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My Little Pony: 1918
... up to be a registered nurse. She died by her own hand in 1955 at the age of 45. View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/19/2012 - 3:03pm -

New York, July 22, 1918. Alice de Goicouria Belmont on "Beauty." Alice, the daughter of August Belmont Jr. and an heir to the Belmont banking fortune, grew up to be a registered nurse. She died by her own hand in 1955 at the age of 45. View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. Go Ask AliceLet this be a lesson, ponies do not lead to happiness. Who wouldn't love a pony?Now we know! BeautyDoes anyone know what breed of pony Beauty might be? The Wedding of Alice's ParentsOne of the smartest, but smallest, weddings of the Winter took place yesterday afternoon in the Church of the Ascension when Miss Alice de Goicouria, younger daughter of Albert de Goicouria, was married to August Belmont, Jr., elder son of August Belmont. Both families were in mourning at the time of the wedding, she for her mother and he for his uncle. It is noted that the bride wore her veil in a "totally new fashion." NY Times 1906 History appears to be silent on the subject of Alice the younger. [Alice was an aspiring musician whose artistic ambitions were thwarted by her family. More later. - Dave] A little unhappyShe doesn't seem too thrilled at this age, either. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Horses, Kids, NYC)
Now Playing: 1920
... up, and is the first place I ever saw a movie, when in 1955 my grandmother took me to see an Abbott and Costello picture there. I hope ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:16pm -

"York Theater, night." Washington, D.C., circa 1920. Among the cinematic offerings: Jack Pickford in "In Wrong." National Photo Co. View full size. HackI love the sidecar rig, and thinking that that was once a reasonable mode of transportation! New Photoplay House Builds Eighth 'Movie' Harry M. Crandall Constructs the York in Petworth The York Theater, eighth link in the chain of photoplay houses operated in the Capital by Harry M. Crandall, is now in course of construction on Georgia avenue, occupying the entire area between Princeton and Quebec streets. The newest of the Crandall theaters will have a seating capacity of 1,000 on one floor, no provision having been made for a balcony. The total floor area will be 10,000 square feet. Entrance on Georgia Avenue Entrance to the York will be from Georgia avenue into a foyer fifty feet long and twenty feet wide, with a ceiling height of twenty-five feet. The lobby walls will be of marble with inset, self-lighted poster panes. Lighting will be of the indirect, self-diffusing type. The exterior of the theater will be golden brown brick laid in white mortar, with cornice, coping and clerestory walls trimmed in gold. Silk Canopy Inside The entrance will be surmounted by a marquee of wrought iron, copper and Tiffany glass, to harmonize with the color treatment of the building, which will extend to the curb line and be fitted with brilliant flood lights, bathing the entire front of the structure in bright light. The decorative scheme utilized throughout the interior will be in silver, black and gold. One interior feature deserving mention is the treatment of the proscenium, which will be built in three arches under a silk canopy extending over the audience beyond the orchestra platform. The screen and side curtains, as well as the overhanging canopy, will be of gold silk, further beautified by concealed colored lighting making possible many extraordinary effects. There will also be elaborate balloon fixtures hanging from the ceiling. Of special interests will be the ventilating and heating system specially designed for the theater. The unique feature of the new system will be that heat will be blown in from the ceiling. The same system will serve to introduce cooled air during hot weather and is capably of completely changing the atmosphere of the theater every thirty seconds. Crandall's York Theater was designed by, and is built under the personal supervision of Reginald E. Geare, who also planned and supervised construction of Crandall's Metropolitan and Knickerbocker theaters. The York will open about October 15, and will be devoted to exclusive showings of photoplays of the highest grade. The completion of the York will give Mr. Crandall three houses of the first rank in the northwest residential portion of Washington, the Knickerbocker and the Savoy being the other two. Washington Post, Jun 1, 1919 Wow! It is still there! View Larger Map Beautiful Photo!What a nice photograph. You can really appreciate the sense of the photographer in love with his craft. It completely transcends the typical yet fascinating National Photo fare. It just reeks of atmosphere and ambiance! RecyclingIt is no big surprise that the building is still there virtually intact. Old movie houses are easily converted to other uses -- supermarkets, warehouses and the most common, as in this case, churches. It is remarkably well preserved with the exception of the storm canopy and the poster cases. Old YorkHeadley reports that the York was in service as a theater until at least May, 1954. In 1957 it was sold to the National Evangelistic Center and converted to its current use. He also notes that newspaper coverage for Harry Crandall's theaters was generous. While newspaper accounts claimed that $100,000 was spent building the York, the actual cost was only $50,000. Petworth MemoriesThis is very close to where I grew up, and is the first place I ever saw a movie, when in 1955 my grandmother took me to see an Abbott and Costello picture there. I hope you'll find other pictures from Petworth, preferably the residential neighborhood around 5th & Quincy Street NW. As someone who lived there for 44 years, I am most curious. The rowhouse development seems to have begun near the end of WWI. (The Gallery, D.C., Movies, Natl Photo)
Tailgater: 1943
... All of the 128 locomotives of this class were gone by 1955. Minor Refinement to Location Great photo! The location is where ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/25/2015 - 9:35pm -

March 1943. "Chillicothe, Illinois. A helper engine is taken on for added power on a grade extending eight miles on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe between Chillicothe, Illinois, and Fort Madison, Iowa." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Coordination?I wonder how they coordinate power levels, or maybe the lead engine goes all out and the trailing one controls the speed. Must Be a Steel CabooseIn earlier times, a wooden caboose was placed behind the pusher. Leaving it between the loco and rest of the train could end badly for the tail end crew. Risky BusinessUse of helper engines was a common but dangerous practice prior to automated controls. My father, a long-time railroad special agent/claims agent, listed a couple of helper-caused wrecks as two of the worst he had to deal with. Helper Engine#3286 was one of 128 locomotives ordered from the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The locomotives were built between 1917 and 1920, and delivered in batches, with 3286 being the next to last delivered. The Santa Fe was a steady customer of Baldwin-built locomotives over the years. 3286 was a 2-8-2 Mikado Class engine. All of the 128 locomotives of this class were gone by 1955. Minor Refinement to LocationGreat photo! The location is where the Santa Fe (now BNSF) crosses the Rock Island (now IAIS). The train is starting on the climb up the 1% Edelstein Hill. As a child I spent a lot of time at this exact place watching freights & the Chiefs. (Born too late for stream.) The best visit was a late night Thanksgiving with a gentle snow & 2 caboose back to back with flickering oil lanterns. (Which surprised me since I always thought they were electric.) Considering the year & month, it is probable my grandfather was clerking at the station & my Dad was working on the bridge in the background over the Illinois River. Pusher manAfter the helper is coupled, there is a simple application/release air test.In preradio days, we'd hold off on the release until we were ready to go. When the air released, the helper would start shoving and the lead engine would start pulling. You'd be amazed how fast a long freight can get up to speed from a standing start with engines on both ends. The lead engine aways controls the speed. The helper's job is to push. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Mowing the lawn
... and the red station wagon across the street is a 1956 or 1955 Ford (Fairlane) Country Sedan station wagon. I do think it's a '56 though. ... 
 
