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Washington Monuments: 1922
May 5, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Vista of Monument from Lincoln Memorial." National ... shortly before the dedication of the Memorial on May 30, 1922. Robert Lincoln (79) was there. The Reflecting Pool is not yet in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:34pm -

May 5, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Vista of Monument from Lincoln Memorial." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Brand new and timelessThis photo was taken shortly before the dedication of the Memorial on May 30, 1922. Robert Lincoln (79) was there. The Reflecting Pool is not yet in place, though it was part of the original design and was finished the next year. Ironically, if you go to the Memorial today, you'll find bare dirt again while the pool is being renovated. The buildings glimpsed to the left along Constitution Avenue. are no longer there; from the same vantage point today you would see part the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Still, if there's a timeless vista anywhere in the United States, this is it. Timeless, IndeedIf there's ever a listing of the top 100 photos ever taken this must be on that list. Thank you. Speaking of the Reflecting PoolIsn't that where -- oh my God! -- they killed Kenny? Main NavyThe buildings along the left (north) side of the Mall are the "Main Navy and Munitions" buildings. Built as temporary quarters for the Department of the Navy and the Department of War in 1917, they were torn down in 1970. The Old Post Office tower is behind them. Into the MistOn a warm October evening in 1992, I sat with a girl on the top steps right in front of the columns on the left, and looked down the long vista of the Mall, with the Reflecting Pool in the foreground, the Washington Monument glowing behind it, the beautifully lit dome of the Capitol in the far distance, and a big, full moon hanging overhead. She was from California and had never seen any of this before. After a few moments of quiet, she said simply, "Thank you for showing me this." And my heart was hers. I'd relive that moment in a heartbeat. How do you delete a comment?How do you delete a comment? (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Isham Jones Orchestra: 1922
New York circa 1922. "Isham Jones Orchestra." Playing May 7 at Grace Methodist Episcopal . ... cut a few discs, and return. On its NYC trip in early May, 1922, it cut three records: "Sun God" b/w "High Brown Blues" (Brunswick ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 5:37pm -

New York circa 1922. "Isham Jones Orchestra." Playing May 7 at Grace Methodist Episcopal. George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. The last days of the banjoThe last days of the banjo and the tuba. Soon, better amplification and sound recording equipment would allow both to be replaced by more subtle instruments. I bet that before the decade was over the banjo player was playing a guitar, and the tuba player was replaced by someone playing the string bass. It had to be youIsham played the saxophone, so it's pretty easy to pick him out of this motley lineup. Love the button shoes on the pianist! I Say It's 'Eye-Sham'That is the correct pronunciation of his first name. Isham is the gent leaning on the piano holding the sxaphone. 1921 is when he had a smash hit with the song "Wabash Blues." It sold over 2 million copies for Brunswick Records. Records on popular labels like Brunswick sold for between 65 and 75 cents or more. In today's money, that would be between 16 and 18 million dollars in sales. This webpage has a very nice bio of Isham Jones. http://www.redhotjazz.com/ishamjones.html I can actuallyImagine this band playing "Little Brown Church in the Vale." The Jones boysThat would be Al Eldridge at the piano, Jones (leaning w. tenor sax), Charles McNeill, Joe Frank and John Kuhn (left to right, standing), and, seated: Artie Vanasec, Leo Murphy, Louis Panico, and, possibly, Carroll Martin. What could have beenThe clarinet player has a wistful look on his face. Maybe thinking, "All those years of practice, I could have played sports, gone to parties, but no, I stayed home and practiced the clarinet and where does it get me? The Isham Jones Orchestra!" "Clarinet"That's actually a soprano sax. Kenny GThat Soprano Sax player looks NOTHING like Kenny G. The soprano sax is very difficult to play in tune. When Kenny G was popular a lot of kids got into the Soprano Sax and found it too difficult to play. Isham Jones, one the great "jass" bandsIsham Jones ran one of the most successful and popular dance bands during the 1920s and 1930s. The band would travel from Chicago, its home base, to the Brunswick studios in New York via train, cut a few discs, and return. On its NYC trip in early May, 1922, it cut three records: "Sun God" b/w "High Brown Blues" (Brunswick 2271); "Some Sunny Day" b/w "Don't Bring Me Posies (Brunswick 2274); "Birdie" b/w "Yankee Doodle Blues" (Brunswick 2286). Here's that version of "Yankee Doodle Blues," co-written by George Gershwin: http://www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/ishamjones/yankeedoodleblues.ram That Jones would have played before Frederick Brown Harris' sermon gives an indication of just how well-connected the minister was. He served as minister at Grace Episcopal until 1924, when he was "called" to serve Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C., a pastorate he would hold for more than thirty years. During his pastorate there, he would serve as Chaplain of the Senate (1942-1947) and (1949-1969). Among those who attended worship at Foundry or became his friends in Congress were President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who attended a special service at Foundry on December 25, 1941. Madame Chaing Kai-Shek and Syngman Rhee were also his parishioners. He conducted the funerals of President Herbert Hoover, Senator Robert A. Taft, and General Douglas MacArthur. Isham Jones recordingsHear them play at: http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=Isham%20Jones%20AND%20mediatype%... You are What You PlayNotice how most of these guys look like the instruments they play? (Especially the tuba player and the violinist) Great BandTheir band was really great and I still enjoy their music occasionally but, looking at the picture, does the word "smarmy" come to mind? SopraninoAlso referred to as the soprano saxophone. Rarest comment in the world"Those are the banjo player's groupies" Not a TubaTechnically, I believe that's a Sousaphone Look the part.These guys are right out of Central Casting. You could pick out what instrument they played in the blind. Of course the tuba player is easy. The banjo player looks like he is just in from the Appalachians. The trombone man and trumpeter fit the part. Spats :I got all excited about wanting a pair of spats when I'm informed they are not, but are button shoes, drats. Vintage HornsMr. Jones' tenor sax is a custom-order job by the C.G. Conn Ltd. band instrument company. Probably a "Wonder" or "New Wonder" model horn. That engraving on the bell is much more extensive than the standard finish of the time. Odds are that the horn is also gold-plated, with a "satin" finish on most of the body and burnished gold on the keys and bell behind the engraving -- though it could be a silver-plated horn with gold keys, or some other combo. In that day, the standard finish on most saxophones and brass instruments was silver plate with a sand-blasted 'satin' finish. You could order a bare brass horn or some other finish (the Conn company even offered enameled horns), but silver plate was pretty much the default. A lacquered brass finish didn't become standard until after the Depression hit and silver became more expensive. The soprano sax looks like it might be a C.G. Conn horn, too: the musician's right thumb is placed through a circular support ring on the horn; I'm pretty sure Conn was the only company of that time that put those on its sopranos, though the Martin Band Instrument Company may have. By the way, the soprano sax and soprinino sax are two different horns. Soprano saxes are pitched in Bb (and sometimes C in that day). Sopranino saxophones are pitched in Eb (IIRC) and are about 3/4 the size of the horn he's holding -- really tiny little squeakers!! There are also Bass saxophones -- in the 20's a lot of dance bands used them in place of a tuba player. There are even contrabass saxophones, which are real monsters!! Looks like that might be a C.G. Conn Cornet the fella next to the trombonist is holding, but kinda hard to tell. Maybe Jones had a sponsorship contract with them or something. Since we're being pickyThat's a cornet, not a trumpet. A rare sousaphone at thatThat is a "rain catcher" sousaphone. Sousa believed the tuba was a non-directional instrument, much like a subwoofer on a modern stereo system. So when he invented his vision of the tuba, the sousaphone, the bell pointed straight up. That did not last long since the sound was lost. By this date, almost all sousaphones pointed forward. The gent here just didn't put the bell on "right." It also looks like a EEb sousaphone. More common at that time, rare today. Yes it is a tuba - just a different shape!Sousaphones are tubas wrapped in a different way - an adaptation of the Helicon Tuba. The notes that it plays are just the same as a tuba (as long as they are in the same key.) The Sousa inspired "Rain Catcher" was made so it could be played with the bell pointed up or tipped forward, depending on playing conditions and what the band leader wanted. Later Sousaphones had an extra bend so the bell would face in a more forward position. The ChiefJohn Kuhn, the tubist here on sousaphone, claimed American Indian heritage and was known as "The Chief." He had a special mouthpiece made for him, copies of which are still played by some of us tubists. Bill Bell wrote a solo titled "The Chief" and dedicated it to him. As a tubist who plays this genre of music, I think it's sad that the tuba was replaced. In the right hands, it doesn't have to be bombastic. And a lot of bassists of the 20s and 30s just slapped the strings, not even playing actual pitches, just rhythms. I think the other musicians might have been happy to get away with the additional freedom from the actual chords when the string bass played. Thanks for putting this picture up on the site! His Claim to FameIsham Jones is best remembered (when he's remembered at all) for his best seller "I'll See You in My Dreams." One of his compositions that's all but forgotten (but still occasionally played by traditional jazz bands and rooftop orchestras) is "Down Where the Sun Goes Down." I like to noodle the latter number on my custom "guitalele" (baritone ukulele body with an extended scale -- 16 frets to the upper bout). Soprano Sax playerI thought you would be interested in knowing the gentleman with the soprano sax is Arthur Vanasek. He at one time had his own orchestra in 1919 in Chicago before playing with Isham Jones. Arthur also played the violin, he came from a musical family, his father was a music teacher and also had his own band. Arthur also published his own song along with along with a gentleman named E. Koerner, the piece was called " Aeroplane Rag". Arthur passed away in an auto accident on Nov. 2, 1926 in Chicago at the age of 33. In case you are wondering how I know all of this, Arthur Vanasek was my husband's grandfather. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Music, NYC)
Candy Girls: 1922
Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Benj. Franklin candy store, 13th Street N.W., interior." National Photo ... at this picture? While You Were Away 1922 Advertisement "Benj." Franklin Candies Pays Us a Visit and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 9:49pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Benj. Franklin candy store, 13th Street N.W., interior." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. QuestionWhy do visions of candy on conveyor belts and Lucille Ball go through my head while looking at this picture? While You Were Away 1922 Advertisement "Benj." Franklin Candies Pays Us a Visit and Sample our Famous BUTTER CREAMS and GLORIA ROLL Why is everybody talking about "Benj." Franklin Candies? Because we believe our candy is the finest and purest in the city of Washington; our candy is all home-made — made the same as Mother would make it in the kitchen at home. A trial will convince you of its superiority. Remember the Address — 517 Thirteenth Street — Opposite Palace Theater. Branches: Baltimore, Richmond, Dayton, Fairmont, Morgantown, Wheeling. Update: Don't wait! It won't be here long! 1923 Advertisement Have a gloria roll and make yourself at homeIt looks like they've set up shop in somebody's living room. There's even a coat hanging over the doorknob. The "clock"Cover plate for a stovepipe hole. Those "Candy Girls"look shell-shocked. Was is something in the candy? The working hours? The fact that they were forced to pose forever while the photographer did his thing? What I want is To be locked up in this place overnight with a half gallon of cold milk. They would find me the next morning on the floor lying on my back, distended belly with an empty milk container, chocolate all over my face and mumbling incoherently. All in the FamilyThe two center women have the same nose and head shape. I think this is a mother, father (in the back) and their two daughters. I also think this is not what those two sisters wanted to be doing on their summer vacation. That accounts for their "are you done yet" teen-aged glares. Did the "Heat" do them in?Is that gent by the window on a telephone? Old time candy stores often served as a front for a bookie operation. Those oscillating fans couldn't protect the goods from the brutal heat of a D.C. summer. Three thousand pounds of leftover coconut? My Mother worked in the Sander's candy factory in Detroit, Michigan for a spell in late 1930's. She was told she could eat all the candy she wanted as she worked. After the first day she had her fill. They're really...Zombies! Ma? Meh.No wonder this store went bankrupt. If they advertised candy as "the same that Mother would make" at home, then I'm taking my sweet tooth to a place where they actually know how to make candy. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Hanging Out: 1922
July 1922. Washington, D.C. "Kallipolis Grotto, Potomac bathing beach." The Grotto ... contests. Washington Post, July 11, 1922. Grotto Day at Basin. Band Concert and Sports Will ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 5:03pm -

July 1922. Washington, D.C. "Kallipolis Grotto, Potomac bathing beach." The Grotto being one of Washington's many Masonic lodges. A big cigar, a bottle of pop, and Thou. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. CodpieceThe man seems to be wearing a weird garment! I wonder what the young ladies think? DenizenBy-the-Jesus, that fellow's a Mainer if I ever saw one! (Effete Maine, down around Portland, has citizens; the rest of the state has denizens.) Sore SpotsI'd like to think that the sores and his legs and the sores on her arms are coincidental. [They're not just coincidental, they're nonexistent! Except on the negative. Note how the "sores" are also seen on clothing and even in the sand. - tterrace] What's that smell?Nothing like hanging out next to the sewer clean out. Re Codpiece, Shriner-styleOur dapper chaperon with the stogie waiting, the hat set just so, and the bottle of Moxie is sporting a oddly-torn Kallipolis Grotto shirt. Whatever these three are thinking, it probably is not "If we live another 90 years, we won't even be on Facebook." But they'd be wrong: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kallipolis-Grotto/190273837666381 The Maine ThingIf he's from Maine, he should be drinking a Moxie, but I don't recognize the beverage in his hand. Any sharp-eyed pop bottle spotters care to weigh in on what he's been imbibing? Grotto DayFeatured activities included leap frog races, relay races, three-legged races and needle-threading contests. Washington Post, July 11, 1922. Grotto Day at Basin. Band Concert and Sports Will Feature Outing Tomorrow. With a concert by the Kallipolis Grotto band, sports for children and grown-ups, a general picnic lunch and other stunts for members of the Grotto and their families, Grotto day will be observed tomorrow at the Tidal basin bathing beach. M.W. Pickering, monarch of the Kallipolis Grotto; Edward Libey, secretary, and Charles Shackelford, master of ceremonies, are in charge of "Grotto day" at the bathing beach tomorrow. The GrottoI'm a member of that Grotto. (The Gallery, D.C., Swimming)
Delicious and Refreshing: 1922
February 13, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Unidentified woman." Demonstrating an ingenious ... bunch-up on the tendon over the back of her shoes. And in 1922 the appearance of a woman's stockings in public was still a very new ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 12:07pm -

