Post Your Favorite Postcards Here.

[Rix Gins]

There is no telling when this pinup postcard was produced.  I'm far from being an expert on hairstyles, but if pressed I'd hazard a guess of 1930's-ish?  It should be mentioned here that show biz starlets used to have pics of themselves placed on postcards for low cost advertising purposes.  More well known show business folk would send out photo postcards at the request of fans.  I doubt that this is the case here because there is no name on the card, only a notation at the bottom left corner that says Made In U.S.A.  No, I kind of think that this is one part of a set of models posing in artistic surroundings.  Perhaps there was an ad in a pulp magazine that stated you could get twenty photo cards of scantily clad beauties posing especially for you. 

[Rix Gins]

Nice one, Rix!  120 Main St. -- you can see the Old Gold Coin next door in this old postcard.  The Coin is still there, but the restaurant is now Millie's.

I love this postcard, K.  Even with my colorblindness I can see that the waiter's coats are red, though I'm not sure about the color of that one waiter's pants.  Nice to know that the Old Gold Coin is still around.  Perhaps we can have some drinks there yet.

[K_Dubb]

I love this postcard, K.  Even with my colorblindness I can see that the waiter's coats are red, though I'm not sure about the color of that one waiter's pants.  Nice to know that the Old Gold Coin is still around.  Perhaps we can have some drinks there yet.

Oh that would be lovely, Rix!  The pants appear gray to me; I imagine they were given the jacket but had to provide the rest.  I've only been to one restaurant where the waiters still wore the traditional cropped red, in San Jose of all places.

You can see the back side of one of the little painted window figures on your postcard:

[Rix Gins]

Oh that would be lovely, Rix!  The pants appear gray to me; I imagine they were given the jacket but had to provide the rest.  I've only been to one restaurant where the waiters still wore the traditional cropped red, in San Jose of all places.

You can see the back side of one of the little painted window figures on your postcard:

Oh, thanks for pointing that out, K.  I was looking at the window frames in and out but I missed the window figure.  For some reason I thought that was the kitchen, haha.

[albrecht]

I love this postcard, K.  Even with my colorblindness I can see that the waiter's coats are red, though I'm not sure about the color of that one waiter's pants.  Nice to know that the Old Gold Coin is still around.  Perhaps we can have some drinks there yet.

It is a weird blueish-green I think? And oddly shiney? An odd choice. But I got a bit of color-blindness but not total. I thought at first the advertising maiden in the window looked more Dutch than Swedish, due to hat. I though Swedes were more "downish pointing" but search said  some style were that. Of course, all gets mixed over here when marketing and mixing. I do want to eat there and grab a drink next door. Modern maps say casinos there? Colorado is weed, gambling, and bars? Can opium dens and cat-houses be next? Bring back mining era?

[Rocketeer]

[Rix Gins]

Nice, colorful postcards.  Thanks for posting, Rocketeer.

[Rocketeer]

My pleasure, Rix.  Fun thread.

[K_Dubb]

It is a weird blueish-green I think? And oddly shiney? An odd choice. But I got a bit of color-blindness but not total. I thought at first the advertising maiden in the window looked more Dutch than Swedish, due to hat. I though Swedes were more "downish pointing" but search said  some style were that. Of course, all gets mixed over here when marketing and mixing. I do want to eat there and grab a drink next door. Modern maps say casinos there? Colorado is weed, gambling, and bars? Can opium dens and cat-houses be next? Bring back mining era?

The style of skaut varies widely by region.  it used to be the (literal) crowning glory of a married woman's dress, but no more.  I have to laugh at the bunad police, many of whom are older women, who will check you for every fault but go about bareheaded like trollops. 

[albrecht]

The style of skaut varies widely by region.  it used to be the (literal) crowning glory of a married woman's dress, but no more.  I have to laugh at the bunad police, many of whom are older women, who will check you for every fault but go about bareheaded like trollops.

Interesting. My search showed different styles, the one in window reminded me more of Dutch style hat, but I was wrong. Now, someone post cards n posters of true Dutch gals fixin to eat the new herring!  Was always appealing and strange to see at markets. But good. And stop your dirty thoughts! Will be featured at BG #Sardinefest also...

[Rocketeer]

A photographic favorite from Madagascar, circa pre-1950.  Love the shallow depth of field.

[Rix Gins]

A photographic favorite from Madagascar, circa pre-1950.  Love the shallow depth of field.

Amazing.  It looks almost 3-D.

[Rix Gins]

This very old 'declaration of love' postcard is something of a mystery.  At first glance I thought that it was never sent through the mails and sure enough, there are no postmarks on it and no sign of a stamp having ever been attached to it.  But look closely on the back of the card...



It seems that this postcard was intended to be mailed because there appears to be a name and address written on the right hand 'Address Only' part of the card.  Something happened to cause the sender (?) to rub the name and address off of the postcard. The remnants of the name and address became clear under my scanner's enlargement feature.  I wonder what happened to prevent the card from being sent?

 

[GravitySucks]

This very old 'declaration of love' postcard is something of a mystery.  At first glance I thought that it was never sent through the mails and sure enough, there are no postmarks on it and no sign of a stamp having ever been attached to it.  But look closely on the back of the card...