Posted by Tony W. - 09/20/2011 - 8:24pm -

Mowing the lawn was a family experience back then. I really like the car in the back (I'm not a car enthusiast. What kind of car is that?). Why don't cars come in that color anymore? It's kind of funny because the little kid, my father, later grew up to become a chief engineer on tuna boats. This was taken in L.A., early '60s. Scanned from a Kodak safety negative. View full size. Ford FalconThe car is either a 1962 or 63 model. My grandfather had one in white. 1961 FalconI checked around--the car is a 1961 Ford Falcon--note the way the front bumper has a rise in it, around the license plate--that's the 1961 style. I owen a 1962 Falcon in red for a number of years. I gave the car to my sister,and the day I did, the gas tank sprang a leak in her parking lot! http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/falc6101.htm Even more obscure car IDFor real experts, what's the car at the extreme left edge? I want to say VW bug. Tterrace's questionThe car in question is the one below. [That's a Volvo. What a great photo! Wouldn't it look nice in the Member Gallery? - Dave] Grateful tterraceExcellent! As a bonus, we get a '60 or '61 Rambler. I second Dave's gentle hint: this shot deserves a larger version. [Click on pic. Voila. And viola. - Dave] Starlight Blue, to be exact: The car directly behind your Grandpa is a '61 Ford Falcon (Deluxe) (told by the trim) and the color, according to the "AutoColorLibrary" is: "Starlight Blue". Oh, and the *hint* of a taillight on the extreme left, TTerrace suggests it's the same Volvo 544 in the other pics. Awesomeness, once again, Tony! Keep 'em coming! Pickup and Wagon The truck is a 1961 Chevrolet Apache 10, with some crazy looking camper shell on it, and the red station wagon across the street is a 1956 or 1955 Ford (Fairlane) Country Sedan station wagon. I do think it's a '56 though. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Kids, Tonypix)
Iron Butterfly: 1943
... to hit a "Caterpillar shovel" in 1945. It was scrapped in 1955. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/18/2013 - 12:09pm -

March 1943. Albuquerque, New Mexico. "Lifting an engine to be carried to another part of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe shops for wheeling." Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Not a Butterfly...It looks like a gigantic Praying Mantis with its small head on a large body turned almost 90º to look at us. It certainly qualifiesas a "heavier than air" conveyance. Makes senseSteam does tend to rise. MonstersWhen I was a little girl way back when, these types of very large behemoths scared me to grabbing my dad's pants leg and hiding behind him shaking like a leaf. I couldn't get away from them fast enough. ;D My dad was a diesel mechanic the majority of his working life and he worked on some pretty big machinery. It always scared me silly. Looking at these pictures still has a bit of that effect on me. It's almost as if it has turned it's head to look at me and say "BOO!!!" I hope the train never fell on anyone. 22 years down, 12 to goBy the number, this is a 4-8-2 "Mountain", built by Baldwin in 1921. If it was all there, it would weigh over 352,000 pounds! After this rebuild, 3733 went on to hit a "Caterpillar shovel" in 1945. It was scrapped in 1955. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Old-School: 1953
... WAS my elementary school. I went to kindergarten here in 1955. I was put into shock this morning when I woke up to this photo. Funny, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/20/2015 - 10:17pm -

Jan. 29, 1953. "Greenville School, town of Greenburgh, New York. Foyer." At right, "Third Grade Paintings." 5x7 negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. FamiliarI'm sure this looks familiar to Shorpyites of a certain age - it looks just like my elementary school in Michigan. Most of the 50's and 60's schools seemed to share the same DNA. Many of those windows were blocked off and insulated in the panic of the oil crisis in the '70s. Natural Light EverywhereThe complete LOC set is fascinating. Love these midcentury school designs, with abundant natural light in classrooms--and windows that open!--very unlike classrooms in the school where I teach (built in the 1990's). For the nerdiest among us, here is an interesting history of school design 1900-present. Academic AromasAhhh, the scent of a mid-century American elementary school. Our sense of smell and the way our brains organize memory (the olfactory bulb is part of the brain's limbic system) are very closely related; aromas can call up memories and powerful responses almost instantaneously. I guess it works in reverse, too, because seeing this school scene caused ghost scents to appear in my office this morning as I indulged my coffee and breakfast taco and Shorpy habits. The phantom aromas have to be strong to overpower a taco and cup of Ruta Maya…but here’s what I detected: *The indigo dye in brand new blue jeans *A whiff of Cavendish pipe smoke coming from the principal’s office *Sweaty kids – not the sourly rank teen kind, but the innocent 4th grade kind *Mimeograph ink *Fish sticks and sheet cake from the cafeteria *Wood shavings from the pencil sharpeners *Bic pen ink *Cardboard Duo-Tang folders *Cut grass from the playground *Crayola crayons and construction paper *An olfactory stew of gum eraser, chalk dust, and Elmer’s glue *Ms. Borcherding’s rose petal perfume and Aqua-Net hairpspray And perhaps my most vivid olfactory memory: the faintest hint of “Charlie” perfume, booze and cigarette smoke wafting around the hot-before-I-knew-what-hot-was library assistant Ms. Sherri D’Amato (Cherry Tomato). Goober Pea Re: Academic AromasOne more: that green stuff the janitor threw on the floor before he swept. ackModernist architecture and, yes, I went to schools very similar to this. They were, like most modernist designs, stiff, cold, and boring. In this picture, gaze with head shaking at the Danish modern furniture, which I think was designed to be as uncomfortable and unattractive as possible. Thank you. It's good to get that off my chest! More than familiarThis doesn't look like my elementary school, this WAS my elementary school. I went to kindergarten here in 1955. I was put into shock this morning when I woke up to this photo. Funny, the only thing I remember were the naps. My brother went there too. Hey, that's my schoolWhat a surprise today at my daily glimpse of Shorpy as I saw "my" Greenville School where I attended second through fourth grades from 1950-54. That Shorpy would single out such a relatively insignificant school in of all in the country seemed a bit strange so I did a double take to see that it was actually "my" Greenville School. Although I walked past the furniture in the foyer every day, my memory does not recall it after 62 years, yet that memory clearly remembers riding rain, snow, or shine on a 1950 English 3-speed Rudge bicycle to school every day. I rode that Rudge through 1970 in college. The Greenburg area of Scarsdale was a wonderful place to grow up. Strangely, it was a 1958 photo of my new Redwood High School in Larkspur, CA that was posted on Shorpy some years back that got me to looking at Shorpy every day. Great site and many memories. [You're in my 1961 Redwood Log yearbook, your senior year, my freshman. I posted that 1958 Redwood photo my brother took. -tterrace] My Thoughts Exactly, Gooberpea!Upon seeing this photo of what could've been my elementary school at Kincheloe AFB, Michigan I too was overwhelmed with "aromatic" memories. I giggled to myself while thinking, "I wonder if anyone else associates memories with smells", and all at once I read your post, Goober Pea. Apart from Ms. Cherry Tomato, you got it, exactly! Academic Aromas IIMy elementary school had similar smells as Gooberpea mentioned except for Ms. Borcherding’s rose petal perfume and Aqua-Net hairpspray since mine was the Shrine of the Little Flower. No parochial student of my era '46-'52 could ever forget the smell of a rainy Friday. There was the aroma of wet boys' cudoroy school pants mingled with the aromas of the brown bag Catholic lunches of that era. Hardboiled eggs, fried eggs, salmon croquettes, fried fish and for a lucky few crab cakes created a meatless miasma of unforgettable smells. (The Gallery, Education, Schools, Gottscho-Schleisner)
Virginia City With Cars: 1965
... Crunch Time I wonder what the driver of the 1955 Mercury ran into that caved in the fender but spared the trim? Someone ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 09/18/2018 - 10:54pm -

