Niagara - 80 years apart

[plasphil]

Niagara Falls must have been a Rubber fetishists dream come true in the 1930's. These two ladies clad in heavy Rubber Mackintoshes with hoods and boots are waiting for the 'Cave of the Winds' tour. They must have been very uncomfortable sweltering in the hot July sunshire under all that burning rubber!

The second picture was taken about 80 years later, how times have changed but it appears you still have to que up (appropriately dressed of course) for the same tour. There are thousands of pictures out there depicting the current scene at Naigara but I particularly like this shot of a pretty lady who takes wearing her plastic poncho seriously though I bet she still got soaked where as the other ladies probably did not!

Phil

niagara 7-7-1930.jpg

niagara sunglasses.jpg

[mason]

You know which I would MUCH prefer, don't you? Apart from the total lack of look, feel or style, those farkin' ponchos are anything but waterproof. Sometimes change is not always for the better

[hazrainsuitman6]

I was fortunate enough to ride The Maid of the Mist in 1992 with my family. The passengers wore dark blue rain coats of rubber or PVC as the ship skimmed along and the waterfalls' mist sprayed us. It might have been the beginning of my rainwear fetish. I agree with Mason in that change to flimsy ponchos is rather disappointing

[mason]

I don't understand why they had to change to cheap disposable ponchos either; they look and doubtlessly feel horrible ... but it's obviously all about money and to hell with spectators comfort.

What about the massive environmental impact as well? (as in throwing away all these disgusting pseudo garbage bags and disposing of them properly afterwards)

[frogmac]

Hi Mason,

You hit the nail on the head when you said the ponchos are cheap, and being disosable means more of them have to be bought. Manufacturers of anything rarely care about environmental aspects if they can get away with it.

A similar thing applies to food - as long as it doesn't kill people too quickly, the makers will sell it, with any sort of misleading advertising that isn't actually banned.

[PVC Raincoat]

Hi Guys, I used to live near The Falls and I can tell you for 100% certain that the poncho's they use now are made of a boidegradable plasticish material, they do disintegrate within months if left out in the ellements.

[raincoatluver]

Hello All, am new to this forum though have been a long time fan. I remember in the mid '80's and going to Niagara Falls a few times. (live approx. 1 hour's drive away) The coats on the Maid of the Mist Tours were of a heavy black rubber. The few times going on the ride had left me with incredible feelings as a young 'teen at the time. Wrapping the coat around me with that smell, the wet rubber from the Niagara River and full length with hood had given me such an erection at the time. You can understand the feeling of embarrassment and trying to keep everything 'covered.' I see the Plastic Ponchos' now and am disappointed that the tour went to that format. I have always wondered what became of all those coats, and, if possible where to find them?