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Kiewel Beer: 1940
... View Larger Map Barren Once again, like the Chicago photo, few people and an angle chosen that makes it seem that you're ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/16/2011 - 11:45am -

October 1940. "Grand Forks, North Dakota." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. A different use for grainInstead of selling beer, that location is home to a bakery. The Dotty Dunn hat store was at 17 N. 3rd Street. It, the bar and the dry cleaners are all gone, even the cut rate store to the left. The only building that survives is the one to the extreme right. Which appears to have a barber shop. BTW, Dotty Dunn Hats was a chain store operation. View Larger Map BarrenOnce again, like the Chicago photo, few people and an angle chosen that makes it seem that you're looking down on a detailed area of a really cool O-gauge layout. Perhaps that's what Vachon was trying to capture. Bull City Boy has a great question, what is that automobile? A totally different look from the others. I haven't clue alas, [Lincoln Zephyr?] but now I gotta find out. What is it? Anywhere, U.S.A.Nostalgic picture which is so similar to the small town in which I grew up but on the East Coast. Our businesses on Main Street (with the same kind of diagonal parking before meters) were Carroll Cut Rate, Adam's Hats,Gene's Bar featuring Rheingold beer, Pete's Barber Shop and Bashura's Shoe Repair. I used to love the fumes in the shoemakers and cleaners, both now deemed very lethal, i.e. shoe polish, glues, leather-tanning chemicals and carbon tetrachloride. We also had a Hart's Five and Dime and a First National grocery. Kind of neat to think that whether you grew up in the East or Midwest, the small town Main Streets were so similar. Brew NotesAs a side note, Kiewel's Beer was brewed in Little Falls, Minnesota, while Heileman's Old Style (hanging sign over the tavern door) was brewed in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Interior HingesSo, is no one going to identify the autos, especially the fourth from the left? P.S. I've been away for five weeks. Glad to be back and I'll be catching up with Shorpy as best I can. Inflation$1.98 in 1940 would be about $32 today. Not a bad price for a man's hat. Cars ID'dFrom left, 1940 Chevy with deluxe rear center guard. 1937-38 Chrysler 1937 Nash 1939 Chrysler? 1940 Oldsmobile Comments welcome. The vehicle 4th from the left is a 1939 Ford Deluxe 2 door sedan. Better later than never. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
The Big Apple: 1912
... burned down in a spectacular fire on January 9, 1912; the Chicago architecture firm of Graham, Burnham & Co. designed its ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/18/2012 - 6:56pm -

New York circa 1912. "Big buildings of Lower Manhattan." Landmarks here include the Singer Building and, under construction, the Woolworth tower. And let's not overlook the Hotel Grütli. Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. SurvivorsMany buildings in this photo are still going strong. Woolworth, Bankers Trust, 2 Rector St., 111 Broadway and, of course, Trinity Church. What else I didn't know there was an elevated train on Trinity Place as well as Greenwich Street. Off in the distance is the Met Life Building, with no competition, and at the right the grand old Municipal Building is nearing completiion. El of a PhotoThe two Tracks shown at the bottom photo are the 6th Avenue (on the right) and the 9th Avenue(on the left) Elevated Lines where they have just diverged from a common track above Battery place and the South Ferry terminal. The 9th Avenue El is also seen further uptown in the photo. The photo also shows the NYC Municipal building under construction and way uptown, the Metropolitan Life building, shown in many images here. Those buildingshold more people than the 25,000 from my town. Coming soon to a Broadway block near youThis view would soon be transformed by the construction of the new Equitable Building at 120 Broadway, between Pine and Cedar Streets. The old Equitable Building burned down in a spectacular fire on January 9, 1912; the Chicago architecture firm of Graham, Burnham & Co. designed its replacement, which was built between 1913 and 1915. Although it was hardly the tallest skyscraper in downtown Manhattan, the new Equitable was one of the bulkiest, and it was heavily criticized for blocking out the sun from the downtown streets. Shortly after it was completed, New York adopted the Zoning Ordinance of 1916, which placed limits on the height and bulk of tall buildings; this law promoted the "setback" massing that characterizes so many NYC buildings built after 1920. With apologies to the Beach BoysWith trains on either side of the building, rooms in the Hotel Grutli would have had good, good, good, good vibrations. Tall, Taller, TallestWhat a great snapshot(!) in time. This image captures the progression of the tallest buildings in Manhattan from 1894 to 1912: The 1894 Manhattan Life Insurance Building (black baroque topped building in front of Bankers Trust pyramid, after its 1904 expansion). The twin-domed 1899 Park Row Building, just to the right of the Singer tower of 1908 (lantern-topped building with flag). The Metropolitan Life tower of 1909 (in the distance, through the haze). Finally, the Woolworth Building (under construction, completed 1913). (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
Leonard Nimoy: 1931-2015
... to be present at a performance at the Schubert Theater in Chicago where I saw him play the role of Sherlock Holmes. His line "Women are ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/27/2015 - 9:29pm -

        Leonard Nimoy, the sonorous, gaunt-faced actor who won a worshipful global following as Mr. Spock, the resolutely logical human-alien first officer of the Starship Enterprise in the television and movie juggernaut “Star Trek,” died Friday morning at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles. He was 83. -- New York Times Los Angeles, 1968. "Actor Leonard Nimoy working on the set of the television show Star Trek." 35mm negative from photos by Douglas Jones for Look magazine. View full size. One of the bestLeonard Nimoy's other work sometimes gets ignored, but all he did, both as a director and actor, he did well. There never will be another Spock, no matter how hard they try. I just wish I could have learned The Vulcan Nerve Pinch, there are people I would have gladly used it on. Live Long and ProsperHe did, just wish it would have been longer. Time to break out the DVDs again. [Also on Netflix streaming. - Dave] 83He did indeed live long, and he prospered. Thrusters on FullLeonard Nimoy was a gifted actor and director and I mourn his passing with millions of others. I think it will be a long time before I can watch Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan again. The logic of logicI just had this thought: I bet Dave has posted a picture of Nimoy on Shorpy. Never disappointed... "It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want." --Mr. Spock Star Trek: The Original Series, "Errand of Mercy" A One Man ShowMy wife and I went to see him years ago as Van Gough's brother in his one man show. We left the theater feeling as if we had just seen Vincent's actual brother. What an actor and what a man to actually meet everyone that came to the theater after the show. He was indeed 'The most beautiful...human, I have ever known' Life long NimoyBesides the Star Trek role that I loved, Nimoy has filled this nerdy (old) boy with countless documentary narration and the series In Search Of... . Although he lived a long life I wish there was more and I'm grateful for what he created. Go boldly, Sir.You will be missed. You taught us about logic and feelings, and the confusion that results when they collide. We learned not to fear those who looked a bit different from the rest of us. Thank you. As a 15-year-oldI was one of the hordes that wrote NBC not to cancel the series and was shocked that it actually saved it for one more year. There was no one like Mr. Spock and never will be. Bravo Leonard! Nimoy from Dorchester, MassAlthough about 10 years younger, my mother grew up in Dorchester, MA not far from the Nimoys. My father grew up in nearby Roxbury where he occassionally went to Leonard's father's barber shop which I believe was in Dorchester. I know there are a lot of fellow Bostonians who follow Shorpy.com. Anyone know where that shop was? Barber shopThe barber shop where Nimoy's father Max once worked is at 1186 Blue Hill Ave. near Morton Street, in Dorchester. This photo of the late actor was taken in front of it, and posted on the Mattapan United Facebook page in 2011. A Truly remarkable PresenceI was lucky enough to be present at a performance at the Schubert Theater in Chicago where I saw him play the role of Sherlock Holmes. His line "Women are so...illogical" stopped the show! He was not only Spock!We had the pleasure of watching Mr. Nimoy in London (on a visit) in "Sherlock Holmes" - a play (resurrected) by the Royal Shakespeare Company. He played the part straight, and very well - until he turned to the audience, and said "But love is a human emotion" (or something close). The audience roared... A fond memory. (LOOK, TV)
A Case of the Mondays: 1925
... of the envelopes on her desk reads Oak Flooring Bureau, Chicago. It's hard to say whether the stamps are cancelled, though, so we can't ... down in the in box is from the Oak Flooring Bureau in Chicago. They're authors of "The Story of Oak Floors" (1924), a 24-page ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/25/2014 - 9:00am -

