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Andy's Cafe: 1941
... Interstate 75. Interestingly, Shorpy favorite John Vachon seems to have taken a picture of this place in November 1938 . ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/11/2023 - 4:31pm -

September 1941. "Stockmen's and farmers' and truckers' hotel near Union Stockyards. South Omaha, Nebraska." Acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the FSA. View full size. Where our customers must be satisfiedAndy's Cafe makes quite a promise. I assume he was trying to draw customers out of the Stockman's Hotel and Restaurant across the street. The Stockman's neon blade sign says, 26 & N Street. The 1940 Omaha directory lists Andy's cafe at 2524 N Street, and Gross Lumber & Wrecking at 2522 (you can see the numbers in the photo) N Street. Here is an Earth view of that intersection today. The heart is where I believe Andy's was, since the trolly tracks turn to the right (towards downtown). Click to embiggen All gone now ...This appears to be the intersection of South 26th Street and N Street, in an area that seems to have been demolished to make way for the JFK Expressway, Interstate 75. Interestingly, Shorpy favorite John Vachon seems to have taken a picture of this place in November 1938. Czech influenceFrank Pivonka - the name on the very top of the building in the center-back, had a saloon on Seventh and Jones street. He was the first Czech to settle there. He was born January 19, 1840, and built the Pivonka Block. He’s maybe this guy https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61824231/frank-frederick-pivonka. The Last RoundupSurviving for a surprisingly long time, the area received some sympathetic coverage at the end. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, M.P. Wolcott, Omaha)
Double Duty: 1942
... Accommodations at the Wisdom Hotel." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Two things ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/26/2021 - 1:02pm -

April 1942. "Wisdom, Beaverhead County, Montana. Accommodations at the Wisdom Hotel." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Two things rarely seen these daysCatalogs and outhouses. Sears stopped producing its general catalog in 1993. It's a long, long way to necessaryYears ago I learned a German word. It is one of those complex German words that has a nuanced meaning involving a stressful situation, the distance from point A to point B and a toilet. Fahrfumpoopen. Just a word from an experienced user. While waiting to finish, tear out a generous number of catalog pages and give them a good rubbing up. Much more satisfying than straight from the book. Ya gotta love the Google Books search engineIssue 134 of the Montgomery Ward catalog (1941), Page 412. https://books.google.com/books?id=uWhQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA412&dq=sun+valley+pl... No thanks!A hotel with an outhouse? And a shared outhouse at that? Umm ... maybe I don't want a time travel machine. Thank GoodnessFor the camera angle ... I've used facilities like this in my younger days, and the combination of visual and olfactory assaults were a bit much. No No, not the glossy pagesWhen I was a kid we were the only ones with a septic tank and flush toilet. My great-grandparents who lived behind us and my grandfather across the road had outhouses and used old telephone directories and the soft pages from Sears and Roebuck catalogs. When those were gone then the misery of the glossy pages began. Re: Ya gotta love the Google Books search engineLooks like they kept the Sears catalog to use for actually buying things and the Monkey Wards catalog for ... oh well. Two cowpunchers walked into a bar...On April 22, 1942, John Vachon wrote from Wisdom to his wife: "Last night 2 soused cowpunchers had a real slugging knocking down rolling on the floor fight in the joint next door ... After a few minutes I ran and got my camera, and when I came back they were buying each other drinks and lighting cigarettes. They wouldn't fight again for the camera." From the book, "John Vachon's America." Careful!The seat appears smooth so splinters may not be an issue but watch out for those gaps in the board. They are just waiting to pinch someone. Slick paper?That's rough. Deluxe OuthouseTravel through British Columbia and you will find that most Rest Stops on the highways feature modern concrete pit toilets and a few picnic tables. Regional parks in the Vancouver area also have outhouses; there is one just 1 km. from where I live. On Lopez Island in Washington State there is this amazing pit toilet. From the outside it is a plain wood building, but when you open the door you are greeted with a spotless interior - including fresh lilacs. Best title ever?Certainly right up there!! Additionally, it looks like the wall covering was used once or twice as emergency TP -- that couldn't have been pleasant. (The Gallery, Bizarre, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Recovering Nicely: 1953
... 1953. Marilyn Monroe with Look magazine photographer John Vachon in Alberta, Canada, after she hurt her ankle filming River of No ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2013 - 11:00am -

1953. Marilyn Monroe with Look magazine photographer John Vachon in Alberta, Canada, after she hurt her ankle filming River of No Return. View full size. Architectural themeFor Alberta hospitals c. 1953? Dreary. But the hospital "gown" is aesthetically quite OK. Two WordsHubba Hubba ! Tough JobPoor John Vachon. Travel up to a beautiful part of Canada, hang around and photograph some young actress named Marilyn Monroe. Nice work if you can get it. I would have taken this gig, but was only 1 year old at the time. Where's a time machine when you need it? SplendidRecovery, I must say. Axiom Proven Once AgainAs it is often said when a picture of the darling Marilyn is posted ... She never took a bad picture ... The lovely smile, beautiful hair and a natural body shape that still makes men drool 51 years after her death. Is that a tan line ...... on her leg? [See this photo. -tterrace] (John Vachon, Marilyn Monroe, Pretty Girls)
Arkansas Pickers: 1940
... family before moving on to new work location." Photo by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. OUCH! ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/09/2019 - 10:43am -

July 1940. Berrien County, Michigan. "Migrant agricultural workers -- 'fruit tramps' harvesting cherries and strawberries. Miserable housing in company shacks, cabins, tents, trucks, abandoned farm buildings, small children in fields with parents. Migrant mother from Arkansas taking a picture of the family before moving on to new work location." Photo by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. OUCH!"Fruit tramps"? Harsh! Somewhere ...Somewhere, in some hope chest, closet, thrift store, or landfill - is an 80 year old image from a Kodak Brownie of John Vachon sitting on the roof of a shed taking this image. Big Sis?Far be it from me to question Mr. Vachon who was obviously there on the spot in 1940, but... the young lady holding the camera hardly looks old enough to be a mom. Could it be that 'mom' is whose legs are visible off to the left holding the baby while big sister tries to snap a photo of her brothers and their dog? [Once upon a time it was not uncommon to see women in their twenties with little kids who were their actual children! - Dave] (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dogs, John Vachon, Kids)
Whiskey Wine Brandy Gin: 1939
... store in Gateway District, Minneapolis." 35mm negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Motorola ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2011 - 6:13pm -

