It’s easy and normal to take doors for granted, though they are, of course, super important. I mean, where the hell would we be without them? Climbing in and out of windows, that‘s where. And who would want to do that?
But doors do have major fans. For example, a fair number of WordPress scribes write about them, maybe in recognition of their crucial value. Or maybe because certain doors are true works of art. Whatever the reasons, it is de rigeur for those scribes to launch their doors-centric essays into cyberspace on Thursdays. Why Thursdays? Because . . . well, I sure as shit don’t have a clue. It just became one of those things to do, I think.
The ringleader of Thursday doors articles was a guy named Norm (here’s the link to his blog), who began the project in 2014 but recently gave up his duties. A responsible and caring sort, he didn’t simply walk away. No, Norm nimbly passed the baton to Dan Antion, the mastermind behind the blog called No Facilities. Authors of doors-related pieces now are asked to post notices of their latest opuses on Dan’s site rather than on Norm’s. And that’s what I’ll be doing today, which is Thursday in my time zone, as this is a story about doors.
I published my first doors narrative in June 2020, taking a look at doors in Jenkintown, and decided to examine those in Ambler for my second effort. Both Jenkintown and Ambler are cute, traditional-looking villages in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and are pretty close to Willow Grove, the not-too-cute town that I call home.
A few weeks ago I spent about 70 minutes scouring many of Ambler’s streets. I was in search of doors that made a big impression on me, though I wasn’t sure which types those would be when I began the expedition. As you’d expect, the vast majority of doors that I passed were the kinds you’ve seen millions of times before. Standard wooden ones on houses, for instance, and standard glass/metal ones on commercial properties. Most of them were perfectly nice and well-maintained, for certain. But, vanilla.
So, how about doors that might be described as elegant or artistic? Surprisingly, Ambler seemed to be lacking in them, for I noticed but two. One belonged to a church, the other to a restaurant. Now, I could have placed their photos on this page and devoted a couple of hundred words to various aspects of their worthiness. However, I’ve chosen not to, as the five doors that resonated with me during my walk were way humbler. And weathered and disheveled too, to one degree or another. What’s more, the word dilapidated also applies to two of the five (the white door with a big empty space next to it, and the cardboard-stuffed black door upon which the sturdy lavender-hued door closes). I liked all of the outsiders aplenty when I spotted them and, in examining their portraits a short while ago, I like them no less now. They have tons of character. They’ve been through a lot and have stories to tell. And they probably go unnoticed by most everyone, but so what? They’ve entered my heart, which contains a warm spot for the underappreciated. Yeah, I’m a f*cking softie.
And which of the specimens do I choose as my favorite? Tough decision, but I’m going with the wooden swinging doors. Man, crude though they are, they exude down-to-earth charm and nonchalant confidence, characteristics I’d be proud to call my own. But I’ll never be as cool as those doors are, Shit, I’m well into my septuagenarian era. So, if it hasn’t happened yet, it’s not about to now. But an old guy can dream, can’t he? Damn right he can, and will.
Is any essay about doors truly complete without a nod to The Doors, the explosive, brooding and trippy rock band that burst into the big-time in 1967? The answer is no, at least when it comes to my offerings. Thus, I shall leave you with a recording by The Doors that has one big thing in common with the doors I’ve written about above. To wit, it is underappreciated. Wintertime Love, performed in a flexible waltz time, finds the band behaving all happy and tender, something they weren’t particularly known for doing. The song appears on their Waiting For The Sun album, which hit the marketplace in 1968. Here it is. Thanks for reading. Thanks for listening. And please don’t be shy about adding your comments. Till next time!
Yeah, Another Blogger 
I’m with you on those wooden swinging doors, Neil. They’re old but still functioning. And the brick building and little bit of grass are cool too.
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Hi. What’s more, you don’t see swinging doors every day.
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I am a sucker for weathered wood, maybe because I too am “old but still functioning” (and unvarnished).
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I hear ya!
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Haha–good one!
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I like your post about doors. I’ve seen many photo collection of doors and windows!
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Afternoon, Ariela. Maybe I’ll write a story about windows some day!
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👍🏽
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Doors are fascinating. Your imagination can run wild about the people who have entered and exited, those who have been kept safe behind the doors (or we have been kept safe from), the sadnesses, successes, loves, deaths. Great post!
