San Francisco California Old Postcards

I love the vibrant colors on these two old linen postcards showing various landmarks in San Francisco California.  Both are unused and undated.

 

"The Expedition of the Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate" by Eliza P Donner Houghton

So, a buddy of mine got back from a road trip and picked up "The Expedition of the Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate" by Eliza P. Donner Houghton while he was visiting Donner Lake!

He knows that I love history, especially pioneer related stories, and strange ones.  Well, as I am sure you know, the Donner Party's story fits that bill for sure!

AND, I was about to visit Springfield Illinois again for the FOURTH time....  Springfield has a TON of history (the names Lincoln and Obama come to mind) but the town was also the starting point for the Donner Expedition.  There is a marker right by the old Court House about this, and the members of the party camped out there at the beginning of their sad adventure out west.

The Donner story has been told a million times, and I think most of us know the main details....  but, I think many people forget that this was a brave group who was willing to risk everything  for a new start in the west.  This was, in many ways a moving town with rules, leaders and norms.  Good things happened, and so did bad things.

This book is the telling of the story told by the daughter of Jack Donner, who was part of the Expedition, as a three year old.  Much of what she tells is second hand information given to her years later.  She does discuss crime among the party members.  She talks about a mother "trading" out the young Donners clothes to benefit her own daughters.  She talks of her being abandoned by mem paid to help get her to safety.  And she talks openly about finding an adopted family that helps her after the death of her own parents.

Yes, we all know about the cannibalism in the Donner story (the author, surely for self protection mentally, accepts a story that contradicts most of the known facts)- but this book is a real, personal tale of what could go wrong to those early pioneers.

RMS Queen Mary Postcard

This postcard showing the RMS Queen Mary went through the mail in 1938 according to the postmark on the back!

"Birdman: The Many Faces of Robert Stroud" by Jolene Babyak

I literally feel like I have read all I need to about Alcatraz.  We visited the place several years ago, and I was a bit obsessed with it for a while.  Still, there's a point where you feel like you have read all you need to on a topic.

I did see Jolene Babyak's "Birdman:  The Many Faces of Robert Stroud" at the bookstore recently, and it pulled me in.

I think most people have heard the name, and know a little about the man who raised birds and is always linked to Alcatraz.

Honestly, I always assumed he was a sweet little old fellow who simply loved birds.  As a bird lover myself (I raised a few over a couple of decades) I thought the story would be interesting.

Babyak obviously researched the heck out of Stroud, and painted a somewhat different picture.

Stroud himself did some writing about bird care and diseases, but much of his writing was....  well...  plagiarized.  A lot of his "cures" were bunk.

He is a complicated man too, with many issues.  He and supporters try to argue that he is a rehabilitated prisoner, deserving of release......  but there is much more to the story.

Of course a book about his life, and a movie (both taking artistic liberties in telling the Stroud story) influence the public opinion about the Birdman.

This was a really nicely researched and well written book.  I felt the author was trying to write a fair and honest story of one of the most interesting prisoners ever.

NPR Alcatraz article

http://www.npr.org/2013/10/14/231536397/a-night-at-the-rock-former-alcatraz-inmate-journeys-back

Check out the link above!  Its to a great NPR article about a former Alcatraz inmate going back to the island to spend the night!

I like the way the article is written, and I especially appreciate Mr. Baker's feelings of owning a little bit of it at the end.  I understand that kind of connecting to a place.....

Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

Sent from LA in 1955, the back of this postcard says-

 

Presented to the City of San Diego by John D. and Adolph Spreckels, this gigantic outdoor organ is the center for many important musical activities.

Hollywood Boulevard, CA 1940

Sent in 1940.  On the back-

World famed Hollywood Boulevard with its fascinating shops, cafes and theatres, is the main thoroughfare of the motion picture capital.  Brilliant at night with colorful lights and blazing searchlights, it is a never ending pageant of celebrated characters of Stage, Screen and Radio.

Yosemite National Park, CA 1943

The top postcard, "The Fallen Monarch" shows how large the big trees are here.

The bottom left one is the only one postally used, and it is postmarked 1943.  The others look to be from the same era.

