Cedar Point postcards

Long before Sandusky, Ohio's Cedar Point was known as the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World", it was a popular vacation destination for the local railroad, fishing, and shipping industry employees and their families. Cedar Point as an amusement park opened in 1870, with recreational areas, bathhouses, dance halls, and lodging quarters. Shortly after electricity was installed at the park in 1891, the park's first roller coaster opened -- the 25-foot tall Switchback Railway, which topped out at the breakneck speed of 10 mph.

After the turn of the century, rides and attractions were being added in rapid succession to meet demand. In 1905, the 600-room Hotel Breakers opened and still stands to this day, despite the fact that major additions and renovations over the years have altered the original building to the point of the site being removed from the National Register of Historic Places, where it was first listed in 1982.

It was after WWII that changes at the park drastically began. Much of what remained from the early days was neglected or outdated, to the point that Cedar Point was without a functioning roller coaster. During the 1950s and well into the 1960s many new rides were added -- exciting rides, thrill rides -- which caused an upswing in popularity that has brought the amusement park -- now the second oldest in the country -- to become a destination not just for regional vacationers, but coaster enthusiasts from all over the world.

I picked up these three linen postcards this week, gorgeous representations of Cedar Point's offerings in the 1920s. The back of each is printed with "The G.A. Boeckling Co., Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio". George Arthur Boeckling was the president of the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company from   1897 until his death in 1931. He is responsible for the surge in popularity Cedar Point went through in the early part of the century, and was often referred to as "the man who made Cedar Point".

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

There are a handful of places in the world that have truly become a part of who I am. The 1899 Hollywood Forever Cemetery is one such place. I'll put it simply -- if you've never been, go. Beyond that, I'll let the photographs below, which only just begin to scratch the surface of the greatness of the cemetery, speak for themselves. Enjoy.

(please click on this, and any, image to see it bigger)

A quick p.s. -- In recent years, Hollywood Forever has become a very unlikely venue for both musical performances and outdoor movie screenings, Cinespia at the helm of the latter. It's wonderful that the cemetery -- once in such disrepair that families of the deceased threatened to disinter and relocate their loved ones -- is able to host such popular events that both generate revue for and introduce new visitors to the location. I highly recommend Karie Bible's fantastic "The Cemetery of the Stars" walking tour, which is a wonderful introduction to Hollywood legends interred at the cemetery.


All photographs copyright Monika Seitz Vega, 2012-2015.

prints for sale -- fundraiser

UPDATE: 3 left!!


My friend Amber Ledesma was diagnosed with liver cancer earlier this year + is preparing for a liver transplant. 

She has started a Gofundme page (http://www.gofundme.com/tv5p8gg) to raise funds to care for herself + her pups during this time. 

Amber is a fantastic person + I am hoping to raise money for her by selling the prints below. Each photograph was taken by me, on 35mm film, and measures 5x7 inches. With signed mats each measures total 8x10 inches, ready to frame. Each one is $20 postage paid.

(I took quick snapshots of them to get them up immediately, if you have any questions about them or would like to see a higher quality version please let me know.)

Thank you to everyone in advance, let's help Amber out!!

Hollywood, CA. 2010.

SOLD!! Starlite Drive-In, El Monte, CA. 2008.

SOLD!! Parking lot carnival, 2009. Lomo Fisheye.

Abandoned restaurant, San Bernardino, CA. 2008.

SOLD!! New York City, 2004.

SOLD!! Toy camera teacups, 2010.

SOLD!! Banning, CA (since demolished). 2010.

SOLD!! Riverside, CA. 2008.

Riverside, CA. 2008.

destination unknown

Long overdue for a change of scenery, I mentioned to my husband that I'd like to head out and see something new as soon as we had the chance. Last Sunday we got in the car and he navigated us up into the hills, to a canyon near the Cleveland National Forest. I wasn't sure what to expect, I was honestly just happy to be out on an adventure. 

I won't detail specifically where we were, as it is not public property, but I will give a little backstory on the location -- in the 1960s, a land owner hauled in over 50 cars from a local junkyard in the canyon to help curb flooding in the area. Over the years the spot became one of legend -- was there a creepy asylum at the end of the lane past the decaying autos? Or a mansion where a reclusive doctor lived? Was it haunted? Did rabid dogs attack anyone who stepped foot on the property?

Urban legends aside, this is a spectacularly unique location. Decades of wind, rainfall, rust, and nature have absorbed the cars into the landscape. It's very cool that they are still there, though for how much longer is uncertain -- developmental sprawl is moving its way quickly up toward the property, despite its proximity to the Cleveland National Forest. Nonetheless, I was excited to experience a place so incredible, and to have been able to photograph it. Here are some images from that day, in the order they were taken.

(don't forget, you can "click" on any image to make it larger)