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- Baldwin 62303
- Baldwin VO-1000
- Cold
- No expense spared
- Tough Guys
- Lost in Toyland
- And without gloves
- If I were a blindfolded time traveler
- Smoke Consumer Also Cooks
- Oh that stove!
- Possibly still there?
- What?!?
- $100 Reward
- Freeze Frame
- Texas Flyer wanted
- Just a Year Too Soon
- WWII -- Replacing men with women at the railroad crossing.
- Yes, Icing
- You kids drive me nuts!
- NOT An Easy Job
- I wonder
- Just add window boxes
- Icing Platform?
- Indiana Harbor Belt abides
- Freezing haze
- Corrections (for those who care)
- C&NW at Nelson
- Fallen Flags
- A dangerous job made worse
- Water Stop
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Pain's Spectacle: 1905
Brooklyn circa 1905. "Oriental Hotel and bath house, Manhattan Beach, N.Y." At left, a sign pointing the way to the bicycle track as well as "Pain's Spectacle in Fireworks." 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.
A nifty map
My favorite images on Shorpy are Coney/Brighton ones!
The NYPL has a nice excerpt from a Fire Insurance map of this area.
http://nyplmaps.tumblr.com/image/25718182000
Our photographer stands with the Brighton Beach Hotel right behind him. The Manhattan Beach Baths to the right, and the background is the Oriental Hotel.
I don't believe I've ever seen a photo of the Manhattan Beach Baths before. So this is, to me, a real treat!
Gentility & Simplicity
Early 1900's seems to have been an encouraging time. Shorpy's brilliant photos and clever descriptions has made me especially fond of this specific American period.
Thank you, for this enchanting portal allowing us all a glimpse into the past.
Are we experiencing a *theme* day?
Here, we have a great billboard pitching Pain's Spectacle in Fireworks, and just earlier, The Great Creatore -
*both* featured in a single scene of The Music Man!
p.s: In light of John J's comment, it's clear that Meredith Wilson was writing from current events of the setting. In the Music Man scene, the fireworks "spectacle" in question was even "The Last Days of Pompeii"!
Pain's Spectacle in Fireworks
James Pain was a British entrepreneur who presented a dramatic version of Giovanni Pacini's operatic extravaganza The Last Day of Pompeii. The extravaganza was presented at Coney Island from 1879 to 1914.
"Pain staged his pyrodrama in at least 37 U.S. locations, including Los Angeles in 1905. This libretto comes from the pyrodrama's appearance in Cincinnati in 1891.
Pain required a sizable down payment to bring the spectacle to a city, usually for a one- to two-week run. Civic authorities had to build a multi-acre venue with a large body of water, a long platform, and seating for approximately 10,000 viewers. Efficient public transportation was also critical. The actors, however, were secondary, and local performers trained by Pain's staff played most roles."
Pain also produced an updated show depicting the Battle of San Juan Hill in Aurora, Illinois in 1899. It included 300 people on stage and 12,000 square yards of oil painting. That is 2.5 acres.
Whichever show the patrons saw (Pompeii of San Juan Hill), They got their money's worth.
Early weather service
At far right there appears to be a rooftop weather station. My, they were big back then.
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