February 13, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Unidentified woman." Demonstrating an ingenious Prohibition-era fashion accessory, the cane-flask. View full size. HmmmThree's a crowd? Love those great ice cream chairs. On second thoughtI just sent a comment about the introduction of nylon stockings. Please delete the word "attractive" as in "attractive young women from the past." It really has no relevance to my comment. I know, I know!!My vote would be for rum in the cane! Nothing goes better with Coke! Hoisery Then and NowEvery time I see attractive young women from the past, I am sympathetic for their having to endure the unflattering stockings available then. It reinforces my understanding of the excitement that accompanied the introduction of nylon stockings. I'll bet..it's not Coca-Cola in her cane. I like the stockings...... but the shoes are a little matronly for my taste. Pour DeuxI hope she has enough for two in that cane! Silk StockingsMaybe unattractive now, but these expensive sheer silk stockings were the bee's knees when she wore them, and were an infinite improvement over the thick and saggy cotton and/or wool stockings that were more common. These don't wrinkle or droop on the calves, or bunch-up on the tendon over the back of her shoes. And in 1922 the appearance of a woman's stockings in public was still a very new topic. How they looked was still less of an issue than the fact that you could see them at all. Never mind the stockings ...What's up with those "sensible" shoes? I dig the shoesI think the shoes look kinda sexy, a cute feminine vamp on men's oxfords. My late grandmothers, born circa 1900, could tell us how these looked to contemporary eyes. As Cole Porter saidIn olden days a glimpse of stocking Was looked on as something shocking, But now, God knows, Anything Goes. The shoes may be matronlybut I would bet her feet didn't hurt at the end of the day! Sensible shoesWith tequila shooters in the heels, no doubt. I wantthat hat!!!! Waxing PoeticShe's darned cute, And she has her own flask. If you want a toot, You just have to ask. Don't forget to limpOf course, a sudden increase in the number of healthy young women with canes wouldn't arouse any suspicion whatsoever. Say...That bird's got moxie. Cane CapacityInquiring minds want know and some want to drink. The patent description didn't say how much it hooch it held. New hero of the day:James E. Hale, inventor of the cane flask. I admire the entrepreneurial spirit (pun intended) behind the man who actually patented the cane flask in 1888. Among the claimed improvements: "The above construction forms a convenient arrangement for carrying liquids, and its portability affords great convenience to travelers." 18th and ColumbiaOn the menu it says "(illegible) FOUNTAIN". There's still a Little Fountain Cafe at 2339 18th Street, which is well within the vicinity of the other photos in this series, and remains "undeveloped." And this place is selling Welch's grape juice, same as the People's Drug Store #10. [The menu says OHIO FOUNTAIN - Dave] Quel ChicLooks like she set her cute little purse on the table next to her. That coat is just stunning! I still likethe term "tipple stick" best. (The Gallery, D.C., Eateries & Bars, Natl Photo)
Scooter Sk8rs: 1922
September 15, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Scooter skates." On the right: Clarence Sherrill. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/24/2012 - 7:16pm -

September 15, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Scooter skates." On the right: Clarence Sherrill. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Current?this has a timeless look to it. It's also darned cute! That looks crazy funCrudely made, no helmets or elbow pads. These would never pass safety laws today, and we as a society are poorer for it. I would bet these guys probably didn't show their mothers what they had built. Dad, on the other hand, probably would take one out for a spin after the boys' bedtime. I want to build one for myself, and I'm 32. Timeless The only thing that would make you think this was from that era is the fact they had a street free of cars. That could easily be me and my brothers from the late sixties/early seventies. Girls vs BoysHere's the difference: When girls injure themselves it's by accident. When boys injure themselves it's part of the plan. Occupational hazard if you will. Skate, boardThe idea went through a number of experiments before they realized turning the board 90 degrees meant they could stand up on the thing. Wipeout!Look Ma, no hands... Look Ma, no feet... Look Ma, no teeth! Look Out for Potholes!I see skinned knees and knuckles ahead. My money's on Clarence in this race. Kid on the left is in the lead but too close to the curb. Boy in the center looks a little uncertain about this. Good to see Mom dressed Clarence in a necktie before sending him out to play. These ladsLook like they could have fit right in with kids of the 50's. They probably don't know or care that this would be a great exercise for the core. Old SchoolOne of the oldest skateboard "tricks"...the Coffin. The "greatest generation"The "greatest generation" before they grew up, and before extreme sports, helicopter parents, law suits and knee and elbow pads. In the 1960s my brother and I "borrowed" my sister's roller skates and did the same thing. Those Were The DaysBefore we covered our kids with helmets and elbow pads, and knee pads, and wrist guards, and blinking lights. Ahh! Freedom! PrototypesThese were obviously the forerunners of the land luge. MultitaskingNot only are they horizontally skating, they've exercising their abs. A board attached to a roller skatemust have provided great abdominals workout, but I picture some skinned knuckles, too. Dennis the MenaceMiddle boy - complete with cowlick! Top that!We used to do this on our hill, but with a folded-over shoe skate. You couldn't see the skate and it looked like you were gliding in defiance of physics. Sk8 '68A link to my own little kiddies doing the same thing on skateboards in the late 1960s. Daughter in front, youngest son in back (with the glasses). Photo by their Uncle tterrace: https://www.shorpy.com/node/3852 Luckily no one backed out of the driveway while they were rolling along. Crack a smile at least?These boys all look so grim it looks like they are being tortured by an exercise sadist. "You WILL hold your legs up for one more lap!" Such Fun!I remember attaching skates to pieces of plywood and riding down Mockingbird Lane in Fort Smith, Arkansas. If any of you know the area, that was quite some hill for 10 year olds! Both girls and boys took turns without the benefit of safety gear or much to hold onto. All had fun and I do not remember injuries but I do remember parental participation. This would have been in 1963. Young ClarenceMade his first appearance on Shorpy three years ago! https://www.shorpy.com/node/2018 His father, Col. Sherrill, was superintendent of public buildings and grounds in Washington. Also a keeper of public morals: https://www.shorpy.com/node/1070 Bruised tailsWe used to do that same thing back in the 1950s. I remember after a day's worth of riding, we actually had some big-time bruises on the lower backside. No helmets, bikes you could "grow into"Not to mention being able to spend the whole morning or afternoon doing what you wanted, where you wanted without parents trying to stuff you into knee and elbow pads, a helmet, and make you call home every three minutes. I had more scraped knees, elbows and shins from falling off the bike which, if I stood on the ground, I could barely reach the handle bars. I got bare toes caught in the spokes, and fell on the bar in a manner that any child (boy or girl) remembers for the rest of their lives. Despite the odd concussion, I survived to tell about it and still fondly recall riding out into the country early in the morning to have a cookout breakfast over an open fire or spending the day racing up and down the unfinished highway. Those were the days -- and we'll never get them back! Middle boy's shoesI was intrigued by the middle boy's shoes. I was this age in the 1950's and remember this style of double t-strap being marketed as "barefoot sandals" by Sears, Wards, Penney's, etc. They were always offered as boys or girls, i.e. unisex, and typically came in white, red, and brown, with black and navy blue available on occasion. Most of the time they were offered up to a youth size 3. The white ones were a staple for little boys serving in weddings. Today a few manufacturers offer this style, although generally only to toddler size 12, which eliminates older children. The most common term today is "English sandals". For whatever reason most sellers list these as girls shoes, although retailers who offer these as boys shoes report that most are sold for little boys. I recall many of my peers (boys) wearing these in the 1950's, although my mom preferred black/white or brown/white saddle shoes for me, a style that I still wear very frequently. I do have double t-straps in black, brown, navy blue, and red in adult sizes, and wear these often with jeans in the winter and shorts in the summer. Payless occasionally has them in adult sizes, although offered as a womens shoe, and Muffy's has them in red and navy for both genders, with the latter being a more dressy shoe. This style is a timeless classic. New and improved, And now for 1972, a completely new thrill, 'Skate Boards'! I built my first in 57-58 from an old pair of steel wheel sidewalk skates. The ride was awful, bumpy and tooth loosening, but the rush from roaring down 'Dead Man's Hill' at, no doubt, the blistering speed of 15 mph, STANDING UP!, was addictive. (The Gallery, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo)
Polar Volleyball: 1922
February 1922. Washington, D.C. "Barefoot volleyball in snow." Recreation at Fort ... Costumes Washington Post, February 3, 1922. Snow and slush mean nothing to the army officers at Bolling field. ... the enlisted men are playing. To answer a question, in 1922 there were no prisoners of war held in the USA. (The Gallery, D.C., ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/26/2014 - 8:59pm -

February 1922. Washington, D.C. "Barefoot volleyball in snow." Recreation at Fort Frostbite. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Uncensored Costumes Washington Post, February 3, 1922. Snow and slush mean nothing to the army officers at Bolling field. Here they are keeping in condition by playing volleyball in the open. There were no ladies present, otherwise one or two costumes might have been “censored.” Wardrobe malfunctionLooks like the soldier in the white long underwear forgot to button the seat. What the --Are they prisoners of war? Getting cold feetThat exercise may have been meant to keep those men on their toes but its more likely to have caused them to lose some! Out of uniformHey you in the white; button up. The Nerve!He's just being cheeky. I Remember....doing this during the winter once when I was in college; you sure learn to keep moving around fast so that your feet don't stay in the snow for too long at one time.... The constant jumping and running around is similar to lizards in the desert who keep lifting one foot or the other so as not to burn them on the hot ground.... Looks like a warm day after a snow the day before.The snow's almost gone from the roofs. Windows are open in the nearby barracks. Wonder why all the officers are standing on the sidelines watching while the enlisted men are playing. To answer a question, in 1922 there were no prisoners of war held in the USA. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
My New Olds: 1922
1922. "Milan and Oldsmobile." Washington Nationals manager Clyde Milan. ... View full size. Washington's Team? In 1922, the Washington franchise was nicknamed the "Senators." That franchise ... the team that was moved from Montreal (Expos). [In 1922 the team was most commonly called the Nationals. - Dave] ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/23/2012 - 6:43pm -

1922. "Milan and Oldsmobile." Washington Nationals manager Clyde Milan. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Washington's Team?In 1922, the Washington franchise was nicknamed the "Senators." That franchise moved to Minnesota (Twins) in 1962 and a NEW franchise was awarded to Washington (again nicknamed the "Senators") that same year. The nickname "Nationals" was given to the team that was moved from Montreal (Expos). [In 1922 the team was most commonly called the Nationals. - Dave] Nationals and SenatorsAccording to Wikipedia the name change happened in 1922. Unlike today's Nationals, the old team was in the American League. They gifted Milan with the new Olds, I guess, at the beginning of the season. He was the player-manager. They ended with a poor record 69 wins and 85 losses. Ironically, the NY Mets manager, Willie Randolph, was fired today for the same thing. The D.C. team at least waited till the end of the season. Milan never managed in the majors again. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Natl Photo, Sports)
Tipping Point: 1922
November 1922. Washington, D.C. "Auto wreck." Who'll be first to pinpoint the ... concrete frame buildings. The photo date of November 1922 provided by Shorpy narrows it further. Gore had 3 permits issued prior to November 1922 for a reinforced concrete apartment building: 1925 16th Street NW (permit ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/05/2014 - 9:41am -

