are Larry and Herb Black.

Tarlow: And you hung out with them when you were a kid?
TOBIAS: Yes and we all played together.

Tarlow: What did you play?
TOBIAS: Oh we played football, we played baseball. 

Tarlow: Where?
TOBIAS: At the Alameda Grade School playground.

Tarlow: So after school you just hung around school and played? 
TOBIAS: Right. 

Tarlow: What are some of the other activities that you did when you were in grade school, do you remember?
TOBIAS: No.

Tarlow: How did you spend your time at home?
TOBIAS: Well, there was no television at that time, I’ll tell you that. So, I guess I played by myself at home, being an only child. I never gave it a thought. 

Tarlow: Well you must have listened to some of the radio.
TOBIAS: Oh, definitely! 

Tarlow: Well, tell me about that!
TOBIAS: Oh the radio was a big deal. In fact, you had to get close to it and sit and listen and pay attention. You didn’t want to miss anything.

Tarlow: OK, so who were you paying attention to?
TOBIAS: Oh Jack Armstrong, the all-American boy.

Tarlow: Yes?
TOBIAS: Wow!

Tarlow: Yes?
TOBIAS: Yes!

Tarlow: So who lived in the house with you?
TOBIAS: My mother, and my father when he was home. 

Tarlow: When you say, “When he was home,” was he travelling or was he working?
TOBIAS: He worked long hours. 

Tarlow: What would you say if you were going to just give me a short explanation about your childhood, what would you say about it?
TOBIAS: I had a happy childhood. We all got along. There was never an argument that I know of.

Tarlow: That’s a good thing.
TOBIAS: Yes, very good.

Tarlow: So after your experiences at Alameda Grade School, what happened next?
TOBIAS: Now, going back just a little bit, for a very short period, my grandmother, my mother’s mother, lived with us, upstairs. 

Tarlow: What was her name?
TOBIAS: What was her name? I don’t remember. 

Tarlow: Her name was Mrs. Woolach, I would think.
TOBIAS: Well, yes, but I don’t remember her first name, which is kind of silly.

Tarlow: Well maybe you will remember it and we can add it in later. So the three of you then, lived in this house for a while, and your grandmother joined you there?
TOBIAS:  Yes. 

Tarlow: Tell me about that experience, having your grandmother in the house.
TOBIAS: She lived upstairs. 

Tarlow: Did you let her come down every once and a while?
TOBIAS: Well she escaped, yes. 

Tarlow: What role did she play in your life?
TOBIAS: None. It was toward the end of her life. She and my mother didn’t get along great; I remember that, because she didn’t do what my mother wanted. What a surprise [Tarlow laughing].

Tarlow: Did you do what your mom wanted?
TOBIAS: Oh, absolutely.

Tarlow: Would you have been afraid to do otherwise?
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: Good for your mother.
TOBIAS: Yes. I wouldn’t have thought of doing otherwise.

Tarlow: And when you were in elementary school in those years, did you go to religious school?
TOBIAS: Yes. Beth Israel. 

Tarlow: Tell me a little bit about that.
TOBIAS: Saturday. 

Tarlow: Your family were members of Temple, obviously. How did you feel about that experience, and what about some of your buddies from that era?
TOBIAS: There were only two other boys in the class.

Tarlow: No kidding?
TOBIAS: Yes. Donald Simon and Rob Levitt. That was the total of boys in that class. 

Tarlow: [laughing] Do you remember any of the girls?
TOBIAS: Oh yes! I still see them. 

Tarlow: Well, tell me who they are. If you can remember. You don’t have to remember every one of them, but just a couple.
TOBIAS: Toinette.

Tarlow: Toinette Menashe? 
TOBIAS: Yes. 

Tarlow: He’s thinking. He’s thinking. Eve Rosenfeld?
TOBIAS: Yes, Eve was in it. 

Tarlow:  So Bob, you went all through temple religious school, from the time you were a kid until when?
TOBIAS: Until I got confirmed in the OLI. At that time you graduated after you got confirmed, you went to high school.

Tarlow: And you did all that. 
TOBIAS: Yes. I graduated from high school. 

Tarlow: So what are the things that you remember about that?
TOBIAS: I really had a good time doing it. Although I would have rather been doing something else. But looking back, it was a good time. I met a lot of nice people that still live in Portland. 

Tarlow: Who was the rabbi then, do you remember?
TOBIAS: At the very beginning it was Berkowitz. 

Tarlow: Lucky boy.
TOBIAS: Yes. 

Tarlow: And then it was Rabbi Nodel?
TOBIAS: Yes. I think so. 

Tarlow: After elementary school, did you go through the eighth grade?
TOBIAS: Eighth grade.

Tarlow: And then what happened in your life?
TOBIAS: Then I went to the University of Portland.

Tarlow: Didn’t you go to high school?
TOBIAS: Well yes.

Tarlow: Well tell me about that. 
TOBIAS: Oh. OK. Yes I went to Grant High School. During that time we moved to… I can’t remember. Just a minute. It was after high school we moved. But anyway, then I went to Grant High School for four years. I had a good time; we had a lot of fun. 

Tarlow: What did you learn there?
TOBIAS: I learned that I wasn’t paying attention.

Tarlow: What are some of the highlights from high school? How did you spend your time? What did you and your buddies do after school?
TOBIAS: I really haven’t given it any thought. 

Tarlow: Well, think about it a minute. I’ll give you a minute.
TOBIAS: Well, we had bicycles. We rode our bicycles. In the summer another fella and I cut lawns. 

