MAY CONTAIN NUTS
HOME
Home

Search Shorpy

SEARCH TIP: Click the tags above a photo to find more of same:
Mandatory field.

Search results -- 30 results per page

Sixty Special: 1941
... street. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Tony Car 1941 Fleetwood ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/10/2011 - 4:21am -

July 1941. Cadillac Fleetwood parked on a Chicago street. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Tony Car1941 Fleetwood Sixty Special, $2,195. That was some serious money in those days! Beautiful. Tony NeighborhoodYou're right, that is a 1941 Fleetwood Sixty Special, and that looks like a Packard parked in front of it. Nice neighborhood! "No parking between signs"Either the Caddy or the Packard appear to be in a No Parking Zone. Ward LeaderThe Caddy and Packard were probably owned by a ward boss. If they were parked in a no-park zone, the chance of getting a ticket or of being towed ranged from slim to none. There are laws for the commoners and ones for the really important people! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chicago, John Vachon)
Bearilyn: 1953
... 1953 for the filming of River of No Return . Photo by John Vachon for Look magazine. View full size. RRROOOAAARRR!!! The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/16/2013 - 3:03pm -

Marilyn Monroe and friend in Alberta, Canada, in 1953 for the filming of River of No Return. Photo by John Vachon for Look magazine. View full size. RRROOOAAARRR!!!The Creature From The Black Lagoon ... before makeup. The Dancing BearNice shot Marilyn, now can we see a bit more bare? High-water markThis is not a pun or a reference (intentionally, anyway) to her raft trip with Robert Mitchum in that movie, but this period of her career was the high-water mark of her beauty. She was a stunner at this age. The bear is still thereIt's in the Indian Trading Post in Banff. I'll grab a pic next time we drive out there for lunch; nice drive, about an hour. River of No ReturnGood movie this one. Highly recommended to fans of both Marilyn and the golden years of Hollywood. Now we all know of Marilyn's legendary set of figures but if one needs any visual confirmation just observe the opening scenes of this movie when she is in her 'performing costume' in her 'dressing room.' Marilyn SezI don't mind the bears. It's the wolves you really have to look out for. Worth a visit to the taxidermistI bet many a man would have gladly accepted being stuffed and mounted if it guaranteed such a close encounter with Marilyn! (The Gallery, John Vachon, LOOK, Marilyn Monroe, Movies)
Speed Limit 18
... Limit 18 Miles, followed closely by Cleo Cola. Photo by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Trimble ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/10/2017 - 1:16pm -

November 1938. "Saloon near railroad yards. Omaha, Nebraska." Our favorite thing here is the signage: Speed Limit 18 Miles, followed closely by Cleo Cola. Photo by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Trimble BrothersGreat story about their operation in Google Books. It's good to knowI can get cigarettes with my lunch, always a worry. The freight depot in the backgroundWas renovated into the Harriman Dispatch Center for the UP Railroad several years ago. Quite a dramatic change from its old job description to the current state of the art facility! This freight depot was in the background of the recent Vachon shot of the Gross Box Factory showing several dilapidated houses, and one large turkey! The photo was taken at the intersection of 10th and Jackson Streets, looking east and a bit south. Now you would see a parking lot for an Embassy Suites hotel. To the right is the northbound part of the 10th Street viaduct - also replaced by a modern structure, but with period railings and lamp posts. At the top of the viaduct is the old Union Station, which was donated to the city by the railroad in the early 70's and is now completely restored as the Durham Western Heritage Museum. Even though Jobber's Canyon is no more, many sister buildings still survive in the Old Market - behind Vachon's position as he took the photograph. Knobless obligeYou've got to love the old door blocking the (open) upstairs window. [J'adore! - Dave] Jobber's CanyonTheodore's Place was located at 601 South 10th Street. Trimble Brothers, in the background, was a fruit and vegetable company. This area, known as Jobber's Canyon, was all torn down to make room for the ConAgra campus in a controversial move that destroyed buildings on the historical register. Metz BrothersThe "MB" in the architectural decoration is for "Metz Brothers," a prominent Omaha brewer. They received a permit in 1897 to construct a two story building at 601 South Tenth Street. Named after a cigarIn 1935, the Whistle Cola Company introduced Cleo Cola, named after the owner's favorite cigar and featured Cleopatra as a trademark. Cleo Cola advertising is classic soda pop memorabilia and is very sought after by collectors. Make that 13Just a small detail, but there is not even a shadow of left side loops on the second numeral. But there are three definite beginnings of the points of a 3. Either way, 13 or 18, it's a strange speed limit. [You may need a new monitor or screen. -tterrace] Yes Termite, your new 3x5 clip clearly shows 18. But with the original Jumbo-Tron photo, it was clearly an unclear Thirteen! :>) Wormy [It's not a "new clip;" it's cropped from a direct, unaltered screenshot of the "View full size" that's been there since the initial posting. -tterrace] A very belated apology. I never really thought that you would alter an image. Best regards T.T. Wormy (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon, Omaha, Railroads)
Family Newspaper: 1940
... company, at home with his family." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Fast forward 80 years ... and the scene is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/26/2019 - 3:21pm -

November 1940. Aberdeen, South Dakota. "L.M. Schulstad, traveling salesman for hardware company, at home with his family." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Fast forward 80 years... and the scene is the same, only everyone's face is buried in a smartphone. Sinister lighting and angleBut a relatively prosperous end-of-Depression-era household, despite Junior's sole-hole. Such a contrast in epoch and spirit to the other photo today (Sanatorium Kitchen), only two months apart in time but so different in type (institutional / residential) and style (modernist / old-timey) and location (NYC / South Dakota) and lighting (Gottscho massive daylight / Vachon creepy).  A great Boxing Day pair! Pops still dressed for workI can remember when a basic family ALL eagerly, happily read the newspaper after discovering each's favorite section. Imagine Dad still wearing his work clothes as a salesman. No TV, no radio; and as noted by someone else, no smartphones. Even with WWII looming, no one seemed to having a raging "hair on fire" anger about something that counts for naught. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, Small Towns)
Iowa Chill: 1942
... Moines County, Iowa." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... again! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/22/2022 - 10:21am -

