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

Cheerful Charlie: 1914
New York, 1914. "Charlie White." Chicago lightweight born 1892 in Liverpool; retired from the ring in 1925. 5x7 ... from Welsh." from Wikipedia (The Gallery, Chicago, NYC, Sports) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/18/2016 - 7:56pm -

New York, 1914. "Charlie White." Chicago lightweight born 1892 in Liverpool; retired from the ring in 1925. 5x7 inch glass negative. View full size. Cheerfulness Cost Him"White possessed a lethal left hook, but seemed to lack the killer instinct. This fault cost him in his 1916 attempt to wrest the crown from Welsh." from Wikipedia (The Gallery, Chicago, NYC, Sports)
Isolette: 1962
Chicago circa 1962. "Miss Eileen Dawson of American City Bureau at Tri-State ... figured I wouldn't make it. (Technology, The Gallery, Chicago, Medicine, News Photo Archive) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/08/2017 - 6:42pm -

Chicago circa 1962. "Miss Eileen Dawson of American City Bureau at Tri-State Hospital Assembly exposition. Air-Shields Inc. Isolette incubator display." 4x5 inch acetate negative from the Shorpy News Photo Archive. View full size. I started outin one of these in 1963. Born 6 weeks early, the Dr. figured I wouldn't make it. (Technology, The Gallery, Chicago, Medicine, News Photo Archive)
Ask at Bar: 1941
... According to the book After Capone: The Life and World of Chicago Mob Boss Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti, Manhattan beer was mob owned, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/09/2018 - 8:41pm -

February 1941. "Juke joint and bar in the Belle Glade area, vegetable section of south central Florida." Bottle of Old Grand-Dad? You must be mistaken! Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. A respectable joint No hourly rate. One dead soldier on the tableAs my dad, who was of this generation, would have said. I'm So Enviousof his beautiful fingernails. Four peopleone glass, a very friendly group. 3 Ring TimeCheck out that nifty Ballantine Beer clock. Purity, Body, and Flavor -- "That's ale, brother." I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeMilleThe lady on the right. Really excited!SHORPY flipped over this one. Not great.But, a good beer. After Capone. According to the book After Capone: The Life and World of Chicago Mob Boss Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti, Manhattan beer was mob owned, primarily by Nitti. Strong family resemblanceI think the girls are sisters. They have very similar facial features and hairstyles. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Florida, M.P. Wolcott)
Central Station: 1901
... 1901. "Illinois Central Depot, 12th Street and Park Row, Chicago." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. ... of Music (in a night-time view, below). (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/24/2018 - 1:57pm -

Circa 1901. "Illinois Central Depot, 12th Street and Park Row, Chicago." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size. Pan-American ExpositionHeld in Buffalo from May 1 through November 2, 1901, attended by eight million visitors. Notable as the location of President McKinley's assassination by anarchist Leon Czolgosz on September 6 at the Temple of Music (in a night-time view, below). (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC, Railroads)
Hygeia Hotel: 1895
... class) while the elusive ship on the right could be the Chicago. At first I thought the one on the left was Olympia, but the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/25/2016 - 11:00am -

Hampton Roads, Virginia, circa 1895. "Boat landing at Old Point Comfort and Hygeia Hotel." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size. Razed by the FedsThis, the second Hygeia Hotel, was torn down in 1902 after the feds took the land back. Its neighbor, the Chamberlin Hotel, did however burn to the ground in 1920 and was replaced by the massive brick pile which still stands. Hygienic HygeiaNote the spray of droplets emanating from the sprinkler bar on the tank watering the road. Quite the HotelWant an inside look? Also About Those ShipsI think Atlanta is indeed the most likely suspect. According to The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships the Olympia was built in San Francisco at Union Iron Works, commissioning on 5 February, 1895. She left Mare Island on 25 August, 1895 to join the Asiatic Fleet. Boston was at Mare Island from 7 October, 1893 until 10 January, 1896 when she too departed for the Far East. That seems to leave Atlanta to be the ship as she spent her time in the North Atlantic Squadron. "New Navy" ShipsLike today, Hampton Roads was a major naval base in 1895. Some of the ships in the background are recognizably some of the steel vessels built to modernize the Navy at the end of the 1880's. The brig-rigged vessel at the left is almost certainly of the Atlanta class. The schooner-rigged 2-stacker in the middle is the San Francisco. These can be identified from drawings on Pages 18 and 27 of Friedman's "US Cruisers: an Illustrated Design History." The Atlanta class of 3 ships was commissioned from 1886 to 1889, while San Francisco was commissioned in 1890. The vessel on the right seems not to match anything in the book; she appears to be barkentine rigged. I'm open to suggestions. All these Navy ships have the period appropriate paints scheme of white topsides and buff superstructures -- of course we can't tell that from this black and white image. Flag detailForty eight stars showing on the high flying flag. Still years out in 1895. [You're counting wrong. - Dave] Oops! I tried short cut: six down times eight across top. Me bad. [Eight across the top, eight across the bottom, and four rows of seven. - Dave] USS OlympiaI do believe that that would by the USS Olympia in the background given the twin masts and double smokestacks and the year, as the USS Boston, USS Kearsarge were not part of the fleet until 1898. The Question Every Shorpyite is AskingWhen did it burn down? One year 'til UtahDave is right about the number of stars---two rows of eight and four rows of seven---44. Utah became Number 45 in 1896. About those shipsIn my most humble opinion, I believe the ship on the left is either Atlanta or Boston (same class), the one in the middle either the Philadelphia or San Francisco (same class) while the elusive ship on the right could be the Chicago. At first I thought the one on the left was Olympia, but the funnels are not quite right, nor the masts. It is maddening, there is just enough visible to make you sure you don´t know for sure. Further About Those ShipsThe ship on the right could be the gunboat USS Petrel. The funnel and rigging seem to match. If that's the case, it would put the picture a bit earlier, as she was reassigned to the Asiatic Squadron (Hong Kong) in 1891. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Horses)
Clinton Square: 1905
... styles in rapid succession; in 1886 he moved his office to Chicago where he designed many Shingle Style houses and became the first ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 4:36pm -

