GGIE: Aerial View of Exposition Grounds

GOLDEN GATE INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION

The compact unity of the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, is brought out by this photograph. Radiating from the 400 foot Central Tower and surrounding court are six great blocks of exhibit palaces, spaced by lovely gardens and beyond are the buildings of industrial and governmental exhibitors.

CELEBRATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1939-40 WORLD'S FAIRS
In New York and San Francisco
Look for more World's Fair Postcards on the Postcardy Blog on Fridays.
To view past World's Fair posts, click here or on the exposition label.

Lookout Mountain Incline

From the Windows of the Incline Car as it ascends Lookout Mountain a magnificent view of the Tennessee River, the city of Chattanooga and surrounding historical country is obtained.

Map: Catalina Island

click image to enlarge

Catalina Island is a rocky island  located about 22 miles (35 km) south-southwest of Los Angeles, California..The island is 22 miles (35 km) long and 8 miles (13 km) across at its greatest width.

This postcard has an attractive map with a lot of detail. Unfortunately the map is almost impossible to read without a magnifying glass when reduced to postcard size, and the back of the postcard has no information about the island..

Above is an enlargement of a portion of the map showing the location of the Wrigley Residence. People are shown swimming and traveling by boat to the island. It is a long distance to swim, but it has been done. More than 200 people have completed the Catalina Channel swim. The swim dates back to 1927, when the Wrigley family that owned the island sponsored a swimming race to prove that it really wasn’t far from the mainland. The swim normally starts, rather than ends, on the island.

George Washington's Birthday

WASHINGTON BIRTHDAY SERIES NO.1

A popular myth about George Washington tells about his response to his father's questioning him about chopping down a cherry tree. Little George is said to have replied "Father, I cannot tell a lie, I did with my little hatchet." 

Smallest Man in the World & Midget Village at the Chicago World's Fair

This postcard pictures "The Smallest Man in the World" at the 1934 Chicago World's Fair. He is standing next to an unidentified man who appears to be of average size.

This postcard has a pencil signature "Capt. Werner" on the back. I have another postcard of him dressed in a "Captain" uniform. That card also is signed "Capt. Werner" (the signature looks a bit different).

It is unclear what his real name or exact size is. The 1934 Official Guide Book of the World's Fair has this entry:

MIDGET VILLAGE, populated by Lilliputians, is a reproduction — reduced to midget scale, of the ancient Bavarian city of Dinkelspuhl, one of the few remaining walled towns in Europe.
Said to be the smallest man in the world, Werner Krueger, 24 inches tall and weighing 18 pounds, is one of the 115 midget inhabitants of the Lilliputian city. It has 45 buildings, its own municipal building, police, fire department, church, school, shops exhibiting midget handicrafts, miniature taxicab, filling station and newspaper.
Mayor of Midget City is Major Doyle, 33 inches tall. Free entertainment is given on the outdoor stage in Midget City park, or indoors in case of rain, by three groups of midget professional artists — the Ritter, Rose and Singer troupes. There are 1,500 free seats for the outdoor show.

In the Guide Book, the name and size of the smallest man are given as Werner Krueger, 24 inches tall and weighing 18 pounds. Elsewhere, in an article about the smallest man visiting the smallest distillery bottling line, he is described  as Capt. Werner Ritter (age 21, height 18 inches, weight 19-3/4 pounds). It may be that the "Ritter" name came from the Ritter Midgets troupe. That article also mentions that Capt. Werner developed a miniature rage when one of the women on the bottling line tried to cuddle him like a baby, and that he spoke only German.

Size variations often appear in various descriptions of midgets. The smallest woman who appeared at the fair, Margaret Ann Robinson, had a long career of exhibitions. She also appears in various sources with name and size variations--some size differences attributable to age and some not.

In contrast, there is almost no information about the smallest man. I can think of several reasons for this: he was not American; he did not like being exhibited; his real name was totally different.