January 1942. "Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Inappropriate footwearShiny leather shoes in the snow, honestly. Slippery leather soles provide no grip. Where are your galoshes or at least toe rubbers, man? And when it comes time to slip, you’ll want your hands and arms free for balance and landing, so best to get some gloves, too. FLW?What is Frank Lloyd Wright doing in Iowa in the middle of winter? Isn't that Frank? That's his hat. Oh, nevermind. Johnny Eager?Pretty hard to make out, but looks like the theater might be showing Johnny Eager, with Robert Taylor and Lana Turner. All goneIn 1942 it was a bustling little downtown, even in the middle of winter. The building in the center was the Tama Building, home of Sutter's Drug Store. It burned in 2010 and again in 2018. It was demolished in 2019. Pillars of the CommunityEven those substantially built cars would probably get a bit crumpled if they kissed those beefy lampposts. And no earmuffs!Doesn't he know there is a war on? Poof!When I read KAP's post that said the Tama Building was demolished in 2019, I had an idea. You can jump to Google Maps by clicking 'View on Google Maps' in the post. In Street View, on the upper left of the screen, there's a black box. At the bottom of the box is a bar that says, in this case, 'Street View - Sep 2019'. Clicking on that bar will display earlier dates Street View recorded the same place. For KAP's view, there was a view from 2013. Move the slider to 2013, click on the image, and you can see the Sutters sign again! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Busy Beers: 1940
... of Busy Bee Restaurant." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Bee-rs ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/09/2020 - 12:28pm -

December 1940. "Radford, Virginia. Crowd at bar of Busy Bee Restaurant." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Bee-rsThat is one of the more clever titles you have come up with. Those PiesHaving then sittting out there on the serving counter like that would never fly today, pun intended. And I had the same thought as Bobbykewl, that sure looks like Tabasco. Hitting the SauceCould the middle guy be drinking Tabasco straight out of the bottle??? The KingI guess the King of beers was popular in Radford as well! Busy BeesRestaurant-ing through history gives a nice article about "eateries called The Busy Bee." Got Hair?I notice the younger guys that are follically endowed forgo the hat. Or it could be the observation of an envious baldy on my part. If I'm not mistakenI'm fairly certain that I can see FDR, Mickey Rooney, Bob Hope and Alex Trebek at the bar. Question is: why are they all there together? Winners in life?Agile enough to notice the photographer. One of the many perks of being a grown-up.Beer and pie. Coconut cream, by the look of it. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon)
The Orange Menace: 1941
... 41, Kenosha County, Wisconsin." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. As ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/24/2020 - 11:20am -

July 1941. "Signs on U.S. 41, Kenosha County, Wisconsin." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. As everyone knows --the cheese stands alone. Handmade SignThat's a pretty awesomely done home-made sign. No FastSigns around back then. [These would have been the work of a professional signpainter. - Dave] Lactose intolerance?How long did it take before the grammatically-correct local schoolmarm added either a period, or the word "for," after the word "STOP?" I certainly can't... get behind this cause. This was the golden agefor sign painters, later on the be a thing of the past. I'm slow, took awhile to stopTook me five minutes to figure out this one. Kept thinking "Who'd want to stop cheese in Wisconsin? They wouldn't even let oleo be yellow. Beautiful signI am a sign painter, and I love to see examples of hand lettering. Not much design, but it does the job and was a simple sign to "knock out". I am sure it was lettered with black and red. This banner was most likely painted on muslin stretched on a wooden frame and then primed, a very common technique back in the day. Badger Cheese MarketI’ve heard of goat cheese, but badger cheese? The "Orange Menace" SignIt's a Protest sign very similar to the ones that say "End Road Work" Nasty things, badgersI guess it takes a real man to gather enough badger milk to make cheese. I Told You Once AlreadyCheese must be real jerk. Heh, Heh, HehMmmmmm ... Cheese ... (The Gallery, Bizarre, John Vachon)
Boomtown Beds: 1942
... Housing for construction workers." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Something askew Dang, they weren't even ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/23/2020 - 2:27pm -

February 1942. Newton County, Missouri. "Boom area on U.S. Highway #71 around Camp Crowder. Housing for construction workers." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Something askewDang, they weren't even close when they measured the logs for the building's foundation. Of course it is possible that Mr Vachon tilted his camera 15 degrees AND had the kid lean 15 degrees while maintaining a perfectly natural pose, but that seems a little unlikely. I bet those 2 dollar beds are challenging to stay comfortable in, and that more than one tenant fell while trying to get up in the morning! Beetle BaileyCamp Crowder was Mort Walker's inspiration for the fictional Camp Swampy depicted in the Beetle Bailey comic strip. Walker was stationed at Crowder while in the Army years earlier. Beds $2This is the office, not a bunkhouse. And the righthand corner is resting on the ground. Camp CrowderMort Walker and Jean Shepherd were stationed there, as was Rob Petrie (aka Dick Van Dyke). Those hatsIt's amazing how many kid wore those hats back then. There's a mid-'40s bit of film of the elementary school where my kids went and ten kids on the playground were wearing leather aviator hats like that one. Bargain Hats!Those kids may have scored those war-surplus hats or caps for a buck from comic-book ads! This ad is from the February 1948 issue of Whiz Comics. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Dogs, John Vachon)
Going Back: 1942
... out of Romney, West Virginia." 35mm color transparency by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Romney I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/06/2008 - 5:41pm -