Tarlow: You cut lawns?
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: Did you have your own lawnmower?
TOBIAS: Yes. I had my own lawnmower, and he had his lawnmower, and we had a regular route that we had customers every week.

Tarlow: Did you have any other jobs at that time in your life?
TOBIAS: At that time in my life? Yes, I worked for my father in the tire business. 

Tarlow: Well let’s talk a little about the tire business. You didn’t enter the tire business for a while, but your dad came here to work in the tire business with your uncles. I’d like to get their names on the tape, so tell me your uncles.
TOBIAS: There was Jay, he was the oldest. And then there was Harry, which is Susie Marcus’ father. And Al; he was the youngest. 

Tarlow: Those were all Woolachs?
TOBIAS: Those were all three Woolachs. 

Tarlow: Tell me a little bit about that business at the time that your dad was there. We’ll talk about your participation later.
TOBIAS: My father was the service manager. He worked out in the service department. 

Tarlow: What did you learn about the business?
TOBIAS: At that time nothing.

Tarlow: You didn’t ride your bike down there and have your tires pumped up or anything?
TOBIAS: No.

Tarlow: You were mowing lawns in the neighborhood?
TOBIAS: Correct.

Tarlow: And what about your social life at that time? What did you guys do for fun? I know you were working hard it sounds like, but what were you doing for fun and who were you doing it with?
TOBIAS: I was taking out a girl by the name of Sue Rosenberg. She lives in California today. Her father was Abe Eugene Rosenberg.

Tarlow: That was a good thing.
TOBIAS: It was convenient. 

Tarlow: It was what it was. So, you were dating her, what was a date in those days for you?
TOBIAS: A date was my father would take us some place, in his car, because we only had one car and I didn’t drive.

Tarlow: Where did they take you?
TOBIAS: A movie, or we had dances. 

Tarlow: Where?
TOBIAS: Jewish Community Center was quite active at that time on SW 13th, I think. 

Tarlow: What else did you do at the Center?
TOBIAS: I played basketball at the Center. Our lives were around the Center at that time. 

Tarlow: Why do you suppose that was?
TOBIAS: I think there are more options today. There weren’t very many options for Jewish kids.

Tarlow: So, as you were growing up, your life did revolve around the fact that you and your family were Jewish?
TOBIAS: Absolutely. 

Tarlow: You went to Temple, participated in all of activities.
TOBIAS: Whatever was going on, you participated. It was normal. 

Tarlow: Did you celebrate the Jewish holidays there?
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: And how about Judaism in your home, how was it practiced in your home?
TOBIAS:  It was not practiced very well. We always went to the services. My mother and I went to services.

Tarlow: Your mother didn’t keep kosher? 
TOBIAS: No. No. 

Tarlow: So you had your Jewish association with Temple Beth Israel, and a Jewish association with your friends at the Jewish Community Center?
TOBIAS:  Absolutely. Without that, I would have been lost. There was no other activity.

Tarlow: For you?
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: I find that very interesting. You had a Jewish education; you had lots of Jewish friends, and then when you graduated from high school…
TOBIAS: But I still have a lot of Jewish friends.

Tarlow: I know that. It’s important to you.
TOBIAS: I haven’t given it any thought, but it probably is.

Tarlow: Well you and I talked about that once. About how important it is for you.
TOBIAS: Yes, I have other friends, but I think the closest friends are all Jews.

Tarlow: How do you suppose that came about?
TOBIAS: Natural evolution.

Tarlow: So would it be – I don’t want to put words into your mouth –
TOBIAS: – It’s OK. 

Tarlow: [laughing] Socially, you’re very Jewish.
TOBIAS: Socially, I was more comfortable being around Jews. 

Tarlow: Religiously, you are not very comfortable.
TOBIAS: I’m comfortable. I’m just not very religious, actively religious. 

Tarlow: Right. But your life and your heart I would say.
TOBIAS:  I would not think of not belonging to Beth Israel. It wouldn’t enter my mind, and the Jewish Community Center in those days.

Tarlow: When you left Portland when you graduated and it was time to go to college, [then what]?
TOBIAS: In the first year of college I went to University of Portland.

Tarlow:  Why did you choose that school?
TOBIAS: Looking back, it could have been partially economics. It was never discussed but it was kind of directed that I should stay home. I stayed home for the first year. 

Tarlow: What did you study, how did you spend your time at that school?
TOBIAS: Well, you know, they were all priests, as teachers. And they were great guys. They really were. They were a lot of fun. I took German from Father [Hansches?], and I realized I was going to do very bad, so I moved next to the guy who spoke German, and the next day Father [Hansches?] said, “I would like to call on Foxy Tobias.” He knew what I did.

Tarlow: What did he call you?
TOBIAS: Foxy Tobias. He knew what I did. [Tarlow laughing] He knew exactly what I did. Then there was another father, Father [Delani?]. He taught psychology. It was a large class. At the beginning of the year, he said, “I am going to fail anybody who’s final exam sticks to the ceiling when I throw it up.”

Tarlow: What does that mean?
TOBIAS: It means he wasn’t going to fail anybody. [laughing] 

Tarlow: I’d say you had it pretty cushy at the University of Portland. 
TOBIAS: Yes, I did.

Tarlow: Were there any other Jewish students there?
TOBIAS: Yes. Yes. In fact, Leonard Blank, who is now deceased, Alan Goldsmith, who is now deceased.

Tarlow: That’s interesting.
TOBIAS: Yes and a guy named, what was his first name, [Drachsman?] he is now also deceased. He was a pro-football player in Canada.

Tarlow: How did you get there?
TOBIAS: Oh, there’s also Howard Cohn, who is not deceased.

Tarlow: That’s good. How did you get around?
TOBIAS: Howard Cohn had a yellow Ford convertible. And at that time we were living just off 21st and Wiedler. He would drive by in the morning and pick me up and he would take me home in the afternoon, because he was going right by my place. I don’t know whether you want this in the recording or not, but one day we were going home and Howard Cohn stops at a drug store and he says, “Go in, my mother needs a box of Kotex.” Well, you know kids. I said, “I’m not going to go in and buy a box of Kotex.” He says, “If you don’t go in and buy a box of Kotex I’m not going to pick you up!” [laughing] I said, “I’m not going in!” So he went in, and we had a nice conversation the rest of the way home. And the next day it is pouring. It is raining cats and dogs. And I’m standing on the corner on 21st and Wiedler waiting to be picked up as normal. He drives by and waves at me. 

Tarlow: So, was that the end of your relationship?
TOBIAS: No [laughing]. The next day I saw him at school and he says, “I told you I wasn’t going to pick you up.”

Tarlow: So you didn’t have your own car?
TOBIAS: Oh, no. My father never owned a car; he used the company car. 

Tarlow: So how did you get around town?
TOBIAS: By bus and streetcar. Yes. 

Tarlow: What was that like?
TOBIAS: I didn’t know that there was any other way to do it. It was just normal. 

Tarlow: Yes. Alright, so after one year at the University of Portland, what was next?
TOBIAS: What was next was in the summer, I had two very good friends, one being Rod Levitt, who used to play with Dizzy Gillespie who is also deceased. He moved to New York (I’m jumping a little bit). After college, he moved to New York and married a Rockette. Then it was Sanford Wiseblack, who ended up in Chicago as a psychiatrist. I don’t know; I’ve lost track of him. I don’t know whether he is still alive or not. Anyway, the three of us were sitting around one day. Rod went to Reed, and Sanford went to Stanford. We said, “You know, we ought to go together somewhere.” 

Tarlow: Where were you sitting?
TOBIAS: Just out in the grass. Just sitting around. And we said, “Well, we should go some place together.” Everybody thought it was a good idea, and we settled on the University of Washington. Why we picked that, I can’t tell you.

Tarlow: How old were you?
TOBIAS: I was 19. 

Tarlow: So off you went.
TOBIAS: So off we went, the three of us, to the University of Washington. We joined the ZBT house. All three of us graduated from there.

Tarlow: While you were at the University of Washington, what did you study?
TOBIAS: I studied Mitsy I think.

Tarlow: But before you met Mitsy what did you study?
TOBIAS: I met Mitsy the first weekend I was up there. At a football game.

Tarlow: Let’s hear more about that please.
TOBIAS: We were at a football game, and it was Mitsy, who ended up to be Beverly Littman, David’s wife, and Betty Woolstone, who married a gentleman from back East. Anyway, they were ahead of us, and they came up and said, “We’re having a party at Betty’s house, why don’t you join us?”

Tarlow: They didn’t know you before that?
TOBIAS: No, I think Beverly had met us. Beverly had met us. I met Beverly down at Seaside, I think, during the summer, which was a normal thing. You go down to Seaside in the summer. 

Tarlow: Well you didn’t tell me about that. We’ll have to go back to that. OK, I want to know more about you studying Mitsy.
TOBIAS: Well, I got tied up and I didn’t study much. [Tarlow laughing] Admittedly. 

Tarlow: So what was your life like up there?
TOBIAS: It was a playground. It was a lot of fun.

Tarlow: And did you live in the house the whole time?
TOBIAS: I lived in the ZBT house the whole time. I did graduate, on time.

Tarlow: Yes?
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: What was the degree in?
TOBIAS: Business administration.

Tarlow: Did you learn anything?
TOBIAS: Yes. 

Tarlow: Good for you.
TOBIAS: I learned I didn’t know everything I thought I did.

Tarlow: [laughing] So you and Mitsy?
TOBIAS: We got engaged after college.

Tarlow: Oh really?
TOBIAS: Yes, after college. And I went in the service immediately after college. 

Tarlow: So let’s go back for a minute. Did Mitsy stay in school all the time you were there?
TOBIAS: No. She dropped out immediately. She only went to school to find a husband. 

Tarlow: And she found one.
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: And then after, did you spend the summers in Seattle?
TOBIAS: No, I spent the summers in Portland.

Tarlow: Doing what?
TOBIAS: Working.

Tarlow: Where?
TOBIAS: At the tire company.

Tarlow: So you really did learn the business while you were learning about this.
TOBIAS: Well I learned how to change tires and things, yes.

Tarlow: I think you learned more.
TOBIAS: I probably did.

Tarlow: I think so. So you graduated.
TOBIAS: I did graduate, on time. 

Tarlow: On time.
TOBIAS: Today it’s unusual I think.

Tarlow:  And then you went in the service.
TOBIAS: Yes. Two weeks after I graduated.

Tarlow: What year was that?
TOBIAS: 1951.

Tarlow: Tell me about that experience.
TOBIAS: I joined the Coast Guard to avoid the Army. I was going to get drafted. I didn’t want to go in the Army, so I joined the Coast Guard. I joined it for three years.

Tarlow: So when you joined you had to sign up for a specific amount of time?
TOBIAS: Yes. For three years. 

