Johnson, W.R.
1955

Plan of the Atomic Tunnel 1950's attraction near Daytona Beach

Atomic Tunnel. Temporary home of Happy the Walking Fish.

DESCRIPTION: Lithographed plan / view of the "World's Most Unusual Atomic Tunnel". A four-panel Florida roadside-attraction brochure from the early 1950s. An atomic age wonder! The illustrator is unknown but his interpretation of Happy the Walking Fish is a high point in mid-century illustration with Happy dressed to the nines in bow tie, top hat, and tuxedo and carrying a cane.

" … it was a long, white concrete building in the shape of a meandering tube, studded with 824 "port holes" (variously shaped small windows) that was designed primarily as a showcase and shop for exotic orchids. It also featured tropical birds, a monkey, and "Happy, the walking fish," a typical Southeast Asian "walking" catfish that could be prodded into flipping its way across a short dry connection from one tank to another." (1)

Verso contains two reverse-profile portraits of "Happy, the Walking Fish" and also two fold-in panels showing a map and plan of the Atomic Tunnel with happy visitors strolling along walkways. The illustrator cleverly uses two different levels of scale on this work, at top a linear representation with mile boards of HWY 1 stretching from Daytona Beach, Florida through Port Orange to the Atomic Tunnel and below on the same page a plan view of the Atomic Tunnel's tunnels, rooms and walkways at a large scale. The recto shows detailed photographs of the rooms including the Fish room, Bird room and Cactus room.

A scarce original brochure of the Atomic Tunnel, a 1950's Florida roadside attraction near Daytona Beach that tapped in to the 50's fear of and fascination with the close prospect of nuclear war.

The Atomic Tunnel was an orchid store, "Tropicolor Fantasy, The Tunnel Beautiful", built by W.R. Johnson in Port Orange, Fl. on U.S. Hwy. 1 seven miles south of Daytona Beach. In the mid 1950s Johnson's flair for promotion (2) and the public's fascination with all topics nuclear led him to re-brand the location as "Atomic Tunnel". The business was last re-branded "Tunnel of Fantasy" and promoted as "Florida's Biggest Little Attraction" in the later 1950's. By 1960 the Atomic Tunnel was closed and demolished. Did Happy have a happy ending? No word.

Lithographed by Drew, Jacksonville, Fla.

Sources:

(1) http://www.lostparks.com/atomictunnel.htm
(2) "MAN EATING PIRANHA. Imported directly to Atomic Tunnel from the Amazon Basin, this deadly species can reduce a human being to a skeleton in a matter of hours. Used extensively by motion picture studios."
Also, https://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/happy-the-walking-fish-atomic-tunnel/

CREATOR: Johnson, W.R.

PUBLICATION DATE: 1955

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: n/a

CONDITION: Good. Slight, typical, signs of wear but clean and no issues.

COLORING: Process color.

ENGRAVER:

SIZE: 16 " x 9 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 11

PRICE: $199

ADD TO CART

This web site provides security by Rapid SSL

Similar items:

7877	Cute Pictorial Map Poster of Maui, Hawaii Cute pictorial map poster of Maui, Hawaii by Island Funnies (1990) - licensee of Fiesta Cartoon Maps. The map highlights local parks and recreational activities includin . . .	Details	1990	Island-Funnies	Cute-Pictorial-Map-Poster-of-Maui--Hawaii	<br><br> Cute pictorial map poster of Maui, Hawaii by Island Funnies (1990) - licensee of Fiesta Cartoon Maps. The map highlights local parks and recreational activities including scuba diving, golf, fishing, sailing, and surfing. <br><br> Maui, the second-largest island in Hawaii, has a rich history dating back to ancient Polynesian settlers. The island was first settled by Polynesians who navigated the Pacific Ocean using the stars, arriving in Hawaii around 400-800 AD. These early settlers developed a complex society with a strict social hierarchy and a subsistence economy based on fishing and agriculture. <br><br> In the late 18th century, European explorers arrived in Hawaii, with Captain James Cook being the first recorded European to visit Maui in 1778. The island later became a center for the whaling industry and a popular port for ships traveling between North America and Asia. <br><br> Lahaina, located on the west coast of Maui, was once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early 19th century. It was also a major whaling port and a center of commerce. Today, Lahaina is a popular tourist destination known for its historic buildings, art galleries, and restaurants. <br><br> Kapalua, situated on the northwest coast of Maui, was once a plantation growing pineapples and coffee. In the 1970s, the area was transformed into a resort destination featuring world-class golf courses, luxurious accommodations, and pristine beaches. <br><br> Haleakala, a massive shield volcano that forms the eastern portion of Maui, is a significant feature of the island. The volcano's crater is a popular destination for hiking, stargazing, and watching the sunrise. In 1916, Haleakala National Park was established to protect the unique volcanic landscape and the endemic species that inhabit the area. <br><br>
7884	Pictorial Map of Alaska, the 49th State Ernest Dudley Chase's "A Pictorial Map of Alaska, the 49th State" is a fascinating visual representation of Alaska's history and its journey to statehood. The map, created in 1959, . . .	Details	1959	Chase--Francis-J-	Pictorial-Map-of-Alaska--the-49th-State	Ernest Dudley Chase's "A Pictorial Map of Alaska, the 49th State" is a fascinating visual representation of Alaska's history and its journey to statehood. The map, created in 1959, celebrates Alaska's admission to the Union as the 49th state on January 3 of the same year. Chase's signature style, combining attractive illustrations with geographical information, provides a unique perspective on this momentous event in American history. <br><br> The Chase's map incorporates an alphanumeric grid system to help users easily locate specific points of interest. Surprisingly, the map retains its original advertising sticker, prominently displayed in the upper left corner, bearing a price of 50 cents. The presence of the sticker serves as a testament to its authenticity, further enhancing its overall value and desirability. <br><br> The map showcases various aspects of Alaskan life, including its natural resources, industries, and cultural heritage. Chase depicts the state's diverse landscapes, from the rugged coastlines to the majestic mountain ranges, highlighting the beauty and vastness of America's last frontier. <br><br> Chase's map also chronicles the historical events leading up to Alaska's statehood, such as the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, known as "Seward's Folly," and the discovery of gold in the late 19th century, which led to the Klondike Gold Rush. The map portrays the development of Alaska's major cities, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, as well as the growth of its industries, such as fishing, mining, and logging. <br><br>
7900	Unix Takes Manhattan Advertising Map Poster Interesting 1989 ca. pictorial map handout poster promoting the Unix operating system for a Manhattan trade fair. Published by Emerald Technologies. Similar in conception to the . . .	Details	1989	Emerald-Technologies	Unix-Takes-Manhattan-Advertising-Map-Poster	Interesting 1989 ca. pictorial map handout poster promoting the Unix operating system for a Manhattan trade fair. Published by Emerald Technologies. Similar in conception to the numerous Silicon Valley advertising poster calendars but here with a focus on the applications of Unix by Manhattan area firms: Dow Jones & Co, Saloman Brothers, Shearson Lehman, Morgan Stanley, the New York Times, etc. <br><br> Single-sheet handout produced by Emerald Technologies for the System 3XExpos in New York and Toronto ca. 1989. Text and image advertising for Emerald Technologies on the verso.
7903	Early Plat of Royal Park Palm Beach Florida Brochure (9" x 8") with a detailed plat of the Royal Park addition in Palm Beach, Florida. The Royal Park addition was one of the earliest planned developments in Palm Beach, Flori . . .	Details	1913	Green--Lewis-Henry	Early-Plat-of-Royal-Park-Palm-Beach-Florida	Brochure (9" x 8") with a detailed plat of the Royal Park addition in Palm Beach, Florida. The Royal Park addition was one of the earliest planned developments in Palm Beach, Florida, developed starting around 1908, three years before Palm Beach was incorporated, in 1911. Royal Park was developed by Elisha Newton "Cap" Dimick, Palm Beach's first mayor, and early developers who had previously worked on the development of the Palm Beach Inn (later known as The Breakers hotel). <br><br> Dimick and his business partners marketed Royal Park as an exclusive residential community, featuring large lots, ocean to lake access, and Mediterranean Revival style architecture. In 1913, Lewis Henry Green, a wealthy Mexican-born real estate agent and investor from California, started working for the Royal Park subdivision in Palm Beach, Florida. He employed a game plan of splashy advertising, auctions, and prize giveaways for buyers. Green's dubbing of Royal Park as "the Millionaire's Playground" sparked significant interest in the development. <br><br> Tours of the "playground" were handled by W.E. Watson, a businessman who helped promote the project with two 24-seat vehicles that made the rounds. Green offered prizes daily at afternoon auctions held three days a week on Royal Palm Way, opposite the new bridge. At the first auction, 600 to 800 people attended, buying lots at around $375 each. <br><br> Royal Park sold out by 1917. Completed and settled a year later with eclectic bungalows, gabled Victorians, and front-porch cottages, the subdivision's burgeoning prominence would shift the town's center southward, paving the way for the 1920s dawn of Worth Avenue.
7907	Maps and Views of Sebring Florida In 1920, just nine years after George E. Sebring acquired over 9,000 acres in the Florida Highlands to establish a new town, the Sebring Board of Trade published this substantial p . . .	Details	1920	Sebring-Board-of-Trade	Maps-and-Views-of-Sebring-Florida	In 1920, just nine years after George E. Sebring acquired over 9,000 acres in the Florida Highlands to establish a new town, the Sebring Board of Trade published this substantial promotional pamphlet titled "Sebring, Florida. The City of Health and Happiness." By the time this brochure was circulated, Sebring's population had grown to around 3,000 residents. The historic downtown area of Sebring, which still reflects its 1920s origins, has been recognized as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, acknowledging its significance and the enduring legacy of George E. Sebring's vision for the city. <br><br> The pamphlet is packed with text and photographs showcasing nearly every beneficial aspect of life in Sebring. The back cover features a bird's-eye view of the town encircling Lake Jackson, with "Twelve miles of velvet asphalt boulevard surrounding the Twilight Trail." Inside the front cover, another bird's-eye view depicts a fountain nestled among lush trees and meticulously landscaped formal gardens, described as "Sebring's beautiful little park around which the town revolves." <br><br> Within the pages, readers will find a map of peninsular Florida highlighting the area around Sebring, accompanied by a table displaying distances to various locations within the state. The pamphlet culminates with a pictorial map of the region immediately surrounding Sebring, illustrating the town's layout with the central park as its focal point, encircled by vast orange groves that stretch out into the surrounding countryside. <br><br>