November 1922. Washington, D.C. "Auto wreck." Who'll be first to pinpoint the intersection? National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. S It IsI have access to a database of DC building permits. All signs point to 1631 S Street NW. The photo of the reinforced concrete frame is showing the side elevation on 17th Street. Fred H. Gore is listed as builder on 36 building permits between 1921 and 1937. Many of those are small one and two story buildings, only a few are for high rise concrete frame buildings. The photo date of November 1922 provided by Shorpy narrows it further. Gore had 3 permits issued prior to November 1922 for a reinforced concrete apartment building: 1925 16th Street NW (permit issued 2/23/22), 1614 17th Street NW (7/1/22), and 1631 S Street NW (8/30/22). All would have been issued with enough time to complete the amount of construction shown in the photo. 1925 16th can be eliminated because it's a midblock building but the photo was taken from the yard of a corner building, which isn't possible for a midblock building like 1925 16th St. 1614 17th Street NW can be eliminated because, although it's near a corner, it's between 2 Victorian buildings that would have appeared in the photo. 1631 S Street NW wins by process of elimination. It's across from a rowhouse at the southwest corner of 17th and S streets. In the photo, the land to the left (north) is vacant and the building to the north of 1631 S Street is an art deco apartment built in 1940, so that matches. If you look closely at the ground floor of the concrete frame on the right, you can see that they've begun to lay up the veneer brick and set in the stone window frame for a double window with a mullion between. This detail matches the window style of 1631 S Street NW. But then again, it also matches the detailing on 1614 17th St; both buildings are the same style and within 3 blocks of each other on 17th. The ShelburneThe Shelburne apartments are at the northeast corner of 17th and   Q   S Streets NW. Completed in 1923. [1631 S Street. Also known, over the years, as the Shelbourne. - Dave] Oops, yes my bad: S street. For years, 17th and Q was where we went drinking. View Larger Map Camera vs. tipped carI count 15 people staring directly at the camera, including the five kids in the front row of the pack in the lower left. In the competition for the crowd’s attention, the camera pulls away a goodly number from the chief attraction: the tipped car in the road. These people have no idea that in 92 years, most members of the crowd would be holding up palm-sized rectangles, photographing each other, themselves, the car, then magically sending these images off into the ethereal data warehouse of words and pictures to be shared by millions of strangers. 14th and G StAcross the way the address appears as 1410 G Street. [That's contractor Fred Gore's business address. Next guess? - Dave] Fred H. GoreOn page 28 of the June 24, 1922 issue of American Contractor, under "Big Project Construction News": Contracts Awarded: Project: Apt. Bldg. Valuation: $150,000 Location: Washington, D.C. General Contract to: Fred H. Gore, 1410 G St, N.W. -- but that's the address of the builder, not the photo location. From what I found, I think it's17th and S Streets NW Edit: More info here: Contracts Awarded Apt Bldg 64 fam $150,000 8 sty & bas 60x80 17th & S sts NW Archt Frank Russell White 1410 G St NW Owner AJ Howar 1111 F St NW Brk Gen contr & carp let to Fred H Gore 1410 G St NW Gen contr taking bids on sep contrs From the 6/24/22 edition of The American Contractor, bottom of page 60. http://books.google.com/books?id=Z_tYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA12-PA60&img=1&zoom=3&... Tough OneIt looks like it might be Constitution Avenue near the Mall, but it could be McPherson Square. Don't know the addressBut I do know that if I was in business back then, I'd be in the hat business. Possible project locationFrom The American Contractor, Vol 43, 1922: Contracts awarded Apt House (48 apts.): $100,000. 17th & Q sts., N.W. Archt Frank Russel White, 1410 G st N.W. , Owner C.F. Foley & F.R. White, 1410 G st N.W., Brk & t.c. Gen contr. let to Fred H. Gore, 1410 G st N.W., Gen. contr. taking bids on sep. contrs, All involved had offices together ,how convenient. Car IDCar in middle with dogbone shaped rear window frame (which matches emblem) is a Chandler. Before safety glass, seat belts and air bags-Accidents which now would be considered fender-benders were frequently lethal, especially in cases involving ejection from the vehicle. With their high centers of gravity, cars of the early 1920s seem so vulnerable to tipping over. American Rolls , ( Royce ) I believe it is a Locomobile Model 48 touring car .. Probably fairly new at the time , a 1920 ?? , Hard to say as they did not change much but the weather protection seems new and the paint is very shiny ( even though it had been raining ... ) Here is some info off the webs... Locomobile was known for building some of the finest automobiles, and was considered to be the American Rolls-Royce. In 1911, the renowned 525 cubic-inch, T-head, six-cylinder Model 48 was introduced. It would remain in production until 1924. A four-speed transmission was used and the car could cruise at 55 mph on the occasionally encountered truly good road. Octagonal shapes, such as the lamps and instruments, were a common theme for Locomobile and helped to differentiate it from other cars English BuiltFrederick Henry Gore was born in Blean, Kent, England on August 30th 1882 the son of Robert and Sarah H. On August 22nd 1903, he arrived at Ellis Island and on November 24th 1909 he married Ida C Price b July 1888 in Samuel Miller Township, Virginia. They had 3 children Hilton (1913-2003), Mary A (1925-?), and Frederick Jnr (1928-?). Frederick Snr died on November 23rd 1930, and Ida died in August 1973. Whats going on with the site?There havent been any updates in months. anyone know why or whats going on? I love this site and would hate to see it go dormant. [Something is wrong on your end; several photo are added each day, more than 500 since this one. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Miriam Battista: 1922
1922. Miriam Battista, child star of stage and screen, at age 10 in Washington, ... "A Doll's House." Washington Post, July 2, 1922 Sure looks like a PX in the background ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/24/2012 - 9:48pm -

1922. Miriam Battista, child star of stage and screen, at age 10 in Washington, D.C. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Ask the man who owns one!This lovely car with its porthole is a precursor to the 1955 Thunderbird, provides a luxurious backdrop for photographing the perky young child star -- who would be 97 this year! Is that a PX I see in the background? Interesting photo on several levels. Thanks, Dave! Miriam's OeuvreMiriam appeared in 18 films between 1920 and 1935. She died on Christmas day 1980 at age 68. Stephens Salient Six?I happened across a bound volume of the San Francisco Chronicle for May 1921. The Sunday paper always had a lavish "automobile" section with tours, car ads and testimonials. The 1921 Stephens Salient Six had overhead valves and bragged about running 600 miles on one 20 gal tank of gas - a respectable 30 mpg. They were equally proud of using "only" 4 quarts of oil on this trip - that's 150 miles per quart! No wonder busy highways were well blackened down the center of each lane. Miriam's rideIs a Stephens touring car. She doesn't "look like" a star ...She looks like an anonymous little girl that nobody (like me) ever heard of. Fame and celebrity are strange concepts; like bubbles inside of bubbles. Italy has stars that we'll never know or care about -- and so does every other country and culture. I hope that little Miriam enjoyed what she had while she had it because her name (and "fame") didn't survive the ravages of either time or American junk- culture. Battista ComingApparently the press releases at the time propagated a white lie exaggerating the innocent age of Miss Battista. Miriam Battista Coming An interesting theatrical event will occur at Loew's Columbia theater during the week, beginning Sunday, July 16, when Miriam Battista, the 8-year-old child star of Fannie Hurst's famous picture, "Humoresque," will appear in person several times daily during the entire week. Miss Battista's personal appearances will be made in connection with showings at the Columbia of "The Man From Home," and as is is her first visit to Washington, she plans to pay several calls to prominent government officials during the time she is here. Miss Battista, who is 8 years old, has appeared with Maude Adams on the stage in "A Kiss for Cinderella," and also in Ibsen's "A Doll's House." Washington Post, July 2, 1922 Sure looks like a PX in the backgroundIt sure looks like a post exchange in the background. Let's not forget, Washington D.C. was and still is very much a military town. On another note, this is an extraordinary photograph. The tonality is gorgeous with full detail throughout the range, despite the harsh noonday sunlight. That photographer knew what he was doing. BrakesNo front wheel brakes and just drum brakes on the rear wheels. I imagine these cars hardly stopped on a dime! Did the drum brakes serve as parking brakes as well? Is it a touring carOr a dual-cowl phaeton? [It could be both -- if this car had two windscreens. But it doesn't. So it's not a dual-cowl anything. - Dave] Miriam BattistaMiriam was not only a child star but the wife of the writer/photographer ?? Malone. He died in the 1940's. Her second husband was a director Lloyd Rosamond. Her brother, Willie Battista, was also a child star and performed with Helen Hayes. Miriam also is credited with theatre and television (Legend of Sleepy Hollow/Peyton Place) Miriam BattistaMiriam's first husband was Russell Malone(y) and daughter is renowned chef Amelia Hard of Portland Oregon (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Movies, Natl Photo)
Boho Wedding: 1922
"Better 'Ole Wedding." Informal nuptials circa 1922 at the Better 'Ole, a Greenwich Villagey "bohemian" nightspot in ... had a long and happy life together. Liquor This was 1922. The Great Experiment (Prohibition to us) had begun a couple of years ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2012 - 4:46pm -

"Better 'Ole Wedding." Informal nuptials circa 1922 at the Better 'Ole, a Greenwich Villagey "bohemian" nightspot in Washington, D.C., that, while short-lived, made its mark. In 1935 the Washington Post called it "the first real night club of the so-called 'night club era.' " The article continues: "It was started by Charles W. Smith, now the noted black-and-white artist, had a membership charge of $1 and was located on the second floor of a three-story building at 1515 U Street. A hot colored dance orchestra held forth in a room decorated with drapes in a sort of cubist style." More here. National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size. Couple In the BoothHer expression is most likely due to her being caught in mid-word and blinking her eyes just as the flash powder went off. Sort of like those photos of celebrities that make them look like blithering, drooling imbeciles that certain periodicals like to publish under screaming headlines such as "BRAD BEBOP GOES BERSERK!" Also, notice that she seems to have another one of those massive floral memorials growing from her midriff, so maybe she's a bridesmaid or maid of honor. Boyfriend, who I bet she's holding hands with under the table, has a big carnation, so maybe he was best man or other wedding functionary. An Odd ReligionIt's an odd religion that will marry a man to a unicorn with a flower garden growing up her front. The two in the booth at the right have already passed out, and they haven't even started serving the liquor yet! Bridal BouquetThat's the bride's bouquet, composed of rosebuds and ferns, which she has tucked into her belt. Check out the wonderful cut-work on her sleeves. This is some boho bunch. I hope they had a long and happy life together. LiquorThis was 1922. The Great Experiment (Prohibition to us) had begun a couple of years before. No booze to be found here - nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more. What a beautiful group!What is the bride wearing?? These people look marvelous and immediately reminded me of all the Krazy Kat Klub pictures seen here, here, and here. The Better 'OleLines from the 1919 play based on the cartoons 12 "Let's get out of this damn 'ole!" 13 "If you knows of a better 'ole - go to it." http://www.geocities.com/emruf5/betterole.html the IMDB entry for the 1926 film of the play http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016643/ Shave and a haircutThe groom looks like he had a recent shave and haircut but he should have shined his shoes! Bride and GroomThis was no shotgun wedding. The couple appear to be in their 40s. That would put the parents in another world or in a distant place in this world. It would be interesting to find out who the couple were and what happened to them. Good WoodSorry for a 2nd comment, but I just noticed the wood that the booth seats and tables are made from. Another nice example of how cool wood was back then. The tabletop looks like one solid piece (which probably tried to warp up at each side as it dried out due to its position of the rings). The sides of the booth is what gets me. It's huge! Even if it's joined with another board at the centerline, it's still big compared to what we can get these days at a standard lumberyard. Hell, it's hard to even find plywood that straight any more. Reefer MadnessThe couple in the booth on the right look like they have already started their (no turning back) descent into the perils of the evil weed. Beware when two people are both keeping their hands under the table. There is a Walter Mondale lookalike, but taller, about third or fourth from the left of the photo (just to the right of the ceiling lantern) who may have been an ancestor to W.M. And last, but not least, notice there are no old people there, even the clergyman cannot be more than 55 or 60. Obviously these kids were smart Alec whippersnappers, as no parents were invited. Still, its a smart looking, well-dressed and very happy crowd, even though the bride and groom should be holding hands. All in all, F. Scott Fitzgerald would be proud. FlowersAre the bride's flowers a huge corsage, or a bouquet tucked into her belt? I've never seen such a large corsage and I just wondered if it was the style at the time. "Better 'Ole""The Better 'Ole" was a comedy about World War I (unlikely though that may seem) based on a British cartoon series. The 'Ole in the title is a Cockney-fied version of Hole, i.e., Trench. But in this case, it's referring to a nightclub in DC that the Post described on 10/7/21: "the city's latest acquisition in the line of places for Bohemians to gather." The story story goes on to say that the dishwasher absconded with the opening night's take--65 bucks. [Ooh. Fantastic. Thanks! - Dave] Wedding PartyWow. This is one of the best photos ever. People gathered for a festive occasion in a rustic setting. I love the women's clothes and hats and jewelry. The men all look dashing. Everyone seems to be in a happy frame of mind. On other posts people have commented on how "dressed up" people were for ordinary occasions in this era. Of course this is a special occasion, but it seems we have lost something in our clothing fashions of today. I have been to weddings where young people and not so young have attended in jeans with bare midriffs. In a church. It is nice to see photos of an era, where looking nice and acting nice was not considered putting on airs. The Better 'Ole, Cont'd.A 1923 Washington Post column ("After the Curfew") recalls that "the Bohemian atmosphere was first obtained by locating the club in an alley over a garage. Here one dined, and drank, with the smell of gasoline and the noise of cars. The popularity of the place was instantaneous, all of the younger set flocked there. They danced in a two by-four space with great delight, and endured the million and one other discomforts of the place for the sake of the so called Bohemian touch, which for some unknown reason is considered very romantic. The owners of the club seemed to thrive financially and they decided that the club should have better quarters, so they moved into a better building, and a better part of town. They attempted to take the Bohemian touch, which had been so successful, to the new place. To do this they had an elaborate decorative scheme carried out. Stripes, awnings, pictures and rough wooden tables, and all. The real atmosphere was lost, however, and while the young Washingtonians still frequent the place, it is now merely another place to go to dine and dance. There is not much of the Bohemian in the hours of opening or closing, both being the regular times. And there is nothing unusual about the conduct of the guests while there. That is, nothing unusual for this day and age. If some of the original Bohemians could really see what the modern youth does in their names they would probably be horribly shocked." Hair HornsCan someone tell me what the woman thats standing behind the groom is wearing on her forehead? Is that a hairstyle? Special Guest AppearanceFeaturing a special guest appearance by Woodrow Wilson, as the man in the frock. HairstyleThe lady behind the groom is wearing what, in a time with less elevated sensitivities, were called "spit curls." Some ladies with longish bangs found it convenient to moisten their hair with saliva before they curled the hair around a finger. A bobby pin kept things in order until they dried. At times my mother wore her bangs in a similar arrangement, although she preferred a single curl over the left side of her forehead to the double style. My congratulations to the photographer. There is a possibility he used the new fangled photoflash bulbs that were just coming in, but this picture was probably taken on a Graphic, or Graflex, with flash powder. How it looks todayI work on U St. and had to go out and grab a few photos. Here's the composite: Wedding of Dutch Whelan and Mary McCaffreyThe photo was taken on November 17, 1921 by the National Photo Co. news agency in Washington. They captioned it: "A Bohemian wedding in true Washington Square style was staged in Washington today when Frederick (Dutch) Whelan and Mary McCaffray were married at the “Better Ole” an Alley Coffee House much frequented by the intelligentsia, by the Rev. Dr. J. J. Simon of St. Andrews Church. The couple met a few weeks ago at the “Ole” and wooed to the music of the wild ukelala, hence the wedding at the unconventional place selected. The next day the DC paper ran the picture with the headline "Dutch Whalen, DC Tom-tom Beater Weds Artists Model" with the accompanying story: “Who said romance lies unconscious in the hospital, disarmed and dehydrated? Dutch Whelan, popular tom-tom beater for Washington folks who shuffle was off the glazing floor, wasn’t worrying about proving romance was still showing a good pulse yesterday afternoon when his wedding xylophone sounded at the Better Ole. Though he proved it right, Dutch’s interest was centered in his bride, Miss Mary E. McCaffrey, whom he met one night two weeks ago as he was on the job playing ”The Rose of Washington Square.” Two weeks, a Greenwich Village background, music and a model’s platform for an altar – certainly romance is still deadly even if tucked away in an alley at the rear of the Burlington Hotel. (The Gallery, D.C., Eateries & Bars, Natl Photo, Weddings)
Ford Target Computor: 1922
October 2, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Ford Target Computor. Capt. H.E. Ely." An ... An analog trunk-line call to India was a spot of bother in 1922. Hello? Tech Support? "I've been holding for fifteen minutes ... ... stationary targets from a stationary position. In 1922, could there have been research on antiaircraft fire direction? Possibly. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 12:38pm -

