This image is a colored photo of the camp-like visitors cabins as they looked in the early part of the 20th Century on Catalina Island, off the coast of California near Los Angeles.
There is no description on the back of this card. The people in the photo are dressed in styles very typical of the 1920s, both the adults and children.
This postcard was used and is dated 25 July 1925.
Tag: postcard
Clifton’s Pacific Seas Jesus Praying, Los Angeles, California
This image is from another of the Clifton’s chain of cafeterias, this time the Pacific Seas, which was the original establishment started by Clifford Clinton. The statue is a life-sized depiction of Jesus of Nazareth as he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the mural behind the statue continues the illusion.
The description on the back states:
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CLIFTON’S “PACIFIC SEAS,”
LOS ANGELES
Figure of Jesus the Christ, in the “Garden for Meditation.” This spot is Mecca for half a million visitors annually.
“Food for the soul is important too.”
–The depiction was erected in 1949 and the building that housed is was demolished in 1960, so this image dates from the 1950s.
Clifton’s Brookdale “Little Chapel”, Los Angeles, CA
This image is a closeup of the small turreted entrance to the “Little Chapel” area, provided as a place for religious reflection at the cafeteria.
The description states:
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The “Little Chapel” among the Redwoods at Clifton’s “Brookdale.” 648 South Broadway, Los Angeles.
“Food for the Soul is important, too.”
–The original owners came from a very devout religious background and saw these cafeterias as a way of both making money and providing food for those less fortunate, according to the tenets of their faith.
This card likely dates to the 1950s.
Clifton’s Brookdale Chapel Dining Area, Los Angeles, California
This image shows a typical portion of the Clifton’s Brookdale cafeteria, with both painted and fake trees, as well as the stone terraces that provided access to other dining areas and a place for flowering plants.
The description on this card is the same poem as listed on the previous day’s posting:
CLIFTON’S “BROOKDALE”
Within these doors, a forest calls to you —
A mountain land of redwood tress and sky —
Offering woodland peace and beauty to
The tired heart, the city-weary eye.
So enter, friend, to walk where brooklets run
Down rocky crevices, through fern and reed.
Dine here and rest; and when your meal is done,
May something more than food have met your need.
Esther Baldwin York
–The turreted tower with the cross on it is the Little Chapel, and is featured in the next postcard.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.
Clifton’s Brookdale Dining Terrace, Los Angeles, California
This image shows the terraced dining room of Clifton’s Brookdale set amidst trees and planters of flowers. The trees are in fact covers for the columns that support the floor above, while the other plants are real.
The description states:
CLIFTON’S “BROOKDALE”
Within these doors, a forest calls to you —
A mountain land of redwood tress and sky —
Offering woodland peace and beauty to
The tired heart, the city-weary eye.
So enter, friend, to walk where brooklets run
Down rocky crevices, through fern and reed.
Dine here and rest; and when your meal is done,
May something more than food have met your need.
Esther Baldwin York
–The image is based on a black and white photograph which was manually colored to approximate the actual appearance of the restaurant interior.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.
Chapel Redwood Scene, Clifton’s ‘Brookdale’, Los Angeles, California
This card has an illustration of the redwood grove decoration in the cafeteria style restaurant known as Clifton’s Brookdale. This was the second of a chain of cafeterias founded by Clifford Clinton, and was originally called Clifton’s Cafeteria.
The description states:
Parable of the Redwoods…
If you stand very still in the heart of a wood, you will hear many wonderful things
— the snap of a twig and the wind in the trees and the whir of invisible wings.
If you stand very still in the turmoil of life and you wait for the voice from within
— you’ll be led down the quiet ways of wisdom and peace in a mad world of chaos and din.
If you stand very still and you hold to your faith, you will get all the help that you ask.
You will draw from the silence the things that you need — Hope and courage and strength for your task.
–This illustration may have been one of the wall paintings that was made on glass, then illuminated from behind by neon lights.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
Hall of the Crucifixion, Forest Lawn, Glendale, California
This image shows the building which houses the painting titled ‘The Crucifixion’, and the associated museum building. The painting is a huge panorama permanently affixed to the building it occupies.
The description states:
THE HALL OF THE CRUCIFIXION
AND MUSEUM
The Hall of the Crucifixion, massive, steel-reinforced structure enshrining America’s largest religious painting, “The Crucifixion,” commands a panoramic view of cities and mountains from high atop Mouth Forest Lawn. The adjoining Museum is filled with religious and historical art objects.
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Glendale, California
–This location is the original site of what is now a chain of six cemeteries in the Los Angeles area. There are over 1500 statues of artwork present in this cemetery, including a complete collection of Michelangelo sculptures made from castings.
This postcard was used and is dated 24 July 1953. The building had been completely shortly before this photo was taken.
Sunset and Vine, Hollywood, California
This image follows on the previous posting, showing more of the environs of the NBC Radio City Building, as seen looking down Hollywood Boulevard at the Sunset Avenue intersection.
The description states:
SUNSET and VINE
Where the Stars shine by night and by day. The Radio Center of Hollywood. Where the nation’s top radio and screen personalities perform their stints over the air lanes.
–This card emphasizes radio as it dates from the early 1950’s, when radio was still completely dominant. Television was growing rapidly, and would displace radio by the end of the decade.
The site of NBC Radio City is now occupied by a bank as shown here.
NBC Radio City, Hollywood, California
This image shows the NBC Radio City radio and television center at the corner of Sunset and Vine in Hollywood, California.
The description states:
N. B. C. RADIO CITY — SUNSET AND VINE
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
Located in the heart of Hollywood this is headquarters for many outstanding programs and the stars of radio.
–The building was constructed in 1938 and demolished in 1964 when operations were moved to Burbank, also nearby to Los Angeles.
This postcard was used and is dated 13 July 1956.
Town House Hotel, Los Angeles, California
This image shows the massive structure of the Town House Hotel, built in 1929. Lafayette Park is visible on the right of the building.
The description states:
THE TOWN HOUSE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
The popular hotel is located on beautiful Wilshire Boulevard, overlooking Lafayette Park.
–The hotel was first purchased by Hilton, and then by Sheraton, and continued in use as the neighborhood declined until the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and it was closed in 1993. It has since been reopened as low-income housing.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.