The beautiful Art Deco Avalon Casino Theatre and Ballroom, located in Avalon on Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles, was constructed in 1929. The Casino's name derives from a more traditional Italian definition of casino, meaning social gathering place; the building has never served as a gambling establishment and for many years did not even serve alcoholic beverages.
Avalon Casino Theatre and Ballroom Postcard
The Casino was 140 feet (43 m) high when it was built and was the tallest building in Los Angeles County at the time. Surrounded by sea on three sides, the circular Art Deco structure stands the equivalent of 12 stories tall. The Avalon Theater, on the first level, shows first-run movies nightly. The circular domed ceiling has remarkable acoustics studied by experts from around the world. The upper level houses the world's largest circular ballroom with a 180-foot (55 m) diameter dance floor. French doors encircle the room, and balcony views are spectacular.
SOURCE:
Santa Catalina Island, California Wikipedia Entry
This is also an over-sized postcard (12.5 x 17.5) postcard, an artwork by Wilfredo Santiago and distributed Philippine-German Magazine, Manila. It is a world map that shows the location of Philippines.
World Map Postcard
This is an over-sized postcard (12.5 x 17.5) Philippine postcard, an artwork by Wilfredo Santiago and distributed Philippine-German Magazine, Manila. It shows the three island groups (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao), bodies of water that surrounds the country (i.e., Mindanao Sea, Pacific Ocean), some cities (e.i., Baguio City) and several provinces (i.e., Ilocos Norte, Basilan). Also shown is Sabah, a disputed Philippine territory.
Philippine Map Postcard
The postcard shows the castle, or Fürstenberg Haus, in Donaueschingen which was built when Prince Joseph Wilhelm Ernst moved into this new planned town from his castle in the hills above in the 18th century. It is a Baroque building set next to the Schlosspark and source of the River Danube. Its interior is lovely, full of 19th century paintings, tapestries and many original furnishings. The building is open as a museum, allowing visitors to wander around the various rooms. Guided tours are available.
Fürstenberg Haus Postcard
SOURCES:
Fürstenberg Sammlungen
Das Haus Fürstenberg Homepage
The postcard shows the Dôme des Invalides that can be found at the Invalides Complex in Paris. The Dôme des Invalides is the most recognizable and well-known part of Les Invalides. In 1676 King Louis XIV - the Sun King - charged architect Jules Hardouin Mansart with the task of creating a separate private chapel at the Invalides for exclusive use of the royal family. This gold-domed church was completed in 1708 by de Cotte after Mansart died. Inspired by Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, this chapel, known as Église du Dôme, is considered one of the world’s most exciting examples of French Baroque architecture.
Dôme des Invalides Postcard
The dome itself is 107 meters high (351 ft), making it one of the tallest monuments in Paris, and was centrally placed in order to dominate the court of honor – one of 15 courtyards at the complex, designed for military parades. The inside of the dome was painted by Charles de La Fosse, disciple of 18th century well-known French painter, Charles Le Brun.
Napoleon Bonaparte was entombed at Les Invalides. Also buried at Invalides are several members of Napoleon’s family as well as a number of prominent French military leaders and war heroes.
SOURCE:
Dôme des Invalides
Avalon Casino Theatre and Ballroom Postcard