There's no caption for this yellowing print of a lady at an office desk with postage stamps (quite possibly on October 19, 1925). Yet there must be some reason it's in the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. View full size. Belle Case La Follette?She looks surprisingly like Bob La Follette's widow, at least from this picture taken the year before: [edit] OK, that settles it - they're wearing the same brooch. Oak Flooring BureauThe return address on one of the envelopes on her desk reads Oak Flooring Bureau, Chicago. It's hard to say whether the stamps are cancelled, though, so we can't say whether the mail is outgoing or incoming and thus whether this photo shows the offices of the O.F.B. [The condition of the envelope's edge seems to suggest one that has passed through the mail stream, or at least is not fresh out of the box. -tterrace] Perhaps not postage stampsI think that the stamps may some sort of "Easter Seal" type of stamp, perhaps placed over the flap of the envelope to help seal it. Postage stamps at the time, if they came in sheets, had margins on each side, one of which would have had a plate number. Even if removed, the margins would have left a perforated edge instead of the straight edge shown here. They look like modern peel and stick stamps, by the Post Office didn't make those back then. [I was thinking the same thing, not only about the absence of margins (technically, selvage), but from what I can make out of the stamp design, which doesn't seem to resemble any US stamps then in common use. -tterrace] It has something to do with Wisconsin.She has a calendar from a Milwaukee firm, and a copy of The Political Philosophy of Robert M. LaFollette (published 1920). Oak FlooringThe second letter down in the in box is from the Oak Flooring Bureau in Chicago. They're authors of "The Story of Oak Floors" (1924), a 24-page book. Fighting BobThe partly obscured book behind the telephone appears to be something about Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette, the famous Senator from Wisconsin and champion of the Progressive political movement. He ran for president in 1924 and died just a few months prior to the apparent date of this photo. Coupled with the calendar from the Milwaukee insurance company, I'd say the book is pretty good evidence that this picture was taken in the Badger State. [Is it a clue as to who the lady might be? - Dave] Christmas seals?Those look like the 1925 Christmas seals put out by the National Tuberculosis Association. Re: Oak Flooring BureauI am enjoying this discussion of stamps and Easter Seals, with tterrace’s observations and notes, and Dave’s hint of information yet to come (or to be teased out). I would like to add that I agree with tterrace on the OFB letter being incoming as opposed to outgoing. There is a visible postmark, square in shape, across the stamp closest to the envelope’s corner. Belle Case La FolletteI agree with the comment about this likely being a picture of Robert M. La Follette's widow, Belle Case La Follette. An interesting feature is the framed copy of Rudyard Kipling's poem "IF" on the wall behind her. Miss-StampedI'm fairly certain the correct seal (stamp?) has not been identified. The seals on the desk in the photograph appear to lack the "Merry Christmas and Good Health" wording. There is also much more white (or light colored) area in the stamps she is utilizing than in the 1925 Christmas Seal stamp in the example below. Could this be a Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis Association seal or other Wisconsin related seal? It also seems very early in the year for this to be a 1925 "Christmas Seal." Weren't these actually sold starting around the middle of November and closer to when Christmas cards would be available? The availability of the 1925 national Christmas Seal stamp on October 19th seems doubtful (if that is the actual date of the photo). (The Gallery, The Office)
Steel Wheels: 1942
November 1942. "Chicago. In the locomotive repair shops at an Illinois Central Railroad yard." ... to restore the tread and flange profile. (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/28/2013 - 11:31am -

November 1942. "Chicago. In the locomotive repair shops at an Illinois Central Railroad yard." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. wheel shopThis is not a locomotive shop. It is a wheel shop and there are wheels from freight and passenger cars present. The wheelset under the hoist is a passenger car set. The gearbox between the wheels drives a generator which charges batteries for the car electric system. Wheels need to be reprofiled due to wear or flat spots. Industrial atmosphereJD was really a master at composing gorgeous photographs of quotidian subjects and this is no exception. What serendipity to have an arrow on the floor. be sure you are SAFE, then go ahead with your jobThese look like freight car wheels, or non-powered locomotive wheels... they don't have the gear or traction motor that powered wheels would have. (Yes, there were diesel-electric locomotives in and before WWII. Just not very many.) The wheelset to the right of the man standing, with the gearbox-looking thing in the middle of the axle and a pile of small parts on the floor in front of it, might be designed to drive an under-car generator. Before locomotives provided electricity to the train, some passenger cars were lit by generators turned by their own wheels - sort of like a giant bicycle headlight. Each car would have its own generator, and batteries for use while in the station. I think the big machine with the electric motor on top is a wheel lathe. Railroad wheels are made with a certain taper to the "tread"; this makes the train car center itself between the rails and go around curves smoothly. After a while, the wheels wear down, and the train car will track badly; one fix is to re-machine the tread back to the proper taper, which is what a wheel lathe is for. There are a few standard wheelset sizes for freight cars, so a lot of railroads keep a supply of new or rebuilt wheelsets (the assembly of two wheels and an axle) at big freight yards. If a car needs new wheels, they hoist it up with jacks or a crane and swap the wheelsets - the old wheelsets go on top of a flat car. When the flat car is full, it goes to a shop like this, so all the wheelsets can be inspected for cracks and re-machined in batches. Cracked wheels and axles, and wheels that have worn so much that they can't be re-machined, are sold for scrap; often they are melted down and cast back into new railroad wheels. Powered axles have a traction motor in the middle. Sometimes these are swapped out complete just like non-powered axles, but sometimes the wheels are re-machined on the car. There are wheel lathes that sit in a pit under the tracks; the train car is driven over the pit, a small section of the track is removed, and the lathe can machine the wheels while they are still installed. The trolley crane, with exposed conductor rails, is a nice touch. These days, there would probably be a long insulated cable feeding this crane. Really big cranes (enough to lift an entire locomotive with) still have busbars like this, but they're buried under a lot of insulation. Train Wheels.While visiting the U.P. Yard in Cheyenne I spied a flat car, tarp covered, with a huge load upon it as the car was bent under the weight. The worker told me it was a wheel lathe as this rail road maintains gorgeous steam 2-6-6-2's that are used. The wheels on the engines and cars are of cast iron to which a steel "tire" with flange must be shrunk fitted. Can you imagine turning an 80" locomotive wheel so it is within .001" round? When the wheel is finished a steel "tire" is then fitted by heating the steel disk so it expands over the wheel and locks solid when cool... a very hard and precise job indeed! One of Jack Delano's photos show a roaring hot tire just fitted.... take a look by searching for: "Wheel of Fire". Spicer driveThe name of this drive that powered the generators off the wheel axle is known as a Spicer drive. It used generally two universal joints, a drive shaft, and a large generator to charge the onboard batteries, normally 32V. The Spicer drive only effectively charged the batteries at road speed. According to Amtrak's Standard Maintenance Procedure or SMP revised 3-4-2011, "Effective January 1, 2015, use of an axle drive for a generator system (either Spicer or belt) is prohibited at the time of the car's next PC-1 annual inspection, and the drive apparatus must be removed from the axle by that time." So if you see one, get a photo of it as they will become more rare to see in operation! Lathes, wheels, tyresAs an apprentice I spent some time in the wheel shop. I can't be absolutely certain, but that machine in the centre of the photo looks like a tread grinding machine - used to re-profile the treads of chilled cast iron wheels - rather than a wheel lathe. Wheel lathes typically have large headstocks and large diameter faceplates at both ends. As for loco driving wheels, by the 1940s US practice favoured the use of cast steel wheel centres. The preserved UP locos referred to have steel Boxpok wheels. The locos I work on have 69" diameter Boxpoks, which we re-tyred some back in 2003-4. On most locos I've worked on the tyres are not just retained simply by shrink fitting. Older locos with cast iron wheel centres have studs through the wheel rim, and more modern locos with steel wheels use a Gibson ring. The car wheels in this photo appear to be multiple-wear wrought steel wheels, which were in very widespread use on passenger by 1942. These were one-piece wheels with no separate tyre. They could be machined when worn to restore the tread and flange profile. (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Zany Puppets: 1955
... one or two in the house in La Grange, 20 miles (?) west of Chicago back then. I was able to use the skates when other sibs were not ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/08/2016 - 7:07pm -

