FULL ARTICLE By Lyell Henry – Into the 1960s, guides, like the now-famous “Green Book,” were indispensable aids for thousands of black travelers. In this “SCA Journal Classic,” retired Mount Mercy College political science professor Lyell Henry discusses the history of “motoring while black” in the pre-Civil Rights era.

FULL ARTICLE by Douglas Towne – For most of the 20th century, the Near East captivated Americans, its influence extending coast to coast. Countless owners of motels, restaurants and nightclubs bet their economic futures that naming their business after elements of this region would bring success.

FULL ARTICLE by Michelle Begay – After World War II, the motel evolved into something not seen before in American life – a self-contained roadside oasis. The Foothills Motel complex exemplified the major shift in the middle-class pursuit of recreation and leisure.

By Lyell Henry – In spite of the depressed national economy, the late 1920s and the very early 1930s were good years for tourist camp start-ups. In this SCA classic article from 2013, Lyell Henry makes the case that the now forgotten Green Gable Cabin Camps came closer to the franchising practices that became commonplace after World War II than any other chain.

FULL ARTICLE by Ronald Ladouceur – Professor of marketing at the University at Albany, Ronald Ladouceur, talks about his passion for ghost signs, and how that passion led to his article in the fall 2018 issue of the SCA Journal, “Do Uneeda Ghost? Hurry, They’re Going Fast.”

FULL ARTICLE by Douglas Towne – Astoria is known as the “Graveyard of Ships” because of the hundreds of nearby wrecks caused by challenging currents formed by where the mighty river meets the Pacific Ocean. The meeting of these two water bodies is so treacherous. Fortunately, the port city is much kinder to its commercial archeology.

FULL ARTICLE by Ronald Ladouceur – This article explores the history through surviving examples of the first multi-million dollar ad campaign, produced by the first national advertising agency, on behalf of the first brand created by marketing – Uneeda Biscuit.

By Peter Glaser – On the evening of September 15, 1885, tragedy befell the world: Jumbo the elephant, superstar of the Victorian era and P.T. Barnum’s circus sensation, was dead. Beloved by millions, Jumbo’s distinctive and catchy name became a means of conveying any object’s enormous size, and quickly entered the lexicon of everyday speech.

FULL ARTICLE by Raina Regan – A vintage “Five Fav”. If you love roadside architecture, you’ll have plenty to explore in central Indiana. Here are a few off-the-beaten-path roadside icons worth a visit in the Hoosier state.