Comments on: 5th & Westlake, When Was I Taken http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:01:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Kim http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-42756 Kim Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:32:29 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/?p=2292#comment-42756 LOVE that both Almond Roca and Rainier Beer are represented so vividly. What a perfect local gem! LOVE that both Almond Roca and Rainier Beer are represented so vividly. What a perfect local gem!

]]> By: NRM http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-42300 NRM Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:07:28 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/?p=2292#comment-42300 According to this website (http://www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/seattle/orpheum.htm): "In later years, the Orpheum sported a fancier entrance marquee and the building-top signage was leased to various vendors including Almond Roca!" And they have a picture c. 1947 which also shows the Almond Roca ad. Don't know how long Almond Roca had the sign, but according to this site (http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=4267) it was "many years". According to this website (http://www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/seattle/orpheum.htm):

“In later years, the Orpheum sported a fancier entrance marquee and the building-top signage was leased to various vendors including Almond Roca!”

And they have a picture c. 1947 which also shows the Almond Roca ad. Don’t know how long Almond Roca had the sign, but according to this site (http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=4267) it was “many years”.

]]> By: RPH http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-42268 RPH Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:43:54 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/?p=2292#comment-42268 A picture's worth a thousand words, and the internet adds more. About the traffic signal lacking yellow: In 1917, Detroit installed the first traffic tower in the United States at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Michigan Avenue. In 1920, Detroit became the first city to use red, green, and yellow lights to control traffic. And a Detroit police officer named William L. Potts invented the 4-way, 3-color traffic signal. Modern signals also still use the red, yellow, and green colors. These were standardized in 1935 in an early edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. www.go-explore-trans.org/2007/may-jun/history_dept.cfm It seems Seattle has always been behind the curve on traffic control, more evidenced today than ever. A picture’s worth a thousand words, and the internet adds more. About the traffic signal lacking yellow:

In 1917, Detroit installed the first traffic tower in the United States at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Michigan Avenue. In 1920, Detroit became the first city to use red, green, and yellow lights to control traffic. And a Detroit police officer named William L. Potts invented the 4-way, 3-color traffic signal.

Modern signals also still use the red, yellow, and green colors. These were standardized in 1935 in an early edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

http://www.go-explore-trans.org/2007/may-jun/history_dept.cfm

It seems Seattle has always been behind the curve on traffic control, more evidenced today than ever.

]]> By: RPH http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-42265 RPH Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:27:41 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/?p=2292#comment-42265 D.E. Frederick’s dreams for expansion of the original store at Pine Street and Fifth Avenue finally were realized when the grand re-opening was celebrated August 4, 1952. There were 10 floors above ground and two below. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_&_Nelson D.E. Frederick’s dreams for expansion of the original store at Pine Street and Fifth Avenue finally were realized when the grand re-opening was celebrated August 4, 1952. There were 10 floors above ground and two below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_&_Nelson

]]> By: RPH http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-42264 RPH Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:02:10 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/?p=2292#comment-42264 With the addition of Westlake Center, which would be right in the middle of the street in this view, it is difficult to orient the photographer's position, especially with the 5th and Westlake description. The foreground intersection is Pine and Westlake, so the photographer is actually closer to 4th, between Pike and Pine, in what is now Westlake Park. The traffic signal is at the described location, but 5th is not visible. The Orpheum was replaced by the Washington Plaza, now the Westin, in 1967. Morfydd, good spotting of the twins, who are walking by the old Nordstrom's location. With the addition of Westlake Center, which would be right in the middle of the street in this view, it is difficult to orient the photographer’s position, especially with the 5th and Westlake description. The foreground intersection is Pine and Westlake, so the photographer is actually closer to 4th, between Pike and Pine, in what is now Westlake Park. The traffic signal is at the described location, but 5th is not visible.
The Orpheum was replaced by the Washington Plaza, now the Westin, in 1967.

Morfydd, good spotting of the twins, who are walking by the old Nordstrom’s location.

]]> By: Robin L. http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-42263 Robin L. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:46:29 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/?p=2292#comment-42263 Efficient traffic control?! Bwa ha ha!!!! Just wait, naive little young Seattle, just wait! Efficient traffic control?! Bwa ha ha!!!! Just wait, naive little young Seattle, just wait!

]]> By: Gavin http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-42259 Gavin Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:55:26 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/?p=2292#comment-42259 The Frederick & Nelson building does not have its addition yet. When were those floors added? The Frederick & Nelson building does not have its addition yet. When were those floors added?

]]> By: morfydd http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-42242 morfydd Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:27:12 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/?p=2292#comment-42242 The full skirts are post-Dior "New Look", which was 1947, so late 40s-early 50s sounds about right. They don't have the exaggeration I'd expect of later in the 50s. I love the sisters? twins? in matching coats and hats on the far right. The full skirts are post-Dior “New Look”, which was 1947, so late 40s-early 50s sounds about right. They don’t have the exaggeration I’d expect of later in the 50s.

I love the sisters? twins? in matching coats and hats on the far right.

]]> By: Nickbob http://www.vintageseattle.org/2009/04/14/5th-westlake-when-was-i-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-42236 Nickbob Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:51:07 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/?p=2292#comment-42236 From the cars, it would look to be late 40's. early 50's. There's a 1949-50 Ford in the right lane headed north. So September 1949 is the low end. The stoplight has just red & green, when did the 3 light stoplights replace them? From the cars, it would look to be late 40′s. early 50′s. There’s a 1949-50 Ford in the right lane headed north. So September 1949 is the low end. The stoplight has just red & green, when did the 3 light stoplights replace them?

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