I thought about titling this "A Study in Kodachrome Blue and Red" but didn't. I took it on a trip to the historic Nevada silver mining town in August 1965. The building now houses the Comstock Fire Museum, and the steeples are St. Paul's Episcopal and St. Mary in the Mountains. I was going to identify the cars by make and year, but why should I spoil all the fun? View full size. What about the fifth car?No one has identified the car on the right, the one behind the Mercury. Comstock Firemen's Museum, to-day! Oh, you *could* haveIdentifying all the cars yourself might have actually forced us to talk about some other subject ... such as the firehouse's architectural features. (Davis Italianate Revival commercial, brick, mid-period) Crunch TimeI wonder what the driver of the 1955 Mercury ran into that caved in the fender but spared the trim? Someone else can identify the Pontiac, the Falcon and the Chrysler. OK I'll bitePontiac is 1962, Chrysler 1965, Falcon year not discernible. Looks like building once had four symmetrical windows then they converted two into a door. My first visit here was todayWhen I realized I live about four hours away from Virginia City, and inspired by the vintage photos you've posted, I struck out today for my first time visit. I just returned from my road trip, and was pleasantly surprised to see your photo of what I'd been viewing in person only a few hours before. The CharlatansThis was the same summer when San Francisco cult band The Charlatans had a residency at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, and inaugurated psychedelic rock according to one widely held point of view. Sadly no footage or even photos appear to survive, but even the poster for the gigs is so famous that there is an eight-minute YouTube video devoted to it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS2gm0dIhq4 (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
Bowling Green: 1900
... light court. Alas, the Produce Exchange was demolished c. 1955 and replaced by the (to put it charitably) nondescript building called ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/11/2015 - 11:19am -

New York circa 1900. "Bowling Green and Broadway." Oldest public park in the city. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Washington BuildingThe "turreted" building on the left at No. 1 Broadway is the Washington Building, designed by Edward H. Kendall and built 1882-1885. Believe it or not, it is still there, but you would hardly recognize it. It was completely refaced in white limestone c. 1922 and renamed the International Merchant Marine Company Building. In the process the building lost its colorful red brick facade, its frenetic roofline, and its tower. Across Bowling Green is another red brick structure of the 1880s, George B. Post's Produce Exchange Building of 1881-1884. This handsome edifice (of which you can see only the last 3 bays or so) was widely admired as one of Post's best designs, and it even had a very early use of skeleton framing in its upper story interior light court. Alas, the Produce Exchange was demolished c. 1955 and replaced by the (to put it charitably) nondescript building called Number 2 Broadway. Before the subwayIs that a steam locomotive at the elevated station at the lower left? Under ConstructionLooks like the Customs House is about to be built by the construction site in the foreground. Now the home of the National Museum of the American Indian, and Federal Bankruptcy Court. (And most recently added the National Archives.) Beautiful Cass Gilbert building. Almost torn down in 1970's NYC. The Produce Exchange is on the extreme right - the building that replaced it would be Jack Lemmon's office in the movie The Apartment. Standard Oil is on the right as well - you can see the pennant on the roof, and the White Star Line is on the left - The fence around the park was put into storage when the subway was built, and lost for many years. The fence had the Royal emblem on the main posts and were snapped off when independence was declared. There was also a lead statue of King George III that was smashed and turned into musket balls. Old George was on a horse, and the tail of that horse is in the collection of the N-Y Historical Society. If you look at the fence today, you can see where the emblem was ripped from the posts. There is a story that bowling got its 10th pin in this park when the Dutch outlawed the playing of 9 pins on Sunday. Rent for the park? One pepper corn per year. I've tried in vain to find out the last time that was paid. The statue is Abraham De Peyster - he gets moved a lot. He was once where you see him, then at the north end of the park, recently he was a few blocks away in Hanover Sq., and now he is in Foley Sq. The much moved former mayor of NYC. A Lot of BullAbout the only thing AleHouseMug omitted is that the famous Wall Street Bull now stands just north of the park. It is where Broadway divides, approximately straight through the tops of the trees in this view. QueryWhat's the turreted building on the left? (The Gallery, DPC, NYC, Streetcars)
Frank E. Kirby: 1910
Toledo, Ohio, circa 1910. Sidewheeler Frank E. Kirby at steamer landing." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Flyer of the Lakes Named to honor her designer, Frank E. Kirby, a naval archit ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 1:20pm -

Toledo, Ohio, circa 1910. Sidewheeler Frank E. Kirby at steamer landing." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Flyer of the LakesNamed to honor her designer, Frank E. Kirby, a naval architect who designed over 100 ships which plied the lakes. Nicknamed "The Flyer of the Lakes" for her exceptional speed. If you need to knowThe Frank E. Kirby was built by the Detroit Dry Dock Company in 1890. A 195.5 foot passenger and freight sidewheeler, working out of Detroit. Burned and scrapped in 1932 at Ecorse, Michigan. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Toledo)
A Room With a View: 1942
... on East 70th Street, however that wasn't built until 1955. It could have been a predecessor or might have been the hospital on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/16/2014 - 10:49am -

November 1942. "Babies' Hospital, New York. The welfare of this young patient, suffering from burns, is aided by having his bed placed near a window where he can watch the boats pass by. Nurses learn the importance of ministering the comforts of their patients in promoting recovery." Photo by Fritz Henle for the Office of War Information. View full size. The Land of CounterpaneThe Land of Counterpane When I was sick and lay a-bed, I had two pillows at my head, And all my toys beside me lay, To keep me happy all the day. And sometimes for an hour or so I watched my leaden soldiers go, With different uniforms and drills, Among the bed-clothes, through the hills; And sometimes sent my ships in fleets All up and down among the sheets; Or brought my trees and houses out, And planted cities all about. I was the giant great and still That sits upon the pillow-hill, And sees before him, dale and plain, The pleasant land of counterpane.                - Robert Louis Stevenson Milk sips, Greek shipI wonder what a ship of Occupied Greece was doing in New York. [It's an American vessel. - Dave] View To The BridgeI've been trying to figure out where this picture was taken. The view from the window reminds me of a visit I once made to The Hospital for Special Surgery on East 70th Street, however that wasn't built until 1955. It could have been a predecessor or might have been the hospital on the then Welfare (now Roosevelt) Island, which is in the East River between Manhattan and Queens.. I am beginning to believe it was Welfare Island. It is absolutely in The East River. The bridge in the background is the Triborough (now RFK) Bridge. The large building adjacent o the bridge, I believe is a city run psychiatric center on Randall's/Ward's Island near the Hells Gate Bridge. Roosevelt Island is east of East 70th street and its northern extension ends at about 85th Street. That bridge -seems to me to be the 59th Street/Queensborough Bridge, rather than the Triboro/RFK Bridge. The Triboro is somewhat further north of Roosevelt Island, and unlike the Queensborough does not cross the island. It does, however, cross Ward Island/Randall's Island. The structure of the Queensborough is sort of a gothic truss, while the Triboro is a more graceful Art Deco suspension bridge. Remembrance of things yet to come ...Reminds me definitively of my extended stay at the US Navy Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia in December, 1976 for knee surgery. I was a new military dependent, having married a US Air Force Airman the previous July. I had a knee injury requiring surgery, and the hospital at the Air Force Base did not have enough facilities at the time to treat dependents. So I was sent to the Navy Hospital across the river, which being the oldest US Navy Hospital in existence, was/is quite up to the task. Oddly enough, I was treated by an Air Force Surgeon! I was admitted to the Orthopedic Unit, which happened to be on the topmost floor of the facility, I'm thinking at least 12 stories, in the old building which has since been replaced by brand new facilities recently. I was fortunate enough to get the window side bed, overlooking the river where all the ships could be seen entering or leaving the harbor. At night, the view with all the lights was magnificent, and the TWELVE nights I spent there treated me to some views I will never forget. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Fritz Henle, Kids, Medicine, NYC)
The Grayhouse: 1907
... collection to the City of Detroit and the Conservatory. In 1955 the Conservatory was dedicated to her." My family, beginning with ... slides of the interior and exterior that were taken in 1955-56 can be found here. Mom My mom told me stories of trips to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/21/2014 - 11:35am -

