Wednesday, December 18, 2013

California's Golden Oranges And Waxlike Blossoms

California's Golden Oranges and Waxlike Blossoms Pg. 1

California's Golden Oranges and Waxlike Blossoms Pg. 2

This vintage postcard from my grandparents' collection was manufactured by the Longshaw Card Company of Los Angeles, California. I don't know the exact publication date of this postcard, but I found it on ebay.com, and on that website it says the postcard is from the 1940s.

Transcription from back of postcard:

Oranges are 58% of California's total fruit crop. Between 35 and 40 million boxes are produced in this state every year. The Naval orange (seedless) is a native of California and is highly prized for its fine flavor.
Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, December 9, 2013

The Salt Lake Temple ~ Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake Temple Postcard pg. 1 - 1933
Salt Lake Temple Postcard pg. 2 - 1933

This is a 1933 genuine Curt Teich, C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard from my grandparents' collection.

Transcription from back of postcard:
The Salt Lake Temple was commenced in 1853 and completed in 1893 at a cost of approximately $4,000,000. It is 186½ feet long by 99 feet wide. The stone footing is 16 feet thick. The basement walls are 9 feet thick, and the upper walls 6 feet thick. The side walls are 107½ feet high. The east center tower is 210 feet high, surmounted by a hammered copper statue of Angel Moroni, 12½ feet high, gilded with pure gold leaf.
My grandparents and their family visited Utah on their way across the country in 1952. They had emigrated from Brazil and arrived in New York. After buying a car and some camping equipment, they set out on their journey across the country toward their final destination in Southern California.

My grandparents and their family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a couple of years before they immigrated to the United States. I'm sure that visiting Utah was a very special experience for them. There are several vintage postcards from Utah in their collection, as well as photos too.

During the week of Thanksgiving, my husband and I went to Utah to spend time with some of our children. While we were there, we took the opportunity to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square. The Salt Lake Temple (pictured in this postcard) is located at Temple Square. It is a magnificent and beautiful temple. Construction of this temple took 40 years to complete.

I thought I'd share a few pictures I took of the Christmas lights on Temple Square.

Salt Lake Temple and Christmas Lights on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake Temple and Christmas Lights on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake Temple and Christmas Lights on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Home of Bing Crosby, Toluca Lake, North Hollywood, California

Home of Bing Crosby, Toluca Lake, North Hollywood, California Pg. 1

Home of Bing Crosby, Toluca Lake, North Hollywood, California Pg. 2

How fun is this vintage postcard!? I'm so glad my grandparents included it in their collection.

This linen postcard was manufactured by the Longshaw Card Co. of Los Angeles, California. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly when it was manufactured. According to the Postcard Collectors' Reference Guide by Postcardy.com, linen postcards were produced from 1933 until the early 1950s. So, this information at least gives us a rough estimate of when this postcard was produced.

The Los Angeles Times' website posted a photo gallery of this famous home. If you'd like to see these photos, click 
HERE.

Can you believe it's already December? Of course, that means Christmas is just around the corner. Yay! One of our family's favorite Christmas movies is White Christmas, which stars Bing Crosby. In this movie, Bing Crosby sings the Irving Berlin song "White Christmas."

And so, for your listening pleasure, please enjoy listening to this recording of Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas."





Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Mulholland Memorial Fountain, Entrance to Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California

Mulholland Memorial Fountain, Entrance to Griffith park, Los Angeles, California Pg. 1

Mulholland Memorial Fountain, Entrance to Griffith park, Los Angeles, California Pg. 2

This is a 1940 C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard from my grandparents' collection. It was published by the Western Publishing & Novelty Co. of Los Angeles, California. The postcard shows the William Mulholland Memorial Fountain.

Transcription from back of postcard:
The William Mulholland Memorial Fountain is located at the junction of Los Feliz Boulevard and Riverside Drive at the entrance to Griffith Park. It was erected in commemoration of a life devoted to Civic Development, the building of the Los Angeles aqueduct, and his service with the Metropolitan District.
The blog, Big Orange Landmarks, has a blog post about the William Mulholland Memorial Fountain. There are several photos of this beautiful fountain in this blog post. If you'd like to check out the photos, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Praca Da Estacao – Rio Claro, Brazil

Rio Claro, Brazil - Praca Da Estacao pg. 1

Rio Claro, Brazil - Praca Da Estacao pg. 2

This vintage Wessel postcard shows Praca Da Estacao in Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, Brazil. If I'm not mistaken, Praca Da Estacao means Station Square in English.

