Hola, Aloha

The KC Matchgirl has always been intrigued with the quirks of spelling- as in how one letter can be added or moved and it becomes- a different word.

Take the Spanish word for "hello" for instance, and compare it to the Hawaiian word for "hello/goodbye".  Ever notice that, even though Hawaii and Spain are half a world apart, these words are very similar and mean the same thing?  And what does this have to do with the pictured matchbook for the Aloha Motel?

This charming Hawaiian-themed motel is nowhere near any Hawaiian island, but aims to bring that tropical feel to none other than- San Antonio, Texas.  Where one is much more likely to hear "Hola" than "Aloha".

While the KC Matchgirl can't be positive about which year the Aloha Motel began luring San Antonio  travelers with its Polynesian flair, it's a safe bet it was part of the craze for all things Hawaiian back in 1959 when Hawaii became the 50th state.

Despite the name, it was pretty much the standard mid-century motel, the only tropical amenity to the typical pool-side aluminum chairs with webbed seats under metal striped patio umbrellas was a smattering of live palm trees.  Once affiliated with Best Western, the restaurant was commended by the Diners Club and the motel was AAA rated.

The rooms featured the piped music offered by Muzak- perhaps that was Polynesian, or there were tropical bedspreads to carry out the theme.  And if it all sounds similar to the KOCHI Motel in Yankton, S.D. (Yanked A Ton, Feb 2015) they are connected- by the same highway, U.S. 81.

By 1972, it appears the motel changed its focus from travelers to college students, operating as the Aloha Inn.  The sun set on the motel when it was recently demolished to make room for a Sonic Drive-In.  While a few palm trees remain, this motel has said "Aloha".

Note: "Swimming & Recreation for the whole family" is only a smartly worded phrase outlining the amenities offered- swimming pool, kid's wading pool, and a putting green- quite a lot to offer travelers during that time period.  The Aloha Motel was located at 1435 Austin Highway.

Window Pains

Once upon a time, there was a window and an elephant.  The window was very tall, tall enough that an elephant could look in, or perhaps look out- it's hard to tell which.  One could even imagine that the elephant's head has broken through the window, having pushed too hard while looking either in or out.

Andrew, as it turns out, is not the name of the elephant, but a charming elephant-stuck-in-the-window restaurant.  Owned by 2 brothers, one of which may have been named Andrew, both of which may have been twins, but with the restaurant being located in Dallas, neither likely owned an actual elephant.

The restaurant had a New Orlean's vibe, but the decor and menu was mostly eclectic.  Popular menu items included red beans and rice, a grape-flavored slushy cocktail named "Moondance", and Tumbleweed Pie, the later containing mostly ice cream and whipped cream and nary a trace of tumbleweed.  Not sure what year Andrew's closed their doors, but favorite recipes were being queried on the internet by 2009.

This matchbook came into the KC Matchgirl's collection quite recently and brought back another story about a window and an elephant...

Once upon a time, there was a young boy, "He who shall not be named", who woke suddenly in the night.  He looked out the window next to his bed and saw- Gasp! An elephant walking along the cross street.  He woke the adults from their slumber with the news, but peering out the same window into the darkness, alas, the elephant could not be spied.

Perhaps it was all just a dream-

Likewise, someday the KC Matchgirl will discover the true story behind the elephant, the window, and Andrew's Restaurant.

Note:  Front and back of this 1980's matchbook are exactly the same. The original Andrew's was located at 3301 McKinney, Dallas, TX.  The current restaurant, Breadwinners, has kept the tall Palladian windows, perhaps for the elephant's sake.

Seeing Spots

Poet Gelett Burgess wrote these famous lines:  I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one.  But I can tell you, anyhow, I'd rather see than be one.

The KC Matchgirl supposes the same would be true about a polka-dotted cow, the mascot for Polka Dot Milk and Ice Cream.  A family-owned dairy located in Hastings, Minnesota, bottled their first jug of milk in 1956.  Available in certain areas in Minnesota and neighboring state Wisconsin, the dairy produces the usual range of liquid milk products, along with cream cheese and cottage cheese.  Jugs of orange juice and punch seem to have replaced the afore-mentioned ice cream.

