This is a 1939 Curt Teich, "C.T. Art-Colortone" vintage postcard from my grandparents' collection. It was published by the Western Publishing & Novelty Company of Los Angeles, California.
It shows the large cage at the Bird Park on Santa Catalina Island.
Santa Catalina Island, often referred to as Catalina Island, or simply Catalina, 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, here’s the link.
According to an article in the The Catalina Islander, May 11, 2001, found online at Google News, the Bird Park was established in 1929 and covered eight acres of land. It had over 500 cages and housed over 8,000 rare and exotic birds.
The Bird Park was a very popular attraction on Catalina Island for over thirty-five years. During World War II, the Park was scaled back and never regained it’s prewar vitality. It closed in 1966.
Transcription from back of postcard:
In this giant cage, 110 feet in diameter, 90 feet in height, are several hundred rare and beautiful birds, collected from all over the world – African Crowned Crane, golden and silver Pheasants, Peacocks, Australian Swans, Mandarin Duck, Cockatoos, Macaws, and many other interesting birds.
Thanks for stopping by!
© 2014 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved
This is a picture postcard showing Avenida São João in São Paulo, Brasil. It was written to my mom. I've blurred the names of my mom and her cousin for privacy reasons.
The postcard is dated September 29, but unfortunately, there isn't a year included in the date. I know it was written after July of 1952, because that's when my mom and her family emigrated from Brazil to the United States. I've written about their immigration story in my genealogy blog, Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog.
The family traveled by ship, arrived in New York, bought a car and some camping equipment, and traveled across the United States toward their final destination in Southern California. Along the way, they took pictures and bought postcards. If you'd like to read about their trip, click HERE.
Transcription from back of postcard:
September, 29
Hi,
This picture is to help you to do not forget me, and within a few days I'll write you a very big letter. Hoping you are all right. I close it with love to all of you,
from your cousin
What a sweet postcard!
Thanks for stopping by!
© 2014 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved
This vintage postcard was sent to my maternal grandfather, Debs Warren Webster. It's a "Plastichrome" color photo postcard showing a harbor on Long Island's North Shore. The photo was taken by Milt Price, Northport, N. Y., and was published by the Tomlin Art Company. The postmark/cancel date on this vintage postcard is March 27, 1953.
Transcription from back of postcard:
Typed Description of Postcard Image:
PICTURESQUE LONG ISLAND WATERFRONT. Rowboats and yachts of all descriptions can be found in this sheltered deepwater harbor on Long Island's famous North Shore.
Handwritten Message:
My Dear Folks,
Very shortly will write you. Have never had such a busy winter. Have some snap shots to send & also a page, in newspaper, about Brazil to send that think you would enjoy. We are both well & rushing about daily. Our Long Island is growing very fast & so many people coming here to live & so many house (sic) being built.
Love to all,
Helen
Thought you folks would be here before now
Unfortunately, I'm not sure who Helen is or how she knew my maternal grandfather, Debs Warren Webster. In the summer of 1952, my grandfather, Debs, and his family emigrated from Brazil to the United States. The family arrived in New York, purchased a car and some camping equipment, and then traveled across the country toward their final destination in Southern California. Perhaps they stopped to visit Helen before they left for California.
I think it's interesting that Helen said, "Our Long Island is growing very fast…." According to an article in Wikipedia, the population of Long Island in 1950 was 5,237,918. In 2012, the population was listed as 7,686,912.
I also think it's interesting that Helen added that she thought my grandparents "would be here before now." Had my grandparents planned on visiting them before March of 1953? I wonder if they ever did get back to Long Island to pay Helen a visit.
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© 2013 - 2014 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved
