Advertising Postcards

Parked over at the Incredibly Boring Postcards group. Printed on the back of this postcard: "The beautiful Monroeville Shopping Center, Monroeville, Penna." The Monroeville Shopping Center, known today as the Miracle Mile Shopping Center, was situated just a couple of miles away from the location of the later Monroeville Mall , where George Romero filmed his cult horror film Dawn of the Dead .

A cheesy contribution to the Incredibly Boring Postcards group. Printed on the back of this postcard: "The Alpine Cheese Factory Viewing Center at 'Ohio's Showplace of Cheesemaking,' Alpine-Alpa, U.S. Route 62 S.W., Wilmot, Ohio." I had a chance to visit Alpine-Alpa some years ago (picked up this postcard there, but didn't get any photos, doggone it). This place has since closed, unfortunately, and the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock , another attraction at this cheesy place, was recently relocated to the nearby town of Sugarcreek, Ohio.

An advertising postcard from the Lutheran Church Supply Stores, Philadelphia, Pa. Printed on the back: "Clergy Shirts in Color....Soft, comfortable, and elegantly styled, these short sleeve shirts hold their shape and color through many machine or hand washings. The new look in clerical shirts."

Printed on the back of this linen postcard: "Lesher's Diner, Routes 11 & 15, 28 miles north of Harrisburg, 28 miles south of Sunbury, Liverpool, Penna. Breakfast, luncheon, dinner. Specializing in steaks, chops, sea-food. Home-made pastries baked in our kitchen, Have your car serviced at adjoining AMOCO Station while dining in our delightful diner. 24 hour service. Photography by James E. Hess. Pub. by Mellinger Studios, Lancaster, Penna."

"Arizona Kid and His Cow Girls, Reading, Pa., 1941. Arizona Kid, Sun Set, Texas Jean, Moon Beam, Utah Ginny, Montana Patsy, Popeye, Chuckles, Winnie, and Sheriff and Cactus Sam. WYZ."

"J. C. Ferguson, of the Eclipse Machine Co., using a Morrow Coaster Brake, alongside the Hotel Astor, New York." -------- Printed on the back: "Elmira, N.Y., June 17, 1911. To the Live Ones, When you want a brake that is made good, and has always [been] made good, try a Morrow. No change in construction in seven years. That tells the story. J. C. Ferguson." For a similar postcard advertisement, see Miss Clara Wagner with Her Motorcycle at Coenties Slip, New York .

"Miss Clara Wagner with her motorcycle at Coenties Slip, New York, using the Eclipse Coaster Brake. 30206. Photo only by A. Loeffler, Tompkinville, N.Y." -------- According to Wikipedia, " Clara Marian Wagner (1891-1961) was the first documented woman motorcyclist who became notable as an endurance racer and was sponsored by the Eclipse Machine Co., a bicycle company, for using its braking products. In 1907, Clara, aged 15 years old and the daughter of the Wagner Motorcycle Company (1901-1914) owner George Wagner from Saint Paul, Minnesota, became a member of the American Federation of Motorcyclists (FAM). Clara put the company's motorcycles on the map by achieving a perfect score in a FAM 360 mile endurance race from Chicago to Indianapolis in 1910, aged 18, but was denied the trophy because she was female." In the early twentieth century, the Eclipse Machine Company published a series of advertising postcards like this one that featured exaggeratedly large women and men with correspondingly huge motorcyles and bicycles in ordinary-sized settings at locales in and around New York City (in this case, Coenties Slip is "a historic pedestrian walkway in Lower Manhattan"). The postcards were advertisements for the various types of motorcycle and bicycle brakes that the company manufactured. For the message on the back of this postcard, see Miss Clara Wagner with Her Motorcycle at Coenties Slip, New York (Back) . For a similar postcard advertisement, see J. C. Ferguson Using a Morrow Coaster Brake at the Hotel Astor, New York .

The back of an advertising postcard postmarked April 22, 1911, Elmira, N.Y. Printed by Blanchard Press, New York. Message (a printed reproduction of a handwritten note): Dear Boys: Miss Clara Wagner, the most successful and experienced lady motorcyclist, always uses the Eclipse Coaster Brake. Miss Wagner states that "The perfect security I felt in my brake equipment contributed largely to the pleasure." As she had numerous occasions to test it, and it was not found wanting. That's good evidence. Eclipse Machine Co. -------- For the front of the postcard, see Miss Clara Wagner with Her Motorcycle at Coenties Slip, New York . For a similar postcard advertisement, see J. C. Ferguson Using a Morrow Coaster Brake at the Hotel Astor, New York .