September 1939. "Liquor store in Gateway District, Minneapolis." 35mm negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. MotorolaThe antenna: re: MotorolaThank you! I posted the photos on a classic car forum and someone speculated that it might be a Motorola, but I wasn't able to find anything on it myself. 32 Washington AvenueThe Minnesota Historical Society has Hughes Drugs at 32 Washington Avenue South. It was housed in a block of buildings which contained several addresses on the east side of Washington. [The address here is, as we can see, 38. Stores move, or can have more than one location. - Dave] MercBrand spankin' new '39 Mercury sitting front and center. First year for the new marque. 1939-2011 RIP September 1939It was the worst month in modern history of my country (Poland). However, nice to see such a pretty place, at the same time, but other side of the ocean. And this car, I always thaught, that body is postwar style. Not just a while before the WW II. Merc gizmoSo what is this? I speculated that it was a flashy antenna, but a cursory Google search didn't come up with anything like it. Merely decorative? Whatever, I love it. "Chicago Service"What is it? Blimey!Whiskey, wine, brandy, trusses, rubber goods AND cut-price drugs? Drugs, Booze ...What! No gambling? At least you can buy a truss. Today this enterprise would be run by the Government. HandsomeI can see where my PV 544 got his good looks. This could be the Toad's grandfather. HmmI wonder what they sell at this store? I'm kidding! Great photo -- I especially like seeing the film perforations. Drugs, trusses, rubber goodsOne-stop shopping! LettersSome signpainter was in business for a while after that job! Chicago ServiceDoes the cafe feature surly waiters? Or is that called "New York service"? Chicago ServiceThe regular daily train between Minneapolis and Chicago ran to a station just along here, which may be the origin of the cafeteria's name. Merc gizmo foundI finally found a match for the "gizmo" on the Mercury's roof. It is indeed a radio antenna, and here's another one on a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr. Maybe it was a Ford product. What an incredibly cool thing. [I just knew TT would find this. Several commenters opined the gizmo was a "scratch on the negative" (which would have been black lines, not white) or part of the sign behind the car. - Dave] Positively Second StreetAs best as I can tell, these addresses were on the northeast side of South Second Street (a block south of the Great Northern Railway station, which was at the foot of Hennepin Avenue). Vachon, a St. Paul native, would have known the area well. In the 1950s, as scorched-earth urban renewal was on its way for the Gateway, young University of Minnesota sociology students, led by Theodore Caplow, conducted groundbreaking field research in this area on the thousands who called the Gateway's cage hotels, missions and alleys their home. This spot is now on Gateway Greenway, a one-block auto-free path. Motorola AntennaHere's another, more elaborate version of the antenna on a '38 Plymouth in a photo taken in summer 2010. IgnoredThe antennaless car behind the Mercury is a 1939 Chevrolet that has an accessory hood ornament. This was the last year that you could obtain a rear mounted spare tire on a Chevy until the availability of "continental kits" in the 1950s. Chevrolet discontinued these last car models without modern trunks early in the model year. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Minneapolis-St. Paul)
The Farmer's Daughter
... Nebraska. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. I think… …I heard a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/11/2007 - 9:38pm -

October 1938. Farm girl in Seward County, Nebraska. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. I think……I heard a joke about her once... NebraskaI was taking the train across the country a few years ago. A woman got on in western Nebraska and, as will sometimes happen between strangers on a train, she and the older woman sitting next to her just hit it off. And I admit that I eavesdropped and listened for several hours to this young woman just tell all about her life living out there on a farm in Nebraska. These pictures are like that... wow*absolutely beautiful* Looks like "Christina'sLooks like "Christina's World" from the front. Farmer's DaughterThis is Joe Manning, of the Lewis Hine Project. I have started researching some of the FSA photos, and couldn't resist this one. I contacted John Vachon's daughter, but she said he didn't keep any records of who she was. So I was able to get the Seward County Independent newspaper to publish the photo to see if anyone recognized her. Within hours after the article appeared, I got an email from the girl's son, and she is still alive! She is 79 years old and still lives in Seward County. She has an enlarged copy of the photo on her dresser. I will be interviewing her. I will post some information about this on my website soon. See http://www.morningsonmaplestreet.com/oldphotos.html Farmer's DaughterJoe Manning again. I interviewed this lovely girl today, now 79 years old. She was born Eunice Claudine Abele. She was a delight to talk to, a charming woman who had many wonderful stories to tell about growing up on the farm, and later taking it over when her parents retired. I hope to post some of that interview soon. Farmer's DaughterThis is Joe Manning. I have completed my work on Claudine Abele, the so-called farmer's daughter. I have posted considerable information on my site, including more than a dozen photos of her, 20 pages from her childhood diary about growing up on the farm, the text of an interview with her, now 79 years old, and even a 5-minute audio excerpt of the interview that you can listen to. She is a remarkable woman who has faced life with faith and perserverence. Go to: www.morningsonmaplestreet.com/nebraskafarmgirl1.html Farmer's DaughterThis is Joe Manning. The link to my story of this girl has been changed. It is now: http://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/11/26/nebraska-farm-girl-page-one/ (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids)
The Corn Is Yellow: 1942
... from wagon through feed store window." 35mm Kodachrome by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Wide ranging ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/30/2022 - 1:07pm -

Sardinia, Ohio, circa 1942. "Man shoveling ears of dried corn from wagon through feed store window." 35mm Kodachrome by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Wide ranging referentsDave, I'm wondering how many folks remember what color the corn is (was)? Bean bag tossThis is a variation of the cornhole game but with real corn and an easier goal. Miss Lilly MoffatI loved The Corn is Green (1945). Bette Davis is my spirit animal. In a more bureaucratic environmentJust inside the window would be a wooden trailer, identical to the one the man is standing in. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Agriculture, John Vachon)
Shacktown: 1940
... chickens. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. Shacktown: 1940 Does anyone know if the people in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 10:03am -

April 1940. Shacktown in Dubuque, Iowa. Many residents keep a cow or a few chickens. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. Shacktown: 1940Does anyone know if the people in this, and in other Dubuque photos by John Vachon, were identified by the photographer? If he did identify them, where can I find out who they were? Re: Shacktown IDsNo names in the caption info. Actually there was no caption at all for this one. I got it from a nearby frame. They took my chair!I have a chair that looks exactly like that one, except there's a part you can sit on. I knew it was old, but now I have an idea as to how. Shacktown residents?My grandmother talked about a "slabtown" that opened near a mine in rural Virginia. It was called "slabtown" because it was built out of slabs, the cheapest kind of lumber that came from the sawmill, and its residents were prostitutes. I wonder if this is the same kind of low-rent red light district. Little Girl is BeautifulThe little girl is just beautiful ~ the wind blowing her dress and her little striped socks. Mom standing behind her looks lovely, too. I hope she had a good life and was happy. I don't know why this makes me so sad, though. Wish I knew more about her. (The Gallery, Dogs, John Vachon, Kids)
Air Castle: 1942
... Abandoned roadhouse." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Seeing Bates ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2021 - 2:19pm -