Syracuse, New York, circa 1905. "Clinton Square." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Syracuse Savings BankThe big Victorian Gothic structure at the right is Joseph Lyman Silsbee's Syracuse Savings Bank Building of 1875-1876. Silsbee became proficient in several architectural styles in rapid succession; in 1886 he moved his office to Chicago where he designed many Shingle Style houses and became the first employer of a young man from Wisconsin named Frank Lloyd Wright. By the names on the shopsWe can see where the Irish migrated to. Also great to see products moved by boat, what canal is that?? [The Erie Canal. -Dave] Detailed Picture!The headboard and chairs appear to me to be carefully wrapped, perhaps in cotton batting and twine. The young roustabout near the grocery wagon is looking at the toppled grain sack as if it's a wonder of nature. I wonder if he got motivated enough to clean it up or pulled a "Bart Simpson"? The gent in the nice threads probably should make that much. He might be the barge captain, owner or both. Just in front of D. Moran's grocery wagon across the street is that a boy pushing a woman in a wheelchair? The lawn and flower beds are nicely tended. The garder (street cleaner?) and the young girls all have their attention drawn across the street. Was that horse startled? Some serious window cleaning on the second floor above O'Herin's. There is a woman in the first floor window. Taking a break or a "desperate houswife" of 1905? Mailbox, policeman and young boy with a basket on the corner. I wonder what the boy is doing? I know the policeman is on his way from the cigar store to the doughnut shop. Great bridge design. Interesting wagon-mounted two man lift. Great picture but it takes an hour to view! OverseerThere's a guy with a pipe watching the three guys roll the barrel up the ramp into the boat. I assume he earns as much per hour as all three laborers put together. AbridgedNow there's something you don't see every day, or ANY day for that matter, a pedestrian lift bridge that is usable in both the lowered and raised positions! Clever! Hubbard's Empty CupboardThe empty wagon proclaiming "Chas Hubbard Son & Co, esale, STS" belonged to Charles Hubbard, Wholesale Druggists, 211-213 North Water Street, Syracuse, NY. That address no longer exists, being now part of the James Hanley Federal Building in downtown Syracuse. Mr. Hubbard's rise to pharmaceutical prominence can be read about here. (The Gallery, DPC, Stores & Markets, Syracuse)
Texaco Tanker: 1925
... When I was a kid during the 40s on the west side of Chicago, that same type of Mack truck delivered coal to our apartment building. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2012 - 10:44am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1925. "Texas Co. Ace truck." View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. 1922 Mack "Bulldog"I recently posted this short video of a restored 1922 Mack "Bulldog" truck that I spotted at the entrance to the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee, back in March of 2001. Chain drive dualieThose old vehicles are so cool. Went to the Charleston, SC fire company museum and did my best to get a good look at how they worked. Wonder if they were noisy? Coal When I was a kid during the 40s on the west side of Chicago, that same type of Mack truck delivered coal to our apartment building. Two men were left behind to shovel the coal down the chute. I got spanked many times for coming home covered in coal dust from playing on the coalpile. Texaco truckJust remember, you can trust your car, to the man who wears the star....... Chain Drive MacksThe old chain drive trucks were very noisy at speed.I grew up in New England and the local coal dealer had a couple of these old chain drive Macks. You could tell they were coming up the street just by the metallic whir of the chain. BulldogsThose things were durable. I can remember seeing a dump truck version still working on a construction site, surrounded by trucks that were 30-40 years newer, somewhere in Virginia about 1964. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Gas Stations, Natl Photo)
The Wounded: 1864
... apparently, most old brick buildings here in Chicago are the same way, including my 2-flat which was built in 1914. I never ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/19/2008 - 8:52pm -

May 1864. "Kearny's men wounded at Fredericksburg." Wet plate glass negative, right half of stereo pair. Photograph by James Gardner. View full size. Wounded.Priceless. So much to derive from examining this photograph. I love Shorpy. Philip KearnyPhil Kearny was killed in action 18 months before this picture was taken. I guess his division kept his name. Also, all these Fredericksburg photos show the brickwork to be done in Scottish Bond: one row of headers, then 5 rows of stretchers, repeat. It must have been popular with the local masons. And we need a real Civil War expert to explain the cross on the 2nd man from the left. All the Kearny Crosses I've ever seen were metal, but this soldier seems to be wearing a cloth cross. [His Wikipedia entry says cloth crosses. - Dave] Kearny is credited with devising the first unit insignia patches used in the U.S. Army. In the summer of 1862, he issued an order that his officers should wear a patch of red cloth on the front of their caps to identify themselves as members of his unit. The enlisted men, with whom Kearny was quite popular, quickly followed suit of their own volition. Members of other units picked up on the idea, devising their own insignia, and these evolved over the years into the modern shoulder patch. Sergeant Major's CrossThe cross badge worn by the Sergeant Major (second man from left) was likely an insignia denoting that he was a member of the 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Original badges were generally worn on the top of the kepi, left side of the hat, or over the left breast. Issued enlisted men's badges were cut from colored material. Scottish BondNot just popular in Fredericksburg apparently, most old brick buildings here in Chicago are the same way, including my 2-flat which was built in 1914. I never knew the name for this style before, thanks! (The Gallery, Civil War, James Gardner)
Dancing in the Dark: 1940
... these commercials with trippy cartoon bears from Chicago TV in the late 70s. The B&W commercials from the 50s are very ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/19/2019 - 10:59am -

November 1940. "Pierre, South Dakota, on a cold night." Home of the Dome, luring passersby with "Beer and Dancing." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Hamm's, the beer refreshingI remember these commercials with trippy cartoon bears from Chicago TV in the late 70s. The B&W commercials from the 50s are very similar, as it turns out. Beer -- AND dancing, I'm going in here!! Question for ShorypitesCan someone tell me if there is a practical purpose for those buttresses at the bottom of the doorway to the store next to The Dome, or are they just cosmetic? [Pedestrian collision prevention. - Dave] Thanks. BrrrrrrrrrrrYou can feel the icy wind that carved it's its presence in the snow at the curb. At least I act like I knowAnd booths! We all know what goes on in those! Beer indeedPierre rhymes with beer. All puns intended. A frigid night in Pierre. Not much going on.Hey, it's 20 below zero. Why not stumble into the Dome and have ... a cold beer! Hamm's, the beer "from the land of sky blue waters". I remember the commercials as a kid, with the bear and the intentionally Native American beat with the tom-toms. Look upThe fancy Corinthian columns at The Dome's entrance are a nifty touch, although a trifle out of balance with the sturdy dentil molding adorning both that building and the one beside it. Perhaps it was to distract from the fact that your nose just froze and fell off your face. I'd like to danceWith someone warm. Uh Am BrrrThat's how your order sounds when your lips are frozen ... A Hamm's Beer is how your order sounds when you can feel your lips again. I know this. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon, Small Towns)
The Junkman Cometh: 1942
October 1942. Chicago, Illinois. "Salvage. To feed the nation's munitions furnaces, tons of ... IS OVER! THE WAR IS OVER!" (The Gallery, Ann Rosener, Chicago, WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/10/2018 - 11:01pm -

October 1942. Chicago, Illinois. "Salvage. To feed the nation's munitions furnaces, tons of scrap from America's attics and basements are collected every day. Here, a junkman unloads his wagon in a central depot, where the scrap will be segregated and graded for shipment to steel mills." Medium format nitrate negative by Ann Rosener for the Office of War Information. View full size. I Did My PartWhile I was too young to participate in the child WWII scrap drives one sees pictured occasionally, I was fully capable at 4 years old (in 1944) of carrying a can of used Crisco shortening to the corner grocery store. Mom told me by doing this I would help the US tanks move closer to Berlin. My other WWII memories were of sirens blasting for practice air raids while all the lights were turned off and at war's end I was riding my tricycle around the block a la Paul Revere shouting, "THE WAR IS OVER! THE WAR IS OVER!" (The Gallery, Ann Rosener, Chicago, WW2)
Detroit Rubber Works: 1908
... century that moving from bicycle tires to auto tires, and Chicago to the Detroit, was the way to go. Thus, around the time of this photo, Morgan & Wright Bicycle Tire Co. of Chicago became Morgan and Wright Rubber Works on East Jefferson Avenue and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2021 - 10:41am -

The Detroit River circa 1908. "Morgan & Wright Rubber Works." The enterprise last glimpsed here. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. From Bicycles to Brownfields to "The Bus"Farsighted Fred Morgan and Rufus Wright recognized at the turn of the century that moving from bicycle tires to auto tires, and Chicago to the Detroit, was the way to go. Thus, around the time of this photo, Morgan & Wright Bicycle Tire Co. of Chicago became Morgan and Wright Rubber Works on East Jefferson Avenue and Meldrum in Detroit. Around 1912, Morgan & Wright became a division of the United States Tire Co., ultimately shortened to Uniroyal in 1961. At some point Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. moved in next door to convert coal to gas. Like most Detroit factories of its era, this building closed, and was then demolished, in the second half of the 20th Century. The City bought it to control its future. But by that point the site's contaminated soil was an environmental nightmare, scaring away many potential purchasers. A century after this photo, a new development team led by Detroit native and Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome “The Bus” Bettis obtained development rights to the site. A new commercial or industrial use is still elusive. For more: https://www.bridgedetroit.com/after-39-years-of-sitting-idle-part-of-det... Shades of UniroyalThe company moved from Chicago to Detroit in about 1905 to take advantage of the car industry needing tires. From the start, the plant employed 750 people and produced 350 tires each day. Around 1912, Morgan & Wright became a division of the United States Tire Co which later became a division of Uniroyal. The factory closed around 1980 and was demolished in 1985. The still empty property sits at 6600 Jefferson just west of the Belle Isle Bridge. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Factories)
New York World: 1905
... Row) to the top of the flagpole. The Masonic Temple in Chicago -- seen here last year on Shorpy -- had a much better claim at 302 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 5:47pm -

