| Crowds and speakers at Freeway dedication in downtown Seattle, 1967. Frye Hotel and Smith Tower in background. Image courtesy Washington State Digital Archives. |
Archive for July, 2009
Freeway To Frustration
July 31st, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
5 Comments »
Now I’m sure you’ve already heard plenty of whining about I-90 being closed Thursday morning, but allow me to pile on. My 25 minute commute from West Seattle to downtown Bellevue ended up taking me 2 hours and 15 minutes. Oh, and the Blue Angels flying thundering overhead did not make that 2 hours and 15 minutes any more enjoyable. I know, I know — I’m cranky and bitter and hate fun. But can we please stop closing one of the two major highways that link the east and west sides, for an air show? So how does this photo relate to my bitterness? Well, yesterday I was going about as fast as those cars parked there in the photo. Click for higher res. I hope that by the time you’re reading this I’m in my car “opening it up” on I-90 for the Friday commute.
Extemporaneous Hi-Jinks @ Circle Tavern
July 29th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
15 Comments »
And Charles Anderson comes through again! He has once again sent over some Seattle area restaurant menu scans from yesteryear. This time up is the Circle Tavern, just one mile south of the airport. Not only were there extemporaneous hi-jinks, but everyone was happy, and a grand time was assured. Also check out the tongue-in-cheek anecdote on the second page. Very nice. Click for higher res. Thanks again, Charles.
| Circle Tavern menu. Image courtesy Charles Anderson. |
| Circle Tavern menu. Image courtesy Charles Anderson. |
Talkin’ Royal Inn Hotel Blues
July 28th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
No Comments »
Yesterday’s Have You Seen This House post is still going strong with some interesting leads. Stop by if you haven’t already. But today we roll on with this old photograph of the Royal Inn Hotel out by Seatac Airport. Looks like it’s still there — but now a Red Lion Hotel. I’ve resisted the urge to color correct this photo (I try to present all material I find “as is”) so don’t worry if you feel blue. Click for higher res.
Have You Seen This House?
July 27th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
35 Comments »
Fresh off his Seattle Speed Racer thread, Allen writes in needing more help. This time it’s a photo of a couple in a car just outside a very nice looking home. Drop by our comments if you can contribute anything. Allen writes:
I have another photo in my collection that I would like to submit. I found this at a local antique store. The photographer is Edwin Rodgers of Seattle so I assume the pic was taken here in town, I just don’t know where. I wonder if it’s possible if anyone recognizes the house. It’s probably a long shot, but I would love to find out.
Allen
Via E-Mail
7/26/2009
Allen
Via E-Mail
7/26/2009
| Seattle family in car c.1915? Photo courtesy Allen. |
Bell System Pavilion 1962
July 24th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Vintage Ads |
12 Comments »
What’s old is new again. Specifically, 50′s and 60′s style architecture are back and in fashion once again. I could very well see my architect friend Chris designing a building much like this one. This is an ad from the Seattle World’s Fair Official Souvenir Program showing the Bell System Pavilion. And the rendering was true to life. Any Vintage Seattle readers who stepped foot inside the actual pavilion that want to tell us what is was like — come join us in the comments. Click for higher res.
| Communications… key to universal understanding. Bell Telephone System. Official Souvenir Program, Seattle World’s Fair 1962. |
Lightly Railing On Light Rail
July 22nd, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
8 Comments »
Just as The Seattle Times reports that the newest ligh-rail run’s ridership was relatively low on opening day, reader Richard P. Hill writes in with some thoughts:
Hey Cliffe,
As I haven’t decided yet whether to be happy or not about the new, $2.3 BILLION light train line, looking back at how much we’ve lost our way over the past 70 years is certainly nothing to be happy about, and in doing so, we’ve created quite a mess. Lucky are the relative few who live along the new line, while the most of Seattle continues on in auto gridlock. Maybe I’m just jealous.
Many of the comments on the Times’ site parallel my “train envy” of not having our own line down Fauntleroy — especially since we already had one almost 100 years ago. Riding the St.Charles Streetcar last month in New Orleans, which started running under steam power in 1835, just reinforced my disdain for the lack of vision from our city’s leaders, past and present. I guess we can lay the blame on Henry Ford and Standard Oil.
Richard P. Hill
Via E-Mail
7/21/2009
As I haven’t decided yet whether to be happy or not about the new, $2.3 BILLION light train line, looking back at how much we’ve lost our way over the past 70 years is certainly nothing to be happy about, and in doing so, we’ve created quite a mess. Lucky are the relative few who live along the new line, while the most of Seattle continues on in auto gridlock. Maybe I’m just jealous.
Many of the comments on the Times’ site parallel my “train envy” of not having our own line down Fauntleroy — especially since we already had one almost 100 years ago. Riding the St.Charles Streetcar last month in New Orleans, which started running under steam power in 1835, just reinforced my disdain for the lack of vision from our city’s leaders, past and present. I guess we can lay the blame on Henry Ford and Standard Oil.