This is a special postcard because my mom was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She, along with her family, immigrated to the United States in 1952. After the family arrived in New York, they bought a car and some camping equipment and traveled across the United States to California. Along the way, they took pictures and bought postcards. I've written about their immigration in my genealogy blog. If you're interested in their story, click
HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!



© 2012 - 2013 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved

Monday, November 4, 2013

General U. S. Grant's Bed Room in Grant's Home, Galena, Illinois

General U.S. Grant's Bedroom in Grant's Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 1

General U.S. Grant's Bedroom in Grant's Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 2

This genuine Curt Teich C.T. American Art vintage postcard from my grandparents' collection shows the bedroom of General U. S. Grant. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how old this postcard is. I'm not familiar enough with the Curt Teich postcard dating system to figure out what the 2320-C-N means. Those numbers and letters are located at the bottom right of the postcard.

With other Curt Teich vintage postcards in my grandparents' collection, I've been able to determine their dates by using the "Guide to Dating Curt Teich Postcards" on ebay.com

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Kitchen, General U. S. Grant Home ~ Galena, Illinois

Kitchen, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 1

Kitchen, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 2

This is a genuine Curt Teich "C.T. American Art" vintage postcard. It was published for Larey's in Galena, Illinois. The postcard shows the kitchen of the General U. S. Grant Home in Galena, Illinois.

My maternal grandparents and their family visited this historic home in 1952 on their way to Southern California. They emigrated from Brazil on July 7, 1952 and arrived in New York City on July 22, 1952. They bought a car and some camping equipment and traveled across the country toward their destination in Southern California. If you'd like to read about their immigration story, click
HERE.

Transcription from back of postcard -

The kitchen in the General U. S. Grant home is furnished with typical furnishings of the 1865 period. The cook stove, the old iron type with warming oven, the iron kettles and earthenware are genuine antiques. The furniture is solid walnut. Bennington pitchers and English china dishes adorn the table and old fashioned cupboard.

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Palms and Flowers in a California Residential District

Palms and Flowers in a California Residential District Pg. 1

Palms and Flowers in a California Residential District Pg. 2

This is a 1931 C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard from my grandparents' collection. It was published by the Western Publishing & Novelty Co. of Los Angeles, California.

The postcard shows beautiful flowers and palm trees in a California residential area. Isn't it a beautiful scene? Unfortunately, the postcard doesn't specify exactly where in California this is. Does it look like Southern California? What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Parlor, General U. S. Grant Home, Galena, Illinois

Parlor, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 1

Parlor, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 2

This is a genuine Curt Teich, "C.T. American Art" vintage postcard. It shows the parlor of the General U. S. Grant Home in Galena, Illinois.

Transcription from back of postcard:
The parlor in the General U. S. Grant home has the original horsehair covered walnut furniture that was in the home when given to the Grant family in 1865. The vases on the mantel are of Bohemian glass with miniature paintings, accurate in every detail, painted by a famous painter of that day. They were a gift to the General while on his world tour. This home is now a state memorial and open to the public daily. Admission free.
My grandparents, Debs and Willis Webster and their family, visited the General U. S. Grant home as they traveled across the United States from New York to California in 1952There are several vintage postcards of this historic home in my grandparents' collection.

If you'd like to learn more about the historic General U. S. Grant Home, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, October 7, 2013

Greetings from Hollywood California

Greetings from Hollywood California Pg. 1

Greetings from Hollywood California Pg. 2

This is a 1936 C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard which was published by the Western Publishing & Novelty Co. of Los Angeles, California.

My grandparents and their family emigrated from Brazil to the United States in 1952. They arrived in New York and traveled across the United States on their way to their final destination of Southern California. There are many vintage postcards from California in my grandparents' collection. The postcard I'm sharing with you today is one of them.

Hollywood is a popular tourist destination. After arriving in California, my grandparents and their family visited the Hollywood Walk of FameHere's a picture of them at this famous tourist spot. My two uncles are the little boys in the photo and my Grandma Willis is to the left of them. Willis' mother is the woman in the foreground of the photo on the right.


