More Magic

March 5, 2010
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By popular demand, here’s some more vintage lithographs advertising turn of the century magic shows, including performances by Thurston, Houdini, Kar-Mi, and Leon Herrmann.

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Shamrock Hotel

March 5, 2010
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Opened on St. Patrick’s Day in 1949, the Shamrock was the largest hotel built in the U.S. during the 1940s. It was built on what was then the outskirts of Houston, the 1,100 room structure having been designed by Fort Worth architect Wyatt C. Hedrick. It was demolished in 1987.

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The Glamour Spot of Glamorous Hollywood

March 5, 2010
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You may recall an earlier post about the Earl Carroll Theatre-Restaurant, a very happening Hollywood hangout in the 1940s. This time we have a very different postcard, with free postage, no less.

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Po and Wing

March 5, 2010
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This postcard shows “Po and Wing in China-Town”, and was made by E. C. Kropp Co., a publisher that was active between 1907 and 1956. This card, mailed from Dublin, Texas in October of 1908, dates from a time when the back of postcards was to be used only for writing the address, any correspondence [...]

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River Court Motel

March 4, 2010
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RIVER COURT
Fort Myers, Florida
On U.S. 41 and Florida 80 So.
Telephone 5-6181
“Situated on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River in downtown Fort Myers near restaurants, stores, churches, theaters, fishing and river trips. Large comfortable rooms and suites. Air conditioned units, Panel Ray heat. Roy Acland, Manager.”
OK, I give… what’s “Panel Ray” heat?

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Williamsport, Pennsylvania

March 4, 2010
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This postcard of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, mailed in 1950, was published by the Mebane Greeting Card Co. of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Uncharacteristic for a card from that era, there is no description of the image on the back.

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The Wolf

March 4, 2010
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Based on the 1908 book by Eugene Walter (1874-1941), The Wolf was a popular stage production before being filmed in 1914. While successful, The Wolf failed to receive the critical acclaim garnered by Walter’s earlier effort, Paid in Full. In 1922 the story would become the first full-length melodrama on radio, presented by station WGY [...]

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The Girl with the Whooping Cough

March 4, 2010
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Starring stage and screen actress Valeska Suratt, the 1910 play The Girl with the Whooping Cough is best known for having been closed by the mayor of New York for indecency. It had been brought to the attention of Mayor Gaynor that the play was wholly inappropriate, and upon reading the script he refused to [...]

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The Big Banner Show

March 4, 2010
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It seems that everyone with a printer is trying to get people to buy framed (or unframed) copies of this poster, but no one seems to know much about it. From what I can determine, the lithograph dates from around 1910, and the “Big Banner Show” consisted of two 1-act burlesque shows… sort of a [...]

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Ride the Ducks

March 3, 2010
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If these amphibious vehicles look familiar, you’ve probably seen them on the battlefield in old World War II film footage. Still used today for river/lake tours in Wisconsin Dells, these “Ducks” are the very vehicles that were used in Europe, the Pacific, and again later in the Korean War. That’s right, they’re army surplus, and [...]

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Astor Court

March 3, 2010
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Now there’s something you don’t see anymore, a roadside phone booth with a big arrow pointing to it! Probably photographed in the late 1950s, the back of the postcard includes this description:
ASTOR COURT
On U. S. Highways 31W and 41
Nine Miles North of Nashville, Tenn.
Grade A Fourteen Modern Units – Electric Heat – Completely Air Conditioned [...]

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Historic Illinois

March 3, 2010
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Nothing against the great state of Illinois, but is this postcard ugly, or what? Dating from the early 1960s, the back reads:
GREETINGS FROM THE LAND OF LINCOLN
Nearly a century and a half ago, a raw-boned youth planted his feet firmly on Illinois soil for the first time. With the long loose stride of the woodsman, [...]

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Greetings from Kentucky

March 3, 2010
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The next time you need to know the principal products of Kentucky, you need go no further than this “Greetings from Kentucky” postcard. Pretty cool stuff… next time I pass through I’ll have to pay more attention!

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Fern Bisel Peat

March 2, 2010
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Fern Bisel Peat (1893-1971) is best known for the illustrations she did for children’s books, and I just stumbled across this example of her work on the cover of the magazine, Children’s Play Mate. I know that she held the position of Art Director for that publication, but I’ve been unable to find much else [...]

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Youthful Creativity

March 2, 2010
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Another photograph taken in ‘42 at the Robstown, Texas labor camp, this one showing a boy making a model airplane as a girl watches.

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Robstown Labor Camp

March 2, 2010
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Permanent shelters used to house migrant workers in Robstown, Texas. The labor camp was photographed in January of 1942 by Arthur Rothstein (1915-1985) for the Farm Security Administration.

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DVD Review: The First Kings of Comedy

March 2, 2010
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If you have a casual interest in silent comedies, The First Kings of Comedy Collection might convert you into the ranks of a true enthusiast. The disk consists of two documentaries about the silent comedy era, both produced by Robert Youngson, that serve up laughs as well as interesting facts about the films and their [...]

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Boating in the Ozarks

March 1, 2010
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Here’s a postcard by Curt Teich Co. that dates from 1953, showing two boats making time across Lake Norfork. The description is short and to the point: “All kinds of Water Sports and other recreational facilities are available on beautiful Lake Norfork in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas.”

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