Musso & Frank

  

 Musso & Frank is old Hollywood. It was opened in 1919 by French immigrant Firmin "Frank" Toulet. I guess Frank was easier for Americans than Firmin. In 1923, Toulet partnered with Joseph Musso, and Musso & Frank Grill was born. Over the years, ownership has changed and even expanded into a neighboring space, but it's still at the same address. Right from the beginning, it attracted the film community.  Movie stars, studio executives, and talent agents would drop by the restaurant for a steak and martini, hash out deals, and gossip about who was sleeping with whom.  Still in business, it still has a menu that leans towards steak, and alcohol.  It also has a dress code.  Suits and ties for gentlemen and dresses for ladies are no longer required, now it's business casual.  I suspect I'd be turned away if I showed up in my usual blue jeans and tee shirt. 

The caption on the back of the card, "Musso & Frank Grill.  FINEST CUISINE.  6667 Hollywood Boulevard, Calif 11 A.M. to 11 P.M.  HO 7-5123 or HO 7-7788."  And the publisher, "PUB. BY "CUMMINGS" (213) 344-6560" 

Meet Me In Paris

 

 I've long been fascinated by World's Fairs but have never visited one. Many years after it closed, I was in Seattle, went up in the Space Needle, and rode the monorail, but it wasn't the same as being there during the fair. 

This postcard is from the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, its motto being "Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Conforms." Well, I'm not too fond of the Man Conforms part, but still.  I spent some time doing research and found a few actual photographs that were similar to this card, but not an exact match.  There is a credit, "KAUFMAN-FABRY PHOTO," and while that's not a guarantee that this card started out in life as a photo, it's a strong indication.  The caption on the back of the card, "STREETS OF PARIS, A very worth-while reproduction consisting of typical shops, buildings, and cafes."  Published by "N. SHURE CO., CHICAGO, ILL." Made by "C.T. ART COLORTONE," MADE ONLY BY CURT TEICH & CO., INC., CHICAGO U.S.A." 

Owl Drugs

 

Old Los Angeles.  Well, sort of.  Actually, it's Beverly Hills and while somewhat smaller, this building is still there.  Many years ago, I worked nearby and used to walk down there on my lunch hour and buy a snack.  Anyway, I found some information to pass along, but not as much as I'd like.  I know the store opened in 1947, but I couldn't find the name of the architect.  I know the building was commissioned by Justin Dart, the CEO of Rexall Drugs, and that it wasn't just the world's largest drug store, but also the headquarters for the company.  Today, it's a CVS and Target.  The caption on the back of the card, "World Headquarters, REXALL DRUG COMPANY, Beverly and La Cienega Boulevards LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA."  It was published by "WESTERN PUBLISHING & NOVELTY CO., LOS ANGELES, CALIF."  This card was never mailed.  

More Later

 

I've been putting up a lot of stuff from some of the collections I have, so I decided to go to the oldest unfinished collection I have.  It goes back to 2013, so I'm still working on it 10 years later.  As a rule, I don't bother with the backs of postcards.  I find it easier to just transcribe the written message and spare people from trying to figure out bad to mediocre handwriting.  But in this case, no matter how large I blew up the back of the card, or how much I manipulated the contrast, I just couldn't make out what was written. There's one line that I think says "my girlfriend left yesterday," but other than that, I haven't a clue.  And I thought my handwriting was bad. Anyway, click on "flirtation" in labels to go back to the good old days of 2013.  And I call it that because the guy who sold me the envelope of these postcards said it was his flirtation card collection. Too, if a postcard looks like it was based on a photo it ends up here.  If it looks like it's pure illustration, it ends up on my Fair Use blog. If I'm not sure, it's just a best guess as to which blog. 

It's Only Fido

 

A bit of comic relief.  I have no idea how color is added to these old, photo-based postcards.  The photographic elements can be clearly seen, but the added color doesn't seem to be in the right place.  Perhaps some sort of offset printing process. 

So, this card was mailed and there is a message written on the back. "Rec. your card.  Glad to hear you are well.  Take care of yourself.  Love, Betty" It was mailed to "Mr. C. C. Barker, Box 80, Station 6, Toledo, Ohio."  And the postmarks, one from the sending post office, and one from the receiving. "CORRY, PA  5 PM, MAY 6, 1924" "TOLEDO, OHIO STA. 6., 430 PM, MAY 17, 1924."  

Corry is in Erie County, and not all that far from Toledo.  I guess the mails were slower back then. 