Columbus, Ga., circa 1955. "Toys for Christmas." Starring Zany Puppets, a Transogram "Disneyland" board game, Patrician phonograph, Permoplast clay and "Trophy Hunt" target game. 4x5 negative from the News Archive. View full size. Giving You the Evil EyeThere is something really strange about that model's eyes. Can't imagine News Photo used this shot for the final ad. [Photos in the News Photo Archive were taken for newspaper articles, not ads. - Dave] Trophy HuntI had that as a kid. A cogged-wheel/ratchet where the hammer could be rotated and 6 rubberbands hooked between that and the front of the gun. Presto! You had a 6-shooter to annoy your little sister with. Forget the targets, they were lame. SparkieAnd aenthal thinks the model's eyes are strange. I really don't like this hand puppet at all. But I do remember the smell of that kind of plastic. Trophy HuntThanks for jogging the memory, John Howard. My brother and I had welts all over the place from these pistols. Pretty Good Christmas Morning HaulFor a boy anyway. But can you imagine finding all those puppets under the tree! Too young to cussIf I tried them now, cussing would definitely be involved. Those skates bring back some unpleasant memories for me. How I made it through childhood without a broken ankle using those things amazes me. They would detach from the shoe almost every time I hit a raised seam in the sidewalk. $50.00 worth?I realize that 1955 incomes and expenses were a small fraction of what they are today, but I believe that at the time you could buy everything in this picture for about $50. If you've looked at toy catalogs and TV ads today, toy manufacturers think nothing of putting prices on their individual toys of $100.00 and up, even more on some electronics and computer novelties (that is what I paid for a single toy Unicorn for my little grand daughter at Christmas). Mystery modelThe model looks familiar, like a TV actress. I wonder who it was? Also, given that her eyes are nearly closed (like she blinked), I'm guessing this particular shot didn't make it into the paper. I know this is going to hurtI remember the puppets, and know we had one or two in the house in La Grange, 20 miles (?) west of Chicago back then. I was able to use the skates when other sibs were not using them, and to this day remember KNOWING it was going to hurt when I fell backwards to thunk my pumpkin on the concrete. It did. Made a scary sound, too. The skate wheels on the concrete vibrated as the wheels went over the finished surface with its small imperfections. Your feet would tingle as you skated, and for a while after you took the skates off. You would also have trouble walking normally for a bit without wheels. Shoes just didn't roll as well. There was always a 'kerchunk' when you rode over the anti-crack grooves every 3 feet or so. It helped to have one foot ahead of the other and transfer weight to that foot as you passed over. I don't remember the name 60 years on, but the contractor that put in the sidewalks embedded his company name and the date (1923?) at the end of each section of sidewalk. I may still have a skate key around here somewhere. Lo-Fi PhonographThe Patrician phonograph was acoustic, not electronic. It only used electricity to turn the record, not to amplify the sound. What a ShameWe don't see the word "ZANY" so much any more...of course, we don't see those puppets either - except maybe on "The Simpsons." Zany puppetOh wow, I had the puppet she is holding. I too remember the smell of the plastic the puppet heads were made of. (The Gallery, Christmas, Columbus, Ga., News Photo Archive)
Baby Doll: 1917
... half a sweater done riding the rails between New York and Chicago. Even the familiarity with which Frances holds her needles points ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/28/2012 - 6:28pm -

November 19, 1917. New York. "Frances White." Half of the vaudeville team Rock & White, Frances attained brief renown for a novelty tune called the "Spelling Song." 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-IFrances sings! McKayla Maroney twinHeh, heh. Anyone else notice the resemblance? WowWhat an interesting photo. The battered wall and window completely fail to make the scene seem house-like, but that's not what's so strange. It's the combination of grown woman in full makeup and silk stockings wearing childlike shoes, floppy bow and rompers. Hearing the clip just confirms that the aim was a "sexy child" effect. The "knitting for the troops" just puts the icing on the slightly creepy cake. I don't know if it makes me feel better or worse to know this sort of thing has been going on for a long time! Frances is s a real knitter, too... probably since her childhood. She is working on a sweater back, in garter stitch, on smaller needles - probably a size four. You can see the ball of hand-wound olive-dunn wool on the floor under the table. The great thing about knitting as a pastime is that it can turn those unoccupied minutes into something useful. Unlike a book, it won't bereave you to put it down in the middle of a compelling passage. You can still chatter or pay attention to other things - such as the sound from outside your dressing room - while your hands are occupied. it's also a great companion while you are traveling. She could probably get half a sweater done riding the rails between New York and Chicago. Even the familiarity with which Frances holds her needles points to the verity of the shot. The cameraman probably saw her knitting on the table, and suggested that she pick it up to make a good shot. Speaking Of SpellingMy Mother would sing to us kids a variant of the Mississippi song...."M eye crooked letter crooked letter eye, crooked letter crooked letter eye, humpback humpback eye". Knitting nerdsWell, car nerds are common around here, identifying all the obscure vehicles in the photos. Train nerds are probably second in number. Flag nerds abound. And now we have a highly qualified knitting nerd. Louise, I found that interesting, and forwarded the link to my knitter/historian cousin who will be delighted! Thanks!! Still a TeenagerAccording to Wikipedia, Frances White lived from 1898 to 1969. Doing the math, she was around 19 years old when this photo was taken. William Rock, her vaudeville partner, lived from 1875 until 1922. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Pretty Girls)
Guggenheim Going Up: 1957
... a long and tortuous journey that would eventually lead to Chicago. In the mid-1980s, Henken donated fragments of the house to public ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/04/2013 - 1:44pm -

Nov. 12, 1957. "Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, East 89th Street & Fifth Avenue, New York. Under construction II. Frank Lloyd Wright, architect." Large-format acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. What Can be DoneJohansenNewman, The Guggenheim is an architectural treasure. There is nothing "kitschy" about it. It is particularly wonderful looking now since its recently completed renovation and restoration. It stands proudly among the boxes that line 5th Avenue. I love the old buildings as much as the next person, but there is much to behold in mid-century architecture as well. And to reduce the functionality of the ramp to the cliche observation about it being a "drain" is to miss its unique qualities; the interaction with other people, the joy of the interior volume, and being able to glance across to see other works. Yes, it is a challenging space in which to exhibit, but I have never once been there and felt I couldn't "step back and contemplate". One Must Not Question "The Master"Back in the 70s, I read a book about Wright's works. Note how the walls slope outward. Supposedly, Wright designed it that way so that paintings might be viewed from the artist's perspective -- tilted back on the easel. The author wrote that this caused a problem, because, while the back of the easel tilts, the front is vertical. Special mounting brackets had to be designed to hold the paintings vertical so that spectators could truly view them as the artists had seen them. Of course, at the time, no one had dared to question "The Master's" assumptions. Two-way trafficThe sight of the parked cars facing northbound may seem perplexing, but at the time this picture was taken Fifth Avenue handled two-way traffic. It became one-way southbound in early 1966. Both of the apartment buildings shown in this picture are still going strong today. The building to the left is 4 East 89th Street, built a few years before the Guggenheim, while to the right is 1067 Fifth Avenue, which dates back to 1917. There's a full-floor, 5-bedroom unit currently available for sale at 1067 Fifth, if you have a spare $6 million lying around. Oops on the formworkLooks like someone wasn't operating the pneumatic concrete vibrator when pouring the mix on the front curved wall. Patch time. Inside InfoI'm sure someone is going to post a current photo of this unusual building, Attached is one of the interior. It is an amazing experience just to see it from 5th Avenue or the inside of the building. Oh, and by the way, they have some swell paintings. The Concrete ContractorI heard this story from Edgar Tafel, who was one of Wright's first apprentices at the Taliesin Fellowship in Wisconsin: An acquaintance of his, a concrete contractor named George Cohen, really wanted the Guggenheim Museum job, so he asked Tafel to get him a meeting with Wright. One morning, Tafel called Cohen and told him to run down to the Plaza Hotel right away. When he got there, Wright opened the door to his suite in his bathrobe and said, "So you're the concrete expert." Cohen answered, "No, Mr. Wright, I'm here to learn from you!" Cohen got the job, and he signed his name on the facade of the building, right underneath the signature and the red square symbol of Frank Lloyd Wright. This is believed to be the only time Wright ever shared top billing with a contractor. +55 yearsA slightly different angle, from this past Thanksgiving weekend. Construction PhaseAt this point in construction, the crane on the left is positioned to install the roof leaks. The Cars Are...in order, going away, a 1953 Dodge and a 1954 Mercury. I bet the concrete was barely dryIn 1960 when I was three (ahem) I took this photo there. Getting there was a mini-expedition: I drove from Altoona, Pa, west to the Pittsburgh airport (about a hundred miles), got on one of those new-fangled 707 jet airliners which had been introduced barely more than a year before, and flew to New York (about 320 miles and probably passing over Altoona). I spent a few hours in the city, went back out to La Guardia, flew back to Pittsburgh that same day and then home to Altoona. For years I had a massive blowup of this photo, which I just always liked, on my wall, mostly because of the child leaning on his elbows on the top ramp, who is looking down at a child on the lower right bottom, barely visible in this small format. What not to doBack in 1965, my 7th grade art teacher said,"Wright predicted that the Guggenheim would make all the surrounding buildings looked poorly designed and outdated. Instead, just the opposite happened." My teacher was right then and even more correct now, although the building is now old enough that it is actually a testament to 1950's funky kitsch. Aside from the exterior being as bad as it is, the interior totally fails as a museum, where one is supposed to be able to step back, focus on, and contemplate the art. The downward spiral just makes you want to keep moving, as though heading down the drain. So many wonderful 19th century buildings are being torn down at an alarming rate to make way for the new. Frankly, I wouldn't miss this one at all. As an artist and illustrator, and a product of the kitschy 50's myself, I think the essential issue is that we kid ourselves to think that art or architecture is viewed with disregard to context. Placement is key for appreciation and enjoyment. This building is simply in the wrong place. Somewhere else, independent of it's current setting would have been much better. Still dislike it immensely, though, especially in comparison to Wright's other designs. Interesting triviaPrior to the Guggenheim's construction, the building site hosted a Usonian house exhibit -- a model home by FLLW that was subsequently disassembled & moved into storage. Years later, in the early 80s the disassembled house was auctioned off on NY's PBS station WNET 13 (during one of their early "begathons") for more than $130,000 at the time: The two-bedroom house sat on the present site of the Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan as part of an exhibition of 60 years of Wright`s work. When the exhibition closed, the house was dismantled by contractor and former Wright apprentice David Henken, beginning a long and tortuous journey that would eventually lead to Chicago. In the mid-1980s, Henken donated fragments of the house to public television station WNET in New York. The station then auctioned the pieces to Domino`s Pizza founder Thomas Monaghan, a voracious collector of Wright memorabilia. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
Corner Pocket: 1918
... work in New York, will be married to Nate Salsbury of Chicago on Aug. 2, at the home of her parents, the Rev. Dr. Mussey of the ... brother. Mr. Salsbury is connected with Marshall Field in Chicago, where the couple are to reside." Sharkbite! Is that thumb ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/15/2008 - 2:44am -