Circa 1905. "City Hall and New York World building." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. World Building in early movie SpeedyI used this photo of the World Building, and another great Library of Congress view of the New York skyline, to identify all of the New York skyscrapers appearing in this opening shot from Harold Lloyd’s final silent comedy Speedy, filmed on location in New York during the summer of 1927. Here’s how the World Building appears in my book Silent Visions, and how it appears (marked with an oval) in the movie. You can see more vintage New York settings from the movie at my blog http://SilentLocations.WordPress.com GoneThe New York World Building was demolished in 1955 for the expanded car ramp entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. The newspaper folded in 1931 after being sold by the heirs of Joseph Pulitzer. Weird Coincidence!I was just checking out John Bengtson's Silent Locations web site yesterday, connected via Leonard Maltin's recommendation. Well worth checking out by all the Shorpy fans, and no, I received nothing for this endorsement! HA!Excellent! George B. PostThe New York World Building was one of the finest efforts of George B. Post, sometimes known as the father of the New York skyscraper. This building was built using a conservative variant of skeleton frame construction known as "cage construction." In this technique, the exterior facade walls are self-supporting, but the floors and the interior structure are carried on an iron framework built right next to the exterior masonry walls. The World Building made a rather questionable claim for the title of the world's tallest building, topping out at 309 feet, but that number was valid only when measured from the back door down the hill on Frankfort Street (a full story lower than the front door facing Park Row) to the top of the flagpole. The Masonic Temple in Chicago -- seen here last year on Shorpy -- had a much better claim at 302 feet. As for the critical reception of the World Building in the architectural press, the less said the better. Classical The New York World building is incredible. It stretches the limits of "classical" to its virtual breaking point; imagine if it had been as tall as the Empire State building. The mind reels at the implications. Please tell us that it is still there. Magnificent AtlantesThose are the male supporting figures near the top of the building. They are also called telemones. Both new words to me. The female version btw is caryatids. The World in colorThe photo below was taken by Charles W. Cushman in June 1941: The entire Cushman collection of Kodachromes from all over the world over 32 years (from 1938 to 1969) can be seen on the Indiana University Archives site. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
Condemned: 1939
... used to work with a woman who grew up on the South Side of Chicago in a neighborhood that was later razed for the notorious (to say the ... buildings falling over, unpaved streets in the middle of Chicago in the middle of the 20th century. Charles Cushman's incredible photos ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:04am -

Savannah, Georgia, circa 1939. "Fahm Street, west side. Row houses built about 1850. Torn down 1940 for Yamacraw Village housing." You can't stop progress. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. A matter of perspectiveNowadays we tend to think of public housing projects as the modern equivalent of tenement housing. Think of what an improvement a housing project would have been to the folks living in these shacks. Questionable upgradeI bet there are many who would gladly trade in their apartment in a crime-ridden "project" for a more personal "shack." Those houses were old and creaky, but they were little houses and they could be fixed up rather nicely. Urban RenewalThese "shacks" lasted 89 years before they were razed to make way for progress. I wonder how their successors have fared after a mere 70 years. Some ProgressI was expecting some concrete nightmare, but it doesn't look that bad - and the new buildings echo the style of the old: View Larger Map "You should have seen what used to be there"I used to work with a woman who grew up on the South Side of Chicago in a neighborhood that was later razed for the notorious (to say the least) Stateway Gardens and Robert Taylor Homes, and she would say that, bad as those places were (and they too have since been razed), you should have seen what used to be there -- wooden shacks, buildings falling over, unpaved streets in the middle of Chicago in the middle of the 20th century. Charles Cushman's incredible photos give a good idea. The lady I worked with was more than happy with the upgrade and her father lived in one of those high-rises for the rest of his life with no thought of moving. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Savannah)
Bank Garage: 1934
... In later years the Gold Rush-era building here housing the Chicago Specialty Co. became the law offices of flamboyant San Francisco ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 05/16/2015 - 8:27am -

San Francisco April 14, 1934. "East side looking south, Montgomery Street commercial buildings." In later years the Gold Rush-era building here housing the Chicago Specialty Co. became the law offices of flamboyant San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli. Today this block is part of the Jackson Square Historic District, while down the street at the next corner the Transamerica Pyramid rises. Large format negative by Roger Sturtevant for the Historic American Buildings Survey. View full size. Magnificent FailureBarely visible, at the right, is a 34 DeSoto Airflow. Is that Geppetto's Workshop?Since there is a decidedly Italian flavor to this neighborhood, I noticed that just between the Conradi Mountain Wines and Washington Broom Co., at 728 Montgomery, there is a tiny doorway advertising "Puppets". My imagination wanders to thoughts of a hand-carved Pinnochio or other individually made specialties. Could there have actually been a business that sold only puppets? [That was Perry Dilley's Puppet Theater. -tterrace] The Montgomery BlockThe four story building in the next block (now the site of the Transamerica pyramid) was the historic 1853 Montgomery Block. First a professional office building and at one time the tallest structure west of the Mississippi, then later known for artists, writers, and various bohemian inhabitants, it was demolished to make way for a parking lot in 1959. Whats that?What is the flag on the tower in the distant background? looks like an eagle? [It's atop the Shell Building at Bush and Battery. -tterrace] That flag in the distance Could it possibly be a NRA (National Recovery Act) flag? [Here's an example. -tterrace] Facelift in progressA few updates here and there, but generally well preserved: Dorothea LangeThe 728 Montgomery St. photo studio of Dorothea Lange was up the stairs to the left of the sign for Conradi Ltd Mountain Wines. [Her husband, artist Maynard Dixon, had his studio at 728. Lange's had been at 716 and later 802 Montgomery. -tterrace] Oldest signPage 213 of "San Francisco of the 1930s," published by the WPA says, "San Francisco's oldest sign, hanging from the Genella Buiulding, 728 Montgomery St., states in faded black and gold letters that 'H. and W. Pierce...Loans and Commissions' once did business here, exchanging paper and coins for gold bullion." Melvin BelliI used to wander SF in the late '60s, photographing things that interested me. On a couple of occasions I walked past Mel Belli's offices and glanced in the windows, and did see him inside once or twice. I have lived near Sonora California for 20 years now, which is where Mr. Belli was born and raised, and is now buried. For many, many years, Mel Belli listed his personal phone number in the SF phone directory (anyone remember those, LOL). However, instead of putting it in his own name, he listed it in his dogs' names - Weldon Rumproast. Over the years he had several dogs with that name, adding a number at the end. A friend once found the name Weldon Rumproast III in the phone book and called it. He spoke with Melvin Belli for quite some time, and it wasn't until they nearly finished the conversation that he realized who it was he was speaking to! (HABS, San Francisco)
Cow Boy: 1939
... in 1893, originally as the Universal Fastener Company, in Chicago. They later moved to Hoboken, New Jersey, and finally to Meadville, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/20/2017 - 10:02am -

