Jensen’s Needle Bird’s Eye
May 21st, 2010 @ 12:09 am by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
Seattle history buffs are still coming to grips with the passing of one of the city’ s mo st celebrated photographers Max R. -200px;’>late penis growth
Jensen. Ever since the Vintage Seattle blog started, we have featured his work and today is no exception. Below find a classic Jensen bird’s eye shot of one of his favorite subjects, the Space Needle. Click for the high res copy and have a great weekend.
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| The 600 ft. high Space Needle at the Seattle Center affords a spectacular view of the city from its Observation Deck and the revolving Restaurant. Lake Washington is visible in the distance. Color photo by Max R. Jensen. |
Wow, I forgot that the Fun Forest had been so expansive. Look, two count-em two ferris wheels. I see that the large roller coaster is not yet built.
That’s got to be the “Flight to Mars” just above and to the right of the orange roller coaster grid, right? Funny, Matt, I thought that WAS the big coaster: two steep rises, two spirals downward, in a really constrained space? I haven’t been to the Fun Forest in at least 20 years…did they get a “real” roller coaster?
What are those buildings to the right of the space needle? They do not seem exist now.
Those low building to the right of the Needle were left over from the fair. The only thing I remember clearly in them is the model of the waterfront that would use real fire to recreate the burning of the pier. I can’t remember when they were torn down, but I want to say the early 80s.
I see the Metro bus barn is still in use on the far right.
Anyone want to hazard a guess when this was taken?
I seem to remember an exhibit of old Seattle fire department engines and horse drawn wagons in one of those old buildings back in the 70s
The big wall of buildings next to the needle was originally the fashion pavillion during the fair.
Does anyone have any idea what that pole on a mound is in the lower left, across from the corner of the Center House?
I believe the pole on a mound is a totem pole which is still in the same spot today.
Kim,
Now that you mention it, maybe that IS the large rollercoaster.
Tom,
I wondered if that was the totem pole, but I don’t ever remmber tht big mound being there.
Speaking of Seattle Center memories, does any one here remember the plaster statue of the pink elephant wearing glasses and holding a big martini in his trunk? It was over by the old putt putt golf, off to the side of the mural..
Anybody know what year the color at the top of the needle was changed from orange to white? That could help pinpoint the year this was taken, though off the top of my head I’d say this shot is early to mid 1970s.
And yes, I definitely remember that martini-drinking elephant, Allan. It kind of weirded my out as a kid!
I’d forgotten the rides around the base of the Space Needle(“Wow, Marge, them are some big nuts!!”).
Somebody on Flickr called OransgeSpaceNeedle has a fabulous collection of vintage Needle shots: no low-level restaurant, and especially, no Wheedle! Here’s one of their shots from around the same vintage. You’ll notice the box the needle came in is up in downtown, which I think was erected in 1968: http://www.flickr.com/photos/orangespaceneedle/4407587474/
I have over 760 old photos of the Space Needle when it was orange paint in 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. I have over 100 old postcard, few magazine and booklet, few viewmater and lot of original color slides 35mm and 4 x 5 inches in website. Flickr.com The original color orange, red, yellow and olive was very short time for 6 years from 1962 to 1968. My website flickr have show my old newspaper The Seattle Times in June 26, 1968 about the Space Needle changed new paint white from old original color orange in 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. I hope so you will love my photos in Flickr.com
http://fiveprime.org/flickr_hvmnd.cgi?search_type=User&photo_number=50&photo_type=250&noform=t&quicksearch=1&sort=Interestingness&textinput=orangespaceneedle&.submit=Search+User