It seems that this postcard was intended to be mailed because there appears to be a name and address written on the right hand 'Address Only' part of the card.  Something happened to cause the sender (?) to rub the name and address off of the postcard. The remnants of the name and address became clear under my scanner's enlargement feature.  I wonder what happened to prevent the card from being sent?

Maybe they wrote the personal message on that side and then tried to erase it when they realized that was where the address was supposed to go?

[Rix Gins]

Maybe they wrote the personal message on that side and then tried to erase it when they realized that was where the address was supposed to go?

And then they didn't want to send it because the card looked defaced?  That's probably it.  There does appear to be a name at the bottom...Gily or Guy?  Drat, I kind of liked my 'lover's quarrel' theory.   

[GravitySucks]

And then they didn't want to send it because the card looked defaced?  That's probably it.  There does appear to be a name at the bottom...Gily or Guy?  Drat, I kind of liked my 'lover's quarrel' theory.   

I thought it said “Guy” as well. That is what made me think it was someone adding their name after a short message.

“Wish you were here.

                       Guy”

[Rocketeer]

my favorite part is the steam liner, tucked between the waves;
this card is early 60's circa and it brightly illuminates how so much of today's
leading (hipster) 'graphic design' is merely grave robbery


nearly anything space is perforce a hit with me

[Rix Gins]

I hope you didn't bring your appetite with you because this interesting looking restaurant is no more.  The building, or rather the dome, is still there but it has long since ceased to be an eatery.  This is a famous geodesic dome built by Buckminster Fuller, inventor of same, who was hired by the site owners at Woods Hole, Massachusetts to build a restaurant utilizing his dome design.


After the restaurant was built in 1953 there was a problem.  The glass walls of the dome magnified the sun's heat and the patrons felt like they were dining in a greenhouse.  So they installed fiberglass panels to reverse the effect and there went the nice outdoorsy view that could be looked at while one ate.  Plus the place would leak during rainstorms.   

The restaurant closed in 2002 and ever since, money hungry developers have wanted to buy the building so that they can tear it down and put in a lucrative housing complex for +55'ers, but they have been hamstrung by an ordinance that protects the historic site.  In the meantime, the building has fallen into disrepair, though I believe that there is an effort currently underway to rebuild the place.



Here is an interesting link to the building:
http://capecodwave.com/dome-woods-hole-buckminster-fullers-aging-futuristic-building/


https://youtu.be/vemzB7b3bqI


 

[Rix Gins]

Not in our collection, but here is a nice postcard showing a bakery department in the Los Angeles Farmer's Market.  I was in the store a number of times years ago, and I do vaguely remember a bakery section, but I'm not sure if it was the one shown on the postcard.

[Rix Gins]

I wonder where where this postcard was originally purchased.  At a restaurant or store in Washington, D.C. or the Reagan Library perhaps?

[albrecht]

So was going through bins of archives of a dead relative and trying to figure out what slides to keep or convert etc. And found some "store bought" slides from some Hawaiian outfit called "Hawaiian Super  Slides" that show various Hawaiian parks and fauna. And then one not marked by the same store label, but clearly by same place the way they were sealed, that featured "Polynesian Maidens." Oddly, still promoted "EASTMAN COLORFILM, TOO!" but lacked the address of the place that made the other ones. Not sure of the laws then but some under-the-table action going on? They weren't, even by then I suspect, pornographic, but maybe? These days certainly cable legal. But funny, also because someone could buy photos for the "show back home" with good quality, many of the slides I'm going through though quality film had bad photographer!....and then, later, also show the boys some of the foreign ladies?

[Rix Gins]

So was going through bins of archives of a dead relative and trying to figure out what slides to keep or convert etc. And found some "store bought" slides from some Hawaiian outfit called "Hawaiian Super  Slides" that show various Hawaiian parks and fauna. And then one not marked by the same store label, but clearly by same place the way they were sealed, that featured "Polynesian Maidens." Oddly, still promoted "EASTMAN COLORFILM, TOO!" but lacked the address of the place that made the other ones. Not sure of the laws then but some under-the-table action going on? They weren't, even by then I suspect, pornographic, but maybe? These days certainly cable legal. But funny, also because someone could buy photos for the "show back home" with good quality, many of the slides I'm going through though quality film had bad photographer!....and then, later, also show the boys some of the foreign ladies?

Slides were very popular during the 1940's and 50's.  I remember some relative on my mom's side who used to put up a projector screen and show slides.  I have a vague memory of seeing a slide of myself climbing a tree.  Pretty weird, I remember thinking to myself.  I looked so big up there on the screen as compared to looking at a picture in a photo album.

I think what you have there is worth something.  Are the maidens topless only?  I have occasionally come across a number of eBay slides and postcards showing topless Hawaiian/Polynesian ladies wearing Hulu grass skirts and posing by a waterfall or the ocean.  Mostly from the 1950's through the 1960's.  Good find.