Detroit circa 1907. "Horticultural Building, Belle Isle Park." Check out their latest Vine. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. ChallengeOK Shorpy colorists, you're on. Belle Isle BeautyInfo from the Belle Isle Conservancy website: "The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory was opened in 1904 and was designed by Albert Kahn, modeled after Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. The Conservatory is divided into 5 distinct sections: The Palm House, Tropical House, Showroom, Cactus House and the Fernery. Mrs. Anna Scripps Whitcomb bequeathed her 600-plant orchid collection to the City of Detroit and the Conservatory. In 1955 the Conservatory was dedicated to her." My family, beginning with my grandparents, visited Belle Isle at least twice yearly for nine decades. It's great to see the historical photos displayed here at Shorpy. I keep hoping to find family in one of these oldies. Now belongs to the StateWith the current bankruptcy procedings of the City of Detroit going on, the State of Michigan has acquired ownership of the entire island including all upon it. Hopefully this bids for better times, as it has fallen upon hardship in recent years. Fond memoriesOf occasional visits here with my mother in the '50s. For all the exotic plants, bright colors & winter warmth, I most remember the humidity. Now that Belle Isle is a state park, maybe the Conservatory will be returned to its former glory. Grayhouse Kodachrome: 1956Interior of the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan, April 1956. Scanned Kodachrome slide. View full size. More Kodachrome slides of the interior and exterior that were taken in 1955-56 can be found here. MomMy mom told me stories of trips to Belle Isle on the streetcar when she was a young child. Here she is in 1936 at 17 years old in front of the greenhouse. (The Gallery, DPC, Kids)
Mrs. Ostermeyer: 1936
... "Family of Man" exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1955. In the catalogue, it's on p. 79, I am a decendent of this woman ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 6:33pm -

December 1936. "Hands of Mrs. Andrew Ostermeyer, wife of a homesteader, Woodbury County, Iowa." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee. I miss my grandmother's hands.Mrs. Ostermeyer's hands remind me of another woman's...my grandmother's! "Nanny" also lived through the Depression--the twisted, gnarled hands that had picked & chopped cotton, wrung chicken necks, and sewn her family's clothes were the very best back-scratching hands God ever put on this earth! When Nanny would flip up the back of your shirt (usually Johnny Carson's Tonight Show) and scratch your back, you were guaranteed to MELT! Steichen liked this one too, I guessThis photo was in the famous "Family of Man" exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1955. In the catalogue, it's on p. 79, I am a decendent of this womanHer name is Theresia Ostermeyer born 3/21/1863 in Woidhofen, Germany. She is my mother's great great grandmother therefore she is my 3x great grandmother. She died 10/28/1948 never knowing the picture of her hands destin to fame. The photo was taken after they had just lost their second farm due to the great dust bowl. Also a descendantMy great-grandmother is Margaret Hiller--her daughter. I had seen this picture before even knowing I was related to her. Amazing. (The Gallery, Rural America, Russell Lee)
William G. Mather: 1905
... the J.H. Sheadle in 1925, then the H.L. Gobeille in 1955, and finally the Nicolet in 1965. She was scrapped in Port Maitland, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/28/2013 - 8:58pm -

October 1905. Ecorse, Michigan. "S.S. William G. Mather -- stern view before launch." Our second look at this freighter on the ways at Great Lakes Engineering Works. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Long-lived shipRoamed the Great Lakes for 91 years; scrapped in 1996. The First SS William G. Mather was built by Great Lakes Engineering Works for Cleveland Cliffs Iron and delivered in October, 1905. The Mather was renamed the J.H. Sheadle in 1925, then the H.L. Gobeille in 1955, and finally the Nicolet in 1965. She was scrapped in Port Maitland, Ontario in 1996. The second SS William G. Mather was also built by Great Lakes Engineering Works for Cleveland Cliffs Iron. She was delivered in July, 1925 and is now a museum ship in Cleveland, Ohio. That thingWhat is the object protruding from the rudder at the 11 o'clock position? That thingIs a turnbuckle for lifting. Actually that thing......is a shackle, not a turnbuckle. Shackles are used for lifting, towing, etc. Turnbuckles are for removing slack from or connecting rods and cables. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC)
Garage à Trois: 1940
... wrecking train that dismantled the Crested Butte branch in 1955. After that, #268 went on static display in Gunnison with a gaudily ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/27/2020 - 9:58am -

September 1940. "Locomotives in roundhouse. Durango, Colorado." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Now ain't this the berries!(as my late grandfather used to say) We have a wild assortment of D&RGW head-end power waiting here: #459 was a class K-27 “Mudhen” Mikado (2-8-2), built by Baldwin in 1903 as job #21936. She served on multiple divisions of the road, and was eventually sold to Ferrocarril Nacional Mexicano, which renumbered her and converted her to standard gauge. She was finally scrapped in 1963. #375 was also Baldwin-built and also from 1903. A C-25 Consolidation (2-8-0), she began life as Crystal River Railroad #103; the Rio Grande bought her from CRR in 1916 and numbered her 432, changing to #375 in 1924. As a purchase rather than a factory order, 375 was the only representative of class C-25 on the road. She met the scrapper’s torch at Alamosa, CO in 1949. #268 still survives, though I’m not sure that was a good thing. She was built in 1882, again by Baldwin (construction number 6002), as a Consolidation. She had a tiny firebox—her grate was only 14 square feet—and only developed 16,000 pounds at the drawbar, from which her class number of C-16 came. She was such a light weight that she could only work branch lines (Crested Butte, Baldwin, Lake City) and the main line to Montrose, which almost no one else used. She was also used to pull the wrecking train that dismantled the Crested Butte branch in 1955. After that, #268 went on static display in Gunnison with a gaudily inappropriate paint job. Eventually, she was refitted in colours more appropriate to her age and station, and now is on exhibit near the Gunnison Pioneer Museum. 268 is still with us Built in 1882, it is currently at the Gunnison Pioneer Museum. No. 268 was used in the filming of the movie "Denver & Rio Grande" in 1952. Missed OpportunityBack in 2002, I spent several hours with Allen Harper, owner of the railroad, interviewing him about the Missionary Ridge Fire. He was very interested to learn that I was a steam locomotive geek as well as a wildland firefighter. So he gave me an open invitation to be an honorary fireman on one of the trips to Silverton. If I remember correctly, he said, "If the engineer likes you, you'll shovel 4 tons of coal on the trip. If he doesn't like you, you'll shovel 7 tons." Fortunately or unfortunately, I never had a chance to take him up on his offer. Keep talkingWithout you "old geezers", all the knowledge of old locomotives, cars, appliances, vintage magazines etc. would vanish. You are the treasure of this site. The More Things Change.....Same place (maybe), same scene, different century: https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2020/04/colorado-photos/610141/#img19 Now in Trois-DOr at least a panoramic simulation: (The Gallery, Railroads, Russell Lee)
Mystery 50s photo
... design is that of the 1951 California plate, used through 1955 with a metal year tab attached at the lower right for renewals. There ... 
 