February 1942. "Bates County relocation project, Missouri. Abandoned roadhouse." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Seeing Bates CountyI wonder if John Vachon stayed at the Bates Motel. I wonder Do you think they may have sold soft drinks here? LocationThis property is located in Newton County and was condemned by the Fed Gov for the construction of Camp Crowder. All of the Displaced Indigenous Persons were relocated to Bates County. I have to agree that the ditch/creek looks odd being there. This is a 'Roadhouse' so the road is no doubt to the left. Where's the driveway to the building? The walkway to same? I think the building has been empty for a while and the prep work for the drainage and road improvement has begun a bit earlier. (the grass is growing back) [The driveway to the parking lot would be out of frame to the right. - Dave] But the road!?The roadhouse looks empty but shuttered and closed. But that road? I have never seen one like it. Almost a "sunken" road as you may see in England or the continent. Long periods of foot traffic not cars. Why would it look like that? [That's a ditch, and I'd be happy to drive! - Dave] (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon, Rural America)
Raised on Radio: 1942
... ordnance plant." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Radio ID ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2021 - 5:50pm -

February 1942. "Burlington, Iowa. Sunnyside unit, Farm Security Administration trailer camp. In a trailer for workers at the Burlington ordnance plant." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Radio IDThat would be a Crosley "Fiver", a moderately priced radio with decent performance. Farm Security + War InformationJohn Vachon continues his travels, mixing his original assignment (Farm Security Administration) with what it was morphing into (Office of War Information). The Burlington facility, officially the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, began production in 1941. It ceased production in 1945, started again in 1949, and is still operating. In 1990 it also became a Superfund site due to contamination by explosives and lead. As the photo below indicates, by 1944 women were leaving their trailers to manufacture ammo. Let's hope this lady and her son knew uncontaminated lives. She's found her stationJudging from the dial position, she is listening to KBUR on 1490 kc. That Burlington station came on the air in 1941. Lucky Tiger ShampooSeveral different style bottles, through the years, the bottle on the right, appears to be like this one. I too want to be a Lucky Tiger!If it's good enough for them it's good enough for me! And its still made today. By golly I am going to try it! Well-groomedI think this kid has just had some Lucky Tiger hair products applied. Judging by the dial positionit seems more likely she is tuning in KSO ("Keep Serving Others"), moved in March 1941 to 1460-kHz, then one of two Des Moines stations owned by the Des Moines News and Register and an NBC Blue affiliate. With 5-kw daytime, 1-kw nighttime, quite powerful for the era, the station could easily broadcast the 150 miles between the two cities, especially since the nearest station then on 1460-kHz was four hundred miles west running 1-kw. Lucky TigerAre you implying that the look on his face is a result of an unauthorized use of the shampoo? Note the alcohol content. Mommy, turn on the Lone Ranger!17 years later, I was a big fan of the Lone Ranger on the family Zenith. Alongside Highway 61 (again)FSA-sponsored Sunnyside trailer park, officially opened Nov. 1, 1941, was at corner of Sunnyside and Roosevelt Avenues in the City of Burlington. FSA had set up trailer park camps for agricultural workers, but according to the local newspaper (the Burlington Hawk-Eye) this was the first time it had set up one for defense plant workers. Roosevelt Avenue, at that spot, was better known as U.S. Highway 61 (later made famous by Bob Dylan, born May 24, 1941). This is only one of several John Vachon pics for the FSA taken near Highway 61, which generally runs in the west side of the Mississippi from Minnesota to New Orleans. In February 1942, there would have been little of interest to a child this age on KBUR. For its first year, that local station was not affiliated with any network, and most of its programming was homegrown. But starting later that year (in July 1942), it joined NBC's Blue network, thereby allowing shows like The Lone Ranger and Red Ryder to come through loud and clear in Burlington. What is it?I would like to know what the device is above the window? (Yes, bad English, but I think you know what I mean.) Base CanardI too was raised on radio and have always resented hearing younger folk say, "Back then listeners always stared at the radio." The youngster here is doing exactly as I remember - staring into space while enjoying the theater of the mind. Familiar GroundsMy husband's family is from Burlington and both his grandmother and great grandmother as well as aunts worked at the plant. There is a cemetery on the land owned by the Plant where the relatives of a close family friend is buried, unfortunately it is very difficult to get permission to visit. Shower and a shave!Don't forget your Woodbury aftershave lotion. Wall Sconce lampThat looks like a wall sconce lamp. Its output would be aimed downward against the wall and would light the room via reflection. Probably would give a nice indirect glow. Like the chrome styling too. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, WW2)
Good American Food: 1942
... the "homey" Palace Cafe. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Now, good ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/19/2022 - 12:51pm -

May 1942. "Grand Island, Nebraska." Home of the "homey" Palace Cafe. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Now, good ol' American marketing.Lots of building still there, but that monster in the center is gone. On the horns of a dilemmaI'm drawn to the courteous service and homey atmosphere at the New Palace -- not to mention the modern rest rooms and reasonable prices -- but then at Caredis I am welcome "just as I am" and am invited to inspect their ... something. Whatever it is, I'd like to check it out. Since I'm so welcome. In other news, the woman walking away from the camera on the far right-hand side of the photo instantly struck me as resembling Loretta, the female assassin who walks towards Robert Redford a/k/a Johnny Hooker in the alleyway in The Sting. Loretta wasn't wearing a headscarf, but still. Gives me chills just thinking about it. Both the Palace Cafe and Caredis Cafehave large signs directed at "tourists" ... what made Grand Island, Nebraska a tourist hot spot in 1942? What tourists?Both cafes seem to be catering to tourists. I wonder how big the hospitality business was in Grand Island 5 months into WWII. The Palace Cafe looks like it was a movie house in a past life, what with that sidewalk canopy/marquee and the vertical signage. Superb (Again)Vachon wasn't one of the photographers I learned about back when that was my field of study. But I'm going to make up for lost time. These Shorpy sharings induced me to buy a couple of his books. I eagerly await their arrival. Rare bird sighting!Photographer Vachon, perhaps by chance, captured the ultra-rare auto seen here in the closest parking space on the right-hand side. The famed Borden Dairy firm decided, in the mid 1920s, to branch into another industry, and thus was born Borden's Eagle Automobiles, Inc. There was just one model, shown here: the Borden's Eagle Condensed Special. Unfortunately, the demand for such a truncated car just wasn't enough to justify the investment and the venture was unsuccessful, folding after just two years. MystifiedWhat would have been un-American food and service in the middle of 1942 in the middle of Nebraska? Somehow I doubt that the Caredis Cafe next door is offering moussaka instead of mac and cheese, bifteki instead of burgers or baklava instead of apple pie. But the cooled air and the 24/7 might be a thorn in the side of the New Palace Cafe. [In the 1920s and '30s, any American restaurant with "Palace" in its name was very likely a chop suey joint serving Chinese food. Grand Island's original Palace Cafe, whose owner Saburo Shindo was Japanese, was one of them. - Dave] CuisineNo sushi or weinerschnitzel. Evolution of transportationFrom right hand corner: Walking-bicycling-Model T Ford-Model A Ford-current Chevrolet. But seriously --It's a Ford Model T from the last few years of its' run, 1925 or so to '27. Comparing it in size with the brand-new '42 Chevy across the street shows just how much the "low-priced 3" American cars had grown already. TouristsConstruction started on the nearby Cornhusker Ordnance Plant in March 1942. Thousands moved there to work at the plant, making Grand Island a boom-town with a shortage of housing. Suspect "tourist" in this sense would mean "out of towner". Why tourists?Grand Island would have been a good day's drive east from Denver in the 1940s. It was probably a natural stopping point unless people really wanted to press on more hours to Lincoln or Omaha. One reason for Grand Island tourists in 1942In 1905, in a tiny rental home at 622 W. Division Street in Grand Island (in "Railroad town") a child was born to a recently-married couple with special Shorpy-cred: Uneeda Biscuits Co. salesman William Fonda, and his wife Herberta. The baby was named Henry. The Fonda family's stay in Grand Island was brief; the next year, the threesome moved east to Omaha, where Henry was raised and developed an interest in theatre. Fifteen months before this picture was taken, Henry was nominated for an Oscar for playing Tom Joad in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." He didn't win then, but would win one eventually. AAF Base, Grand IslandMy late father was an engine mechanic on the big WWII bombers (B-17, B-24, B-29). He spent essentially the entirety of his service at the AAF bases in Fort Hayes, Kansas, and Grand Island, Nebraska. Anyone who's ever spent time near a military base knows there are always lots of "tourists." (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Three's Company: 1940
... in boardinghouse. Radford, Virginia." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. They clean up nicely We've seen several ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/08/2020 - 8:09pm -