Tarlow: So what did all the people in your family think about you doing that? Your parents? 
TOBIAS: I don’t know. 

Tarlow: Your girlfriend Mitsy? She was OK with that? 
TOBIAS: I guess so.

Tarlow: Did any of your other friends belong?
TOBIAS: No. 

Tarlow: Tell me about your experience with the Coast Guard. Where you were stationed, where you went?
TOBIAS: I joined the Coast Guard and I was stationed in Alameda, California in boot camp. And from there, for a very short time, I went to Seattle. From Seattle, I went to Yeoman School in Groton, Connecticut. When I went to Yeoman School I didn’t know how to type. The chief there said, “If you don’t know how to type, you’re going to be a cook.” [Tarlow laughing] It’s a true story.

Tarlow: I’m laughing.
TOBIAS: And I didn’t want to be a cook. And I don’t think the people eating my food wanted me to be a cook [laughing]. Most of the guys on the weekends got out. They went to New York or some place. I stayed and learned how to type. I forget how many words I had to type, but I did it. So then I graduated Yeoman School. It was three months, I think. And because I was the top student in the class I got to choose wherever I wanted to be stationed. I could have gone to Hawaii, I could have gone to any place, and like a darned fool (Mitsy was in Seattle), I picked Seattle. So I got to Seattle and I met a guy. I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but I ended up in the personnel office of the district down on Cherry Street in a building down there. And we wrote the orders for everybody in the district. One day I wrote my own orders and I got transferred to Portland, Oregon. I was the head of the recruiting station in Portland, Oregon. 

Tarlow: I think you were at the right place at the right time all along the way here.
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: How did you feel about being in the service?
TOBIAS: I rather enjoyed it. I had fun. I had no responsibility. It was a lot of fun. 

Tarlow: How did you spend your time when you weren’t typing?
TOBIAS: When I was in Seattle I just worked in the office, which was just mainly typing reports. 

Tarlow: Were there any women who were in the Coast Guard when you were there?
TOBIAS: No.

Tarlow: So, Bob, you’ve told me stories about being a service man and being in New York.
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: Well, I want to hear that story again.
TOBIAS: On leave I went to New York a few times. At that time, I could stay at the YMCA for, I think, it was like two dollars or something. I got a bunk. And that’s where I spent the nights. Then during the day if I wanted to see a play all I had to do was stand in front of the box office and somebody would give me a ticket because I was in uniform in those days. So I got to see a lot of plays.

Tarlow: Sounds like you had many nice experiences through your life.
TOBIAS: Yes, I have no complaints. No, I had a lot of fun.

Tarlow: So you graduated from college, you got married after you were in the service?
TOBIAS: Yes. 

Tarlow: And you were married in Seattle?
TOBIAS: Yes, by Rabbi Levine.

Tarlow: And then where did you live when you and Mitsy were married?
TOBIAS: I lived in Seattle for a while. Lived in an old apartment house.

Tarlow: What did you do for a living?
TOBIAS: I was in the service.

Tarlow: Oh, OK.
TOBIAS: Yes. I was still in the service.

Tarlow: Writing orders on Cherry Street?
TOBIAS: Yes. 

Tarlow: Cool.
TOBIAS: Then we moved to Shorewood Apartments, which was on Mercer Island. Mitsy got pregnant. And then one day when I was in the office I noticed there was an opening in the Portland office recruiting station. So that’s where I ended up, in the Portland office recruiting station. 

Tarlow: Mitsy was pregnant with Scott. How old was Scott when you moved to Portland?
TOBIAS: Scott was born in Portland.

Tarlow:  Ah.
TOBIAS: Yes, Scott was born in Portland. We rented a duplex on 21st and Wiedler from Mosler, the baker. I complained to him, as I was paying him one day, that I couldn’t afford his rent. He made me a deal. He would give me a dozen bagels each month.

Tarlow: How could you refuse? [laughing]
TOBIAS: That’s right.

Tarlow: That was the best part of the deal!
TOBIAS: But he kept collecting the money [laughing]. 

Tarlow: Well you know if you did buy a bagel there, and you gave him, as you well know…
TOBIAS: You never got change.

Tarlow: He never gave change [laughing]. He was a smart guy. So tell me more about your move to Portland.
TOBIAS: Well it was not a big deal at the time. And when we moved here I think we lived with my parents for just a couple weeks.

Tarlow: And where was that?
TOBIAS: I forget where they lived at that time, some rental place. We found this duplex of Harry Mosler’s and moved to it. My father helped me out. He gave me $50 a month so I could afford it.

Tarlow: That was a goodly amount of money at one time.
TOBIAS: Yes. It was a major shortage in my life.

Tarlow: Money? That happens now and then. 
TOBIAS: Yes. Major.

Tarlow: Alright, so you’re married. You have a kid. What’s next?
TOBIAS: OK I got out of the service. Wait. I got to think. Bruce was then born. While I was still in the service he was born. Then I got discharged and went to work with my uncles in the tire business. 

Tarlow: Tell me a little bit about those guys and your relationship with them and your job there?
TOBIAS: My job there was a salesman. Period. Harry, by that time, had moved to Los Angeles, at the parking concession at May & Company. Jay had retired so Al was running the business. 

Tarlow: And was your dad still in the business when you worked there?
TOBIAS: Yes he was. At that time they had a recap plant on the east side on Sandy Boulevard. He was in charge of that, so to speak. 

