Monday, February 11, 2013

Main Street, 1959

I love today's first picture featuring West Center Street, a little cul-de-sac off of Main Street. The Upjohn Pharmacy is to our left, and we get a pretty good look at the wonderful Tiffany-style stained glass mortar and pestle lantern above the door (now that's a souvenir I covet!). Various people are milling around beneath a couple of signs heralding the new Matterhorn and the somewhat-revamped  Skyway. I guess that's the Flower Mart at the end of the street, though it is pretty tiny compared to later years. My favorite detail is the two cast members to the right, in their striped shirts and red pants. Did they scoop ice cream over at the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor (or the Plaza Gardens)? It almost looks as if they are wearing Keppy Kaps.


I love those signs that are hanging above Main Street! These two show the Motor Boat Cruise and the Submarine Voyage. As is often the case in these older pictures, guests generally did not walk in the street, which is not how I usually see it nowadays.


5 comments:

Melissa said...

What leaps out to me in the first picture is the gentleman on the left with what appears to be a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. On Main Street!

K. Martinez said...

That’s a great image of West Center Street. I love the openness of it. I think the Upjohn Pharmacy has become my favorite building on vintage Main Street. I love the palette of colors used(especially on the bricks), the architectural style and the iconic mortar and pestle lantern. All great stuff!

Nanook said...

Melissa- I'm afraid "smoke 'em if you got 'em" was definitely the order of the day waaaay on back in 1960. I can still easily recall the smell of "fine tobacco products" that used to waft through (it was more like embedded on every surface) my dad's office back in the day.

Turns out some things are a change for the better. Although if truth be told, the smell that followed one of my parents many dinner parties, that of: food, alcohol, perfume, cologne, and cigarette smoke is still a wonderful aroma, that has sadly disappeared along with all the deadly side-effects of smokin'. (You had to experience it).

Connie Moreno said...

Oh man, I've been away for too long.... What wonderful images you display! I could stare at that first photo for hours!!!

Major Pepperidge said...

Melissa, I'm sure people smoked constantly at the park back in those days. My dad used to smoke, my grandparents smoked, those damn cigarettes were everywhere.

K. Martinez, I do like the Upjohn Pharmacy, but I don't know if I can call it a favorite; only because, when you really look at the detail and different architectural styles, there are quite a few especially nice buildings on Main Street.

Nanook, it is STILL weird for me to go to another state where it is OK to smoke in restaurants. My mom inherited some paintings that belonged to my grandmother, and anything that was white had turned yellow from decades of tobacco smoke. YUCK.

Connie, where have you been? I almost emailed you.