History Can you name them?

No place I know no where better to get this question answered. This pic was posted on one of my hometown pages, I was asked to date the pic by the cars. Im just not good enough for this one LOL Thanks for any help yall give!

 

1952 possibly 1953.

 

There’s a few 53’s and one 54 Ford for sure in the lower right corner by the side stainless. It’s only year.
It’s probably late 53 whereever it doesn’t or hasn’t snowed yet.

 

Far right is a 54 Ford. But if you look ahead of the Mercury pulling away from the curb. Is that a 55 model, the white car . By the shape of the rear window.

 

Looks like a ‘55 Buick in there.

 

Thanks!

 

The car pulling away could be a "55 Cad and the furthest car (Beneath the the "Drugs" marquee) might be a "55 Buick.

 

Oh, come on, no one is going to name the most prominent car??????
Hint, it is a 48.

 

I'm not afraid to say Packard. I don't however find a Caddy.

used to service a Packard.

 

Well, OK Pete, but that wasn’t the question posed by the OP. The car is a Packard, they had some great designs but that wasn’t one of them.

 

It was good enough for Dave Koffel .

 

CAN YOU NAME THEM?
Sure I can...I'd name the '53 Ford "Edgar", the '50 Plymouth Convert would be "Stephen", the '48 Packard would be named Roger,....

 

what about the Dodge ? " Doug"

 

Petaluma, California.........circa 1955.

 

I'm guessing that the richest fellow in town owns the Sign Shop

 

Looks like a movie theater at the end of the street, "State"
Can anyone make out the words written on the marquee? That would help date the photo.

 

If you blow the image up and look at the tail light of the car in the lower right it's not a 54 Ford, looking at the tail lights it appears to be a 53 Mercury. HRP

 

Danny, it's the car in the very lower left Jimmy's talking about. You can't see the taillights just the side trim. 54 Ford, pretty sure.

Mick

 

The 55/56 Buick that Fordors pointed out that is under the drug store sign at the end of the street places the photo sometime in 55.

Even by saving and expanding the photo I can't read what is showing at the theater.

 

@lothiandon1940 Got it right, Main St. Petaluma Ca.


I did a reverse picture search and came up with a different view of the theater from about the same era, or a little later...BUT, where are those trees in the original pic?


I also found Main st. today. It appears that at some point the State theater became the Majestic.

 

OK, now I'm REALLY confused, In pics 1 and 3, the clock tower looks to be directly in front, or behind the theater. But in pic 2, the tower looks to be a few blocks away WTF.

 

You guys are good. That 55 may not be brand new, so I'll guess the pic is 56 or 57.

 

I tried enhance photo sharpness and brightness and then blow up image to read the marquee on State Theater but not enough resolution to read. I’d say 54 or 55.

 

.....All I know is that I would either be dining at Don's Fine Food or The Chili Bowl..........Yummm!!

 

First thing I thought as well..!

 

Is it?

Never mind. Didn’t read later posts!

 

Nailed it!

 

I like the awning over the diner,,,,,,Eats ,,,,straight to the point ,,,,LoL .
The old Pacific gas and electric sign is cool .
Looks like it is high noon on the clock tower,,,,,probably a Saturday .

Tommy

 

This is fun, zooming into the pictures to see the various details that are not readily apparent to the eye.

In the original picture, when you zoom in, in back of the eagles hall, you can see the windmill that was on top of the well house, definitely farming community back in the day.

The driver and passenger in the Packard are wearing hats, man on the sidewalk is wearing a hat, and the two men crossing the street, have hats on.

4 flag poles with no flags on them. The rest are ancient antennas.

The 3 cars in a line, next to the Packard, all have radio antennas on the drivers side of the car, same on the Packard.

The awning adjacent to the barber pole on the left side of the street, just says " EATS " gotta love that !

In the original picture, there are no street lamps with traditional " acorn " glass globes, in front of the STATE theater.

In the newer color picture, the city has installed 3 vintage light poles with the acorn style glass globes. In the newer color picture, there is also a single light pole with the acorn style glass globe, in front of the clock tower building. There is another acorn glass globe on the left side of the newer color picture.

In the newer color picture, the name of the building that the " Majestic " theater is in, is the " McNear Building ", and the marquee on the bottom line says " Petaluma film fest May 1 "

In the original picture, the light fixtures on the light poles, appear to be the " mercury vapor type " but I am not 100% sure on that.

All of the cool signs in the original picture whether neon or non neon, are all worth big bucks today, my favorites are, chili bowl, zenith radios, dons fine foods, the P. G. and E. sign, bread basket restaurant, don foster barber shop & beauty parlor, western auto and supply company, Rexall drugs, singer, the big neon STATE sign, and the Clark's Walgreen agency drugs.

What an amazing time capsule, great cars, great buildings, great signs !
Thanks to all for their post's !