The Fun's All Over

A 1940's Curt Teich card from the "Everyday Comics" series

Surf Auto Hotel - Santa Monica, California

The "awesome" Surf Auto Hotel is no longer there being replaced by the high-end Lowes Santa Monica Beach Hotel...Catalina Island however is still there!

Observatory - Wilson's Peak, California - 1915

The observatory was conceived and founded by George Ellery Hale. The Mount Wilson Observatory was first funded by the Carnegie Institution of Washington in 1904, leasing the land from the owners of the Mount Wilson Hotel in 1904. This version of the Observatory is from 1907-1909

Los Angeles Trust and Saving Bank

A particularity well designed and attractive postcard showing the interior and exterior of the Los Angeles Trust and Savings Bank circa 1920. LAT&SB was built in 1911 and still stands today as high-priced condos.

Camp Strongheart - Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin

Postmarked July 1942,  Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin.

Couldn't find out much about Camp Strongheart except that they were a boys camp featured in Life Magazine in 1956...and that they owned a nice 1940 Ford Woody!

Bekins Van and Storage - 1911

Bekins Van Lines was founded in 1891 in Sioux City, Iowa, by two young Dutch immigrant brothers, Martin and John Bekins. Martin moved west four years later, first to Omaha, Neb., and then Los Angeles.

In its heyday the Bekins Co. owned more than 100 storage buildings in 14 states. In an attempt to streamline its operations in the face of stiff competition, Bekins began selling off its real estate in the early 1980s. By 1983, when purchased by Minstar Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn., Bekins' stock of warehouses had been reduced to 55.

Auditorium - Largest Concrete Building in the World - Los Angeles, California

After doing a little research I discovered that the building was just known as the "Auditorium" until the Los Angeles Philharmonic moved there in the early 1920's. As it pertained to buildings, the title of "World's Largest" or "World's Tallest" was a moving target through the early part of the century. In typical Los Angeles style, there is a parking lot now in the Auditoriums former location.

If you're interested in the history of concrete, and who isn't?  👀  You can go here:

http://www.auburn.edu/academic/architecture/bsc/classes/bsc314/timeline/timeline.htm