Historic Hood River
“It’s a Wonderful Life”
Notes
We saw this postcard more than 10 years ago, but it deserves a revisit with this better scan.
My first pass at dating Oak Street images is to look at the Rialto marquee. When I saw “It’s a Wonderful Life” (released December 20, 1946) I almost gave up, since probably played every year at Christmas time for decades. But we also see the film “Bedlam” starring Boris Karloff, which was released April 19, 1946. I think it’s safe to say they both made it to the Rialto by 1947. Hopefully the automobiles match that date.
The first block on the right contains a dry cleaner, Columbia Photo Supply, the Hood River News, and the Hudson auto dealer. Beyond that is the Paris Fair in its Art Deco phase.
Here’s the IMDB plot summary of “Bedlam”:
After getting a glimpse of the conditions at the St. Mary’s of Bethlehem Asylum, known as “Bedlam,” Nell Bowen (Anna Lee) is concerned that the patients are being mistreated. When she seeks to better the situation, the head of St. Mary’s, George Sims (Boris Karloff), uses his political savvy to have Nell committed. Being within St. Mary’s does not deter Nell, however, and she starts to turn the patients against Sims in a bid to violently oust him from power.
Roger Sheldrake
And a Wonderful day to walk by all those cars!!!
BethH
Is the house in the distance, across the Hood River? Is it the Button house?
Thorn
So…The Pines 1852 was Dry Cleaning, Dog River Coffee was Hood River News…so Boda’s Deli is the former Rialto Theater, and Bette’s Place was a Chevron?! Kinda cool to see the oddly unique metal railing and fun mini-stairways in front of what is now Mike’s Ice Cream.
Arthur Babitz
The Rialto was in the parking lot between Bodas and Bettes.
Dave Henne
And Bette’s is in the bowling alley
Judy
Fran Cody took over part of Bette’s Place with a floral shop. Kinda an addition.
William C. Seaton
Fran Cody was my Typing Teacher.