June 22, 1918, in or near New York City. "Miss May Schloss at canteen." 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. The Hustleress"I'm really not very good... my brothers tried to teach me... I just knock the balls around most of the time... Oh, a bet? You mean for money? Oh I don't think so... well, I guess we could..." She's played the game beforeHer left-hand's held in a pretty good bridge, she's down over her cue. I'd say she knows what she's doing. They're obviously not playing eight-ball. Could be some form of rotation since only the high balls are left on the table, or maybe straight pool. The Original GumpThat would be a rendering of Andy Gump on the blackboard. http://lambiek.net/artists/s/smith_sidney.htm Navy has better tailors.Navy was better dressed than Army in 1918, too. Some things are constant through the ages. Chalk TalkSay, anyone have a clue what's the last word above those cartoon military guys..."Before the Black S...."? Must have something with the 10 days bread and water, but I couldn't figure it out. ["Before the black slave" (there was the infantry). - Dave] Mrs. SalsburyFrom the New York Times, July 27, 1919: "Miss May Schloss, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Schloss of 156 West Seventy-fifth Street, who has been prominent in war camp community work in New York, will be married to Nate Salsbury of Chicago on Aug. 2, at the home of her parents, the Rev. Dr. Mussey of the Ethical Culture Society to officiate. Mrs. William H. Schloss, a sister-in-law of the bride-elect, is to be her only attendant. Captain Milton Salsbury is to act as best man for his brother. Mr. Salsbury is connected with Marshall Field in Chicago, where the couple are to reside." Sharkbite!Is that thumb legal? Nate Jr. and MiltonWere the sons of Nate Salsbury, owner and manager of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. In a matter of minutes I found a photo of Nate Jr and Milton as infants and other photos of their Dad with the stars of the Wild West Show. (Gotta love the Internet!) New York Times, May 10, 1924, pg 21: "Dissolution Notice": "The co-partnership of Freedman-Salsbury Co., composed of Benjamin H Freedman and Milton S. Salsbury, and also doing business as the Herkules Saw Sales Co. of America with address at 233 Broadway, New York City, has been dissolved." - Milton S Salsbury (Milton Salsbury was the son of Buffalo Bills manager Nathan "Nate" Salsbury.) Another interesting note -- This Benjamin Freedman tried to blackmail Woodrow Wilson. Who knew a kooky photo of people playing pool would yield so much? (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, WWI)
Delicious Tasty Waffles: 1939
... in names Plus the Blackstone Hotel, sharing the name of Chicago's headquarters of the "smoke-filled room". Pretty much unchanged in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/22/2021 - 12:01am -

        The Times Square Cafeteria, William Penn Hotel and Washington Avenue -- all located far south of their namesakes, in Miami Beach. April 1939. "One of Miami's streets showing varied small shops, signs, and tourist bureaus. Miami Beach, Florida." Acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size. What's in namesPlus the Blackstone Hotel, sharing the name of Chicago's headquarters of the "smoke-filled room". Pretty much unchanged in appearance, the Miami Blackstone is now apartments. My favorite, the Havana Tours/Greyhound Bus sign calls up images of a very wet 90-mile trip. 1D1565 1939 Oldsmobile Series 60 sedan. http://classiccarcatalogue.com/OLDSMOBILE_1939.html The Canadian-manufactured 1939 Pontiac (Series 25) Chieftain was almost identical to the low-price field F39 Sixty Olds, except for the grille and some other exterior trim pieces. I sold mine two years ago. +80Below is the same view from June of 2019. Havana ToursDon't miss that last Greyhound back to Miami. How times changeMy mom, born in the Bronx in 1925, lived in Miami in her late teens and early twenties. This photo is the Miami she remembered when she and my stepdad decided we should move there from Maryland in 1973. Lots of things changed during those 25 years. [1973 is when my parents decided we should *leave* Miami. - Dave] HousedressesThose 1939 ladies with the dog could easily have been my 1960s mother in those comfy cotton dresses; the only difference would be my mom would be in sandals or flip-flops. Same "pocketbooks" and same tightly curled hair. The lack of parking hasn't changed.My father's family came to Miami in 1919, my mom's family in 1940. She told me in the summer time you could shoot a cannon down Lincoln Road sidewalk and not hit anybody. Before air conditioning, South Florida was very seasonal. I see they have 30 minute parking even back then. Not many people know but South Miami Beach was at one time a huge avocado grove. The little canal that connects Indian Creek was dug to transport avocados to boats that could not come to shore because of the shallow water. My dad knew people who hunted rabbits on South Beach. Photos from that eraboth interior and exterior have that special bright glow in them that I am fond of. Piggly WigglyI loved seeing the Piggly Wiggly sign; it brought back pleasant memories of younger days. There were a couple in my college town until as recently as 2009, when all their Texas stores closed due to a franchiser bankruptcy. Despite the funny name, they are also known for being the first self-service grocery store, founded in 1916. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Florida, M.P. Wolcott, Miami, Stores & Markets)
The Hot Seat: 1939
... missing. My wife and I lived at Lincoln and Armitage in Chicago in the 1980s and used to go to the original (pre-franchise) Potbelly ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/17/2018 - 6:46pm -