The Pennsylvania Turnpike

  

I have a high level of confidence that the original source material for this postcard was a photograph, so I'm posting it here rather than on my Fair Use blog that has some of the few bits of non-photographic ephemera that I've picked up over the years as well as all sorts of images I've found online. I'm guessing that this postcard has more interest for me rather than most visitors to the New Found Photography. I grew up in Pennsylvania and spent quite a few hours traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 

The turnpike was built in 1940 as the great depression was ending. It's a limited-use toll road that connects Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's three largest cities without actually going into those cities.  For those who hate getting stuck on interstate highways while crossing large urban areas, that was the original vision of President Eisenhower when he envisioned the interstate highway system, and the PA Turnpike, with its toll booths and limited entrances and exits, had to have been somewhat of an inspiration for the current highway system we have. The Pike starts on the Pennsylvania, New Jersey border at the Delaware River interchange and crosses into Ohio near the North Beaver Township tool booth. Monroeville, in Allegheny County, was the nearest entrance to where I grew up. Today, the Turnpike is designated I-76. 

This card was published by "C.T.ART COLORTONE." and was "DISTRIBUTED BY J. B. HOFFMAN & SON, HARRISBURG, PA."  The caption, "The Pennsylvania Turnpike, five miles west of Bedford, crosses over the Lincoln Highway.  The two lane road looks antiquated. Some distance past the Bedford "Interchange" the Turnpike crosses the Lincoln Highway again, runs past the ruins of the historic iron works at Everett, then crosses the Lincoln for the last time."  The Lincoln Highway was the first true interstate highway in the U.S. but not limited access or multi-lane. The Narrows mentioned on the front of the card is a gap in Evitts Mountain. The postmark, "CARLISLE PA OCT 24 7 PM 1951." 

There is a message written on the back. "Hi Dad, I am going to the hospital the 1st of the month am taking the whole month off. Hope to see you at Thanksgiving as we're expecting you. John C." It's addressed to John J. Hofaloom, apt. 6B, 442 Main St. Hartford, Conn."  I'm not 100% sure of dad's name. 

Pierpoint Landing

 

This postcard was never sent, so I don't have an exact date that I can reference in this post.  Just going by the cars, I'm thinking sometime in the 1950s to the early sixties.  I have one clue, the identity of the publisher.  "X.45 WESTERN PUBL. & NOV. CO., 259 SO. LOS ANGELES ST., L.A. CALIF."  The hint is that there is no zip code, which were first used in 1963.  Pierpoint Landing was a sport fishing venue with some kiddie rides and exhibits that was in business from 1948 to 1972.  And the caption on the back, "PIERPOINT LANDING LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. The landing at the tip of Pier A draws nearly as many spectators as fishermen. There are many shops and cafes here as well as live fish and seal exhibits." The Long Beach inner harbor is far different now. 

Along the Youghiogheny

 

Not the most exciting postcard in the world, but I grew up in western Pennsylvania, and while the Yough wasn't that close to me, I did some walking along the river.  The river actually starts in West Virginia, flows through Maryland before entering Pennsylvania.  It was damned in 1944, just north of the Pennsylvania border, but apart from that reservoir, it's mostly free-flowing.  I don't know exactly where this photograph was taken, so it could be in any of the three states, but it was published by "The Union News Company, New York and Pittsburgh" so I have a feeling that the location is near Unionville, PA.  Ohiopyle State Park in Pennsylvania was somewhere I liked to visit from time to time.  The Youghiogheny meets the Monongahela at McKeesport, PA.  The Mon meets the Allegheny in downtown Pittsburgh and forms the Ohio. 

See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet

 

Yet another postcard from the New York City World's Fair.  And the caption on the back, GENERAL MOTORS FUTURAMA BUILDING New York World's Fair 1964-1965.  Peace through Understanding.  This night view of the largest building ever constructed for a Fair exhibit is keynoted by an enormous slanting canopy 110 feet high over the entrance to the exhibit area.  The exhibit projects its visitors into the life of the future as predicted by GM's technicians."  I'm guessing that future didn't include comprehensive, off-road mass transit. 

Clifton's

  

Clifton's was a cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles.  During the great depression, Clifton's had an open-door policy for everyone, no matter how destitute a person was.  No one was turned away hungry.  And for all those who think that people will take advantage and expect to be fed for free, no matter how much money they may have, those who could afford to pay almost always did.   Eventually, Clifton's became a chain, and eventually, that chain failed.  The downtown location is still up and going though no longer owned by the Clifton family.  I haven't been there in years, so I'm not sure if this is right, but as I understand it, it's more of a hipster bar and hangout rather than a cafeteria for everyone.

Never mailed, the caption, "Clifton's Brookdale, Within these doors, a forest calls to you-A mountain land of redwood trees and sky-Offering woodland peace and beauty to The tired heart, the city-weary eyes.

So enter friend where brooklets run, Down rocky crevices, through fern and reed, Dine here and rest; and when your meal is done, May something more than food have met your need.  -Esther Baldwin York." 

Once again, Pike's Peak or Bust

 

A companion piece to yesterday's post.  It's not the same photo, but clearly from the same angle.  This time a postcard that was never mailed.  The caption, "520-STREAMLINE COG TRAIN AT THE FAMOUS OLD SUMMIT HOUSE-SUMMIT OF PIKE'S PEAK, ALT. 14,110 FT. ABOVE THE SEA."