Here are a few Midget Village postcards from the Chicago World's Fair.
. 

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for More Vintage Images

New York World's Fair: General Views of Firestone Exhibits

Visitors at the Firestone Factory and Exhibition Building at the New York World's Fair may see the world's most modern tire made with the world's most modern efficient tire-building machinery. Here the new Firestone Champion Tires are built, from raw materials to finished product. In the Exhibition Hall are dynamic displays of all Firestone Products and adjacent in a typical American farm setting is an interesting display of the most modern farm implements equipped with Firestone Ground Grip Tires.

Dropped into a modernistic, whirling "World of Tomorrow," in a peaceful, quiet, typical American Farm setting, complete with babbling brook, farm buildings and domestic animals is an interesting and instructive display of modern farming equipment. Here you may see how the Firestone Ground Grip Tire for tractors and farm implements has revolutionized agriculture to make the farmer's world easier, more efficient and more profitable. Firestone Put The Farm On Rubber.

© 1939, The Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.

CELEBRATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1939-40 WORLD'S FAIRS
In New York and San Francisco
Look for more World's Fair Postcards on the Postcardy Blog on Fridays.
To view past World's Fair posts, click here or on the exposition label.

Illinois Central's Floridian

GAIN one day of sunshine -- Save one day's expense on Illinois Central's Floridian, the only All-Pullman, All-Luxury train to Florida -- Through cars to South Florida. One full day en route -- leave Chicago daily 8:45 p. m., leave St. Louis 11:20 p.m., arrive Miami or St. Petersburg 8:30 a. m. Completely Air-conditioned, ultra-modern equipment insures absolute cleanliness and comfort. Bed rooms, single or en suite; drawing rooms; compartments; club and observation cars; radio; distinctive meals. Make the Floridian your home en route. 

Map: Greetings from New Mexico

Where History began in America

New Mexico — fourth largest state, has an area of 122,634 sq. mi., of which 131 sq. mi. is water; admitted into the Union in 1912; State flower  — Yucca. Capital — Santa Fe. . . . Numerous historic and scenic attractions: Carlsbad Caverns, ancient cliff dwellings, canyons, high mountains, and many others — with centuries old Indian Pueblos where life has changed little since they wer discovered over 400 years ago.

Henry's Restaurant -- Charleston, South Carolina

======================================

Just as the Sword Gate in Charleston

sets the style in iron gate design

so also

"In Charleston It's Henry's" for fine food.

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Valentine Dream

OH, BE MY VALENTINE

Mechanical Valentines with Cats

These are mechanical Valentines from my collection of cat Valentines. The "No Baloney" valentine is dated 1944 on the back. Most of the others are probably from the 1940s too, except for the "Licking Cat" which is older and was made in Germany. These cards are made up of two pieces. The pieces are attached with a small grommet that allows one piece to be moved.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

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For More vintage Images

New York World's Fair: Firestone Factory

Within the Firestone Factory and Exhibition building, the world's most modern tire is made with the world's most modern tire machinery. Visitors will see Firestone Champion Tires built, from raw materials to finished tire. In addition, there are many interesting and dynamic displays of all Firestone products — tires, batteries, brake lining, spark plugs, rims, automotive parts, noise eliminators, plastics and Controlastic thread. Adjacent, in the quiet of a typical American farm setting, complete with babbling brook and domestic animals, modern farming equipment on Firestone Ground Grip Tires is displayed — a pastoral retreat from the busy "World of Tomorrow."

Here, the world's most modern tire is built with the world's most modern and most efficient tire machinery. Each step in the manufacturing process unfolds before your eyes — from the mixing of the raw rubber and chemicals and the Gum-Dipping of the Safety-Lock cords to application of the Gear Grip tread and the wrapping of the finished tire. You actually see how greater Strength and Safety is LOCKED  into Firestone Champion tires.

© 1939, The Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.

CELEBRATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1939-40 WORLD'S FAIRS
In New York and San Francisco
Look for more World's Fair Postcards on the Postcardy Blog on Fridays.
To view past World's Fair posts, click here or on the exposition label.

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

FEB. 12, 1809 — APR. 15, 1865

Motor Ferry Kalakala

MOTOR FERRY KALAKALA

(Kah-Lock-ah-la, Chinook for Flying Bird) is the world's first completely Streamlined Motor Ferry. the hull is divided into twenty-five water-tight compartments, making it virtually unsinkable, length overall 276 feet, beam over all 55.8 feet, passenger capacity 2000, automobile capacity 110, has 5 decks, horsepower main engine3000,  cruising speed 18 knots. The Kalakala is designed primarily to meet the needs of steadily increasing passenger and automobile traffic on Beautiful Puget Sound.

Map: Greetings from Alaska

 

TOURIST MAP OF ALASKA AND THE YUKON TERRITORY

Belmont Restaurant -- Denver

DENVER'S Celebrated

BELMONT RESTAURANT

and our CIRCLE BAR

the Talk of the Town, different from any other restaurant you have ever seen.

Food at its best, plus more than you expect.

17th and TREMONT

Opposite the Brown Palace

postmarked 1951.

 
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Swede School

I don't know where this classroom is located, or whether it represents a Swede School. "Sweede school" is mentioned in the message on the back of the postcard: "Harold wanted to send this to you he started sweede school this morning."

This photo looks like a regular school classroom with the children wearing their Sunday best clothes. I am not sure whether all Swede Schools took place in the summer. Maybe this photo was taken at the end of the regular school year, and Swede School started in the summer after the end of the regular school year. It probably is safe to assume that Harold is one of the boys in the photo. If I had to guess, I would say that Harold is the proud-looking young boy with the suspenders in the front row.

The book Swedes in Minnesota, by Anne Gillespie Lewis mentions summer "Swede schools" and reports that he Swedish language was still being widely used in Minnesota Swedish-American churches and Sunday schools in the early twentieth century. Another one of the few references to Swede Schools found online is this in an article The Immigrant Church As A Symbol Of Community And Place In The Upper Midwest : "The church tried to combat the erosion of language and culture through the maintenance of a "Swede School" and seriously pursued the goal of full attendance among the young."

There is a photo of a summer Swedish School class in the Swedish language taken at the closing program in July, 1910 on the Minnesota Reflections website here.

 

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GGIE: Mexico Exhibit 1940

Rosita and Blanquita, the Cactus and Huarche Girls

Sarita and her Baskets

Margarita, the Curio Girl

Lively Corner at the Fiesta Plaza

Exhibit of Mexico
Golden Gate International Exposition
On Treasure Island • San Francisco

CELEBRATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1939-40 WORLD'S FAIRS
In New York and San Francisco
Look for more World's Fair Postcards on the Postcardy Blog on Fridays.
To view past World's Fair posts, click here or on the exposition label.

Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Streamliner

Many spots of scenic beauty are framed by the windows of GULF, MOBILE, and OHIO streamliners while traversing the picturesque route between the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile and Chicago on the Great Lakes. Five trains daily between St. Louis and Chicago, and The Rebel daily between St. Louis and Mobile.

 

Map: Southern Utah and Northern Arizona

Taken from an original oil painting by the noted cowboy artist and poet, L. H. "Dude" Larsen.

The ever changing panorama of rich and accurately colored landscape, with all the harmonizing and complimentary colors fro the master palette of the Great Creator, it is no exaggeration to say that there is more variation in color and formation in this area than any other place of its size in the world. 

NO. 30—COPYRIGHT 1941 BY L. H. LARSEN

The Covered Wagon Restaurant -- Chicago

Covered Wagon Restaurant

 Michigan Ave. at Cermak Rd
CHICAGO, ILL.

Our murals depict the history of early Chicago. We are located in the heart of Chicago's famous "Automobile Row" and have plenty of parking space available.

Always Open

postmarked 1950

 
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