October 1939. "Farmer sits near the stove. General store in Lamoille, Iowa." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Gives Appetite to AllThe healthy baking powder. Brands you can buy todayClabber Girl Copenhagen Dr. Pepper Kellog's All-Bran Kotex Pepsi Modess Wheaties Maca YeastA new fast dry yeast. ModessFrom a 1928 Ladies Home Journal: “In order that Modess may be obtained in a crowded store without embarrassment or discussion, Johnson & Johnson devised the Silent Purchase Coupon presented below. Simply cut it out and hand it to the sales person. You will receive one box of Modess. Could anything be easier?” More here: https://www.kilmerhouse.com/2008/02/the-product-that-dared-not-speak-its... [Or you can stock it next to the Wheaties, and hope for the best. - Dave] Brands You Can Buy Today, Vol. 2Don't forget Kix, between the All-Bran and the Heinz product du jour, and of course Ivory Soap, proudly displaying its uncanny ability to float to the top. LOOK!The hands of that farmer speak volumes! Dowagiac Round OakThe Round Oak stove that dominates the photograph was the product of a company that only had a few more years to live. The Estate of P.D. Beckwith, Inc. produced wood stoves in their hometown of Dowagiac, Michigan from 1871 to 1946 or '47, when they sold the buildings to Kaiser-Frazer automobiles and the Round Oak name to Peerless Furnace. Founder Philo Beckwith died in 1889, and the company name was officially changed from Round Oak Stove Company to The Estate of P.D. Beckwith, Inc. about 1890. Round Oak stoves were quite efficient for their time and very popular, and at one point employed more than 20% of Dowagiac's population. Farms consolidateSurprisingly, Iowa was the 10th most populous state in the 1900 census. As farms consolidated in size and as cities grew, it slid down the rankings every decade since then. In 1940 (a year after this photo) it was the 20th most populated; today it is about the 30th. Not just Round Oak... but quarter-sawn, as well. Wonderful chair he's sitting in! My local Potbelly Sandwich Shop has the same stoveOr most of it. Some of the parts are missing. My wife and I lived at Lincoln and Armitage in Chicago in the 1980s and used to go to the original (pre-franchise) Potbelly restaurant, which is still in business there. Pepsi-Cola hits the spot... 12 full ounces, that's a lot! Or you could have Dr Pepper at 10, 2 and 4! "Modess--Because"This was how this product was discreetly advertised in women's magazines back in the 1950s-early 1960s. It was the caption to a photo of a beautiful woman, dressed in an elegant ballgown, usually standing on a mansion terrace overlooking the French Riviera at night. At age 5, I didn't know what Modess was, but when I grew up, I wanted to be that lady! (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Klesken Cleans Up: 1943
April 1943. Proviso Yards of the Chicago & North Western Railroad. Joseph Klesken washing up after a day's ... Office of War Information. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 3:30pm -

April 1943. Proviso Yards of the Chicago & North Western Railroad. Joseph Klesken washing up after a day's work on the rip tracks. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Belt Line Caboose: 1943
... operations on the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad between Chicago and Hammond, Indiana. Belt Line cabooses never go long distances or at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/13/2013 - 5:00pm -

January 1943. "Freight operations on the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad between Chicago and Hammond, Indiana. Belt Line cabooses never go long distances or at very high speeds and are therefore constructed differently from line cabooses." Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Just a DreamI'd sure like one of these to live in. My needs are simple but my romance is great! 1940s Man-CaveNow I realize what a man-cave looked like during World War II. No wonder little boys wanted to grow up to work for the railroad, all the live-long day. Hidden in plain sightI like the floodlight the photographer has cleverly hidden behind the stovepipe. Some prerequisite needsA baseball bat next to the door for intruders and a calendar girl on the right wall. RecycleI always thought it would be great to be able to have enough property to have a caboose behind the house someplace and make it into my artist's studio. Plenty of room for my needs, and I would add just enough amenities to make it livable. Alas, another dream never to be fulfilled. Shoe rubbersWhen you bought a pair of work shoes every 3 years, you dare not step in the muck without your rubbers on. Brake StickThat's not a baseball bat, and security isn't its primary function, although it certainly could be used for that. It's a "brake stick." Inserted into the wheel of a hand brake, it makes tightening it down a lot easier. They were also used to release hand brakes, by hitting the ratchet that maintained tension on them. The tension on it was usually too strong for just a human hand. Hence the term, "knocking off" brakes. The two ancient terms relating to hand brakes and brake sticks: "tie down" (set brakes), and "knock off" (release brakes) are still in widespread use on railroads today. You will hear them used in various permutations on the radio often. Not a BatThe "bat" by the door is a brake club, once used to apply extra leverage when applying or releasing hand brakes. I disclaim any suggestion that it also doubled as a defensive device. Brake ClubThe stick next to the door is most likely a hickory brake club. There were many early freight cars and cabooses that still had mechanical brakes still in service during and after the war. During WWII they used anything with wheels. The brakeman would use it as a lever between the brake wheel spokes and shaft to tighten an lock the brakes. The brake wheel on top of the car was attached to a shaft that when rotated wound the chain under the car and connected to a bell crank that forced the brake shoes into the wheels. Before air brakes the brakeman would apply brakes of each car as the train was rolling according to steam whistle commands from the engineer. Many train museums have one of these on display. A Brake ClubThat "baseball bat" is a brake club. So named because the brakeman would use it for extra torque when applying the hand brake using the brake wheel. The "club" would be stuck through the spokes of the wheel and used for added leverage. Of course, if an errant hobo were encountered -- Above the door is a red flag that the flagman would use to "protect" the rear of the train when stopped to flag down any following trains. Hunting Dog vs Pin Ups It looks like the Conductor is more fond of his dog, than pin-up girls. One item on his desk rack is a Michigan Central employee timetable. Both the IHB and the MC were New York Central subsidiaries. Did anyone notice the "Carnegie" stamp on the roof beam? (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Social Study: 1941
April 1941. "Children playing on the street. Chicago, Illinois." 35mm negative by Edwin Rosskam for the Resettlement ... ...to identify THIS location? (The Gallery, Chicago, Edwin Rosskam, Kids) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/28/2014 - 3:30pm -

April 1941. "Children playing on the street. Chicago, Illinois." 35mm negative by Edwin Rosskam for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Who wants......to identify THIS location? (The Gallery, Chicago, Edwin Rosskam, Kids)
Railfan: 1924
... five examples of this 1919 locomotive were built for the Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. At the time of this ... is being conducted by the General Electric Company and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. Walter C. Marshall, electrical ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 11:43am -

June 1924. "Largest electric locomotive and Congressman John C. Schafer." It's that train-lovin' lawmaker from Wisconsin again, this time with a new ride. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Based on the shape of the cowlThis appears to be a Milwaukee Road "Bipolar". There's one preserved, in St. Louis. Milw BipolarThat is correct. The 5 EP-2 General Electric locomotives continued to serve until the early 1960's. Note the pneumatic bell on the top of the carbody. What Railroad?What RR owned the bipolar in the DC area? [As noted in the "bipolar" comment, the Milwaukee Road. - Dave] PowerlessOddly enough, the pantograph appears to be raised, but there's no sign of any overhead catenary here or nearby. As these engines were built for use on the electrified west end of the Milwaukee, is there any clue as to the location? [This is near Union Station in Washington. - Dave] One of fiveThe only five examples of this 1919 locomotive were built for the Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. At the time of this photograph the Pennsylvania Railroad had not yet installed electrification into Washington, D.C. (which began service in 1935). Perhaps this locomotive was visiting in order to stimulate interest in the future plans. Locomotive to Be ShownWashington Post, June 22, 1924. Locomotive to Be Shown Largest and Most Powerful Electric Engine To Be Shown Here. The largest and most powerful electric locomotive in the world will be displayed in Washington Wednesday and Thursday of this week, it was learned yesterday. From advance information, it was learned that the locomotive will be exhibited at New York and Florida avenues northeast. The exhibit is being conducted by the General Electric Company and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. Walter C. Marshall, electrical engineer, and John T. Elliott, of the General Electric Company, will be in charge of the exhibit, pointing out to all those who wish to inspect the engine, its finer points. Picture location The picture may have been taken at the GE plant (Erie)or in transit to the Milwaukee electrified territory, the Milwaukee used to display their new locomotives at larger cities enroute. [The photo was taken in Washington near Union Station. - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Railroads)
Mouquin's: 1910
... Mouquins were not interested in buying the painting. The Chicago Art Institute currently owns it. (The Gallery, DPC, Eateries & ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/29/2015 - 11:49pm -

