Friday, September 11, 2009

South Haven

THE SOUTH HAVEN APARTMENTS

725 Bayshore Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

15 units on the Intercoastal Waterway. One hundred feet dock space, 3 blocks from ocean, elevator and maid service, shuffleboard court. Tel. Logan4-5256.


February 12, 1957

Fort Lauderdale, Florida


“We are thoroughly enjoying the lovely Florida sunshine and I for one will be sorry when our vacation ends. Weather has been ideal so far. Bill and I are about to start out and look for a golf course. See you in the near future.”

Emily and Bill


This building appears to have been replaced by a 12 story behemoth. The neighboring buildings are very much like this one.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The Waldorf Astoria

“The Unofficial Palace of New York

January 15, 1937

New York, New York

“I hope you are all well. There has been rain every day and visibility is poor but have seen many interesting things. Saw Hudson River and Grant’s Tomb today. Pipe organ playing now in this hotel.”

A.J.R.



Friday, September 4, 2009

Mirror Lake

Magnificient view of St. Petersburg's skyline reflected from the quiet surface of Mirror Lake. One of Florida's most exotic scenes.


July 17, 1962
Saint Petersburg, Florida

Dear Al
"Arrived here Thursday July 12th. Had a nice trip the weather was fine we are 1 st from mirror lake on card. Drop a line let me know any news."
Jessie Joe

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns

BIG ROOM
CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK
NEW MEXICO
These formations are along the trail in the famous Big Room.

September 6, 1988
Whites City, New Mexico

Hello All-
"So far it has been a good vacation, but New Orleans had rain for 3 days & I got a minor head cold- Texas was dry & now I head for the Pacific-"
Robert

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Valley of the Monuments

VALLEY OF THE MONUMENTS
Northern Arizona
"Unbelievable" is the word for this awe-inspiring land of nature's colorful and startling sculptures.

September 11, 1955
Whittier, California

"Well how are you all to day. I got back Sat after noon it took 8 hr to drive through monument valley boy they sure have bad road. I got my car clean up this morning and load up my tool will work on them tomorrow. Well guess we'll close"

Ma

Friday, August 28, 2009

Patricia Murphy's Candelight Restaurants

PATRICIA MURPHY'S CANDELIGHT RESTAURANTS
Since 1930
THE CASCADES, U.S. 1
Deerfield-Boca Raton, Florida
ALSO AT
Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
One Fifth Avenue, New York City
260 Madison Avenue, New York City
12 E. 49th Street, New York City
1703 Central Park Avenue, Westchester, N.Y.
OPEN EVERY DAY ALL YEAR



Hi Dears,
"Why can't we have a restaurant like this at home? We were so happy to see dear Art and Marge. They certainly rolled out the 'Red Carpet' for us all the way! They are just great. We arrived in Florida last Thursday and weather is 84-85 everyday. They are praying for rain. Water temp at pool is 84 too! Have good weather when we get home May 6!!!!"
Love to each of you,
Rene and Marge

Patricia Murphy is a restaurant success story from the Depression era. Here's an 1956 excerpt from the Charter, a Nova Scotia newspaper:

" A Newfoundland girl who left her home in Placentia during the Depression to seek her fortune in New York and with a few breaks from Lady Luck, together with boundless enthusiasm and energy, Patricia Murphy has found success.Patricia entered the restaurant business and later owned highly successful eating places in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Manhasset, L. I. and Yonkers."

She left for the great American metropolis with only a small allowance in her pocket and a self unpolished piano-playing talent. In New York she earned one meal a day by playing during luncheon at a small cafeteria. On the same street was a small tearoom where she often ate a "budget meal". One evening she found her favourite retreat closed. She pounded on the door and brought out the cook, who was packing up to leave. She heard the place was closing down because business was so poor, people were really hard hit for "eating out money", she recalled.

She offered the cook a job, made a deal with the landlord to pay $25.00 a week for the use of his equipment and space and then retired to her room with a thick American cookbook. At that time she knew nothing about the tastes of Americans, except they too seem to like hot bread and such mysterious things as "apple brown bells and prune whip". She decided on "popovers" as the hot bread because they could be made quickly and required inexpensive ingredients. Her business started to grow, slowly but surely, now her Yonkers restaurant on Central Ave. New York distributes 10,000 popovers a day, along with tiny loaves of hot bread, muffins, sweet rolls and biscuits. In 1938, Patricia moved into a second restaurant in Manhattan. She occupied herself with the two until she opened another, a suburban place in Manhasset in 1946."

Safety Harbor

SAFETY HARBOR SPA
Safety Harbor, Florida
Oldest Natural Mineral Spring Spa in America
Safety Harbor Spa combines the fun and relaxation of a gracious vacation with a sound, sensible health improving program under Professional supervision. Fifteen minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg International Airports.


