Foto friday III

Look at that roof line!

One of my favorite places - a long time ago. If you go in there now, you'd think the place was on the verge of going out of business. It is dark and dingy. There are empty shelves. There is weird merchandise.

But, back in the day, it was this! And when it was that, it was there that I selected my first Matchbox car. From then on, trips to Springfield were glorious adventures wherein I might get to pick out another Matchbox! And the collection grew. Birthdays and Christmas meant another Matchbox. What a deal!

About 10 years ago, I sold that collection for roughly $150. I'd like to have one or two of them again, for old times sake, but I'm OK without them.

Now, baseball cards are another matter . . . 

Foto friday II

Solo Cup, formerly Lily Tulip, Springfield, MO

Today, I visited with a man who used to work at this plant.

It was Lily Tulip in those days. He said he was the photographer there which meant he got images ready for burning onto plates. I would have never thought of that, but the designs have to get onto the cup somehow. It is a paper cup, after all, obviously, they were printed.

When I was a boy and we made the occasional trek into the magical world that was Springfield, seeing this huge likeness of a paper cup was always a highlight. Many years ago, Solo bought out Lily and now the plant is sold again and who know what will happen next.

But no matter what becomes of it, they gotta keep the cup, right?

Foto friday I

No one drives in anymore. At least not here.

I can only remember going to a drive-in movie one time. It was in college and I think we went to a theater on east Sunshine, if memory serves. A car full of college guys - the movies were forgettable. 

Now the drive-ins are mostly gone. According to this site, there are still 356 drive-ins operating in the United States, which seems like a lot to me. There aren't any left here in Springfield, but there is one just down the road in Aurora.

I should check with my lovely bride about heading out to Aurora for a show.

Foto friday

Taneycomo Bridge 2010