[albrecht]

Slides were very popular during the 1940's and 50's.  I remember some relative on my mom's side who used to put up a projector screen and show slides.  I have a vague memory of seeing a slide of myself climbing a tree.  Pretty weird, I remember thinking to myself.  I looked so big up there on the screen as compared to looking at a picture in a photo album.

I think what you have there is worth something.  Are the maidens topless only?  I have occasionally come across a number of eBay slides and postcards showing topless Hawaiian/Polynesian ladies wearing Hulu grass skirts and posing by a waterfall or the ocean.  Mostly from the 1950's through the 1960's.  Good find.

Topless, bikini, and some nekkid but with bush. By standards today, or even Nat Geo standards back in the day, not that 'racy.' But maybe back then. So maybe for some collector but not for some prurient interest except for a very odd person. I think most were already thrown away. I only have a few of those. The rest of tons of family etc slides. As mentioned, good quality film but doesn't mean "photographer" was good with lighting etc. So tossing lots out. Keeping the good ones. I really should get a projector at this point on ebay or goodwill because using the backlight viewing deal thing and cheater glasses still makes hard to see them. Yes, I recall many times folks would set up a screen and have the slide shows of a vacation, family event,etc. Often boring. No "Polynesian Maidens" showed then. 

[Jackstar]

So tossing lots out.

I feel like this is perhaps not the wisest course. Just sayin'.

[albrecht]

I feel like this is perhaps not the wisest course. Just sayin'.

Dude, you are "triggering me." I don't hoard, but don't like to throw things out. Especially family stuff, books, tools, well....almost most stuff. I, finally, got over it, pitching some stuff out (like bad slides, duplicate pictures, some pictures I already scanned and archived, etc) and I get you!!     Ugh, I know, I'm always thinking even in the 'bad' pictures there is some cool stuff: old cars, backgrounds, relatives/friends I don't have many of but rest of picture out of focus, nature, random people in background, buildings now gone, parks not like now, and who knows what else (none in Dallas or LA during those events though, not mine, so will keep an eye out.) Some in Texas and DC during LBJ times.... 

[Jackstar]

Did you scan the bad ones? Original post unclear.

Don't get me wrong--incinerate and stick with digital everything possible, that would be my default. Look, all I'm saying, there might be one of Hillary's emails in there. Stay vigilant.

[Rix Gins]

A nice, 104 year old postcard with a simple message.

[PB the Deplorable]

Topless, bikini, and some nekkid but with bush. By standards today, or even Nat Geo standards back in the day, not that 'racy.' But maybe back then. So maybe for some collector but not for some prurient interest except for a very odd person. I think most were already thrown away. I only have a few of those. The rest of tons of family etc slides. As mentioned, good quality film but doesn't mean "photographer" was good with lighting etc. So tossing lots out. Keeping the good ones. I really should get a projector at this point on ebay or goodwill because using the backlight viewing deal thing and cheater glasses still makes hard to see them. Yes, I recall many times folks would set up a screen and have the slide shows of a vacation, family event,etc. Often boring. No "Polynesian Maidens" showed then. 

People buy old slides on Ebay.

I just finished converting 2000 slides I took one year of traveling, on a pretty good scanner (ScanMaker 9800XL) I bot on Ebay.  Took weeks to scan them all, and I still need to edit most of them.

I had a few slides of the type sold in tourist attraction gift shops, and wondered if they were being sold on Ebay.  Some are, but there are tons of amateur slides listed and sold.  They do have some of the slides of Hawaiian models there sometimes too.


Also, someone from work once sent me a postcard from Hawaii with the topless girls, and that was a lot more recent than the 50s or 60s

[Rix Gins]

People buy old slides on Ebay.

I just finished converting 2000 slides I took one year of traveling, on a pretty good scanner (ScanMaker 9800XL) I bot on Ebay.  Took weeks to scan them all, and I still need to edit most of them.

I had a few slides of the type sold in tourist attraction gift shops, and wondered if they were being sold on Ebay.  Some are, but there are tons of amateur slides listed and sold.  They do have some of the slides of Hawaiian models there sometimes too.


Also, someone from work once sent me a postcard from Hawaii with the topless girls, and that was a lot more recent than the 50s or 60s

I bought a set of six or so slides off of eBay showing the attack on Pearl Harbor.  They were old but not sure which year they were made.  There were pictures of the ships in the harbor but then for effect, they applied fake flames of fire on them as if they were burning, etc.  I'm sure they were from a souvenir shop because they were laid out in a in a row, were shrink filmed together and had a label at the top.  I haven't seen the slides on a projector, just one of those hand viewer things.     

[Rix Gins]

Here is an interesting look inside the Hotel Raleigh's restaurant.  Washington D.C.'s Hotel Raleigh, I should say.  I like those lounge chairs where I assume you were seated while waiting for a table.     

The hotel stood on the site of the Kirkwood House, where Vice President Andrew Johnson once lived.  He was sworn in as President there after Lincoln was assassinated.




I wish I could have us all there for dinner and dancing but sorry, the hotel was demolished back in 1964.


The Raleigh Hotel located at 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW in Washington, D.C.
By National Photo Company.  Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5768035