Mid-Century Hotel Postcard Models Living The American Dream

Harrison Hall Hotel Ocean City MD Boardwalk & 15th Street

Harrison Hall Hotel Ocean City MD. Boardwalk & 15th Street

 

Trying to look natural on camera is one of the hardest tasks. Trying to do so on holiday whilst perched on a bouncy diving board over a hotel’s outdoor swimming pool as other holidaymakers look on and wonder if the man with the camera – it’s always a man who took these photos for hotel postcards – sees it all as a prelude to clinches in the privacy of his darkest of dark rooms is Sisyphean. But Maud, let’s call her so, is a local professional. Hollywood beckons. The rest are mono-hued amateur enthusiasts, asked to pose and smile in dutiful holiday cliches for the mid-Century hotels’ popularising postcards, their reproduced presence advertising bright, open and professional hospitality amid the bells, lounge lizards, busy carpeting, the depressed, diners, vast lobbies, the optimistic and muzak. And they’re terrific. Surely no-one sent these things. They were to collect. And more than half a century later, they afford us views of the 20th Centuries most upbeat views.

 

Eastland Motor Hotel Portland ME Tavern bar and lounge

Eastland Motor Hotel Portland ME
Tavern bar and lounge

Abbey Victoria Hotel New York NY 7th Avenue at 51st Street

Abbey Victoria Hotel New York NY
7th Avenue at 51st Street

Bismarck Hotel lobby Chicago IL Known the world over for its excellent food. Located in the heart of the city. It is next door to the shopping theatrical and financial districts. The friendliness beauty and charm of the Bismarck is best typified by its lobby. The famous Palace Theater and Metropolitan Building are also part of the Eitel Block

Bismarck Hotel lobby Chicago IL
Known the world over for its excellent food. Located in the heart of the city. It is next door to the shopping theatrical and financial districts. The friendliness beauty and charm of the Bismarck is best typified by its lobby. The famous Palace Theater and Metropolitan Building are also part of the Eitel Block

Cafe Bonaparte Sheraton-Blackstone Hotel_Chicago IL Chicago's exciting intimate French dining room of the Napoleonic period Michigan Avenue at Balboa

Cafe Bonaparte Sheraton-Blackstone Hotel_Chicago IL
Chicago’s exciting intimate French dining room of the Napoleonic period
Michigan Avenue at Balboa

Mid-Century postacards hotels-33

Cocktail Lounge Mark Hopkins Hotel San Francisco CA marked 1941

Cocktail Lounge Mark Hopkins Hotel San Francisco CA
marked 1941

Crystal Dining Room Cumberland Hotel Bridgeton NJ One of the many Food features at this fine hotel.

Crystal Dining Room Cumberland Hotel Bridgeton NJ
One of the many Food features at this fine hotel.

The Croydon New York NY 12 East 86th Stree

The Croydon New York NY
12 East 86th Stree

Hotel Salisbury New York NY 123 West 57th St. postmarked 1968

Hotel Salisbury New York NY
123 West 57th St.
postmarked 1968

Jug's End in the Berkshires South Egremont MA Pre-Revolutionary Ginny's Pen, built of stone and hand hewn beams, with leaded glass windows and quaint fireplace, recaptures the romance of years past. A cottage for two at famous Jug End, it sits amidst beautiful colonial gardens hidden from the world.

Jug’s End in the Berkshires South Egremont MA
Pre-Revolutionary Ginny’s Pen, built of stone and hand hewn beams, with leaded glass windows and quaint fireplace, recaptures the romance of years past. A cottage for two at famous Jug End, it sits amidst beautiful colonial gardens hidden from the world.

Hotel Seymour New York NY Just off Fifth Avenue 50 West 45th Street

Hotel Seymour New York NY
Just off Fifth Avenue
50 West 45th Street

Main Lounge Jackson Lake Lodge WY A 60-foot picture window across the front of the main lounge embraces Jackson Lake and the towering peaks of the Grand Teton Range which rises 13,766 feet.

Main Lounge Jackson Lake Lodge WY
A 60-foot picture window across the front of the main lounge embraces Jackson Lake and the towering peaks of the Grand Teton Range which rises 13,766 feet.

Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel Lobby Atlantic City NJ A portion of the newly decorated Marlborough Exchange with office in the background. One small part of our extensive renovation program.

Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel Lobby Atlantic City NJ
A portion of the newly decorated Marlborough Exchange with office in the background. One small part of our extensive renovation program.

Park Lane Hotel St Petersburg FL 226 5th AVenue North postmarked 1970

Park Lane Hotel St Petersburg FL
226 5th AVenue North
postmarked 1970

San Marcos Hotel Swimming Pool Chandler AZ John H. Quarty, President

San Marcos Hotel Swimming Pool Chandler AZ
John H. Quarty, President

Rendezvous Room Roosevelt Hotel New York NY plush and elegant. A visit to the age of splendor in New Orleans - flaming dishes, prime ribs, steaks and service unequaled in the world

Rendezvous Room Roosevelt Hotel New York NY
Plush and elegant. A visit to the age of splendor in New Orleans – flaming dishes, prime ribs, steaks and service unequaled in the world

The French Room Clift Hotel San Francisco CA postmarked 1969

The French Room Clift Hotel San Francisco CA
postmarked 1969

Top of the Mark San Francisco CA

Top of the Mark San Francisco CA

Gadsden Hotel Douglas AZ U.S. Highway 80 and State Route 666

Gadsden Hotel Douglas AZ
U.S. Highway 80 and State Route 666

Arrowhead Springs Hotel San Bernadino CA Colorful "Arrow-Shaped" pool of this world-famous resort hotel in the San Bernadino Mountains Color Courtesy: Santa Fe Railway

Arrowhead Springs Hotel San Bernadino CA
Colorful “Arrow-Shaped” pool of this world-famous resort hotel in the San Bernadino Mountains
Color Courtesy: Santa Fe Railway

Ambassador Motor Hotel Stockton CA

Ambassador Motor Hotel Stockton CA

Harding's Colonial Room Chicago IL 21 South Wabash Avenue

Harding’s Colonial Room Chicago IL
21 South Wabash Avenue

Carousel Lounge Hotel Monteleone New Orleans LA Round and round, slowly carouseling into the evening. Featuring entertainment.

Carousel Lounge Hotel Monteleone New Orleans LA
Round and round, slowly carouseling into the evening. Featuring entertainment.

Everglades Roof Miami FL The Everglades Roof 18 stories above Miami . . . Where, as you dine or sip, you enjoy the Sea Maiden Ballet in their unique underwater performance 2nd to 3rd streets on Biscayne Blvd.

Everglades Roof Miami FL
The Everglades Roof 18 stories above Miami . . . Where, as you dine or sip, you enjoy the Sea Maiden Ballet in their unique underwater performance
2nd to 3rd streets on Biscayne Blvd.

Hibiscus Lounge Palm Garden Restaurant Largo FL serving St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa

Hibiscus Lounge Palm Garden Restaurant Largo FL
serving St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa

Holding's Little America bar Cheyenne WY America's New Travel Center at the Crossroads of the West Junction of I-80 and I-25

Holding’s Little America bar Cheyenne WY
America’s New Travel Center at the Crossroads of the West
Junction of I-80 and I-25

Manager Annapolis Hotel Washington DC Surf Room Lounge of the Manager Annapolis Hotel 11th to 12th on H Streets, NW Washington, D.C.

Manager Annapolis Hotel Washington DC
Surf Room Lounge of the
Manager Annapolis Hotel
11th to 12th on H Streets, NW
Washington, D.C.

Safari Hotel Scottsdale_AZ The "French Quarter" in the fabulous Safari Hotel

Safari Hotel Scottsdale_AZ
The “French Quarter” in the fabulous Safari Hotel

Sierra Room Nicely's Restaurant Lee Vining CA Hwy 395 Wonderful atmosphere and relaxation

Sierra Room Nicely’s Restaurant Lee Vining CA
Hwy 395
Wonderful atmosphere and relaxation

Stouffer's Top of the Rock Prudential building Chicago IL Atop the Prudential Building Chicago 1, Illinois

Stouffer’s Top of the Rock Prudential building Chicago IL
Atop the Prudential Building
Chicago 1, Illinois

Fairmont Crown Fairmont Hotel San Francisco CA reached by an outside glass elevator

Fairmont Crown Fairmont Hotel San Francisco CA
reached by an outside glass elevator

Wahweap Lodge Page AZ

Wahweap Lodge Page AZ

 

Via: William Bird.

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