Going to the Colonial Cafe in 1937


I found this image on the Duke University site, and it's just wonderful. The detail is gorgeous, and it's exactly the kind of old photo that I want to step into. Let's go to Asbury Park, New Jersey in 1937, to the Colonial Cafe.

By the way, you may have noticed the gigantic billboard there, and that's the reason that this photo was taken, and the reason that it's on the Duke site is because of the historical significance of the advertising. But I'm not interested in whiskey today, I'm thinking of hamburgers and frankfurters! Let's take a closer look.


I see that there's a bar, so you can get some whiskey if you want to. They also have sea food sandwiches, which also don't interest me. Do you like home made clam chowder? Looks like they have Terry's famous HomeMade clam chowder, and also fried chicken (that sounds good to me!) Sea Food, Platters, and Crab Cakes. I can't read the last line, but I'm guessing it says Restrooms? By the way, if you recognize that car, please let me know and I'll update this post. What a great car!


Actually, I like the little runabout there more myself. And here we go, hamburgers and frankfurters! I wonder when they started calling them hot dogs? It's 1937, and it's during the Great Depression, but at least Prohibition is over, so we can get a drink legally, if we want one. What's that? Yeah, sure you can get a Soft Crab, or Scallops, or a Crab Cake. I don't care for seafood, myself. I don't know what it says at the bottom of the sign there: Abbott? By the way, check out the cool little opening rear quarter window on the car in the foreground! I've never seen one like that before, have you?



Here's a closer view of the billboard. I wonder if Wilson Whiskey was any good? Not much of a name. But check out the beautiful detail on the frame of the billboard! They don't make 'em like that anymore!

OK, I've had enough. Thank you for paying for my hamburger, I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!

Ad from the Asbury Park Press. July 4th, 1937, page 4.

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