1942. "Road out of Romney, West Virginia." 35mm color transparency by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. RomneyI wonder if that house is still there. So much erosion. [There's probably pavement where the house is. Something tells me Route 50 isn't two skinny lanes anymore. - Dave] I think I see itI love Google Earth. I'm pretty sure that this is the bend in the road that we see in the photo. There is a bridge in the distance that also appears on the map, but the resolution is so low that I can't tell for sure if the house is still there. I couldn't figure out how to copy a link to the location on the Google Earth map, but here are the coordinates: 39°20'33.72"N 78°45'49.20"W See if you agree. dave Indian MoundThis is the house seen here, across from the Indian Mound Cemetery. The houses are long gone. Route 50 was regraded, widened and straightened out many years ago. Satellite view. The Yellow HouseThe satellite view from "Mountain Mama" (via Microsoft) is clearer than the Google version. It seems like that particular yellow house is gone, but it looks to me that the road is still two lanes - perhaps with a wider shoulder. And lots of homes still right along the road toward the center of town. As posted in another thread, we need to setup a bounty service for a local to take a current photo! Almost HomeThe bridge in the distance is over the South Branch of the Potomac River. I was born in the back room of a country store a few miles on down the road three years before this picture was taken. Then and NowI have passed this scene many times over the years on our annual autumn trek to Blackwater Falls Park in West Virginia. In 2009, I stopped and spent about and hour reviewing this scene and comparing it to the Vachon photo. The scene today is almost identical to the Vachon view, with the following exceptions: The bridge in the distance will soon be replaced by a modern one, but it remains in view; The house on the left has collapsed, and nothing but rubble remains, hidden in the weeds; And finally, the steep embankment on the right has been prettified by flowers and other plantings. The roadway (Route 50) has never been widened or straightened out! Romney, West Virginia: 1942 When I saw this photo, I could barely believe my eyes. In November of 1966, my 1964 Opal died at the bottom of the hill on this road. I was on my way from Colorado Springs to my Maryland home after serving a four-year hitch in the Air Force. I managed to coast to the side of the road. I walked back up to the house on the left to use the phone to call for help, but they didn’t have one. The next home up the road did. They called a garage a couple of miles away, and someone showed up a few minutes later. The guy said my points were defective, and that I would have to get the car fixed in Winchester, Virginia, where the nearest Buick/Opal dealer was. So I went back to the house and called the dealer, which was 50 miles away. They sent a tow truck out, and towed me and the car to Winchester. I stayed overnight in a motel. The dealer replaced the points the next day, and I headed home to Annapolis. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Rural America)
The Ore Docks: 1941
... at Allouez, Wisconsin." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. High Level ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/11/2020 - 2:07am -

August 1941. "Ore docks at Allouez, Wisconsin." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. High Level Air BrakesIt is unusual to see Duluth Missabe & Iron Range ore cars, with their uniquely placed air brake connections above the couplers, being shoved onto the Great Northern docks. The DM&IR had their own docks across the bay in Duluth. BootstrappingIt's interesting to see all the iron that went into the dock, ships, railcars, rails and other equipment so that more iron could be produced. Mostly still thereVachon is photographing from Great Northern Dock 1. They all were originally timber but were rebuilt with concrete and steel. The exception is Dock 3, rebuilt in timber, which we can see behind the foreground dock and is now gone. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, John Vachon, Mining, Railroads)
The Cincinnati Kid
... View full size. Medium-format Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. Ken Burns This image was used in the Ken Burns "Jazz" ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/21/2012 - 10:34pm -

"Negro boy near Cincinnati." 1942 or 1943. View full size. Medium-format Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. Ken BurnsThis image was used in the Ken Burns "Jazz" documentary. Great photo!And the cool thing is, the boy might still be alive, though "slightly" older. Wouldn't it be nice to find him? Last 30 posts or soThis image and about 30 or so of the last posts I recognize as all coming from the Library of Congress National Archive online files. Good solid work by a number of photographers, some hired through the WPA during the depression. If I understand the licensing portion of the Archives website correctly, all of these photos are considered property of the American people as they were paid for with taxpayer funds. CincyThis is a beautiful photo. It look like he may be standing on what is now Central Parkway. Corduroy OverallsI was 12 at the time and thankfully had outgrown my corduroy knickers by then. I called them "squeaky" pants. When I ran along the street, you could hear me coming a block away. A close look at his garb reveals they're homespun by a loving Grandma. (The Gallery, Cincinnati Photos, John Vachon, Kids)
Those Eyes, Those Lips: 1940
... Woodbine, Iowa." A tattered billboard shot by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. 35mm negative. View full size. ... Vachon had quite an eye! (The Gallery, Curiosities, John Vachon) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/29/2008 - 10:45am -

May 1940. "Advertising. Woodbine, Iowa." A tattered billboard shot by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. 35mm negative. View full size. BillboardA harbinger of Pop Art. Sweet...Mr. Vachon had quite an eye! (The Gallery, Curiosities, John Vachon)
The Belles of Ambridge: 1941
... Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Ohio ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/13/2019 - 11:10am -

January 1941. "Street scene in Ambridge, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Ohio Valley Lumber remainsOtherwise, not much. I believe this may be the scene today: More than the American Bridge CompanyAmbridge is known for more than the company for which it is named. Ambridge was the site of Old Economy Village, one of the homes of the Harmony Society, among the most successful religious communal groups of the nineteenth century. There, the Harmony Society awaited the second coming of the Messiah. The Society dissolved in 1905, but the Village has been preserved and is worth a visit. Called BackA timely reference to my favorite poet, Emily Dickinson, in her birthday week. I was privileged to pay my respects at the grave of the Belle of Amherst in early November. I hope that at least one or two of these lovely girls from Ambridge, Pennsylvania, read and appreciated the incredible Emily. Forecast: Sunshine!Most of these Vachon street scenes in steel towns literally leave me cold. Brrrrrrr! Thanks for a change of mood, Dave. This group could melt the snow just by giggling at it! Protect Those Shoes!A version of the shoe covers in use by the young lady on the right is still available today. I remember my mom having a pair like those in the picture. The CarAppears to be a 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe 40 years laterWhen we moved from Alabama to Ambridge in 1981 our first Yankee winter looked just like this. It was COLD! BTW, it is interesting how many photos of Ambridge are in the Shorpy vault. (The Gallery, Ambridge, John Vachon)
The Music Man: 1940
... laborers. They make 60 cents to $1.25 per hour." Photo by John Vachon. View full size. So much for cheap rent A glimpse inside the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/28/2011 - 2:31pm -