October 2, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Ford Target Computor. Capt. H.E. Ely." An electro-mechanical approach to the aiming of large artillery pieces. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Tech SupportAn analog trunk-line call to India was a spot of bother in 1922. Hello? Tech Support?"I've been holding for fifteen minutes ... Oh, wait, they're coming on now. Hello? Hello? Can you speak up please? You sound like you're in India or something. Yes, OK ... I was going along fine and then everything just froze and I got a message about an 'illegal operation.' Right. And now nothing works. Uh huh. You say I should ... restart the computor and that should take care of it? That's it? Wait, hello? Hello?" Model 1?As noted below, Hannibal C. Ford developed target computers for the U.S. Navy. It's odd that Capt. Ely in the photo seems to be an Army officer rather than Navy, because the first applications for target computers were for navies. The British developed the first one, the Dreyer Table and the Dumaresq, prior to World War I and used it during the war. Mr. Ford was somehow exposed to the British technology -- I forget the details of this but it's covered in a series of articles in Warship International magazine. But he also had his own original ideas, and the Ford computer was considerably smaller than the Dreyer Table and looked quite different. Inherently, in the battleship era, guns on ships required calculated aiming because both the firing and the target ship could be moving in different directions at different speeds, and the guns could often outrange the horizon from the point of view of deck level. A "gun director" on a tall tower could measure range and bearing with a powerful binocular range finder, and those measurements were transmitted to the computer mechanically or electrically. The computer then calculated the bearing and elevation at which the guns should fire to score a hit. In 1985, I attended the sea trials of the restored battleship Iowa. I saw the Ford range computer. It was a different model than the one in the photo, considerably larger, but it still had the clear cover (probably glass to begin with and Lexan when I saw it) seen in the photo. Underneath you could see a maze of gears and linkages, color coded, for maintenance I guess. It had its own room with electrical panels on the bulkheads. In the Wikipedia article it explains that the device weighed over a ton, but of course on a batteship that doesn't matter. There was no graph plotter as shown in the photo. Still unresolved is why the Army was interested in this device at a period when its artillery was normally attacking stationary targets from a stationary position. In 1922, could there have been research on antiaircraft fire direction? Possibly. Or maybe Mr. Ford was just covering all his possible customers. Related question: is the civilian in the background Mr. Ford himself? Hannibal FordThe Ford Instrument Company, Long Island City, NY, was formed by Hannibal Ford in 1915. It built analog fire control computers in the pre-electronic days. The company was later merged into the Sperry Corp. Dad's serviceMy father's stint in the Army during WWII (Battle of the Bulge, crossing of the Rhine and Ruhr) had him working as a "Computer" for anti-aircraft artillery. He used some kind of calculating device for aiming the big guns, but I have no idea what kind. I can't ask him because he's in Arlington now. Fire ControlA few months ago I toured the USS North Carolina battleship in Wilmington and saw the targeting command center. There are several large rooms completely full of enormous computers used to track enemy ships, planes, and also to properly guide missiles and guns. I'd say there were at least 30-40 of these massive vacuum-tube computers paired to walls of controls on either side. The level of complexity was amazing. Field ArtilleryWhen I was in the Army's Artillery School (mid 1970's) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma we had something called a FADAC (field artillery digital automatic computer) to aid in positioning artillery rounds on a target. Was this an early version of FADAC? The Forddid the same job -- providing aiming data for artillery -- but it was not digital like the FADAC. It was an electromechanical analog device. There were precisely machined gears and shafts driving dials/pointers either mechanically or by controlling variable rheostats to drive indicating voltmeter dials. Operators input data on the location of the target and the weapons, as well as factors like wind and temperature by setting voltages or turning shafts to certain angles. The operators then read off the firing data and transmitted it to the appropriate Fire Direction Center personnel who passed it on to the firing batteries. Manual FDCI was likewise in Fire Direction Control, trained at Fort Sill. Never saw a contraption like this while I was there, but we were taught how to find deflection and elevation for the artillery pieces using slide rules, while plotting targets on a grid board and finding range with a range/deflection protractor (RDP). This was in the early 1990's. Of course, once I left the training school I never used such manual devices again; nevertheless, every Marine Corps artillery FDC still packs the manual tools--RDP, chart board with plotting pins, slide rules and books--just in case the primary and backup computers fail. Where are the flippers?And how many points does it take to get a free game? I can't even light up the "special" bumper yet! Back to the Plotting BoardThe October 1923 issue of the Coast Artillery Journal has a report (starting on Page 349) on various mechanical fire-control devices including the Ford Target Computer and Ford Battery Computer, which were tested as replacements for manual plotting boards. Among the findings: a. They are complicated and frequently get out of working order. b. They require very expert operators who should be trained for several months. c. A trained mechanic is required for even minor repairs. d. They operate solely by electric power. e. Too much time is required for changing target and base line, and these operations require special skill. f. The azimuth dials are hard to read, resulting in frequent errors. ... i. They are noisy, making telephone conversation difficult in their vicinity. Tests indicate that the Ford Target Computer, operated by and under the supervision of the Ford Company's engineer, frequently failed and, when in working order, gave results little if any better, either in accuracy or time of operation, than might be expected from a properly designed manual plotting board at ranges which permit a scale of 300 yards to the inch, if the board be carefully adjusted and skillfully operated. It's interesting to note that fire control (i.e. "solving the range triangle" for the aiming of large artillery guns, which involves lots of trigonometry and a spot or two of calculus) was among the very earliest applications for digital computers in the 1940s. A Royal Inspection During World War 2 my mother was stationed on anti-aircraft batteries including one in Hyde Park, which was frequently visited by VIPs. This photo shows Queen Elizabeth (the "Queen Mum," in interesting boots!) inspecting the battery. To the right is a gunnery "predictor." It required two people to keep the target plane on cross-hairs in two sights on the top and lots of cogs, gears and electricity to do the sums of where to point the guns. It looks very like the M7 model described here. Ordnance CorpsWith reference to Captain Jack's question, Capt. Ely is wearing Ordnance Corps insignia, not Artillery, so I assume this was just an early procurement test of some sort. The Queen Mum's Boots - - -aren't boots at all, but galoshes. They kept our feet and shoes dry in wet weather. Oh oh, now I've given away how old I am. Yech. Ely of CantignyUpdate: Upon further inspection of the photo and considering the caption of "Capt.", it may be that the uniformed man in the photograph is Hanson Edward Ely, Jr., son of the "Ely of Cantigny." Both son and father (Major General Hanson Edward Ely, Sr.) are buried at Arlington Cemetery. Washington Post, Apr 30 1958 Gen. H.E. Ely Is Dead at 90 By Dorrie Davenport (Staff Reporter) Maj. Gen. Hanson Edward Ely, USA (ret.), known as "Ely of Cantigny" for his leadership of the 28th infantry which captured Cantigny on May 28, 1918 died Monday in Atlantic Beach, Fla. He was 90. He was one of the first officers sent abroad to study the Allies' trench fighting tactics and was later made chief of staff of the First Division Repeated requests for troop duty gave him command of the 28th Infantry and his leadership in the Battle of Cantigny convinced European doubters of the fighting qualities of American soldiers. Raised to brigadier general, he was head of the Second Brigade of the Second Division when the Americans captured Vierzey, near Soissons, in July 18, 1918. In order to direct the attack personally, Gen. Ely attempted to enter Vierzey before it was cleared of the enemy. Fired on at short range by machine guns, he attacked and enabled his men to take the town despite strong resistance by vastly superior numbers. Gen. Ely was cited for "indomitable bravery, disregard for his own safety and devotion to his men." During the battle of Vierzey, his troops took more than 7000 prisoners. It was "Ely of Cantigny" who, in command of the Fifth Division and promoted to major general, achieved what has been hailed as one of the outstanding major exploits of the Army Expeditionary Force when it forced its way across the Meuse at Dun-sur-Meuse. Gen. John J. Pershing wrote that "this operation was one of the most brilliant feats in the history of the American Army in France." Years before his World War I exploits, he had been given a silver star for "gallantry in action against insurgent forces at Taliahan River, Luzon, Phillippine Islands, March 25, 1899." When soon afterwards Gen. Frederick Funston formed his celebrated mounted scout unit, Hanson Ely was listed as its commander. His 44 years in the Army included serving as a lieutenant in the Spanish American War. Considered one of the most forceful figures in military service, he was considered as a leading authority on modern tactic and battle leadership. After World War I, he reverted to his permanent grade of colonel but Congress, in 1921, endorsed his appointment as brigadier general and his promotion in 1932 to major general. ... Army coastal artilleryIt's odd that Capt. Ely in the photo seems to be an Army officer rather than Navy Coastal artillery was an Army responsibility. For example, Army Fort MacArthur (named for Douglas MacArthur's father) protected Los Angeles harbor. The big concrete emplacements are still there, for guns up to 16". In the 50s the guns were replaced with Nike nuclear missiles. The Fort MacArthur Museum web site has more fun facts. The 14" batteries look like baseball diamonds from above. View Larger Map (Technology, The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Tires Slashed: 1922
Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Amalgamated Tires, 14th Street N.W." Hurry on down for our BIG SALE! ... at $250 per. I checked an inflation calculator and $10 in 1922 is about $125 today, and $20 is about $250. Seems the more things change, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 10:15pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Amalgamated Tires, 14th Street N.W." Hurry on down for our BIG SALE! National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size. In the History of TiredomWhat a cruel irony that the truck carrying all those nice, comfy pneumatic tires is still rolling on solid-rubber tires. Tire InflationI just bought new tires for my SUV at $250 per. I checked an inflation calculator and $10 in 1922 is about $125 today, and $20 is about $250. Seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. How can you afford to slash your tires in half?"Easy. We're selling them at half price!" 6000 mile guarantee!The "firsts" have a 6000-mile guarantee. I wonder what the guarantee of the "seconds" and "thirds" might be. Also, the best tire sign I've seen advertised a "huge tire blowout." I chose another shop. Non-Skid TiresAs opposed to what -- Goodyear Slip-N-Skids? Amalgamated? I always buy from Acme. Stop! You're under arrest!... for savings! Portage Cords and Fabrics That fifth man ... is a reflection of the fellow holding the tire. Another Center Door!And another center door Model T! Love the car pictures! The 6,000-mile guaranteeWasn't as ludicrous as it appears today. People generally didn't drive that much back in the 1920s. From what I recall reading, the average was in the 2,000-3,000-mile range. The fifth manMy favorite part of this photo is the fifth man, hiding (or so he thinks) behind the car on the left. Absolutely, positivelynot there anymore. Across the street from Franklin Park, a footbeat of my youth. Tire Inflation not the same.$250 today is a GREAT buy. Your new tyres today have a life 60,000 miles. The tyres from 98 years ago lived only a tenth of that. Better materials, better engineered, and much better ride quality. Wow.Those two men in the middle remind me of my brothers Bill and John. Super LOW Profile35-5's I bet! Chains Next DoorI am curious about the pair of chains descending from the mailbox-looking protrusions on the building to the right of Amalgamated. Can't quite figure out their purpose. [Seems to be a chain hoist, the kind used for window-washing platforms. - Dave] Center Door SedanMy dad had a 1920 Ford center-door sedan. A fairly unique car. The driver entered through either door and had to go between the front seats to get into the driver's seat. The side windows were raised and lowered using a fabric strap. The gas tank was accessed by lifting the cushion of the driver's seat and removing the gas cap. You checked the gas supply by dipping a wooden stick about the size of a paint stirrer with graduated markings. To add gasoline, the hose was brought in through the driver's window or the passenger door. His car was painted up as a Black & White Taxi for the film "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell," which was filmed in D.C. in 1955, starring Gary Cooper. The NON-SKID tires made by Firestone had those words as the tread pattern. Re Center door sedanHiggins said: "The side windows were raised and lowered using a fabric strap." Chevy's ultra lightweight 1963 Grand Sport Corvettes (only five were built of a planned 125 intended for a factory racing program that was scuttled) had the same device to raise and lower their plexiglass side windows. The straps had a number of grommets which allowed the driver to position the windows at several openings with a hook on the door below the window opening. This arrangement of course saved a few very critical pounds by eliminating all the window winding hardware. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Tasty Tom: 1922
November 1922. Washington, D.C. "White House turkey 'Supreme 3' with unidentified ... unknowns. The Baltimore Sun, December 3, 1922. At the White House the turkey was received by Senator McKinley ... No mega-farms producing ghost white turkeys year round in 1922. The turkey and the lady in profile seem to have conspired to dress the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/22/2012 - 9:55am -