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PS you might be interested in Flavia’s site:
https://www.flaviavinci.com/2021/01/06/street-food-in-rome/
She often posts about Italian doors.
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Hey there, Lynette. Right, we rarely know what truly goes on inside anybody’s house.
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I love weathered, aged doors
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They’ve got character!
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Absolutely
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I think this is an open and shut case!
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I agree!
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Thanks. Needed a break this morning. We need to open new doors.
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Trump deserves to be placed behind prison doors.
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Come on, Neil, no false modesty, you’re as cool as a door, definitely swinging, just a bit unhinged, that’s all.
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Hey, what I said is true — those swinging doors are way cooler than I am.
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That post reminds me about the guy who invented the door knocker, he won the no bell prize . .
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Who needs bells?
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Doors with no frills about them. Nice.
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They’ve been through and seen a lot. Hi, Helen. Take care.
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Cool post! I love old doors that look past their prime, shall we say.
I contributed to Norm’s blog once, years ago. Nice guy.
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Hi. I guess that Norm will still write stories occasionally on his blog, but the Thursday Doors thing is now in Dan Antion’s hands.
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These are great doors. I have features “weathered and disheveled” doors on numerous occasions and I’m glad you chose not to mix in the elegant doors with them – there’s always time for more doors.
Thanks for mentioning the challenge. We’re off and running on a new year, and I’m looking forward to seeing more doors from you – don’t you love them madly? – sorry, I also like The Doors.
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Hey there, Dan. Right, there’s a lot to be said for well-worn doors. They’ve done a lot of living!
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Count me in on the wooden doors, but was also taken with the pink door. Not a color you often see in a door. And of course you had to feature The Doors.
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Afternoon, Laurie. Yeah, if I write any more doors essays, I’ll have to include a Doors tune in them. It seems appropriate!
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I’ve always had a fascination for doors; they’re like people, so very diverse. (And I’m rather fond of the group, too.) Thank you for another enjoyable post!
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Thanks for adding your thoughts, Tyler. Much appreciated. I agree with you that doors can be fascinating. I’ll probably continue to write about them, maybe once or twice a year.
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Love the door to the church. It makes me want to know so more about the congregation and the services within. I love the elegant doors of the cathedrals of European countries, but this door makes me no less curious about what lies beyond.
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Hi, Dave. I know what you mean. It’s a small congregation, I imagine. I’ve walked through Ambler many times, but I don’t think I’d ever noticed that door before.
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The pink door grabbed me, probably because it didn’t seem to fit with the red brick 🙂
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It’s not the usual choice of color for a door, that’s for sure.
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After yesterday’s chaotic coup attempt in D.C., let’s hope that the door to Trump’s mad aspirations has finally shut closed & we can soon tap our feet to something like Wintertime Love.
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Trump’s poison. He should be in jail.
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I am intrigued by doors but never imagined they could become a theme. Having said that, I enjoy all the amazing differences between doors.
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Yeah, quite a few people write about doors. I’ve done that twice now, and likely will turn out another doors article some day.
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I have a collection of door shots and should really join in some day! My favourite is the church door because it is so un-church like. I agree, as you’ve mentioned to a couple of commenters, that Trump should be in jail. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing last night. But I suppose he was never going to go quietly. A disgrace of a human being, he is even worse than I thought.
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He’s a fascist. He’s an enemy of democracy. I could go on and on . . .
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Philadelphia and the its metropolitan area have a plethora of interesting doors. Our younger daughter lives in Philly, so I always stock up when I visit. She’s gotten used to me lagging behind taking one photo after another. 🙂
janet
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Hi there. I lived in Philadelphia for many years. Now I’m in its nearby suburbs. Great city. I’ve always found Philadelphia to be endlessly interesting.
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Great door photos — and terrific touch, adding a song from The Doors. Hugs!
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Hi. It’s sad but true that Jim Morrison has been gone for 50 years.
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Enjoyed the piece; excellent choice for your favorite doors! Do you ever look at paintings of doors, or do you stick to the real thing? I was so inspired by your artistic eloquence on the subject I went looking for doors painted by one of favorite artists, Giorgio de Chirico, who seemed to be very into them, at least the spooky and mysterious ones. Unfortunately, the program won’t let me include an illustration, so here’s a link. https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6160181
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Hi. You know, I go to museums and art galleries pretty often, and I have to say that doors don’t seem to be a big theme for artists. Maybe I’m wrong about that, though.