December 1940. Radford, Virginia. "Mrs. Jones's boardinghouse. Six men live in this room. Three beds, pay 8 to 10 dollars a week rent. Most have families they left behind in Bluefield, West Virginia; Bristol, Tennessee; or High Point, North Carolina. They are carpenters, carpenters' assistants, riggers and laborers. They make 60 cents to $1.25 per hour." Photo by John Vachon. View full size. So much for cheap rentA glimpse inside the often-written-about but seldom-seen boardinghouse. Ten dollars a week to share a bed with another dude, and a room with four more? That's $153.75 in 2010 dollars, or $667 monthly. I think I could still rent a one-bedroom apartment for that in Austin, although just barely. Sure, I'd have to pay my own utilities, but I'd have privacy and much greater comfort. And why the $8 to $10 range? Sharing a bed with a stranger should be a lowball commodity, I think! [Boardinghouse rent includes not just the room but also, as the name implies, board. So a comparison would need to include food. - Dave] You know, I thought of that after I posted it. And just now, I realized I am grateful to John Vachon for using off-camera flash. It further emphasizes the small dimensions of the room! [He used floodlights. - Dave] Clark Gable calledHe'd like his ears back. Six Guys Three BedsImagine the reality TV show this would make today. Real peopleI love the humanity of this picture - the men are slightly self-conscious, but obviously have made the photographer welcome - I wonder if any of their families knew of this moment in their otherwise forgotten lives. His mother taught him wellThat guy lying on the bed. Get off the bed with your shoes on! He put his feet on his jacket, not getting his covers dirty. I've stayed in towns in Iowa at boarding houses and rooming houses in the early 1970s. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Grit n Coke: 1938
... Georgia. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Grit info ... reasons. Store in Background My Grandfather, John C. Miller, ran the only store in Irwinville Farms (Georgia) during the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/05/2009 - 2:34am -

May 1938. Farm boy who sells "Grit." Irwinville Farms, Georgia. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Grit infohttp://www.grit.com/ [Grit, which started out as one of the first nationally distributed newspapers, is now a glossy bimonthly magazine. Lead article: "Why Are Barns Red?" - Dave] Grit RingtonesI think I remember comic book ads about selling Grit. Dave, you have to check out the ringtones, priceless. [Hmm. I'm torn between "Tractor in Reverse" and "Tractor Idling." - Dave] Grit MemoryI think the first time I saw a Grit ad was in Boys Life. The Boy Scout magazine Of minor noteYou'll see that the sign for Dr Pepper contains a period after the "Dr", an abbreviation indicator they later dropped for typographical reasons. Store in BackgroundMy Grandfather, John C. Miller, ran the only store in Irwinville Farms (Georgia) during the depression. I'm pretty sure this is the store behind the young boy. [In addition to the store above, which was a farmers' cooperative (another view below), the archives show this small grocery. - Dave] Now PlayingAccording to the poster in the window, the following movies from 1938 are showing at the local theater: Go Chase Yourself Joe Penner & Lucille Ball In Old Chicago Tyrone Power & Don Ameche Mr. Moto's Gamble Peter Lorre & Keye Luke Merrily We Live Constance Bennett & Brian Aherne Rawhide Smith Bellew & Baseball's Lou Gehrig (The Gallery, Great Depression, John Vachon, Kids, Rural America)
The Kodachrome Hills: 1942
... Texas." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon, Office of War Information. Crane Interesting. A crane on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 1:58pm -

May 1943. "Nearly exhausted sulfur vat from which railroad cars are loaded. Freeport Sulphur Company at Hoskins Mound, Texas." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon, Office of War Information. CraneInteresting. A crane on the rails. Was it attached to a rail car of some sort? CraneBrent, Thanks for taking the time to explain. SulfurWhen I was a small child in Galveston, there would be scores of gondola cars on the same train, full of sulfur. Likely mined somewhere like this. [This is where they stored the sulfur after it was extracted. - Dave] Re: Crane"Interesting. A crane on the rails. Was it attached to a rail car of some sort?" If you look at the full size version of the picture you can see that the crane is part of a rail car. It is turned sideways to handle the sulfur which is why the back end sticks out over the sides of the rail car. Crane cars are hardly uncommon. Most railroads have a wreck train on call at division points in the event of serious derailments and those trains invariably include a crane. For an industry like this where they are using trains to move product out of the pit a steam crane mounted on a railroad car is just about ideal - mobile and doesn't require extra space to move in. These days of course most open pit mines don't use rails to move product out but truck that would make your basic monster truck look like a Hot Wheel. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, John Vachon, Mining, Railroads)
Fairest of Them All: 1941
... County farm, Virginia." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Bobby Pin ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/24/2020 - 1:37pm -

March 1941. "Mother and child. Bedford County farm, Virginia." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Bobby PinBobby pins used to be everywhere. They were great if dangerous projectiles to shoot from a rubber-band powered hand-slingshot, making a satisfying whistling bullet noise. Reflection of LifeJohn Vachon was a master with his camera. Catching the baby's face, plus mom's in the mirror is not an effortless task - especially keeping himself out of the picture. On another note, today's generation would consider the living conditions depicted here as "squalor" but was the norm for many of our ancestors who didn't give it much thought and were happy nonetheless. Sadly, I know some people today who could call CPS to report the conditions in which this child was living. Too much is taken for granted these days. The look of love.A lovely, timeless photo. I'm suddenly thinking of my own mother, with tenderness. I hope you're thinking of yours. Picture framesMy mom had five silver picture frames on the top of her bureau, the same size as those two with the man and the woman. The frames contained photos of her five children as little ones, and she had to polish the five frames about once a year, with Silvo and a rag, which she didn’t seem to mind. Also on the same bureau top was a silver set of brush and comb and mirror, with tortoiseshell trim. StovepipeIs that a big stove pipe behind mom's face? Is the stove in the middle of the room? It just looks very strange to my eyes today in 2020. [It's a stove ducted through a closed-up fireplace. -Dave] (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids)
Loading Zone: 1939
... look at Twin Cities trucking. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Tight Fit. The clearance sign is probably ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 8:21pm -