November 1922. Washington, D.C. "White House turkey 'Supreme 3' with unidentified people." Glimpsed here yesterday along with much informative commentary. Happy Thanksgiving from Shorpy! View full size. A gaiter, perhaps? Right above her shoes - it looks like there's some kind of strappy thing going up her leg but it doesn't look like part of the shoe and I can't figure out what it could be. A gaiter, perhaps? Though that doesn't really seem to go with the rest of her bling. Turkey ClubA semi-informed guess of the people, from left-to-right: Congressman Frederick Britten, Marie Maddox or Elsie Allen, unknown woman, Senator William B. McKinley, Miss Maddox or Miss Allen, other unknowns. The Baltimore Sun, December 3, 1922. At the White House the turkey was received by Senator McKinley and Representative Fred A. Britten of Illinois: Pyke Johnson, secretary of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce; Secretary of Agriculture Wallace and George Christian, secretary to President Harding. The entire party, including the drivers and Misses Marie Maddox and Elsie Allen, representing the Harding Girls' Club, then went into the Office of President Harding, where the Chief Executive thanked them for their efforts and extended his greetings to the Harding Girls' Club. Thanks Shorpy!We had a group of Male Turkeys come visit us here in Northern CA. We fed them natural Sunflower Seeds and after awhile they would come up to us for the seeds absolutely without fear. Sadly, they moved-on. We hope we filled their bellies for the winter and we look forward to February when they spread their feathers, while doing a complicated mating dance to attract a mate. Hope you all enjoyed your Turkey today. Appreciation and Thanks to Shorpy Owners for their kindness of sharing this wonderful site. I'll bet every one of thosepictured knew how to at least hold a turkey back then, and probably most of them could butcher it pretty easily, too. Today, we don't interact with our future food at all, and certainly don't want to, either. My grandparents raised fowl and butchered them when needed. I can't do so and prefer not to, anyway. And don't ask me to hold one either. When Turkeys were TurkeysNo mega-farms producing ghost white turkeys year round in 1922. The turkey and the lady in profile seem to have conspired to dress the same for the photograph. How many of you are old enough to remember your mother picking out the stray pin feathers of a store bought bird with a pair of tweezers to get Old Tom ready for the oven? So *that's * the size of a real turkey breastTurkeys for the supermarkets have such inflated breasts that they fall over when they walk. Of course, that might just be that they are extremely stupid, and thus have difficulty walking. I worked at a turkey farm as extra help before Thanksgiving when I was in high school, and we had to chase the turkeys into their sheds every time it rained. Why? Because the turkeys were so clueless that when they felt the rain hitting them, they'd look up to see what it was, and a few would drown every storm. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Thanksgiving)
Shutterbugs Ahoy: 1922
"White House photographers, August 6, 1922." Possibly a recreational outing on the Potomac. National Photo Company ... I had no idea that the White House photographer pool in 1922 was staffed entirely by twelve-year-olds. Swim Call News ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 12:42pm -

"White House photographers, August 6, 1922." Possibly a recreational outing on the Potomac. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. They made 'em young....I had no idea that the White House photographer pool in 1922 was staffed entirely by twelve-year-olds. Swim Call News Photographers Click, Fish and Swim Staff Stationed at White House Guests Down River on Senator du Pont's Yacht. Taking advantage of a quiet Sabbath at the White House and of Senator T. Coleman du Pont's invitation for a trip on his yacht, the Tech, the White House News Photographers' association, yesterday sailed down the Potomac aboard the craft. Enthusiastic as a group of boys with their first brownie cameras, the veteran photographers had a great outing. Scenery about the Tech having been taken and retaken, the photographers watched for a good place to engage in some novelties. Off Maryland Point seemed to offer a pleasant background, so Capt. Billouaghby dropped anchor. Fishing and swimming followed. After fancy diving, high diving, losing baits, losing lines, no fish and more pictures, anchor was hauled and the Tech glided home. Jack Stahl was master of ceremonies. Those on the trip included "Buck" Becker, Sig. G. Bornstein, George Dorsey, H.E. French, Albert Holland, J. Johnston. A.W. Leonard, Hugh Miller, Fred Miller, J.B. Roberts, William Sturm, J.F. Stowell, J. Seligman, Harry Bantine, Kemper F. Cowing, J.A. Brochurst, Kirk Miller and Pat Finney. Washington Post, Aug 7, 1922 DuPont's yacht, The Tech. 7/11/22, National Photo Reporters' TanDig the tan line on cigar-boy. Did these guys EVER take their shirts off outdoors?? I can't believe itI was a White House photographer, and believe me, the guys (and gals) that I worked with never looked that good. I guess it's accurate, since there was a news story about it, but still. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, D.C., Natl Photo)
Autocar Truck: 1922
... Johnson Gear & Mfg. Co., Berkeley, California, circa 1922. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery) ... 
 
Posted by Mach52cm - 01/19/2023 - 9:24pm -

Johnson Gear & Mfg. Co., Berkeley, California, circa 1922. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Live It Up: 1922
1922. Washington, D.C. The actress Kay Laurell again, five years before her ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2012 - 3:07pm -

1922. Washington, D.C. The actress Kay Laurell again, five years before her premature curtain, with friends at the Potomac Tidal Basin. View full size. Give me liberty...or give me....Another Broadway contribution to the war effort was the bust of Miss Kay Laurell. In the Ziegfeld Follies of 1917, a tableau by Ben Ali Hagan had Miss Laurell posed before crossed American and French flags in the fatigue uniform of a French soldier, blouse torn by some previously dispatched vicious German, exposing one reportedly magnificent breast. Word was that the French government ordered 200,000 copies of a photo of Miss Laurell's portrayal to use in an enlistment campaign. There is a suspicion that the word came from Ziegfeld's publicity people however. On Kay"Any woman could get money out of a man. What took real skill was getting the money and evading the sleeping." -- Kay Laurell "She was the most successful practitioner of her trade of her generation in New York. She had all the arts of a first-rate harlot. The skull and crossbones were there on the label for all to see." -- Helen Hayes And the URL is?So where's the shot of the reportedly magnificent breast? The February 1973 Playboy claims to feature Kay, among other Siegfeld [sic] Girls. Oar Guitar GirlKay's friend on the right is the oar guitar girl from the canoe photo. Who was she? Eleanor Griffith?Perhaps the other lass is Eleanor Griffith, Kay's costar in the production of "Ladies Night" then playing at the Belasco. The Library of Congress archives contain one labeled photo of Miss Griffith: I think the smile is very similar. Update: another image of Eleanor, circa 1928: Magnificently Breastless This photo via the New York Public Library seems to be her famous costume from the 1918 Ziegfeld Follies. Some prude appears to have engineered a coverup. However those with a purely historic interest in Ms. Laurell's bosom may see it in several works by painter William Glackens, for whom Laurell repeatedly posed. As You Are I Once WasDancing figures on the beach, As the marks left by their feet, Are all long gone. And rising in far off in the mist, We behold the obelisk. The Cigaretteis nice touch on the beach. My mother died in 1938 of pneumonia before antibiotics at the age of 36. A death like that now would be very unlikely. Not exactly "Les Miz"As the war intensified, posing undressed began to be considered patriotic. If a woman stood naked posed as the Statue of Liberty, she was doing her duty for the American troops. Indeed, a record number of woman volunteered to be "undraped" in the 1917 edition's centerpiece. In the Ziegfeld Follies of 1918, which opened after the United States had joined the war, the curtain opened on a darkened stage to reveal a huge revolving globe with Kay Laurell perched on top, breast exposed. Little French girls in rags, a dying soldier attended by Red Cross volunteers, and a trench over which doughboys charged amid devastating gunfire completed the scene. Gazing down on a Ben Ali Haggin set piece designed to look like the world burning, Laurell was supposed to represent the spirit of France. -- From "Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show" by Rachel Schteir. A Photo Shoot...Is no reason to interrupt one's smoking. The Genuine ArticlesI don't know if they are "magnificent," but like they said on Seinfeld: "they're real, and they're spectacular!" The Ziegfeld TableauThe tableau described by gblawson is fairly standard French imagery; a depiction of Marianne (the symbol of France) fighting and victorious. This version of Marianne is inevitably depicted wearing a Phrygian cap (in Roman times indicating a freed slave) and one breast bared, recalling the goddess Athena. Probably the most famous depiction is Delacroix's 1830 painting "Liberty Leading the People." How it might have looked in colorCouldn't resist. Click to enlarge. Kay LaurellKay Laurell did not die from pneumonia. She died in childbirth. Wikepedia is not correct. She had a son, don't know what happened to him, he was to inherit her estate. Read the newspaper article. re: Kay LaurellIMDB and Wikipedia both claim pneumonia as cause of death since that is what was reported in the New York Times obituary. A story in a 1930 edition of the Miami News does however reinforce the contention that it was death by childbirth. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Swimming)
Loud and Clear : 1922
... radio. Photograph by Underwood & Underwood, April 18, 1922. View full size. (Updated with additional information on Lester — ... From the Brownsville (Texas) Daily Herald of April 25, 1922: The Decatur (Illinois) Sunday Review of April 16, 1922: ... 
 
Posted by Ken - 09/08/2011 - 8:47pm -

Lester Picker listens to his shortwave radio through earphones while convalescing after breaking his back when he fell 55 feet erecting an aerial for the radio. Photograph by Underwood & Underwood, April 18, 1922. View full size. (Updated with additional information on Lester — click here and scroll down.) At least……he finished the job, didn't he? Finished The Job......One might think so. Ah, the things that we radio buffs go through to get a signal in [or out]. Lester's radioLester's rig looks like a single band receiver, probably the AM broadcast band. The receiver designs back then were very simple and touchy to tune. The most common three dial receiver design used three tubes to amplify the signal, the design today is called a TRF receiver. The dials didn't have kHz marks, just 0-100 logging marks. There was also a gain control that had to be constantly adjusted as the signal faded or strengthened. I used to have a very similar antique receiver, called a 'Freshman Masterpiece'. It had five tubes, three for amplifying the radio signal and two for amplifying the audio... and they were all the same type, O1-A triodes. Pentodes and tetrodes were still on the horizon. If you look on top of the receiver, you can see an array of batteries, since that was the common power source back then. There would be a -22 volt grid bias battery, a 6.3 volt lead-acid battery for the filaments (usually recharged from a windmill generator) and a +90 volt plate battery. I think his Diploma of Graduation was either from a radio school or it could have been a high school. Is he a ham?wondering if that diploma on the wall is a Federal Radio Commission ham license? or one of the many "radio school" diplomas around back then? Does anyone have a Radio Amateur's Callbook from that era to look for the name? Lester Picker, 6AJH and 6ZHLester was a licensed shortwave (or "ham") radio operator who achieved national fame after his fall. From the Brownsville (Texas) Daily Herald of April 25, 1922: The Decatur (Illinois) Sunday Review of April 16, 1922: From the Oakland Tribune of March 11, 1923: FAN BREAKS BACK BUT GRADUATES BY AID OF RADIO San Ysidro Youth Addresses Class by Air; Whole Coast Is Friend (By a Listener-In) SAN YSIDRO, Calif., March 10 — There is not an amateur up and down the Pacific Coast who will not cut in and answer when he hears amateur radio station 6ZH calling. These call letters, meaningless to so many radio fans, have a deeper significance in the hearts of dot-and-dash amateurs. They know that 6ZH is the only one among them who has the right to be lonely. “How are things tonight?” they say. Sometimes they pause for a lengthy chat. Their reward, though unseen, is a smile lighting up the face on a pillow thousands of miles away. At the word of greeting a hand will reach to the bedside and fondle an old brass key. There is a splutter, the tubes light up, and singing back through the ether comes 6ZH’s answer: “Fine, Old Man. How are you?” Down on his luck, but what of that? — 6ZH Lester Picker, District Superintendent of the American Radio Relay League, has brought the whole world to his bedside and you will find him there in the evening with his chin up, talking to his pals of the A.R.R.L. along the coast. He knows most of them, the amateurs, from Vancouver to the Gulf and now and then he will seek out an old friend to the banks of the Mississippi. There is fun in distance when you measure your own movements by inches. If there is anyone who can get action out of his [illegible], Picker and his signal is like the crack of the whip. There is much to take into account, of course, if it were not for amateur radio in the first place. Picker would not be lying there with that ache in his back, but still, if it were not for radio, life would be lonely. And, yes, here is another thing, too: it was amateur radio that enabled Picker to be graduated with the rest of his class at the Roosevelt Memorial High School in San Diego. The accident happened only a short time before the exercises and he was due to receive his diploma with the rest. A rather difficult situation, you might think, for a chap whose back was broken, yet the seemingly impossible was accomplished and not only is the diploma hanging on the wall, where 6ZH can glance at it proudly, but he also gave an address from the platform of the auditorium. The chair where Picker was to sit with his classmates was vacant, but who will say he was not there? At a word from Principal T. A. Russell, someone telephoned a San Diego amateur, who relayed the message by radio to 6ZH; a switch was thrown in and a hush fell over the auditorium, while the eyes of those present turned toward a big horn on the stage. “Picker,” thought his classmates, and listened carefully. In the next few minutes, there was no other sound except Picker’s voice, not until he signed off, at least, with his customary “Goodnight, Station 6ZH.” Even on this eventful night, he clung to his old familiar call, and in the interval, he told of the pleasure which it gave him to be graduated with the others in his class and expressed the hope that he might join sometime his mates of ’23 and talk over experiences. And now you must wonder why Picker did not fill the chair on the platform that night. One day he was installing a new 55-foot mast at his new station and the guy wires broke. “Radio again,” you say. But now you know why the amateur radio “ops” listen when he calls. And finally, from the "A.R.R.L. Events" column of the Woodland (Calif.) Daily Democrat, March 18, 1925: Lester Picker, 6ZH, has received his O. W. L. S. appointment and has already begun to sign his wavelength after communications. LesterExcellent info, Dave. Thanks for clearing up all the mystery. 73 de Ham Radio Curmudgeon (sorry, I learned long ago to not use my call letters on the net.) Not a HamThe certificate on the back wall appears to be a Diploma of something (probably Graduation but the cable obscures a couple of letters) so that's no proof of whether he's a Ham operator. What we're looking at appears to be an old three dialer with headphones for listening rather than a speaker horn - probably due to the rather primitive state of amplification in those days. [Not so. See above. - Dave] Callsigns?So if I've got this right, 6ZH was a subsequent call sign he probably earned after upgrading his license from the earlier 6AJH? The callsign format is way before my time, and I've been licensed for close to 30 years.... What license classes were each of these? 73's Sid LesterHere's a QSL he sent in 1925... Some notes on his antenna on there too! http://hamgallery.com/qsl/country/USA/California/6zh.htm Morse code keyOn the large photo you can clearly see a telegraph key on top of the receiver. These were used to send morse code transmissions and those wires hanging down connect to this key and I suspect go to a transmitter in another room since transmitters in those days were quite bulky and would be too big to fit on the table. Lester PickerI'm so happy to have stumbled onto this page! Lester Picker was my grandfather's first cousin. He was born December 26, 1905 in San Francisco and died in Los Angeles on May 10, 1930 from complications due to his infirmity. His younger sister, Sylvia Picker (1909-1981), was an actress, mostly on radio. The family moved from New York to Southern California because Lester's father Herman had tuberculosis, and needed the dry climate. He died anyway in 1924 at age 44. After Lester died, he was returned to San Diego for burial next to his father. Sylvia Picker McGrawSylvia was my step-grandmother. We loved her dearly and miss her. She married my father's father Stokely McGraw. My dad was Roland George McGraw, who lives in the Palm Springs area. Kelly KMcGraw48@hotmail.com (Technology, The Gallery, Curiosities)
Bathing Girls: 1922
"Lansburgh Bathing Girls, 1922." Avert your eyes, gentlemen -- the leftmost lady's knees are showing. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/06/2018 - 10:18pm -