September 1939. "Son of dairy farmer. Dakota County, Minnesota." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Separating the sheep from the goatsIt takes a photo like this bit of agricultural magnificence to separate the hack photogs from the truly greats. Thank you, Arthur Rothstein. No one could've done this better. Mud in his eyeI see a man in a hat with a bulky coat reflected in the boy's eye. Pareidolia or Rothstein? Cowden Bit the DustThe Cowden Manufacturing Company, of Lexington, KY, manufacturer of men's and boy's clothing, was bought by Interco in 1964. Eventually, Interco wound down its clothing operations, and Cowden was no more. See more here. Grass toothpicksI frequently had a Timothy stem in my mouth as a kid, this boy has something different though. I learned it by imitation from grandpa and liked the brief, sweet taste. He told me about a few other types that offered a different taste, often bitter but I've forgotten most of them. Sometimes I used it used the stems as a toothpick for the goofy gap in my front teeth. The eyesWow. Definitely one of the best photos I've seen on this site. And there are a lot of "best" photos. The overalls seem to be the same brand as the one here: https://www.shorpy.com/node/2462. Photo is also by Arthur Rothstein. Whatever happened to Cowden? Couldn't find much other than they might have gone out of business around 1948. [Scroll down! - Dave] Yup, was actually submitting this one for posting before the answer was up. Re chewing on grass (bwayne), don't know what it was but as a kid, some of us did that. I didn't like the taste of it, so I was not one of them constantly doing it. More recent years, kids I know would do. Haven't got a clue, though, as to what kind of fodder it was. Don't think it is anything that will ever stop. Chewing on GrassI'm not sure where the practice of sticking some sort of grass or straw stem in the mouth and chewing on it came from but obviously Manhattanite Rothstein thinks it enhances the rural feel. We had farms for 40+ years and yes, I tried it once or twice very early on. Foxtail tastes bitter and I never saw anyone do it but a citified greenhorn visiting the farm. Farm LifeMy mom was a child of a farmer in Wisconsin during the Depression. She says even though they didn't have much money they never went hungry, unlike my city kid dad, who knew what it was like to go without meals. Pastures aplentyBefore suburban sprawl made Dakota County Minnesota’s third-most populous county, dairy reigned. As Alistair Cooke of the BBC wrote when touring America three years after Rothstein’s photo was taken, “for thirty miles north of Faribault, you swing over wonderful dairy pastures where every prospect pleases and the land seems abundantly able to answer any call the Army or the government could make on it. Intermittent stands of maples and oaks are just so much pleasing decoration to sweeping acres that fatten sleep Holsteins for the butter and cream market. . . . You follow the Cannon River for a while, and at Farmington they are so indisposed to launch into sales talks that you have to wring from a member of the Milk Producer’s Cooperative the astounding fact that this small town of about 1,500 souls receives every day a quarter-million pounds of milk.” (Cooke, “The American Home Front: 1941-1942” at p. 254.) Look close, a Talon zipperTalon Zipper is a company founded in 1893, originally as the Universal Fastener Company, in Chicago. They later moved to Hoboken, New Jersey, and finally to Meadville, Pennsylvania. It was in Meadville that the zipper as we know it was invented, until then they were producing hookless fasteners for boots and shoes. Here, the zipper was mass-produced beginning in the 1920s. Chewing on ... whateverOur grandson loves chewing on Oxalis stems. Very sour, but somehow attractive... On chewing grassIt's worth noting that when you pull a blade of grass, the white part at the base is slightly sweet, and when you enjoy that, even the more bitter part is actually kind of tasty. Boy Scouts are taught this as a survival tactic. SunfloweredI used https://deepdreamgenerator.com/ To generate an image combined with sunflowers. Looks appropriate to me. [I'm pretty sure those are daisies! - Dave] (The Gallery, Agriculture, Arthur Rothstein, Kids)
Action Comics: 1940
... popcorn machine at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Scientific American reported: "This machine ... was designed ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/18/2018 - 1:20am -

April 1940. "Popcorn stand in Globe [i.e., Miami], Arizona." Where we can pick up a slightly dog-eared copy of Famous Funnies or Action Comics #23 for a dime. Decisions, decisions! Medium format negative by Russell Lee. View full size. N°2 WagonFrom the 1925 Cretors catalogue:       A GREAT favorite, and the cheapest wagon machine we build. Thoroughly dependable in operation; very simple and durable. Hundreds of these machines are being used in connection with stores, sidewalk stands and other lines of business, with gratifying results.       A No. 2 Wagon operated in front of your store is worth its cost as an advertisement alone. We are pleased to continue a model which in the past has proven itself the most successful and best money getter of any machine on the market of equal price.       Store owners cannot afford to ignore this attractive and profitable adjunct to their business.       Peanut Roaster capacity, about 10 pounds.       Dimensions — Frame, 20 inches wide by 52 inches long. Popper case, 20x20x24 inches high. Extreme width, 31 inches. Height, 5 feet 10 inches. Weight, about 300 pounds.       Write for Special Bulletin and complete Specifications. Price and Installment Terms on Request. Get your popcorn readyC. Cretors & Co. has been around for a good long time. Charles Cretors introduced the world's first mobile popcorn machine at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Scientific American reported: "This machine ... was designed with the idea of moving it about to any location where the operator would be likely to do a good business. The apparatus, which is light and strong, and weighing but 400 or 500 pounds, can be drawn readily by a boy or by a small pony to any picnic ground, fair, political rally, etc. and to many other places where a good business could be done for a day or two." https://www.popcorn.org/Facts-Fun/History-of-Popcorn/History-of-Popcorn-... Fior D'Italia boarding houseOne recurring facet of life in mining towns like Globe was the presence of boarding houses with sarcastically classy names. Beyond the popcorn machine may be seen the Fior D'Italia boarding house. That was also the name of a business establishment in San Francisco that now claims to be the oldest restaurant in the city. Little sign can be found of the fate of this humble abode, which is not among the places mentioned in the Globe Downtown Historic District registry. [Pretentious, maybe, but sarcastic? According to the sign, the proprietor is one Angelina Bairo (1880-1955), born in Turin, which would explain the name, which means "Flower of Italy." - Dave] Action Comics 23This issue was the first appearance of Lex Luthor. This very issue is on eBay for $6,500. Got a dime?That dime would have bought you a comic now worth somewhere between $1000 (min) and $65,000 (record). #23 was the first appearance of Lex Luthor. Busty lady of shady laneForget the comic books. The boys might be more distracted by the sexy lady on the cover of "True Confessions," which was kinda brazen for 1940. Even after using PhotoshopI can't make out what that sign in the window says. Help, anyone? [Magazines 5¢ - Dave] Thanks! $14,694Check out this copy of Action #23 -- winning bid $14,694. It's a mini-steam plant!It's got it all! 1) Cute mini single-cylinder steam engine with a round belt going off to the lower right. (Belt visible behind the "4 o'clock" position of the flywheel.) 2) Feedwater tank on the left side. 3) Boiler water level glass on the right end. 4) Firebox drawer front and center, right below the smokestack which goes up the left side of the glass popcorn chamber 5) Last but not least, a steam pressure gauge which seems to be calibrated 0-60 PSI. One could presume a working pressure in the middle of that range. In today's world, one would need a boiler operator's license to run a boiler with a working pressure of 30 PSI. The boiler would have to have an inspection certificate. Certainly an interesting machine! Re: True ConfessionsMy eyes are up here, Mister! 413 Sullivan Street.I believe, based on the windows and openings in the building, and the hill in the background, that we are here: (The Gallery, Russell Lee, Stores & Markets)
Immense Chewing Candy: 1904
... Mexican Penochis This from Historical Sketch of the Chicago Confectionery Trade: BELL, Jonas N. Started jobbing and is now ... Pecan Nuts, Tin Boxes 30 cents, 604 W. Madison Street -- Chicago" Page 83, 119, 122 (Ad/Photo) Low down on Mexican penochis... ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/07/2013 - 9:42pm -

