tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post625576744291573785..comments2023-10-20T08:28:27.175-07:00Comments on Writerquake: Old Postcard Wednesday--Mayo Motel, Oakland, CaliforniaLydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135393270656573516noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-91738300385127668832009-05-03T23:06:00.000-07:002009-05-03T23:06:00.000-07:00@Koe- What a cool description: armchair archaeolog...@Koe- What a cool description: armchair archaeology!<br />I am happy to report that I absolutely do remember 'magic fingers' and I remember my mother telling us it was not a toy, but for relaxation. They always worked, too! I wonder who maintained them in good shape!Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11135393270656573516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-37415280679340822872009-05-03T11:29:00.000-07:002009-05-03T11:29:00.000-07:00Lydia - I love this kind of armchair archaeology. ...Lydia - I love this kind of armchair archaeology. . . The old motels were kind of awesome in their way. They helped us see parts of the country (for what $11.00 a night?) that we wouldn't otherwise have had the chance to see. . . These days we have to make do with the tastelessly anonymous world of chains.<br /><br />Do you remember the 'magic fingers' that motels used to have on the beds, where for a quarter you could. . . well if you don't remember. . . then you'll just have to wonder.<br /><br />Very cool posting. Very, very cool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-47199694141316688912009-04-29T23:55:00.000-07:002009-04-29T23:55:00.000-07:00@Pixies- crumbling buildings....some kind of visio...@Pixies- crumbling buildings....some kind of vision! This little motel does look like the standard issue 50s-70s motel. However, when independently owned, each seems to have a uniqueness and possibly even some caring behind the business plan. I don't think that's as true with chains.<br /><br />@Distracted- The Beaver car is wonderful! The lodging I remember during g-ma visits was the Alameda Hotel; it overshadowed this motel in my memory. But in our cross-country driving vacations when I was a kid the motels were very exciting. I remember ones along Route 66.....<br /><br />@Hattie- I really appreciated your comparison to the artist's work (and I'll Google him as a result) because that was the prevailing feeling I had when I found this postcard in an album recently. <br /><br />@dmarks- The Mayo Clinic held great fascination for me when I was a kid/teen. I so wanted to go there....until I found out that it isn't a spa. :)<br /><br />@the watercats- Your description undoubtedly would be fitting for one of Robert Bechtle's works (see Hattie's comments). The Americana you envision still exists and I hope we preserve the best of it before much more is lost. <br />I didn't realize you grew up in England - fun to know!<br />"Un-useful amenities" would have to include those stupid paper shoe polishing "cloths"......does anyone use them ever?<br /><br />@Kim- I do too, on both counts.<br /><br />@Darlene- Your eye tells you the same mine tells me. I suppose I could call the MB and ask, but it's doubtful a desk clerk would be aware of history dating back pre-1978....Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11135393270656573516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-17765895592818951642009-04-29T15:21:00.000-07:002009-04-29T15:21:00.000-07:00Comparing the two photographs makes me think you m...Comparing the two photographs makes me think you may have found the old Mayo Hotel. At least,it's a distinct possibility.Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18373134676852496647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-32909771490386050082009-04-29T15:13:00.000-07:002009-04-29T15:13:00.000-07:00I love places like that. And I love the KV quote!...I love places like that. And I love the KV quote!Kimhttp://perfectlycursedlife.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-72504937280795833122009-04-29T11:39:00.000-07:002009-04-29T11:39:00.000-07:00There's something very American about that picture...There's something very American about that picture.. Sounds stupid, lol but, from someone who spent eleven years growing up in England and then moving to rural Ireland for the rest of the time and going nowhere in between, it is an image of America how I imagine it. One from the quaint and warm and fuzzy, overly sentimental iconic films. I'd love to know what "un-useful amenities" would be..lolBatteson.Indhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10846214578565824955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-54295996167587627232009-04-29T08:52:00.000-07:002009-04-29T08:52:00.000-07:00I bet staying there is cheaper than staying at the...I bet staying there is cheaper than staying at the other famous Mayo place where you can stay overnight.... That one can costs tens of thousands of dollars per night.dmarkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07269773990064736457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-77390714676071069242009-04-29T08:48:00.000-07:002009-04-29T08:48:00.000-07:00The stark look of that and the one tree managing t...The stark look of that and the one tree managing to thrive in the midst of all that cement reminds me of works by California photorealists like Robert Bechtle.Hattiehttp://hattie.typepad.com/hatties_web/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-60284540039340191042009-04-29T08:20:00.000-07:002009-04-29T08:20:00.000-07:00I thought it such a magnificent treat to stay at o...I thought it such a magnificent treat to stay at one of these motels as a kid. Love the "Beaver Car" in the parking lot:>)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15238905633085051322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039445774186145767.post-28175132460086989752009-04-29T05:27:00.000-07:002009-04-29T05:27:00.000-07:00It's kinda wierd looking at this hotel - because i...It's kinda wierd looking at this hotel - because it looks like every American hotel i have ever seen in a movie ever. From Memento to Terminator to those buildings in Karate Kid<br /><br />Where i live a lot of the buildings are crumbly now, but were all put up in the 50s-70s and have a similar look: i wonder if the similarity is just because that was the Vision at the time?Don't Feed The Pixieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05380146661526476947noreply@blogger.com