" The cog road, famous the world over and unique among railroads, has carried passengers to the Summit of Pike's Peak for over 40 years.  Beginning in 1938 streamline cars began replacing the unique old steam train.  Literally millions of people are able to say that they have stood on the top of this famous peak and beheld the widespread views over hundreds of miles of plains and jumbled mountains." 

I wonder if the view is still the same.  Denver's growth came with increases in pollution.  Is smog what's visible? 

The Vogels of Artesia, New Mexico 3

  

The last of the Vogel collection, but this one is a bit different, and the reason why I bought these three postcards.  While the other two cards were from 1942, the first full year of America's involvement in World War 2, this one is from 1945, and while the postmark is a bit smudged, so I'm not sure of the month, 'TACOMA WASH. 8 PM, 1945."  It was probably from after VJ-Day.  Too, it wasn't from Ray Vogel, but "Pvt. Robert N. Stark,38709913, Co. B, 161st MTG., Ft. Lewis Washington" It also wasn't mailed to Dorothy Vogel but to "Mr & Mrs J. M. Vogel, Artesia New Mexico" Even though there is no post box or street address, it must have been delivered.  It's the message that's interesting, "Hello Vogels: Hows everybody?  We are all well maybe I should have said all wet. It rains 8 days a week here. Ha. Gay went fishing the other day where the water is real deep caught four fish too.  Will probably be down to all you folks in N.M when I get back from Japan. Nelson"  

So, occupation duty by the sound of it, which is why I think this card was sent after the Japanese surrender. Anyway, there are a lot of photos and cards from World War 2 out there, and I always wonder if the people depicted survived the war.  Was Nelson a friend of the Vogel family or was he a friend of Roy who didn't make it?  

Click on The Vogel Collection in labels to see all three posts. 

Those Spring Chicks

  

It's time to return to my longest ongoing, incomplete collection that dates back to 2013.  Anyway, I bought an envelope of postcards that the seller told me were flirtation cards.  At the time I thought that was just his name for them but as it turned out that's how postcards like these were actually marketed, so click on Flirtation in labels to see what's already up.  Too, I have another blog, Fair Use where I post non-photographic bits of ephemera I've picked up over the years as well as interesting images I've gleaned from the net.  There are a few cards that were clearly based on drawings that were posted there.  If I think something is based on a photograph, but if I'm not 100% sure, I lean towards photos, so they end up on The New Found Photography. 

So, as a rule, I don't publish the backs of postcards.  If there is anything written or relevant captions, I just type them up.  However, I'm beginning to think there might be some time travel involved here.  Since I entered the computer age and started typing everything my handwriting has gone from fairly good to barely legible, and A.A.'s penmanship is worse than mine and that's saying a lot.  So, after scanning the back, blowing it up, and after some scrutiny, I came up with this very unlikely interpretation, "Friend Harry.  I got the card & it was slick just the one I was looking for."  Okay, so far so good.  But after that, "I havent got time off an lobster with yes had some. Jane was pretty classy to How did the classes come out.  Yours truely, A.A."  I just don't get the whole stuff about the lobster.  

Anyway, a lot of these cards use the word friend and I've always had the suspicion that they were circulated among Maine Quakers.  Enough of the postmark is gone that I can't be sure where it was mailed from, but it was mailed in December 1912.  

Florida QSL Card, Sort Of

 

I'm not part of the ham radio community, so I hope I'm getting this right.  QSL cards are the way ham radio operators keep track of who talks to whom.  Anyway, a few weeks ago I bought a small envelope of QSL cards.  Most of them were personalized images, drawings rather than photographs.  For those who are interested in such things, I've put a couple of them up on my Fair Use blog which I use for non-photographic bits of ephemera I've collected, as well as the huge number of images I've found while surfing the web that I've found interesting enough that I'd like to save and review from time to time.  

So, back to this card.  It's not a great image, just a commercially produced postcard with some ham radio info handwritten on the back.  The caption, "Cypress trees many centuries old grow far out in the waters of Lake Eloise at Florida's Cypress Gardens, and together with the brilliant flowers form a picture of the South that will never be forgotten" The card's publisher, "Florida Natural Color, Inc. 2652 N.E. 189th St., Miami, Fla 33163" The card doesn't look like it was ever mailed.  There's no stamp or postmark.  It was, however, addressed to "BILL, P.O. 6250, TITUSVILLE, FLA 32780."  And now for the ham radio stuff, "KENWOOD-T.S. 520, D-104, WILSON S.S. QUAD 45" And written separately, "ViA John, SSB-124."  Anyone who understands ham radio can translate what all the letters and numbers mean and put in the comments section at the bottom of the post.