December 1940. "Construction workers at Hercules powder plant in their room in boardinghouse. Radford, Virginia." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. They clean up nicelyWe've seen several Vachon photos of the eighteen workers living in Mrs. Pritchard's boardinghouse in Radford. Neat, clean, and orderly. The landlady had rules, and they had decorum. Did Vachon take any photos of the men after (or at) their work and before they got themselves clean and smart? ObservationsDid the guys go all out with the Christmas decorations this year? Is that a campaign button on the man on the right? How many younger people know what that round plate of the wall above his head is for? Are those home-canned peaches in the jar? Also of note: the room came furnished with a sewing machine. Please, do tell!I'm "older people" and I don't know what the plate is for. Round Plate My guess is a 'flue cover' the plate over a stovepipe chimney port. Looks like one anyway... Above his headI've heard it be known as a thimble. It's used to block the flue pipe of a stove at the wall. Usually like a tin pie plate, this one's a bit more fancy. Round plate on the wallCovers the opening for the stovepipe. While this is 1940, the photo on the upper right is of a young lady from about 1927 or 1928. Round plateIt’s the cover for a stovepipe hole. I remember that plate from a long-ago place I lived. It was similarly ornamented, with a floral motif. As the twig is bent ...Our trees were in service every Yuletide for decades, but even by 1976 they were in better shape. But then they never had to move between boardinghouses. Mrs. Pritchard took one look at his pantsAnd gave him the room with a sewing machine. Pok-PokThe ceramic chicken candy dishes stir long-forgotten memories. Haven't seen those in 50 years. Employee 3803The "campaign button" that Wally mentioned in the first comment is an employee ID badge. I remember that my father who worked in a factory office had something similar. A jar of peaches maybe?Yet no bowl or spoon to eat it with. My grandmother canned spiced peaches that we would eat only on holidays. (The Gallery, Christmas, John Vachon)
Logan's Heroes: 1942
... hitchhiking along U.S. Highway 40." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... I would give them a lift anytime. (The Gallery, John Vachon, On the Road, Small Towns, WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/18/2022 - 2:15pm -

May 1942. Kremmling, Colorado. "Soldiers from Fort Logan hitchhiking along U.S. Highway 40." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Synchronized ThumbingOur boys show how it's done: Army Air CorpsEnlisted Army Air Corps personnel (collar insignia). There's an airfield in Kremmling, but I don't know if that was an Army Air Corps installation at one time. I wonder where they're heading, particularly since they don't seem to have any luggage. My dad was on his wayWithin a year or so of Vachon's picture my father arrived at Ft Logan as a newly minted Army Air Corpsman destined for medical corps training. Here he is back in Brooklyn with his younger sister either on his way west or on his way to Fort Dix where he shipped out to England (not sure of which way he was going). Here they are again (on the left) about twenty years later in this picture I posted here a few years ago. I don't have many regrets but one I do have is never really asking Dad about his service time. He told me quite a bit about his college days but never elaborated much on his time in the Army. I wish I could go back and question him about it. Army Air Corps (not yet Air Force)The two soldiers appear to be wearing the DUI (Distinctive Unit Insignia) of the Army Air Corps' Technical Training Command, which had a branch at Lowry Field, Colorado. As opposed to flight instruction, the Technical Training Command instructed soldiers in support skills like photography, armament and clerical roles. Superman SustainsIt's a bird; it's a plane; it's an Airman! CockedI bet that guy on the left didn't wear his hat that way during inspections. Hitch HikersI would give them a lift anytime. (The Gallery, John Vachon, On the Road, Small Towns, WW2)
One-Horse Town: 1943
... "A man going to the livestock auction." Safety negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Slice of life ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 7:51pm -

April 1943. San Augustine, Texas. "A man going to the livestock auction." Safety negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Slice of life 1943I wish I'd taken this. What a great documentation of everyday life, meshing with art. John Vachon was an amazing photographer. EmbraceWould love to know the story of the embrace in the doorway. Looks rather poignant. Some things changeand some things don't. While the buildings are still intact, only J.P. Mathews Co. seems to still be in the same location. View Larger Map Look CloselyAnd in the group of stores behind the cowboy, you'll see not one but two storefronts with Coca-Cola signs. I'm viewing this on an iPad and I cannot see it much larger but there may be more. RebelBy the way everyone is attired in the photo, it appears to be somewhat chilly, i.e. longsleeves, coats, sweaters, etc. Except for the woman walking at the far left, she looks determined to wear her summer dress, regardless of temp. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Horses, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Grizzly Gas: 1942
... Pennz at fifty paces. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Hope that ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/21/2021 - 11:10am -

April 1942. "Missoula, Montana. Entering the town." Grizz vs. Pennz at fifty paces. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Hope that Pennzoil sign survivedA full bell porcelain Pennzoil with the stand. Oh my ... I would die and go to heaven to have that signage. Just beautiful. Things you can do in Missoula#1 - Buy gas. #2 - Buy more gas. What this town needsis a gas station. Putting 20 cents in perspectiveAccording to a National Archives summary of 1940 Census data, average wage income in that year was $1,368. Even assuming wages had risen to $1,500 a year with the onset of the war--or roughly $29 a week--a 10-gallon fill-up for $2 would still be a nontrivial hit to your pretax pay. Source: https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2012/spring/1940.html VehicleWhat is that bug-eyed conveyance on the highway? [A loud Buick! - Dave] The GrizzlymobileGas jockey drives it up and down the strip broadcasting: "Get gas at Grizzly for just 17.9 cents a gallon." Loud Speaker CDI think it's a Civil Defense vehicle with loudspeakers. [Or is it the Grizzly Gasoline parade car, with the company logo on each door and GRIZZLY emblazoned on each loudspeaker? - Dave] In the more things change department ...Gas at 19 cents per gallon would be roughly $3.20 a gallon in today's dollars. Pricey! Bluesmobile 1.0Attention, you by the gas pumps, tonight, for one night only, the fabulous Blues Brothers Revue. And it’s Ladies’ Night. I-90 into Missoula is now BroadwayMissoula has grown and now some of the old highways are streets. I found this by getting the mountains to line up as in John Vachon's 1942 photograph. Also, if you back up the Google street view a little and swing to the left I believe the two story building with a sign in front saying, Colonial is the same two story building in the 1942 photograph with a sign in front saying, Texaco. Grizz territoryInteresting to see the Grizzly name on the gas station. The University of Montana was founded in Missoula in 1893. Turns out the first mention of a college mascot was in 1897, when they used live bear cubs to promote their athletic teams, known as the Bears. The "Grizzlies" name was adopted in 1923. Last GasIs that another Texaco station way down the road? (The Gallery, Gas Stations, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Belle of the Beans: 1941
... Our Lady of Legumes. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Maud ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/11/2020 - 7:34pm -

