Comments on: From The Monorail Terminal, With Love

By: RPH

RPH — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:01:09 +0000

The second card on the 12-07-07 VS link shows how distorted this wide angle view is, diminishing the size and tight proximity of Weisfield’s and F&N, and creating Deco Man from the scalloped top covering of the station.

By: D T Nelson

D T Nelson — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:13:50 +0000

Tangentially, Shannon’s comment reminds me that what is currently the Westin site had the Orpheum Theater on the southern end of the block and a hotel called the Ben Franklin on the northern part. When I first came to Seattle in 1971, the Orpheum had been torn down and replaced by the south tower of the Westin, but the Ben Franklin was still there and in use. I remember, more or less, when the north Tower of the Westin was built, but I cannot remember how long the Ben Franklin lasted — was it still a going concern right up until then?

By: Shannon

Shannon — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:49:14 +0000

You can still see the sign for the Orpheum Theater to the left of the person standing next to the photographer. The Orpheum was torn down in 1967 to build the Westin, so this was before that.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:33:13 +0000

I think it’s interesting how the silhouetted shelter roof becomes an art-deco male profile – the perspective-geometry of diminishing steps creates a clear face: forehead, nose, lip, lower lip, chin.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:03:45 +0000

From the ages of the cars that are visible, it would likely be very early 60s, possibly soon after the monorail opened.

By: RPH

RPH — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:14:06 +0000

The Monorail opened March 24, 1962. This original station was removed in 1988, replaced by the new station, a block north, at Westlake Center Mall. Weisfield’s was purchased by Sterling in 1989. Sterling also bought Friedlander’s, started in 1886, in 1986.