Posted by Lady Ashmire - 08/17/2012 - 8:14pm -

Judging from the other photos in the box with this, these people are either relatives or childhood/family friends of my mother, which would mean the pic was most likely taken in Salt Lake City or possibly Albuquerque, those being the two cities where she grew up. Unfortunately, those who would know for sure are no longer alive to tell me. I just found it an interesting pic, as you don't seem to see photos of less-prosperous-looking people in this time period very often, also I thought some Shorpyites might have fun trying to identify the various vehicles in the background. View full size. PackardThe most obvious car is a 1941 Packard. Given the two-tone paint, perhaps a taxi. The setting looks more like Albuquerque than Salt Lake City to me. Railroad crossing/street trackageWhat appears to be a flag on the building in the background (white or silver "X" on a black background) is actually a railroad crossing sign suspended on a wire over the street, indicating a track running in the cross street at that location. These signs were common in California cities where street trackage existed, and the buildings look like southern California to me, too. There was also a lot of street trackage in Salt Lake City, much less if any in Albuquerque to my knowledge. Not a TaxiYes, it is a 1941 Packard and it is a model 110 with a 6 cylinder 110 HP motor. You can tell because it has the smaller decorative trim in the center of the front bumper as opposed to the model 120 (8 cylinder - 120 HP)with a larger trim piece. The 160 and 180 models both had same front bumper and it was larger and distinctly different. Two-tone colors were popular with Packards back in 1941 and the offered six, different combinations that year. And I don't see any taxi trim. I own two 1941 Packards, one a 120 and the other a 160. License plate and locationI'm pretty sure the Packard's license plate is not from New Mexico or Utah. It has an early 1950s California look to it. The color (light on dark, probably yellow on black) fits 1950s California, but the number looks more like CA's 1940s pattern, except that in the 1940s the word "California" was above the numbers and on this plate it looks like the writing is below the numbers. To me, the setting looks more like southern California than either Albuquerque or Salt Lake City. Also, from the way they're dressed and the open car door, I'd guess that the girl is going somewhere but the woman isn't. [You're right, the design is that of the 1951 California plate, used through 1955 with a metal year tab attached at the lower right for renewals. There doesn't seem to be one here, so that would indicate a 1951-2 date for the photo. - tterrace] LocationI live in Albuquerque and can tell you the vegetation typically does not look like that here. The housing typology in the background is not characteristic in Albuquerque as far as I know, but it is a familiar typology of Oakland, CA. Sidewalks and power lines also look more like California to me. I found it!I was idly searching the "Oakland" tag here, and thanks to Estar108 mentioning "Oakland typology" I found this photo. I made an account to tell you that this is indeed North Oakland, Ruby Street at 40th Street. I used to walk by those apartment buildings across the street on my way home from work. Key System trains used to run down 40th Street. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Pillsbury Panorama: 1905
... suburb of Roseville. My Uncle Ray of sainted memory (d. 1955) worked at Crown. Of course the Pillsbury brand is still going strong, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/22/2019 - 6:51pm -

The Mississippi River circa 1905. "St. Anthony's Falls and flour mills at Minneapolis." Panorama made from three 8x10 glass negatives. View full size. LogjamThe St. Anthony Falls historic milling district, using the power of falling water at St. Anthony Falls, first gained prominence with the construction of large-scale lumber milling from logs floated down the Mississippi from central and northern Minnesota pine forests. Flour milling boomed later and numerous mills along this stretch of river changed the way food was produced, marketed, and distributed and changed the way we think about food. https://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/uppestan.htm Cirkut Camera?I would challenge the 3 negative panorama claim. This looks like a Kodak Cirkut camera image. [I personally stitched this image together yesterday from the LOC's three glass negatives, which can be viewed here. Using Photoshop, it took a little over an hour. - Dave] The Doughboy AbidesMany of the buildings seen in this photo are still standing - notably the Pillsbury "A" Mill, now converted into residential lofts. Crown Iron Works -- "the world leader in oilseed extraction" -- is still in business, with locations around the world; the building in this picture is long gone; Crown's Twin Cities location is now in the suburb of Roseville. My Uncle Ray of sainted memory (d. 1955) worked at Crown. Of course the Pillsbury brand is still going strong, although archrival General Mills acquired Pillsbury in 2001, and then sold its baking products division to International Multifoods, who in turn sold it to Smucker's. But the Pillsbury brand name lives on, thanks no doubt to the popularity of the Doughboy. One Surviving Old-TimerBut all else is pretty much gone. VestigesLots of the structures in the area remain, just hidden by trees now. https://goo.gl/maps/5ZcgudRwQFyTL8Jo7 Pillsbury's "A" Mill, now lofts: https://goo.gl/maps/qfUFt36UseW2f11W6 Head of navigationThere is a lot of history in this photo. The Falls of St. Anthony were the only major waterfall on the upper Mississippi, originating in the time of the glacial Lake Warren and steadily cutting upstream in the thousands of years since then. The falls was also the head of navigation -- the highest point reachable by boats moving upstream -- so not only could timber be brought down from the North and grain be brought in from the immense agricultural areas of the upper Midwest and the waterpower be used for processing, but also shipping was possible down the river by steamboat. Locks bypassing the falls were not built until decades after this photo. (Panoramas, DPC, Factories, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Railroads)
The Music Men: 1920
... which now replaces it (Newman Library) was completed in 1955. The red arrow indicates the place where the band was standing at the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/22/2015 - 10:49am -

"Virginia P.I. Cadet Band." Circa 1920, the men of Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Old LibraryThe building visible in the background is the Old Library, which by the middle of the 1910s had taken up residence in the former chapel. Unfortunately, this building burned down in August of 1953 - the new library which now replaces it (Newman Library) was completed in 1955. The red arrow indicates the place where the band was standing at the time it was photographed; the orientation of the building is, of course, different. The second picture shows the day of the fire. The Highty-TightiesAll of my wife's cousins were members of the cadet band, called The Highty-Tighties by students at VPI&SU, as Virginia Tech used to be named. No smiling!Except for the snare drum player: "I'll smile whenever I want". Heavy MetalOnly two reed instruments. They must've played in the altissimo register to be heard above the brass. Good Brass Band InstrumentationAbout the right numbers of the various types of brass instruments, except perhaps, another Eb Alto Horn or two are needed. Albert System ClarinetsJudging from the pads on the second section joint, those clarinets are Albert system.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_system. (The Gallery, Harris + Ewing, Music)
It's Delovely! It's Dynamic!
... models. The lever coming out of the dashboard was on the 1955 cars. - Dave] (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 06/24/2009 - 5:10pm -

...it's DeSoto! Specifically, a 1957 DeSoto. "This baby can flick its tail at anything on the road!" In this case, the Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara in 1958. Detail from my brother-in-law's Anscochrome slide. Not his car, though. Full size. The Most Exciting Car TodayIs now delighting the far highway ... Nearly the same angleToday, from the hotel's website. Looks like they've done some remodeling and additions, but they've done a good job keeping it to the original style. [Where are the tailfins? - Dave] You Bet Your Life"Tell 'em Groucho sent ya!" Looks familiarI thought, before reading the caption, that the hotel looked like it could be from around my home area. Sure enough... good ol' SB. Gotta love the red roof and the palm trees. Jukebox DriveI remember Chrysler experimenting with ways to control its nifty, newfangled "Torqueflite" transmissions. The stick on the steering column and the floor shift were just so 1940's. I believe this baby had a short stick coming right out of the dash to select the gear. Our 1958 had a pod of lighted buttons on the dash labeled "P-R-N-D-2-L" hence the term "Jukebox" Drive. That "Firedome" V-8 could smoke the back wheels before you could push from "L" to "2". Ask me how I know. Mmmm, I forgot how much I loved that car. [The transmission buttons on the '57 DeSoto were the same as on the 1958 models. The lever coming out of the dashboard was on the 1955 cars. - Dave] (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, tterrapix)
Nicollet Avenue: 1904
... J.C. Penney occupied the building from approximately 1955 through 1989. By then, its windows had long been covered by a long wall of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/10/2017 - 6:41am -