August 1941. "Bean picker. Shawano County, Wisconsin." Our Lady of Legumes. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Maud Muller, personifiedBeneath her torn hat glowed the wealth Of simple beauty and rustic health. ... And sweet Maud Muller's hazel eyes Looked out in their innocent surprise. —John Greenleaf Whittier, "Maud Muller" Some day ...Her feet are in the fields, but where are her mind and heart? Straight to the top Of the Pretty Girls Gallery for you, young lady. Who'd have guessed?Who would have guessed hat bean picker kids would be such a pulchritudinous bunch. The previous bean picker girl was cute as a button, this one is very pretty too. Of course young Mr. Vachon was filtering for it. Quoting Tom WaitsNothing wrong with her a Hundred Dollars won't fix. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon)
Our Daily Bird: 1942
... lady and that kid . Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pin ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/16/2022 - 7:24pm -

May 1942. "Lancaster County, Nebraska. Mrs. Lynn May, FSA borrower, cleaning a chicken." Our second look at this lady and that kid. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pin feathers and pin curlsAlthough everything about this mother and her task appear so old-timey – her dress, her hair, her glasses, her kitchen chore – there’s nothing at all old about her. I’ll bet she’s still in her twenties. Least favorite part of cleaning a chickenI wasn't sure before, but it's clear now Mrs. Lynn May is pulling the pin feathers. Times the six chickens that I count makes for some tedious preparation. If it were me that milk would have vodka in it. There he is againThat ethereal child, bathed in that milky light. Mr. Vachon was a true artist. Madge and MarlynnIf the 1940 US Census is correct, you're looking at Marlynn May and his mother, Madge. Appreciate all the commentsI agree with Kilroy, the photo shows Marlynn and his mother, Madge. Marlynn is emeritus professor at Texas A&M and father Herman Lynn May lived to age 78. I appreciate all the comments in the Shorpy community, even (maybe especially) those I disagree with. A goal for this year is to broaden and improve my worldview and work harder to understand opposing opinions. I like to think I am highly educated, accepting, nonjudgmental, and inclusive. It turns out I am a privileged white Detroit girl with a case of confirmation bias. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon, Kids, Kitchens etc.)
Yellow Rows of Texas: 1943
... Texas. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. Hoskins Mound, Texas There is little remaining at the site of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2012 - 4:55pm -

Extracted sulfur stacked in a "vat" 60 feet tall at Freeport Sulphur Co. in Hoskins Mound, Texas. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. Hoskins Mound, TexasThere is little remaining at the site of the Freeport Sulphur Company's sulfur mine at Hoskins Mound. The surrounding Gulf Coast prairie stretches for miles and miles. It is desolate and unpopulated even though it is about 50 miles south of Houston. Its few remaining facilities are inaccessible behind locked gates and threatening "No Trespassing" signs. This facility used extremely pressurized saltwater steam to melt and extract the sulfur from the earth. This brine, or the extracted sulfur, or both, continues to be a potent herbicide. The facility is surrounded by a waist high blanket of local grasses and vegetation, but its grounds are still bare, baked and lifeless. A railroad spur once connected this sulfur plant to nearby Freeport. Its crumbling remains are easily seen. I am glad John Vachon photographed the plant during it heyday. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, John Vachon, Mining)
Seven Up: 1942
... first post 15 years ago today, back in 2007. John Vachon shot eight exposures of this fellow in Grand Island, Nebraska, in May ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/26/2022 - 1:25pm -

