Columbia: Famously Hot! 14 comments
14 Responses to 'Columbia: Famously Hot!'
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John R
12 Jan 10 at 10:24 am
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That promotional slogan seems to have ironically back-fired. There was of promotional film from 1966 on etv Sunday afternoon called The Face of Columbia. I was curious if anybody saw it. It immediately reminded me of this website. It was about 1 hour long, b&w featuring Gene Upright as the prime narrator and covered all the bases. But most of the footage concentrated on Main St, downtown Cola. The usual nostalgia on parade... sticker shock, fashion fright. etc. What I had totally forgotten was the little electric trolley (golf cart train) that was hyped as modernizing downtown. Even as a 9 year old; I thought what a gyp. It closed with a nice aerial shot coming up Main.
John R
12 Jan 10 at 10:27 am
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John R -- those two little trains that cruised Main St. were more hand-me-downs from the '64 NY World's Fair (the other being Top of Carolina revolving restaurant). They christened them "Queen of Columbia," and they were supposed to encourage shopping along Main St. by being a free, fun way to get around downtown without moving your car or walking too far. We went to the '64 World's Fair so I recognized them and loved them. They looked like what the Jetsons would drive when they couldn't fly. Don't know why they got rid of them. Not sure they were electric, might have had gas motors. I tried hard to find a picture of one and this was the best I could do -- this is what the lead car looked like, you'll just have to imagine three or four cars being pulled behind it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bananaphone5000/NEWGORILLA/NYWF8-64Unisphere.jpg
Dennis
12 Jan 10 at 10:49 am
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Me again. More about those little trains. They were sponsoed by Greyhound and were called Glide-A-Rides. There were 62 of them at the fair. I still haven't been able to find a good photo but here's a toy model of one that gives a very good idea of what they looked like:
http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/transportation/images/Bus%20Page/glide-a-ride.JPG
Speaking of little trains, anyone else remember the weird garbage collection trains that Columbia used in residential neighborhoods in the very early 60s? This was back when the garbage men came into your backyard, picked up your steel trash can and carried it out to the street. For a few years they had these series of small trailers hooked to a truck that they dumped the trash in.
Dennis
12 Jan 10 at 4:49 pm
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Dennis, thanks for the back-story. I hope etv shows this again. Sorry about the double-post.
John R
12 Jan 10 at 6:06 pm
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Here's a picture of those trams from Dennis:
ted
12 Jan 10 at 7:12 pm
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Doesn't the zoo have a similar tram?
Anyone notice that kid with the stroller that looks like a midyear 'vette?
jamie
13 Jan 10 at 8:57 am
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jamie - you are right about both things. But the zoo's tram is not nearly as futuristly styled as the Glide-A-Rides (look how low those things were!).
The Corvette strollers were there at the NY World's Fair courtesy of GM.
Dennis
14 Jan 10 at 6:43 am
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So whatever became of the Glide-a-Rides?
jamie
15 Jan 10 at 10:09 am
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I saw an episode of 'American Restoration' on the History Channel recently where a guy brought in a Greyhound Escorter from the World's Fair. Not quite the same as the little train, but close. Sounds like these things are pretty much History (that was intended). themselves. If you want to try to find the episode online it's from Season 2 Episode 6. The only videos I found had to be paid for or were littered with 'questionble' material....
Homer
7 Feb 13 at 4:57 pm
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This is in reference to John R's comments from 12 Jan 10 at 10:27 am. If anyone knows if 'The Face of Columbia' is online, I'd love to see it. I searched the SCETV site to no avail. I love watching old films (or anything else) about the history of Columbia. A lot of them bring back memories and some make me aware of things I never knew. Thanks!!!
Homer
8 Feb 13 at 2:04 am
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Homer, I eneded up calling ETV and asking about it. When I saw it, it was broadcast on 35.2 over the air. This was a few years back.
tonkatoy
8 Feb 13 at 7:50 am
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Saffron's Antique Shop had on their Facebook Page a 1960s film about Columbia, that most commentators thought may have been made my the Wade Hampton Hotel. It may however be the ETVfilm. You may want to check it out.
Tom
9 Feb 13 at 8:24 am
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UJnZDJQQ8o Here's the link to the video
Tom
9 Feb 13 at 11:43 am
That promotional slogan seems to have ironically back-fired. There was of promotional film from 1966 on etv Sunday afternoon called The Face of Columbia. I was curious if anybody saw it. It immediately reminded me of this website. It was about 1 hour long, b&w featuring Gene Upright as the prime narrator and covered all the bases. But most of the footage concentrated on Main St, downtown Cola. The usual nostalgia on parade... sticker shock, fashion fright. etc. What I had totally forgotten was the little electric trolley (golf cart train) that was hyped as modernizing downtown. Even as a 9 year old; I thought what a gyp.