Monday Miscellany

Today it’s back to the Palm Springs Biltmore Hotel, with a 1950’s color shot of singer/actor Tony Martin and his dancer/actress wife, Cyd Charisse. Get a load of that watch/jewelry on her wrist! Like any MGM star, Charisse was glamorous even off hours. Note the perfect manicure!

Martin was first married to Alice Faye from 1937-1941. His 1948 marriage to Charisse lasted until she died in 2008.

Back in San Diego, I found myself downtown near the Hotel Churchill and shot a few of these ground level shots. Here’s the vintage postcard I posted previously:

…and my contemporary shots. Not surprisingly, the surrounding area has changed and been built-up over the years.

It’s all in the details; for me, at least.

See more photos at my main website.

Neon at the Hotel Churchill

While visiting a friend at his downtown condo, I looked out his balcony and saw a perfect view of this vintage neon sign - STILL AGLOW!! Of course I came back with my camera and my 600mm lens to capture this shot at sunset. I had passed the Hotel Churchill many times on the way to work when I used to catch the bus from downtown. It looked fairly seedy, as if it had seen better days. Apparently it has been repurposed as an affordable housing project. Just in case you wanted a closer look at the neon tubes:

Here’s a vintage postcard of the Hotel back in its heyday, most likely not long after its 1914 opening. The neon does not appear to have been installed yet:

A vintage postcard showing the lobby:

…and the dining room, which must be where that “famous food” was served:

Got a match?

This 1960s era postcard shows the neon sign:

See more San Diego photos at my main website.