Space Needle Postcard Messages

I've collected numerous old Washington state postcards this year.  Some are postally used. Some were never used. My favorites involve Seattle and often the Seattle Center where the Space Needle lives.  I collect postcards because as you probably know - I like old photos!  I've shared many of the images from these postcards the last few months.

However, I'm also finding I am entertained by the short little messages written on some.  I consider them longer versions of Tweets but shorter versions of the old-fashioned letter.  I think most senders don't consider postcards a private way to communicate (like Tweets!).  Occasionally I feel like reading postcards purchased on e-Bay is a little like eaves-dropping; the sender probably didn't have an inkling that a stranger half a century later would read them.  And not only read them but share these quaint correspondences featuring the Space Needle.

Ruth (and Al) write a sweet note to Mrs. Alwin Ginter in Connecticut July 1968,

"Went up in this the other day. Then took Inside Passage boat trip. The scenery was beautiful, mountains right down to the water. Resting up for trip home now."

the card front:


I can just imagine Mrs. Ginter upon receiving this in New England, quickly telephoning up their mutual neighbor whom I am pretending is named Mildred and relaying the lovely time their dear friend is having in the remote, newly settled, Pacific Northwest.

Grandma visiting the World's Fair reports behaving like a child July 1962 (her postcard is even postmarked from the Space Needle) to her family in Hawaii,

"Dear Brandeberrys, Arrived Friday 4 PM so rushed to the fair like any kid. Stood in line over an hour to get on the Needle. Beautiful country."

From Seattle Postcards

the card front:


These last two have the same postcard photo:

December 1966, Daddio writes Hugh in Virginia,

"Your ever-loving pappy is going to have dinner atop the Needle tonite. I hear it is almost as good as McDonnels.  Be good & I'll bring you a popsicle." 

I don't know if he is referring to McDonald's but that's what I'm imagining so that gave me a chuckle considering the price comparison between the two restaurants.


But this one is my very favorite of this group - I think it's also 1966 and sent to Mr. McCormick in Illinois.

"'Der Feuhreur' forced me to up to the top of this idiotic nonsensical senseless Rube Goldberg monstrocity before supper yesterday. No wonder I had horrible nightmares all night. They take you up & down in an elevator that goes up & down in a glass tube. Phoey! In Portland today Wed. Met Fr. Schulze of Gordon Tech HS 1 hr ago. We leave for Frisco Thurs. PM. Now at Hilton Portland Hotel."

What a hoot! I hope she was able to forgive "Der Feuhreur's" coercion and enjoy the rest of their West Coast vacation.

I think I have to learn how to write clever postcards in case any of mine happen to be read half a century later.

Seattle World's Fair Closed 50 Years Ago

The Seattle World's Fair closed fifty years ago tonight. There were festivities to celebrate at the Center today.  Bartell Drugs partnered and elevator rides to the top of the Space Needle were rolled back to 1962 prices and only $1.00 (the 2012 price is $19).

I wanted to share a few more of the World's Fair and early Space Needle postcards I've collected this year:

Seattle World's Fair. Seattle World's Fair Information Booth and Space Needle. Foyer Des Renseignements de la Exposition Du Monde A Seattle et Aiguille De L'Espace. Casilla De Informacion de la Exposicion Del Mundo de Seattle y el Aguja Del Expacio. Century 21 Exposition. Seattle Washington April 21, October 21, 1962. Color photo by Max R. Jensen Natural Color by Mike Roberts Berkeley 2, Calif. Published by C. P. Johnston C., Seattle, Washington"


"Space Needle Seattle, U. S. A. The awe-inspiring Space Needle framed by Gothic Arches. A new landmark for the future enjoyment of all who visit Seattle. P48723. Plastichrome by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc., Boston 30, Mass. USA. Color by Morley Studios. Distributed only by Smith-Western Co., Inc., Tacoma-Portland"


"Seattle World's Fair. The Eye of the Needle. L'oeil de l'aiguille. El ojo del aguja Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, Washington. Color Photo by Max R. Jensen. Natural color by Mike Roberts Berkeley 2, Calif. Century 21 Exposition Inc."


"Space Needle Seattle, USA. P49456 Plastichrome by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc. Boston 30, Mass. USA. Color by Morley Studios. Distributed only by Smith-Western Co., Inc., Tacoma-Portland"


"Space Needle, Seattle, USA. Color by Morley Studios S-45087-2. Distributed Only by Smith-Western Co., Tacoma-Portland"


"Federal Science Pavilion Seattle, Washington. P49501. Plastichrome by ColorPicture Publishers, Inc. Boston 30, Mass. USA. Color by Morley Studios" I only recall this being called The Pacific Science Center.


