YOUR AD HERE »

1934: Banner Year for Tourists

In celebrating the 125th anniversary of The Aspen Times, we are printing a story or two from each year the newspaper has existed – 125 historical selections in 125 days. This series is in conjunction with the Aspen Historical Society.Banner Year for TouristsThat the tourist season of 1934 will likely set a record for summer visitations to Aspen is the opinion of business men of this city, who have recently been making a check-up of automobiles seen here from other states and other counties in Colorado.The fact that Aspen and the surrounding territory has the finest vacation climate of any other place in the mountains, and that mountain trout fishing has been unexcelled here during the past few summers is gradually becoming generally known throughout the West, and many persons have been here this year to take advantage of these conditions.Almost any day of the week it is possible to walk along the streets of the business section and see cars from many of the Colorado low-land counties, as well as motor representatives of a dozen or more states from California to Connecticut. Even cars with Canadian license plates are no longer a novelty. Cars from Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Nevada, California and New Mexico are seen the most although visitors from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Idaho have been registered in the city.No official check-up has been made, but one tourist from the East told a Times’ reporter recently that the registration book atop Independence Pass contains names of visitors from “at least 30 states.” The popularity of the route, the shortest from East to West for most travelers crossing the mountains, is daily growing, and when the improvement work now in progress has been complete it will likely be one of the most popular thoroughfares in the state.Business men also report that in a volume of cash business 1934 has been a banner tourist year. (Aug. 9)Gas Price Drops 1 Cent in AspenAspen motorists were cheered last week-end when the local price of gasoline took a one cent drop, just in time for the leisure hours on Sunday driving. This drop came in the face of a three cent increase in the retail prices prevailing in Denver and other eastern slope points.The decrease in price brought regular gasoline to 24 cents per gallon, after it had remained at 25 cents for many weeks. Ethylized gasoline commanding a two cent premium is 26 cents per gallon now. An adjustment in prices between eastern and western slope prices has long been promised and it is believed to be gradually coming about now. The local gasoline price is now four cents higher than Denver whereas, it has been seven cents higher. In Grand Junction, the retail price of regular gas is 22 1/2 cents one and one-half cents lower than at local stations. (May 31)Gala Re-Opening of Isis Theatre to be Friday EveAfter being dark for three years, during which time folks residing in Aspen and the vicinity were forced to look elsewhere for cinema entertainment, the Isis Theatre will re-open Friday evening and a gala occasion is in prospect.Kenneth Hanson, owner of the theatre, has already contracted for first run pictures from the best producing companies, assuring local picture patrons the best in screen entertainment for the coming year. For the opening night Mr. Hanson chose that favorite of all America, Will Rogers the gun-chewing Oklahoma cowboy who made good in the big city in “Dr. Bull,” a screen adaption of the widely read book, “The Last Adam.”Reviewers all over have hailed this picture as on of Rogers’ best, and local people who have witnessed its showing in Denver declared it to be a fine choice for the opening night. “Dr. Bull” will also be on the local screen Saturday, accompanied both days by the best selected short subjects, and on Sunday, Janet Gaynor and Warner Baxter will be seen in “Paddy, the Next Best Thing, “one of the newest Fox Film successes.From the number of reservations it is almost a certainty that a full house will be presented when the screening starts at 8:15. Prior to the showing of the film features an overture by the nine-piece McHugh Orchestra in the pit, will be a feature. It is also reported that the Aspen Concert Band, directed by W.L. Graves will play a concert in from of the theatre in the earlier portion of the evening.From Woody Creek this week came the report that a large delegation of residents of that section would attend the re-opening. (May 31)

News


See more