Hollywood, California 1952

I did a little bit of research online, and it appears that the younger of my two uncles (the one on the right) is standing on the handprint/footprint square for Diana Wynyard. And directly behind him is the square for Judy Garland. My other uncle is standing in between the squares for Mickey Rooney and Norma Shearer. Willis' mom is standing on the square for the Ritz Brothers.

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Dining Room in Gen. U. S. Grant's Home, Galena, Illinois

Dining Room, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 1 - 1944

Dining Room, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 2 - 1944

This 1944 Genuine Curt Teich "C.T. American Art" vintage postcard is one of several postcards from my grandparents' collection showing the General U. S. Grant Home in Galena, Illinois.

As they
traveled across the country from New York to California in 1952, my grandparents and their family visited this historic home.

If you'd like to learn more about the General U. S. Grant Home, click
HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!



© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, September 23, 2013

Library, General U. S. Grant's Home, Galena, Illinois

Library, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 1

Library, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 2

This is a vintage postcard by the E. C. Kropp Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It's part of my grandparents' vintage postcard collection.

The postcard shows the Library at the General U. S. Grant Home in Galena, Illinois. My maternal grandparents and their family stopped to visit this historic home as they traveled from New York to California in 1952 as part of their immigration to the United States from Brazil.

Transcription from back of postcard:
General Grant's home built in 1857 by Alexander Jackson, was presented to him by the citizens of Galena in 1865 and later presented to the city by his children in 1904 to be used as a Memorial. Here are found the original furniture, carpets, dishes and what-have-you used by Grant and his family while living in Galena.
If you'd like to learn more about the historic General U. S. Grant Home, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, September 16, 2013

Home of General U. S. Grant ~ Galena, Illinois

General U. S. Grant Home, Galena, Illinois Postcard

General U. S. Grant Home, Galena, Illinois Postcard

This is a Curt Teich "C.T. American Art" vintage postcard. It is one of several postcards of the historic General U.S. Grant home in my grandparents' collection.

Transcription from back of postcard.
This home was built in 1857 by Alexander Jackson. Eight years later it was purchased by the City of Galena, furnished and presented to General U. S. Grant on his return from the Civil War. In 1904 the heirs of the Grant estate deeded it to the City as a memorial to their father. In 1932 it became a state memorial and is open to the public daily from 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. Admission Free.
My grandparents, Debs and Willis Webster and their family, visited this historic home as they traveled across the United States from New York to California in 1952. Below is a photo of the Webster family in front of the General U.S. Grant home.

91 - Webster Family in Front of General U.S. Grant Home Galena, Illinois 1952 Photoshopped

Here's a zoomed in view of the sign in front of the home.

91 - Webster Family in Front of General U.S Grant Home Sign Cropped

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, September 9, 2013

Ocotillo In Bloom On The Desert

Ocotillo In Bloom On The Desert Pg. 1

Ocotillo In Bloom On The Desert Pg. 2

This vintage postcard was manufactured by the Longshaw Card Company of Los Angeles, California. I'm not sure what year this postcard was created. After doing research online, I've seen it dated sometime in the 1930s or the mid-20th century.

Transcription from back of postcard:

Ocotillo (candlewood), one of the oddest desert shrubs, is not a cactus despite its thorny "canes" which form the tall stems of this scarlet-tipped plant. The bark contains resin, gum and wax, and burns fiercely giving off intensely black smoke. The Cahuilla Indians eat both flowers and seeds.
Here is a photo of the Ocotillo plant.


Ocotillo in Phoenix, Arizona No Copyright Wikipedia
Ocotillo Plant in Phoenix, Arizona
Wikipedia - No Copyright

This photo (below) shows a close-up of one of the Ocotillo flowers. See the bee hovering above it?


Ocotillo-with-bee Wikimedia Commons Photo by Jeff Dean
Ocotillo Flower
Wikimedia Commons
Photo by Jeff Dean

To learn more about this plant, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

The Bird Park, Santa Catalina, California

The Bird Park, Santa Catalina, California pg. 1

The Bird Park, Santa Catalina, California pg. 2

Did you know there used to be a bird park on Catalina Island? It was established in 1929 and closed in 1966. To read more about the bird park, click HERE.

This 1939 Curt Teich C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard shows the Santa Catalina Bird Park.

