Friday, August 26, 2011

"The Grande Dame of the Rockies"

Pardon the departure from an intended series of "logo photos" planned to run over the next few weeks, but a slight change in plans had to be made to recognize one of the most beloved and famous hotels in America; The Stanley in Estes Park, Colorado. Mentioned in the previous post on the Maxim, this tourist institution is just too special not to interrupt previously laid plans. The logo series will continue with the next post, but in the meantime, here's The Stanley Hotel of Estes Park.

Established by the inventor of The Stanley Steamer automobile (hence the name) the storied Stanley is a visible landmark of Estes Park whether you enter town from Highway 34 or 36 or 7. Perched above downtown Estes Park, The Stanley was the inspiration resulting in Stephen King's chilling best-seller, The Shining. Many will remember the movie of the same title starring Oscar-winner Jack Nicholson with co-stars Shelley Duvall and "Scatman" Carothers. Who can forget Nicholson's famous line from this spine-tingling flick....."Here's Johnny".

But aside from its Hollywood fame, The Stanley continues to be a hallmark of excellence when it comes to luxurious lodging, gracious dining and impressive architecture.


"Victim of the Times"

Founded in 1914, the Maxim firetruck was the brainchild of a volunteer firefighter in Attleboro Mass who thought he could design a better product than what was available at the time. And the eventual result was a line of firefighting vehicles and supplies that survived for decades until a slumping economy forced production of this elite line of equipment to cease. This Maxim vehicle shown now resides at the famed Stanley Hotel with another relic of the past, an International Harvester firetruck (photo of both units below). And how can one mention The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado without including this Grande Dame of the Rockies? In a first for me, following you'll find a second posting devoted to this hotel, making it a "two-fer" on my blog for today.




Sunday, August 7, 2011

"A Sign of the Times"



Even bathed in the harsh light of the South Texas noonday sun, this sign still maintains its integrity as a symbol of quality. It appears to be the only survivor of what used to be commonplace, the main street automobile dealership. In fact, this building no longer houses cars of any era. Rather, it's become a wealth of artifacts, antiques and oddities for shoppers looking to preserve part of our history.

Over the next several weeks, a "mini-series" of posts will be featured highlighting one of the integral parts of all our lives: corporate logos. From modern to old, some recognizable others unknown, these "mini" works of art have all played an integral part in our lives, whether we realize it or not. And I'm looking forward to documenting this rich history of advertising creativity. Stay tuned!