Tarlow: So tell me more about Woolach Brothers. You’ve told me many stories about Woolach Brothers. Remember when we looked at all those photographs that are now at the museum? 
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: And you were telling me a lot about the business. I would like to get that on the recorder if you can come with it? 
TOBIAS: Well Jay started it. Jay had the general tire dealership, with a partner. Jay went back east at those times, as I understand it. He got the Goodyear tire dealership and came back and explained to his partner that he wasn’t a partner anymore. Jay was a very good businessman, but very… It was for Jay.

Tarlow: Sounds like it.
TOBIAS: Harry was the smartest of the bunch. Suzie’s father; he was really smart. 

Tarlow: That must be where Suzie got her brains.
TOBIAS: Yes. And Al was the little brother. 

Tarlow: But the business grew?
TOBIAS: The business grew in spite of itself, yes. And then they took on appliances after the war. 

Tarlow: And you told me also, I believe, that you had businesses in other locations?
TOBIAS: Not at that time. 

Tarlow: When?
TOBIAS: Well that happened… Stan Marcus and I went to the bank and borrowed the money and bought the business from Al.

Tarlow: And that was when Stan was married to Suzie? I just want to clarify that.
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: So that came later, all right.
TOBIAS: I can’t remember the year. Anyway, Stan really didn’t like the business. It wasn’t a good partnership because he didn’t like the business. He wanted out. So I gave Stan the money and he got out. Then it was only me that owned it. Then I expanded. The first store was on SE 82nd. I had a store on SE 122nd and Division. Where was the next one? I took two stores from Payless, one on Cedar Hills Boulevard and one on SE 102nd. Then I opened a store in McMinnville. I can’t remember. Oh, I had a store in Lloyd Center.

Tarlow: So how many stores did you have at one time?
TOBIAS: I think there was nine or twelve. I can’t remember which. I’d have to look it up.

Tarlow: How did you manage all of that?
TOBIAS: Not well. Not well. As it turns out, not well. So I sold back to Goodyear; I sold them all to Goodyear. 

Tarlow: After you did that, what did you do?
TOBIAS: Panicked [laughing]. 

Tarlow: After the panic wore off, what did you do?
TOBIAS: After the panic wore off I knew I wanted to have my own business. So I started looking for a business. In the meantime Ron Tonkin, who was a friend of mine, said, “I’ll make you the sales manager. You should come work for me.” You can have the Grand Turismo store. Which was the Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Sabb, and Honda dealership. That was down on Front Avenue. He says, “I’ll sell you fifty percent of the Grand Turismo store, and you can run it.” Which we did, and I moved the store to 18th and Morrison. 

Tarlow: What year did you move the store?
TOBIAS: I’d have to look it up. 

Tarlow: Approximately. The seventies? The eighties?
TOBIAS: No, No. It was the seventies. It was the early seventies. Early. 

Tarlow: So you were on 18th and Morrison.
TOBIAS: Yes, and I was not happy. 

Tarlow: Because?
TOBIAS: I was working very hard and long hours and the automobile business just wasn’t my business. I enjoyed automobiles but I didn’t enjoy the way the dealerships were run. Ron and I, knowing that that may happen, we had a buy–sell agreement. Either one of us could call it quits. One day I went in and I said, “I want my money. I’m getting out.” He tried to talk me out of it. But I got out. I’m glad I did, because we ended up very good friends, for the rest of our lives. So that worked out well. Stan was happy when he got out of the tire business, and we’re still very good friends. 

Tarlow: And relatives.
TOBIAS: Yes, but that doesn’t mean you’re good friends.

Tarlow: No, I know that. OK, so now you’re unemployed. 
TOBIAS: Now the panic sets in. Now we cut out spending money wherever we could. We belonged to the West Hills; we quit. We belonged to Irvington Tennis Club; we quit that. I quit everything I could quit, and I was still running out of money. 

Tarlow: Where were your kids at that point?
TOBIAS: College.

Tarlow: They were in college. So they weren’t living at home?
TOBIAS: No, they were not living at home. 

Tarlow: You were supporting them?
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: OK. 
TOBIAS: One was at Oregon. One was at Pitzer. I started looking for a business. I talked to my accountant Henry Blauer, and my attorney Maury Yalen, and every real estate broker I could find. I had some very strange experiences. Businesses were failing that wanted to sell. One day Mort Bonine, who was a very good friend of mine – we were having lunch and he said to me, he says, “It’s too bad you didn’t talk to Albie Kalis.” It’s all Jews, the whole thing, looking at it. 

Tarlow: I know. You are a very Jewishly minded person.
TOBIAS: I didn’t know I was intentionally Jewish minded, but it seems that way, when I’m talking about it. He said to me, “You should have talked to Albie Kalis,” who was also a friend of mine. I said, “Why?” He said, “He just sold his business.” I said, “I don’t know anything about his business.” “Well,” he says, “He builds exhibits.” And that was the end of that conversation. About a month later, Mort called me and said, “Albie’s deal fell through. You should call him.” I said, “OK, I will.” So I called him, he said, “Well, stop by.” I said, “I don’t know where you are.” So he told me where he was. 