The Jersey shore circa 1904. "Young's Hotel and Boardwalk, Atlantic City." Where strollers confront a plenitude of amusements, confections and refreshments. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. That's The Beer Brewed in ColumbusIn the middle left of the photo (right above the Brady's Baths sign) is a sign for Hoster's Beer which was one of the major breweries here in Columbus, Ohio in those days. Mexican PenochisThis from Historical Sketch of the Chicago Confectionery Trade: BELL, Jonas N. Started jobbing and is now (1905) a manufacturer of sweets at 606 West Madison Street As Senior Partner began manufacturing as BELL & PFEIFFER at 40 Fifth Avenue and 612 West Madison 1901 Has also manufactured vending machines Ex-Vice President of the Jobbing Confectioners' Association Ad: (Photo of BELL) "JONAS N. BELL Manufacturer and Jobber of High Grade Confections, Sole manufacturer of the Original "Mexican Penochis" as made in Old Mexico, Tin Boxes 25 cents. Texas Pecan Clusters made of Texas Selected Pecan Nuts, Tin Boxes 30 cents, 604 W. Madison Street -- Chicago" Page 83, 119, 122 (Ad/Photo) Low down on Mexican penochis...http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/38621364/ As it's poorly OCR'd it's a bit of a puzzling read, but worth a couple minutes. 25% purerFrom the Boston Evening Transcript, May 8, 1902. Ten-cent cigarActually, something of a premium smoke back in 1904. Where It All BeganThe custom of keeping right of oncoming traffic. Perhaps it was a continuation of the American Revolution, when Patriots began to drink coffee vis-à-vis British tea, while the British had and still have the custom of keeping left? Early Atlantic CityIs that Nucky I see down there on the boardwalk smiling? (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
Aerial Omaha: 1938
... of its completion in 1912 the tallest building between Chicago and the West Coast. - Dave] No Apartments Available The three ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2017 - 9:05pm -

        UPDATE: Our vantage point for this view north along 14th Street is the Woodmen of the World tower at 1323 Farnam. November 1938. "Omaha, Nebraska." Gateway to the West. Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. FansAnyone aware of what the contraption is on top of the building on the left. I see fan units. Was this an air conditioning system? If so it is very narrow. Three Corner TavernsInteresting to note the small corner taverns in the Omaha photographs: in the “Omaha Suds” image, in the Theodore's Place image, and the Oaks Tavern in this image. Three corner taverns, each about the same size and height, although some more decorated than the other. I wonder how many others existed? Across the street is the Paris Bar and Billiards. Oaks and Paris advertised together. What Depression?For a small city during the worst of the later Depression years, this photo portrays an impressive proportion of late model vehicles. As opposed to the trucks, the great majority of the cars seen here are within 3 or 4 years of age if not newer -- a mix probably not excelled in most U.S. localities today. Brand new Ford TudorThe car almost directly in front of the "Nebraska" is a new 1938 Standard Ford V8. I've had one of these since the late 1970's. Once considered the ugly duckling of the 30's by almost everyone is now kinda good looking. Kinda. Scorch marksSo what was the commercial establishment that burned at the corner of 14th and Capitol? Whatever it might have been, the fire appears to have thoroughly gutted the place. Pay no attentionI'm assuming that this picture was taken from an airplane, so it's interesting that none of the many people on the street are looking up at the photographer. It seems like an airplane flying low over the downtown area would attract a lot of attention! [The photo was taken from the Woodmen of the World building at 1323 Farnam Street. - Dave] Gateway to the WestJust a minute, that nickname belongs to my native city, Winnipeg, Manitoba. But wait, Wikipedia points out that it also refers to no fewer than 6 cities in the US (Fargo, Fort Wayne, Omaha, St. Louis and the Gateway Arch, Kansas City, Pittsburgh) and one whole state (Oklahoma, although particularly Tulsa). Location, Location, Location?I believe this photo was taken from a building on the southeast corner of 14th and Farnam. In an aerial photo from the early 1950s I can see a tall building located at that corner. Furthermore, in that aerial photo I can clearly see the Hotel Fontenelle a few blocks to the west at 1806 Douglas and I can positively identify the fronts of the buildings in the 1300 block of Douglas where Palace Billiards and the Oaks Bar were. [You are correct about the location (my first guess, the Hotel Fontenelle, is on the wrong block). Which means our vantage point is the 19-story Woodmen of the World headquarters, at the time of its completion in 1912 the tallest building between Chicago and the West Coast. - Dave] No Apartments AvailableThe three story brick building being demolished was an apartment building offered for sale in January 1937. Directly across the street from it was the “Hummel Auto Shed” and the Omaha World Herald delivery truck garage and parking lot and the vacant space diagonally across the street was the site of the Jefferson Hotel, demolished in 1935. Win some, lose someBetween the Oaks Bar and the Nebraska theater is a campaign office with banners for 19938 candidacies of (James T.) English for (Douglas) County Attorney, and (Frank) McGrath for (Douglas County) Clerk of Court. English won, and later became a state-court judge. McGrath, an incumbent mired in scandals, lost. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Omaha, Railroads)
Amarillo: 1943
... by Jack Delano on his trip via the Santa Fe rails from Chicago to California in March 1943. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency, Office of War ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 6:35pm -

General view of Amarillo, Texas, taken by Jack Delano on his trip via the Santa Fe rails from Chicago to California in March 1943. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency, Office of War Information. View full size | View even larger. The street running left to right is SW 11th Avenue, crossing South Tyler Street. The building with the red tile roof is First Presbyterian Church at 1100 South Harrison. Another 1943 view of the neighborhood and South Tyler street is here. Larger size!Ohh.. Thanks for the larger size. It's my new wallpaper. :) First Presbyterian ChurchIf you want to see what the neighborhood looks like today go to Google Maps and search for First Presbyterian Church, Amarillo, TX. The church is still there but not much else. This is pretty amazingI used to live right behind the large building directly to the south of First Presbyterian. A lot has changed, but the most amazing thing to me is that stretch of field to the west. WOW! Based on the 3 pictures posted so far I made a rough guess at the size of Amarillo in '43 and put it together in My Maps on Google. Anyone who knows their history of the area, let me know how close I am: Amarillo 1943 AmarilloDrew, I am a native of Amarillo. I was baptised in the church and was the first Bell Ringer group. I still go to Christmas Eve Services and take Mom. She is 93. We had the Pinkney Packing Co. business on E. Third. We lived on the west side on Broadmoor. Mom still lives there. We know much about the history of the Panhandle and Amarillo. I live on a ranch in N. Texas that was owned by one of Amarillo's founders. He brought barb wire to the Panhandle and was one of several who chose the site. Arthur Miller SunrayRanch@Aol.Com (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano)
The Pool Board: 1943
... operations on the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad between Chicago and Hammond, Indiana. The engine crew, engineer and fireman report at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/29/2013 - 11:41am -