Circa 1904. "Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. New facades on old department storesLike the old Donaldson's building, the building one block further north on Nicollet (between Sixth and Fifth Streets) survived until the 1980s. According to a 2013 City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development staff report, that building was constructed in 1890. The occupant in 1912 was the Minneapolis Dry Goods Company. In 1934 the tenant was the Leader Department Store. A 1944 map identifies the occupant as The Baker Company Department Store. J.C. Penney occupied the building from approximately 1955 through 1989. By then, its windows had long been covered by a long wall of modernist dark stone. It was demolished in 1991 to make way for a mixed-use development (that included a Nieman Marcus store that did not endure). Donaldson's Glass BlockThe building to the right, with the dome on the Sixth Street corner, is the old Donaldson's Department store, which burned down on Thanksgiving night 1982. Arson suspected. Donaldson's DomeI believe they had a roof garden up there by the dome, which was dismantled during WWII for the scrap metal. Boarded windowsDoes anyone know why the Donaldson's Department store building at right has so many boarded up windows? Must be a story behind this. Also what was the big dome atop it used for? (The Gallery, Bicycles, DPC, Horses, Minneapolis-St. Paul)
Washington's Shadow: 1942
... 50s. When the Government finally tore them down circa 1955, my father, who was an FBI agent at the Washington Field Office in the Old ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/23/2020 - 3:22pm -

        "With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dec. 8, 1941 March 1942. Washington, D.C. "Construction of temporary war emergency buildings on the Mall, near 16th and 17th Streets N.W., seen from the top of the Washington Monument." Acetate negative by John Ferrell for the Office of War Information. View full size. *Light bulb*That'd make a great sundial. Gnomon is the Word of the DayAs a followup to wally's "Light Bulb" comment that is one huge "Gnomon". A gnomon is the official name for the part of the sundial that casts the shadow. Those temporary buildings live on - sort ofI vaguely remember riding past those buildings on the Mall as a small child in early 50s. When the Government finally tore them down circa 1955, my father, who was an FBI agent at the Washington Field Office in the Old Post Office Building, managed to obtain some of the lumber before it went to a landfill. He built a wood-sided garden house in the corner of the back yard that mirrored the front facade of our new brick house in Fairfax, VA. To my knowledge, that little building still stands 65 years later. My Dad was a craftsman. Then and NowWe're looking northwest toward the corner of 17th and Constitution Avenue. You can see the Second Infantry Division Memorial at the upper right. This has all been returned to a nice big lawn now. (The Gallery, D.C., John Ferrell, WW2)
Party Boat, US Navy in China: c. 1946
... signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, on August 9, 1955. Lieutenant Edward T. Lyon, ANC, became the first male Army nurse on October 6, 1955. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery) ... 
 
Posted by citybeautiful - 09/19/2011 - 9:56pm -

This is a group shot that appears to have been taken aboard ship. This is China, c. 1946. Grandpa was stationed in China as a U.S. Army Captain. Grandma is the Chinese lady seated in the lower right. The Chinese Nationalist officer seated in the center was my great uncle, and his wife is seated next to him. We have heard he was a pilot, but haven't confirmed this. I know nothing of the others in the photo, other than basic ranks. The young mustachioed Lieutenant seated next to my great uncle appears to be from the nursing or dental staff corps, judging from the leaf on the sleeve. That's all I know. View full size. No Male Nurses In US MilitaryIIRC, there were no male nurses in the US military until after the Korean War. Male Nurses Fight For AcceptanceThe Male Nurse as a whole, got a taste of the struggles for acceptance as equals in the workplace, that women in general are still fighting for in the 21st century. But only a taste, as theirs in this respect was fought and won in only 54 years. Beginning in 1901, with the establishment of acceptance of female nurses into the Army, the male nurse existed but was not accepted into the Army as such. To be brief, it took 48 years, after a lengthy battle of not just the individual nurses, but the organizations which represented them, just to get legislation proposed for such an action. Interestingly enough, it not only was a congresswoman who proposed it, it was Frances P. Bolton, from Ohio, who had previously introduced unanimously approved legislation just six years prior, in July, 1943, that created the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, which helped train thousands of nurses during and for three years after WWII. However it took SIX more years of debate before it was finally signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, on August 9, 1955. Lieutenant Edward T. Lyon, ANC, became the first male Army nurse on October 6, 1955. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
There's Always Money: 1950
... around, though it has been Betty Ann's Dairy Freeze since 1955. It looks a little forlorn in the street view, which shows it closed ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/09/2018 - 1:19pm -

"Banana Burt and Lil at Buzzards Bay Dairy Queen, 1950." Brought to you courtesy of United Fruit. Photoprint by Drink a Banana Inc. View full size. Still ServingThis building is still around, though it has been Betty Ann's Dairy Freeze since 1955. It looks a little forlorn in the street view, which shows it closed for the winter, but during the season it's still a local favorite for burgers and soft serve ice cream. Banana BurtHe was evidently a bit of an entrepreneur. He also ran a motel in Bourne. Dredged up a memoryTill I saw this photo, I'd forgotten how some Dairy Queens and other summer ice cream places used waxed paper cups as outdoor decorations. I didn't live anywhere near Buzzard Bay, but I remember our local ice cream shop also hung cups outdoors on a gibbet-like support, as shown here. I also remember how those cups - - those which remained - - looked after being outdoors in the wind, sun, and rain - - yikes. I wonder whatever became of the giant bananas after the "Drink A Banana" campaign ended. (The Gallery, Bizarre, Eateries & Bars)
Paging Mrs. Calabash: 1968
... last performance was on the Jimmy Durante show in 1955 and she began having the heart attack that would take her life just a few ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/07/2018 - 6:25pm -

August 1968. Los Angeles. "Actor Jimmy Durante in his kitchen with corn flakes and dirty dishes on counter." 35mm negative from photos by Bob Lerner for the Look magazine assignment "Pinocchio Lives!" View full size. PerksNot the coffee, but the Corn Flakes. Jimmy probably got a free supply of those since he was a spokesman for Kellogg's for many years. "Keep plenty of Kellogg's Corn Flakes on hand, kids, and you'll never get caught short!" Coffee Pot's HotThe aroma and sound of percolating coffee fills his kitchen. Probably Maxwell House because "it's good to the last drop." Here it was Chock Full O' NutsJimmy Durante says: " New Instant Chock Full O'Nuts coffee has real coffee flavor and aroma believe me folks, I could smell it a mile away. It's not only better than any other instant it's better than most brands of regular coffee." Newspaper ad 1962: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/98600445/ A true classicAn old Vaudevillian much in the tradition of Ted Lewis, Durante played piano in some of the hottest jazz bands of the 1920's and he never lost his touch. Brazilian bombshell Carmen Miranda's last performance was on the Jimmy Durante show in 1955 and she began having the heart attack that would take her life just a few hours later during her performance, but like the trouper she was, she kept right on. Jimmy made a wonderful tribute to her before airing this segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL_HFa13CT4 The best to you each morningIt's gotta be Kellogg's Corn Flakes. I think YouTube has his old commercial where he's eating the corn flakes and everything around him is getting smaller and smaller. (Kitchens etc., LOOK, TV)
The Imperial Twins: 1959
... rather not look under the Imperial. On a happier note, a 1955 Chevrolet. View full size. Missouri is a good bet The Chevy in ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 06/23/2018 - 6:38pm -