Tarlow: Where was he?
TOBIAS: On Water Avenue. On SE Morrison and Water Avenue. So I stopped by and talked to him. He says, “You wouldn’t be interested in this business.” I remember that statement. I said, “Why not?” He says, “You just wouldn’t. You wouldn’t be interested at all.” I said, “Well, if it ever comes up, give me a call, or I’ll call you again.” So a couple weeks later I called him. He says, “Yes, the deal did fall through.” I said, “I might be interested.” He says, “Well I’ve got all the papers here.” He said, “I’m not willing to renegotiate.” He said, “Meet me at the Motel on Front Avenue.” I don’t know what the name of it is now. We drive by it once and awhile. He says, “We’ll have lunch, and I’ll give you the papers.” So we had lunch. He gave me the papers.” I said, “I’d like to see it. You know, I’ll read the papers, but I’d like to know what you do?” He said, “Come over.” He said, “I don’t want to upset the crew with strangers walking through. Come over at 7:00 tonight.” And he says, “I’ll show you around the place.” Have you ever walked into an empty manufacturing company at 7:00pm at night? You still don’t know what you’re looking at.” [Tarlow laughing] It’s a true story. 

Tarlow: I believe you.
TOBIAS: So I walked out not knowing anymore than when I walked in except where it was. And I read over the papers and I thought I’d be interested. And I called up Henry Blauer. He says, “No you don’t want to buy that. You don’t want to buy that.” I called up Mort Gailey and I started to tell him about it and he says, “Absolutely not!” In those days he was a little short. I said, “Why not? I haven’t even told you about it.” He says, “I’m the guy that killed the last deal.”

Tarlow: [laughing] That’s funny.
TOBIAS: It is funny. He says, “I’m the guy that killed it.” So anyway, I looked it over and I said to Albie, I said, “You know, I think that I’d be interested in it.” “We’ll get some papers drawn up then.” So I had Maury draw up the papers, all the time him telling me, “Don’t do this.” So this was just before Thanksgiving.

Tarlow: When?
TOBIAS: Well let’s see [counting]… 

Tarlow: He’s counting. 
TOBIAS: I’d have to look it up.

Tarlow: The late seventies, early eighties?
TOBIAS: No, it was not the eighties, it was…

Tarlow: In the seventies?
TOBIAS: Yes, add 25 and 14 is 39. So it was roughly 40 years ago.

Tarlow: OK.  
TOBIAS: So I got the papers from Maury, both of them still telling me [don’t do this]. Henry is showing me the other businesses all this time. There was a lamp company that he wanted me to buy, remember that. Anyway, so I called up Albie and I said, “Come on over and I will sign the papers.” He said, “Well I am going on vacation; I will be gone two weeks.” I said, “Albie, I don’t want to wait. I want to know what I am going to do.” He said, “Well I am on my way out of town.” I said, “Okay stop by my house.” So he did. We lived in Fairhills at that time. 

Tarlow: Which is in Raleigh Hills? 
TOBIAS: Which is in Raleigh Hills. And I had the papers on the coffee table in the living room, and we signed them. He says, “I will be back in two weeks.” I said, “OK well here’s your copy.” He says, “No, I want you to think about it for two weeks. I don’t want my copy you keep it. When I come back I am going to call you. If you still want it, then you can give me the papers, if not, you tear the papers up, we don’t have a deal.” 

Tarlow:            Pretty trusting. 
TOBIAS:           Pretty fair. He came back and he called me and I said, “Yes, I am still interested.” He said, “OK, well come in tomorrow and bring the papers and bring me a check and you got a deal.” That is how it came about, as simple as that. To this day, well, Henry is no longer with us, but both of them keep telling me how smart they were [laughing].  

Tarlow:  So lets talk about this business because I know how successful it was for you. 
TOBIAS:  Yes it was. 

Tarlow:  The name was PPI. 
TOBIAS:  Yes, Promotion Products Incorporated. 

Tarlow:  And you had a reputation that was skyrocketing?
TOBIAS:  Yes, we did a lot of big companies. 

Tarlow: So, lets hear about that. 
TOBIAS:  We did Georgia Pacific, White Stag when it was here, all of Portland General Electric. Eventually we did all of Microsoft and all of Nintendo, and I opened an office in Seattle. I had a salesman up there, two salesmen. It helped with Microsoft because the guy that was in charge of Microsoft exhibits, I hired his wife as a sales lady. That did help. 

Tarlow:  It couldn’t hurt.
TOBIAS:  No. 

Tarlow:  So if I came to you and I said, “I am going to have a big meeting and people are going to come here from different parts of the country and I want to show case my widget.” What would you do for me? 
TOBIAS:  We did not do just one exhibit. In other words, if you just wanted to come in and have a luncheon or a meeting that afternoon, and that was the end of it, we were not interested. We were only interested in long-term relationships; permanent exhibits. Which we would build, store when it was over, and rebuild and send to the next exhibit. 

Tarlow:  So when you did exhibits for ADP…
TOBIAS:  We never did an exhibit of ADP. 

Tarlow:  Oh, we can scratch that. 
TOBIAS:  You can scratch ADP.  

Tarlow:  [laughing] 
TOBIAS:  [laughing] I tried, but I did not succeed. One of the failures. 

Tarlow:  Well that has to be on the tape too, right?
TOBIAS:  Not really. But nobody is perfect. 

Tarlow:  So PGE wants to have something?
TOBIAS:  They tell us what they want –

Tarlow:  – And you make it.
TOBIAS:   We design it. And we build it. And we ship it to wherever it is. We put it up, we take it down, we put it back in storage in our place. And we charge for the storage. 

