Tag Archives: 1940s

Eagle Rock, Evanston, Wyoming

This image shows the Lincoln Highway as it was when it passed around Eagle Rock, Wyoming. This named landform is not commonly described elsewhere other than this card.

Pub. by Sanborn Souvenir Co., Inc., Denver, Colo.


The description states:
EAGLE ROCK is a prominent point just east of Evanston on the Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30). The highway diagonally traverses the whole length of the county and is entirely oil surfaced and is so well maintained that overland travel has not been impaired for a single day in recent winters.
–The description does not identify the exact portion of the landform that is supposed to represent an eagle. It may refer to eagles once present there. Instead, it focusses on the nature of then current  US highway construction, replacing more primitive dirt and gravel roads with thin membrane surface, a design now restricted to low capacity secondary roads.
The postcard likely dates from the 1940s.

Tree in the Rock, Cheyenne, Wyoming

This is a limber pine tree that was seeded and grew in the crack of an ancient granite boulder, some distance from any similar tree. It was present when the railroad came by in the 1860s.

Pub. by Sanborn Souvenir Co., Inc., Denver, Colo.


The description states:
Lone Tree. This Tree, growing out of solid granite is 76 years old. This tree is located on the Lincoln Highway 28 miles west of Cheyenne.
–More commonly called Tree Rock, the monument, little changed in many decades, is now in the median strip of Interstate 80 where vehicles passing by can pull off in the center of the highway to examine the site.
This card likely dates from the 1940s.

Devils Tower, Crook County, Wyoming

This is an image of the well-known volcanic outcrop known as Devils Tower. It became famous most recently when featured as an important plot element and site for the climax of the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977.

Pub. by Sanborn Souvenir Co., Inc., Denver, Colo.


The back of the card is severely damaged, and the description cannot be determined.
The name as shown on the card is misspelled, as the common form uses the plural instead of the possessive, and thus omits the apostrophe.
Colorized photo cards of this type are commonly dated from the 1940s.

Redlands Bowl, Redlands, California

This image shows the open air amphitheater called the Redlands Bowl, located in the town of Redlands, California.
There is no description on the back of this card. The venue is used for various entertainments throughout the year, including an annual Shakespeare festival presented every May.
This postcard was used and is dated 15 February 1947

Little Chapel, Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California

This is a photo of one of two chapels that once occupied a place on the Knott’s Berry Farm property. This one, known as the Little Chapel by the Lake, has been demolished, while the other has been relocated.

Private Edition by Paul v. Klieben


The description is written in the form of a personal message:
THE LITTLE CHAPEL BY THE LAKE
Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, Calif.
In this little Adobe Chapel we have sen the most inspiring painting of the Christ called “The Transfiguration”, as beautiful and fitting end to a very enjoyable visit to the Farm and its spectacular Ghost Town.
–The painting was made to glow in the dark under ultra-violet light, and when so illuminated, the eyes of the Christ portrait would appear to open and look at the viewer. This card likely dates to the 1950s.

Ghost Town Volcano, Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California

This is an artist’s rendering of the Knott’s Berry Farm volcano, a well known and popular feature of the early days of the park.

Original Lithograph, Copyright 1946 Paul v. Klieben


The description on the back is written in a style resembling an actual message from the sender:
VOLCANO, GHOST TOWN
Knott’s Berry Place, Buena Park, California
This card cost me a nickel, but I think you and it are worth it. Never had so much fun as here in Ghost Town and would suggest to put Knott’s Berry Place on your list of places to go. This volcano is one of the many spectacular attractions on the grounds; it rumbles and belches smoke faithfully every night.
–In addition to the volcano, there is a small shack in front with a small mechanical demon inside that is said to operate the volcano. The structure was built in 1939, so this card likely dates from the 1940s.

Boot Hill, Ghost Town, Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California

This so called Boot Hill is a humorous reconstruction of a typical frontier cemetery, with headstones and markers that feature jokes, humorous poems or amusing comments on life on the frontier.
The larger version does not show much more detail of the inscriptions except the ones on the left of the image. The link above the image shows better closeups of these markers.
This postcard dates from the 1940s.

Steak House, Ghost Town, Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California

This image is of one of the main rooms of the Steak House, in this example the so-called Indian Room. This restaurant has changed names over the years, and is now called Spurs, keeping the theme and much of the menu.
The restaurant was originally outside the gates of the park, but expansion absorbed the land around it, and now visitors who wish to eat there can pay a deposit to eat without taking in the rest of the park’s activities.
This picture dates from the 1940s.

Ghost Town Houses, Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California

These two modest structures are typical of the buildings present in the Ghost Town area of Knott’s Berry Farm in its early years. The dark circles on the building to the right are actual bottles, used in the construction of the house walls, thus the name Bottle House.
The other building is the Music Hall, which was not used for performances but instead displayed old music playback devices and instruments.
Both structures were completed by the late 1940s. This postcard dates from that time.

Silver Dollar Bar, Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California

This image is a carefully posed view of the service bar in the Silver Dollar Bar at Knott’s Berry Farm. Specifically, it is located in the area called Ghost Town, which normally means a deserted frontier settlement, but here is intended to mean a recreation of the OId West through buildings, decorations and actors such as the bartender depicted.
Clicking on the image will provide a much larger version that enables one to read the many small signs posted around the bar for humorous effect.
This postcard dates from the 1940s.