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I think you’re probably right about that! Windows, I think, are far more popular (one of my favorites
is Wyeth’s Wind from the Sea, Nat’l Gallery Washington). I knew from your blog that you were interested in museums (I liked your piece on the Michener Museum BTW); so lucky you’re near Philadelphia, which has lots of nice ones! (I miss my museum visits a great deal; digital isn’t the same).
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I have a thing for doors, too. It’s about the possibilities.
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Enter!
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Howdy, great post, maybe that should be the next one “posts”, sorry. lol. I cant decide between the big oldish barn like door or the weathered swinging gates/doors. I guess I’d have the swinging gates that lead to an old house with the big ole barn front door. Oh the dream.
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There’s a lack of swinging doors in this world!
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Great collection of photos!
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Hi, and thanks. I had a good time wandering around and taking photos for this story.
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Ha! Loved how you ended it with the Doors. I’ve always enjoyed the Thursday Doors series that I never considered putting an actual Doors tune in one. I’m sure someone else has done it, of course, but I choose to believe you’re the first. Wintertime Love is a great song. – Marty
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Hey, Marty. I’ve always liked the album it’s on (Waiting For The Sun) a lot.
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I had never seem such doors before; I had never heard that track by the Doors… my doors of perception are blown wide open, man!
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Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
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Definitely an overlooked gem from the Doors. Has almost a ghostly feel. Goes with your selection of doors.
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Evening, JT. The Doors were SO popular for several years. One of the biggest bands in the world back then. Take care. Many thanks for your input.
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Oh yeah…good on you for featuring the Doors album!
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Greetings, Teresa. I bought that album when it came out in 1968. I still have it.
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Good on ya! Have a good day!
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Hey there Neil, As a wise man once said, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” Have a great day. Jerry
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The more doors there are, the more opportunities there will be!
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I’m dating myself here, but I distinctly remember that the first time I heard a song from The Doors was in fourth grade music class, when the teacher played it for us as an example of all that was wrong with modern music! Even at that age, I thought that was rather an odd thing to do. Memories…….
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Their first single was a smash hit, and sounds great to this day: Light My Fire.
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There are scripts behind those doors. And nice stamp with the Doors
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Some doors hold dark secrets.
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Do not get to close Neil.
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Ya know, I would never have given those grungy old doors a second look. But you made it possible for me to see them through your eyes. So now they’re not quite majestic, but they’re just swinging with character!
And I quite agree: climbing in and out of windows all day would be no fun at all.
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Without doors we’d be scraping our knees and wrenching our backs like crazy.
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…and maybe getting arrested for breaking and entering…
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A beautiful ode to doors, Neil, especially the Thursday kind 🙂 Thank you for this.
I think all doors are special, they lead to homes. Families. Stories. Possibilities.
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Hi Patricia, and thanks for adding your thoughts. I appreciate that a lot.
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Yes, great choice of song. My favourite city for doors is Dublin in Ireland. Some real beauties there.
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Hi. I think that I once saw online a collection of photos of Dublin doors.
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I had no idea this was a thing, this door posting on Thursdays. I also love that you chose ugly, I mean dilapidated doors, as opposed to the ornate.
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Morning. Yeah, they definitely caught my eye. They seemed authentic.
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😉
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Interesting. I also like doors. I had my door made piece by piece from a door l saw in Switzerland. Many cool doors in Old City if you can ever get thete.
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Hi Joyce. Going into central Philadelphia (and other sections of the city) isn’t easy anymore, because of the pandemic. I miss going there, and I’m sure that you do too.
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Terrific doors Neil: On one trip to Europe, I took photos of doors, doors and more doors. On another trip, I focused on bathrooms. Both were interesting and fun to remember. Here’s to 2021.
Muriel
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Happy New Year, Muriel. In 2021, maybe one or both of us should publish an essay on bathrooms. Not a bad story idea!
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good post, Neil; I love doors. like you I have a preference for the wooden kind; and I still love hearing a Doors song 🙂 Cheers
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I wonder what percentage of under-30s or under-40s know about The Doors at all.
