Vintage Jacksonville

Born in Jacksonville June 1, 1934 Charles Eugene Boone, better known as Pat Boone became one of the most popular singing acts of the 1950’s. His early career was built on singing R&B covers by black artists but he later became known as a gospel singer.  (Trivia:  He was also a one time neighbor of Ozzie Osborne in Los Angeles)   Here he is photographed during a visit with his grandmother at a Jacksonville nursing home. (late 50’s early 60’s).

Tags: grandmother, nursing home, Pat Boone, performer, singer

No information with the original print but I’m guessing this stylish fisherman was photographed in the late 1940’s.  Nice Tarpon!

Tags: fish, fisherman, fishing, man, tarpon

“This is the lobby of the old Barnett Bank on the corner of Laura & Forsyth Streets.  This was their 70th. year, 1877 to 1947.  Of course now they are over 100 years old.  It was built of marble and it looked impressive, it looked like a bank of old.” LS

Tags: 000562, architecture, bank, Barnett Bank, Forsyth Street, historic photography, interior, Laura Street, vintage photograph

Professional wrestler Eddie Graham vs “The Great Malenko” in the Jacksonville Coliseum.  1960’s.

Tags: Boris Malenko, Eddie Graham, Jacksonville Coliseum, men, professional wrestling

“This was the brand new Atlantic Bank Building, on the corner of Forsyth and Hogan Streets.  The old Atlantic Building in the background.  On the left is the store Furchgott’s.  About 1956.” LS

This view of the building’s facade is now obscured by the elevated skyway tracks that travel along Hogan Street.

Tags: Atlantic Bank, bank, downtown, Forsyth Street, hogan street

“Massey Dodge Garage, on West State Street (building still standing), this photo was taken for a slide that would be used on TV, WMBR, Channel 4, 1949.  For that time it was the finest garage in this area.  Massey had 4 dealerships in our city.” LS

Tags: cars, garage, interior, Massey Dodge, repair, West State Street, WMBR

“The arena promoting golf at this time, notice the total prize money, $2,050 purse.  This was in the year 1953.  Also you could win the TV that projected the picture that was just like a big movie.  A 10 foot screen. A combination three day ticket was $3.00.” LS

The second annual Jacksonville Florida Women’s Open Golf Tournament held at the Brentwood Municipal Golf Course took place in 1953.  The winner was Patty Burg, one of the founders of the LPGA Tour. Berg was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1951.

The tournament was held annually at different courses around Jacksonville from 1951 until 1959, taking a hiatus until 1975, the last year it was held.

Tags: advertising, Brentwood Municipal Golf Course, golf, Patty Burg, women's open

“This is what was left of Adolph Hitler’s yacht.  People took parts of it for souvenirs, and someone started a fire and this hull was what was left.” LS

Typed on back of the print  “This is to certify that these pictures were taken Wednesday, August 30, 1950, approximately 2:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. by–Loyd Sandgren”

(Under Sandgren’s name is the name Robert Stedeford)

The Ostwind was one of two sailboats commissioned by Hitler in 1936 and it came to the United States after the war changing owners a half dozen times. It ended up in Jacksonville where it sat in disrepair until the 1980’s.  It was given to a Jewish Miami Beach Holocaust survivor who ultimately burned and sank it in the Miami Harbor.  There is apparently no evidence that Hitler ever set foot on the Ostwind.

Tags: boat, Hitler, Hitler's Yacht, Ostwind, vandalized, Yacht

“A great model and beautiful, her name, Connie Hines.  She later won the big prize in New York on the $64,000 game show.  Because of that she got a contract in the movies.  She appeared in the TV series Mr. Ed.  She was the wife on that show.  She was in many movies.” LS

Hines lived in Jacksonville, FL for a time, working as a model and performing on stage and on the radio. Photographed in 1958 posed on the back bumper of Loyd Sandgren’s 1957 Plymouth convertible.

Tags: Connie Hines, Mister Ed, Plymouth, women

Photo Mural at WMBR Radio
“I made this photo mural for the WMBR radio station on South Main Street. in 1948.  The print was mounted on 4”x8” plywood and put up at the station.  The two side Murals were also mounted on 4”x8” plywood.  It was a real job.” LS

When I first came to town in the mid 1980’s I remember seeing this in Burkhalter Wrecking company’s store that used to be located in the old Philips Mall and thought it was kind of cool then.  I hope it found a home somewhere…

Tags: interior, lobby, mural, radio, WMBR