Vintage Jacksonville

The staff of Florida Bonded Pools on Beach Blvd. circa early 1960′s in front of the business and their wonderful sign of world famous swimmer and movie star Esther Williams in all of her 30 foot tall glory.  I stopped by the business to find out more about the sign and had a great conversation with Jeffrey Clarkson, the second generation of the Clarkson family to own the business.  He filled me in on a little bit of the sign’s history.  His father, W.E. Clarkson was the national marketing representative for Esther Williams who at the time had a signature line of pool dealers around the country.  He decided he wanted his own business and bought the Jacksonville pool business in the early 1960′s from the original owner who started it in 1957.  The Esther Williams sign was in place until it was taken down and replaced with a new sign in the 1970′s.  Unfortunately Clarkson could not remember the company that removed the sign so we don’t know it’s ultimate fate but I can report that as of this posting, the real Esther Williams, who was born in 1921 or 1922 depending on the source is still around, living in Los Angeles, CA and selling a line of retro styled swimwear that harkens back to her silver screen days.

As a side note, Jeffrey Clarkson said his father got the contract and Florida Bonded Pools built the first two pools at Disney World for the Contemporary Hotel which are still in use today but Disney would not allow them to use that in their advertising.

Tags: advertising, Beach Blvd., business, Esther Williams, Florida Bonded Pools, group photo, historic photograph, sign, vintage photography, workers

“Bo Whitaker, Florida State Women’s College, 1946.  A nice looking and great golfer, in the background you may see the grounds of the school.  This picture was used by many newspapers around the country.” LS

You may know Florida State College For Women better by it’s current name, Florida State University.

Tags: Bo Whitaker, Florida, Florida State University, Florida State Women's College, Girls School, Golfer, historic photograph, Tallahassee, vintage photography

Quite a few years ago Loyd Sandgren gave me an autographed print of this image with the following type written note scotch taped to the front of the print:

“I took this picture in 1950 for the C.H. Brown Camera Store.  This photo was taken from the Main Street Bridge looking North.  It was first printed in “The Jacksonville Story, Fifty Years of Progress. 1901-1951.”  This is a original print.” LS

I love the activity and businesses that lined Main Street visible in this detail from the center of the image.  The print is framed and hangs proudly on my office wall. 

Tags: business, cars, downtown, historic photograph, Main Street, skyline, vintage photography

A 1940′s Cadillac pulls a shinny new Bruce Trailer Sales All-Metal Life Time Trailer past the Brooks Motors Inc. building at the corner of Union and Laura Streets.  There is the front end of a vehicle following the trailer decorated with ribbons so my guess is it was part of a parade through downtown Jacksonville.  The building shares space with Consumers Finance Co. which according to the signage provided Automobile, Auto Repairs, Appliance and Furniture loans.  A First Baptist Church parking garage now occupies this particular corner of downtown.

Tags: Automobile, Brooks Motors Inc., Bruce Trailer Sales, Cadillac, Chrysler, Consumers Finance Company, downtown, First Baptist Church, historic photograph, Jacksonville, Laura Street, Loans, travel trailer, Union Street, vintage photography

“A very attractive young lady at Jacksonville Beach, FL on a summer day in 1963.  As you can see we weren’t alone, lots of onlookers, the car isn’t bad either.” LS

The Brumos car dealership is well represented in the collection of Loyd Sandgren’s work as well as attractive young ladies.  I don’t know if this particular photo was shot for Brumos or if Loyd was more interested in the model.  The address is from when the dealership was located in Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood which can be seen here in a previous post.

Tags: Automobile, bathing suit, beach, brumos, car, crowd, historic photograph, jacksonville beach, model, porsche, Springfield, vintage photography

“Watermelon grown just for the seeds.  They would use pitchforks and throw those melons into the machine.” LS

Probably shot in the mid 1940′s when Loyd Sandgren was working for the state of Florida taking photographs promoting business and recreation around the state.

Tags: African-American, agriculture, farming, harvest, historic photograph, vintage photography, watermelon, workers

A beautiful boat full of beautiful women.  The matching hats on the ladies are a nice touch.  Don’t know any details on this particular shot and it is the only image of a Chris-Craft boat I’ve noticed in the collection but it looks like it may have been shot on the Ortega River looking South toward Ortega with the old Roosevelt Blvd. Bridge in the background.  Any Chris-Craft enthusiasts care to fill in details on this fine watercraft?

Tags: boat, Chris-Craft, historic photograph, Ortega, river, vintage boat, vintage photography, women

“This was the place that they checked trucks, many company’s had all their trucks inspected.  This was in the middle 50’s.” LS

Tags: check list, historic photograph, inspection station, men, Ryder Truck, truck inspection, vintage photography

Jax Meat “The World’s Most Amazing Food Markets and the World’s Lowest Prices”.  How can you beat that?  The business was located at the intersection of First and Broad Streets in Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood.  When I enlarged the section of the photo with the pitiful looking burro behind the covered wagon I discovered the little boy peaking into the frame to watch the scene.

Tags: advertising, Broad Street, burro, covered wagon, First Street, grocery store, historic photography, Jax Meat, Springfield, vintage photograph

A military band makes it’s way down the 400 Block of West Forsyth Street crossing the intersection of Pearl Street. Looking at the cars I would guess this is the mid to late 1940′s. The view is to the West where you can see a nice selection of restaurants on the street, Comptons’s, Carroll’s Chile Parlor, the Hollywood Grill.  The Airlines Service Inc. building provided limousine services for passengers using the airlines at Imeson Airport.

Tags: Airline Services Inc., Carroll's Chile Parlor, downtown, Forsyth Street, historic photograph, historic photographs, Hollywood grill, parade, Pearl Street