December 20, 1967
Safety Harbor, Florida

Dear Maurice,
"All's well here. Not a hard life to take. Many New York friends to golf with. Weather has been mostly good and warm. Hope all is normal with estates. Looks like we will stay here 'till Feb. then to Sarasota (Far Horizons) for a month."
Best from the Mrs. and Happy New Year.

Milton

Monday, August 17, 2009

From the Catskills

Nature at its best, Catskill Mts, N.Y.

August 17, 1956
Hunter, New York

Hi Dad,
Having fun here. Hope you can come up on a weekend. Today, we went to Haines Falls and saw Mommy's Grandfather's and Grandmother's grave. Did I get any mail? From whom? Please write.

Love, Eleanor

Thursday, August 13, 2009

The Wagon Wheel

THE WAGON WHEEL

ROCKTON, ILLINOIS

Located at the intersection of Routes 2 and 75

Serving quality food that we believe you particularly desire. Only women are employed in the kitchen of THE WAGON WHEEL because women, through their innate sense of taste and daintiness excel in the fine arts of cookery. These enjoyable meals served in the quaint atmosphere of THE WAGON WHEEL will appeal to the most exacting appetite.



Un-mailed post card.

This caption cracks me up. As I recall, this place burned to the ground several years ago. I guess there were no men around to extinguish it.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Seaport Motor Inn, Mystic, Connecticut

SEAPORT MOTOR INN
Int. 95, Seaport Exit, Conn. Rte. 27, Mystic CT. On a hillside overlooking scenic Mystic River, Olde Mistick Village and Mystic Marinelete Aquarium. 1/4 mile from famous historic Mystic Seaport Museum. Open all year. Swimming Pool, A.C. Color T.V. Seafarer Restaurant and Captain's Lounge.


Card not mailed, but there is a note...

"This is where Amos was the other week, & then he was in Michigan & then he went to Boston & tomorrow he goes to N.Y. & then next week he goes to New England States again."

Friday, May 15, 2009

Earl-Carroll Theatre-Restaurant, Hollywood

The Earl Carroll Theatre-Restaurant in the heart of Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard near Vine, is a favorite Nite Spot in the Film Capital of the World. Seating arrangements are terraced so all guests may enjoy an unobstructed view of the lavish stage production with "Sixty of the Most Beautiful Girls in the World."

February 28, 1947
Burbank, California

Hello Kids.
"We are having a good time. Went up to Big Red Wood Forest Park to-day. 200 mi. up valley from here. We are starting home Mar. 4. We got lot of places to go yet. Hope everybody is O.K."

Mom & Dad

A very interesting history on this venue, from showgirls to Hair, to the Doors and finally, iCarly. Check out the wikipedia entry here.


Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The Deer Hunter

TABLES-TURNED on this deer hunter.

October 26, 1971
Gaines, Pennsylvania

Dear Greg,

"Hi. How are you? I know you missed me. So I'll be home soon. This man his deer tied him up and the deer is driving."

Love, Birdie.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Slipping on by on LSD, heading into town

A view of the south end of Lincoln Park with the newly constructed driveways, great bathing beach and recreation pier, and 440-foot beach house. This development, completed by the Chicago Park District in 1941, adds another to the many attractions of Chicago as a place for summer fun.

September 13, 1949
Chicago, Illinois

Hello Pauline & Art.
"We are having a good rest and a good time. Going out to the R.R. fair today."

Mom & Dad

The North Avenue Beach House was recently reconstructed in the same basic style, to appear like a cruise ship.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas

The Frontier Hotel Las Vegas Strip
Known as the "Friendly Hotel" the Frontier offers great star entertainment ans services.

September 20th, 1979
Las Vegas, Nevada

Dear Wilma,
"Russ & Annette have gone home. I'll fly back to Cleveland Oct 4th and Russ will take me home. The desert is so pretty. Going to a Mall today. Hope all are ok. More later." Marilyn

The hotel was torn down recently, but as far as I know, the sign still stands at the vacant lot.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Yosemite

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
"WAWONA" TUNNEL TREE
This famous tree is in the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees, a pleasant drive of 36 miles from the hotels and camps in Yosemite Valley. The "Wawona" tree is 227 feet tall, and 90 feet in circumference. In this grove more than six hundred giant Sequoias have been growing here for centuries... the Earth's largest and oldest trees.

August 26, 1954
San Rafael, California


Hi Folks,

"Drove through this tree today. It's just beautiful up here. We're enjoying our vacation so far. How's our little bambino doing? Give her a big fat kiss for me." Joe, Marge + kids.