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And a Dog Named Gyp: 1922

May 2, 1922. Washington, D.C.  "Something new in auto tops. George R. Wharff of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, and Joseph Fossard returning from Florida. When they lost their top, they thatched it with palm leaves, which seem to answer every purpose. Gyp, their companion on the trip, has traveled 10,000 miles on the front fender as shown in the picture." National Photo glass negative. View full size.

May 2, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Something new in auto tops. George R. Wharff of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, and Joseph Fossard returning from Florida. When they lost their top, they thatched it with palm leaves, which seem to answer every purpose. Gyp, their companion on the trip, has traveled 10,000 miles on the front fender as shown in the picture." National Photo glass negative. View full size.

 

On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5

Red Green and his nephew Harold

would have looked about like these guys in 1922. The palm leaves were the period equivalent of duct tape.

Sax poster

If I didn't know better, I'd say it was Groucho Marx.

Poster

Oh how I wish I knew who the vaudevillian with the saxophone on the poster was!

Blessedly lost in thought

I just spent the last half hour in total oblivion, completely lost in my own head, imagining these two fellas,who sure seem friendly enough, telling this crowd all about their trip,their palm-top auto,their coconut collection and their good dog Gyp.

And that's why I so dearly love Shorpy.

Where's the crank?

I can't see the crank lever up front; was it detachable, or those early Chevys already had electric starters?

Me and You

I remember to this day the bright red Georgia clay. And how it stuck to the tires after a summer rain.

Spot the nonconformist

With his back to the camera in spite of all the fanfare and hoopla over the thatched roof and photo op. I was once with a "different drummer" type who would not even look up to watch a fireworks display on the Fourth of July. Like Mom always said, "it takes all kinds."

I sort of feel sorry for Gyp the dog. His face is frozen into a kind of permanent, flies-in-the-eyes squint. He must have been mighty hot lying next to that engine.

And last of all, how much coconut can one person eat?

The Car

Circa 1917 Chevrolet Model 490. Some interesting things to note are the toolbox on the running board and accessory spotlight. It must be hot because the upper portion of the windshield is opened for "air conditioning." There is evidence of accidents if you look at the wrinkled front fenders, and the headlight lenses are two different brands.

From Maine to Florida and back would have been quite a trip in 1922.

Seeing the USA

He's been seeing the USA in his Chevrolet -- about 33 years before we heard Dinah Shore tell us to do it.

Cosmos

I would like to know the location of the photo, evidently a theater with "continuous vaudeville shows". Could the theater name be Cosmos, as in Cosmos club?

[This is the Cosmos Theater, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. - Dave]

I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts

Eight reasons I love this photo.
1. Everyone has a hat (except Gyp).
2. The car owner doesn't much believe in tire tread.
3. He also doesn't believe in washing his one and only window.
4. Rather than take a half step behind the fellow with the pipe, the guy back there has his back to the camera. Don't see THAT often.
5. Wish they weren't all blocking the great vaudeville info behind them.
6. They aren't telling the truth about losing the car top. It is right there under the thatch. You can see it.
7. But then it is also hard to believe they really had a dog ride 10,000 miles on a fender.
8. And what is with the coconuts the guy in the back is holding?

Jacksonville Spuds?

I can't quite make out what is written on the car just below the driver's side windshield. It looks like it could be "Jacksonville Spuds".....maybe our intrepid travelers are potato farmers back home?

As a side note, I'll bet that Gyp was an awfully good dog!

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