A Century of Progress 1

 

I've written before about my fascination with World's Fairs and my disappointment that I've never had the chance to visit one.  This is one of four postcards I own from this series from The Chicago Word's Fair that ran from 1933- 1934.  This one is numbered 223, the lowest number of the four I have in my collection.  The highest, 235.  The caption, "Official post card of A CENTURY OF PROGRESS, 223. Northerly Isle from the Lagoon."  Published by the Ruben H. Donnely Corporation, Chicago.  I won't be posting the four cards I have in a row, so click on The Century of Progress Collection in labels at the bottom of the post.  I don't know why, but it's fairly common for Blogger to slice just a hair off the right side of horizontal images, so just click on the postcard to bring it up into a window. 

The Cheap Wedding

 

Ah for the good old days when ordinary people didn't go into massive debt for a wedding.  Great band in the background. Guitar, bass, accordion and marimba. 

The Classic Look into the Future Pose

 

This is a favorite pose of politicians, running for office.  Slightly below eye line, looking off at a slight angle.  Though, I suspect this lady isn't throwing her hat in the ring.  I suspect she's looking away from the sun. 

Palm Springs

 

Written on the back, "Palm Springs 1946."  The man looks like he's about the right age to have been a World War 2 veteran, and Palm Springs would have been a nice place for a romantic reunion after being released from service.   Before blowing up the print, I actually thought he was wearing a military uniform, but now I don't think so. 

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. 

Krystal Gloss Prints 6

 

Time to finish up with a couple of dogs trying to climb a ladder. I suspect it leads to a rickety wooden bridge crossing the river.  It looks like the bottom dog needs some help.  Click on The Crystal Gloss Collection in labels to see the now completed collection.