Wish You Were Hear: Haven't Found Anything (I Love You)

Canada's Pavilion at Expo '67 - Montreal, Quebec

Mailed from Expo '67 in Montreal, Quebec to Miss Pat Hoover of Caldwell, Idaho on August 17, 1967:

II
Pat. 3. U.S. exhibit, really good not commercial, most people seem to like it. Willie and I did. Looked for something for you, haven't found anything (I love you) yet but will look harder tomorrow. We still have about half the fair to see. I miss you - Bruce

Washakie, Giant Roadside Indian — 1963

Washakie, Giant Roadside Indian — 1963, a photo by ElectroSpark on Flickr.

Washakie, "Friend of the White Man" at the entrance to the Shoshone Ice Caves, Shoshone, Idaho. Here he is today »

© Original 35mm Technicolor slide transparency

Wish You Were Hear: Real Psychedelic

Pavilion of the United States at Expo '67 - Montreal, Quebec

Mailed from Expo '67 in Montreal, Quebec to Miss Pat Hoover of Caldwell, Idaho on August 17, 1967:

Tuesday
I -
Dear Pat,
We got to Montreal yesterday and have only been lost 5-10 times. Saw half of the Expo today, the rest tomorrow. Three real great exhibits 1. Kaleidoscope - movies in mirror box - real psychedelic. 2. Christianity pavilion - Christianity pavilion shows what today's world is like with pictures.
Love Bruce

Wish You Were Hear: Dirty Town

Purple Tree Lounge at the Manger Hotel - Rochester, New York

Mailed from Rochester, New York to The Janssens of Canaga Park, California on May 3, 1967:

Hi. My what a dirty town this is - we are having a grand time - we are going to Niagara Falls tomorrow - and will be going home Sunday, it will take me two weeks to rest up - will write more when I get home. Love, Lucille Mom

Roller Rinks of the Past #23: Akron Rollercade, Inc. - Akron, Ohio

Akron Rollercade, Inc. - Akron, Ohio

I couldn't find much on the history of the Akron Rollercade. I found mentions of it, but no actual history. I am guessing this label is from the 1940s (approximately). So, I guess that it's been around quite a while.

Absolutely amazingly, this place is still standing. It's not much to look at from the outside but it's a minor miracle that any old roller rink survived into the 21st Century. It's now known as the GSFE Cade Roller Rink.

View Larger Map

Wish You Were Hear: Big City Problems

The Biltmore Hotel - Los Angeles, California

Mailed from Los Angeles 20, California to Miss Rose Weinmann of National Standard Co. of Niles, Michigan on April 3, 1957:

Wed. A.M.
Dear Rosie,
All calls finished except Larry Cornelius this noon. This a big city - seems like every call I made required 10-20 miles of driving - Never know where I am. Take sleeper to Phoenix to-night. Best Wishes, Alfred

Disneyland (1957)

Some awesome video of Disneyland in 1957 from the Disneyland History Institute website. I love how bright, clean and vivid everything is.

Wish You Were Hear: Little Lulu

Biltmore Hotel - Los Angeles, California

Mailed from Los Angeles 14, California to The Beylers of South Bend 16, Indiana on May 16, 1946:

The 8 1/2 hr flight from Chgo to L.A. is the way to travel. Very cold here today. Fur coat a necessity. Regards, "Little Lulu"

Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (1957)

The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company explains how they make Cleveland the "best location in the nation." Features an Introduction by Elmer L. Lindseth, President of Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. It's electric!

Wish You Were Hear: Two From The Pickwick

Pickwick Hotel and Motor Inn - San Francisco, California

Mailed from San Francisco, California to Pat Hoover in the New Dorm at the College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho on January 16, 1967:

Pat - 2AM - Just got back from seeing the "Committee" real great, funny and kind of dirty. Saw a Picasso print show Cal. Sch. of Arts & Crafts where Peter taught. And Cal Campus - listened to a rally against the regents firing Kerr. All sorts of long haired and bearded people went into an art class where they were paint a live nude model, kind of shocked a few girls. I liked it.
Love, Bruce
A Cal button you might like: Sterilize LBJ - End Ugly Children! Some others were good but the postcard would(n't) get through the mail with them on it.

