Saturday, April 30, 2011

Saturday's postcard: "Unusually High Tide"


This undated and unused postcard, most likely from the middle to late 1960s1, is promoting The Marine Room Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge in La Jolla, California. The caption simply states "Unusually High Tide".

To me, it looks like a publicity still for an Irwin Allen film.2

The Marine Room (I believe the "Cocktail Lounge" portion of the title is no longer in use) is now in its 70th year of operation and doing quite well as a prestigious dining establishment in extreme southern California.

Here's an excerpt from the restaurant's website:
For generations of San Diegans, the “Seahorse” symbol of The Marine Room has long stood for its dramatic on-the-surf location and award-winning cuisine by Executive Chef Bernard Guillas and Chef de Cuisine Ron Oliver. Considering this rare blend of culinary excellence, uncompromising service and beachfront setting, it’s no wonder The Marine Room has become a true San Diego landmark. Simply stated, this is fine dining at its finest.

Opened in 1941, The Marine Room quickly became famous as pounding surf created dramatic displays against the restaurant's windows. For more than half a century, celebrities, world figures, residents, and visitors have made it a habit to enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of the Pacific and exceptional cuisine. We invite you to San Diego's premier dining destination and experience how each tide brings something new to The Marine Room.
In fact, today's Papergreat post has unintentionally good timing, because The Marine Room is celebrating is 70th anniversary in the entire month of May with some special offerings. According to the website: "The Marine Room opened on May 29, 19413 with a menu of Fresh Lobster a la Newburg in a shell for $1.35, Rainbow Mountain Trout Saute Amandine for $1.25 and Martinis for $0.35. For the month of May, three specials ... including two new twists on the original menu, will be available, including Maine Lobster, Scallop and Prawn Newburg, Ancient Mariner Style Alaskan Halibut and Free Range Veal Chop Oscar."

Another neat thing about The Marine Room is that it's fully on board with the digital and social-networking eras. The restaurant has an email newsletter, a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a promotional YouTube video. It also offers Foursquare check-in. How many restaurants that opened in 1941 can say that?

Footnotes
1. Here's another image of the postcard, only it's a black-and-white version and includes a different caption on the back.
2. Perhaps the 1976 made-for-television movie "Flood!", which starred York County's own Cameron Mitchell?
3. Way off on an tangent: May 29, 1941, is also the birthdate of more Major League Baseball player John Edward Kennedy, who has a fascinating life story and some interesting connections with President John F. Kennedy.

1 comment:

  1. Mom has checked in with the following great note:

    I don't remember if it was before or after you were born*, but my grandmother came to visit in California when your dad was stationed there, and we all went to La Jolla to visit the son of a friend of Grandma's. He took us to lunch or dinner at this restaurant. We didn't sit in that room. It didn't look like it was open, and the windows were difficult to see through because they were covered in salt from sea spray. And the water was really not all that close to the windows. Maybe at a full-moon-high-tide, but not every day.

    *-I was born in December 1970 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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