"Lansburgh Bathing Girls, 1922." Avert your eyes, gentlemen -- the leftmost lady's knees are showing. Next to her, Shorpy regulars will recognize Iola Swinnerton, winsome Washington beauty. National Photo glass negative. View full size. It's hard to tellthey are not really at the ocean. No shameNext thing you know they will be appearing at the beach without stockings. Where will it end? Prop FlopWhat we have here is a failure to crop the brick wall out of the picture. No gal could get past those "bathing suits"There's a pretty face or two in this picture but the outfits are so outlandishly awful (and unflattering to boot), it would take a veritable Angelina Jolie to shine in these get-ups. (clearly "less is more" was NOT the motto in those days for bathing beauties) I'm so sorry, butare the three on the right part of Les Cagelles? Could you swim in those?All that cloth would probably be heavy when wet. I love the style, though. Gakkk!I read an interview with the "oldest living Ziegfeld girl", Doris Eaton Travis from just before she died at age 106 last year. She said she didn't like the fashions of the 1920's. She thought they were unflattering. And I have to say, these outfits are BIG TIME hideous. I mean, the addition of color might help, but what this looks like to me is a VERY awkward halfway point between old fashioned "bathing costumes" and modern one piece swimsuits. Gak indeed. 25 yearsfrom here to the first bikini. Regarding these styles,I think the birth rate in the early '20s must have been near zero. 90 Years LaterIn a short 90 years, girls went from 95% coverage to only 5% coverage! Roll 'em, girlies, roll 'em!When I was in middle school, in the early '80s, I took a judo class taught by one Morey Korey, who was then about 80 years old. He really moved well for an octogenarian, and naturally, he was big on stretching exercises, which were accompanied by a song he had learned as a teenager, and which he taught us: Roll 'em, girlies, roll 'em, Go ahead and roll 'em, Go ahead and show your pretty knees. Don't let teacher tell you that it's shocking. Paint your sweetie's picture on your stocking. Laugh at Ma, laugh at Pa, Give them all the ha-ha-ha, Roll 'em girlies, girlies roll your own! Bathing Girls: the soundtrackGood memory, Lectrogeek. "Even grouchy traffic cops get jolly, when they see you step into a trolley." Here's Billy Murray's popular rendition of "Roll 'Em Girls," recorded on November 4, 1925. Curtis & LemmonA publicity still from Some Like It Hot? No expense sparedBoy, that photographer really went all-out with the backdrop, and even if he managed to crop it well, that flagpole sticking out of the ocean behind the girl on the right is going to be harder to get rid of. RealisticI get seasick every time I look at this. 20s attireI LOVE, LOVE the 20s fashions -- just NOT the bathing attire!! (The Gallery, D.C., Iola S., Natl Photo, Pretty Girls, Swimming)
Off the Rails: 1922
July 31, 1922. Laurel, Maryland. "Two B&O freights wrecked in head-on crash at ... CREWS ESCAPE BY JUMPING Washington Post, August 1, 1922. 2 FREIGHTS CRASH AT LAUREL SWITCH Both Engines and 4 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/06/2014 - 2:28pm -

July 31, 1922. Laurel, Maryland. "Two B&O freights wrecked in head-on crash at Laurel switch." Details here. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Jumping and its perils and rewardsMy Uncle Marvin was a railroad engineer in Texas in the early part of the past century. An open switch routed him onto the wrong track and he had to jump for his life before his engine hit a stopped train. He landed in a pile of railroad ties and was seriously injured. He recovered under the excellent care of a nurse whom he quickly married. If it hadn't been for that mistaken open switch, my cousin John would never have been born. Full Stop First I'll confess to little railroad/train knowledge, but couldn't they see this coming? Unless there was a curve or some other visibility issue of course. CREWS ESCAPE BY JUMPINGWashington Post, August 1, 1922. 2 FREIGHTS CRASH AT LAUREL SWITCH Both Engines and 4 Cars Demolished When B&O Trains Meet in Head-On Collision. CREWS ESCAPE BY JUMPING Leg of Engineer Ramsey Broken, 50 Yards of Track Torn Up, Tie-Up Lasts Hours.         Six men narrowly escaped death yesterday afternoon when two freight trains of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company crashed in a head-on collision near Laurel, Md. David Ramsey, one of the engineers, was taken to a Baltimore hospital suffering from a broken leg. The others escaped injury by jumping just before the crash.         Both engines and four freight cars were demolished and the passenger and freight service of the railroad company was tied up for several hours while wrecking crews removed the debris. Commuters between Washington and Baltimore who were unable to obtain a lift from passing automobiles were forced to walk to their destination. Meet at Open Switch.         The accident occurred at a crossways near Laurel, where the east and westbound freights met in an open switch. The train crews had hardly jumped to the ground when the heavily loaded freight cars crashed into one another, the eastbound engine being hurled 25 feet in the air.         Wrecking crews were quickly sent to the scene, and emergency telephone connections established with the train dispatcher's office at Baltimore. Passenger Trains Diverted.         Passenger trains of the Baltimore and Ohio were sent out over the tracks of the Pennsylvania road to Overton, Md., then to the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio.         Officials of the railroad at the scene of the wreck refused to place responsibility for the accident, and busied themselves at once to clear away and repair the 50 yards of track torn up by the collision. Stopping Distances for Trains@fanhead. Even if the crews HAD seen the imminent collision, the heavy weight of the trains - many times thousands of tons, along with the high speeds makes for great momentum. (Momentum = mass times velocity). With huge momentum it can take a mile or more to stop - unlike the relatively short distance for an automobile. That's why trains have the right of way at highway crossings - always. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Railroads)
Print Shop: 1922
January 1922. Washington, D.C. "Machinists' Association -- printers." Activities ... but my mind still has difficulty processing the fact that 1922 was already 100 years ago. Grand Lodge, International Association of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/29/2021 - 4:51pm -

January 1922. Washington, D.C. "Machinists' Association -- printers." Activities relating to the International Association of Machinists. National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size. Before WordPerfect or even Atari Writer ...I am reminded that my junior high school industrial-arts class (boys only, in those dark ages) included a month of weekly sessions on manual typesetting (in addition to wiring, woodworking, and metalworking). It started off with a hand-held composing stick onto which you placed letters from the wooden type case, upside down and backwards. You advanced to setting a whole page in a metal frame, inserting lead spacers between paragraphs and locking the whole thing solid with key-tightened springs around the border. The irascible instructor, Mr. L______, who seemed vaguely disgruntled with life, would walk around, tilting the frames upright and rapping your typeset assemblage in the middle. If the type collapsed into chaos on the bench, he'd smirk and say "Better sort it out and try again, tighter," then walk off. Oddly, despite the abundance of sharp or heavy tools in the area, he was never murdered. The uplifting part of the experience was that none of us had ever heard of a single alumnus who had ever made a living as a typesetter, or wished to. But I do not begrudge the experience: it taught me to respect the craftwork mastered by folks like the guys in the photo. A Century AgoI'm no where near 100 years old, but my mind still has difficulty processing the fact that 1922 was already 100 years ago. Grand Lodge, International Association of MachinistsJust in case anyone was curious about the building on the calendar. Built in 1919, it sat across from the AFL-CIO building at 9th Street and Mount Vernon Place NW in DC. The new female supervisor ...has just advised the chap on the left that his choices for wall display in front of his press are inappropriate, and need to be removed. Moving on upLooks like one of them has traded in his cards and bubble gum for something more adventurous. Manual LaborI operated presses like that in high school, even had one in my garage for years. The pressmen are interesting, two have baseball pictures on the wall and the other guy has girls. I see a spittoon on the floor. Sports section, women's sectionSports on the right, women's on the left, judging from the "halftones" on the wall in each location. Model ModelsMightn't the images on the wall (models; baseball players) be samples of what the artisans are printing at their respective presses? Upside upside down, but not backwardis actually the way to set type, and also from bottom to top, rather than top to bottom. It still works, and there are a few hundred of us who still on occasion set type by hand. Pay AttentionLotsa ways to lose a finger or limb in this picture. Horological Accuracy -Provided by the Naval Observatory, via Western Union. Stop the Presses!I also ran a letter press such as these in Industrial Arts class. The one we had was probably older than these. I also worked as printer for a few years in a check printing plant which used letter presses well into the 1980's. I ran Intertype Machines which were automatic type setters that cast the lead slugs used in the big presses. I'm sure I am one of the last people to ever have been trained on such machines, they were phased out about 2 years afterward. I was trying to figure out what the tall structure on the center press was. The operator is hand-feeding the paper into the press. His right hand is on the unprinted stock. The press on the left has an auto-feeder (meaning the press is "sheet-fed"). You can see the vacuum lines which provide suction to lift the sheets of paper and draw them into the press. It dawned on me that the two presses, left and center, are identical. The center press is also sheet-fed, but the mechanism has been swung up, out of the way (the vertical structure) and is being hand-fed. Hand feeding a letter press means you have to remove the freshly printed sheet with your left hand and put in a fresh sheet with your right hand as the press cycles open, and do so before it closes again. Meaning, BOTH of your hands are inside a running machine each cycle. Thats why the guys in the photo are concentrating so hard on what they're doing. The machine in the fore-ground: my guess is that it's a folding machine. Platen pressesAs a former employee of a Dutch Company, Bührmann-Tetterode, that used to be an important player in Europe on the market for Platen Presses, I am delighted with pictures like this, showing print shops, like you may see them nowadays still frequently in Asian countries like Indonesia (the country where my wife was born when it was called Dutch East Indies). My firm represented the, rather famous, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Gesellschaft in Europe, except for Germany and the U.K. The Original Heidelberg Platen Press was often referred to as the Heidelberg Windmill, which is a rather curious name for me as a Dutchman. The platen presses we see here may well be Chandler & Price platen presses. Dang Near Cut My Finger Off!Years ago my father owned a boutique printing company and an advertising agency. One of the printing presses was a letterpress, with moveable type. I remember watching him set type. My brothers and I had the job of busting up the type and putting it back in the type drawers which were called 'cases'. The trade term for the kids who busted up the type was "printer's devil". Each font went into a different case and each letter went to a specific bin in the case. Woe to the devil who put a sort (pieces of type) in the wrong space! Now you know where the term 'out of sorts' originated! I can still remember the layout of the cases and where each sort belonged. The type was made out of lead. I remember how amazed I was the first time I saw a linotype machine. This press was at a junk store. The press and all the type for $850. Years ago. One day I was talking to my dad while he was running the press. I stumbled and laid my hand on the press for balance. The press was running and I about cut my index finger off. The finger, my right index finger, is crooked and shorter than my other fingers. I don't have much feeling in it and I don't use the finger much. I was maybe eleven or twelve years old. (Technology, The Gallery, D.C., Industry & Public Works, Natl Photo)
Assimilates the Food: 1922
October 21, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Shriners barbecue." And a promotion for Prohibition-era ... photograph from this picnic is seen at Blazing Saddles: 1922 . Washington Post, Nov 2, 1924 The Noyes mansion, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/20/2020 - 2:41pm -

