California Inspection Station …
Back in the 1950’s, it was illegal to bring fruit into the state of California. During this time the state was having problems with insects / pests coming into the state and destroying their fruit crops. So they built these inspection stations at all of the main entrances and you had to stop your car, get out and go in and declare whatever fruits or vegetables that you had in your possession. I do not know whatever became of this or when it was stopped, but I know that someone out there knows something about this and can share what they know about this. I just thought that this was an interesting image … just another of my father’s ” through my front windshield ” type photos. There have been several well-known “art ” photographers have had whole careers doing only this type of photography … go figure. Thanks for looking and let me hear back from somebody about these California Inspection Stations … Frank
Miami Beach in the 1960’s …
I posted a photo similar to this one earlier, but I looked at this negative and it looked a little sharper and clearer, so I just decided to post it again ( I have found some more negative strips taken in Miami during the 1950’s and have been working them up, so check back ) . This is the FountainBleau Hotel in Miami Beach. I think I can see Sammy, Dino and Frank in one of those windows looking out over the boulevard, maybe looking out for Meyer Lansky or one of his other men. You can never be to sure back in the 1950’s … Las Vegas was still new and was not drawing the crowds that Miami was back then. And besides, if the action was not happening here, you could just hop over to Havana and keep the party going. Thanks for looking … Frank
Televison Back in the 1950’s …
Yes, kiddies this TV back in dark ages … And Yes, all we had back in the 50’s was three (3) channels. No, we did not have cable back then and no, this color has not been taken out of these images. That is my little toy sitting on top of the TV, not some futuristic antennae. That is Bob Hope on the screen, but I do not have a clue who the lady with him is or what show this is, either. Below is another screen shot …
I do know that this is Bing Crosby and Bob Hope on some type of variety show. This had to be around 1956-59 and I am sure this was the first TV that my parents had ever purchased. I have another photo of me sitting in front of this TV and I will find it and post it. At this time we were living in a garage apartment on Cervantes between 13th and 14th Avenues. In fact, the apartment is still there and I pass by it all the time. Some day I might just have to stop by and see if they will let me stick my head in the door for old times sake. Thanks for looking … Frank
Annie Get Your Gun …
Back in the 1960’s, the Pensacola High School Chorus used to stage musicals and they were really a production! They were as good as what you saw on Broadway … at least I thought so and all of the thousands of people that would attend the two or three shows that they would put on. These photos are from the production of ” Annie Get Your Gun “. I do not know the year or who the leads were. Here are several more photos from this production …
Notice how much detail went into creating all of the sets that were used in the play. Since this was back in the 1960’s, I am sure that the shop classes would have had to construct all of the sets. I am sure that they did not have the luxury of picking up a phone and renting what they needed to produce all of the sets and props that were needed to create the play. Here are a few more showing the costumes and make-up being applied …
Everyone looks as if they are having a good time and the girls are very pretty. As usual, I do not know who any of the people are … I will go through the old Annona yearbooks that I have laying around and see if I can find some information for everyone. I know that I should have done that before I posted the photos, but I did not. I have more negatives from some of the other plays that they put on, however they are not in the best shape and it is going to take me some time to get them ready to post. I hope you enjoy this bit of nostalgia … thanks for looking and as usual all comments are appreciated … Frank
WSRE’s ” History of Baseball in Pensacola ” …
This is an ad that I clipped from the WSRE site advertising the airing of the next “Baseball in Pensacola”. I saw the first airing on November 8 and it was Part 1 of the history. Part 2 is interviews with baseball players from Pensacola that went on to play in the majors and I missed that one. So, I am not sure what the Friday November 23 show will be, but it will be a repeat of one of the two episodes or it might be both. You will just have to tune in and see, but if you are a fan of baseball or a history buff of Pensacola, you will enjoy what you see. Some of my father’s photos of the Pensacola Dons was used, as were some of his views of Pensacola from the 40′, 50’s and 60’s are scattered through the first episode. I know that they will show it again and if you missed it now, I am sure that it will be re-broadcast in the future. Plus, I am sure that copies of it will be for sale … just go to WSRE’s site here. Thanks again for WSRE for thinking of me / my father. Please check back later and thanks for looking … Frank
Swimming in the Rio Grande …
This image is one that my father made back in the 1940’s on one of his trips out West to visit his sister. The photo was made from a bridge looking down at these kids swimming in this river … it must have been made with a wide angle lens because this negative was mostly all water and the kids were a very, very small section ( maybe about a quarter of the size of a “Forever” stamp ) of the negative. They are sharp, since you can see their features at this magnification, and I think that you can see how much fun they are having. What struck me was how ” muddy ” ( I did not want to say dirty ) this river is … however it does not seem to bother these boys. Coming from Florida and swimming in the Gulf and the rivers and bays in this area, I can never remember swimming in water that looked like this. But it sure looks like these kids are really enjoying themselves and the clarity of the water looks like the last thing on their mind … it makes me wonder if this was rain water or if it was just a lake with a sandy bottom. Whatever … thanks for looking and please check back … Frank
Pensacola High School “Annona” Yearbook Ad …
This is another one that I ran across years ago and set aside. As usual, I am not sure these lovely young ladies are or for what yearbook ad this was photographed for … maybe a bakery, since it looks as if they are eating cake. I thought that it would bring back memories for eating in the old Pensacola High School Cafeteria. I never went to school here, but I can remember going to this cafeteria many of times when I would go over to the school with my father. If anyone recognizes who these girls are, please let us know … Thanks for looking … Frank
Pensacola High School Baseball Team …
I have not posted any photos from Pensacola High School in a while and I came across these two negatives several years ago. I set them aside meaning to do something with them, but never did. They did not require much work, so I got them ready to post the other day. As usual, I do not recognize any of the players … they were before my time. I am not real sure of the years, but I would say early 1960’s, but they might have been 1950’s. If anyone sees anyone that looks familiar, please let us know. Below looks like the pitchers, but I cannot imagine a team this size having this many …
Maybe these guys are the seniors, even though they look as if they are standing on the pitcher’s mound. Thanks for looking … Frank
Jarrard Motors …
This is the last of these old photos that I have posted before, but ones I have run through the Lucis Art Filter. If you run a search you should be able to find the original photo in the first post. I personally like the look this filter gives, however I am not going to take the time to do all of these photos. Only the ones that have detail that this filter enhances. Thanks for looking and as usual, all comments are appreciated … Frank
Pensacola City Hall 1950’s …
I posted this image a while back, but this one I ran through the Lucis Art Filter. I do not know the exact year this was, but I would guess sometime in the 1950’s. The front of the truck on the left side might be a 1940’s model, so I do not really know or care. This building today is the T.T. Wentworth Museum and has a lot of interesting artifacts that Mr. Wentworth collected. He was a good friend of my father and many of the b&w photos in the exhibits were made by my father for Mr. Wentworth. I can remember going out to the old museum that Mr. Wentworth had out on old Palafox Highway on many occasions with my dad when he made photographs. Thanks for looking and if you have any memories from the old Wentworth Museum on old Palafox please let us hear them … Frank
Frank Hardy Made My Photographs Two 
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