Transcription from back of postcard:

The Santa Catalina Bird Park comprises about eight acres in a beautiful canyon where thousands of rare species of birds, collected from all over the world, are exhibited free to the public. Here dwell together in a colorful community rare and beautiful birds from every land and clime.
Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California pg. 1

The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California pg. 2

With the 2013 college football season about to begin, I thought this was the perfect time to share this fun vintage postcard with you.

This is a 1951 Curt Teich C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard showing The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Transcription from back of postcard:
ROSE BOWL, PASADENA
     The scene of the annual East-West football championship, which is played on New Year's Day. Each year the Tournament of Roses Association invites the western university whose team has made the most outstanding record during the season. The university in turn invites its opponent of similar standing from the East. This game has become a national classic. Over 100,000 football enthusiasts crowd this immense stadium.
     Of interest to the visitors are the 5,000 beautiful rose bushes, some 157 varieties, that encircle the stadium.
Thanks for stopping by!



© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, August 19, 2013

Beach Clubs and Homes, Santa Monica, California

Beach Clubs and Homes, Santa Monica, California Pg. 1

Beach Clubs and Homes, Santa Monica, California Pg. 2

This 1941 Curt Teich C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard shows beach clubs and homes in Santa Monica, California.

Transcription from back of postcard:

The beautiful shaded park that crowns the famous Palisades at Santa Monica, overlooks one of the finest bathing beaches in the West. Many of the movie stars have homes along the shores of the Pacific, and also there are numerous fashionable beach clubs.
Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Catalina Island

Catalina Island Pg. 1

Catalina Island Pg. 2

This is a 1935 Curt Teich C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard from my grandparents' collection.

It shows Catalina Island, also referred to as Santa Catalina Island, or simply Catalina, which is about 22 miles off the coast of Southern California.  The Catalina Chamber of Commerce has an official website.  If you’d like to check it out, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, August 12, 2013

New $3,000,000 Mutual Don Lee Television-Radio Studio, Hollywood, California

New 3 Million Dollar Mutual Don Lee Television -Radio Studio - Hollywood, California Pg. 1

New 3 Million Dollar Mutual Don Lee Television -Radio Studio - Hollywood, California Pg. 2

This is a 1948 Curt Teich C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard showing the Mutual Don Lee Television-Radio Studio in Hollywood, California.

Transcription from back of postcard:
MUTUAL DON LEE
TELEVISION-RADIO STUDIO, HOLLYWOOD 
World's greatest studio built exclusively for television-radio at 1313 North Vine Street, covers four enormous theatres decorated in 19 dazzling colors to create optical effects. "Poly-cylindrical diffuses" and walls tilted at angles obtain maximum acoustical effects.
Here is what the building looks like today, courtesy of Googlemaps.com. The building no longer houses the Don Lee Television-Radio Studio. The sign on the building says:
Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences 
Pickford Center

Googlemap showing Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Hollywood

To read more about this historic building, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, August 5, 2013

Construction of Tabernacle Roof, Salt Lake City, Utah

Construction of Tabernacle Roof, Salt Lake City, Utah Postcard pg. 1 - 1940

Construction of Tabernacle Roof, Salt Lake City, Utah Postcard pg. 2 - 1940

This 1940 Curt Teich C.T. Art-Colortone vintage postcard shows the beautiful Salt Lake Tabernacle while it was under construction.

Transcription on back of postcard:

THIS CONSTRUCTION began in 1863 and was first used for a conference of the Church in 1867. The roof, the principal portion of the building, rests upon 44 sandstone buttresses 3 feet thick, 14 to 20 feet high and 9 feet wide. The arches are of a lattice truss construction, securely fastened, where necessary, with cowhide and wooden pegs. The Tabernacle is 250 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 80 feet high, and seats approximately 8,000 people.
The Salt Lake Tabernacle is a truly remarkable and historic building. It has been designated as a national historic landmark as well as a national civil engineering landmark.

The world-famous
Mormon Tabernacle Choir has performed in the Tabernacle since it’s earliest days. In addition to performing in the Tabernacle, the Choir also performs in the 21,000 seat auditorium in the Conference Center.

The Salt Lake Tabernacle has amazing acoustics. One of the ways the tour guides demonstrate this is by dropping a pin at the pulpit. It can be heard by those sitting in the back of the hall, 170 feet away.

This photo, taken in 2012 while we were on vacation, shows the Salt Lake Tabernacle as it appears today.