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On ‘Hard Quiz’ a few weeks ago , an eighteen year old chose as his topic ‘The Doors’ ! some still do, Neil 🙂
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I lenjoyed reading your new perspectives re:old things. Things we often take for granted. Doors are right in front of our faces — including that song by The Doors — somehow I missed that one. Keep seeing the world through new eyes, Great post!
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Hi Kim, and thanks. You know, there are many Doors songs I don’t know. I was and am a big fan of two of their albums, but I barely know their other albums.
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“But I’ll never be as cool as those doors are, Shit, I’m well into my septuagenarian era. So, if it hasn’t happened yet, it’s not about to now.”
Neil, Neil, there’s still plenty of time. It ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings. You are as cool as you decide to be at any and every moment. Rock it like you own it. And that lavender (inside-facing) door is very CLASSY and WAY COOL.
Stay well. Warnock and Ossoff are IN. There’s hope on the horizon.
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Hey, Amy. It’s almost miraculous that they won. In Georgia, no less. And in 11 days, Trump will be out of office. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
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I love it. I worked at a dude ranch in Wyoming two summers in a row, and they had some amazing doors, as you can imagine, mostly very old wooden ones, similar to your favorite swinging ones. I did not take enough pictures.
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Greetings, Stacey. What jobs did you have at the dude ranch?
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Food service for all the meals. Waitressing is hard! One woman came with her family–never forget her name–Mrs. McNut. She never wanted butter on her toast. Who eats dry toast?! David Brinkley came one month. His wife was sick and I made sure to give her extra grapefruit and orange juice, etc. Never left a tip. David Brinkley stiffed me!
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Slamming also has value. I am rather glad to slam the door on 2020. Great piece as usual, thanks!
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We soon will open the door for Biden. What a relief it will be to have Trump out of office.
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Had you not ended with a reference to The Doors, it would’ve been nothing short of irresponsible. I like the doors you chose, but had you considered researching doors used by The Doors?
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Where’s my LSD? !!
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A nice add to your jaunts Neil. Doors are so intriguing and so are your adventures. This shall become more and more interesting. Watch out for trespassing signs.☕️☕️🫖👍
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Hi AOC. I’ll be careful!
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That’s good to know because that look inviting may open up to trouble!😱
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The allure of doors and you’ve captured some good ones. And a good finish with The Doors. Thankfully a new door is opening soon for our nation. Enjoyed the punsters in your comments. 🙂
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Thanks for visiting, Jane. Yeah, Trump is the pits. And he’s highly dangerous too, as was proven recently in DC. The Biden administration will be many breaths of fresh air.
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Ha, ha, while reading your post (and before seeing your Doors vid) I was thinking about the Doors and the reason they chose the band’s name – one of my favourite bands.
I absolutely love doors and find myself drawn like a relentless magnet to them around the world, doesn’t matter which country – they’re fascinating and mysterious.
Great post!
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Hello there. I mentioned this to someone else, but I’ll repeat it because it’s hard to believe: Jim Morrison has been gone for fifty years.
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Yeah, I know – depressing isn’t it?
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I love how your posts frequently make me look at the world through fresh eyes. Great track too. Haven’t listened to Waiting for the Sun in years. I shall dig it out and give it a spin.
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Hi. It’s a good album. Lots of variety on it.
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Love the weathered wood you’ve captured on those doors–and the song tribute is fitting:) Cheers!
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Greetings, and thanks for your input. Much appreciated.
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Great post! I love to photograph doors and windows too, and have a dedicated gallery for them on my store site. I think their symbolism is fascinating and may be interpreted in a variety of ways. Commonly they symbolize a passage from one world to another. We can think of them as portals, a place where secrets may hide behind, or maybe a welcoming invitation.
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Hi. Thanks for your observations. What goes on inside doors can be a whole lot different than what goes on outside them.
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Neil, when I started blogging I was confused by Thursday Doors! What? Why? But found posts compelling and found myself looking at doors much more closely and yes, taking lots of photos of them! Some interesting ones here … I like the pink one although it does look like a security one!
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Hi. I wonder if writing about and photographing doors is a “thing” anywhere else besides WordPress. It probably is.
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