September 1939. "Minneapolis, Minnesota. Trucks loading at farm implement warehouse." Another behind-the-scenes look at Twin Cities trucking. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Tight Fit.The clearance sign is probably intended for trainmen riding on the sides or tops of boxcars on the track closest to the freight shed where the gondola car is spotted. Combination bodyAs some near-useless information for the city-slickers her. The F.L. Fagen truck has a multi-purpose bed of a type that was still common when I was a kid in the '70s. Those trapezoidal panels hanging on the side are for a livestock loading chute. Here the truck is configured as a flatbed. The truck will also serve as a bulk grain hauler with the right header and tailgate in place. All that's necessary to move from one function to next is some thorough broom work. Snappy CoupeThere is a snappy coupe hiding behind the Wilson truck. Can someone identify the make model and year? Huge ImprovementThese models look much more realistic than the models in the last photo. RealisticNow this photo is more natural with trash strewn about. No clearance?I see plenty of clearance between the man's head and the overhang. Most of the time you see the number of feet and inches before the word clearance on a warning sign of any type. F.I.S.T.Looks like a scene from the movie! Calling George RaftShades of "They Drive by Night." (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Railroads)
Friendly Service: 1942
... Ethyl and Metro. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... Groucho Marx in Duck Soup. (The Gallery, Gas Stations, John Vachon) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/18/2022 - 7:46pm -

May 1942. "North Platte, Nebraska. Gas station." Flavors on tap from this ten-pump petro-pub include Distillate, Mobilgas, Diesel Fuel, Kerosene, Hi-Lite, Ethyl and Metro. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Where's the wash bay?1941 Plymouth Deluxe two-door sedan needs a bath! Fidgety sentimentThe vertical words with the shadows behind each letter look like they've had too much caffeine. Meanwhile the art deco lines and the glass block are to die for but the lampposts look like something from War of the Worlds. Mobil ChessSeems like a high octane chess set, with imposing Pawns marching on the camera (or in a staggered defensive line). There's even a Knight making its move, up in front of the large Rook (aka Castle). Fill her up with EthylHow often did I hear that phrase uttered by my father? The uniformed attendant obediently did so, and also washed the windows and checked the oil. I demand a recountI see eight pumps and three water spigots. [There's a pump under each of those ten lights. And there are four spigots. - Dave] MemoriesI find it strange I seem to smell this picture. Looking at it vividly brings back the memory of the various fuels that were present when I was a child. With so many vapor recovery pumps, today's gas stations are so bland. There's an arbitrary fuel grade "Distillate" might be kerosene or jet fuel, however in the context of this timeframe, "Tractor fuel," or if you had a 26/27 Model T with a hot plate carburetor, a plausible motor fuel. Many tractors had two fuel tanks, Gasoline for starting, and once the engine was warm, you ran the less costly Kerosene or Distillate. Friendly InnSteaks a Specialty Ethyl's Sister"If you run out of gas, get Ethyl! If Ethyl runs out, get Mabel!" Groucho Marx in Duck Soup. (The Gallery, Gas Stations, John Vachon)
Winter in Hettinger: 1942
... after a snowstorm." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. My guess is - ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/18/2021 - 2:19pm -

February 1942. "Hettinger, North Dakota. Street scene after a snowstorm." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. My guess is - - - 40 below. Looks like one of those nights.The temperature is near zero or below and the air is dry and still. You step on the sidewalk with that skift of snow, as my mother called it, in your five buckle arctics and hear that soft screech. Baby it's cold outside. Brrr, brrr.If there is any place colder than Minnesota, it would be North Dakota. The "refrigerated" truck in that photo might actually keeping something warm, not cold. Colder thana mother-in-law's love! Bone-Chilling ColdOh, this photo immediately brought back memories of my childhood winters in Upstate New York! This type of coldness makes it difficult to get warm even when you've come inside and you're standing next to the kitchen stove. As you breathe in that frigid air, your nose and then your lungs freeze up. The lack of sunlight at that time of year just added to the moroseness. Cold ExposureWhat an extraordinarily masterful exposure and development of this photograph. The range and detail in the darker areas, the control of light from the windows and street lights, combined with a great composition and subject matter makes this truly memorable. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Crazy Cabin Inn: 1942
... and tourist cabins." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. No need to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/28/2021 - 9:45am -