October 21, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Shriners barbecue." And a promotion for Prohibition-era Budweiser. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. JumboThe fellow on the far left has a beautiful sandwich, but he might need two Buds to get through it! Near Beer on the Mall? Have we met?Your fez is familiar. My kind of partySausages and Budweiser! You can have the Grape Bouquet, though. I like my beer to smell like select grains, and choice hops. SubstitutesFake beer, fake wine -- next you're gonna tell me Sausage Imperial is made of tofu. Counter ItemsThe counter on the right side of the photo has items hanging down that look to be anchored to a string. Are these knives or bottle openers? I can't tell what they are or their purpose since there seems to be plenty of help behind the counter. Beautiful Budweiser Banner In this day of digital prints any color printing is relatively a breeze...I'm curious...would this banner be printed with a photo silk screen process? It has a really modern look. I'm a signpainter so am familiar with some of these processes but didn't know when they might have been introduced. I just love this site! Prohibition BudI bet it was a better product than the beer is. Re: Counter Items..Oyster knives, possibly? Those Hanging ThingsLook to be knives for shucking oysters. There seem to be shells on the ground in front of the counter. Hoffler's Sausage ImperialDoes that signify that it was served on a Kaiser roll, mit or mitout zauerkraut? Counter ItemsCould those be oyster knives hanging off the counter? And are those oyster shells (and paper cups) on the ground in front of that counter? Grape Bouquet"Five cents a glass at all fountains" in the ad, but "Ten cents everywhere" in today's photo! Grape BouquetI never knew Anheuser-Busch made Grape Bouquet, which I assume was a soda and non-alchololic - who can enlighten me on this product - years it was made, other flavors, most popular where ? other info ? Oyster Knives?The 'counter items' hanging down look like oyster knives, for opening oyster shells. And the rubble at the base of the counter could be the discarded shells. Why don't we tell our wivesthat we're going to a convention? Hanging from the stringsThose are oyster knives. Doin' it without the fez onNow, there's a "G-Man" if I've ever seen one. And yes, I've seen one. Guy at the rightCharles Schumer been a senator for HOW long? If I can't have a real beerI'm at least gonna have a real cigarette, goshdarnit! Almas ShrinersThe location is Alton Farm at Sligo (Silver Spring), MD, part of the Crosby Stuart Noyes Estate, now known as Woodside Park. Another photograph from this picnic is seen at Blazing Saddles: 1922. Washington Post, Nov 2, 1924 The Noyes mansion, with the 10 ½ acres of grounds surrounding it, on the Colesville pike, between Indian Springs club and Sligo, has been sold by the owner, Thomas E. Jarrell, to a syndicate. Plans for a a real subdivision are now under way, and an extensive building operation is planned. The beautiful estate, famous as the home of the late Crosby S. Noyes, is well known to Washingtonians. Since Mr. Jarrell's ownership of the property, some of the leading organizations have held their summer outings here: namely the Acacia Mutual Life Association, Almas Temple, Board of Trade and the City club. The trees and shrubbery surrounding the old home, brought from various parts of the world, are unequalled. Home WinemakingI suspect that Grape Bouquet was probably sold as a do-it-yourself wine starter. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Woman's Bureau: 1922
November 1922. Washington, D.C. "Woman's Bureau, Metropolitan Police Dep't. Telephone ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 11:17pm -

November 1922. Washington, D.C. "Woman's Bureau, Metropolitan Police Dep't. Telephone calls bring prompt attention." National Photo Co. View full size. Cold OfficeI just noticed that she is on the exterior side of that double hung window. That really makes this office uninviting! Behind BarCan't decide if that bar is to keep her in or others out. In either case, it appears one would have to crawl under it. At least she has the keys. Hey! Fish!If this was NY's 12th Precinct, I would expect Wojo and Fish were out on a call. Obviously they modeled the set of "Barney Miller" on this. ErgonomicsThat particular arrangement is my personal idea of hell. So spatious and invitingNo expense was spared to accommodate the WB. [It was an extra-spatial kind of spatiousness. - Dave] Nothin' like a hairnetTo take away any semblance of sex appeal. Call indicator boxI have an oak call box in my kitchen the same as the one to the right of the light fixture; it was once used to summon the servants to different rooms by pushing doorbell buttons. The DC police must have used this one as an intercom of some kind. Washington "And Nearby Places"What a quaint expression, that! Not a negative commentDingy, and a lot of it doesn't seem the fault of an old negative. Cell, PhoneIf this is typical of an office in the DC Police Department, I'd hate to see what the cells in the DC Jail looked like. One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy DingyIs this the party to whom I am speaking? 911 What's your emergency?We'll have a car out there sometime this week. Hello CentralGive me Dr. Jazz. Ruth Buzzi the elderly Lily Tomlin?The large purse is absent! Giant fingerprint faux finishMaybe Martha Stewart will have a special on how to achieve that in your own police station. Also, funny how this photo makes even the pencil sharpener look old-fashioned, even though hand-cranked ones are still fairly common. Everything within easy reach... except the pencil sharpener! That chair will swivel so she can easily use the books on the other table, and the typewriter is well out of the way of the writing surfaces. I've worked in worse. Security Fire AlarmI love the little iron hammer on the short chain. Break the glass to get to the fire alarm button. If a prankster sounds the alarm, just follow the blood trail. If the fire is real, well, decisions, decisions. Nearby PlacesGreetings from Bethesda, Maryland, one of those "nearby places." Which unfortunately can now take an hour or more to drive to during rush hour from downtown D.C. Guess it's not as nearby as it used to be! The dark side of the BureauMs. Mina Van Winkle, director of the D.C. Police Women's Bureau, provided this explanation to an audience in Boston in 1920: The Bureau was organized to enforce "the District's war-time legislation," but "proved so valuable as an emergency measure that it has been made permanent." In 1928 Ms. Van Winkle told a reporter that "Washington is the mecca for all psychopathic women of the nation." The feature story explained that one of the Bureau's functions was protecting lawmakers "from psychopathic women who flock to the city while Congress is in session with wild and utterly unfounded tales of wrongs done them by prominent men. ... Due to the vigilance of the policewomen, the government officials and other well-known Washingtonians accused of serious misdemeanors often do not even know they have been involved," because the Bureau's policewomen intercept such women, sending some to "some insane asylum" and others home to their husbands, fathers, or brothers. Depressing dimensionsWhen your office is taller than it is wide, that's not good. Fish on bun, Jello and milkShe must not have been paid much. From the looks of that sassy hairnet, she had to moonlight as a cafeteria lady. What, no spittoon?Not fair. Immaculate PerceptionOf course, this young lady's hairnet was quite common in those days. The cleansers and hair treatments of the day were unsophisticated, which made hairstyling a challenge. Mass production made the fine mesh solution to runaway or frizzy hair available to all women, at a cost most could afford. The hairnets were sold at accessory stores in individual boxes and put out on display, along with the fine gloves and stockings. A great many women, from Bonnie Parker to Eleanor Roosevelt, wore hairnets when they were considered a neat, clean, and feminine beauty product. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, The Office)
Snow Bird: 1922
February 1922. "Woman on sled being pulled by biplane in snow, with Washington Monument ... the bathing suit! It is fortunate, however, that it was 1922 and not 50+ years later! Jenny That's a Jenny (JN4D). It's ... The caption accompanying the photo in the February 4, 1922, Washington Post. “Whee-e-e-e! If you want a real thrill try ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/13/2014 - 1:46pm -

February 1922. "Woman on sled being pulled by biplane in snow, with Washington Monument in background." Why not make the snow work with your commute, instead of against it? Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. BollingThis was taken on the shore of the Anacostia River at what was then Bolling Field, later Bolling AFB, and now Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. The building behind the airplane is the Army War College at what was then Washington Barracks; the College was the terminal point of an ensemble of buildings designed by McKim, Mead, and White and built in the first decade of the century. The Army refused to tear down certain old houses which spoiled the symmetry of the design, and the story is that Stanford White, who was responsible for it, drove out the gate in anger and never returned. The Lincoln conspirators were hanged in July 1865 where the tennis courts next to the Officers' Club are today. The College is now the National War College, and the installation is Fort Lesley J. McNair. I spent a year at the NWC in 1992-1993. ski/sledI think that "sled" the comely lass is riding is actually a pair of airplane skis lashed together. Meteorological LessonI bet this young lady will understand wind chill a lot better when her ride is over. No bikinisShe doesn't look like she's cold, but I'll bet she didn't spend a whole lot of time in just the bathing suit! It is fortunate, however, that it was 1922 and not 50+ years later! JennyThat's a Jenny (JN4D). It's doubtful much pulling was done. Starting an airplane on skis takes a lot of power; also the stick would be held back, which is not the case here. Once moving, keep moving, or you have to get it moving all over again. Miss Lois HugginsThe caption accompanying the photo in the February 4, 1922, Washington Post. “Whee-e-e-e! If you want a real thrill try this!” said Miss Lois Huggins after accepting a dare to ride an aquaplane, pulled over snow by an airplane at Bolling field yesterday. New SportThis story was distributed by the International News (leased) wire lines and possibly other news services. The photo below with caption is from the February 15, 1922 newspaper The Gettysburg Times. The second photo is from the Syracuse Herald on February 19, 1922. The caption on the second photo was, "Girl daredevil has new stunt. Miss Lois Huggins, a girl daredevil and stunt performer of national fame, has devised a new thriller which she tried out recently. Taking the idea of aquaplaning, Miss Huggins, mounted on skis rides behind an airplane that skids along the ground." Apparently in the summer of 1922 "Sea Sledding" or "Aquaplaning" was the big thing. See the extensive article, including another small photo of Lois Huggins here. (The Gallery, Aviation, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Super Six: 1922
Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Hudson Coach, Connecticut Avenue Northwest." National Photo Company ... that this car is not a Hupmobile at all. It is actually a 1922 Hudson Super 6 Coach. This body style was a two door, 5 passenger which ... for $1,795. Due to its immediate popularity, by the end of 1922 they were able to lower the price to $1625. Hudson pioneered this body ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 7:24pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Hudson Coach, Connecticut Avenue Northwest." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. FormalwearFor some reason, autos in this style remind me of a dapper young man in tuxedo, tails, and a top hat! WhitewallsAre those Fisk Cords you're sporting? Urban LegendThe periodic rumour that the car on the old-style US {$10} bill was a Hupmobile has been strongly denied by the US Mint and the Bureau of Engraving. The original engraver used a composite of many US cars so as not to favour any one manufacturer. [This information comes from the internet so it may or may not be true] NearbyYou can see St. Matthew's Cathedral in the background over on Rhode Island Avenue. Dupont Circle is to the left and Farragut Square is down Connecticut Avenue to the right. The car is not on Connecticut proper but just off. I used to work at 1225 Connecticut, which is just about 200 feet away. I think Jack Pry[e] had a car sales showroom right across the street from this shot, back in the 50s. Some of the buildings across the Avenue are still there, including the building with the bay windows. A great section of Connecticut Avenue. ShineThe paint finish & gloss on that car is amazing, even by today's standards. Hupmobile TriviaAn image of the Hupmobile is featured on the back of the old US $10 bill. No longer usedThat's lacquer for you. Looks stunning when it's new. It's a Super 6 !!If you zoom in on the hubcaps, you will see that this car is not a Hupmobile at all. It is actually a 1922 Hudson Super 6 Coach. This body style was a two door, 5 passenger which sold new for $1,795. Due to its immediate popularity, by the end of 1922 they were able to lower the price to $1625. Hudson pioneered this body style as the first closed car available on the market in the same price level as an open touring car. By comparison, a Hudson Super 6, 7 Passenger Phaeton (an open touring car) sold for $1745. Hudson Motor Car Co. was the world's largest manufacturer of six cylinder automobiles at this time. Darn the luckI threw away all my old $10 bills when the new ones came out, so I guess we'll never know. Famous Super Six ChassisPart of a sign is reflected in the rear window. Essex and Hudson advertised a 'Coach on the Famous Super Six Chassis' from what I could find in Google. Perhaps this scene was a street-side auto show of sorts? Today's Shorpy PuzzlerWhy does a Hupmobile have hubcaps that say Hudson Motor Car Co.? [The hubcaps say Hudson Super Six. Because, as you and other sharp-eyed Shorpians have ascertained, this is a Hudson. (I had meant to publish a different photo -- Hupmobile fans will have to wait a few more days.) - Dave] You could eat off those running boards!The car's finish is incredible. Look at the other cars in the distance, chalky and dull. Schmedleymobiles and Putzmobiles they are. Not the noble Hupmobile. re: ShineThe paint finish & gloss on that car is amazing... You started me looking at the reflection. I upped the contrast and stretched it to better see the photographer, his tripod and two companions. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Style Show: 1922
June 17, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Group winners at Tidal Basin bathing beach." On the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/07/2022 - 4:58pm -

