Sometimes, when journalists try to describe how large a structure is, they often use something we are familiar with to help us visualise the scale. For example - "The new building is the size of 2 football pitches".
In March 1934, the local press described the size of a new Cunard Liner by comparing it to the length of 3 Caird Halls!
They even used an illustration to demonstrate this, albeit forgetting about the slight perspective involved.
In March 1934, the local press described the size of a new Cunard Liner by comparing it to the length of 3 Caird Halls!
They even used an illustration to demonstrate this, albeit forgetting about the slight perspective involved.
This first image, from January 1932, is a straight forward image of the old Town House being prepared for its tearing down.
The second image has the Town House toppling over, but this one was a model made by students as a prop for their charities campaign in January 1932. The third image is another model, only this was a proper one which was being taken from Dundee Museum to be put on display at the Empire Exhibition held in Glasgow in March 1938. |
Here's 3 "visions of the future" Dundee never got!
The first was done by Thomas Adams in March 1938, and was quite a nice plan for the Overgate.
The second one was drawn by J. Young in April 1949 and is an idea to have a Library located at Overgate/Nethergate area.
The third design was sketched by John Fowlie in April 1950 and is for a restaurant to be positioned at Ninewells/Riverside.
Imagine if this last one was built back then, it looks hyper-modern even by todays standards!
The first was done by Thomas Adams in March 1938, and was quite a nice plan for the Overgate.
The second one was drawn by J. Young in April 1949 and is an idea to have a Library located at Overgate/Nethergate area.
The third design was sketched by John Fowlie in April 1950 and is for a restaurant to be positioned at Ninewells/Riverside.
Imagine if this last one was built back then, it looks hyper-modern even by todays standards!
Mr & Mrs Fleming from Blairgowrie, bought this Dundee Corporation bus in June 1939 and turned it into a caravan type of vehicle.
They used it as extra accommodation for when they had visitors at their farm in Inchture and was very popular - even with horses!
They used it as extra accommodation for when they had visitors at their farm in Inchture and was very popular - even with horses!
This elephant called Pamela, was displaying road safety advice in the centre of Dundee in August 1952.
A decade later, the road safety animal changed from a giant jungle beast to a cute fluffy creature called Tufty the Squirrel. Bit of a jump, size-wise, which is probably why Tufty was only seen on TV and not around the streets! |
The previous item featured an elephant displaying road safety advice.
I presume the elephant here then taught cycling proficiency skills!
The advert for Billy Smart's Circus was published in July 1954.
As well as the main circus itself, they also did a parade route around town.
I presume the elephant here then taught cycling proficiency skills!
The advert for Billy Smart's Circus was published in July 1954.
As well as the main circus itself, they also did a parade route around town.
This is one huge pink elephant Dundee students built back in April 1950.
It was actually given a Christening type of ceremony, using a soda siphon, and was given the name, Blotto!
4 years on to April 1954 and the students were terrorising the crowds with their dragon.
This one didn't spit fire though, it squirted water, which is why the kids had to dodge out of the way!
It was actually given a Christening type of ceremony, using a soda siphon, and was given the name, Blotto!
4 years on to April 1954 and the students were terrorising the crowds with their dragon.
This one didn't spit fire though, it squirted water, which is why the kids had to dodge out of the way!
Unlike the swans, this trucker didn't feel the need to take a dip in the water!
The narrow escape happened down at the docks in March 1933.
The narrow escape happened down at the docks in March 1933.
In September 1933, an experiment was being carried out on Johnston Avenue.
Road workers were testing the qualities of jute to find out whether it could be used to help bind the road surface better and possibly lessen the danger of skidding.
I don't think the idea was embraced after the trial run but here they are laying down the rolls of jute.
Road workers were testing the qualities of jute to find out whether it could be used to help bind the road surface better and possibly lessen the danger of skidding.
I don't think the idea was embraced after the trial run but here they are laying down the rolls of jute.
Gussie Park was usually crammed full of fairground attractions when it was carnival time.
When the carnival wasn't present the place was used as a car park, especially on match-days.
The photo here was taken in February 1952 when there was a game on at Tannadice, and it's jam packed!
When the carnival wasn't present the place was used as a car park, especially on match-days.
The photo here was taken in February 1952 when there was a game on at Tannadice, and it's jam packed!
The traffic lights on the corner of Reform Street & Meadowside took a tumble in October 1946.
Were they struck by a speeding truck? An out of control bus?
Nope, they were knocked over by a horse & cart!
Were they struck by a speeding truck? An out of control bus?
Nope, they were knocked over by a horse & cart!
Dundee's street lights were being brightened up in July 1931 when they were to be replaced with new ones - once the paintwork was finished!
