Tag Archives: 1960s

Hilltop Motel, Galveston, Texas

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This image shows the Hilltop Motel in Galveston, Texas, a short distance down the coast from Corpus Christi. The swimming pool is typical of the time, with a slide for children and a diving board. As time passed, these were typically removed, as they were sources of accidents and injuries, and thus a significant cost liability for the owners.

Pub. by J. Rudy Neunlist, 1102 S. Witter, Pasadena, Texas


The description states:
Enjoy your holiday at
HILLTOP MOTEL
5-Mile Road West Beach, Galveston’s First and Only Complete West Beach Motel. Attractively Appointed Guest Rooms and Suites, Reasonable Rates – Air Conditioned – Wonderful Swimming Pool and Beach.
Phone Sh. 4-4423
–The address where this motel was located is now an empty lot. This postcard was used and is dated 28 June 1964.

Corpus Christi Skyline, Texas

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This image shows a marina with boats in the foreground, and the skyline of Corpus Christi in the background.

Color Photo by Frank B. Whaley


The description states:
FW-276
CORPUS CHRISTI SKYLINE–Corpus Christi, Texas…as seen from the beautiful yacht-filled basin of Corpus Christi Bay.
–While some of these boats might reasonably be called yachts, others shown here are not.  Specifically, the middle boat of the five shown is a small day-trip pleasure boat.
The blue arrow was drawn by the person sending the card to indicate the location of the restaurant where the family ate while visiting the city marina.
This card was used and is dated 2 July 1962.

Cotton and Oil Production, Corpus Christi, Texas

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This image shows a typical crop dusting airplane, one that distributes various kinds of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer and other treatments for the cotton fields shown here. In the background is an oil well apparently in the midst of the cotton fields, where oil is being pumped.

Color Photo by Joe Kelley


The description states:
FW-415 COTTON AND OIL INDUSTRIES…are major sources of income for the Corpus Christi and Coastal Bend Areas. Last year, 1960, 354,352 bales of cotton were ginned and moved through the Port of Corpus Christi…mostly for export markets. Within 150 mile radius of Corpus Christi are some 17.,500 producing oil wells with a daily allowable of about 675,000 barrels. Much of it flows to Corpus Christi for refining of for shipment in a crude state through the port’s various harbor terminal divisions.
–Corpus Christi is the Spanish term for ‘Body of Christ’. The export of crude oil has been prohibited for several decades, but the law is currently being reconsidered given the increase in domestic production in the last several years.
The date of this picture is indicated in the description: 1961.

Alamo Village Cantina, Bracketville, Texas

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This image shows several reenactors inside the cantina, dressed and armed in the style of the 1800s, though with clothes and weapons of a somewhat later time period than the original setting of 1836.

“Plastichrome” by Natural Color Company, Inc. Boston 15, Mass., U.S.A.


The description states:
Curly’s famous Cantina located in ALAMO VILLAGE, 7 miles North of Brackettville, Texas on the Shahan Angus Ranch, where the best food in town is served and the toughest outlaws hang out.
–Curly is presumably the bald man behind the bar, the name apparently referring to his long sideburns. While the description of the customers refers only to outlaws, the grey haired man to the right of Curly is wearing a star indicative of a lawman.
The signs also indicate drinks not typical of the time, as the cantina was also intended to be an active restaurant for tourists as well as a historical presentation.
This image likely dates from the 1960s.

Alamo Village Street Scene, Bracketville, Texas

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This images follows closely on after the previous posting, with the camera highlighting several of the reenactors who were hired to present a living village to the tourists rather than a street of empty buildings and souvenir shops at the Alamo Village movie set.

“Plastichrome” by Colourpictures Publishers, Inc., Boston 15, Mass., U.S.A.


The description states:
TRADING POST AND CANTINA
ALAMO VILLAGE, BRACKETVILLE, TEXAS
On a peaceful morning, gunfighters and cowboys relax in this scene from the porch of the Tascosa Hotel. The stagecoach has just left on an adventure-filled trip of the area, where tough outlaws hang out.
–All the people visible in the image are hired performers, who would act in the style of the times, and would stage scripted events throughout the day for the visitors to watch.
This image likely dates from the 1960s.

Alamo Village Street, Bracketville, Texas

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This image shows the main street of the stage set that was converted to a tourist attraction known as Alamo Village.

“Plastichrome” by Natural Color Company, Inc. Boston 15, Mass., U.S.A.


The description states:
ALAMO VILLAGE, located 7 miles North of Brackettville, Texas, on the Shahan Angus Ranch. Famous movie location where “The Alamo” and other pictures have been made.
–The set has been modified many times since the original construction, as there have been hundreds of films and documentaries made with the location. While the location and buildings are still intact, the attraction is not currently open.
This card likely dates from the 1960s, shortly after the film was made.

Golf Course, Fort Clark, Brackettville, Texas

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This image shows a golfer lining up a putt on the putting green just in front of one of the historic buildings on the Old Fort Clark grounds, in Brackettville, Texas.

Curteich Color 3-D Natural Color Reproduction


The description states:
GOLF, TENNIS, SWIMMING, HUNTING, FISHING,
AND JUST PLAIN LOAFING,
AT FAMOUS FORT CLARK GUEST RANCH
BRACKETTVILLE, TEXAS
“NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT, EVEN IN TEXAS”
–In 1946 the cavalry base was closed and the land sold to Brown and Root, who eventually developed it into the guest ranch shown in this image. The fort property was sold in 1971 and developed into a private recreational community. The old buildings were preserved and restored, and entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
This card likely dates from the 1960s.

Fort Clark Guest Ranch, Brackettville, Texas

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This image shows the headquarters of the old Fort Clark Guest Ranch. Unfortunately, there are several errors of fact and mis-spellings in the text of the postcard. I have left the text uncorrected and refer the viewer to the note submitted below the post.

Curteich Color 3-D Natural Color Reproduction

The description states:
HEADQUARTERS AND DINING ROOM AT
FAMOUS OLD FORT CLARK GUEST RANCH,
HOME OF THE McKENZIE RAIDERS
BRACKETVILLE, TEXAS
“NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT, EVEN IN TEXAS
–The McKenzie raiders are mentioned specifically because an army unit by that name, led by Col. Ronald S. Mckenzie, operated out of this Fort in support of settlers against the Native American raiders in the area. In addition, a TV show by that name was produced which lasted one season.
This card likely dates from the 1960s.

Aquarena Diving Ducks, San Marcos, Texas

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This image is an underwater view of ducks as they swim along the surface of Aquarena Springs, with several ducks in various stages of diving down to feed.

A Natural Color Card by W. M. Cline Co., Chattanooga, Tennessee


The description states:
AQUARENA, SAN MARCOS TEXAS
Comical and colorful diving ducks.
–From the color of the duck’s heads seen diving in this picture, it appears that the duck are primarily mallards.
This card was used and is dated 3 July 1962.

Aquarena Clown Diver, San Marcos, Texas

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This image shows one of the underwater performers that entertained visitors to the Aquarena Springs theme park during the middle of the 20th century. Dressed as a clown, the swimmer is able to breathe through the use of the air tube held in the mouth.

A Natural Color Card by W. M. Cline Co., Chattanooga, Tennessee


The description states:
AQUARENA, SAN MARCOS, TEXAS
GLURPO AQUARENA’S FAMOUS AQUATIC CLOWN, who performs his acts under-water. Thrilling under-water shows are presented by the world’s only submarine theatre at this attraction every day of the year (except Christmas Day).
–The underwater theater is closed now that the Springs are a conservation area. This card was used and is dated 3 July 1962.