Vintage San Antonio

I recently acquired a few 1950s slides featuring San Antonio, Texas. This first one shows the Alamo Cenotaph Monument. Naturally, a detailed view is in order:



A contemporary shot from my one visit there in 2016. I'm not really a fan of the state of Texas, but I sure did have a good time here and wouldn't mind venturing back one day.



The legendary Alamo Mission, which apparently DOES have a basement.



Either way, your bike ain’t there, Mister!



Still looks about the same. If only I aged as well as this 18th century building has!



A vintage shot of the wall in front of the Alamo mission with the Emily Morgan hotel in the background:



Ol’ Emily is still alive and kickin’!



Last vintage shot for today is the San Jose Mission, which I made sure to see as it was one of the key locations used in the movie “Still Breathing.”



A shot of actress Joanna Going at the San Jose Mission for “Still Breathing,” 1997. Yes, it’s a somewhat sappy movie, but I don’t care. Still love it.



How the wall looked in 2016:



Hope you enjoyed a little Daveland before and after!

See more San Antonio photos at my main website.

Haunted Hotel

So many hotels across this country claim to be haunted; the Menger in San Antonio is one of the most famous. When I first arrived in town, locals told me about this spirit-filled destination that opened in 1859.



There are supposedly 32 spirits that haunt this little jewel just steps away from the Alamo.



A woman is often spotted sitting in the original lobby wearing an old fashioned blue dress, small wire-framed glasses, and a beret. And she knits. On one occasion a staff member stopped to ask her, "Are you comfortable...may I get you something?", only to be answered with an unfriendly "No” before the woman disappeared. Queue the spooky music.



I wonder if the ghosts pay attention to this sign on the vintage Steinway piano?



Sallie White is the most famous resident ghost. She was a chambermaid who worked at The Menger and one night after an argument with her hubby, she stayed overnight. The next day her husband threatened to kill her, and eventually made good on his claim. The hotel paid for her funeral. Today, Sallie continues to perform her duties within the Victorian wing of the hotel, mainly appearing at night, carrying a load of clean towels. Now that's service!



Many of the ghosts here are attributed to the bloody battle that occurred at the Alamo; others just former guests who don't want to depart this beautiful place. Hey, I think I see the apparition of a photographer's arm in the mirror!



They probably feel at home with these vintage phone booths that still remain. Operator...operator...



The beautiful interior courtyard:



You can definitely find spirits here...just of another sort. Legend has it that Teddy Roosevelt recruited his famous Rough Riders cavalry brigade here in 1898.



According to some, Roosevelt can still be seen having a drink at the bar.

More Menger at my main website.

No Basement

In a classic scene from "Pee Wee's Big Adventure," the fraudulent fortune-teller, Madam Ruby (Erica Yohn), reveals that Pee Wee's bicycle has been hidden in the basement of the Alamo. After many comic twists and turns, Pee Wee finally makes it to San Antonio.



Here is the classic scene where a crestfallen Pee Wee learns the truth about The Alamo: THERE'S NO BASEMENT! Jan Hooks steals the scene as the all-too-real tour guide, Tina. NOTE: while the exterior was filmed at The Alamo in San Antonio, the interior tour shots were not. They were filmed north of Los Angeles at the Mission San Fernando Rey de España.

 

Before I visited San Antonio, everyone told me not to be disappointed by the size of the Mission Building. Up close, it looks imposing:



Take a few steps back, and not so much.



Nevertheless, the events that occurred here back in 1836 are monumental. The Battle of the Alamo was a 13-day siege where Mexican troops launched an assault on the Alamo Mission killing all of the Texian defenders. The battle inspired many Texans to join the Texan Army, which brought about the defeat of the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, thus ending the revolution.

An important line was drawn here, commemorated by this plaque.



A rare interior shot of the Alamo:



Unless you go early in the morning or late at night, the surrounding property is typically very crowded with tourists. It is still a beautiful area worth seeing.





There may not be a basement, but of course there's a gift shop.





Somehow this Cinderella Carriage just doesn't seem to fit here.



See more of the REAL Alamo at my main website.