Category: Pics

Barry’s Shine Parlor, July 1929

Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle

So much of this pre-Depression image is foreign to me. I’ve never worn a swimming cap in public. Actually, the woman near the eyeglasses display is wearing a cloche hat, designed to let the public know that her hair was bobbed in Flapper style and she was au courant. I bet she could Charleston in that dress like nobody’s business.

I’ve also never had my shoes shined. Up top, it advertises the service as free. Surely you’d have to be buying some of those Goodrich rubber heels to get the deal. And you’d need to tip.

“Pressing while you wait”–never done that, either. I’ll come back later, thanks. And along the far right side, it reads “Heyers Prickly Heat Powder.”

Have you ever applied prickly heat powder to your rash? Gotten your shoes shined? Bobbed your hair? Used Flapper terms like “bee’s knees” and “cat’s pajamas”? Lived through the summer of 1929, believing all was well, only to have the stock market crash three months later?

Shantytown Tarpaper Shack

Illustrated History of US
Illustrated History of US – Great Depression

When you zoom in, you can read the ad paper: “Carburetor Yello-Bole,” a brand of pipe.

IllHistOfUS-014

This is one of those pipes.

pipesmagazine.com
pipesmagazine.com

Dave’s Black Spasm Incomparable One-Man Band

Houston 175
Houston 175

The small-hatted, accordion-squeezing Dave traveled all the way from Tulsa, Oklahoma to perform at Houston’s Weber’s Pleasure & Beer Garden in October 1933.

More From A Bright Spot

Livin' it up at the Orchard Inn
Livin’ it up at the Orchard Inn

brightspot

I’ve never been as far north as Wisconsin, and my only knowledge of Milwaukee is this:

laverne
Laverne & Shirley

But I loved that show and wanted to visit Milwaukee to see what all the fuss was about.

By the power of old National Geographic mags, I’ve learned it’s the home of original copper kettles at Pabst’s brewhouse.

NatGeoAug80-004

I don’t know about your neck of the woods, but in Texas, PBR specials are rampant at bars and poolhalls. It’s oft times sipped ironically in tall boy cans by those with burly hipster beards, horn-rim glasses, and cuffed skinny jeans. But who can argue with these daily specials?

$2 Lone Star, PBR & Ziegenbock

Oh, and sometimes this happens.

pinterest
pinterest

That defeats the purpose of keeping the ale chilled but surely it would woo all the single ladies.

However, let’s not forget it was Schlitz that made Milwaukee famous.

schlitzpinterest

Below you see the smiles of execs from both Miller and Schlitz making a toast to Summerfest, an annual brouhaha of merriment, back when Carter was president.

NatGeoAug80-005

And what could go better with Milwaukee beer than Milwaukee brats?

Usinger's Famous Sausage
Usinger’s Famous Sausage–National Geo 8/80

Such a friendly place all around!

http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/
http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/