Tarlow:  Well of course. So how many people were working for you?
TOBIAS:  When I bought it from Albie I think there were 15, I can’t remember exactly. And when I sold it, there were 220. When I bought it from Albie there was a building on Water across the street, which was 10,000 feet, and then there was 30,000 feet in the main building. I then eventually built a building in the parking lot next door. So that was another 10,000 feet. Then I bought the building next door, which was another 30,000 feet. Then I bought the building across the street, which was 80,000 feet. Then we rented a bunch of space to store the exhibits. So we expanded. 

Tarlow: How did you keep track of everything?
TOBIAS:  I use to go down, anywhere from 5:30 to 6:00 in the morning, and I would go home whenever I went home. In fact I missed a surprise birthday party, which happened to be my birthday, because we were shipping an exhibit. 

Tarlow:  That must have gone over big?
TOBIAS:  It really didn’t. By the time I showed up, everybody had gone. 

Tarlow:  Did anybody else in your family work in your business with you?
TOBIAS:  Yes, I had Scott and Bruce both working in the summer. 

Tarlow:  What were their responsibilities? 
TOBIAS:  Just cabinet makers, out in the shop.

Tarlow:  So they are as clever as you are right? With their hammer and saw. 
TOBIAS:  Scott is, Bruce isn’t. Bruce with a hammer is on the hand [laughing]. 

Tarlow:  [laughing] That’s why he is selling real estate. 
TOBIAS:  [laughing] He once drilled through his hand. 

Tarlow:  Well you have lived a most interesting life. 
TOBIAS:  I have had fun. 

Tarlow:  My perception of you and your life, you always take the high road. I think that’s to your benefit, to all our benefit. 
TOBIAS:  Yes. 

Tarlow:  So I have a couple other questions I want to ask you. 
TOBIAS:  I will tell you another story. Down in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History, wanted a whole bird museum display. Big deal, real big. The guy called me up from Los Angeles, and my designer and myself went down there, Jim Olson. We made our presentation and we flew back to Portland. He called me the next day and said, “I think we can do business. But you are way too much money.” He says, “I don’t think we can afford you.” I said, “I will tell you what I will do (I did not know him and he did not know me). I will flip a coin here. If you win I will lower the price $10,000, (it was peanuts compared to the total). But if I win I get the $10,000.” He said, “OK.” Well I flipped the coin and I don’t know what it was because he was going to win no matter what I did. We made the deal, and I did business with him for years after that. We never had another written agreement, he trusted me implicitly. 

Tarlow:  I think that is pretty remarkable. 
TOBIAS:  And that was a county deal. I never had a written agreement with Nintendo. My last job was Nintendo, before I sold. It turned out to be 990-some-thousand dollars, and never a written agreement. It was on the phone we said OK. 

Tarlow:  Why did you decide to get out of the business? 
TOBIAS:  I did not intend to get out of the business, it was going great and I was having a lot of fun. Working very hard, but having a lot of fun. It was a great business. It got so big I did not know the employees. I did not really have a relationship with the employees. When I had a Christmas party, which included all of their families, I did not know half of them. I knew they worked for me, I saw their face, but I did not know who the hell they were. And Larry Black came in one day and said, “I think I can sell your business.” I said, “Well it’s not for sale.” He says, “Well I think I can get a good price for it and sell your business.” I said, “Well OK, tell me what you can do.” So he brought in somebody local, which did not work out. Then he brought in a company that was on Nasdac, from back east and they were very interested and we made a deal. He made the deal. Then I said OK well it is a shot in the dark but I can handle with a fair amount of money. It was kind of an opportunity to get out of business. 
 
Tarlow: And it worked.
TOBIAS:  It worked. Yes. 

Tarlow: So how long have you been retired?
TOBIAS:  I retired in 1992. 

Tarlow:  What do you do with your time now that you are retired?
TOBIAS:  Well I am not busy enough. 

Tarlow:  Maybe you need a job?
TOBIAS: Yes maybe. 

Tarlow: I say that to you and you laugh like you are laughing now [laughing]. 
TOBIAS:  [laughing] That is exactly right. 

Tarlow: [laughing] So you are not busy enough but you don’t want to work. 
TOBIAS:  I don’t want to work for anybody. 

Tarlow: Because you like your life? 
TOBIAS:  Yes. 

Tarlow:  You have a good life. 
TOBIAS:  I have a good life. 

Tarlow: The other question that I want to ask you, well a couple more actually, is where your social and your political bents are? What issues are important to you? Throughout your life and even now, what captures your heart, your pocket book, and your interests? 
TOBIAS:  Well I think Jewish causes affect my pocket book. I am sorry to see the homeless when I drive around but I do not do anything about it. 

Tarlow:  How about your political bent? You follow politics?
TOBIAS:  I follow politics but it has gotten so bad that as far as I am concerned it is a horrible situation. 

Tarlow: When you look back and you have lived in Portland really your whole life, and you have been involved in the Jewish Community in some way or rather your whole life; what changes have come about over the years do you think? 
TOBIAS:  Well I think that Jews are more accepted today then they use to be. 

Tarlow:  Accepted?
TOBIAS:  Accepted like into Waverly Country Club, Multnomah Country Club, Multnomah Athletic Club. In the old days when I was growing up, we had to join the Jewish Community Center; we could not get in the Multnomah Club. We had to join Tualatin Country Club because we could not get into Waverly or Portland. And I think that has changed for the good. 

Tarlow:  What other changes have you seen do you think?
TOBIAS:  I think society has changed; they are more accepting, generally. 

Tarlow: And what would you say about how Jews are involved in other parts of the community, not just golf or athletic clubs. Where do you see Jews now in our community and did you see them before? In the general community keeping in mind that we have so many more Jewish people living here now then we did before. 
TOBIAS:  Do we have a bigger percentage now? 