Printed on the back of this advertising postcard: "Feel the difference in a Mallory straw. We have a wide selection now on hand. Why not drop in soon and select your favorite?" The month of May used to be the time when men traditionally traded their winter felt hats for summer straw hats. The Mallory Hat Company created this postcard so that dealers could inform customers that it was time for them to purchase a new cool-as-an-iceberg Mallory straw Panama hat for summertime wear. . For an earlier example of an exaggeratedly large Panama hat used in an advertisement, see the San Francisco 1915 postcard that's featured as part of the Michigan State University Museum's Tall Tale Postcards: Storytelling Through the Mail exhibit.

A QSL postcard that was used to acknowledge radio contact between Citizens Band (CB) radio operators.

A postcard parody of a membership card for the "Down and Out Club" and an advertisement for the Powers Photo Engraving Company, "fastest engravers on earth." Down and Out Club of the United States of America No.: Back number. Date: Not yet but soon. This is to certify that after a thorough examination Mr. R. G. Brubaker has been elected a member of the Down and Out Club of America. His usefulness being gone is subject to the Skidoo Treatment. A. Hasbeen, president. To the woods. Not yet but soon. Walla-walla. 23 skidoo. Copyright 1906 by the Powers Photo Eng. Co., Fastest Engravers on Earth, 154 Nassau St., N.Y.

"New Port Authority Bus Terminal, 41st Street & Eighth Avenue, Longacre 4-8484, one block from Times Square." Printed on the back of this postard: "Largest in the world, the $24,000,000 Port Authority Bus Terminal to open December 15, 1950, was built by the Port of New York Authority, the self-supporting joint agency of the states of New Jersey and New York, to relieve street traffic congestion in Manhattan and to provide a comfortable central station for 130,000 bus commuters and many thousand long distance bus travelers who daily enter and leave New York. The Port of New York Authority, 111 Eighth Avenue. N.Y. 11, N.Y." Message and name--both printed rather than handwritten--on back: "I thought you would be interested in receiving the above facts about the Port Authority Bus Terminal. With best wishes, cordially, Howard S. Cullman." See also Steve Shook's image of this postcard on Flickr, which has a linen finish that's missing on my copy: New Port Authority Bus Terminal, 1950 - Linen Postcard .

"Tiny Town Bowling Alleys, Richmond, Virginia, 'The South's Most Modern Bowling Plant.'" Printed on the back of this linen postcard: "Tiny Town, America's most beautiful amusement centre, Richmond, Va., consisting of 27 H. Wagner and Adler High Speed, High Score all-maple alleys, acoustically treated, with concealed lighting. Second floor, Tantilla Garden, the South's most beautiful ballroom."

As Wikipedia explains, " Spook Hill is a gravity hill (an optical illusion where cars appear to roll up the spooky hill) in Lake Wales, Florida." "Spook Hill, Lake Wales, Fla. It's weird! Fantastic! Stop on line. Release brakes. Watch for cars when you roll back. Prather's Laundry & Dry Cleaners. Watch for Prather's White Trucks." Description printed on the back of this postcard: "A few blocks from the heart of Lake Wales is that mystifying and fascinating phenomenon, Spook Hill. Here playful ghosts apparently seize your car and in defiance of the laws of gravity and your previous experience in such matters, roll your vehicle gently backward uphill, while they chortle in unholy glee at your mystification. Handwritten message: "Stayed here last night and went to Bok tower but it was so foggy. It is sunny now about 75 degrees. By the time this card is written we'll be in Miami. Torrey. Erna." No address, stamp, or postmark. Todd Franklin (Neato Coolville) also has a copy of this over on Flickr: Spook Hill Postcard .

"Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours. Liberace and George Liberace." A 1956 Liberace Fan Club Christmas postcard. Liberace (full name, Władziu Valentino Liberace,1919-1987) was an American stage and television entertainer known for his lavish lifestyle and ornate candelabra-bedecked pianos. George Liberace (1911-1983) accompanied his brother on violin.

"First Snow. Log Cabin Inn. F&J." Date and location unknown.

In addition to the musical instruments--a bass, guitar, mandola (I think), another guitar, accordion, and jug --that the members of this country-western band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, are holding, there are also three more--a banjo, musical saw , and fiddle--on the floor in front of the group.

An advertising postcard for Nunn-Bush Shoes. None But Nunn-Bush Shoes for Me! Nunn-Bush Ankle-Fashioned Oxfords. Most styles, $8.50 to $11.50, a few higher. Nunn-Bush shoes are ankle-fashioned to make their trim lines last. The John B. Wilt Co., "The Home of Good Clothes," Elkins, W. Va.