New York circa 1910. "Mouquin Restaurant & Wine Co., 456 Sixth Avenue. Part of the building was originally the Varian farmhouse; for many years the place was known as the Knickerbocker cottage." Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. A interesting historySearching the New York Times for "Mouquin Restaurant" turns up several interesting stories from the early 20th century. This from April 26, 1923: "Ten Federal prohibition agents, led by Arthur Van Tassel, at dinner hour last night raided Mouquin's restaurant, 454-8 Sixth Avenue, arrested Louis Mouquin ... " Shriners' Lunch SpotMouquin's predecessor, the Knickerbocker Cottage, was the birthplace in 1870 of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, better known thereafter as the Shriners. A group of Masons met there regularly for lunch, and the conviviality of those meetings inspired two of the regulars to propose a new Masonic fraternity that would emphasize fun and social interaction. With the help of other Knickerbocker Cottage regulars, Dr. Walter Fleming drafted the ritual, designed the emblem and ritual costumes, formulated a salutation, and declared that members would wear a red fez. Details of this beginning can be found at www.suezshrine.com/shrine.htm Mediocre NoodlesFascinating; always love a vintage NYC image, especially one with such an interesting past (thanks Tipsters!) Alas, though, the location now is home to Sammy's Noodles, occupying the whole half-block. Some people like their noodles, but, IMNSHO, I think they're only so-so. View Larger Map Under the IvyWithout the close up who would ever know that there are at least four waiters peeking out from behind the 2nd floor shrubbery. Fascinating about the Shrine club connection. What's there now?I used to live in this neighborhood and it's driving me crazy that I can't identify where this site is. Was this torn down to build Jefferson Market? Parking No ProblemParking would not have been a problem for the Knickerbocker folks because they'd all be driving tiny carriages pulled by tiny horses. (Small-town parades for the win.) At Mouquin'sA very elegant 1905 oil of the interior by William Glackens. Sixth Avenue then and nowThe restaurant was at 28th Street and Sixth Avenue; the Sixth Avenue addresses were renumbered in 1929 when the street was extended south for the construction of the IND subway. Mme. Mouquin Chez Mouquin was the second Mouquin's in New York, purchased by Henri Mouquin in 1898 from the owners of the Knickerbocker Cottage, and later torn down in 1925 to make way for somebody else's cafeteria. The Mouquin family Web site provides a long chatty history of the family restaurant and its personalities, including this paragraph about the Glackens painting: In 1905, William Glackens painted Chez Mouquin inside the Parisian style café of the uptown restaurant. The attractive redhead in the painting appears to be none other than Jeanne Louise Mouquin, seated politely with another restaurant owner, James B. Moore of the Café Francis. Glackens captured her expression of slight boredom while she waits patiently for her husband to close up and go home. The mustached James B. Moore closely resembles her husband Henri. No doubt, Henri was too busy managing the restaurant to sit for the portrait himself. Glackens may have started the painting using Moore as a stand-in for Mouquin, intending to finalize the painting with Henri. As Henri refused to sit, Glackens continued to paint Moore with Mouquin's wife, thinking it great fun to have a rival restaurant owner seated with Jeanne Louise. The painting hints at the Mouquin marriage scandal that hit the newspapers in 1900. James Moore had a reputation for squiring beautiful young girls and always referred to them as his "daughters." Needless to say, the Mouquins were not interested in buying the painting. The Chicago Art Institute currently owns it. (The Gallery, DPC, Eateries & Bars, NYC)
Clown Car: 1957
... boasted the largest trolley coach system in the US, but Chicago had more vehicles, fewer route miles. Boy howdy, what a photo! I ... 
 
Posted by prrvet - 03/13/2018 - 4:21pm -

The Shriners' Annual Convention took place in downtown Atlanta's Peachtree Street on August 30, 1957. As a senior at Georgia Tech, I was there to photograph the action. The Loew's Grand Theatre in the background was the location of the premiere of "Gone With the Wind" in 1939. 35mm Kodachrome by William D. Volkmer. View full size. Buick and NashThe green convertible is a 1956 Buick Special and the black car facing it is a 1949 or 1950 Nash (there were no styling changes from 1949 to 1950) I Was Not A Teenage WerewolfBut wasn't Michael Landon? The two for one in that small movie house includes probably one of the best B movies of the era. "Invasion of the saucer-men". I hope they bring tea or coffee with those. [The “small” Paramount Theatre had seating for 2700. -tterrace] CorrectionThat restored trolley coach and 139 others like it were built by St. Louis Car Company in 1949. Only one specimen was saved. Atlanta did have about 175 Pullmans some dating back to 1944. Atlanta once boasted the largest trolley coach system in the US, but Chicago had more vehicles, fewer route miles. Boy howdy, what a photo!I saw Gone With the Wind in a theater in downtown Atlanta in the late 1950s, and I saw How the West Was Won a few years later in the Loew's, I think. We had lunch in that cafeteria, probably. That Olds (guessing here) is a beauty, and I'm proud to have a '49 Snakehead Tele clone in that Seafoam Green nitro finish. [Those clowns are in a 1956 Buick Special. -tterrace] [With Florida plates. - Dave] Man. Shorpy.com is really on a roll in 2018. Boy howdy!!! Edit: Thanks, tterrace and Dave for that great info!!! If It Still Looked Like That, I'd Still Live ThereThis is the downtown Atlanta of my youth - when the buildings were beautiful, the people well-dressed, and the atmosphere civilized. From left to right, I recognize the Collier Building, where a Rexall was at street level, but the fabled Frances Virginia Tea Room occupied the top floor for many years. Next to it is the Paramount Theatre, demolished not too many years after this photo was taken; its stone was re-used for the facade of a mansion in another town. After that comes Loew's Grand, one of the bigger theatres, originally the De Give Opera House. The electric trolleys in the photo were phased out around 1962. Every building I've mentioned is gone. Atlanta Theaters I saw "How The West Was Won" at The Martin Cinerama while seated next to Bert Parks of Miss America fame. The Cinerama was located further up Peachtree just South of The Fox theater. Additionally, I spent my lunch hour standing across the street while Loew's Grand burned to the ground on January 30, 1978. The temps were subfreezing and icicles were everywhere. I did a little researchand found out that one of these 1949 Pullman-Standard trolley coaches has been restored. If you want to go back in time, you may find it at the Southeastern Railway Museum. Errare humanum estYes, my bad. prrvet is absolutely right. What a double-bill!I'd line up early and pay a premium price to catch I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF and THE INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN at the Paramount. sigh... Elvis played the ParamountGreat pic! in June of '56 Elvis played the Paramount http://scottymoore.net/paramount.html Peachtree ParadeOnly two months prior to this parade, Atlanta blues musician Piano Red (Willie Perryman) had released "Peachtree Parade", which had been recorded already in 1955. It's an instrumental, so basically any parade can be projected onto it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLzg1H6OxGQ (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Float Your Boat: 1905
... 24, 1905. "Steamer William E. Corey, the launch, South Chicago, Ill." Seen earlier here and here . 8x10 inch dry plate glass ... if it has a man's name? (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Chicago, DPC) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/24/2018 - 11:08am -

June 24, 1905. "Steamer William E. Corey, the launch, South Chicago, Ill." Seen earlier here and here. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size. Lean WAY back!Looks like the tug in the foreground has a funnel that can be folded back, probably to clear low bridges - note the counter-weighted mechanism aft of the funnel. Never saw one before! Didn't take long to wreck itThe William E. Corey was run aground in November of this same year with damage to the hull. Repaired and saw service "until 1970 when she was sunk as a breakwater at Port Credit, Ontario, where she remains to this day" Is a ship still a "She" if it has a man's name? (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Chicago, DPC)
Jacked: 1942
November 1942. "Chicago, Illinois. Jacking up a car on the repair tracks at an Illinois Central ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2013 - 2:19pm -

November 1942. "Chicago, Illinois. Jacking up a car on the repair tracks at an Illinois Central Railroad yard." Someone get the spare out of the trunk? Medium-format negative by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. RIP: 1942Delano caught it on one of the RIP tracks. Repair In Place. Treble MemoryI believe both wheels shared a common axe. So to make a change he needs another jack. Quiz time: why were the outer rims tapered? [That axe never stops sharpening. - Dave] Doh!When they told him to go get a Duff he thought they meant Beer. Not just trucking aroundThere probably is another jack out of view to the left. He'll be removing the whole truck (both axes...er...axles and all 4 wheels). If he was just removing one pair of whhels he'd have to support the truck somehow instead of the frame of the car. Don't Damage the FinishWe first saw a track jack and Texas toothpick back here. I don't quite understand the padding that seems to be sitting on the business end of the jack. Tapered wheelsTapered wheels keep the wheels centered on the rails and allow for the different distances each wheel travels when going around curves since they have a solid connection via the axle to the opposite wheel. In an ideal world the flanges should never touch the rails in reality they do however. Wheel taperWheel taper is 2 degrees 50 minutes. The taper is designed to keep the flanges off the rail heads and to eliminate hunting. The wheels are pressed onto the axles. This particular car has 33 inch wheels and plain bearings. It would be another 20 years before roller bearings were in widespread use on freight cars. That guy has some "get up and go"Now that's what I call a faith-based initiative! That JackThat jack is very similar to the ones my father had stored in his garage. He used a couple to jack up the front and back porches on his house (for long term stability). He called them "house" jacks, and I'm sure they are still doing their jobs 60 years after installation! Trucks and solid axles. With the solid friction bearing axles as in this pictured truck. The truck needs to be disassembled to replace a wheel set (2 wheels and axle). The paper between the jack and steel body is to reduce slipping of the steel on steel surface. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Proviso Freight House: 1943
April 1943. "Chicago & North Western R.R. Tracks leading into the freight house at ... transparency by Jack Delano for the OWI. (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2012 - 5:39pm -

