Pablo Iglesias Maurer is an extremely talented photographer. One day he noticed a matchbook from decades ago. As he opened it up, an image from the 1960s was revealed. It was a promotional matchbook for the Penn Hills Resort in the Poconos, where he was currently standing at the time. With colors still vibrantly displayed, he saw a blue swimming pool full of happy people, and beautiful glass windows enclosing the area. However, as Pablo looked at the scene in front of him, it was nothing like the image he held in his hand.
So, Pablo lined the two viewpoints up. One with the matchbook, and the other with his camera. Instantly, he was hooked on creating before and after photographs of once-loved venues and scenes from the past.
The inside of the matchbook reads: “Swim n’ Sun Indoor Swimming Pool at Penn Hills Lodge and Cottages. The Poconos’ Finest Modern Resort.”
Let’s take a look at some of Pablo’s favorite selections from his extensive collection on AbandonedStates, below.
Photographs Then and Now
Pablo mentioned in an article at DCist how the postcards never really showed the truth about a place either. But, whether we like it or not, time reveals all.
I often struggle to get the two images to line up, as well. But time blurs the difference, and brings everything into focus.
DCist
Grossinger’s, Catskills, 1958
Elizabeth Taylor was at the pool’s grand opening, and Florence Chadwick — the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions — was the first to swim in it. From Ross Padluck’s excellent Lost Architecture of Paradise: “…The new indoor pool at Grossinger’s was the zenith of the Catskills. Nothing quite like it had ever been built, and nothing ever would be again. It represented everything about the Catskills in the 1950s-style: extravagance, luxury, modernism and celebrity.”
Tiled flooring at Grossinger’s had heating, and the entire building was air-conditioned. Art Deco chandeliers hung from the ceiling, giving the swimmers a sun-kissed appearance. Since the late 90’s the pool has been vacant. It is currently beyond repair.
Read: 20 Photos That Explain Why 70s Men’s Fashion Should Never Make a Comeback
Resort in the Poconos
The main building at a popular Poconos resort burned down. In the 1970s it was rebuilt, and this postcard from Kardmasters was created. Now, the trees have grown and taken over this unique space.
Cocktail Longe in the Poconos
This once-popular cocktail lounge at an upscale resort in the Poconos now sits in disrepair. “Peaceful relaxation – healthful recreation,” says the caption on the back of the Kardmasters postcard.
Summer in the Poconos
In this 1960s postcard by H. Rubenstein, the lakeside summers in the Poconos appealed to many visitors.
More of Pablo’s Work
Pablo has been drawn to scenes of decay and disrepair for as long as he can remember. He shares plenty of photographs of his amazing work on his Twitter, so you should go check that out. Also, the DCist has more of his story and how he got started. We highly recommend you give it a read!
Keep Reading: I Forgot What The Airlines Were Like In The 70’ s, These Pictures Really Took Me Back
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