My sister-in-law Gimi's maternal grandmother and her identical twin pose with a 1958 Imperial in this Kodacolor print from July 1959. That's all we know for sure, although Gimi believes this is in the Ozarks of Missouri. Other elements give rise to speculation: the right taillight assembly suggests a close encounter with some native plant life, perhaps on a narrow, winding road that brought us hither. The pointing finger I like to think indicates a voice exclaiming "Get those saddle shoes OFF the Imperial!" As for the other orphan footwear, I just want to say I'd rather not look under the Imperial. On a happier note, a 1955 Chevrolet. View full size. Missouri is a good betThe Chevy in back has a 1959 Missouri license plate. Imperial DutyWhen I was a kid, I worked summers and weekends at a motel whose owner drove a giant Imperial much like this one. Washing and waxing that boat was an all-Saturday job; but I still had to find time to mow the grass! Oh those wonderful tallightsChrysler folks nicknamed those taillamps "Sparrow Strainers". These might be referred to as "Shrub Strainers" though. [It was "Uncle" Tom McCahill, not Chrysler, who coined the term. - Dave] Uncle Tom McCahill!Thanks, Dave, for reminding us of this fine writer. He was the reason I subscribed to Mechanix Illustrated, and "Mail to McCahill" was the first thing I turned to when a new issue arrived. He could really turn a vivid phrase. Uncle Tom had a special place in my heart for disputing Ralph Nader's contention that the fun and handsome Corvairs were unsafe. If my 1965 Corvair, "Ol' Paint," was unsafe, it was due to its manic teenaged driver! Uncle TomThank you for reminding me of my old pal, Tom McCahill. As a young man intent on learning "everything" about automobiles, new and old, I turned to Roger Huntington for deep thinking and theory. But when it came to straight from the hip, no bull reporting, none but Uncle Tom was to be trusted. At least by me. If he said something wallowed in the turns or stopped like a mud flow, it was gospel. I never learned it all, but those two gave me a decent base for my automobile knowledge. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
Towers of the East: 1940
... Fair closed in 1940 but the Aquacade continued through 1955. Dance of Life / Path of Darkness The titles of the bas-reliefs got ... 
 
Posted by returntoBuddha - 05/04/2015 - 7:17pm -

Golden Gate International Exposition, Treasure Island, San Francisco, 1940. The Temple Compound and Towers of the East, designed by William G. Merchant. Between the Towers were two gold bas-reliefs, "Dance of Life" and "Path of Dark­ness." From a box of Kodachrome slides found at a flea market. View full size. Everything's Coming Up RosesBilly Rose's Aquacade was a major attraction at the 1939 NY World's Fair. The outdoor amphitheater had 11,000 seats. Appearing there was the swimmer Eleanor Holm, a star of the 1936 Olympics who he later married after he divorced, a then superstar, Fanny Brice. Other swimmers were Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Crabbe and Esther Williams. Rose was also a movie and stage producer, a lyricist, a night club operator (Times Square's "The Diamond Horseshoe") and a speed typewriting contest winner. The World's Fair closed in 1940 but the Aquacade continued through 1955. Dance of Life / Path of DarknessThe titles of the bas-reliefs got my attention, so I looked them up: What AUnique chapeau our determined young lady is wearing. Vestibular HatIndeed: wearing your heart on your sleeve is one thing, but wearing your inner ear on your head is quite another. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Newspaper Row: 1905
... Those Buildings? The World Building was demolished in 1955 for the expanded car ramp entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. The Tribune ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/22/2019 - 7:41pm -

New York circa 1905. "Newspaper Row -- City Hall Park." Headliners include the Tribune, Times and domed New York World (Pulitzer) buildings. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. DetailOf the architectural variety. Something I miss in today's metal and glass facades. There's plenty to interest the eye in those buildings. I'm not an architect, but I prefer the older buildings. Here in Boston, there are still a few by H H Richardson and his disciples. For what it's worth, I like the Tribune building the best. I would have loved to explore its upper floors and climb the tower. And What Happened to Those Buildings?The World Building was demolished in 1955 for the expanded car ramp entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. The Tribune Building was torn down in 1966 to build One Pace Plaza, the central building of the Pace University campus, as part of the urban renewal project that included the World Trade Center. After the New York Times relocated to Times Square in 1905, the former Times Building was renamed 41 Park Row and enlarged. Architect Robert Maynicke designed the alteration, which included the removal of the original mansard roof and the inclusion of two additional stories. Today, Pace University occupies the building. Multi-StoriedWhen this photo was taken, the New York Tribune Building (at center) had just been "supersized" to the height shown here; before 1903 it was merely 10 floors tall. It was more than doubled in height in 1903-1905, reusing architectural elements of the original structure -- like the entire tower. At the extreme right, the red-brick Potter Building of 1883-1886 still stands after being converted from offices to apartments. And I Raise Your BidSpeaking of enlarging the New York Tribune Building -- am I correct that in this 1905 photograph the World [Pultizer] Building is being enlarged? To me it looks as if the building is being nearly doubled in size on the back side. I cannot find a reference to a later addition … as if it matters now. But it makes me think that in 1905 there was competition afoot. LookoutsIt appears there are people at the top of the dome. If so, I'd imagine the view was worth the climb. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
The Big Apple: 1936
... selected to film his "The Great Locomotive Chase" in 1955. The little road also had a bit part in the 1951 film "I'd Climb The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/07/2018 - 10:14pm -

June 1936. "Apple monument at depot of Cornelia, Georgia." Medium format negative by Carl Mydans for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Check what's out backThe Southern Railway is blowing through town in the foreground. But behind the "deeepoh" is one of the most famous short line railroads in a state famous for its short lines, the beautiful Tallulah Falls Railway. One of their cabooses is just right of the big apple, and in the distance are two of their locomotives with one appearing to be missing its cab. The TF connected here with the outside world and ran north 58 mountainous miles to Franklin, NC. The TF is best remembered as the location Walt Disney selected to film his "The Great Locomotive Chase" in 1955. The little road also had a bit part in the 1951 film "I'd Climb The Highest Mountain". Movie parts and beautiful scenery don't pay the bills though; the TF Ry folded in 1961. It still exists!And you can find it by just Googling "The big red apple" Still there! TF still there, sortaPanning Vintagetv's Google view left will show TF caboose no.X-5 is standing behind the Cornelia station on former TF right of way. Nice. Home of the Big Red AppleBig Red Apple Monument (The Gallery, Agriculture, Carl Mydans, Railroads)
Gray Saturday: 1951
... right in the center of town. Wanamaker's was gone by 1955, but other department stores occupied its space for another 20 years. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/26/2013 - 2:09pm -