The bottom one on the right says on the back-

"Wawona" in the Mariposa Grove of Bog Trees, about 4,000 years old, 227 feet high and 90 feet in circumference at the base, with a hole large enough to permit the widest and highest vehicle to pass through and ample room to spare on either side.

Golden Gate Bridge at Night

A great view of a great landmark! This postcard is postmarked 1946!

Huge Trees in California

This postcard says that it was made for Union Oil Company as part of their Natural Color Scenes of the West.

"Calaveras Big Trees 24 miles northeast of Angels Camp, California. The North Grove, on Highway 4, contains 158 Sequoias over 12 ft. in diameter. South Grove boasts 947 trees of equal girth. This area is famed for its early gold history."

Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park

"in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco is a replica of old Nippon. Here are hump back bridges, stone gardens, tiny streams, bamboo trees, temples and cherry blossoms. In cozy nooks about the grounds visitors are served tea and delicious rice cakes by dainty Japanese maidens."

Union Ferry Depot and bay of San Francisco

I love the trolleys on this old postcard! When I was in San Francisco, I went to a very cool market here.

Top of the Mark, Hotel Mark Hopkins- San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

Golden Gate Bridge Spanning San Francisco's "Golden Gate"

"Traffic lanes, six of them and two ten foot sidewalks accommodate the travel across the Golden Gate Bridge. This structure is 8940 feet long with towers 746 feet high and a clearance above the waterline of 220 feet. The main span is 4200 feet in length, which is the largest in the world. Total coast to construct $35,000,000.00"

The back also reveals that this card went through the mail in 1947 with a one cent stamp! The sender walked the length of the bridge before sunset.

Book: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead- Zevon

Warren Zevon is one of those musicians that you might not be familiar with, but you know about him.

A buddy took me to see Zevon with him some time ago and it was great. The guy kept putting out great tunes. His later album, "Life'll Kill Ya" is almost perfect in this bloggers opinion.

I was fortunate enough to actually catch his last 2 concerts in Cleveland. Both nights were great for me. Jill Sobule was the opening act, and I remember her coming out to sing with Zevon later. I remember the two doing "You Were On My Mind" - an all time oldies favorite of mine. That is one of my favorite concert memories.

I picked up "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" a few weeks ago. To be honest, I didn't want to read it when it came out. You sort of watched Zevon as he died on Letterman and MTV.

I finally got around to reading this volume. You know there are some books that you read, and you get goose bumps, and feel all good about life by the end? This is not one of those books. The book is too real and honest.

In fact, the books author/ex-wife of Warren says that Warren asked her to write it as honestly as possible.

Crystal Zevon talks very openly about her former husband's problems, including his many excesses.

There is a lot of fun info in here too. I have always loved the music of fellow Kentuckians Phil and Don Everly. I REALLY enjoyed reading about Warren's work with those guys. Later Lindsey Buckingham also gets involved! I would love to hear some collaborations with those four!

jackson Browne is another all time favorite of mine. It was great reading about Jackson helping Warren's career along.

I really admire this book for the simple fact that it does not try to make Warren look like a hero. It makes him look like a jerk at times (especially to his family).

After reading the book, I still feel an admiration for Zevon, and for his music. I think that Warren and author Crystal Zevon wanted it that way. He was a guy with good and bad qualities that made some great music.

Postcard: World Famous Tree House

The back of this postcard, postmarked 1940, reads-

World Famous Tree House, Lilley Redwood Park, Redwood Highway, California

Featured by Robert Ripley as the Tallest One-Room House in the World, Diameter 33 feet. Circumference at base 101 feet. Ave over 4000 years. Hollowed by fire over 300 years ago, the tree is still vigorously growing. Believe it or not.

Anyone out there have more info on this tree? I can't find much information on it online.

San Francisco California

While I am going through my photos from previous trips, I thought I should post some pictures from San Francisco.

San Francisco was a bit overwhelming. It is a big, non stop city.

It can be a bit crazy for someone from a small country town.