Salt Lake Tabernacle 2012

And here's a photo showing the inside of the beautiful Salt Lake Tabernacle. We took this photo while were in Utah in June of 2011.

Inside the Salt Lake Tabernacle June 2011

Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

East Colorado Street, Pasadena, California

East Colorado Street, Pasadena, California Pg. 1

East Colorado Street, Pasadena, California Pg. 2

I love this 1949 Curt Teich Art-Colortone vintage postcard. Pictured is East Colorado Street (now called East Colorado Boulevard), which was and still is part of the parade route for the famous annual Tournament of Roses parade.

Transcription on back of postcard:
Colorado Street, Pasadena
The main business thoroughfare of this beautiful city. Lined with many fine shops, this avenue is famous as the scene of the annual Tournament of Roses parade, a floral pageant viewed by millions.
Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, July 29, 2013

Water Tower At Night, Jones Beach State Park – Long Island, New York

Water Tower at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York pg. 1

Water Tower at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York pg. 2

Here we have a vintage postcard made by the Tomlin Art Company of Northport, Long Island. It shows an evening view of the Water Tower at Jones Beach State Park.

Transcription from back of postcard:

Jones Beach State Park, one of the State Parks under the jurisdiction of the Long Island State Park Commission, is located near Wantagh, on the South Shore of Long Island, thirty-three miles from New York City and is easily reached by automobile, train or bus. The Long Island State Parkways, Sunrise Highway and Merrick Road connect with the causeways leading directly into Jones Beach. Major attractions are surf, bay and heated pool bathing, boardwalk, restaurants and cafeterias, night features at the Marine Theatre, children's playgrounds, shuffleboards, archery, pitch-putt golf and other outdoor games.
Thanks for stopping by!


© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

"Wawona" Mariposa Grove of Big Trees – Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park - Wawona Mariposa Grove of Big Trees Pg. 1

Yosemite National Park - Wawona Mariposa Grove of Big Trees Pg. 2

Happy summer to my awesome readers! Summertime and road trips go hand in hand. So it's the perfect time of year to share this 1939 Curt Teich Art-Colortone vintage postcard. It shows a car full of people driving through the famous "Wawona" tunnel tree in Yosemite National Park.

Transcription from back of postcard:

The famous "Wawona" tunnel tree is in the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees, a pleasant drive of 36 miles from the hotels or camps in Yosemite Valley. In this grove more than six hundred giant sequoias have been growing here for centuries…the earth's largest and oldest trees.
According to the National Park Service website, a tunnel was cut through the famous Wawona  tree in 1881. Unfortunately, the tree fell during the winter of 1968-69.

Thanks for stopping by!



© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, July 15, 2013

Houses On Colorful Rainbow Avenue–Fort Benning, Georgia

Houses on Colorful Rainbow Avenue, Fort Benning, Georgia pg. 1

Houses on Colorful Rainbow Avenue, Fort Benning, Georgia pg. 2

This E. C. Kropp Co. vintage postcard is part of my grandparents' postcard collection. I don't know when they purchased it, but the postcard must be dated before 1956, because that is the year the E. C. Kropp Co. was sold to the L. L. Cook Co. in 1956.

Description on Back of Postcard -
All married officers and soldiers of Fort Benning rent their homes through a billeting office that was established with the cooperation of the Chamber of Commere (sic) and the Columbus real estate board. Columbus receives a large share of the ever increasing population of the Fort.
Thanks for stopping by!

© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

Monday, July 8, 2013

John Howard Payne Home – Historical Long Island

John Howard Payne Home - Historical Long Island Postcard pg. 1

John Howard Payne Home - Historical Long Island Postcard pg. 2

Description on Back -
HISTORICAL LONG ISLAND:  "HOME SWEET HOME," East Hampton, N. Y.  John Howard Payne, the famous author, was born here June 9th, 1791.  The House was built in 1660 and the windmill in 1771.  Thousands of people visit "Home Sweet Home" each year because of its valuable collection of antiques and relics.  It is open to the public and owned by the village.
This Dextone vintage postcard shows the birthplace of John Howard Payne, who wrote the lyrics to the song "Home, Sweet Home." In case you can't quite recall which song this is, I'm sure you'll say, "Oh ya!" when you read the opening lines -
Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;
Thanks for stopping by!

© 2013 Copyright by Jana Last

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