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Eastern High: 1905
... individual blackout curtains for each pane of the window in order to adjust the light. Football Trophies If he is proudly ... Wow. Now I know what to submit to my mother-in-law for my Christmas knitting wish list. Tthose are some excellent looking sweaters. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/04/2012 - 4:28am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1905. "Eastern High School football team." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative, Library of Congress. View full size. Must be a misprintIt's the drama club or chess team. If it were the football team, we'd see tribal tattoos, piercings, thuggish scowls, baggy t-shirts and shorts. The Light Blue & WhiteThis photo ran in the Washington Post on June 10, 1906 as part of a two page spread of class and team photos. Graduation exercises that year were scheduled on June 20th. Eastern High's Captain Leader for Football Team Will Not Be Elected at Present Eastern will be the last of the high schools to elect a captain. As there is some uncertainty as to the returning of one of the players, it has been decided to wait some time before choosing a leader for next season. The Capitol Hill eleven will lose heavily from graduation, but it is thought that from the regulars left over from this fall will be a strong nucleus to build a team to better the record made by the light Blue and White during the season just closed. Capt. Field, whose work marked him as one of the starts of the High School League, will be missing, and to find some one to fill his old position will be one of the hardest tasks next year. The veterans who will be eligible to play next fall are Farmer, Titus, Pyles, Palmer, Tewksberry, Brown, Dodd, the Richardson brothers, Martin and Jones. During the season just closed Eastern was greatly handicapped by constant changes, no less than five coaches having charge of the players at different times, but next season with a more settled policy, it is expected that a stronger aggregation will be developed. Washington Post, Dec 4, 1905 Northern ExposureA gorgeous portrait that reveals the natural light techniques of the studio photographer at the time. A pulley system operating individual blackout curtains for each pane of the window in order to adjust the light. Football TrophiesIf he is proudly displaying two trophy livers knocked out of opponents, like scalps on a warrior's belt, that tall guy was one heck of a hard hitting football player. Too bad I can't sign him for my Detroit Lions. BallerinasThe two guys in front look more like ballerinas than football players. It seems that they are not wearing numbers on their uniforms yet. Years later when they begin to, they'll be numbered consecutively 1 through 17, as we learned in a previous Shorpy history lesson on glass. Stitch & TimeWow. Now I know what to submit to my mother-in-law for my Christmas knitting wish list. Tthose are some excellent looking sweaters. Questions: I have noticed that sometimes on these portraits there might be one or two blurred faces, does anyone know what the exposure time for a photo like this might have been? Natural light with flash powder? Would glass negatives have had a ASA rating at that time? [The ASA (American Standards Association) didn't exist in 1905. - Dave] The LookI used to think that people of earlier generations had radically different faces from today's people. but now I'm not so sure. Give those young men a change of clothes and a few tats and piercings, and they would blend right in. Shorpe DiemAnyone else thinking of the movie "Dead Poets Society"? They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - -- Carpe -- hear it? -- Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary. GleamThat guy in the second row, second from the left, sure has a gleam in his eye! I'll bet he liked the girls, and vice-versa! (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Sports)
Parlor Garden: 1937
... in tin cans outside the curtains? And can identify a Christmas cactus, mother in law tongue and a poor ivy in the window? There's a lily but I can't identify it...amaryllis ? Curtains ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/15/2015 - 3:21pm -

May 1937. "Mrs. Herman Perry in her home at Mansfield, Michigan. She is the wife of an old-time iron miner who worked in the mines before they were abandoned." Photo by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Remembrance Card?I'm guessing that is a remembrance card under the baby photo on the wall. Re: The same age?!I, too, was amazed to see that this old woman with the bun and thick ankles and granny shoes is the same age as my dear wife. When I pointed this out to her, I was lucky to escape with just a mild chiding. Patterns Galore!Patterns Galore! Yet, we imagine these old photos depict a less complicated time. Interior DesignI think she would have gotten along very well with the Tuttles of Minnesota. Yoopers are tough!Marie Perry died in 1955. She has a link on Findagrave. There's a link on there to her husband, Herman, who lived to age 90. Tomato plants?Are those tomato plants in tin cans outside the curtains? And can identify a Christmas cactus, mother in law tongue and a poor ivy in the window? There's a lily but I can't identify it...amaryllis ? CurtainsWhat my cats would do to those curtains. An excellent homemakerEverything neatly in place, and what a green thumb she has. The same age?!This woman in the picture and I are roughly the same age now( but I would've' sworn she was in her mid-late sixties here) I have had the same bafflement in looking at old pictures of my grandmother in the same time era (late 30's) when she