Talking frankly, I do remember the first time I went to a BIG city. It was New York. I remember being approached by homeless people asking for money left and right. It was intimidating. It was very uncomfortable. I was trying to enjoy my trip, but there is that element that is heart breaking.

San Francisco had a lot of that too. I did see some people that were obviously very down on their luck.

Something else that reminded me of my trip to New York years ago were people in front of businesses trying to get you to come in. Many of the restaurants had these guys, and that was kind of cool.

We checked out the Haight Ashbury area, which was very exciting for this old fan of classic rock. I found a map to all of the old cool rock stars homes. Country Joe, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and others lived in this area. Jello Biafra and others that did not come out of the 60s era sprung out of the area too. I was surprised to learn that certain cult leaders put their time in here.

We covered all of the touristy stuff. See my other entry on Alcatraz, and the Winchester Mystery House.

There are references to San Francisco everywhere. A ton of movies and TV shows have been filmed here, or are based here. Monk is a great show.

I was very fascinated with Chinatown. We had a great time there. We found some great jewelry and souvenirs in the MANY novelty type shops. There was a guy playing one of those bowed instruments (I can't think of the name at the moment). He was playing the traditional stuff, but as soon as he saw us coming, he switched to, "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain"! I asked him if he knew "My Old Kentucky Home." He smiled. I don't think he understood my accent.

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of those things that you hear about, and then when you see it you think to yourself, "man, it really is that amazing."

The fog very literally does role in. It reminds me of a creepy horror movie in a way. It also reminds me of old Scooby Doo cartoons. Its like a smoke machine. We took some really cool pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge disappearing into the fog.

We took Jim Fassbinder's Ghost walk. I have seen Jim on several travel type shows about haunted places. We had a great time on Jim's walk. Check out his website:
http://www.sfghosthunt.com/fatcow.com/Welcome.html
Jim obviously takes a lot of pride in his research, and in telling a creepy story.

We also made it out to some other notable areas, including Sonoma. I am not a big wine person, but the landscape alone was worth the drive.

So, here are my photos!

Alcatraz, California

I really doubt that I can say anything about Alcatraz that has not been said before. My wife and I agreed that this was the highlight of our trip to San Francisco. Its not that San Francisco is not amazing on its own, but Alcatraz is such a legendary landmark.

Before we caught the boat to go over to the little island, we had a very nice lunch at the restaurant near by. I am posting a picture I took of "The Rock" from the window view I had inside the restaurant.

Putting prisoners on an island a mile and a half off shore now almost seems like a mythic idea. It seems odd.

But there it is. Looking out across the Bay it looks so mysterious. You want to know more about it. You want to check it out.

You can also see the city from Alcatraz. One ranger told us that this could really get under the skin of a prisoner. They could see the lights of the city, and even hear the music. Still, they were a mile and a half away.

The island does have an abandoned feel, except for the gift shop and tourists. It is kind of in ruins, but still maintained. They have the self guided tour head sets, and they have park rangers giving history lessons.

We walked around a bit with a ranger who must have known everything about Alcatraz. I stumped him though asking if he had seen the latest America's Most Wanted segment on Morris and the Anglin brothers. He had not!

For what its worth, the Anglin brothers and Frank Morris are the only 3 guys who may or may not have escaped. This is still up for debate and it is unsolved.

They have a VERY cool gift shop there. I am a HUGE fan of postcards and nic nacs at gift shops. Books and other cool items were readily available here. You can actually buy pieces of Alcatraz from where they have been trying to restore certain areas. Author/former resident of Alcatraz Darwin Coon was there signing copies of his book, and talking about the time he spent as an inmate. See my other entry for a review of his great book.

We did take a San Francisco ghost walk tour, and our guide told us some about some of the ghosts on the island. I didn't see any myself, but I could tell the place would rank high on the creep-o-meter, especially in the evening or at night!

Movie fans will love Alcatraz just because it has been featured in so many films.

There is a lot of info on Alcatraz out there. It is worth a visit for everyone at least once in a lifetime. I hope to make it out there again sometime soon myself. Here are some pictures I took. Oh, and check out the Alcatraz entry on wikipedia for a stunning panoramic shot!