February 1942. "Shannon County, Missouri. Gas station and tourist cabins." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. No need to colorizeThis thing is garish even in B&W! The ''H C" on the Sinclair sign - -means "Houston Concentrate," not High Compression. Fuel FossilsThere must be some Sinclair Dinosaurs hiding in this photo, I just haven't spotted them yet. I'm sure some sharp-eyed Shorpy-viewer will, unless of course they perished ... "Garish", no way!I would love to see this in color. Better yet, in person. The proprietor must have a very colorful, creative, meticulous and interesting individual. Cobweb CabinsAll I can think of is the enormity of all that arachnid habitat! Like, crazy, manWhen do you think it burned down? The proprietor rarely restedCrazy Cabin Inn does have charm. It also looks like a maintenance nightmare. De rigueur From the days of roadside wigwams, windmills, dinosaurs, elephants, giant boots and blue oxen, another attempt to tap into America on the move. Speed limits were leisurely and there was no concern for the infrequency of exit ramps. But if you want people to stop, you have to put yourself out there. But the landscape is changing: gas rationing, Eisenhower's Interstate System, Stuckey's, HoJo's. Magic EyeThis looks like one of those Magic Eye images. I'm sure there's a gas station in there somewhere, but my eyes can't focus well enough to see it! Sinclair - PennantThe left pump bears a globe that says "Sinclair - Pennant". If one searches for "Pennant motor oil" most results will show "Pierce Pennant motor oil". The Pierce Oil Corporation went out of business in 1940 and was then acquired by Sinclair Oil. So I suppose the "Pennant" brand was taken over by Sinclair at that moment. [Sinclair and Pierce Petroleum merged in 1930. "Pennant" was Sinclair's designation for the cheapest of its three grades of gasoline. - Dave] (The Gallery, Bizarre, Gas Stations, John Vachon)
Hibbing: 1941
... of Hibbing, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Some still ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/06/2021 - 1:43pm -

August 1941. "Main street of Hibbing, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Some still there Hamilton WomanQuite a racy movie they were playing in Hibbing. Now PlayngLawrence Olivier might want to have a word with the young man who put up the marquee. Movie sign not quite accurateWhoever put up the lettering on the theatre marquee misspelled both parts of Olivier's name, and got the title wrong! Didja See?Larry Oliver's playing in That Hamilton Woman? Do you like Hibbing?I don't know, I've never hibbed. Must have figured it outView from above E. Howard and 4th Ave E. Goodness knows how those flat-roofed buildings survived all that snow they get there. "Lawrence Oliver"Apparently the signage chap at the State Theater ran out of I's while preparing both sides of the marquee. Some people! Can't that guy read? The post clearly says "NO JAY WALKING" My Typo ActorI wonder if Lawrence Oliver is any relation to Laurence Olivier. At least Hibbingdid not destroy their downtown as in many other cities, it actually looks like it may return to its former glory. So as not to look garishComparing 1941 to 2021 it appears that at some point the Hibbing City Council banned flag mounted signs. Flat roofsMany buildings may appear to have a flat roof but in actuality the roofs are slightly pitched. Snow loads can be properly engineered to withstand weight but the culprit is standing water. A roof with a few degrees allow melting snow and rain water to run off. What was a problem however was the low-tech roofing materials, usually asphalt paper, tar and small stones. After several years of hot summer sun and sub-zero temps in winter they developed cracks which led to leaks. Bob's back pagesSomewhere in the general vicinity of this photo an infant Robert Zimmerman was wailing his first melodies. Where's Dylan ?The very same streets a young Robert Zimmerman would be roaming several years later. Bringing It All Back HomeA kid named Robert Zimmerman was born in Duluth just a couple months before this photo was shot. His family moved to Hibbing and he spent his entire childhood here thru high school, until he went to college and became Bob Dylan. I'm sure this scene would've looked familiar to him. That's Vivien to youI'm late to the party; many have noted the misspelling of the name of one of the greatest actors of his or any other generation. Larry Olivier probably would have snorted contemptuously at the gaffe and let it go, but would likely have thought it beyond the pale that his beloved bride's name was misspelled too. Oh and the title of the film is wrong as well ... excellent movie, with Vivien at her absolute loveliest: That Hamilton Woman. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Mining, Movies, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Doland: 1942
... County, South Dakota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Tracks are ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/26/2021 - 11:37am -

February 1942. "Doland, Spink County, South Dakota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Tracks are gone. I'm guessing hereThere are no railroad tracks in Doland now. I know it's possible to look up old aerials to see exactly where those tracks and buildings were, but I don't know how. So I'm using what I do know to see that today there is an angled street in an otherwise grid patterned town and that angle continues out to the left, well beyond the town. I'm guessing that's where the railroad tracks were. I also see J W Wright has already pasted the same Street View I was about to paste, showing what I think are two surviving grain elevators along what is now First street. Puts everything into perspectiveWhat better demonstration of perspective than train tracks, telephone poles, and rectangular buildings? Get out your rulers. It's because it's breadThis puts me in mind of the poem “Grain Elevator” (1947) by the Montreal poet A.M. Klein (1909–1972). The poem includes the lines: The blind ark lost and petrified? A cave built to look innocent, by pirates? Or some eastern tomb a traveled patron here makes local? My favorite words are, towards the end: It’s because it’s bread. It’s because bread is its theme, an absolute. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Railroads, Small Towns)
Central City: 1942
... of Central Colorado, west of Denver." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. City Hall? ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/13/2022 - 10:47am -

