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.   

Aquamaids!

No, I'm not converting The New Found Photography into a postcard blog.  As a matter of fact, I'm going back to photographs soon.

So, Cypress Gardens.  Founded by Dick and Julie Pope in 1936, it was originally a botanic garden.  The Popes were both enthusiastic water skiers, so then came the shows.  Then there was amusement park rides, and before anyone new it, Florida had its first theme park.  Sadly Cypress Gardens couldn't compete with the newly opened Disney World in nearby Orlando.  After a number of ownership changes, Cypress Gardens was purchased by Legoland.  Bye bye water skies, hello plastic blocks.

The caption on the back, "BEAUTY ON PARADE: The Aquamaids of Cypress Gardens ski in four daily water ski shows and really exemplify the youthful spirit of Florida as they skim over the water in formation."

A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody

Old song, old postcard, and proof that a pretty girl can be used to sell anything.  In this case, Cypress Gardens and postcards.

The caption on the back, "Giant blue Hydrangeas with cover girl, Martha Gray, make this a lovely scene along one of the paths that wind through the tropical Cypress Gardens."  Helpful hint, never include cover girl in an internet search.  Unless, of course, you want to buy lots and lots of makeup.