was even younger than me-and she also looked about 10 years older! (those buns,frumpy dresses and odd shoes REALLY didn't help, sorry ladies) Grannies Didn't Wear Spike HeelsMy long-departed grandmother wore such shoes for at least the 30 years I knew her. Her preferred brand was Natural Bridge, which presumably afforded good arch support. Standing 5'10" and weighing in at around 210 lbs., she was obviously not a candidate for platform wedgies. Under today's relaxed standards, women of a certain age seem to favor something by Reebok or Nike with their mall-walker suits. Certainly, even fashion doyennes among the over-60 crowd seem to abjure Jimmy Choos. Such informality would not have done for Granny, however. She belonged to the generation that donned gloves, hat, and furs to go out for the mail. Home EntertainmentNearly hidden behind the potted plant is a brand new 1937 model year Zenith 5-S-127 radio. These were about $40 new, but due to their attractive cabinets and big black dial, are considerably more valuable today. Radio valueI was surprised to find that by Purchasing Power, or Standard of Living adjustment, $40 in 1937 would be worth $649 in 2014, while one like this recently sold on eBay for $650. Pretty well at par! (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
Downtown: 1942
... the heat of the day The woman looking out her 3rd floor window in the heat of a New York City summer is probably seeking a breath of ... Said Mother McG to her gullible son The first Christmas Eve after this was torn down the neighbors sang a song about it along ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/22/2013 - 10:43am -

September 1942. "New York. Looking downtown from the Third Avenue elevated railway in the 'Fifties'." A platform on the long-vanished El. Medium format nitrate negative by Marjory Collins for the Office of War Information. View full size. In the heat of the dayThe woman looking out her 3rd floor window in the heat of a New York City summer is probably seeking a breath of fresh air. As a train comes into the station every 5 or 10 minutes or so she may close the window because the noise was deafening. "Hazy lazy crazy days of summer"Love this shot of the train headed out with the framing of the two tallest buildings at the time, Empire State and Chrysler. Said Mother McG to her gullible sonThe first Christmas Eve after this was torn down the neighbors sang a song about it along Third Avenue. Another StunnerThere are aspects of this photo that remind me of the work by David Plowden. 67th StreetThis view is not from the "fifties," it is from the 67th Street station of the Third Avenue El. The mansard roofed building on the left just south of the platform is the "Car Barn" of the Third Avenue Railway company which ran most of the streetcars in Manhattan at the time, which was not affiliated with the Third Avenue El. Different Town: 2013We still have the "L" in Chicago. And our weather matched the 1942 Shorpy photo this Memorial Day weekend. SkylineActually, I think we can see the three tallest buildings at the time. Isn't that 40 Wall Street way off in the distance (just to the right of the right hand pillar)? I think the other buildings that we can see in silhouette include the Hemsley Building, the Waldorf Astoria and the RCA Victor (later General Electric) Building. The distant one"Isn't that 40 Wall Street way off in the distance (just to the right of the right hand pillar)?" Turns out a straight line down 3rd Ave passes just east of 70 Pine (60 Wall), so that must be the distant building. Our view of 40 Wall is blocked by the nearer building. (The Gallery, Marjory Collins, NYC, Railroads)
Santa Claus Time: 1921
Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "McHugh & Lawson window." This holiday season, the high-tech must-haves are "talking machines" ... Time" is, the placard says, "A Descriptive Word Roll of Christmas for Young and Old." National Photo Co. Collection glass negative. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 11:53pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "McHugh & Lawson window." This holiday season, the high-tech must-haves are "talking machines" and player pianos. Nestled on snow of cotton batting, a display of phonograph records and player-piano rolls. "Santa Claus Time" is, the placard says, "A Descriptive Word Roll of Christmas for Young and Old." National Photo Co. Collection glass negative. View full size. Aeolian Model HThe phonograph in the window display is an Aeolian Vocalion Model H, which sold for $150 at the time. Aeolian was a piano manufacturer that entered the phonograph market in 1915 upon the expiration of the Victor Talking Machine patents. The Aeolian-Vocalion phonograph (don't call it a Victrola, or the trademark police will be after you) was well made and had interesting features including a cable-operated remote control for the volume, but the brand never became very popular. This was a little surprising considering Aeolian's success with its Pianola player piano and pipe organs. It is interesting that this shop is selling the Aeolian-Vocalion phonograph and Vocalion records (in the snow drift), but does not appear to sell Aeolian pianos according to the sign on the window. The card partially visible to the left of the phonograph appears to be describing the latest "Edison Records", so the shop dealt in the products from many manufacturers. Crank 'er up!My brother bought one of those Victrolas for $10 in 1968 and sold it for $100 in 1978. It came with a full rack of records, including "Oh, Dem Golden Slippers," "Roamin' in the Gloaming" and several from a vocalist whose name I misheard as "Al McGluck". I could never figure out why his voice was so high. Truth in AdvertisingThe sign says QRS player rolls are better. I have about sixty or so of them - many from around this time and some newer - but the QRS rolls still play like a charm. Vocalion 78sI've got several dozen of those 20s era Vocalion 78s in my collection, including the original version of "Man of Constant Sorrow" by Emry Arthur. They've all held up quite well over the years and sound incredible considering they're almost 100 years old now. (The Gallery, Christmas, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
