HOTEL TAFT : NEW YORK CITY : VINTAGE POSTCARD

This vintage lithographic postcard features the Hotel Taft located in New York City. The hotel is 22 stories high and is located on Seventh Avenue between 50th and 51st stree. It is a bit north of Times Square in Midtown, Manhattan. Manger Hotels originally built a 20 story 1,250 room hotel on the site. The Hotel Manger opened in 1926. The hotel was connected to the popular Roxy Theater. Manger Hotels sold the hotel in 1931 to Bing & Bing which named the hotel, Hotel Taft (honoring President William Howard Taft). One of the famous parts of the hotel was the “Taft Grill”.The restaurant was known for its Big Band performances by the best in the business. The dining established also hosted a number of radio shows. In 1957, the Hotel Taft was sold. The hotel was sold a number of times and it looked shabby compared to many of it’s recently remodeled neighbors. Foreclosure occurred in 1975. The building underwent a mixed use conversion beginning 1984. In fact, T G I Fridays took over the Roxy Theater space. In 1990 the hotel space in the building became the Parc Fifty one Hotel after gaining a new owner. Just two years later, Star Hotels bought the hotel and renamed “The Michelangelo”. This vintage multi-view card includes a photograph of Hotel Taft’s grill room, lobby, tap room, and coffee shop.  (SOLD)

BOXER : JIMMY WALSH : HASSAN CIGARETTE CARD : (1910)

This vintage tobacco card features boxer Jimmy Walsh depicted on a Cigarette Card. The card advertises Hassan “Cork Tip” Cigarettes. The advertising copy states that the brand is “The Oriental Smoke” and is the largest selling brand in America. The card was issued in 1910. Jimmy Walsh (1883-1964) was an American boxer who became the World Bantamweight Champion in 1905. He fought 64 bouts between 1902 and 1914. He was born and resided in Newton, Massachusetts. He had 33 wins (14 KO’s), 10 losses, and 20 draws. In retirement he taught boxing to the sons of two US Prsidents (Taft and T. Roosevelt).  This card measures about 2.5 x 2.75 inches. SOLD

Published in: on January 27, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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