Mailed from San Francisco, California to Pat Hoover in the New Dorm at the College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho on January 21, 1967:

Dear Pat!
This is going to be a fast card. The party was kind of success, got a little high, not too many people. Everybody's gone now but now it's 3:30AM have to get up at 8:00, a lot of sleep. Going to Cal tomorrow, had a demonstration today, maybe tomorrow too. Love, Bruce

Wish You Were Hear: Reel 'Em In

Grant Avenue-Chinatown - San Francisco, California

Mailed from San Francisco, California to the Travel Information Division of the Oregon State Highway Department in Salem, Oregon on March 31, 1966:

Howdy:- Thanks for the wonderful lot of vacation literature and before too long keep a guard on the Oregon trout as we intent to reel 'em in. Wally H. Cochrane

Wish You Were Hear: Such Steep Hills

Cable Car on San Francisco Hill

Mailed from San Francisco, California to Mrs. Fred Kaiser of Haslett, Michigan on June 1, 1968:

Dear Aunt Dora -
People actually use these little cable cars for transportation around certain areas of San Francisco. The streets go up such steep hills it's frightening - but this is a wonderful city, and we love it.
Love, Irene

Marilyn Monroe Wardrobe Tests for "Niagara"

Photos of Marilyn Monroe's wardrobe tests for 1953's "Niagara"

Wish You Were Hear: Once Removed

Sheraton Inn - Portland, Oregon

Mailed from Portland, Oregon to Mr. & Mrs. Ferd E. Zimmer of New Orleans 12, Louisiana on August 12, 1962:

You are now the Ex-Pres & his lady once removed - All went well - had a wonderful time.
Sid & Anne

Paul Bunyan Center - Brainerd, Minnesota

MINNESOTA'S ANIMATED PAUL BUNYAN
Located at Brainerd, Minn., Paul is 36 feet tall and weighs 5,000 lbs. He talks, tells stories and sings lumberjack style. His size 44 cap shades his 16" moveable eyes. His broad shoulders and 18 ft. arms are protected by a size 73 shirt, which consists of 60 yards of wool-plaid material. Paul wears a size 80 boot boot with soles 5 feet long.

BABE THE BLUE OX
Constructed in Kansas City, Mo. by Joe T. Bowen. Shipped in one piece by railroad flatcar over five railroads. Wight 3600 pounds, height 15 feet, length 23 feet, width between horn tips 10 feet.


The Paul Bunyan Center stood on Excelsior Lane in Brainerd, Minnesota from 1953-2003. The park closed due to the high cost of upkeep. Luckily, the items were saved and shipped to a  new area on the outskirts of Brainerd called This Old Farm/Paul Bunyan Land. Even the footprints of the Paul Statue were saved in the Kohl's parking lot that now stands at the original site. Special thanks to Electrospark for the wonderful photos from a family's trip to Paul Bunyan Center in 1956.

Talking Paul Bunyan Statue

Dedicated to the Kids of Vacation Land

Sport, the Reversible Dog

Paul's Squirrel Henry

The Shrine of Paul

Boat Ride

Free Ride on Fire Truck

Paul Bunyan's Fire Department

Real-Picture Cheesecake Postcards

A series of cheesecake postcards from 1950.

I'm a Little Behind in My Writing

Apologies for the lack of posts this month. The combination of lots of travel and computer issues has slowed things way down. I will be better this month about getting some new (old) things posted!

Kleenex Sewing Projects - Model No. 5: Romany

Wow! Stripes!

Connie Francis at Hotel Sahara - Las Vegas, Nevada

Stan Irwin Presents
CONNIE FRANCIS

Kleenex Sewing Projects - Model No. 4: Dolly Varden

The name Dolly Varden comes from Dickens' story, Baranaby Rudge, and the Dolly Varden pattern is one of tiny bouquets of flowers printed on fabric.