"Seattle World's Fair Beautifully illuminated Space Needle beyond the U. S. Science Pavilion. Belle illumination de l'aiguille de l'espace, au dela du Pavilion Americain de Science. La Aguja del Espacio, bellamente illuminada, mas alla del Pabellon de la Ciencia de los Estados Unidos. Color photo by Morley Studios Official Photographer, Seattle World's Fair. Seattle Washington April 21 - October 21, 1962 Century 21 Exposition, Inc. Published by C. P. Johnston Co. Seattle, Washington. Natural Color by Mike Roberts Berkeley 2, Calif."


"Space Age. Seattle World's Fair. Satellite and Space Needle. Satellite et aiguille de l'espace. El Satelite y la aguja del espacio. Color photo by Mike Roberts. Seattle, Washington April 21- October 21, 1962 Century 21 Exposition Inc. Natural Color By Mike Roberts Berkeley 2, Calif. C13123 WF-36"


Some of my earlier World's Fair posts:
"Seattle World's Fair and my Grandparents"
"Seattle World's Fair Postcards" 
"Fabulous Fair in Seattle"

Burial Flag

My Mother-in-Law, Viola Andersen Robertson, was given a burial flag when my Father-in-Law, Walter Stanley Robertson who served in the US Navy was interred at Tahoma National Cemetery in 1998.


She passed away a year-and-a-half later in 2000 and is interred with him.


The burial flag has since been in the possession of my Brother-in-Law who served during Vietnam.  Last month, their home was destroyed by the Taylor Bridge fire in Cle Elum, WA..  We are so very grateful my Brother-and-Sister-in-Law are safe; my Brother-in-Law was told to evacuate only fifteen minutes before their home went up.  It gives me chills.  Almost all their worldly possession are gone.  But when my Sister-in-Law blew out her birthday candle earlier this week, she said, "I have nothing to wish for because I still have everything that really matters to me."

A couple of weeks ago I thought I would contact someone from VFW Post 1373 Douglas A Munro Post in Cle Elum. Burial Flags are not replaced by the Veteran's Administration but their website said that often local VFW posts can do that.  At the post's last meeting, they agreed to replace Walt's burial flag.  The contact person seemed honored and excited to be able to do this for our family.  This flag was used in another veteran's funeral but for some reason they ended up with two so when I contacted him, he felt it was meant to be for us to have it.  We drove to Cle Elum today to pick up the new burial flag.  It's not the same thing as the original given to my Mother-in-Law, but we are thrilled and humbled to have a flag that was given to our family in honor of Walt's service and life.

School Days

Today is the first full day of school for students in our school district. 

Many families have been busy buying school supplies. When I was in high school, one must-have supply was a Pee-Chee.  The ones I remember can be found on Wikipedia here. It was impossible to keep from decorating/personalizing them.

I recently found one that my Grandmother, Stella Fredrickson Hawes, used to keep letters in (according to her tidy note on the front - I'm not accustomed to seeing a Pee-chee without lots of graffiti!). I can't really figure a way to date it.  Pee-Chees first came in to being in 1943. I'm just guessing - but this is possibly from the 1950s.

front



back

One school related conversation I had with my Grandmother was about an old tune she recalled called, School Days.  She recalled and sang for me the chorus:

School days, school days
Dear old Golden Rule days
'Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick

Before she died in 2004 at age 98, I found and shared the rest of the lyrics again with her.
I have since found a video of the audio - the song was written in 1907!

This is my Grandmothers 4th and 5th grade class about 1917 at Smith School in Bremerton, WA - she is far left on the bottom row.


Of course I have some Life Magazine ads to share for "Back to School" -  school supplies from the 50s . . .
Pedigree pencils 39¢ a dozen

August 29, 1955 Life Magazine
Pedigree pencils 44 ¢ a dozen

August 27, 1956 Life Magazine

Tercel Tape

September 12, 1955 Life Magazine and August 27, 1956 Life Magazine and September 9, 1957 Life Magazine

Scripto Pencils and Pens

September 9, 1957 Life Magazine

Off they go.  It was a short summer. But it's always exciting getting "Back-to-School"

August 26, 1957 Life Magazine

Kodak

September 4, 1888
On this day in 1888, George Eastman received his patent for the roll-film camera and registered his trademark "Kodak" - a name he coined with no particular meaning.  Glass plates and other methods with lots of equipment were required prior to this and it certainly wasn't something the average American could manage. The camera he launched in 1888 sold for $25 and was pre-loaded with enough film for 100 exposures - the slogan was "You press the button, we do the rest".   I believe Kodak is most definitely a main influence on photography being so accessible to almost anyone.

