Fred Harvey Menu

Remember the Harvey Girls with Judy Garland? This is the restaurant that inspired the movie. It is a menu design for Fred Harvey restaurants that were once a famous chain of eateries that served railroad depots. This one is from El Tovar Hotel in Grand Canyon, Arizona. The menu is titled 300 miles of hospitality and it’s an illustrated map depicting their locations. It’s filled with awesome illustrations in 4 colors, my favorite is the cow. Nothing beats the quality of offset solid spot colors, this thing is vibrant. The inside is not that exciting. I’ve had this for a while and this was probably the post that should have followed my last about five years ago. There’s a 4-64 number on the corner and considering the restaurant was open from 1939 – 1967, I’d say it’s circa 1964. Here’s a link from the Los Angeles Conservancy with a bit on the restaurant’s history if you’d like to read about it.

La Fonda Del Sol Menu

I thought I would start with something classic and what a better way to do it than with the great master and acclaimed designer Alexander Girard. This is a Dinner Menu Design for La Fonda del Sol Restaurant in New York circa 1960. It is an offset lithograph with wonderful vibrant colors. I can almost say the work done for this restaurant (specially the suns) are one of his most celebrated and recognized designs. This menu has also been featured in many museums such as the SFMOMA. So here are some closeups of the type and full shots of the menu. Enjoy!

My Jim Flora Collection

As you might already know, I’m a Jim Flora freak. I’ve been collection his records for many years and every time I come across one I just can not pass on it. As a result, my collection is outgrowing and I’m finding myself having to sell all my duplicates. I will be listing them at my vintage store modfortis.etsy.com. Come and check them out. I’m up for trades if you think you got something I might be interested in. Here are a few already listed:

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Household Gloves Fuller Packaging

Here’s a fun packaging for household gloves made by Fuller Brush Co. It has some fun illustrations of ladies cleaning the house which of course wouldn’t fly with today’s standards but hey the illustrations are nice. The flowers, the glove and the type made me pick up this example of Mid Century Packaging geared towards the fine women of that era. There is no date but I’d say this is from the 1950’s. Enjoy!

Design: Unknown  |  Year: 1950?  |  Photo: Javier Garcia

Victoria Cruises Booklet circa 1960’s

Here’s a fun little Victoria Cruises by Incres Line booklet. I was mostly drawn to the illustrations on the outside as the inside is a bit different. I did include one inside shot for the curious ones. I don’t know much about this except for the fact that this was printed in Italy. If anyone has any clues, let me know. Enjoy!

Design: Unknown   |   Year: 1960’s?   |   Photo: Javier García

Bette Hackett Alumination Magazine

It’s time for the holiday blog post. Here’s a fun issue of Alumination Magazine with cover and feature story designed by Bette Hackett (couldn’t make out the signature completely) put out by Eureka Metals Supply Co. The fun illustrations are a mix of paper cut and other materials with painted illustrations. The story is quite fun too, it talks about why Santa choose the reindeer. So there you have it, enjoy another Christmas with this Mid Century illustrated  gem!

Design: Bette Hackett   |   Year: 1952   |   Photo: Javier Garcia