April 1943. "Chicago & North Western R.R. Tracks leading into the freight house at Proviso yard. This is said to be the largest covered freight house in the world." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano for the OWI. (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Flight Command: 1941
April 1941. "Movie theater. Southside, Chicago, Illinois." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security ... one of the greatest live albums here. (The Gallery, Chicago, Movies, Russell Lee) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/20/2018 - 11:30am -

April 1941. "Movie theater. Southside, Chicago, Illinois." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Famous theater built in 1928.It looked the same twenty years later when I took this photo. Lil Armstrong was with me—her former husband, Louis had played the Regal often, as did a virtual who's who of black performers. It was here, they say, that Aretha was crowned the Queen of Soul. Blues LandmarkMovies were OK in 1941, but 23 years later B. B. King recorded one of the greatest live albums here. (The Gallery, Chicago, Movies, Russell Lee)
Santa Fe Elevator: 1915
Chicago circa 1915."The Santa Fe grain elevator, head of the canal." Pantry for ... Link here. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Chicago, DPC, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/19/2016 - 10:10am -

Chicago circa 1915."The Santa Fe grain elevator, head of the canal." Pantry for the nation's breadbasket. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size. Still standingThough a shell of its former self, a graffiti canvas, and a bit of a white elephant. Link here. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Chicago, DPC, Railroads)
Party Animal: 1956
... Misty when she left for Chincoteague. (The Gallery, Chicago, Horses, Kids, News Photo Archive, Scary Clowns) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2015 - 12:40pm -

Elgin, Illinois, circa 1956. "Pony eating cake at birthday party." It's a living! 4x5 acetate negative from the Old News archive. View full size. Creepy the ClownI wonder how many of these kids are currently in therapy. Go away boy, you bother meThat old guy in the clown outfit looks like he started the party early, with a jolt from his hidden bottle of Old Overholt. Misty of ChincoteagueI wonder if this might be a famous pony named Misty. She was a Chincoteague pony and made famous by the author Marguerite Henry. The book in 1947 was made into a movie in 1961. From Wikipedia: After being purchased by Marguerite Henry as a weanling in November 1946, and spending her early life at Henry's Wayne, Illinois home, she was later moved back to the Beebe Ranch in Chincoteague in 1957. A goodbye party with over 300 children and 160 adults in attendance was held by Henry in Wayne for Misty when she left for Chincoteague. (The Gallery, Chicago, Horses, Kids, News Photo Archive, Scary Clowns)
South Side Cartman: 1941
... April 1941. "Man-drawn carts are common on South Side of Chicago." 35mm negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. (The Gallery, Chicago, Russell Lee) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 7:11pm -

April 1941. "Man-drawn carts are common on South Side of Chicago." 35mm negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. (The Gallery, Chicago, Russell Lee)
Hank Aaron: 1934-2021
... my soon-to-be husband took me on our first date to see the Chicago White Sox defeat the Kansas City Royals 4-0 at old Comiskey Park, and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/22/2021 - 1:43pm -

September 8, 1955. "Hank Aaron standing in front of his locker with misspelled name in the Milwaukee Braves locker room." Photo by Phillip Harrington for Look magazine. View full size. Hank Aaron, Home Run King Who Defied Racism, Dies at 86         Hank Aaron, who faced down racism as he eclipsed Babe Ruth as baseball’s home run king, hitting 755 homers and holding the most celebrated record in sports for more than 30 years, died today in Atlanta. He was 86. -- New York Times Arron? Really?For the love of Pete. How long did it stay like that? RIPI remember when he hit 714; we lived in Atlanta and although I was only 17 and living in an all-female household and not yet a baseball fan, Hank's accomplishment was so celebrated that even those who weren't paying attention, sat up and took notice. There was such joy in the air. Four years and four months later, when my soon-to-be husband took me on our first date to see the Chicago White Sox defeat the Kansas City Royals 4-0 at old Comiskey Park, and in the ensuing years, he taught me about many of the greats, including Hank Aaron. Now we're die hard Cub fans but we love and have utmost respect for all baseball legends. Rest in Peace, Hank. Henry Was Consistent. Here's how to hit 755 home runs: start early, and end late. Henry hit 37 HRs at age 21, and 40 (in just 120 games) at age 39. His stats are especially impressive for a man who played half his career in the pitching-dominant 1960s. Looking at his stats online, I just noticed something for the first time: Henry received votes for MVP for 19 consecutive years. That must be a record. My first baseball gameAt the first pro baseball game I ever attended, in 1953, Hank Aaron played for the Jacksonville Braves. Aaron hit 22 home runs that season and I believe I saw one of them, though that particular memory might be influenced by the following 23 years. (In this photo he's standing at far right.) Hank?I learned from the NY Times obituary of Aaron that he never liked being called Hank. What an annoyance to have to go through life seeing your name in the headlines with a nickname you can't stand. Arron? Makes you wonder doesn't it.Watched an interview with him, he said breaking the home run record made his life miserable, death threats, kidnapping threats, etc to him and his family. Makes me sick to my stomach thinking about the pain and misery we brought on these magnificent human beings when we should have been lifting them up. Forgive us. My Henry Aaron memoryHad a friend in college here in Houston who hailed from Richmond Va, the home of the Braves’ AAA club. He loved Hank and the Braves. We went to the Astrodome in September of '73 with Hank sitting on 711 dingers. We were lucky enough to see him hit #712 that Saturday night. We went back on Sunday hoping that with some luck he’d hit two and we could at least see him tie Ruth. But he sat that one out. Still a fun memory. We got some sort of little certificate on our way out of the Dome with his photo and "I saw #712". I’ve got in buried in one of my many boxes of memorabilia. I always got a kick out of the fact that he and Al Downing were both wearing my college number (44) when Downing gave up #714. RIP, Henry Aaron A piece of my heartI was in Grade 11 when Aaron hit number 715, and I remember the historical impact of the moment. Thank you, Dave, for the link to the NYT article. It saddened me to read of all the racist crap, and I was moved when Aaron is quoted as having said about all the incidents: “All of these things have put a bad taste in my mouth, and it won’t go away. They carved a piece of my heart away.” He added, in 1994: “Any Black who thinks the same thing can’t happen today is sadly mistaken. It happens now with people in three-piece suits instead of with hoods on.” Move over BabeRest in peace Hammer. Charlie Grim and the boysIn the mid 50s my friends and I would frequently conclude watching a Milwaukee Braves game far outweighed the educational opportunities of Horace Mann Junior High School in West Allis, Wisconsin. The school was only a couple miles from Milwaukee County Stadium, so we could meet our academic responsibilities in the morning, and just not return after lunch. (My older sister was an invaluable resource by providing the note I needed the next day from my mom, justifying the absence.) But the real beauty was we could watch the games free. One of my co-conspirators had learned of a seating area the VA had set up on their property on top of a high steep hill that overlooked right field (Andy Pafko) of the ball park. The seating was provided for residents of the VA facility and we were always welcome to join them. One of us always had a portable radio and we listened to the play-by-play from Earl Gillespie as we watched from high on the hill. Henry Aaron of course was someone we always looked forward to seeing at bat, hoping for a homer with each pitch. Times were good. (LOOK, Milwaukee, Phillip Harrington, Sports)
Support the Strike: 1941
... increase of $8 weekly wage. Mid-City Realty Company, South Chicago, Illinois." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. ... I would have expected no less of her. (The Gallery, Chicago, John Vachon) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/01/2020 - 2:44pm -

