Swoonworthy Vintage Motel & Vacation Photos – RetroStockPix.com

I don’t know what the weather has been like where you are today, but we have rain over snow here in PA, my car stalled out on the way home from work, and we’ve got another lousy snow storm headed our way. With all that I thought it was the right time to share with everyone some absolutely fabulous vintage vacation  photos from the collection of Aladdin Color that are are available for all of us to drool over at RetroStockPix.com.

I chatted with Eric Bard- the man behind Retro Stock Pix and whose father began Aladdin Color in 1957. He was kind enough to answer a few questions for me, so I could share the info and the wonderful photos available to purchase on his site.

What were these photos originally used for?

Aladdin Color Inc. was started in 1957 to produce color brochures and postcards for Motels/Hotels, Restaurants, and many other businesses. We have a lot of  architects drawings of the properties too. They were used to create the pre-opening brochures. We have the largest collection of images from Wildwood New Jersey as well.

Did you go to any of these places with your dad?

My family would stay in Wildwood for the month of August while he photographed. I was his helper along with my brothers and sister. He would use us in a lot of the pictures. From 1968 on, you can see one or more of us in every postcard or brochure. There’s a good beach picture of the Attache Motel where the whole family is in the picture, even my father. he must have had someone trigger the shutter.

Do you have any interesting stories about any of the places, either of your dad’s or your personal recollections?

My dad took pictures of  the boardwalk roller coasters and rides. He would tell the person operating the ride what he was doing and explain that he wanted us (his kids) to be his models and to just let us keeping going on the ride until he was done photographing.

He would take a couple of pictures and then he’d go get a slice of pizza while we continued to go on the ride over and over again. It was great & didn’t cost him a dime.

What is your favorite part of this process?

I have slowly been going through the collection and choosing the best images to scan. That’s the most fun. The photographs from 1956 until around 1967  are 4″ x 5″ transparencies. The scans are  are huge files and having a large file lets you kind of explore the picture. You can blow the image up and view the details of the clothes and architecture.

How many photos do you have in your archive?

Over 100,000 from 1956 till today and still growing. As a picture is used or a print is purchased, I have used that money to scan more photographs and get them online. I would like to get another 600 – 700 photographs up in the next year if I can afford it.

Have you ever thought of putting a book together? I’d buy one for sure!

About four times a year I say I’m going to do a book. My problem is how to condense it into one.
I need to find someone with publishing experience to speak to.

(Retro Roadmap Readers- anyone know someone who can help Eric out? I think it would be a fab coffee table book!)

Thank you Eric, for sharing your fabulous photos and story with us!

These few watermarked photos that I’ve selected to show here on Retro Roadmap are not even a drop in the bucket compared to the galleries available and photos for sale on Eric’s website RetroStockPix.com. I found myself getting lost in the locations, decorations, colors, outfits, hairstyles, backgrounds and could seriously spend days absorbing the wonderful moments in time that Eric’s dad captured. Many of these photos remind me of William Eggleston’s photographs.

Granted I can’t go back in time, but I’ll be poring over these wonderful vintage photos myself until it’s vacation time for all  of us- join me won’t you? And you can join RetroStockPix on Facebook too!

RetroStockPix.com
– Over 100,000 Retro Stock Photographs from the 1950’s & 60’s of Motels, Hotels, Boardwalks & Amusement Parks, Resort Areas, Tiki, Coffee Shops, Bars, Restaurants.