July 20, 2003

For more information about the adventures of travel in early 20th century America,
read this book.

 
 Americans on the Road–From Autocamp to Motel, 1910–1945
Unlike today when people use their cars for business or to drive to work, before World War II, the automobile was mostly used for recreation. Most people lived near their jobs and took the trolley or bus to work. This a book about how motorists experienced a sense of novelty and adventure that has long since been lost. In the early 1900s travellers camped wherever they stopped along the roadside, "gypsying" in their cars or tents. In the 1920s municipalities offered free campsites. As building and maintenance costs for these campsites rose, towns began to charge small fees. The steady stream of paying customers prompted entrepreneurs to build cheap restaurants and lodgings and the motel industry was born.
6" x 9" 212 pages, index, illustrations, paperbound
#432 Americans on Road $19.95

Here are two volumes containing reproductions of Flashbacks cartoons:

 
  A Cartoon of the District of Columbia Flashbacks Volume One Patrick M. Reynolds brings history to life with a sense of humor. His exciting drawings put you on the scene with the conflicts, madness, plus the wheeling and dealing that resulted in the location and construction of the U.S. capital city. This book covers the early history of DC from 1776 to 1863. You'll be surprised at how many cities served as the U.S. capital; you'll be amazed that the city was built--despite all the bickering, petty jealousies, and down-right stupidity.
11¾" x 7½" 106 pages, full color illustrations, index,
paperbound ISBN 0-932514-31-6
#F1 Cartoon History of DC $25.00
  DC Neighborhoods Flashbacks Vol. Two Artist-writer Patrick M. Reynolds takes you to the Washington that tourists seldom see The U.S. capital expanded with the growth of public transportation into such areas as Shepard Park, Takoma Park, Chevy Chase, Kalorama, Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Capital Hill, LDroit Park, Tenleytown, Brookland, and others. Stories in this book go back to the explorations of Capt. John Smith in the 1600s and the Indian Wars of early Virginia, continuing into the 20th century with the introduction of the cherry trees to Washington and the end of segregation in public schools.
11¾" x 7½" 106 pages, full color illustrations, index, paperbound ISBN 0-932514-31-6
#F2 Cartoon History of DC $14.95

Previous weeks' stories and references: Combat Artists...The Ghost Army of WWII... Artists in War The Limb Maker...Duke Ellington...Ferries Across the Chessie .. The Italian Crisis...Ninian Beall Sequence.....UFOs Over Washington Culpeper of Virginia...The Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918...Indians of the Eastern Shore of MD & VA...Black Confederates... Pirates on the Chesapeake...Ghost stories...Silver Spring MD...Clovers...Hoover Airport...Slavery...President Garfield

 e-mail: pat@redrosestudio.com or redrosestudio@dejazzd.com