May 1942. "Central City, an old mining town. Mountainous region of Central Colorado, west of Denver." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. City Hall?Apparently what appears to be a modest two-family building has now been turned into the city hall, with a suitably large appendage on the right. WanderlustGoogle imagery has strongly inspired me to visit Central City someday. A bit of all rightDespite what was in all likelihood a hardscrabble life, involving grueling work in an all-but-overtly hostile environment, those are some nice houses -- especially the one with the matching witch-hat turrets. But I covet the unfinished abode on high ground, looking down on everyone else. And is that a church over there on the right, with the lovely gothic windows? Let us pray. [That structure up on the hill looks finished in more ways than one. - Dave] Dave so you think it's old rather than new? I briefly wondered about that but allowed myself to believe they were waiting for me to choose windows and doors and a granite package, plus hardwoods for the floors. Central City/Black HawkNow twin towns that are the proud environs of more than a few casinos, large and small. Been there many times in the last 20 years. The area is gorgeous. Lightning Rods Salesman WantedMy first thought about the hollowed out house sitting so high above the others was that it was likely the victim of a lightning strike and fire. When I was a kid, we lived in the highest old Victorian in our neighborhood. Lightning struck with a sound that made us think an atomic bomb might have hit. We didn't have a fire, but sparks rained down all sides of the house. Wherever electrical wires passed behind plaster under windows, curtains were singed & the bottoms fell as if cut by scissors. My grandfather's sons thought he was nuts for installing lightning rods on his house in 1950. Here's a house a couple of miles from me that got struck in 2016, for obvious reasons. [Indeed. - Dave] The house on the hill.More a memorial these days, to Ida Kruse McFarlane. Many of the buildings in the image are still around, today, you can see the roofline and cupola of the building next door: More about Ida, here: Ida Kruse McFarlane - Wikipedia How did you find it?The comment with photo showing the house in the foreground today ... how did you find it without an address? Amazing. Up on the hillThe building at the top of the hill was the "remains" of the Saint Aloysius Academy. You can see the outline of the foundation on the current satellite view. It is now the site of the Ida Kruse McFarlane Memorial. https://centralcity.colorado.gov/outdoors Class DismissedNo lurking mystery on the remains of the once vibrant St. Aloysius Academy atop Gunnell Hill in Central City. When it was built, the Sisters had the biggest school in town with room for nearly 200 students but those days had passed when the photo was taken. The foundation of the academy remains with a memorial cross in the same spot atop the hill, which was once reached with a lung aching climb up ten steep staircases from the city streets below. St. Aloysius.How interesting. My sister and I graduated from St. Aloysius Academy in Rome, N.Y. Like this one, it was closed years ago. In our case, the name was meant to honor a local 19th century priest, the Rev. Aloysius Murphy, pastor of St. Peter's church. When lightning rods fell from fashionI don't know how true this is, but I've heard that with the advent of indoor plumbing, the conventional wisdom said that you no longer needed a lightning rod, because you had a cast iron plumbing vent stack protruding from the roof, making a good conductor to ground. Then, decades later, when PVC or ABS replaced cast iron, people forgot they had ever used that reasoning. Google SleuthingSeaelf asked how I was able to find the location, and it's really just because Central City is crazy tiny. The old part of town only has a couple of streets, and this view is urban enough that it's not likely to be on the outskirts. Plus there's an obvious church on the right which helps focus in on possible locations. House huntingIn answer to seaelf's question, when you drive into Central City, the best parking lot is right where John Vachon was standing. You can't miss seeing that building. The street in the present view leads to Idaho Springs uphill to the left. Central City is indeed a fascinating place; as a photographer I've spent many happy hours there. (The Gallery, Frontier Life, John Vachon, Mining)
The Flavor Lasts: 1940
... Grit and gum in the Key City. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Attention ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/17/2011 - 4:56pm -

April 1940. "Dubuque, Iowa." Grit and gum in the Key City. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Attention pleaseWill the person who parked their rail car in the loading zone please move it. You are blocking traffic. The glamor and excitement of the big city-I knew there was a reason I live in the suburbs. After 71 yearsStill recognizable. Just what every kid needsA Wabash boxcar in the back yard! Looks like a brand new Ford sitting there in the alley.Don't think that a lot of people living in this neighborhood could buy a new Ford, landlord? HO ScaleWhat an excellent subject for a railroad diorama. Dept. of SanitationI'm impressed (or depressed?) by the amount of garbage all over the place. If there's one thing the USA has gotten better at, it is keeping the garbage off the streets and sidewalks. I've been elsewhere, and I think the USA has come a long way since this photo. Framed!Can anyone tell us what the purpose of the framework attached to the shed is? There are at least two wires running to the top of the framework, but no power lines or telephone lines appear to connect to it. HopperesqueThe composition, subjec -- I wonder if the photographer was influenced by the painter Edward Hopper. NoirThis could be the opening shot for the credits in a Robert Mitchum or Robert Ryan or Mickey Spillane thriller. It captures that grittiness and mystery very well. Who could be sitting in that car? (The Gallery, John Vachon, Railroads)
The Far Horizon: 1940
... country. Monona County." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I would ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/18/2020 - 12:42pm -

May 1940. "County road in Western Iowa corn country. Monona County." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I would not have guessed IowaI have driven around Iowa a fair bit, and don't remember rolling hills like these. Apparently, I learned something today. Iowa's Loess Hillshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loess_Hills Only one or two other places on Earth have this geological formation of windswept river silt from the passing of the last Ice Age. Hills that are 100-300 feet tall that formed along the banks of the Missouri River valley in Western Iowa. China is the other place on Earth with such formations. If you drive through this area in any season it's pretty cool. Great hiking too. IowaI am from Iowa and the one thing it is not is flat. The amount of hills though depend on where you are at in the state. I would be willing to be that that road is still gravel. Iowa roads are set on a grid pattern to make getting crops to market easier. It means though most of them are gravel because farm equipment doesn't care if its on pavement or gravel. Second shotIt seems Vachon appreciated the beauty of the sky that day and framed his image as a vertical. My photographer's guess is he also made an horizontal image that would give us an even better feel for a non-flat Iowa. [His only other shot was another vertical. - Dave] (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon, Landscapes)
Peoples Liquor: 1938
... Nebraska. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Dixie Dew $1.29 for Dixie ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2017 - 9:25am -

November 1938. Liquor store in Omaha, Nebraska. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Dixie Dew$1.29 for Dixie Dew? Soft drink or...? [Dixie Dew was a "popular price" whiskey. 90 proof, aged six months. - Dave] 10 Cents for 24 ounces?WOW ... I'll be right over! Every time a bell ringsWhat a raw scene; it's a cold, dreary day in the latter part of the (first?) Depression. Is this Pottersville from "It's a Wonderful Life"? Ernie, is that you? (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Omaha, Stores & Markets)
All Tucked In: 1941
... in defense industries." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. All I Can ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/12/2021 - 11:50am -

