10.05.2015

Classic Kodachrome Monday #58

Every Monday, I'll be spotlighting a different classic Kodachrome slide that I've picked up, and trying where I can to detail the who, what, when, where, why, and how (much) of the image:

This Week:

What: Sunny Day at the Harbor

Why: Oh to be able to walk into this scene and explore the Downtown area in the distance for a complete day, armed with, oh say, two reliable old cameras, and a slew of color slide film to be able record all the details of the scenes in the distance in glorious color.  Since this is my hometown, I'm especially drawn to this scene, showing a train car float operation in full swing on the after in the center of the scene, as well as bygone buildings in their glory.     

When: Ca. 1954, based upon the slide mount style that puts this in the early 1950's.  

Where: Baltimore, MD. I've had this one for a while, but was saving it specifically until I could get past the location where it was taken so that I could shoot a contemporary image, not on digital sensor, but with film, just as this one was.   Below is a comparison view.  You'll note the expected additions and subtractions to the skyline as expected, though the most prominent element of the original skyline is almost entirely concealed by more recent construction, the Baltimore Trust Building.  The Harbor was transformed from an industrial focus to a recreational focus beginning in the late 1970's, and still remains the focal point for people to visit Baltimore.  One unfortunate loss is the copper topped Clock Tower, which was torn down in the mid-1980's, leaving one less distinctive element in what has become a rather bland and modern swath of skyline.  This is the typical view of Baltimore seen behind news casters in studio shots.




Who: Thankfully, no one is blocking any of this vintage view.   

How (much): A while back, an ebay seller was selling a mix of different lots which had some Baltimore shots in the mix, and this came from one of those three lots.  I spent somewhere between $8 and $15 for the whole lot, so this slide, among the best of batch, didn't run me up that much.

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