        Happy Valentine's Day from Shorpy, who made his very first post 15 years ago today, back in 2007. John Vachon shot eight exposures of this fellow in Grand Island, Nebraska, in May 1942, and none of them has a caption, so you'll just have to use your imagination. View full size. Time Flies and then gets blurry ...Only 15 years! Feels like at least 20 plus to me. I found the site early on, finally signed up a few years later and have enjoyed almost every post. Dicey InspirationThat the big dice begat the idea for Giant Jenga is unlikely but the dice would be easier to tote. Curiouser and curiouserMany years ago, as a neophyte blogger, I Googled something like, "best blogs to read" ... and a shortish list popped up that purported to comprise the absolutely essential blogs of the day. Besides Shorpy, I remember only two others: The Everywhereist, and one whose name I'd rather not mention. The only one I have visited more than once is Shorpy; I took one look and was hooked, and yes, it is essential to me. Much appreciation, Dave, for the knowledge and hours of enjoyment you have added to my life with this great work. As for today's photo, I don't know from giant dice games but our mystery man does have a fistful of folding money. Maybe he's betting his shadow that with the right combination, the door will open. Mr. Vachon must have had some extra time on his hands. Open open openThe early combination lock. Thanks Dave for the past 15! You think those dice are bigYou ought to see his windshield. Baby needs a new pair of shoes!Love may be a crapshoot, but Shorpy is a sure thing. For me it's been 13 years 29 weeks at the Shorpy table. Virtual MonopolyHe's trying to get to "Park Place" in a game of Virtual Monopoly? Hang OnYou ever think that maybe the dice are normal size, and the man being shown is actually only about a foot tall? Some government experiment gone awry in Nebraska, The "Grand Island Project" or something akin? Okay, maybe not. My proposed captionsSweets Bayne of Grand Island, Nebraska says he wants the cops to catch him playing craps. Sweets Bayne of Grand Island, Nebraska ordered loaded dice; didn't read the fine print. Sweets Bayne of Grand Island, Nebraska has to stand on his money when it's his turn to roll. A few years too early, but . . . Our mystery man looks like Richard Widmark as the horrible Tommy Udo in "Kiss of Death" (1947). Happy Anniversary and ThanksYou can't imagine (or maybe you can) how much I enjoy Shorpy. It's my first stop every morning, and I especially enjoy visits to my current and former homes in North Carolina, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Maine, and Providence, and anything by Marion Post Wolcott. And along the way, I have learned a lot of history, geography, and photography. Teneha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair!The old Houston, East and West Texas rail line ran through Shelby County, Texas and the tiny hamlets of Teneha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair were all stops along the line. The conductors' alliterative calls announcing the train's stops were picked up by craps shooters the same way "eighter from Decatur, the county seat of Wise" was a popular Texas-based craps call when rolling an 8. According to lore, the craps call was diffused widely during WWII and Tex Ritter, son of nearby Panola County, had a hit song that mentioned the conductors' call. Happy Birthday, Shorpy ... I just checked my profile and found I've been coming to this site 14 years, 17 weeks. That's a lot. Thanks Dave, Tterrace and team. Goober Pea Lucky Us!¡Felicidades! Happy Anniversary! And many thanks for all these years of wonderfully curated, engrossing photos. Dice memoriesI spent nearly 40 years teaching elementary PE and I used oversized, homemade dice exactly like these regularly in all sorts of games and activities. The eight foot 4x4 i chopped up way back when was a super investment. I sure miss being around those kids. They kept me young. And a slightly belated Happy Anniversary to Shorpy and the whole crew that makes it such an interesting and essential daily stop for me. Here's to 15 more! Shorpy was built on more than a roll of the dice.As my father used to say while shooting dice, "Papa needs a new pair of shoes!" Adding my thanks to Dave for setting up and running Shorpy. Without Dave’s wit, knowledge, and wisdom, it would be just another “vintage photos” site. To those who have ever said or done something dumb and felt the slash of Dave’s quirt of wrath, stand proud. You have earned the right to wear Shorpy’s bloodied but unbowed, golden badge of honor. Combining all elements, Shorpy is an outstanding site that keeps people coming back for more. Thanks very much Dave, colleagues and contributors and Happy Birthday Shorpy! [Aw shucks. Also: The "role" of the dice is to roll. - Dave] Ha! Ya got me Dave - putting on my golden badge. Role/roll now corrected. FloatingMy first thought was "Guys and Dolls" ... Happy anniversary!Wishing you happines and joy from running shorpy. Best regards. Javier Happy belated anniversary!I look forward, every evening, to the Shorpy post! For me, going on 7 years. Essentially, a time machine to look back at interesting times. I’ve learned so much from Shorpy in these 7 years. Thank you Dave for a wonderful daily stop for all of us! Shorpy's tenthTo celebrate Shorpy’s fifteenth birthday, I went back to the post that celebrated the tenth birthday. I invite you all to go visit and read the comments from back then. Amidst all the nostalgia of revisiting half a decade ago, I must confess to a feeling of sadness at reading the names of commenters who no longer appear. Hooked on ShorpyI don't know if I have been a fan of the Shorpy site for 15 years but I have sure been a fan for a long time. Best Wishes to both the administrators and the other fans of Shorpy. I hope you have, at least, another 15 years of success. Always a day lateAnd $1.36 short (inflation adjusted). Happy Birthday Shorpy, Ken, Dave, tterrace and all of us! Shorpy remains sui generis! Thanks CommishBobI hope it's OK to say a thank you to CommishBob for what he posted to this thread. His post touched me, and I just want to thank you Commish for devoting your career to the youngsters. They no doubt loved you. Thanks for the Memories ... :)Dave, Thanks for all the wonderful pics you have enlightened us with over these 15 years ... And then there's your wit too. HAHA. (The Gallery, Bizarre, John Vachon, Slender Man)
The Last Roundup: 1941
... Austin, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Shocking! ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/04/2020 - 3:13pm -

July 1941. "Heads of beef cattle. Hormel meat-packing plant, Austin, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Shocking!I love a Big Mac and a great steak as much as the next guy. But, this was a tad shocking and traumatic to see. Wish I could "Un-see" it. ["Shocking and traumatic for YOU??" -- The Cattle] DecowpitatedThere are SOOOOO many barbacoa tacos just waiting to be cooked, right there! Where Do Slim Jims Come From?I think I may be getting closer to solving this riddle. At first glanceI thought it was a circus carousel melted after a fire. Scary. YOU LOOKIN AT ME?!It would be far less spooky if the eyeballs were not still in the heads. Can't unsee thisAnd I wish I could. It's very sad. Prettier with a sunflower.Which one is Elsie? Just a hunch. My guess is this particular photo will not be popping up again in colorized form. WOW, I really don't know what to say about this one.This is one of the uhhhh, most difficult?, more powerful?, more unusual? images I have seen on Shorpy in 10 years or so. John Vachon really left us some amazing photography. I've become a big fan of his because of what I've seen on Shorpy. I wish there was a large format book of his work. It's what's for lunchHead cheese*. Usually made from a pig's head, but cows are used as well. Head cheese sandwiches were a regular item in my brown bag school lunches, probably because it was cheap. I wonder if it is still available? *A meat jelly cold cut made with flesh from the head of a calf or pig, or less commonly a sheep or cow, and often set in aspic. Respecting the law and enjoying sausage.Sometimes blissful ignorance is the best route. Colorized VersionI don't really know what the colors should really be, but here is my version. (The Gallery, Bizarre, Animals, Factories, John Vachon)
Mudville, Montana: 1942
... Fort Peck construction era, now nearly deserted." Photo by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. WPA ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/24/2021 - 11:22am -

March 1942. "Wheeler, Montana. Boom town of the Fort Peck construction era, now nearly deserted." Photo by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. WPA dambuilding projectWikipedia has a bit on Fort Peck: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Peck,_Montana Originally an Indian trading post, in the 1930s this was a WPA project to build a dam, some structures remain. [The dam was also on the cover of the first issue of Life magazine. - Dave] Four Peck Dam photo by Margaret Bourke-WhitePerhaps the most recognizable photographs involving Bourke-White show her perched on a Chrysler Building gargoyle. Ironically, she is the subject, not the photographer, of those famous photos. Oscar Graubner, described online as Bourke-White's darkroom assistant, took the photos. Mud seasonThe dreaded springtime thaw! With apologies to Ernest Lawrence ThayerThere is no joy in Mudville. There's no joy… being in that parking area. Hot shotOne of Margaret Bourke White's most famous photographs. (The Gallery, Frontier Life, John Vachon)
Flag Day: 1941
... Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... stars both staggered and gridded. - Dave] Kudos John Vachon was a great talent. What an incredible picture! Timeless window ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2020 - 3:36pm -

June 1941. "Flag Day. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Paraphrasing Justice Potter StewartI shall not attempt further to define a great photograph ... but I know one when I see one. This is a great photo. Flag questionShouldn't the stars on the flag from 1941 be in a 6x8 grid, not offset rows as shown in the photo? [The 1912 executive order pertaining to 48-star flags specifies only that the stars be in six rows of eight stars each, "symmetrically arranged." And of course the flag makers could arrange the stars however they wanted. There are (or were) countless examples of flags with stars both staggered and gridded. - Dave] KudosJohn Vachon was a great talent. What an incredible picture! Timeless window screenI am reminded of all the places I've lived where I had one of those screens to insert in the window opening. They're still around. Would keep out the flies, but wouldn't be effective against the smoke from those mills. Fly the flag!And step out for a breath of fresh air. Flag --Looks like the US flag for 1890-1891 - 43 stars. Probably flew what he had. [This flag has 48 stars. - Dave] (The Gallery, Factories, John Vachon, Patriotic, Pittsburgh)
Des Moines: 1940
... Iowa." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. All Together Now Now all ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/29/2008 - 1:10am -

