I have directed folks to James Lileks' site before. And after today, i will probably do it again. If you can't find something on his site to interest you, go ahead and shut off your internet.
He has a whole section on old motels, illustrated with postcards from the '50s to the early '70s. You know back in the day when an independent roadside motel could still make a living with a couple of dozen rooms. And a pool. Had to have the pool.
What amazes me about these postcards are the cars parked around the motels. Cadillacs, Lincolns, Thunderbirds, Oldsmobiles and Buicks. All clean and shiny.
So, here is my question:
Did the folks who owned the motel wait until they had a collection of good-looking, expensive cars in the lot, and then tell 'that photographer feller' to come quick, or did they arrange with every friend they had with an expensive car to show up on photo day?
Or, did the photographer arrange for the fancy cars, knowing that in a couple of years the picture would be dated, and they would need to have it retaken?
Either way, I just find it interesting that in none of these shots is anybody traveling in a 10 year old Chevrolet station wagon.
The picture above is from the site, and I swear this place looks familiar. we drove to Disneyland when I was a kid- that entire trip is the subject of a series of future posts- and we spent the night in Colorado.
I could be wrong, but you never know.
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