20 April 2014

Carbon Canyon Historical Artifact #43: La Vida Mineral Springs Cafe, ca. 1960s


This is another of the circa 1960s Amescolor chrome postcards of La Vida Mineral Springs, of which there are quite a number, and showing the interior of the resort's café.

Many of the hallmarks of the era are present:  the gold colored chairs, table tops and counter top; the brown vinyl booth seat backs, the chrome supports for the chairs, and so forth.

Behind the bar are some of the usual accoutrements of a coffee shop, including the opening to the kitchen, a stainless steel drink dispenser, supplies on shelving.  Note also the three-pendant ceiling lights, the entrance door with the small-square sidelights and the dual large-pane plate glass windows facing out toward Carbon Canyon Road.

All in all, it looked like a cool place to grab a pancake breakfast, a hamburger and fries for lunch, and a steak for dinner.

The postally unused card doesn't have much on the reverse, a caption reads, "Café at LA VIDA MINERAL SPRINGS / CARBON CANYON / BREA, CALIFORNIA."  The name and address of the publisher, the inventory number, the stamp box and the division between the message area and the address space are also present.

Aside from some rubbing to the edges and very slight soiling, the condition is good and the card is a great throwback to a half-century or so ago when La Vida was still a successful operation.

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