July 1941. "Girl in picket line. Union picketing for increase of $8 weekly wage. Mid-City Realty Company, South Chicago, Illinois." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Unintentionally iconicI don't know from the strike issues but I love her outfit, her shades, her hair, and her attitude. I wish I could see her shoes. [Et voilà! - Dave] Thanks! Huarache pumps! Classic choice. I would have expected no less of her. (The Gallery, Chicago, John Vachon)
High Steaks: 1941
June 1941. "Chicago, Illinois. Meat in cold storage. Davidson Meat Company, supplier of ... hamburger. I'm still a carnivore! (The Gallery, Chicago, John Vachon, Kitchens etc.) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/08/2020 - 12:09pm -

June 1941. "Chicago, Illinois. Meat in cold storage. Davidson Meat Company, supplier of hotels, restaurants, etc." Medium format negative by John Vachon. View full size. Brings It All BackI used to work at a meat processing plant 25 years ago. But after seeing this photo, I can smell all that beef and feel the cold as if I were there right now! And no, I didn't become a vegetarian after watching them make hamburger. I'm still a carnivore! (The Gallery, Chicago, John Vachon, Kitchens etc.)
Indigo Girl: 1943
April 1943. "Chicago & North Western R.R. -- Mrs. Dorothy Lucke, employed as a wiper at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 4:48pm -

April 1943. "Chicago & North Western R.R. -- Mrs. Dorothy Lucke, employed as a wiper at the roundhouse in Clinton, Iowa." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Yeah, I'm a wiper!You wanna make somethin' out of it? Thank you, Mrs. Lucke.I thank you and all the other wives, mothers, sisters, etc., who worked and helped win the war. Especially notable as we prepare to observe another Memorial Day weekend. STEAMPUNK!Dorothy is right is style! Those Goggles are all the rage right now... worn exactly as this woman is wearing them, on her head. That current style is referred to as: 'Steampunk'. Indigo handsI'll bet she didn't get all the blue off of her hands until after the war! I doubt that even Lava soap got all of that off! A very sturdy looking womanAnd how many women today would let you photograph them in that getup? She's darn proud of what she does. 1909-1986Dorothy would live another forty-three years, before being laid to rest in Springdale Cemetery in Clinton, next to her husband Albert. Photo: http://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=536446 Edna Grundy does her partAm I the only one who thinks she looks like Elsa Lanchester? (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Railroads, WW2)
Surrey With the Fringe on Top: 1908
... who give information as to "how these things are done in Chicago." More News To Come Not yet on the island's PR band wagon but ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 10:22pm -

Mackinac Island, Michigan, circa 1908. "New Mackinac and New Murray Hotels." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Not much has changed thereI stayed on the island in the late 1990s and awoke to the clip-clop of the morning delivery wagons. +100Below is the same view from August of 2008. Wheels have changedOn the fringed surreys over the past decade. Bucolic settingTo this day, even the garbage wagons are horse-drawn. No more MackinawAs you can see in the 2008 photo, The New Mackinaw isn't so new anymore. In fact, it's gone. I think the small peaked-roofed building is the Visitor's Information Center. Bailey's Drug StoreDarn, if only it was a Building and Loan. New MackinacAn unusual use of sarcasm in an advertisement. Mackinac, Formerly Michilimackinac, John Read Bailey, M.D., 1897. The New Mackinac This hotel was built for the special comfort of summer boarders. On arrival, each guest will be asked how he likes the situation, and if he says the Hotel ought to have been placed upon Fort Holmes or on Round Island, the location of the Hotel will be immediately changed. Corner front rooms, up one flight, for every guest. Baths, gas, electricity, hot and cold water, laundry, telegraph, restaurant, fire alarm, bar room, billiard table, sewing machine, piano, and all modern conveniences in every room. Meals every minute, and consequently no second table. Every guest will have the best seat in the dining hall. Our clerk was specially educated for the "New Mackinac," he wears the original Koh-i-noor diamond, and is prepared to please everybody. He is always ready to sing, match worsted, take a hand at draw-poker, play billiards. sharpen your pencil, take you out rowing, lead the german, amuse the children, make a fourth at whist, or flirt with any young lady, and will not mind being cut dead when Pa comes down. He will attend to the telephone and answer all questions in Choctaw, Chinese, Chippewa, Volapuk, or any other of the Court languages of Europe. The proprietor will always be happy to hear that some other hotel is "the best in the country." Special attention given to parties who give information as to "how these things are done in Chicago." More News To ComeNot yet on the island's PR band wagon but it can only be a matter of time: "The New White Seal", "The New Baileys Drug Store" and "The New Marquette Furnished Rooms". I've been to the IslandI've been to the Island a number of times, the last time being just last June. It happened to be one of the rare occasions that some motorized vehicles were there: some earth-moving machines such as a bulldozer and a backhoe. So I was in the Blacksmith's shop, and the Smith was doing his demos of fashioning various items from iron stock, and suddenly the backhoe rolled by with extreme noise. Then the bulldozer went by, noisily. The Smith had been there in comparative peace and quite for weeks. He was taken aback, because the last thing he expected was the roar of diesel engines. Somewhere in TimeMany of you are probably already aware that the film "Somewhere in Time" with Jane Seymour and the late Christopher Reeve was shot on the island. Esther Williams made a movie there too, but I have forgotten the name of it. The Island can be clearly seen from the Mackinaw Straits Bridge, a wonder in itself. (The Gallery, DPC, Horses)
A Sign Unto You: 1922
... Specifically the lighter print between "Orchestra Of Chicago" and "HEAR THEM"? I've enlarged the photo, but despite the high ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 8:24pm -

New York, May 1922. "Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, West 104th Street." Gutted by a five-alarm fire in 1983. Bain News Service. View full size. Isham JonesLeading one of the most popular bands of the 1920s and 30s, Isham Jones would have a million selling record in 1921, Wabash Blues. He retired in 1936 and Woody Herman took charge of the band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmkxc-FA5wg A musical churchAs a Methodist and a musician, I appreciate that this is apparently a musically enlightened church. The Isham Jones orchestra was one of the most prominent of its day, rivaling that of Paul Whiteman. Also, notice the sermon topic: From Five Flats to Two Sharps. (D-Flat Major to D Major) It would be interesting to know how he made a sermon of that material. Not exactly an "Open Door" church.I hope nobody was trapped inside when the fire broke out with those gates in place! Must have been a pretty hip churchto have had Isham Jones and his orchestra playing! It would have been my church for sure! Original verbageNever have seen these words "this may be your church" on a church sign before. Kind of interesting and also the open window at one of the stained glass panels. I suppose the large signis more effective than placing a classified ad reading" "Found. One church. If yours please call 555-1212 with a description." My neighborhood churchWell, one of them. It is located between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. I walk past it at least 3 times a week, and remember that fire very well. It is now a neighborhood center-cum-church with an attached apartment building. Interesting that Isham Jones' orchestra played there. That might have gotten me to church! A joyful noiseIt was very unusual for a dance orchestra to play in a church in those days. There was a lot of bombast against dancing and so-called jazz music. Jones' situation was probably helped by the fact that he himself had played music in his Methodist church as a boy in Saginaw, Michigan, and that his mother was the church's organist. Can't quite read the whole signSpecifically the lighter print between "Orchestra Of Chicago" and "HEAR THEM"? I've enlarged the photo, but despite the high resolution, that part of the sign is difficult to read. Can anyone tell me what it says? Just curious! ["One of the finest Musical Organizations in the Country, costing Brunswick Co. thousands of dollars each day they spend in N.Y. making records." - Dave] Senate ChaplainThe Saturday New York Times of May 6, 1922 had an advertisement for the service (shown below). Presumably then the Isham Jones Orchestra played at the church on Sunday May 7. Rev. Dr. Frederick Brown Harris was born on April 10, 1883 in Worcestershire, England, and came to the United States as a child. He was ordained a Methodist minister in 1909. After two other pastorates, he came to this church in 1918. In 1924 he became the pastor of the Foundry United Methodist Church, in Washington, D.C., where he would remain until he retired in 1955. Rev. Harris became the Chaplain to the U.S. Senate on October 10, 1942. This lasted until January 4, 1947. After the sudden death of his successor, Rev. Peter Marshall in January 1949, Harris was again appointed U.S. Senate Chaplain. This tenure lasted from February 3, 1949 to January 9, 1969. During his life Harris conducted the funeral services for President Herbert Hoover, Senator Robert A. Taft, and General Douglas MacArthur. He died on August 18, 1970. He remains the longest serving Senate Chaplain (24 years total). (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, NYC)
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