January 1943. "Freight operations on the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad between Chicago and Hammond, Indiana. The engine crew, engineer and fireman report at the roundhouse office to be assigned their engine and given orders for the day. The cylinder at the left is the pool board; it lists the names of the men and the order and shift in which they will work." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. Wooden box with crankAnyone know what the wooden box with a crank handle is on the side of the desk over the trashcan? Being over the trash suggests some sort of shredder, but it's hard to imagine what they would have that needs shredding. A little cranky?@Carey - that is a telephone ringer. Inside the box is a magneto which generates a voltage so the operator knows there is an outgoing call. I used to have one just like this, which had bells on it like the one on the desk laying horizontally. They put out a good kick if you wanted to play a joke on someone. One long waitThe crank is almost certainly a ringer for the phone system.The wooden box is in character for the elderly, in-house phone set ups. In the early 70's, B&O trackside phones in places had a crank on a wooden box with a mouthpiece from a Laurel and Hardy flick. Penciled inside the cabinet were the different rings, for example "HB Tower:2 short; A Yard:1 long,3 short; HX Tower:1 long, to which a wiseguy added, "...and one long wait!" To use the phone, first you'd pick it up and make sure it isn't in use, then ring the call for your party,the other end would answer with a short ring and then you talk by pressing a button. [this was to prevent background chatter; it was one big party line...] All of this was made antique collectibles by the radio, even to the removal of the phone lines themselves. With the callboard nearby, someone in this office is a crewcaller, so the in-house phone line is for talking to the dispatcher, the trainmaster, the engine facility, etc. There also is a phone line to the outside, and if a crewman was within a certain distance from this office, callboys would go out and call at their doors. My name was on a similar board back in the "analog era". I wish I'd saved my peg. State-of-the-Art CommunicationsThat box with the crank is a magneto generator that produces ringing current of about 108 v.a.c. It's matched up with the three oak ringers (one on the desk, two on the wall above the window), and the oak 3-hole jack box behind the archboard on the desk. These also work with the three selector boxes between the ringers on the wall. Apparently he has 3 phone circuits. He chooses the one he wants to use with the jack box. To make an outgoing call, he cranks the magneto. Incoming calls are announced by the ringers, and the selectors control when the ringers announce an incoming call for this office. Information about railroad telephone equipment of this era, including links to archived user's manuals, can be found here. If you see oneyou’ve seen 'em all. There must have been a written code somewhere that all railroads subscribed to regarding yard office ambience. They were all the same until recently. Wires and bells and speakers everywhere. Wooden floors, bare bulbs, block phones, doors that closed somewhat tightly, and restroom facilities that challenged the dignity of anyone other than a rail. (The old Humboldt Yard Office of the Milwaukee Road had a urinal that consisted of a large sheet of tin fixed to the wall that one [there were no women in those days] would pee against, and the urine would run down the tin into a horizontal length of rain gutter.) Although I can’t be certain, I’m going to guess the featured picture was taken at the IHB Blue Island yard. The two guys in the window are in their locker room, apparently waiting for a clearance and orders, or getting ready to tie up. Carbide lampThe bright image in the lower window appears to be a carbide lamp probably an oxweld they were extremely common for that time. Pool boardHow does the pool board work? Is it meant to be rotated when there's a shift change, so that the current shift is visible and the off-duty shift is on the "dark side"? What information is being represented? Why are the tags in pairs - is it driver/conductor teams? Does the column of tags with labels represent assignments to trains? Is the Pool In/Pool Out like the bench? Merch, baby!The Shorpy Store (TM) doesn't seem to stock that attractive Shorpy(R) brand wastebasket... that's a missed revenue opportunity! The tags.As this photo was taken in a roundhouse/engine terminal office, they'd be paired for an locomotive engineer and fireman. IHB in those days was a terminal/switching road, so the assignments would most likely be for switching jobs or transfer runs. Pool Board quick [?]On B&O at least, the engineers' pool and conductors' pools were separate. Since one pool had a few more crews than the other, this was necessary. Engineers pools included a fireman, and later, a trainee, while the conductors turns showed the head brakeman,flagman, and in 1943, maybe a swingman. If a position was vacant, no peg was there. Bulletins were issued weekly advertising vacancies on regular jobs/pool crew and new jobs. If you look to the right side of that board, those tags seem to show regular train or probably yard assignments; these would show the engineer, fireman, conductor [yard foreman on B&O] and the switchmen. In practice, if a man was off, i.e. sick or vacation, etc., his tag was removed from his regular assignment and shown in what ever status. Somewhere on that board are extra boards for engineers, road conductors, brakemen, etc. As these extra men are called, their pegs are placed on the appropriate job with its regular men; when their trip is over, they are marked back up on the extra list at the bottom. Note there is a window behind the board; this way a man can look at the board to see where he "stands" as he marks up, and see where everyone else is too. (The crews were kept on the other side of the window. Time slips, orders, etc. were handed through the "dutch window" above the caller's head.An experienced man could look this board over and tell you what job he's working tomorrow, and what job you're working too.[Sorry, Dave. This is about as quick as I could make this...] (Technology, The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Flo and Chuck: 1918
... or factory, or perhaps underground like the tunnels in Chicago. Goldilocks I think the little hippy is way too young to drive ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/19/2012 - 4:36pm -

New York. March 16, 1918. "Florence A. Young and Chas. P. Rigo." 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. Zamboni?Anyone have any idea what the heck they are riding on? Maybe a old school zamboni? Curls & CarsUntil the 20s, young boys frequently wore their hair this long, until it was time for first grade. I'm trying to figure out what they are sitting on, at first glance it might be a (by 1918) antique car, but the interior background and the assortment of levers makes me think this was some kind of internal trolley in a large store or factory, or perhaps underground like the tunnels in Chicago. GoldilocksI think the little hippy is way too young to drive and Flo sure has some funky leg warmers. PutteesFlo is wearing puttees for some reason, so she probably is also wearing trousers of some sort beneath her dress. Puttees are leg wrappings made of long strips of cloth, adopted by several armies during the WWI. The Brits were hugely big on puttees, while the US went for leggings, though puttees were also known in the US Army. Bob and Ray were known to work puttees into their radio routines. She presents a very sturdy appearance...a woman in charge of something: Chas P. Rigo? Flo-MowAnother shot of Florence on that riding mower. This was at the Sixth International Flower Show at Grand Central Palace on Lexington Avenue. Hey Tut!(He's my brother.) There are pictures of our dad with very similar girly hair when he was just a little squirt. Our mom frequently makes fun of his mom for having his hair that long. 1920 CensusThese may be our folks from the 1920 Federal Census: Trenton, NJ, Young, Florence A., head of household, female, white, 42, single, born New Jersey, occupation: custodian at State barracks. Nutley, NJ, Rigo, Charles P., born 1915 in New Jersey, son of Paul H. and Ethel W. Rigo, white, male (only child); Paul H. is a florist with his own shop; the grandparents of Charles were from Germany. No matches from the New York census. This photo must be of a brief encounter. Flo cuts the grass and Charlie's dad sells flowers. Lady Gardener?The more I look at the photo of Flo and her outfit, the more I think she must have been "Florence A. Young, The Lady Gardener". Her costume certainly gives the impression of a person doing outdoor work -- you don't need puttees while dusting the crockery. Was she the Charlie Dimmock of her time? [The leggings are because it's freezing cold outside. At 8 a.m. that day in New York it was 23 degrees, up from a low of 14. - Dave] That's my Pop-PopCharles P. Rigo was my grandfather. His father was president of the New York Floral Society so his presence at this show makes sense. I do not know who Flo is, but I am sure going to try to find out. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Kids, NYC)
Last of the Red-Hot Godmothers: 1960
... I'll never forget my confirmation party. Mid-party the Chicago cops knocked on the door saying my brother had stolen a car....long ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 06/24/2009 - 4:51pm -