Tarlow:  I don’t know. 
TOBIAS:  Right. So just because we have more Jews, there are more Gentiles.  

Tarlow:  Well that is true, see your math always comes out in your head. You are always good with numbers. 
TOBIAS:  [laughing] It does not make any difference, you don’t get ahead. You are still the minority.

Tarlow:  What would you like to see for the future of the Jewish Community?
TOBIAS:  Well I guess I would like to see a better museum than we have. Have more contact with the Gentiles. 

Tarlow: Are you talking about the Oregon Jewish Museum?
TOBIAS: Yes. Yes. 

Tarlow:  How do you see that happening?
TOBIAS: I don’t. Because it takes money and they do not have enough money to make a difference. I mean I don’t see it, right now I do not see it happening.

Tarlow: We can all pray for it.
TOBIAS:  Yes. It may happen in the future.

Tarlow:  You know one thing we did not touch on and I know it is important to you is the fact that you have three granddaughters. 
TOBIAS:  Yes I do.

Tarlow:  I think we ought to mention their names so we can get it on the tape. 
TOBIAS:  OK. I have a thirty-two year old by the name of Malika 

Tarlow: Tobias? 
TOBIAS: Oh yes, Malika Tobias. And then twins that are twenty-five years old; Hallie Tobias and Raya Tobias. Hallie and Raya live in Portland. Malika lives in San Diego. 

Tarlow:   And they are important to you I know. 
TOBIAS:  Yes. Certainly. 

Tarlow:  And Bruce is married to Natalie? 
TOBIAS:  Bruce is remarried to Natalie. 

Tarlow: And Scott is not married?
TOBIAS:  Correct. And Bruce lives in Sedona. 

Tarlow: Right. Arizona. And Scott lives here?
TOBIAS:  Yes. 

Tarlow: Well you know what, the other thing, I always have one more question.
TOBIAS:  Yes that is fine. 

Tarlow:  You know that. We never are at a loss for things to talk about. 
TOBIAS:  Right. 

Tarlow: Cars.
TOBIAS: Yes.

Tarlow: When I say your name in a group of your friends, the word cars always comes about.
TOBIAS:  Because I buy new cars often. 

Tarlow:  How did you get to the cars that you love so much?
TOBIAS:  I don’t know. 

Tarlow: When did all that start?
TOBIAS:  Probably in the tire business. 

Tarlow:  Yes?
TOBIAS:  Yes, because it is involved with cars.

Tarlow: Cars, cars and more cars. 
TOBIAS:  Yes. 

Tarlow:  What is your favorite car? 
TOBIAS:  Always the car I am driving. 

Tarlow:  [laughing] Which probably won’t be for too much longer. 
TOBIAS:  Right. Right. 

Tarlow:  Well you are synonymous with cars. And the other thing I have to say about you is you have so many friends. And they are so lucky to have you, I am one of those friends that have you in my life and we are all very fortunate. 
TOBIAS: Well thank you, I am fortunate to have them.

Tarlow:  Yes. Yes.
TOBIAS:  Yes. 

Tarlow:  Did we skip anything you want to add to this tape?
TOBIAS: No I don’t think so. I don’t think we mentioned that Mitsy passed away three years ago. I don’t know whether that is important or not important.

Tarlow:  Well I think if you say it, it is important.
TOBIAS:  Yes. I think that is part of my life. 

Tarlow:  I would say that it was a big part of your life. Do you want to talk about Mitsy a little bit? 
TOBIAS:  No not particularly but I guess it was three and a half years ago now. Yes. We were married 62 years and before that we were together three years. So we were together really 65 years. 

Tarlow:  How did she manage that? How did she put up with you for all those years?
TOBIAS: She wasn’t paying attention [laughing]. 

Tarlow: You’re a lucky guy. 
TOBIAS:  She wasn’t paying attention. Yes. So that is part of my life. 

Tarlow:  So how did you and Mitsy spend your time together?
TOBIAS:  I don’t know we just did things together. She was not a great social person. 

Tarlow:  She did a lot of traveling?
TOBIAS:  Yes, we traveled. We had various homes in various locations. We had a house at the beach, we had a house in Salishan, we had a house in Gearhart and a condominium in Seaside – not all at the same time. 

Tarlow:  [laughing] 
TOBIAS: And in the desert we had a condominium in Palm Springs years ago, with two other Jewish families, come to think about it. And, I am trying to remember, we had a house in Indian Wells.

Tarlow: Which is near Palm Desert. 
TOBIAS:  Yes. Next door. A street divides them. I am trying to remember.

Tarlow:  Plus Portland, Oregon.
TOBIAS:  Well we had two condominiums at various times in Maui. Yes, plus Portland, Oregon. 

Tarlow: So you had a lot of cars and a lot of houses?
TOBIAS: Yes. 

Tarlow:  And you worked hard.
TOBIAS: Yes. 

Tarlow: And now you are reaping the benefits of a good life. 
TOBIAS: I hope so.

Tarlow:  Well from my observation you are.
TOBIAS: Yes. Yes. 

Tarlow:  Looking pretty good. 
TOBIAS: Not bad. 

Tarlow:  Yes. 
TOBIAS: No complaints. 

Tarlow:  So we can end on a happy note here. 
TOBIAS:  Yes.

Tarlow:  OK. Thank you for doing this.
TOBIAS:  You are welcome.