However, times change and roll film is being overtaken by digital photography.  A recent article in the Wall Street Journal describes Kodak's plan to be financially viable which includes selling their camera-film business which made it a blue chip company. Check out the timeline included in their article History of Kodak.

Just for fun, of course I'm including mid-century summertime Kodak ads in my short tribute to a company that has spanned three centuries. . .

Brownie Movie Camera $37.50 (lower right corner notes "- a trade mark since 1888")

June 27, 1955 Life Magazine

August 15, 1955 Life Magazine
Price of the Brownie movie camera cut to $29.95!

June 18, 1956 Life Magazine

July 22, 1957 Life Magazine

Three Way Magic of Color Slide Photography (Hand viewer, projector, prints) for 135.

June 13, 1955 Life Magazine


It appears 35mm cameras did not have Kodacolor negative film available in 1955 - the six popular sizes were 116, 120, 127, 616, 620, and 828. Available in "Daylight Type" or indoors with flash "Type A"

June 20, 1955 Life Magazine

July 11, 1955 Life Magazine

September 5, 1955 Life Magazine

Biggest 35mm news since color slides!  35mm color print film!

June 30, 1958 Life Magazine

And Indoor-Outdoor Kodacolor film in 1956

July 2, 1956 Life Magazine

August 5, 1957 Life Magazine

May 26, 1958 Life Magazine

June 16, 1958 Life Magazine

I hope you remembered your camera to preserve your 2012 summer memories.

Gene Kelly

When I was in high school, as I recall many girls had a photo of Jim Palmer in his Jockey briefs taped to the inside of their locker door.  I, however had this photo that I bought at store in Pike Place Market that sold Hollywood promo items.


Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly in Anchor's Aweigh (1945)

Sometime during high school, I watched "That's Entertainment" and saw clips of Gene Kelly for the first time. When I first "discovered" him, I don't think we had a VCR at the time so I had to wait until the occasional old Gene Kelly movie came on TV to see more of him.  A friend took me to see Xanadu - he got to see Olivia Newton-John and I got to see Gene Kelly.  I even sent Gene Kelly a birthday card one year!

Last week - August 23rd - would have been Gene Kelly's 100th birthday.  He died in 1996; several people said they thought of me when they heard the news of his passing.  I was at a friend's house last night and she had recorded and kept for me last week's 100th birthday tribute on "So, You Think You Can Dance" with the contestants costumed and choreographed alluding to several Gene Kelly movie numbers.

And YAY! I found a Life Magazine Ad featuring Gene Kelly!

June 27, 1955 Life Magazine



See Life Magazine Gene Kelly photo images here Gene Kelly: Rare Photos of a Song and Dance Legend

Happy Birthday Week, Gene Kelly - thanks for the entertainment!

Evergreen Point Floating Bridge

Evergreen Point Floating Bridge on State Route 520 opened to traffic 49 years ago today on August 28, 1963. The toll was 35¢; the fee was removed in 1979. It was renamed "Albert. D. Rosellini Bridge" in 1988 after the governor who pushed for its construction. More from History Link here. This was the second floating bridge built on Lake Washington - the first Lake Washington Floating Bridge called "Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge" opened in 1940.

Seattle Municipal Archives has this "under construction" photo dated the week before the 1962 Seattle World's Fair opened. 



"Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. This view of Seattle's newest floating bridge looks from the west shore of Lake Washington to the ever expanding metropolitan area on the east shore which this new bridge serves. C-291 Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis"


"World's Longest Floating Bridge Seattle, Washington. The Evergreen Point Bridge and its approaches are nearly 6 miles long. The height of the roadway above Lake Washington can vary from 8-59 feet. The bridge was constructed by the Washington Toll Bridge Authority and includes 18 floating sections with a total of 62 anchors. Construction was completed in 3 years and cost approximately $34,000,000."


I had a view of the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge from my University of Washington dorm room at McCarty Hall 1981-1982:
This was a January 1982 snowy sunrise with vapor swirling from Lake Washington

From College-UWash

Some awesome Historic Archive Photos of the Evergreen Point Floating 520 Bridge can be found here.
Check out Kurt Clark's post with a photo from Bellevue High School's 1972 yearbook: Friday Single Shot #28 – 520 Toll Booths
Also be sure to see Vintage Seattle Past Post: When The 520 Bridge Was New.
Those of you still in the area know the bridge is being upgraded and that the toll was re-introduced last year.  The toll rate depends on the time of day- it can be as high as $5.13 one way.
Click here for Current Work on the SR 520 Floating Bridge project.