Wednesday, February 18, 2015

America Theatre


This is the America Theatre, a very old movie theater on Center Street. The theater has been in operation for decades, although it's had its ups and downs. Some twenty or so years ago, it was bought by local entrepreneurs who revamped it, together with the Rialto Theater up the street, bringing it back into the full swing of things. The theater has a very wide screen, and is a very popular theater today.

While the Rialto has been restored to its 1930s appearance, the America, which is nearly as old, retains the look it has had much since the 1970s.

 America Theatre at night.

 Classic car (1954 Chevrolet Bel Aire)  near a classic theater.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

GB Fish and Chips, Denver Colorado


I've passed by this location a million times, and have looked at this strangely compelling and simultaneously repulsive mural every time. 

This is the mural on the side of GB Fish and Chips on Colfax Avenue in Denver. The apparently well regarded chain of local fish and chips shops features giant flags from the United Kingdom in all of their several locations, apparently.  This particular mural also has three figures on the Union Jack, one of whom can't been seen in this photo taken from the back window of my pickup truck.  It's probable that all three depict actual people, with the one on the right in boxing shorts, and all three of whom are wearing boxing gloves and bloodied.  The middle figure in the top hat is Winston Churchill.

I find this mural impossible not to look at, but also very odd.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Engelke Brothers Maker's Mark, 1919, Casper Wyoming.


I posted one of these the other day from the same company, in which the year, 1913, was also stamped in.  In this one, it was simply lined in by hand, for a much less professional appearance.  Oddly, this one is a few years younger.  It's also several blocks away, presumably representing the advancing sidewalks of the town in the teens.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Engelke Brothers Sidewalk Maker's Mark. 1913. Casper Wyoming.


It used to be the custom, and probably at least still partially is, for cement companies to stamp their names in their product.  this is an example of a Engelke Brothers mark, in downtown Casper, from 1913.

Many Casper sidewalks were of this vintage in the general downtown area, but in recent years the sidewalks have been torn out and replaced, so these really old stamps are not nearly as common as they once were.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

California Tire & Rubber Company, Salt Lake City Utah.


Another painted building from an area of Salt Lake that was once an industrial area.

Firestone Building and mural, Salt Lake City Utah.


This photographs shows the backside of the Firestone Building in Salt Lake City, as well as a neighboring mural. This was an industrial area of Salt Lake a century ago, but the area now just off downtown features restaurant and shops (but is also near an area that can be a bit rough).  The appearance of the back of the  Firestone Building is much different than the front, and the building now houses an Italian restaurant.  The building was built in 1925.

Crane Company Building, Salt Lake City Utah.


This building in Salt Lake City was built in 1910 in a district of Salt Lake which once featured a variety of industrial structures. Today a Vietnamese restaurant is on the street level.  The Crane Company that built this building is the company which makes the well known valves and plumping fixtures, and it was used in the course of their business.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Lex Anteinternet: Holscher's Hub: Bosler Consolidated School, Bosler...

Lex Anteinternet: Holscher's Hub: Bosler Consolidated School, Bosler...: Holscher's Hub: Bosler Consolidated School, Bosler Wyoming. This is the Bosler Consolidated School, in Bosler Wyoming. These ...

Friday, August 15, 2014

Coopersmiths, Ft. Collins Colorado.


A variety of ghost signs are seen here, on the side of what is now Coopersmith's, the popular brew pub in Ft. Collins, Colorado.  The Colorado Bakery & Grocery sign is prominent, but also included are a Denver Post sign and an Owl Cigar sign.

Colorado Capital




The Colorado Capitol building, which was in the process of being re-roofed (gilded?) when these photos were taken.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Today In Wyoming's History: Natrona County International Air Port, formerlly t...

Today In Wyoming's History: Natrona County International Air Port, formerlly t...: Twelve locations on the ground of the Natrona County International Airport, which started out as a United States Army Air Force base during ...

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Lex Anteinternet: Modern Technology and the Public Building

Lex Anteinternet: Modern Technology and the Public Building: Recently, on our blog about courthouses, I posted an item on the Townsend Justice Center, which is the courthouse for Natrona County Wyomin...

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Hotel Virginia (Natrona County Annex), Casper Wyoming




This century old building in Casper Wyoming was most recently used as Natrona County's County Annex, a government administrative building, but it had its origins as a hotel.  It's currently under renovations which will convert it into apartments, which is somewhat similar to its original use as a hotel.