Well, I missed the 49th anniversary of this photo, taken on April 23, 1960 outside St. Patrick's Church in Larkspur, California after my Confirmation. That's not Sophie Tucker, it's my godmother, a very sweet lady of whose eye I was the apple. Scanned from a 35mm Kodacolor negative shot by my brother. View full size. Can this get any cuter?I just want to say I always enjoy your lovely scenes of a very lovely boyhood and family. This (besides the one of you and your grandmother) is the sweetest. I love it!I love this picture! What a great memory, and what a great lady, I bet. The mark of a lady...There was a certain dignity in seeing a lady in a hat that's been lost, probably forever. Soldier of God! This brings back so many memories. I was confirmed in the sixties too, and I'll never forget my confirmation party. Mid-party the Chicago cops knocked on the door saying my brother had stolen a car....long story short, great photo! ProudShe looks soooo proud of you! What a sweet picture. Old lady styleWith the exception of maybe the hat and gloves, your godmother would still fit in with the older set today! She looks perfectly trendy, in fact (it looks like godmother had to hem her dress up quite, a bit, too!). This photo really could have been taken yesterday! Very Norman RockwellReally very adorable and you both look like characters out of a Saturday Evening Post cover. Makes me long for a past I wish I had. How delightful!I'm home sick today with my very first-ever case of strep throat, and this picture certainly helped cheer me up. (Well, that and the pain relievers...) What exactly is the role of a godmother, btw? (We don't have them in the Church of Christ.) Does she have an obligation to come over and take care of you when you have strep throat? If your parents pass away before you're 18, does she take you in and see you to graduation? She looks lovely, and I find myself wishing fervently for a godmother! What was/is her name? The GodmotherIn the Catholic Church a godmother, as well as a godfather, is a very special person. In fact you have a pair of those when you're baptized and one of your own sex when you have your confirmation. Your baptismal godparents help your parents present you to God when you're baptized and are committed to raising you in the bosom of the Church in the event of your parents' death. Your confirmation godparent -- in my case my godmother -- is there to bear witness to your commitment to your faith. He or she is there to support you and guide you in your initiation into adulthood. In order to be able to become a godparent, you must be a practicing Catholic and have been baptized, confirmed and have received the Sacred Eucharist. These, of course, are my unprofessional definitions. Oh what a woman!!if this isn't the very picture of the doting, slightly overbearing, come-give-Auntie-a-big-kiss, pinch-your-cheeks, overly excitable Hollywood auntie/godmother, then nothing is or ever was. She's adorable and so are you. I'll bet you adored her as much as she adored you. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
White Castle: 1910
... Sharpe's Chop House Here's another view. Chicago is visiting Detroit and St. Louis is at Cleveland in both shots, but ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/17/2013 - 11:44am -

  UPDATE: Note the baseball scoreboard on Sharpe's Chop House. Detroit circa 1910. "Griswold Street south from Michigan Avenue." And a view of the recently completed Ford Building. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Well, imagine thatHorseless carriages in Detroit in 1910. Scoreboard? Stock prices? Daily Specials?I'm referring to the chalkboard on the second floor of Sharpe's Chop House. See the fellow in the window and the catwalk? What interesting news is he purveying to the Detroit public? Can we get a zoom-in Dave? Curbed bicycleswouldn't last long if parked that way today, and one is right next to an unused bike rack on the sidewalk. Hometown BiasI wonder if they only had an American League scoreboard because Detroit was an American League team, or if there was a separate National League scoreboard somewhere. ScoreboardDefinitely looks like baseball scores. Top row, last three letters looks like R H E. Runs, Hits, Errors. Ford BuildingStill looking good. View Larger Map They misspelled it!The sign should read SHORPY'S CHOP HOUSE! Sharpe's Chop HouseHere's another view. Chicago is visiting Detroit and St. Louis is at Cleveland in both shots, but New York is hosting the Red Sox and Philadelphia the Senators in the U of Michigan photo. The presence of the cigar billboards in May of 1910 in the UMichigan shot leads me to think that Shorpy's may be earlier than 1910. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Streetcars)
Bicycle Crossing: 1943
January 1943. "Freight train operations on the Chicago and North Western Railroad between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The train rushing through the town of Cortland ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/11/2014 - 12:07pm -

January 1943. "Freight train operations on the Chicago and North Western Railroad between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The train rushing through the town of Cortland Elmhurst, Illinois, on its way to Iowa." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. My Trusty SteedLooks like the kid in the picture is riding an old Schwinn prewar bicycle. Likely an old DX frame style before they came out with the cantilever frame. I think Jack mixed up his captionsI'm fairly certain that we are in Elmhurst looking west towards the station from about Haven Road. If correct, that means the train is heading east, not towards Iowa. Maybe someone could link the Google street view? Nice photo, though. ElmhurstTrain is eastbound through Elmhurst, probably entering Proviso Yard. The tall bank building and other buildings can be seen on streetview. The track layout has not changed much over the years. Looks like ElmhurstIt looks like grubemed is correct. Here's the street view looking west from Haven Road in Elmhurst, IL. About two blocks west you can see the five storey building on the left of the photo. View Larger Map Some CNW quirks visibleThose horizontal signal heads were a peculiarity of the CNW, though they display perfectly conventional color light aspects. Another distinction hidden in the photo is left-hand running. When the main line was originally laid, the stations tended to be located on the south side of the tracks; when they double-tracked, the second track was laid on the north, and eastbound (to Chicago) traffic stay on the south track because commuter traffic would prefer to wait in the station inbound in the morning. Thanks BTW for the location update. I couldn't square the photo with Cortland but I couldn't quite convince myself it was Elmhurst either. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Easy Payments: 1906
... from another store. A photo from the Roseland (Chicago) store remnants: And a closeup of that same logo on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 9:14pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1906. "Askin & Marine credit parlors." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Gotta Give 'Em CreditI like the concept of a "credit parlor." "Come in. Have a seat. Care for a cup of tea? How much can we loan you?" And is that a newsgnome on the corner? Super signage"We furnish the home. We clothe the people." So noble! Gately's Peoples StoreMy family used to shop at Gately's Peoples Store in Tinley Park, Illinois, when I was a kid, until it closed in the 80s. Some Gately's photos from another store. A photo from the Roseland (Chicago) store remnants: And a closeup of that same logo on the building, on a souvenir plate from the '50s. The Sound of the PastI wonder how much different the sound, the timbre, the echo of city streets was before motor cars assaulted the auditory canals? Being "in the city" must have been a very different sensory experience. When the only sounds were the clop clop of horses and the clang of trolleys on those wide, empty streets. Perhaps the zzzzzt of the trolley electric wires overhead, too. And a cop whistle now and then. The swish of a woman's long dress as she whisked into a store. The jangle of the bell hanging on the door. When you could HEAR everything with a vividness that has been lost to time. It must have made the city seem larger, calmer, more majestic, more austere, more vivid. And, as they say, like "in the movies." Sarah FarlyAccording to the 1906 Detroit city directory, Sarah J. Farly (widow of Stephen M. Farly) was the proprietor of the Farly Tailor shop at 83-85 Michigan Avenue, on the southeast corner of Wayne Street (now Washington Boulevard). On the right side of the photo, Wayne runs away from the camera toward the Detroit River. View Larger Map Look out Detroit! Your future is coming.Little old Detroit had no idea what was coming in 1906. Can you imagine if someone then could have seen into the future to the forthcoming glory days of Detroit, its pride and wealth and on to the present collapse. It sure makes you wonder what is ahead for all of us, each city, each region of this big country. The exciting changes always seem to come from the inventors. It certainly is tempting to yearn for the quieter days of horse and buggy and the much slower pace. Thank you Shorpy for archiving the past. It is so comforting to visit even if we can't stay. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Stores & Markets)
Needles: 1943
... Passenger cars Santa Fe introduced the El Capitan train Chicago to Los Angeles long before double stack intermodals. The El Capitan ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/23/2013 - 5:33pm -