May 1940. "Afternoon, downtown Des Moines, Iowa." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. All Together NowNow all together, put your right foot forward. Hmnnn, how did Busby Berkeley, I mean John Vachon ever get all them folks to synchronize like that, now that's a photographer. Des MoinesDoes anyone know where in Des Moines this is? I'm sure it's downtown. I tried to search for Hotel Franklin, but came up with nothing. [The Hotel Franklin was at Fifth and Locust. - Dave] Hotel FranklinThe image is looking north on 5th Avenue at Locust. One can tell the direction and street by the bend in the road in the near distance. In the downtown area, only streets on the north edge (mostly numbered streets) bend that way. The Franklin Hotel became a rat trap by the '70s and was torn down toward the end of that decade or in the 1980s. The people look reasonably well-dressed, but so thin -- almost gaunt in some cases. Busby Berkeley indeed. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
The Merry Strikers: 1938
... hourly wage of 17 to 20 cents." Medium format negative by John Vachon. View full size. World's most contented strikers ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/27/2013 - 1:05pm -

August 1938. "Picket line at the King Farm strike near Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Negro and white agricultural workers striking against an hourly wage of 17 to 20 cents." Medium format negative by John Vachon. View full size. World's most contented strikersPleasant smiles, no traces of anger... kinda takes the edge off that militant labor image. And how about those four sets of near-perfect, pre-orthodontia teeth? HairBack when I had hair I never had that much. It's not fair. Cheap employerWell I'll be the first to use the old inflation calculator. The 17 to 20 cents per hour in '38 is now equal to $2.73 to $3.22 an hour. Given the fact that the current minimum wage is $7.25, this employer is one cheapskate! From the LoC:Found at explorepahistory.com: Credit: Library of Congress During the 1930s, Pennsylvania farmers continued to seasonally employ thousands of men and women desperate for jobs. Awful living conditions and low wages pushed some workers to the breaking point. In the summer of 1938, workers near Morrisville staged a strike when the King Farm refused to pay them more than 17 to 20 cents an hour. The strike attracted the attention of the Federal Farm Bureau Administration (FSA), which sent John Vachon (1915-1975) to photograph what was taking place. An FSA messenger and clerk, Vachon later would become an acclaimed documentary photographer, working for Life Magazine and other major publications. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon)
Baby Barkhoefer: 1942
... Barkhoefer and family." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. The Tree of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/22/2021 - 12:37pm -

April 1942. "Hamilton, Montana. Ted Barkhoefer and family." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. The Tree of TeddyA glimpse of the trajectories of Ted (who served as a U.S. Navy Reserve Seaman 1st Class during WWII), wife Dorothy, and son William (who may well have been known as "Billy" at the time of the above photo). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/325000/edwin-henry-barkhoefer A View from the Outside (?)This may well be the house in which our current photo was captured (if they were within the updated address listed on Ted's WWII draft card): Shooting in HamiltonOn April 11 1942, Vachon wrote to his wife that he had taken at least 70 pictures in Hamilton, Montana. But he admitted that Jack Delano would have shot many more. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids)
The Farmer's Wife
... Oskaloosa, Kansas. View full size. Photograph by John Vachon. Mom Wow. She looks so young... Yeah! That was my first ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 12:55pm -

October 1938. Farm wife and baby waiting in the car while her husband attends the auction. Oskaloosa, Kansas. View full size. Photograph by John Vachon. MomWow. She looks so young... Yeah!That was my first thought as well! Like she's 16 or something. The kidI'm surprised nobody commented on the baby playing with his new iBook! I didn't even know Apple made laptops back then! Candid shotsI wish I could get these great candid shots. It's amazing they could do it with the big bulky cameras of the day. [Actually this one was taken with a smallish 35mm camera, probably a Leica. - Dave] Ford or Chevy?I think it’s a Ford Model A, based upon the location of the side rearview mirror, rain gutter over the door and the way the roof slopes down to meet the windscreen. Or maybe not. And yep: she's pretty. Denny Gill Chugiak, Alaska Ford Model A?This is a truck, right? There's no back seat or second window. It's a Ford all rightBut I think it's a AA truck. You can see the stake bed through the window. HometownI grew up in Oskaloosa. This picture makes me extremely nostalgic, even with the knowledge that these were very hard times. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Great Depression, John Vachon, On the Road)
Ah, Wilderness: 1953
... her ankle filming River of No Return . Photo by John Vachon for Look magazine. View full size. Mountains What mountains? ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/11/2013 - 3:40pm -

Marilyn Monroe in 1953 at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, among those other majestic peaks known as the Canadian Rockies. She sprained her ankle filming River of No Return. Photo by John Vachon for Look magazine. View full size. MountainsWhat mountains? Rollei perspectiveGreat shot of MM probably made with a twin-lens Rolleiflex which resulted in the low perspective and a square negative. Photographer then had the option to crop for a vertical or horizontal 8 X 10 print. Majestic peaksI got it! I got it! and note a sprained ankle and one high heeled shoe, not a great combination. TimelessEven with a sprained ankle, forever a 'knockout'. Mount RundleIn the background, with the distinctive bite taken out of the top. Majestic peaksI find the wit on Shorpy just as priceless as the photos. "Joltin Joe"Joe Dimaggio was retired from baseball and stayed with Marilyn at this hotel during the filming in this location. Strangest thingI sprained my neck watching "River of No Return." Ah, MarilynThank you, Dave for this and future photos of Marilyn. She was the icon of my childhood (I was born in '47). Aww Poor MarilynLet daddy kiss and make it better. Yowza. Not Mt. Rundle davidk: you are looking at Cascade Mountain, Mount Rundle is to the right, the round Mountain to the right is Tunnel Mountain, Mt Rundle is to the right of it. Many thanks to google maps. Re: Not Mt. RundleI'll be darned. Thank you for the clarification, Ice gang. All these years, I thought that that was Mt. Rundle. So did my parents. We're not from the Banff area, but we did the drive from the prairies a few times. I attach a photo of Cascade Mtn. (top) and the real Mt. Rundle (bottom). It's that bite mark that led to my error. Here's an ideaHow about a "View life size" button? Marilyn Monroe looked goodno matter what she wore. Where's the pool?I took this at the Banff Springs Hotel on vacation a couple of summers ago. Can't remember where the pool was, but this looks like very close to where the pic of Marilyn was taken. The CastThe cast explains the tan line in this photo. (John Vachon, LOOK, Marilyn Monroe, Pretty Girls)
Big Cop: 1938
... "Policeman, Lincoln, Nebraska." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. The Addams ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/29/2010 - 8:49pm -