"Dotty", the blue-dotted bovine, was born when Wally Pettit and Herb Koch decided to enter the dairy business.  After a few years, Pettit became the sole owner.  Wanting locations that would offer only his Polka-Dot brand, he opened his own little markets (superettes), named for that famous "little man no bigger than a thumb".

Tom Thumb made his first published appearance in English folk tales in 1621, and there are various supermarket chains across the country that operate under the same name but are not affiliated.  Pettit's chain of superettes grew to offer gasoline and other conveniences, operating 131 stores when they sold/closed that division in 2004.

Pettit passed in 2005, but the family continues operating the Polka Dot Dairy, with Dotty still gracing every jug and bottle.

Note:  It was unusual for stores to be open every day during the 1960's, when this matchbook was produced.

Little Indians

The song may not be as popular as it used to be, but the KC Matchgirl remembers learning to count to the tune of "Ten Little Indians".  Each chubby little finger represented an "Indian boy" to be counted and there was nothing politically incorrect about it.

While we're reminiscing about the American Indian, er, Native American, let's take a look back at this matchbook for the Santa Fe Railroad, featuring little Chico.  As we can plainly see, this cute little fellow is representing the American Indian, even though his name is Spanish for "boy".  For some reason, the Santa Fe  Railroad company borrowed a little from both cultures, mixing Mexican and Native American nomenclature at any whim, like with the popular Super Chief and El Capitan routes.

First known as the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF), the rail line had humble beginnings in 1854,  heading west from Atchison, Kansas, through Colorado, and eventually southward to New Mexico.  At first there was no direct line to Santa Fe; travelers had to switch to a branch line for their final destination.  Eventually, the direct line was completed, the ATSF merged with another line , and the new Santa Fe rail line ran from Chicago to Santa Fe, then on to California by 1899.

As the only rail line traveling through the Southwest, the Santa Fe Railroad capitalized on the unique American landscape and the exposure to Indian and Mexican cultures found there.  Along with the slogan, "Santa Fe All The Way", images of Native Americans were featured in advertising, often commissioned by acclaimed artists.

By the early 1960's the more artistic images had switched to a cartoon style, and thus Chico was born.  As the icon for passenger service, Chico appeared in national ads along with menus, matchbooks, notepads, ashtrays, and other promotional items, even buttons for his "fan club".

As passenger service came to an end, Chico carried on a few more years, promoting shipping services. In this matchcover from a few years later, Chico looks a bit older, now "piggy-backing" a younger brother, most likely a nod to the term for transporting semi-trailers on rail cars.

In 1993, Burlington Northern and Santa Fe began a merger that was completed in 1998, creating BNSF.  Owned by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway, 49% of US shipping service is carried by BNSF.

Amtrak purchased the passenger service in 1971, and has operated the Chicago to California route, the Southwest Chief, ever since.

Timeline:  Both matchbooks are backstrikes, though the saddle on the older one reads "Travel- Ship Santa Fe".  The saddle on the other only reads "Ship Santa Fe", as the passenger service had ceased by that time.

Let It Snow, Boy

In the winter months, after a snowfall, it's a common practice to make human-type figures by rolling and packing snow.  The KC Matchgirl has created her share over the years, and usually these creations take a while to melt away.

We all know the story about Frosty, frolicking about town, only here long enough to have some fun. On this matchbook featuring Snoboy, we have a hard-working snow fellow, doing his assigned duty to bring you, the customer, the freshest and finest fruits and vegetables.  Unlike Frosty, he's been on the job since 1925 when the Snoboy brand was created.

Way back in 1890, George Youell began selling fruit from a cart in Tacoma, Washington.  By 1910, his operation had grown to become Pacific Fruit & Produce.  While trying to expand his business by buying out another supplier, Youell's company ended up becoming part of Pacific Gamble Robertson in 1930.  Since 1988, the company has operated as Amerifresh.

