Showing the way things were in 1939
Opened in 1937, this is how it looked in 1939.
Learn more from this 2015 visit that includes an unauthorized art addition that may or may not still be there:
https://hollywoodpartnership.com/post/have-you-ever-wonderedwho-is-this-man
Flying A gas stations gave out booklets with descriptions of 100 places to visit in the western U.S., Territory of Hawaii and the Philippine Islands. Above a block of text was a blank area to paste the related stamp that was available only from an Associated dealer. As described above, ten stamps promoting the 1939 Exposition in San Francisco were available everywhere while others were limited to that station’s location. The intent was for people to drive, stop for some Flying A gas and add a stamp to their book.
In the booklet in the author’s collection, the only stamp in southern California is the one shown commemorating Serra’s founding a mission on this date in 1769. In 1939, Serra’s accomplishments were an important and positive part of California’s history but as this blog is posted, the truth about his and the missions’ role show the negative side of foreigners dominating native people.
In case you were wondering why the above stamp has a number higher than 100, it is because the stamp numbers range from 101 through 200.
Image: from online auction
A Los Angeles fellow, probably a kid, was hereby certified to be a member of Supermen (with an “e”) of America upon the pledge to adhere to all the principles of good citizenship.
Image: source and photographer not identified; may be a Union Pacific publicity photo.
In addition to ticket counters at railroad depots some had walk-in offices in major cities where customers could make travel plans and purchase tickets. In 1939 this one in Long Beach, California was typical.
Image and excerpt below from Hollywood’s Garden of Allah novels, by Martin Turnbull on facebook.com.
“I do love coming across a striking night photo, and this one is a prime example. This one is of a Union Pacific railroad ticket office sandwiched between a Florsheim shoe store and a drug store. It was at 144 Pine Ave in Long Beach, which Union Pacific moved into on October 1, 1939, so I’m assuming this photo was taken some time after that. They took the trouble to include ‘The Progressive’ in their signage – I wonder if that was part of their company motto? And I especially love the silhouetted lettering above the window: ‘Road of The Streamliners and The Challengers.’ “
1939 Southern California 