Category: Photography

Hold Steady To Grandma, Lest She Fall Down

I saw this pic and immediately thought of the 1947 poem:

Hold steady to grandma, lest she fall down

Let grass stains stay clear of her three button gown

‘Twill not be flattering should she choose to go prone

Give up the ghost, and leave Grandpa alone

But what of Aunt Doris who clings to the wrist

Of my sweet Cousin Lois who dare not resist

For fear that the lips of Doris get flubbery 

As she sobs while Uncle Jim hides behind shrubbery

Has he donned trousers? Hast thou the knowledge? 

He only had two years at community college

He lettered in arm wrestling; his grip was quite strong

To his daughter Eleanor, the gene passed along

And now she stands confident, with nary a frown

Holding steady to grandma, lest she fall down. 

 

September 9th, 1936

Austin Antique Mall

Rare is the time that an antique mall image has a date on the back, like this one of these two stylish ladies did. In addition, it was also printed with “Alton E Bowers Photo Service.” A little world wide web research shows that Mr. Bowers opened his first photo studio 101 years ago in Reading, Pennsylvania. He retired 40 years later in 1956. When Vince Bellman took over the business at Bowers’ retirement, he modernized the printing process and expanded.

Per www.readingeagle.com,

Alton grew his business by picking up film orders to develop from drugstores and process in his studio. He served as a military photographer in World War I and would join Orville Wright in a crude biplane to snap photos high above Reading.

Lori [Bellman’s daughter] said that when Alton Bowers began his photography business 100 years ago, he had an amateur finishing service, which was not something that was readily available. Most of his business was portraiture and quick photofinishing.

Because of the weight and bulk of the camera equipment, portraits came from the studio, Lori said. She explained that the development of the compact and lightweight Brownie camera changed people’s ability to get photo prints, “and everything started being amateur and home-accessible.”

In 1977, Alton E Bowers Photography Studio was the first in the country to open a one hour photo lab. Who knew this one picture would lead to such historical information?

AustinAntMall005

I Can’t Wait To Die So I Can Haunt This House

Victorian era peeps rarely looked happy to be alive. Maybe it was the ten minutes each morning spent lacing up boots or corsets or angling their hats just so. Maybe it was the frustration of pier and beam homes on those windy cold winter’s nights, wishing they had concrete foundations. The only information written on the picture was that Agnes is the girl on the left, and Lois is the girl on the right. Lois is the only one who seems to be enjoying the day, possibly because swings. No swings = stern.

She Loves Me Like A Rock

How’s this for the mother and child reunion? What joy radiates from both of their faces. You can see why I couldn’t pass this snapshot up.

With Mother’s Day coming up, I thought I’d share a few pics of mothers and their children. She looks tickled to death that her son was granted a furlough to visit her.

This next mom lacks the enthusiasm of the others, but perhaps the corset has got her muscles too tightened to smile.

And lastly, we have a much more recent pic that looks to be from the 60s. If you ask me, it looks like Shirley Temple Black and a Kewpie doll.

Am I right or Amarillo?

http://www.commonwealthclub.org
etsy

Spread Your Wings And Stay Put

1933 SMU Rotunda

Pictures like this keep my blog title accurate. I don’t get this at all. Southern Methodist University students dressed to the nines behind a wide-winged pelican (statue, I presume). Campus isn’t near the beach; it’s in Dallas, and the mascot is a mustang. What does it all mean?

Deeper into the yearbook, bobbed flapper hair was all the rage.

Ain’t she a catch?

The inner yearbook cover offered this interesting map, with lines radiating from the university campus. Note the lyrics to “She’ll be coming ’round the mountain when she comes,” the first printed version of which had only just appeared in Carl Sandburg‘s The American Songbag five years prior.

Another I Don’t Get It moment.

Torch Ginger

National Geographic, Nov 1949

At Honolulu airport, a young woman packs the heads of torch ginger in cellophane preservers. The article stated that “its stalk grows 3-6 ft high,” sometimes towering over those handling them.

https://www.southernliving.com/plants/torch-ginger

How Low Can You Go?

relaxing on beach towels

sitting in itchy grass

low to the asphalt

I can be certain that the last picture was taken in Austin, as evidenced by the highway signs. Looks to be the dirty, gritty 70s.

When Young Thomas Rocked His Knickerbockers

Take a gander at young Tom’s confidence, even at 14! So petite but so sure of his fashion choices.

Sporting knickerbockers was on point in the 20s and 30s, as you can see in this image of Walt Disney and a pint-sized star.

http://www.swingoutfits.com

Women began to don them as well, however controversial. Think of them as cropped bloomers that allowed freedom of movement while in no way being thigh-flattering.

https://kirrinfinch.com

Knickerbockers found popularity in many sports, particularly golf, baseball, fencing, bicycling, and yes–the curious sport of curling. Check out these 1924 curlers!

http://gentlemannaguiden.com

Their calves must be frigid, bless their hearts. Looks like they’re sweeping up Rumbas off the ice.