I was 16 when I had my first trip on an airplane, and it seemed like a really big deal at the time. Going someplace new, especially on a jetliner, was a very special occasion back then.
These days we take such trips for granted; hopping on a plane to faraway places is a normal part of life. So I found it charming to come across a 1960s-era scrapbook from the Kehrs of Cotati, California, that contained not only postcards from the destinations they visited, but a handful of greeting cards wishing them “Bon Voyage” and safe travels. People once planned trips a long time in advance, and friends and family got in on the action. Click on any image for a larger version.
The Kehrs went to a lot of places: Germany, New York, Southern California, Denver, and Washington D.C., just to name a few.
For each trip, there were at least a couple of greeting cards sent in advance of the trip from well-wishers.
I love to travel—I think most people do. It’s just a question of time and money. But I don’t tend to plan trips very far in advance—I’m a bit more spontaneous than the Kehrs were.
But then, in the 1960s people visited travel agents well before their trips, and booking a flight required a trained professional acting on your behalf. And it cost more to travel in those days.
Airline travel was more formal than it is today. People tended to dress up for the flight and you were served a proper meal. I remember getting a complimentary deck of cards on many flights to help pass the time.
It’s actually much better now, I think. Airline deregulation caused fares to go down considerably and there is a lot more competition in the travel market these days. In many ways, the airplane of today is the bus of yesterday—a more democratic method of travel and a reasonable option for many.
But while it is still exciting to go someplace new, it doesn’t seem like the special occasion that these greeting cards implied.
Another thing I’ve enjoyed about the Kehrs’ scrapbook is the collection of motel and hotel postcards featuring various amenities. There are lots of interior shots showing off the era’s décor.
Looking at these pictures of motel room interiors, I can almost smell the cigarettes. There were no non-smoking rooms, and I think the color schemes were chosen partially to hide the color of nicotine.
Travel has become more difficult in the last few years and I admit my patience for it has waned a bit. It seems like such a struggle to get through airports, and such a hassle (and extra expense) to even check a bag. Perhaps we’ll return to a day when going someplace is special again and people actually say, “Bon voyage.”
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This article was last modified on May 15, 2023
This article was first published on June 3, 2011
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