An Unusual Vintage Motel Postcard - the Monarch Motel in St. Charles, Missouri

This card is too unusual not to share!  It's from the Monarch Motel in St. Charles, Missouri.  What makes it unusual?  Check out the sign?  It says ZEPHYR MOTEL with a small little Monarch Motel sign underneath.  I think there is a story there!  Maybe the motel was called the Zephyr Motel before, and the new owners added their own name.  What do you think?  It makes this card really neat and unique!  It's at Birdhouse Books here:  Monarch Motel Postcard at Birdhouse Books

Item of the Day: Baby Boomer Vintage Plastic Baby Blocks

These 1950's - 1960's Baby Boomer vintage plastic building blocks for baby are so sweet!   They have a picture of an animal on the base of each block, and they stack.  You'll find them at Birdhouse Books:  Vintage Baby Building Blocks

Vintage Dog Trading Cards - Single Swap Playing Cards

I really have come to love vintage single swap playing cards and trading cards (blank on back).  As a dog person, of course I particularly love the vintage dog cards.  I'm adding lots more to my store tonight -- from 1940's to 1960's vintage.  Children used to trade these and swap them with friends.  They are really so incredibly cute.  My personal favorites are two Standard Poodle cards that show a New York City skyline in the background.  One of these cards shows Central Park, with a number of notable buildings in the background - The Plaza Hotel, The Empire State Building, and the Sherry-Netherland Hotel.  Equally cute is a sweet little Cairn Terrier (1940's vintage) lounging in her dog bed.  And -- I can't resist mentioning the adorable Wirehair Fox Terrier pictured here, an illustration by Morgan Dennis. Here are just a few photos - you'll find them all here -- Vintage Dog Single Swap Playing Cards and Trading Cards at Birdhouse Books.

A Vintage Postcard Tour of Old Atlanta, Early 1900's

These postcards are too fascinating not to share!  They are all located in my store at Birdhouse Books.  

Above, Atlanta by Night - early 1900's vintage.  The Flatiron Building is in the foreground.  This is the intersection of Peachtree and Broad.


Below, Hotel Ansley in Atlanta.

Above, Walton Office Building, Atlanta.  1911 postmark.


Below, Piedmont Hotel, Atlanta.  1920 postmark.

Below, "Just a Word From Atlanta - Hope to See You Soon."  Central Congregational Church, Atlanta.  1918 postmark.

Below, U.S. Post Office, Atlanta.  Early 1900's.

Particularly interesting to me - I had no idea this place ever existed!  Grant Park Skating Rink, Atlanta.  1911 postmark.  This is in the area where you now will find the Cyclorama and Zoo Atlanta.

You'll find these vintage postcards and more vintage Georgia (Atlanta, Savannah, more) items at Birdhouse Books.

Playland at the Beach Amusement Park in San Francisco

Have I mentioned how much I love Roadside Americana postcards?   I especially love older amusement park cards.  I am so happy to have collected a huge box of amusement park postcards, and I'm going through them and listing them individually on eBay.  It is neat to read about the history of the different amusement parks and theme parks.  This beautiful card is called Shooting the Chutes, San Francisco, California.   I did some research and found out this card was from Playland amusement park.  This old amusement park was started in the early 1900's and was torn down in 1972.  Shoot the Chutes, the ride pictured in this card, was a bit like a log flume ride.  This ride began in the early 1900's (and the card pictured is early 1900's vintage as well) and was demolished in 1950.  

I'll admit to you, dear reader, that I'm a just a little bit obsessive about 20th century American social history and popular culture history -- most especially Roadside Americana.   I went on a search for links about Playland amusement park, and have some great ones to share with you:

Playland at the Beach - San Francisco Public Library - old photos

San Francisco's Playland at the Beach - HistorySmith

The Dark Side of San Francisco's Playland Amusement Park - Laff in the Dark - about dark rides at the park

Playland at the Beach - PDXHistory site

Playland - Western Neighborhood Project - includes a message board

Musee Mechanique - current museum in San Francisco, featuring mechanical amusements from the original Playland, including Laffing Sal

Laffing Sal at Musee Mecanique - a Youtube video (just a little bit spooky!)