On April 24, 1949, an employee of the Boston Transportation Department took this shot of Blue Hill Avenue outbound at Columbia Road.
Note the trolleys on both roads (the reason both have paved medians today - that's where the trolleys used to go) and compare to today's view:
BTD is currently considering a plan to restore the Blue Hill Avenue median to public transit - but buses, rather than trolleys.
The buildings in the 1949 photo remain, although without the fancy tower and movie theater (now a church):
Neighborhoods:
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Magoo sez
By MisterMagooForYoo
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 2:10pm
If Magoo was a superhero and was stuck in this traffic jam, Magoo would “Shazam!” Magoo’s way out of said traffic jam and fly wonder away. Magoo.
Now I know!
By MrZip
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 5:01pm
The theatre (now a church) still has the round base of the spire on the roof. I thought it must be some sort of water tank, but now it makes sense.
I wonder why the big crowd
By Don't Panic
Tue, 12/12/2023 - 1:02am
I wonder why the big crowd near the Franklin Park theater on a Sunday?
Matinee double feature line?
By deselby
Wed, 12/13/2023 - 7:55am
The movies are "South of St. Louis" with Joel McCrea and Alexis Smith and
"Bad Boy" with Lloyd Nolan (and Audie Murphy).
IMDB for the movies:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041907/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041144/
Ticket was around 25-50 cents.
Looks like there was a soda fountain on the corner, might have been popular.
The neighborhood was Jewish then. The famous G&G Delicatessen was down the street.
Maybe Nat Hentoff and Sheldon Adelson were among that crowd, they were from the neighborhood. Hentoff was 24, Adelson was 16 years old then.
Thanks @deselby
By Don't Panic
Thu, 12/14/2023 - 11:28pm
People didn't mind walking back in the 40's especially on a nice day which this photo represents.
The fifteen "Boston" blocks from the theater to the deli would be considered quite a walk these days.
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