How very little fashion there is in Vogue when you put it under the microscope. But how much of everything - and anything - else. Today: The Bowser Parking System. Hence: the continuing series of Clarie McCardell summer fashions.
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| Filched from the Met |
Tweeting today from Spotify: The very lovely "Blue on Green," from Kind of Blue. There is probably a way I could link back here directly, but I haven't figured it out. Back to this:
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| Let's orient ourselves. Marya Mannes, top left, yesterday; Bowser garage, middle, today. |
Fashion photographer John Rawlings did a nice job. I wonder if Vogue ever shot a fashion spread there - unless it's William Klein, you don't see much grit in American Vogue of this period.
So: "The Bowser Garage on West 45th Street where automobiles are filed for fifty seconds delivery in eight stories of concrete, open front and back: the mechanics of the process are big swerving elevators that move up, down, and sideways. . . "
For a much better explanation of these garages, the first of which opened in the teeming metropolis of Des Moines, go here. The Bowser garage in New York opened in 1958; from what I can tell, it's still there, now called the Showbiz Garage. You'd think there would be YouTube videos, but haven't been able to find any. Nor can I find an obituary for Virgil Bowser, the Iowan who came up with the idea when he was living in Washington, D.C. during World War II. Mr. Bowser designed prosthetic limbs for returning veterans and was fed up with the atrocious traffic in D.C. So, naturally he got to work on designing an automated parking system. How I admire people like that! Here is his patent, a blurry drawing appears below (So far in this project, we've reviewed patents for bras, girdles, store displays and now a parking garage. Hats off to all of you!)
Oh, I bet you never thought I could tie together any of this. Of course! Reviewing Claire McCardell clothes - here's a more substantial example:
I wondered - and yes, indeed, she took out several patents on her designs. Which refuse to transfer here. Oh, well.
Tomorrow: dancers from the Philippines.
6 comments:
I know this is 9 years late, but there isn't enough information on these garages so...
V.C. Bowser was born in Michigan. He designed the prosthetics mention above and he holds patents for a number of other items, including significant improvements to naval weapons aiming systems during WWII while his son, Richard (Dick) Bowser, was in the Navy. The parking company was started in Des Moines, IA with his son.
V.C. bowser died on Dec 26, 1960 in Florida.
Dick went on to design the tram system for the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. He died Dec. 26, 2003.
I know this is 9 years late, but there isn't enough information on these garages so...
V.C. Bowser was born in Michigan. He designed the prosthetics mention above and he holds patents for a number of other items, including significant improvements to naval weapons aiming systems during WWII while his son, Richard (Dick) Bowser, was in the Navy. The parking company was started in Des Moines, IA with his son.
V.C. bowser died on Dec 26, 1960 in Florida.
Dick went on to design the tram system for the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. He died Dec. 26, 2003.
Had no idea any of this blog could still be found. Also have zero memory writing this post, but I always enjoyed the research. I'm glad you left a comment.
My grandfather was the managing partner of that garage for something like five decades. My uncle, brother, and I all worked there. The elevators were challenging to keep functioning, and the pit was a hazard. But we all got to go to shows for free (it was the parking garage of the Broadway stars). The garage itself is said to have made an appearance in The Wiz, starring Diana Ross. In that day and age, everyone knew everyone. The people who ran the Picadilly, Paramount, and the Edison hotels were all friends with my grandfather, and I grew up eating breakfast in the remarkable art-deco Edison Cafe run by the delightful Francis, Harry, and Conrad.
It wasn't a pretty place, but it was a part of the culture.
This bit on the garage has generated more comments than any other poster - two of them! Thank you for writing. I'm gad you found my piece. I enjoyed writing it and am amused to see that it's the garage and not the fashion that has generated interest.
Catherine, anyone can post about fashion. How many people write about a parking garage? You hit a niche. Thanks!
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