Richard P. Hill
Via E-Mail
7/21/2009
| Streetcar at Youngstown Place grade crossing, 1930. Photograph courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives. |
| Transit ad, circa 1940s. Image courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives. |
The Edgewater Inn
July 20th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
9 Comments »
Seattle’s only over-water hotel, The Edgewater on Pier 67, opened in 1963. Over the years this famous hotel (originally named Camelot) has hosted The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin, among others. Speaking of Led Zep, check out the Wikipedia entry on The Shark Episode — I had not heard this bit of rock-n-roll lore before. Check out the 60′s era shot from Max R. Jensen.
Reframe: Queen Anne & Prospect
July 20th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Reframe |
6 Comments »
I need a quick Reframe check on this 1953 photo of Queen Anne Avenue North and West Prospect Street. Is the dilapidated Queen Anne style house still there? Survey says… Nope. Looks like it was swallowed up sometime in the great black hole known as 1953-1980. Click for higher res.
Good Enough For Government Locks
July 15th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
6 Comments »
Heck of an episode of Deadliest Catch tonight, eh? Reminded that Sig Hansen and the boys of the Northwestern head through this territory as they set out — here is an old photo from my archives of Ballard’s Government Locks. No date on it, but I’d place it in the 1950′s. Click for higher res.
Find Yourself 1914
July 14th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
12 Comments »
Interesting circa 1914 shot of First Hill/Central District to have a look at today. That’s Providence Hospital in the distance — a key landmark for orientation. So this is looking East. Next to Providence is Jefferson so the next street to the right would be Alder. It looks like you can see Broadway and Boren meeting next to the fire station tower. So that would make the street in the immediate foreground Terrace Street. Am I wrong?
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| Providence Hospital in the distance. Photo by Frank H. Nowell. Circa 1914. Image courtesy Washington State Digital Archives. |
Rubenak’s Half-Way House Souvenir Menu
July 13th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
5 Comments »
Vintage Seattle contributor Charles Anderson comes through again on the menu front. This time he’s sent us scans of a Rubenak’s Half-Way House souvenir menu. The Restaurant was halfway between Seattle and Everett on Highway 99 (which was once called Pacific Highway 1). This is a really nice find — just check out that racy cover. Thanks for sending it in, Charles. Click on the thumbnails for the super high res versions (be warned: some of these come in at just under 2meg).
The Burke Building, What We’ve Lost
July 10th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Historic Buildings |
6 Comments »
On Tuesday we took a look at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building and Dave was asking for photos of the buildings it replaced. Well, here is one: The Burke Building. Located at 2nd and Marion, it was built in 1891 and designed by architect Elmer H. Fisher. In this super high res photo you can see the building elements worked into the ground floor of the Jackson Building. Click for the full view.
Three Exciting Views Of Seattle
July 9th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Past Post |
8 Comments »
Is “exciting” overstating it? Hmm, nah. Here are three views of downtown courtesy of some crinkle-cut late 1970′s era postcards. All are courtesy of legendary postcard photographer Max R. Jensen (more on him later) — always documenting the changing landscape. Click on the thumbnails for higher res versions.
Bittersweet Henry Jackson Federal Building
July 7th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Historic Buildings |
7 Comments »
Perhaps it’s architectural relativism (what’s built today makes certain era’s buildings look not so bad) but I don’t mind the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in itself. Taking up the whole block at 2nd and Marion, it was built in 1974. You can’t make the 1970′s Brutalism case with it and the patterned inset windows privide a nice visual relief from today’s unrelenting flatness. However, the sadness around the old Federal Building is in what was torn down to make way for it. The Burke Building, Hotel Stevens, Tivoli Theater — all significant losses to Seattle’s downtown. In the photos below you can find certain elements of the Burke Building that were worked into the grounds. This can be taken as respectful or cruel but in general chalk this one up as bittersweet. Click for higher resolution.
Get Along Little Ponies 1942
July 6th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
3 Comments »
Well, the 4th is over and it’s time to sit in traffic on I-90! Regardless, Vintage Seattle contributor Jana Robertson (see her recent submission here) sends in some old Woodland Park photos circa 1942. She writes:
I don’t know if you will have any more Woodland Park Zoo posts but I’m making a slide show for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary and came across photos of my dad and his brother riding ponies (donkey?) – he’s pretty sure it was at Woodland Park Zoo in 1942. I know I also rode the ponies in the late 60′s early 70′s. I wonder when they quit doing this (oh! I just looked up at [link] and they were still there in 1999 ““ time for a trip to the zoo for me to see if they’re still there!) Just thought I’d pass this along if you can find any good Woodland Park Zoo photos that these might complement.
According to [link] the ride price went from a nickel to a dime in 1946. Love your site!
Jana Robertson
Via E-Mail
7/5/2009
Jana Robertson
Via E-Mail
7/5/2009
