For those with a historical interest. This video (of course transferred from original film) was recently brought to my attention.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc942669/m1/#track/1 (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc942669/m1/#track/1)
The parade video starts at 3:54 and runs to 7:24.
Unfortunately the video of the three floats is not the best. On the other hand, if the video of the floats had been good, I would have lamented not having a frame-grab in the book.
Some of those parade girls were scantily clad for the windy, near-freezing weather!
For those not familiar, the December 1959 opening festivities for Stemmons Freeway in Dallas was the largest freeway celebration in Dallas until the celebration for the Margaret Hunt-Hill Bridge in 2012. (And the 1959 event still ranks as #2)
More info about it available at the links below
http://dfwfreeways.com/book/ChEvents?startOdd=False&pdfSize=13%2BMB&pdfFile=Dallas-Fort-Worth-Freeways-book-01-20140803.pdf (http://dfwfreeways.com/book/ChEvents?startOdd=False&pdfSize=13%2BMB&pdfFile=Dallas-Fort-Worth-Freeways-book-01-20140803.pdf)
PDF of above link (better quality) http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/pdf/Dallas-Fort-Worth-Freeways-book-01-20140803.pdf (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/pdf/Dallas-Fort-Worth-Freeways-book-01-20140803.pdf)
Three more images at this link: http://dfwfreeways.com/book/ExStemmonsFreeway?startOdd=True (http://dfwfreeways.com/book/ExStemmonsFreeway?startOdd=True)
Wasn't there some kind of parade/procession to celebrate the end of 75-Central's reconstruction in 1999?
Since the film's focal point was the parade passing a singular point on the freeway (rather than the facility itself), not at all surprising for a family-sourced film, there's no indication of signage at the '59 opening. My question is: was it immediately signed as I-35E upon opening or simply US 77, the multiplexed route?
P.S. -- looking at the other links, it looks like a mix; one shot shows a I-35E shield (with a very small "E" tucked under the number!), while another shows only a US 77 shield. Sort of reminds me of L.A. during that same time frame -- some freeways (I-10 in particular) got a pretty complete signage treatment early on, while others didn't see shields until well into the '60's.
Quote from: sparker on August 16, 2018, 07:33:29 PM
My question is: was it immediately signed as I-35E upon opening or simply US 77, the multiplexed route?
I can't answer for certain, but I have images from 1967 and 1970 showing it still signed as US 77, so I'm assuming it was signed as 35 and US 77 when it opened.
This 1967 view shows only US 77 signs
http://www.dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ExStemmonsFreeway/06_dallas_freeways-196.jpg (http://www.dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ExStemmonsFreeway/06_dallas_freeways-196.jpg)
This 1970 view show US 77 and IH 35 shields
http://www.dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChDallasFreewayAdventures/07_candide-361.jpg (http://www.dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChDallasFreewayAdventures/07_candide-361.jpg)
http://dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChDallasFreewayAdventures/07_candide-362.jpg (http://dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChDallasFreewayAdventures/07_candide-362.jpg)
Quote from: MaxConcrete on August 16, 2018, 08:33:54 PM
Quote from: sparker on August 16, 2018, 07:33:29 PM
My question is: was it immediately signed as I-35E upon opening or simply US 77, the multiplexed route?
I can't answer for certain, but I have images from 1967 and 1970 showing it still signed as US 77, so I'm assuming it was signed as 35 and US 77 when it opened.
This 1967 view shows only US 77 signs
http://www.dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ExStemmonsFreeway/06_dallas_freeways-196.jpg (http://www.dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ExStemmonsFreeway/06_dallas_freeways-196.jpg)
This 1970 view show US 77 and IH 35 shields
http://www.dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChDallasFreewayAdventures/07_candide-361.jpg (http://www.dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChDallasFreewayAdventures/07_candide-361.jpg)
http://dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChDallasFreewayAdventures/07_candide-362.jpg (http://dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChDallasFreewayAdventures/07_candide-362.jpg)
If you look closely at the second pix, there is a tiny "E" under the 35 in the shield.
You can see the side of a US Highway Shield in the film. The best part was getting to see all the vintage construction equipment.