Subway Station, Rockaway, NY –1975.
Doc’s Place, Boston, MA –1976.
Evergreen Tavern, Portland, OR –1976.
Main Street, Ocean Park, Santa Monica, CA –1977.
Beach Bazaar boardwalk, Cape May, NJ –1978.
University Ave., St. Paul, MN –1976.
Lexington Hotel, Lexington, NY –1976.
Tile Store Block, Detroit, MI –1976.
Tower Theater, Houston, TX –1977.
Boardwalk Street, Seaside Heights, NJ –1978.
That poor 67 Delta in NY
My first thought too.
This is how I remember the 1970s, as a very car aware little kid, in Southern Ontario. Brougham Challengers in ugly colours, with generic wheel covers. Many cars, particularly full-sized cars, in unattractive, almost depressing colours. Autos remaining from the 1960’s, in dilapidated condition. Except those driven by meticulous old timers. They were consistently conservative/frugal models. Never saw 1950’s cars, they were long gone.
In the first pic, these generic Coke-sponsored signs were popular with mom and pop diners, and general stores everywhere. So often, the food being absolutely dreadful.
Owner-purchased mud guards were a common sight, in more northern regions, in the late ’70’s. Few less attractive, than these white vinyl and ‘stainless steel’ versions. Owners naively thought, they would prevent rust. Though, they did probably prevent some paint chipping. Yosemite Sam, and R Crumb ‘Keep on Truckin’ motifs, popular on pickup-applied mud guards.
’70s tack.
In many of these groups of old photos we’ve seen lots of Rexall signage, along with Wallgreens, but this may be the first case of Montgomery Wards, not once but twice. The Large sign in the Portland scene, presumably on the top of their store, and one of their service trucks. I don’t remember every seeing a Ward’s service truck before, I do remember seeing lots of Sears ones though and they even persisted in my area after all but one of the stores were gone.
Any way you look at these photos, good or decrepit conditions, the collection is terrific. Thanks.
Love the rather rare (even then) dark green Gran Fury cab in that Detroit pic.
The Spitfire MKIV in the last pic by the boardwalk is shockingly nice. It was at least 4-5 years old by then and usually they had nose dings from other cars bopping them in parking lots.
Isn’t “Seaside Heights NJ”, “Buce Springsteen’s” hometown? (or region)
Also that “Doc’s Place” was pictured ((I believe)) here, or “Hemming’s” maybe, with later model cars out front.
Like the “Gremlin” in “Detroit”.
OMG! Tower Theater, Houston TX, in the gay Montrose neighborhood. I was there in the late 70s, More of an art theater, classic movies and live shows. Rocky Horror Picture show, I was there. What fun.