Tropical Palms
Tropical Palms
Tropical Palms matchbook
When was the last time you saw a matchbook at your local restaurant, bar, or vacation hotel? Probably a while! There was a day, however, when advertising was published on those little, square packets.
Postcards, too, were used to get the word out about various businesses, attractions, and locations. Many people were first informed about the fabulous spas of Desert Hot Springs by seeing a postcard sent to a friend, or a matchbook from a DHS business.
Before the advent of the internet, local businesses relied on advertising in many creative ways. Local newspapers, like the Desert Sentinel and the Desert Sun, carried information about churches, grocery stores, available services, etc., but were not as helpful for enticing out of town visitors to try out our excellent Spas, Hotels, and Restaurants. Postcards carried the comments of visitors to a much wider circle, and matchbooks were easy to carry and easy to pass along.
This talk will show the images of interesting / unique postcards and matchbooks that were the tools of promotion and place-making in the city’s development.
Jeff Bowman has amassed a large collection of these items, and will be sharing his knowledge at the first History Speaks event in the 2026 Fall Season.