Chemulpo Chicken

 

Here's a Korean postcard from Chemulpo. The area is known for the 1904 Battle of Chemulpo Bay in the Russo-Japanese War. Chemulpo, as the main port of Seoul, had strategic significance; it had previously been used as the main invasion route of the Japanese in the Sino-Japanese war of 1894.

But this card was date stamped in 1940. Now, and at that time, Chemulpo was known as Incheon. It is the largest seaport on the west coast and has the country's largest airport. Other than that, I can't tell you anything about the significance of this card and it's chicken (rooster.) I welcome any input. But do take a look at the sideways rooster on the back of the card.

Cinerama Holiday

You may not remember it, but before iMax there was Cinerama. Not all theaters in the U.S. could show Cinerama movies, because it required a very big screen and three projection booths with synchronized projectors. Cinerama films were shot with three interlocked 35mm cameras to create an image that was three times wider than standard film and provided 146 degrees of arc. Translated, that means that it felt as if you were in the picture, not just looking at it. Well, that was the idea anyway; like iMax, it wasn't perfect.

The first Cinerama film was produced in 1952 (This is Cinerama) and was front-page news in the New York Times. This postcard advertises the second Cinerama film, Cinerama Holiday, released in 1955. Later films included Seven Wonders of the World, Search for Paradise, South Seas Adventure, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm, and How the West Was Won.  The high cost of making three-camera, wide-screen productions and dwindling popularity finally doomed the Cinerama films.

To find out more about Cinerama and the efforts to preserve and show the films, check out the Widescreen Museum. To find out more about Cinerama and the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco click here.
Note that the postcard has a Cinerama cancellation too. Fancy!

German-American Bank - Los Angeles, CA

I don't approve of giant hands coming in and poking buildings. It's especially hazardous around traffic and streetcars, and I don't think the pedestrians appreciate it either. But there it is, and I can't do a thing about it.

And anyway, I guess I wouldn't mind a safe deposit box for $2 per year.