Here's a couple of items featuring silhouetted images presented in a strip format.
First is dated April 1912 and is a time-lapse photo sequence of a partial eclipse of the sun which was taken from the rooftop of the Courier building in Meadowside.
Second is dated October 1901 and is an amusing cartoon illustration involving a wee man / big man encounter.
First is dated April 1912 and is a time-lapse photo sequence of a partial eclipse of the sun which was taken from the rooftop of the Courier building in Meadowside.
Second is dated October 1901 and is an amusing cartoon illustration involving a wee man / big man encounter.
Seeing these old Dundee cinema ads for classic Disney animated films, still bring a smile to your face after all those decades!
Kings - Dumbo - May 1942
Princess - Bambi - April 1943
Kings - Snow White - July 1944
Kings - Pinocchio - July 1946
Gaumont - Cinderella - June 1951
Kings - Dumbo - May 1942
Princess - Bambi - April 1943
Kings - Snow White - July 1944
Kings - Pinocchio - July 1946
Gaumont - Cinderella - June 1951
The entertainments pages in the local press were always brimming with ads for the cinema, theatre, halls and so on. Sometimes there were so many, they would have to be rather small in order to fit them all in on one page.
Viewing the entertainments page on the 8th October 1943, the cinema section had an ad for La Scala in the Murraygate. This one, on this occasion, didn't have film info however, but an important notice that read - "Please turn to Page 9 for our Epic Announcement".
So when rushing to page 9 to see what it was - it turned out to be a full half-page sized advert for the film "The Life & Death Of Colonel Blimp".
This seems to be a deliberate gesture of defiance on La Scala's part, because the film was quite controversial at the time. The government tried to intervene in its production and release because it wasn't showing certain aspects of the war effort, in good light. They even banned it from being released in the USA for a while.
Anyway, it appears La Scala decided to make a point by standing up for the film, ignoring the stance of Churchill and co.!
Viewing the entertainments page on the 8th October 1943, the cinema section had an ad for La Scala in the Murraygate. This one, on this occasion, didn't have film info however, but an important notice that read - "Please turn to Page 9 for our Epic Announcement".
So when rushing to page 9 to see what it was - it turned out to be a full half-page sized advert for the film "The Life & Death Of Colonel Blimp".
This seems to be a deliberate gesture of defiance on La Scala's part, because the film was quite controversial at the time. The government tried to intervene in its production and release because it wasn't showing certain aspects of the war effort, in good light. They even banned it from being released in the USA for a while.
Anyway, it appears La Scala decided to make a point by standing up for the film, ignoring the stance of Churchill and co.!
This photo was taken during the filming of a movie scene when it was being made in October 1921.
It was a Scottish film called "The Stolen Document" and there were a couple of scenes shot in Dundee. One of the scenes was filmed at West Station (where the photo was taken) and another scene was shot down at the docks. The actresses in the photo are, on the left, Daisy Cree (from Aberdeen), on the right, Winifred Vynne (from Dundee), and the paperboy was actually a real Dundee paperboy. The film was produced by the Arc Film Company from Glasgow. |
This is R.W. Miller, the chap who painted Dundee's theatre backdrop scenery in the early 1900's.
Although he had his workshop in the King's Theatre, he wasn't theatre staff, he was self employed and only used their workshop for his studio. He did work for most productions in Dundee. He had stints at theatres in Glasgow, Manchester and London, before he settled in Dundee in 1907. The photo was taken in March 1928. |
I think it was around 1990-ish when the local press made the jump from publishing traditional black & white daily newspapers, to printing them in colour.
However, way back in 1902, the Evening Post started to dabble in colour printing.
This was a feature in the kids section where they had puzzles, poems and so on.
The colour aspect was laid out like a paintbox, and there was a good reason for this because not only was there colour, they could actually be used to paint with!
They had a cartoon image each week which they ran as a competition. Kids had to use these particular "Magic Colours" only, to fill in the cartoon image using a brush dipped in water, like they would if they used watercolour paints.
The winner got a prize for their efforts.
The picture kids had to complete here was a cartoon image of Dundee's, Mars Training Ship, and is dated April 1904.
However, way back in 1902, the Evening Post started to dabble in colour printing.
This was a feature in the kids section where they had puzzles, poems and so on.
The colour aspect was laid out like a paintbox, and there was a good reason for this because not only was there colour, they could actually be used to paint with!
They had a cartoon image each week which they ran as a competition. Kids had to use these particular "Magic Colours" only, to fill in the cartoon image using a brush dipped in water, like they would if they used watercolour paints.
The winner got a prize for their efforts.
The picture kids had to complete here was a cartoon image of Dundee's, Mars Training Ship, and is dated April 1904.