Whimsical Windows - The Long Gone Traymore

Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors returns with not so much whimsy, but a really more dignified look from yesteryear. The gentleman here is my Grandpa, Ralph (I was named for him) standing in front of an old (and long gone) Atlantic City Boardwalk icon, the Traymore Hotel. Taken I believe in October 1956, this is a dignity personified, dressed in an understated yet stylish tweed jacket, well formed English driving cap and wearing a camera,  he knows how to relax alongside the Atlantic. I chose the original B&W and sepia edit to show the 1915 hotel in its massive beauty before the glass and glitz of the modern casinos. A classy look at the past...

Whimsical Windows - Bygone Boardwalk

Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors has been and is still a fun architectural meme that allows us to admire portals and such of interesting places. Toby has been hosting this meme for many a year, and is handing it over to me to host, and I look forward to looking at as many examples of unique and/or interesting windows, doors and more from all over.

Those who have followed my posts probably have noticed that I look at photos, many of them old and with a unique backstory to go along with the pics - where windows and doors are present but occasionally backdrops to a tale. As for what counts for an entry from any participant - that's up to you!

Here is the famous Boardwalk in Atlantic City, NY. The time was July 1978 and the very first casino in that city, Resorts, was opened in an old hotel prior to the now many glizty glass and steel high rises of today. The people in these scenes are Grandma and Grandpa Villers. Always fond of the NJ shore and Atlantic City, this was probably the last time they were there, both passing away less than three years later. So we see not only windows and doors - but and a pair who were happily posing again in their favorite vacation spot one last time...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Sixties sandy shoreline in shadow...

Boardwalk Bike Ride, Atlantic City, 1969

Alas, due to a busy schedule this past week, blogging has been missed. Among the tasks that has is been occupying my time is a family photo archive project with my Aunt Terry, scanning many decades of history - which seems just right for a blogging return to Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Six of seven kids with dad. Brigantine Beach NJ, 1968

Early morning bicycle riding, Boardwalk, Atlantic City NJ, 1965

Today's subjects are from summer vacations in the 1960s in the New Jersey shore towns of Atlantic City, way before the glitz of today's casinos that line the Boardwalk, and Brigantine. Shadows subtly fall around the subjects and scenes upon these barrier island sandbars under the sun...Today's subjects are from summer vacations in the 1960s in the New Jersey shore towns of Atlantic City, way before the glitz of today's casinos that line the Boardwalk, and Brigantine. Although faded, hadows subtly fall around the subjects and scenes upon these barrier island sandbars under the sun...

Whimsical Windows - Old hotel by the sea

Grandma, 1946?

Dad and Terry, 1948?

Grandpa, October 1956

Grandpa and Terry, July 1969

Toby hosts the fun architectural memes, Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors. And we look for architectural gems from here, there or anywhere. Or any era - since Aunt Terry sent me a box of old prints last year, the scanning continues. One theme of vacations in the old Atlantic City, far away from today's glass and steel casinos, was the Traymore Hotel. Through many decades, Grandpa wanted to take family pictures with this as a backdrop...The old hotel was demolished in 1972, so the 1969 pose was near the end of the once stately backdrop. At least we have spanned the eras in pictures...

(With all the artifacts I have, there has has to be a book in this somewhere :)

Whimsical Windows - Long ago and far away

Toby hosts the fun meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors. Our task is to find interesting architectural gems. As many know, I have posted this before and still like the old scanned pics from distant eras.

The time is 1956,  the place is the New Jersey shore, the pre-superstorm Sandy and pre-casino Atlantic City. The hotels built long ago have an architectural charm, such as opening windows and no air-conditioning in the rooms no longer seen. And the names, such as Brighton and Traymore seem a throwback to a simpler time, and both long gone. The gentleman is my grandfather who trekked often from Ohio for a family visit to the briny paradise. Casinos seem more a draw than the wavy Atlantic...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Jersey Shore

The scanned and archived is for this week's Shadow Shot Sunday 2.The time is 1956, the place 23rd Street in the seaside island hamlet of Brigantine New Jersey. 

The house was small, guessing about 925 sq ft (86 M sq). It was one block from the bayside beach, three blocks to the Atlantic. Grandpa always lamented that he should have bought the house for vacations (the grandkids these days, looking for an inexpensive holiday today, would not have minded if he had :)

The cast today includes Michele (2-1/2 years), myself (1-1/2), Aunt Terry (14) and the timeless photo impresario grandfather (ageless). The playtime outside was provided by Terry, watching the kids at play while interlopers stopped by to chat...

After a day at play, the kids are dressed and hopefully winding down to slumberland, soon hopes the parental units. Grandpa was ready to chronicle the sleep ready children, the smiling kids equally...I chose to not crop out the date stamp on one picture - as if the era really needed description.

The home might have been small - but plenty big for toddlers...

The photographer is shown in the front of many long gone hotels in nearby Atlantic City sans casinos...

This was the casual gentleman dress with a wool sport jacket, plaid shirt (buttoned), wool driving cap and Exa SLR. Stylish and refined manor with a satisfied look that meant this family visiting to NJ was a great trip - with shadows inside and out. Thanks for this fun meme to all our hosts!

Tina's WW, 29-29 Days - Not my neighborhood

Tina's WW brings us his is not where we actually live - but we can all dream for a view from our front doors like this! Also, it is Tina's 29 Days on day 29 - thanks for this February fun!

The Atlantic at Orleans, Massachusetts, on the 'hook' of Cape Cod...I could get used to this!

29 Days - Memories are made

An interest in photography bug was perhaps inherited from my grandfather (as I was named after him)

So on day 22 of Tina's 29 Days, I offer this sepia view was in Atlantic City NJ in I believe the late 1940s. He later had an Exa SLR camera in the 1950s, made in Dresden Germany. It could make photographic art of film.

Yet, the camera for him was not art - it was to capture the memories of special times. Like here, standing in front of the posh Traymore, a luxury hotel facing the Atlantic Ocean. Notice that he is holding a box camera - always good to carry around while searching for those memories...

Whimsical Windows - Old Hotel

Whimsical Windows-Delirious Doors is a fun meme hosted by Toby. And these pictures have a whimsical family history behind them.

Grandpa liked to take lots of pictures at vacation time, and that included this hotel in the old (pre-Casino) Atlantic City, long gone Shelburne hotel. Today the Boardwalk is full of glass and steel casino hotels, and portals like this are not included. I guess each photo was taken from the mid-1950s (R) to the mid-1960s (L). I remember our large family of kids were witness to this phenomenon.

I never knew what the fascination was for Grandpa. However, a couple of years age my Aunt Terry explained it to me: “Grandpa liked to think that he could hang with the wealthy. The Shelburne Bar was a wealthy hangout. So, he always had his picture taken there, but didn't always go in to have an expensive drink”. So that explains it! I kind of wish the old seaside resort town were there now instead of the new…

Also posted as part of Tina's 29 Days meme