October 1938. "Policeman, Lincoln, Nebraska." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. The Addams FamilyUncle Fester on patrol. Negative, I know ...But he looks like a lot of present day and women on the street just coming out of McDonald's. You don't see as many people this large prior to about 1950 or 60. That's one large man judging by his head and back! Whoa! They don't wear hats anymoreRemember when cops wore hats? In some cities it was required that they wore their hat when dealing with the public. Nowadays, it's no hat, a buzzcut or a shaved head, and wraparound shades. Next frame: death stare.I wonder if the clicking noise made him turn around. I'm sure of one thingThis cop would never have needed to use a taser, even if he had one. Now I get itMy son once described the back of my head and neck as "looking like a package of hot dogs". Although this officer's is not quite that extreme, I can now see what he meant. Tor JohnsonHis day job. Nick on O StreetThat would be Officer Nick Nichols, at 11th & O streets, looking west, doing what was known as "O Street time"--standing on Lincoln's main street in the downtown business district, not so much to direct traffic as to portray a visible police presence. Gold's department store on the SW corner to his left is easily identified today, as is City Hall--the former Post Office and Federal courthouse, also extant today, and still under municipal care a block further west on the north side between 10th and 9th. I would peg this photo as about 1942. [As noted in the caption, the picture was taken in October 1938. Below, more of John Vachon's Lincoln photos, including the officer's other side. - Dave] Inspires respectA look back at the good old days when they hired police officers whose mere size and presence inspired respect. I doubt many young punks disrespected this officer to his face like they do nowadays. I love this photoI know nothing about the photographer, John Vachon, but this shot made me take a look at his work here Shorpy, and I'm glad I did. My favorites (like this one) seem to have this something casual or playful about them, while still being formally well-composed. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
The Banana Wagon: 1943
... on Franklin Street." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. View full size. What a house- hasn't seen a What a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/29/2017 - 11:48am -

      2017 UPDATE: The man is fruit vendor Abe Cweren, who came to America from Poland in 1922. (Originally posted in 2007.) May 1943. Houston, Texas. "Old house with fruit stand on Franklin Street." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. View full size. What a house- hasn't seen aWhat a house- hasn't seen a coat of paint in years! Look at the attic window covered with an old sign. Thank heaven for the FSANow you're starting to post some of my personal favorites! I posted an article on FSA photography last summer, the subject never strays far from my heart! Thanks for a great site. Here's what I had to say on the subject. Does anybody know why theDoes anybody know why the color in these old photos looks so good? I love the "painted" quality of the colors. Wish I could reproduce this effect in photoshop with my digital camera. ColorThese are scanned from 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparencies and then color-corrected. It's hard to do better than large-format Kodachromes taken by a professional photographer. Digital has yet to equal that combination. What House?It seems to be all adornment and very little living space. That's the oddest Victorian I've ever seen. Color quality1 word answer: Kodachrome Banana Wagon/HouseI remember this place...and thought it was Houston for sure when I saw the mosaic street name and block number on the curb (far right). There are still several of these mosaic street markers left that haven't been destroyed by road construction. Attic WindowCan anyone comment on the odd 3rd floor window? It's as if some picture has been pasted in over the original. [Covered with tin signs. - Dave] Modeling help?Does anyone have any other angles of this wonderful structure, since it no longer stands? I would love to try and model this structure. Thanks Pat White OutEven Kodachrome shows the Houston summer sky as being white, not blue or gray. I've tried to explain this to people who've never lived there, and they find it hard to believe that it could be sunny and white-skied. My rejoinder is "Head there in August." Fredericks HouseThe earliest owner of this house I have been able to find is Gus Fredericks, the owner of a jewelry store, as listed in the U.S. Census of 1900. His wife was Lottie and they had three children: John, Pierce, and Julia. His sister Louise Wagner and her daughter Lilian were also living there along with another nephew Gus B. Fredericks. I believe the correct address is 1902 Franklin Avenue. The curb sign for 1900 Franklin Street identifies the block in Houston. The layout of the house on the property at 1902 Franklin Ave., shown below, matches the photo shown in this Shorpy image. This picture below is from the 1907 Sanborn Map of Houston, Volume 1, Sheet 11. The link to the original picture is below. If you click on the image that opens it will magnify the picture. There was another smaller house here that this one replaced sometime between 1896 and 1907. The address was originally 242 Franklin on earlier Sanborn Maps. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/g-i/txu-sanborn-houston-1907-vol1... The property was approximately 80' X 100' and was on the Southeast (South directionally) corner of Franklin (a brick street) and Hamilton (a gravel street). It was just a block from Firehouse Number 10 which had 7 men, 4 horses, one hose wagon, one steamer, and 2000' of hose. There was a stable at the back of the Fredericks property. The circular turret on the third floor is interesting because it does not look like there is any way to enter it. The Sanborn drawing shows the house as two floors, so perhaps the entire third floor is just a crawl space or attic area. In 1940, Rudolph Martinez was living here with his wife, Candalanca, and son Rudolph Jr. Living with them were Rudolph's sister Isabell Samora and her two children, Raymond and Joe Louis. Rudolph was 30 years old and a chef at a night club. Perhaps that's Rudolph behind the fruit cart in the street. Turret to NowhereI'm going to theorize the porches and Victorian doodads were added later to a simple, pre-existing structure. I can't imagine anyone designing a house with that "turret to nowhere" from scratch; it simply stops at the porchline. It's begging to be extended down the whole height of the house. The view todayJust a bit different. I-59/69 to the left, Minute Maid Stadium on the right. The property at Hamilton & Franklin long since becoming a parking lot. Abe Cweren, fruit dealer. In the picture is likely Abe Cweren. He wrote on his wagon "Jockey Cweren -- Kentucky Derby." He came from Poland in 1922 and was a fruit peddler. He had two sons and they went on to have a very successful business, Greater Houston Iron & Metal Company. I sent the photo along to his grandchildren in case they'd never seen it. Granddaughter of PeddlerMy late father always talked about his father, Abe Cweren, and his horse and wagon on Franklin Street. I was so excited to see this part of my family history. My dad's portrayal came to life. Wish there were more. Shout-out to the nice lady who took the time to find me and send me this photo. I am beyond thrilled to have this piece of history to show my four children. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Horses, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Milwaukee Yards: 1941
... Milwaukee, Wisconsin." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Precious ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/22/2020 - 12:44pm -

June 1941. "Railroad yards. Milwaukee, Wisconsin." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Precious memories Vachon is standing on the 27th Street viaduct, looking west. The 35th Street viaduct is in the distance. The tracks under the bridge would become the Hump Yard in about 1949, with 24 classification tracks taking a steady stream of rolling rail cars 24/7. The tracks to the left constituted the Airline Yard. The large building in the upper left corner is the old Johnson Cookie Company, repurposed at least six times or so since Johnson’s demise. Have had a lot of mud on my boots from those yards, as well as from those behind Vachon (West Yard, Adams Yard and Reed Street Yard). Rain, wind, sleet, snow, hot, cold -- I felt like a mailman at times. Almost 40 years of it. Wouldn't trade any of it for ... well, maybe some of it I would. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Milwaukee, Railroads)
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