        As an alternative to Black Friday, we present Gray Saturday. More specifically, the first day of December 62 years ago: Dec. 1, 1951. "Shopping center, Great Neck, Long Island, New York. Wanamaker's." Large-format negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. Dr. FuselageThe next-to-the-last car on the right (is that a Hudson?) brought back memories of my father, who was perfectly content to forgo the shopping experience and sit in the car, listening to the radio. [It's a Nash. -tterrace] Beautiful CarsAll those beautiful cars, with their magnificent chrome bumpers, lined-up at the curb in front of the store. Garden of Great NeckJust over a year old in this picture, Garden of Great Neck was by some accounts the first suburban-style shopping plaza* in the New York metropolitan area. Definitions can be a bit fuzzy so it's hard to be certain. It's still a thriving center today, though of course it's been greatly renovated over the years. Great Neck is a very upscale community, and this center benefits from a prime location right in the center of town. Wanamaker's was gone by 1955, but other department stores occupied its space for another 20 years. Today there's a supermarket on the lower level of the space, and if I'm not mistaken a fitness center occupies the upper part. * shopping plaza is a much better term than that modern abomination "strip mall." Great Neck today has a large Jewish population and a large Iranian population. While that sounds like a recipe for World War III, by all accounts everyone gets along fine. Bathtub NashThe car to the left of the woody, to elaborate upon tterrace's identification. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gottscho-Schleisner, Stores & Markets)
Harris & Ewing: 1924
... bulk of which were donated to the Library of Congress in 1955. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 12:09pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1924. "Harris & Ewing. Exterior, new studio." The new offices of "America's studio beautiful" opened in November 1924 at the same F Street address as the previous building (whose ground-floor tenant, Lucio's jewelry store, was the scene of a robbery/arson/suicide-by-cyanide shortly before the building was remodeled). The basement storage vault was said to have held a million glass negatives, the bulk of which were donated to the Library of Congress in 1955. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. True CrimeWashington Post, May 26, 1924. OPTICIAN DIES WHEN HELD AS HE LEAVES BURNING GEM SHOP Police Say Berman Had No Right in Store; Suspect Robbery Aim EXPLOSION CALLS POLICE TO SCENE Doctor Discerned Walking About in Flames and Smoke; Had Office There. Dr. Lewis Berman, 36 years old, an optician, fell dead when placed under arrest early yesterday, a moment after he escaped from an explosion and fire which wrecked Lucio's jewelry store at 1313 F street NW. Policemen Davis and Helms, of the First precinct, were standing at Fourteenth and F streets, about five minutes after 3 when an explosion occurred and the plate glass window of the jewelry store was shattered. When they reached the store they found its exterior filled with flame and smoke through which they saw a man running back and forth. Davis called upon him to come out, but he was seen falling to the floor and crawling under a showcase. The policeman then brandished his revolver and threatened to fire, hoping to frighten the man into coming out. Firemen Smash in Door. A few moments later firemen smashed in the door with axes, and Dr. Berman ran out. As Policeman Davis arrested him, Dr. Berman told the officer, "I had a right to be in there." He repeated this several times, it is said, and then collapsed. When taken to Emergency hospital, he was pronounced dead. Dr. Berman until Wednesday, it is said, had offices in the rear of the jewelry store. On that day he had sold out his interest to Mrs. Margaret Perkinson, who conducted the jewelry business. Earl Perkinson, husband of the proprietor, was in the store until about 10:30 o'clock Saturday night. He placed diamonds and the receipts for two days' business in the safe, locked the store and left it. Dr. Berman, according to police, occasionally went into the store, through courtesy, and had left there about 7 o'clock. Later in the evening he registered at a Turkish bath, but did not occupy his room there, police say. The next event was the explosion. Police declare in their belief that an attempt was made to rob the store and a fire started to "cover up" the robbery. A duplicate key was found in Berman's pockets. He had no right to the key, police say. Wife Can't Believe It. When Mrs. Berman was informed of her husband's death by Mrs. Perkinson, she cried out, "Oh, I can't believe it, I can't believe it." At the hospital she said that her husband probably, in passing the store, had seen burglars there and had entered to rout them. Mrs. Berman has a daughter seven years old. The Berman residence is at the Home apartments, Seventh and K streets northwest. An inquest will be held at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon to determine the cause of Dr. Berman's death. His clothing had not been burned, and it is thought he died from inhaling smoke and flames. Washington Post, May 27, 1924. BERMAN A SUICIDE, JURY ASSERTS; GEM STORE SET ON FIRE Optician Took Large Dose of Cyanide Of Potassium, Chemist Finds. PACKAGE OF JEWELRY MOVED NEAR DOOR Wife Holds He Entered Shop to Get Eyeglasses Left There for Repair. A large dose of cyanide of potassium, self administered, caused the death of Dr. Lewis Berman, 36-year-old optician, who expired Sunday morning a moment after he had dashed out of the flame and smoke that enveloped Lucio's jewelry store, 1313 F street northwest. This was the verdict yesterday of a coroner's jury which brought out these additional declarations: The fire in Lucio's store was as was of incendiary origin. Dr. Berman, who until Wednesday had rented space in the store, had no right in the store at that time of the morning, nor had he been authorized to have the key found in a pocket of his clothes. The coroner's jury based its verdict of suicide on the testimony of Dr. S.C. Moton, assistant District chemist, who told of having found evidence is in the dead man's stomach of a large quantity of cyanide poisoning. Police last night advanced the theory that Dr. Berman swallowed the poison the moment after he saw Policeman Davis at the door. It was pointed out that cyanide is a quick acting poison, and in view of the quantity taken, Berman could not have taken it much sooner. None of the jewelry or other stock in the store was touched, so far as is known. A leather case left at the store by a Baltimore man, however, had been moved from a place behind the safe to a counter near the door. When it was placed behind the safe it was unwrapped. When found after the fire it was inclosed in newspapers and tied with heavy twine. The case contained watches and other jewelry. Mrs. Berman, widow of the optician, at the inquest said: "I believe he wanted to get a pair of glasses which had been left for repairs by Abe Friedenberg." Mr. Friedenberg, who lives at 3517 Fourteenth street northwest, concurred in this belief. He said that he had asked Dr. Berman to turn the glasses over to him before Sunday so that he would have them to read the Sunday newspapers. Following the inquest yesterday, Dr. Berman's body was sent to Baltimore for burial. America's Studio Beautiful +86Below is the identical view taken in April of 2010. However, the occupant now deals in food instead of film. Used to work in the buildingI worked in the building for 3 years. The 2nd - 4th floor of both buildings are now office space. When the previous tenant moved into 1313 F in the later 90s, they found a bunch of old negatives that belonged to Harris & Ewing. [And did what with them?? - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Stores & Markets)
The Senator: 1929
... Schedule this Here's the schedule for The Senator from 1955: (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Politics, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/20/2013 - 8:53pm -

UPDATE: The photo now has a caption. October 1, 1929. The new crack train from Washington to Boston was inspected today by members of the Massachusetts State Society. Harry Carr of the Pennsylvania R.R. was host. Left to right: Wm. T. Simpson, Treasurer; Frank E. Hicks, Vice Pres.; Mrs. Proctor L. Daugherty; Geo. R. Farnum, Pres. and Assistant Attorney General of the United States; Geo. A. Hornan, Secretary; and Chas. A. Bauman. Circa 1929 at Washington's Union Station, it's the Senator. Which senator, maybe someone out there knows. Unlabeled Harris & Ewing glass plate. View full size. All AboardThe Senator is the train, if my recollection of early naming trends is correct. Nowadays it would be The Lobbyist. Washington-Boston ExpressThe Pennsylvania Railroad operated The Senator between Boston and New York City, with the New Haven taking over for the New York-Boston leg of the run. The train lasted well into the Amtrak era. PRR PRR also ran The Congressional from Wash DC to NY and Boston, Lionel model trains made a model of the train with a GG1 loco and 4 passenger cars, I've always wanted that set. KeystoneIndeed, Pennsylvania being the Keystone State, the shape of the sign is suggestive of the Pennsylvania Railroad. I had the pleasure of riding the Senator a few times in 1972 and 1973 on my way home from Philadelphia, where I was going to college, to the nearest railroad station to my home, New Brunswick, NJ. Alas, the express train didn't stop at New Brunswick so I had to get off at Trenton. I could only enjoy the spacious, elegant seating and super-smooth ride for a small part of my journey. Trains used for long-distance travel were extremely civilized even as late as this. The Senator certainly had a dining car -- on one of my trips I looked into it -- but eating on board was beyond the means of a student. Schedule thisHere's the schedule for The Senator from 1955: (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Politics, Railroads)
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