Created to promote Washington apples, Snoboy was once a little lumpier and wore a top hat.  But being made of snow, he's been shaped and packed a little differently over the years.  After only being seen in recent years on packaging going directly to the food service industry, Snoboy returned to the supermarket in 2014.  Now shoppers can find his snowy, smiling face on all types of fresh produce, including mushrooms and watermelon.

As cute as he is, Snoboy had to share this matchbook with the old standby.  Seriously folks, this is the name of a brand of canned foods- Standby.

A registered trademark since 1938, a huge assortment of canned and bottled foods was produced by Fine Foods, Inc.  Along with the typical fruits and vegetables, the Standby label also appeared on peanut butter, dried fruit, honey, vinegar. bread, jelly, ketchup, juices, and canned fish.

The trademark expired in 1994; there is no current listing for Fine Foods, Inc. either.  In other words, the old Standby has truly been canned.

Date: Mid-1970's, with a back striker.

Another version, with a front striker:

Fowl Fall

Once upon a time in America, there was a holiday called Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Commemorating the bounty of the harvest season, typical decorations would include colored leaves, fruits and vegetables, and plump turkeys. Scenes of waterfowl, taking flight for their long migratory journey south (the KC Matchgirl is not sure she can tell if these are ducks or geese or some of each) is also typical during the fall season.

This dark wood-grained matchcover with its gold foil fall scene would look quite stylish sitting with the coffee table ashtray for that after-dinner smoking session with Thanksgiving dinner guests.  And when they pick it up to use the striker, they'll see this-

Wait, what?  Holiday Greetings?  The KC Matchgirl thought this was a fall matchbook!  Is that a sprig of holly hovering near the the "H"?  At any rate, it's usually "Happy Holidays or "Season's Greetings", not a mash-up of the 2 phrases.

Just goes to show that the lines between the fall holiday of Thanksgiving and the winter celebration of Christmas get blurrier every year.  Used to be that once Thanksgiving was over, the next day you might start getting ready for Christmas.  But now, it's like Thanksgiving is a mere interruption of all the "doorbuster" sales and preparations of the bigger holiday that is Christmas.

So, for those of you who are anxious to decorate, shop, and spread holiday cheer, here's a holiday matchbook for your vintage ashtray, with nothing foul about it.

Note:  Both these styles of holiday-themed matchcovers are courtesy of Raytown Bank, once located at 10017 E. 63rd St, Raytown, MO.  A Bank of America branch now occupies that address.  Both date from the late 60's to early 70's.

Keep On Truckin'

Long before the phrase "Keep on truckin' " sprang into the hip lingo of the 1970's, matchbooks advertised nearly every type of business.  While not discernible in the photo, this 18 wheeler with its two-tone cab is traveling at a high rate of speed hauling the goods (matchbooks, perhaps?) to a city near you.

Founded in 1930 by brothers Carroll and Galen Roush, Roadway Express quickly became a prosperous business, perhaps due to their motto, "Dedicated To Better Service".  By the time this matchbook was produced, Roadway terminals dotted the Eastern half of the United States, from Aberdeen, Maryland to York, Pennsylvania.  (The KC Matchgirl notes with interest that the local Roadway terminal was located across the state line, in Kansas City, Kansas and was the last point west.)  Another odd fact was that 3 of their 4 sales offices were located in Canada.

Always moving and growing, Roadway acquired the Canadian freight line Reimer Express, in 1997.  Then in 2003, those 2 companies merged with Yellow Freight, a process that would take six years to legally complete.  Yellow  Freight was also founded by 2 brothers, back in 1924, and was at one time an expansion of the Yellow Cab Co.

Once the merger was complete, the new name reflected the original companies- Yellow Roadway Corp.  (YRC).  On the verge of bankruptcy, the new corporation saved either Roadway or Yellow, or both, from imminent demise- KC Matchgirl is a collector and not a financial analyst.  Today, YRC delivers freight across the US, including Alaska and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. 

Matchbook Date:  Late 1960's