BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Dang it!

Sorry those angelfire links did not work.....you would have really liked the pics.

Like myself, you'll surely remember what a "big name" GREYHOUND was in those long-lost days; there were TV and radio commercials, magazine ads, and, of course, NEVER a shortage of toy "hounds" for young wannabe bus drivers! (believe it or not, back in the early 60's, you could buy vinyl INFLATABLE Scenicrusers......with FRICTION DRIVE, no less!

I know, because yours truly played with 'em, many moons ago ( I had two versions....they were neat!)

Can't even begin to tell you how many theatrical cartoons and comics of the day payed homage to "The Hound" (in fact, a late 1940's "Little Lulu" cartoon, "The Dog Show Off", features a parade of dogs with thier owners resembling them.....and, as you might expect, a greyhound grandly parades into the ring....with a SILVERSIDES at the other end of the leash!)

Nice little "plug" for GREYHOUND........

"NYO"

[Jimbo]

Cut and paste the links in question. They opened for me. Great photos!

[roymanning2000]

In addition to the TV and radio commercials, Greyhound sponsored the Steve Allen Show on NBC on Sunday evenings. It was a comedy and variety show that ran opposite Ed Sullivan who was on CBS.

The commercials for the show featured the announcer saying "It's Such A Comfort to Take The Bus..." Then there would be a shot of a driver leaning out the driver's window of a bus and finishing with "and Leave The Driving To Us". The Greyhound mascot, "Lady Greyhound", appeared live on the show from time to time. I watched that show just for the bus commercials and was very disappointed when Greyhound dropped its sponsorship of the program after a year or two.

Also, both Greyhound and Trailways advertised regularly in National Geographic Magazine back then. My school had a subscription to that magazine and I pored over them looking for the bus ads. One teacher was very impressed that I read them on a regular basis. I didn't have the heart to tell her it was all about the buses.

Roy

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Jimbo:

Glad you were able to view the pics!

Though I've had a computer for 13 years, I must admit that the simple task of "cutting and pasting" has always eluded me (I'm NO computer whiz, trust me!)

Yep, those rare old views trully bring to life a long-lost era in bus travel....it certainly was a rich and diverse one.....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Roy:

Great input!

Thanks!

My sister-in-law's uncle, who also our barber, had a lot of GREYHOUND stock, and he used to save me the magazines they'd send him (this magazine went out to stockholders)

There were always some great bus pictures to check out; I still vividly remember the article about the MC-6.....certainly, it was a departure from all other previous "hounds"!

He always kept his old EMERSON radio tuned to 1010 WINS while in the shop (this was still in the early years of its all-news format); he was always keeping abreast of the latest GREYHOUND quotes!

It was pretty clear, back in those days, that GREYHOUND was a company that truly was much in the public spotlight; today, like rail passenger travel, GREYHOUND is not what it once was.......so much has changed during the past several decades.

Changing demographics, changing travel patterns, and deregulation certainly played major roles in the changing face of long-distance bus travel.

But, while it all lasted, GREYHOUND was indeed the KING of the highways!

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a rare bus that deserves at least a brief mention here, even though it is of overseas origin.

The sleek PEGASO Z-403, a coach clearly ahead of its time, has been said to have influenced the SCENICRUISER.

Clearly, it is easy to see this inspiration here.........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegaso_Z-403

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Lady Greyhound", once America's "Top Dog"!

http://raingoddess.com/akc/ladygreyhound.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Greyhound

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

All:

Was VERY fortunate to come across these rare old photos just a few minutes ago.......

"NYO"

http://www.subchat.com/buschat/read.asp?Id=292111

(courtesy of SubChat)

[traildriver]

[traildriver]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

All:

Did a little searching, and came across the photo I was referring to in my previous post; here we see the unique deck-and-a-half ACF-BRILL originally operated by CONTINENTAL TRAILWAYS, now operating for "PENN-JERSEY COACHWAYS" as a "GOLDEN CRUISER".

Too bad this unique bus wasn't preserved.....

http://joycewiggins.tripod.com/photo/982.jpg

(courtesy Trailways Forever Memories)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a rare artist's conception of the proposed "ASTRALINER" (Flxible) for TRAILWAYS; it is quite obvious what other famous highway coach this one resembles.....

Ironically, this bus was offered for a time as a large plastic toy, with steerable front wheels; I still have mine, bought for me by my older brother at the old "HOBBY MART" on the main concourse of the PABT, over 50 years ago.......

http://www.busnuts.com/_images/flxible_astraliner.jpg

(courtesy busnuts.com)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Scroll down page (on the right-hand side) for a number of BECK photos that clearly are SCENICRUISER inspired; also, note the coaches obviously based upon the 4104..........

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/b/beck/beck.htm

(courtesy of Coachbuilt)

[*Note, too, the buses that more than hint of the YELLOW 743]