June 17, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Group winners at Tidal Basin bathing beach." On the right we have eternal Shorpy sweetheart Iola Swinnerton; the others are interchangeable nonentities who serve only to emphasize her many charms. In the background is the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Not heard there this day on that occasion"Iola, are you, like, happy you won?" "Happy? It's, like, totally awesome!" "I'm, like, so-o-o-o-o-o, like, totally thrilled for you!" "Awesome!" Guy sitting on left to his friend, whispering: "Dude! I, like, see some bare skin!" Friend: "Duuuuuude! Sick! Yeah, like you can almost see like their whole shoulders! Oh, man!" First guy: "Duuude!" How it looks nowView Larger Map Black MagicThe girl in the very middle appears to be holding a figure that looks like a voodoo doll, possibly representing her main competitor and she may have pins in her cobbler's apron with which to put a curse on whichever girl she deems threatening. This photo was taken on my father's 13th birthday which may well have been a Sunday, since it often coincided with Father's Day. And last but not least, those were some horribly hideous "get-ups" those gals were wearing, especially the bloomers, the printed outfit and all the leg attire. Perhaps there was no winner. Follow-up: Just FYI there is a website called "Day of the Week" and if you type it into your search space, it will tell you the day any date fell on in the past. This swimsuit contest was a SATURDAY. PerspectiveHaving recently visited DC, and having walked round the tidal basin would I be correct in thinking that this is taken roughly where the Jefferson Memorial now is? I'm basing that on the position and angle of the Bureau of Engraving and printing in the background. What is Iola wearing?Looks like a shredded trash bag, or maybe she's going to the renaissance faire later. The young lady with the open parasol is quite attractive. ShoesThe girl with the open parasol is wearing some very interesting shoes. They look like modern pointe shoes (pointe shoes have changed very little since the 19th century, actually), but it looks like the soles may be a little harder. But then again, they also look brand new. Ballet shoes don't stay pristine for long. I bet she was a ballerina. They're even laced properly. My inner ballerina picked up on the shoes, especially since they're different from the other girls'. The Female Kneehas obviously undergone rapid evolution under the selection pressure imposed by short skirts. Iola's bathing suitI agree with Vintage TV. I think Iola's bathing suit is hideous! I prefer the one she wore the year before https://www.shorpy.com/node/666?size=_original I think she's a doll, though. The girl second from the left is pretty cute, too, and the one far left looks considerably more attractive than in the other photo we have of her. I love these photos of these girls! Seeing multiple photos of someone allows us to get to know them much more than seeing just one. PS, just looked at another one, https://www.shorpy.com/node/1759 which has three of the same girls and is the same summer, thinking this would have been from the same time. Although they are wearing the same suits, from what I can see, they all have something different in their hair and/or on their feet. I wonder if they had these contests every month or so, or maybe if they just got the girls together a few days later for the rooftop photo. (The Gallery, D.C., Iola S., Natl Photo, Pretty Girls)
Washington Sleeps Here: 1922
Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "New Jersey Avenue S.E. from B Street." Lodgings in this view from the ... taking only one spot was not all that important even in 1922. Hotel Potomac The Hotel Potomac across the street retains at ... Something's Wrong It's actually several years past 1922. The District of Columbia license plates seen on the cars indicate ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/14/2014 - 12:01pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "New Jersey Avenue S.E. from B Street." Lodgings in this view from the House Office Building include the Potomac, Congress Hall and President hotels (sign at left), as well as the George Washington Inn. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Always One in Every CrowdAll the cars parked left to right except one. That owner backed in. Even Then --Looking at the car parked at the end on the bottom right, I see that pulling in straight and taking only one spot was not all that important even in 1922. Hotel PotomacThe Hotel Potomac across the street retains at least some of the structure, and sits on the same site, of the old Conrad and McMunn boardinghouse, where Thomas Jefferson lived while he was vice president. Alas, that whole block would be razed in 1929. What a beautiful sidewalkThat would be the envy of any city today. There it isWhat would a Shorpy photo be like if there were no milk bottles on the window sill? Interesting vehicleAnyone know what kind of car the 3rd car from the right is? Unusual as it has no front radiator. [It's a circa 1916 Franklin, which used an air-cooled engine. - Dave] Car ID's suggestionsFront row R to L: Studebaker; Star; Franklin; Velie; unknown; Ford; Studebaker; Studebaker; Haynes; Ford; Dodge(dirty); Pierce-Arrow; Studebaker; Buick; 2 Ford coupes; hidden car; Ford sedan etc. Back row two cars in front of bus and three directly in back are all Fords including one converted to a truck. Car with plate 10845 with knife edge styling is a Hudson. Others need more study. The House SideThe hotels are on the present site of the Longworth House Office Building. The Cannon Building, from which the photo was taken, was built about 1908. B Street is now Independence Avenue; the photo looks toward C Street SE. South Capitol Street, which divides the quadrants, is a block west (right) between Longworth and the Rayburn Building, which was built in the early 1960s. Something's WrongIt's actually several years past 1922. The District of Columbia license plates seen on the cars indicate that this photo was actually taken in 1925. The format of the 1925 D.C. plate, with "Dist. Col. 1925" between the bolt slots is a one year only feature. Confirming the date is the presence of a late 1924 or 1925 model Pierce Arrow Model 80 (12th car from the right). Other cars at the beginning of the row: 1920-1921 Studebaker Big 6 (Model EG) 1922 Star (made by Durant Motors) 1914 - 1916 Franklin Series 8 (note electric lights) 1925 Cleveland Six Model 43 1920 - 1922 Oldsmobile Model 46 Ford Model T Note how few cars have front wheel brakes. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Rainey's Harley: 1922
At the White House gates. "M.A. Rainey, October 5, 1922." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. ... O.E. Morgan. Washington Post, Feb 28, 1922 Wrecked in Liquor Race An exciting chase between Park ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2013 - 11:48am -

At the White House gates. "M.A. Rainey, October 5, 1922." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Eh?Mr. Rainey couldn't hear over the sound of how awesome he was on his Harley. Sidehacks Rule!What a great photo of new (then) Harley and sidecar. In those days, Harley sold more motorcycles with sidecars than without. Harley was in competition with the Model T Fords for the family transportation market. These days, Harley is the only motorcycle manufacturer that makes their own sidecars. Phantom FifeI think Deputy Barney Fife was also reprimanded for his "wild west tactics" by Sheriff Taylor during his stint as a motorcycle cop in Mayberry. SpeedometerThe speedometer is the round gauge nearest us with the wrapped cable coming out of it. The other gauge (with the light) maybe a tach, I'm not sure. The metal box is for tools. I also love the cop spotlight. I need one for my sidehack rig. Maurice A. RaineyMaurice A. Rainey (ca. 1891 - Oct.9, 1952). Son of Robert B. and Catherine B. Rainey. A veteran of WWI, he is interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Washington Post, Oct 2, 1921 Praises Officer Rainey. Park Policeman M.A. Rainey, who was reprimanded by Judge Mattingly in the Police court early in the week for alleged "wild west tactics" in bringing a speeding motorist to a halt, was yesterday commended for his work by Col. C.O. Sherrill, superintendent of public buildings and grounds. Col. Sherrill conducted an investigation into the incident, and after a hearing in his office yesterday stated that Rainey's "actions were beyond criticism and were most admirable." He expressed his appreciation of the aid given Rainey in making the arrest by Serg. F. Wilson, Gen. Pershing's chauffeur, and Park Policemen C.D. Fortner and O.E. Morgan. Washington Post, Feb 28, 1922 Wrecked in Liquor Race An exciting chase between Park Policeman Maurice A. Rainey, stationed on the speedway, and an alleged bootleg automobile through the streets of the northwestern section, early Sunday, resulted in the machine crashing into a tree at Twenty-sixth street and New York avenue northwest, wrecking it. The alleged bootleggers escaped. The bootleggers threw a quantity of Scotch whisky, Rainey declared, from the the speeding machine. The wrecked car was confiscated by the police and revenue agents. When the bootleggers jumped from the machine Rainey abandoned his motorcycle and gave chase on foot, but was outdistanced by the negroes. Washington Post, Jun 28, 1931 Park Policeman Hurt; Motorist is Released Park Policeman M.A. Rainey was injured yesterday morning when he was knocked from his motorcycle by an automobile driven by James H. Harper, 23, of Mount Rainier, MD., at Ellipse Road. Rainey was treated at Emergency Hospital for a broken leg and bruises. Harper was held at the Third Precinct until the extent of the policeman's injuries were determined. No charges were placed against him and he was later released. Washington Post, May 13, 1933 Buddies of the Lost Battalion Meet Here after 15 years A shadowy line advanced across a French battlefield. It as 1918, the Lost Battalion was hemmed in by enemy forces and the First Gas Brigade was attempting to cut an escape passage through for their beleaguered comrades. There was a burst of machine gun fire. Many of the advancing line fell in their tracks. One was Pvt. M.A. Rainey. His sergeant, Edward McDade, stopped a moment: "Can I do anything, Rainey," he said. "Go ahead," said Rainey. "I'll get by somehow." Sgt. McDade went ahead. After an interminable wait, stretcher bearers got Rainey back to a base hospital. Night before last Private M.A. Rainey, of the United States Park police, was assigned with the detail to move the bonus marchers from Seaton Park. Rainey was strolling through the milling veterans when a hand was laid on his arm. It was his old sergeant, "the best sergeant a guy ever had," said Rainey. And the two men had a reunion right there. It was the first time they had met since Rainey fell with five machine gun slugs in his body. Rainey finally recovered in the base hospital and for fourteen years has been connected with the Park Police. McDade, who comes from Michigan, rode here on a freight train to ask for his bonus. (The Gallery, D.C., Motorcycles, Natl Photo)
Frosty the Mailman: 1922
... completion of their appointed rounds. January 1922. Washington, D.C. "Snow scenes after blizzard." When the mailbox is also ... of '22 Washington Post, January 29, 1922. Blizzard Costs 1 Life; Capital Goes Afoot; Business is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/16/2014 - 10:32am -

        Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. January 1922. Washington, D.C. "Snow scenes after blizzard." When the mailbox is also an icebox. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. UniformAs an ex letter carrier I wonder if that was the standard winter uniform at the time. Also what the "D" meant on his hat? I don't think he was a carrier as they would have had to take the train or bus to get to their routes, they would not have been collecting bags of mail. Blizzard of '22 Washington Post, January 29, 1922. Blizzard Costs 1 Life; Capital Goes Afoot; Business is Halted More than 24 inches of continuous snow had last night covered the middle Atlantic section, with Washington as a center, to a depth of a foot to nearly 30 inches; caused the suspension of practically all business and social activity; disrupted transportation and shut most of the populations in their homes. The storm, which weather bureau officials, after looking up their records, said was one of the most severe in history and exceeded in the depth of snowfall only by the long-remembered blizzard, 1899, was moving slowly last night up the coast from its position during the day off Virginia. … Automobiles and other motor vehicles likewise were unable to cope at all during the day with the snow and last night the streets of downtown Washington were lined with abandoned cars, some of which owners had not been able to move since Friday night. Taxicabs did a thriving business, but as the snow increased their numbers were decimated by the drifts. … Thousands of government employes walked to work and many in the outlying or suburban sections stayed at home. When noon came and the storm showed no signs of abating and the weather bureau held out no hope, many bureaus dismissed the employes so as to allow them to get to their homes.… Mailman or doorman?With the "D" on his cap, I'm wondering if this might be a doorman or porter from a hotel or building, putting mail into the box. [Only a postal employee would have access to the interior of the box. Also, his badge is an official Post Office Department issue - the last year of this wreath design, in fact. I haven't been able to find the significance of the "D"; usually it's a number, but others denote a specific function. -tterrace] "D" on Postal Uniform CapMaybe the D stands for Delivery, as that is what he appears to be doing: getting ready to deliver mail. [Badges for letter carriers (aka"mailmen") were numbered. At any rate, he's not delivering, he's collecting mail - in this case packages - customers have deposited in the box. -tterrace] "D" for "Driver"?In an age when autos/trucks were still relatively new and not everyone had a drivers license, maybe he was a driver. Possibly driving a truck to pick up mail from the boxes around town. RelaysBack then they may have had relay boxes. You would case your mail for the route, put it in a bag and it would be dropped off in a green relay box. You would then go to that box, take out the mail for your route and then deliver it. Maybe back then they used regular mail boxes for relays. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Left and Right: 1922
Washington, D.C., 1922. "Auto accident." View full size. National Photo Co. Acronyms ... this car had Maryland and DC license plates, both from 1922. Does it mean it was possible to register your car in two states back ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/09/2018 - 5:17pm -

Washington, D.C., 1922. "Auto accident." View full size. National Photo Co. AcronymsWow, the original "Found On Road Dead" Ford! Whooee.Transverse leaf spring front suspension! Talk about ancient. Wheel Alignmentand here we see excess toe out and negative camber Another Fine MessThis real-life shot reminds me of several Laurel and Hardy short comedies in which Tin Lizzies met similar fates. This poor "T" has an almost human helplessness in this photo. Amen!You're right, Anonymous Tipster! It doesn't take a lot of imagination to see a dejected human in this car...this looks like me after Summer School registration today! An Accident?Was it really an accident? (I love the understatement of that title/description, by the way.) Somehow, it looks as though the car simply gave up, albeit in a less spectacular fashion, in the same way that the Dodge Monaco gave up at the end of the Blues Brothers movie. "Our lady of blessed acceleration, don't fail me now!" [As we can see, it drove halfway up onto the streetcar platform. - Dave] Why the two license platesfor both Maryland and the District of Columbia? [Because you had to have a plate for each jurisdiction the car was driven in. - Dave] Double registration?I just noticed, this car had Maryland and DC license plates, both from 1922. Does it mean it was possible to register your car in two states back then? (The Gallery, Bizarre, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo, Streetcars)
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