March 1943. "Needles, California. A general view of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail yard." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Can you say HOT?I spent a long month in Needles one summer day. Seared in my memory. Pun intended. How High?Marmarinou wonders about vertical clearances on the Santa Fe Railroad. Especially on the main lines, they were so generous that some tall steam engines had retractable smoke stacks that only had to be lowered to clear the engine house doorway! That line was an early route of double stacked intermodal containers. Herr HitlerYou think that you can defeat this country? Just try. Shovellin' SandIt looks like the two laborers in the gondola car in the foreground are emptying sand that will be used in the locomotives. This is put into a sand hopper and dribbled onto the track to provide traction when rails are wet or a combination of weight and grade are causing the drivers to slip. I'll wager that this photo was taken from the top of the sand tower, which is used to load this material into the locomotives. Unless a lot has changed in railway technology in just the last few years, diesel-electric engines still use sand for this purpose. Speaking of shovelsSpeaking of shovels, that excavator (I would have called it a "steam shovel" as a kid) on the flat car really adds uniqueness to this photo. It seems to be higher than anything else in the yard. I wonder how high was the limit for rolling stock on this line? As usual Delano hits another grand slam. There’s a lot in this picture to study: the pole lines and signal bridge in the distance, numerous switches, what appears to be a track full of cabooses over yonder, the two guys laboring in the sand…among other things. One has to wonder which way the Lima power shovel (diesel by all appearances) is going. The sheet metal shows some signs of wear suggesting she’s not new. The routing card would tell us if we had super duper resolution. Before IBM and RFID technology each railcar had a hand written card stapled to it (visible on the shovel and four cars it’s coupled to) indicating either it’s online (not the internet kind…) destination or off going junction, with successive interchange points and carriers listed. As well, a waybill followed the car wherever it went, usually in the possession of the brains…I mean conductor. We used to call a yard plugged like this “straight across,” the only way in being by parachute. Of course WW 2 was in progress and I’m sure that alone accounted for much of the traffic. Lima shovel, UTLX tank carMany interesting bits of equipment in this photo - the Lima shovel is perhaps a model 404? Lima Locomotive Works were one of the big three US loco builders, but it was their Shovel & Crane Division that kept the company going during the 1930s. The tank car next to the shovel is also interesting. A Union Tank Car narrow frame car, these dated back to 1907/08. They were the predecessor of UTLX's well-known Type V or 'Van Dyke' frameless cars. There's also a smallish 3-dome tank car further along the cut, which I'd love to see more of. Apart from using sand to improve adhesion, oil-burning steam locos also used sand to clean out accumulated soot from the tubes and flues. Typically there would be a small container of sand carried on the front of the tender, so the fireman could scoop sand from it and throw it into the firebox through the peephole. More About Locomotive SandDash Riprock's comments about sand being used in locomotives, including the present day diesels, leaves out one of the more important reasons those men are shoveling the sand. The sand they are shoveling is wet and before it is deposited into the locomotive, it must be totally dry. When I worked on the railroad, we had a large gas fired stove with a hopper on the top. Men hand shoveled sand 24 hours per day from a bin into the top of the stove. As the sand dried it dropped by gravity into a bin below the floor. Then the dried sand was blown by compressed air into hoppers high above the locomotives, where it fell by gravity into the locomotive. The intense sand blasting that the stove received every day meant that the life expectancy of a stove was only a few months before it had to be replaced. That was about an eight hour job, as I recall. Today, pre-dried sand arrives in hopper trucks and hopper rail cars and is blown directly into the locomotive using compressed air. The Santa Fe Passenger carsSanta Fe introduced the El Capitan train Chicago to Los Angeles long before double stack intermodals. The El Capitan was the precusor of Amtrak's western route cars. Earth moving equipmentSomewhere in my emails there was a picture of a coastal gun being delivered on the West Coast during WWII. It showed the gun and earth moving equipment like the one in the above picture. Note that the shovel has loose cables and there is a bulldozer and scraper on the other track. Also look at the lumber in the gondolas. This must have been some sort of construction going on a short distance away, not an interchange move. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Coney 1905
... it looked similar to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Beautiful. Re: What's the show? Looking at some ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 12:57pm -

New York circa 1905. "Main tower, Luna Park, Coney Island." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Clever titleAnd judging by the crowds, Luna Park was a viral sensation in its own right. Wish I could have seen this lit up at nightI can only imagine how wonderful it would have looked. Night view?I would love to see the same view at night. If you look for the thousands of light bulbs following the curves and outlines of the buildings it must have been quite a sight! White CityFirst thing I thought of when I saw this was how it looked similar to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Beautiful. Re: What's the show?Looking at some other Shorpy pics there seems to be sinage on the outside advertising a circus. Also, you can see a sign "ring number 1" near the horse, which makes me think of a circus. The rigging and supports above the horse could support a trapeze or tightwire act. What's the show?I see that there is quite a crowd gathering to view some event. I also see that there is someone leading a horse on the stage behind the pylon. However, what are they going to do? I can't find a sign that gives me a clue. (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, NYC)
Bookworm: 1921
... was the original Roxy in the 1926 Broadway premiere of "Chicago," so I guess she can darn well put her shoes on the cushions. I see ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/19/2012 - 5:18pm -

New York circa 1921. "Larrimore." Francine Larrimore, French-born star of stage, screen and library. 5x7 glass negative, G.G. Bain Collection. View full size. Shoes off the furniture, please!I must have heard that phrase hundreds of times, as a kid! I don't have to worry about it, now, because I just don't wear shoes unless I am leaving home. Maybe Mlle. Larrimore should try it! NonchalanceThy name is Francine. "Just one more, please." ShoesHer shoes were probably as much the style of the time as they could have been the ladies weapon of the day! Ouch!! It's RoxyFrancine was the original Roxy in the 1926 Broadway premiere of "Chicago," so I guess she can darn well put her shoes on the cushions. I see women wearing pointy-toed shoes like this every day. What do you callthat piece of furniture that she is reclining on ?? It's too deep/high/big/long/hard/shallow/uncovered to be anything that I'm familiar with. [It's a daybed. - Dave] Nice mittsLook at the size 'o those hands! "Excuse me Ms. Larrimore, when you're done with that passage would you mind opening this pickle jar for me?" She must have absolutely dominated international thumb wars back in the day. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, NYC)
Clinton: 1943
March 1943. "Freight operations on the Chicago & North Western between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The train going through Clinton to the yard two ... still exists today. Two depots, three railroads The Chicago & Northwestern passenger depot is the large structure in the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/26/2016 - 5:17pm -

March 1943. "Freight operations on the Chicago & North Western between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The train going through Clinton to the yard two miles beyond." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Station building on the leftSeems to still be there.... Two depotsI believe that would be the C,B&Q's depot on the right. It's long gone and before my time but they had, and still do by trackage rights, access to Clinton from the Quad Cities. The Northwestern's depot is on the left and still exists today. Two depots, three railroadsThe Chicago & Northwestern passenger depot is the large structure in the background on the left. The smaller depot to the right is actually the CB&Q (Burlington Route) station, which I believe was also used by the CMStP&P (Milwaukee Road). Both the CB&Q depot and the interlocking tower in the far background are now gone, but the C&NW depot was still standing when I visited Clinton about two years ago. Depot detailsClinton Iowa, Railroad Town Many photos and info about the depots and railroads that served Clinton. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Happy Meals: 1943
... 1943. "Restaurant sign on the bus route through Indiana to Chicago." Photo by Esther Bubley for the Office of War Information. View full ... Kentland many times on a weekly commute down US-41 from Chicago to Terre Haute. The Nu Joy Restaurant appears to still be there ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/25/2014 - 7:39pm -

September 1943. "Restaurant sign on the bus route through Indiana to Chicago." Photo by Esther Bubley for the Office of War Information. View full size. Kentland, IndianaA photo of the entire restaurant (entitled NU-JOY RESTAURANT, GREYHOUND BUS STOP, KENTLAND, INDIANA) courtesy of the Allen County Public Library. Kentland is in the northwest quadrant of Indiana, but not in Allen County. I believe that library (in Ft. Wayne) is known to have excellent historical reference department. Kentland, IndianaNu-Joy Restaurant, Gas Station, & Greyhound Bus Station Been thereI drove through Kentland many times on a weekly commute down US-41 from Chicago to Terre Haute. The Nu Joy Restaurant appears to still be there http://www.bizapedia.com/in/THE-NU-JOY-RESTAURANT-INC.html [That page is for the corporate entity, not the restaurant, which it lists as "dissolved." The Web is full of these clickbait pages of ancient business records for long-defunct companies. - Dave] Been there, done that!I grew up not far from Kentland, and our family ate at the Nu-Joy a few times. Glad to see someplace I've been on Shorpy! Got a last minute lunchI ate here back in 1993 on my way up to Chicago. Turns out it was sold the following year. As far as I know, it was not re-opened, and I think the building is gone now. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Esther Bubley)
« first‹ prev…23 [24]25…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.