Alistair Gordon

Post-war period, there was this huge, huge boom in air travel because all these GIs who had flown to Europe, you know, they were used to sitting in an air transport. That wasn't a big deal. So Suddenly after the war, there was this massive boom in air travel. And at that point, they realized, you know, it was more than just a self-contained building. You needed these things.

They called them skywalks. You know, these things extending out. Originally, they called them boarding docks or boarding piers. And again, as with the skywalk at LaGuardia, it was a way to get multiple planes near the terminal all at the same time.

They called them skywalks. You know, these things extending out. Originally, they called them boarding docks or boarding piers. And again, as with the skywalk at LaGuardia, it was a way to get multiple planes near the terminal all at the same time.

They called them skywalks. You know, these things extending out. Originally, they called them boarding docks or boarding piers. And again, as with the skywalk at LaGuardia, it was a way to get multiple planes near the terminal all at the same time.

Yeah, it's like a railroad station.

Yeah, it's like a railroad station.

Yeah, it's like a railroad station.

Yeah, this had a lot to do with that 1950s expansion of tourism. More Americans could afford to fly to the Bahamas, or fly to Jamaica, or fly to South America.

Yeah, this had a lot to do with that 1950s expansion of tourism. More Americans could afford to fly to the Bahamas, or fly to Jamaica, or fly to South America.

Yeah, this had a lot to do with that 1950s expansion of tourism. More Americans could afford to fly to the Bahamas, or fly to Jamaica, or fly to South America.

Well, becoming the jet.

Well, becoming the jet.

Well, becoming the jet.

So a lot of the promotional for new jet air travel was, you know, have breakfast in New York, you know, at the plaza and have dinner at the Savoy in London, you know, that same day. You know, you can get up in the morning, go to LaGuardia Airport, and you can be in the Bahamas or Jamaica or wherever.

So a lot of the promotional for new jet air travel was, you know, have breakfast in New York, you know, at the plaza and have dinner at the Savoy in London, you know, that same day. You know, you can get up in the morning, go to LaGuardia Airport, and you can be in the Bahamas or Jamaica or wherever.

So a lot of the promotional for new jet air travel was, you know, have breakfast in New York, you know, at the plaza and have dinner at the Savoy in London, you know, that same day. You know, you can get up in the morning, go to LaGuardia Airport, and you can be in the Bahamas or Jamaica or wherever.

Instead of a ship slowly poking through the Caribbean or, you know, the Mediterranean or wherever, you had these instant kind of arrivals. It changed everything. It changed the way hotels were run. It changed the way inner-city transportation was maintained. And it affected almost everything.

Instead of a ship slowly poking through the Caribbean or, you know, the Mediterranean or wherever, you had these instant kind of arrivals. It changed everything. It changed the way hotels were run. It changed the way inner-city transportation was maintained. And it affected almost everything.

Instead of a ship slowly poking through the Caribbean or, you know, the Mediterranean or wherever, you had these instant kind of arrivals. It changed everything. It changed the way hotels were run. It changed the way inner-city transportation was maintained. And it affected almost everything.

I mean, there was a huge spread in Life magazine about Friendship Airport Baltimore when it opened in the 50s. And they made a big deal about that there was a shoe shine shop. In fact, there was a shoe repair shop and there was beauty salons. There was a beauty salon and there was, you know, a bookstore and several restaurants and bar and everything.