I don't  know what the original name of the hotel was, and how many names it may have operated under, but sandblasting on the building has revealed a "ghost sign" for a hotel.  Unfortunately, I can't read anything other than "hotel" on the sign.  The current owner intends to market the apartments under the name Hotel Virginia, but I do not know if that's what this sign said, or if parts of more than one sign are visible.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Platte County Steam Laundry, Wheatland Wyoming


This small building is still in use, and has updated windows today.  A newer sign above the door says "Coin Operated Laundry", so perhaps its still in its original use, although presumably not as a "steam laundry".  Its location is just off of the rail line, which was likely a good location for a laundry.

Landmark Bar, Wheatland Wyoming


Located directly across the street from the Platte County Courthouse, the Landmark Bar features a painting of a map view of the State of Wyoming on its side.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Today In Wyoming's History: Natrona County School District No. 1 Bond Issue Fa...

Today In Wyoming's History: Natrona County School District No. 1 Bond Issue Fa...: The bond issue floated by NCSD No. 1, which would have sought a $33M bond for use in upgrading the safety features of existing schools, pro...

Monday, May 5, 2014

Lex Anteinternet: The NCSD Bond Issue

Lex Anteinternet: The NCSD Bond Issue: The bond issue goes to the voters tomorrow, May 6.  Please vote yes, if you are a Natrona County, Wyoming voter. Prior threads on the topi...

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Main Gate, Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center, Aurora Colorado.





Taken from a moving car, with an Iphone, these photos are of the former main gate for Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora Colorado.  Note the red crosses on the guard houses.

This facility is now the University of Colorado's Children's Hospital, and has been greatly added to.  It's a first rate facility.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Lex Anteinternet: Casper Star Tribune Editorial board: OK the school...

Lex Anteinternet: Casper Star Tribune Editorial board: OK the school...: The Casper Star Tribune has changed its position (reluctantly, given the pools) and is now supporting the bond. While I wish the Tribune wo...

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue: The actual cost

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue: The actual cost: This graphic, generated by the Natrona County School District, nicely shows the actual cost to Natrona County property owners for improv...

Monday, February 24, 2014

Lex Anteinternet: Natrona County School District Bond Vote

Lex Anteinternet: Natrona County School District Bond Vote: Tonight, February 24, 2014, the Natrona County School District will hold the second of its public meetings to take comments on the proposed ...

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue. Safety

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue. Safety: As folks who read this blog (and there's darned few I know) are aware, I've written on several occasions about the upcoming Natrona ...

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue. Modern technical and vocational t...

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue. Modern technical and vocational t...: I've posted on the upcoming bond issue here several times before, but I want to switch gears a bit with this post, as I think that perha...

Lex Anteinternet: Swimming Pools — NCSD Transform

Lex Anteinternet: Swimming Pools — NCSD Transform: Swimming Pools — NCSD Transform Nice site on the proposed pools and the bond issue. Here's the reason for the bond issue:  "Whi...

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Lex Anteinternet: Book Announcement: On This Day In Wyoming History...

Lex Anteinternet: Book Announcement: On This Day In Wyoming History...: We'd like to announce that our book, On This Day In Wyoming History , will go to press in March and can be pre-ordered from the publishe...

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Lex Anteinternet: Keeping a Swimming Pool at NCHS

Lex Anteinternet: Keeping a Swimming Pool at NCHS: I was on the Natrona County High School swim team in 1978-1979 and 1979-1980.  I might have been in 1980-1981 as well, my senior year, but ...

Thursday, November 14, 2013

The Strand Theatre, Rawlins Wyoming





This is the Strand Theatre Building in Rawlins, Wyoming.  The theater was built in 1919, at a time when movies were becoming increasingly popular.  I don't know what the current use of the building is, and whether or not it is still used as a theater.

Some may wonder why the Strand had its name painted on the back of its building.  The theater is located only one block from the Union Pacific railroad, and at that height, rail passengers would have been likely to notice the sign.  Rawlins was a major stop on the Union Pacific at that time, and its likely that quite a few travelers saw the sign and were tempted to take in a movie if they were staying overnight in Rawlins, which had at least one fairly good sized hotel in the downtown district.

Public School wall, Rawlins Wyoming.


This is a former wall for the public school in Rawlins, Wyoming. The school is no longer there, and hasn't been for as long as I can recall, but the decorative wall remains.  As noted on the wall, the school must have been built in 1886, prior to statehood.


Monday, August 26, 2013

Lex Anteinternet: This is the former stable for the Wyoming Nation...

Lex Anteinternet:

This is the former stable for the Wyoming Nation...
: This is the former stable for the Wyoming National Guard in Newcastle, Wyoming.  The Armory was downtown, and no longer stands.   ...