March 1941. "Mother and children from North Carolina farm. They came to Norfolk, Virginia, so husband and older sons could get employment in defense industries." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. All I Can Hear Is,"Good night, John-Boy", "Good night, Mary Ellen", "Good night, Jim-Bob!" Those are some close quarters. I've had to share a room with a sibling, but never a bed! Three to a BedWasn't always bad but my two little brothers -- four and five years younger -- had a bad habit of wetting the bed. So except for wintry nights when it was cozy, I often slept on the floor, rolled in my blanket. No sheet!Poor little pooters in the right bed do not even have a bottom sheet, just sleeping on the bare mattress. I have slept many nights with several of my siblings in the same bed. Sometimes, if we had company, we’d have to sleep half with our heads one way and half the other way, at the foot of the bed. One advantage is plenty of warmth! Once on a bonechilling night we had so many quilts we could not turn over; had to get out of bed to turn over. On those cold nights, you hope you would not have to go to the outdoor toilet. No matter which way the outhouse was oriented, the wind always seemed to blow in the back and up through the openings. Pleasantly SatisfiedMom’s very pleased with her bugs in a rug. A very precarious perch for those canning jars.I just wonder how long they survived those five kids. One looks a little wobbly as we speak. Crowded quarters!So, when come winter, 6 dogs?? When you have no space to giveToo bad John Vachon did not identify his subjects by name. Some of these five kids, plus at least two older sons mentioned, might show up in an Internet search. The mother's pride as she looks at her children is heartwarming. The walls are in much better shape than Piano Man's. But small children sleeping directly on a mattress does not usually work out well. Class clownLooks like Mama is chuckling over the young'un who's pretending to be asleep. There's always that one. Sharing a bedI'm the youngest of 9, and for the first 3-4 years of my life, I shared a bed with my youngest sister, and my brother. There were 3 bedrooms other than my parents room, so the three of us not only shared a bed, there were 6 of us total in that bedroom. Some would call this tough times, but it made the family bonds all that much stronger. The funniest part of this was that two of my sisters used to talk in their sleep. As each one would speak, the other would hear it and respond, even though the conversations were unrelated. Problem solvedIf my siblings and I had had to sleep like that, we'd have killed each other. That would reduce the overcrowding. Looks FamiliarTwo of my brothers and I shared a bed for a number of years. We would hold singing contests and vote for the winner. Being the middle brother, I got the middle and was always warm enough in Minnesota winters with surplus army wool blankets. We would do back scratches like the Three Stooges. We would laugh and make noise until our grandmother would threaten us with her shoe. And she knew how to use her shoe having raised 15 children herself. Great memories. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, Norfolk)
Sugar Bar: 1940
... Central City, Kentucky." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/13/2022 - 11:20am -

November 1940. "Boys in soft drink parlor. Central City, Kentucky." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. "Soft" drink Parlor?What's with the Cook's Goldblume Beer case behind the counter? These boys would be "good old boys", I reckon. https://harmeyerauction.hibid.com/lot/64719-232883-221775/cooks-goldblum... “Slip”, ”Sach” and BobbyHangin’ out at Louie’s sweet shop. Big Payoff!Love that penny slot machine on the bar! Either ...Either the definition of "boys" has changed over the years, or they grew up real fast back in the good old days. No Beer, No GirlsIt's not clear what's keeping these three guys at the counter. By the way, Central City calls itself "Home of the Everly Brothers." Cigars, Cigarettes ...and a wedding ring - that's what I see while reading these fellas from right to left. The perils of smokingOur cigar smoker keeps his Zippo in his left coat pocket. The pocket flap is tucked in and the material above it is grubby from frequent hand contact. He has recently overfilled the lighter; the excess has found its way to the bottom of the jacket. This will quickly evaporate, unless the cigar ember finds it first. Re: Big Payoff!Apparently you would win gum depending on how many cigarette packs came up! Why stay at the counter I can’t speak for the rest of you, but one look at that soda jerk tells me why I would stay at the counter. As they used to say, “hubba hubba!” In reply to MountainrevIt was curious how references to Boys, and age, as in this photograph, has changed in perception. In movies of these decades 30s to 60s, there are many references to boys or girls, who look the better part of 30 or 40. In 'Sunset Bvd' (1950) the William Holden character speaks of hanging out with 'kids my own age', and he looks over 40! He's supposed to be the younger man, the object of affection of the 'much older' Norma Desmond character, who is only 50. Re: Re: Big Payoff!You could actually win cigarettes if the right combination came up! Winnings were provided by the fellow behind the bar. Everybody got a gumball if they wanted one, regardless of the combination on the reels. This enabled it to be legally considered a vending machine, rather than a gambling device. A clever way to get around anti-gambling laws in many places. Time TravelerAnyone else look at the fella on the right and his loose haircut and longish sideburns, and think he might have stepped out of a club on Carnaby Street, London circa mid to late 1960's? Not what I expected of pre-WWII Kentucky styling for gents. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon)
Three Women: 1940
... enigmatic scene -- Iowa noir. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Snapped ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/24/2009 - 5:05am -

Iowa, 1940. "Untitled." A rather enigmatic scene -- Iowa noir. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. SnappedCandid photography was just one reason the 35mm rangefinder became an important tool. It changed the way we saw things. Small, silent and perfect for this application. WaitingOne wonders what these ladies are waiting for, maybe to have a prescription filled? Whatever, they appear to be totally oblivious to the camera and are maintaining a rather stony silence. GreyhoundInteresting old popcorn machine next to the door. Bus station? At the bus stationTicket in hand? Phone booth against the wall? Popcorn machine near the window? Dressed for a fashionable arrival in St. Louis? If only...I wish I could see the background a bit better, because this almost looks like the train station in Osceola, Iowa. Still in use as the Amtrak station for the California Zephyr. 1000 Yard StareI recognize that look. We women perfected it many, many generations ago. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
« first‹ prev…6 [7]8…next ›last »
Syndicate content  Shorpy.com is a vintage photography site featuring thousands of high-definition images. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago. Contact us | Privacy policy | Accessibility Statement | Site © 2024 Shorpy Inc.