On-Ramp: 1963
... California, in a Kodachrome slide I shot through the back window of our 1956 Rambler station wagon in January 1963. Corte Madera is the ... Mount Tamalpais. Closer and to the left, Corte Madera's "Christmas Tree Hill" is so-named from the practice, in days of yore, of ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 11/23/2013 - 3:36pm -

The southbound on-ramp to U.S. 101 in Corte Madera, California, in a Kodachrome slide I shot through the back window of our 1956 Rambler station wagon in January 1963. Corte Madera is the "twin city" of my home town, Idyllic™ Larkspur. Rising up in the distance is Marin County's iconic symbol, Mount Tamalpais. Closer and to the left, Corte Madera's "Christmas Tree Hill" is so-named from the practice, in days of yore, of homeowners banding together to illuminate their houses to produce an outline of a Christmas tree when viewed from the distance. To the right, Larkspur's Little and Big King Mountains. Yes, we call hills "mountains" in Marin County. Fortunately, they're protected from development by open-space regulations, and Mt. Tam by state park and Marin Municipal Water District ownership. View full size. + 50The Motel with the Spanish Tile roof is still there as a Budget Inn. [In those days it was called the Meadowsweet Motel. -tterrace] View Larger Map SimcaThe car over at the left, along the frontage road, looks to be a c1955 Simca Aronde. You can vaguely make out the yellow 1956-63 license plate on the front. Black plates with yellow characters were issued in '63. Home sweet homeThanks for posting this wonderful image. I've lived in Corte Madera for the past 35 years or so, and it was much the same then as in 1963. But in the intervening years a lot has changed. I can well remember when there were no stoplights between my house and Highway 101. Now there are four. EDIT: I tried to match a Google street view but couldn't line it up exactly. But one thing does still remain: the Union 76 gas station is still on the same corner. About the mountainI got on Google Earth (as I often do to compare today's landscapes with those in the old photos) after I saw Vintagetvs' post. The reason for this was I am puzzled as to why the mountains (we call them hills in WV) appear to be much farther away in the current views than they do in tterrace's picture. I even moved in a little closer, keeping the tile-roofed building in view. Then I "drove" about a mile or two closer and still those hills look farther away. Did it have to do with the lens you used that day or is there another explanation? I gots to know, it's bugging me, man. [Wide-angle lenses, such as those used in the Google street view cameras, produce extension distortion, making close objects appear larger and distant objects smaller in comparison to lenses of normal focal length, such as the one in the Kodak Retinette 1A I used for my shot. Telephoto lenses produce the opposite effect, compression distortion, often called foreshortening. -tterrace] Coming soon to a gas station near you I guess Standard became Chevron. [At this time in California, company-owned stations were branded as "Standard" and independently-owned stations as "Chevron." The station we used a couple miles away in Larkspur was Cliff Archer's Chevron, for example. -tterrace] Shorpy ModsJames, the moderation is probably a key to the longevity and success of Shorpy.com. There are many forums on the Web that I've enjoyed until they degenerated into a political or otherwise contentious morass. I've had comments that were submitted but not posted, and that isn't something to stew over; one must respect the moderators and the decisions they make. They have a basis for what they do. And I, for one, am interested in the Larkspur photos and history. It somehow reminds me of where I grew up. Like Larkspur, Naples, Florida, had changed much since the 1960s. So please enjoy Shorpy.com for what it is: One of the most interesting and best-moderated sites on the Web! Just my two cents-- --Jim Why?I am a new commenter to Shorpy and I don't imagine you will publish this comment because it is apparent that the comments are tightly moderated and I will be challenging accepted orthodoxy. But here goes. As of this time of writing (early afternoon on Sunday), it has been 24 hours since the last of many fine reflections on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK. Why was this stream cut off? So we could delve back into the childhood minutiae of tterrace in Larkspur? Really, what is more important on Shorpy: the collective response of its readership to a mythic event in the nation's history, or the distinction between a Chevron and a Standard gas station? [I'm not sure what you mean by "cut off." People are still leaving comments for the Kennedy post. Which is separate from this post. Two entirely different streams, flowing hundreds of miles apart. - Dave] I Used To Work There!That Union 76 gas station was owned then by John Friend. When I returned from Vietnam in '66 I worked there over the summer. John's first assignment for me when I arrived was going to fetch him his six pack of breakfast. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
Market Day: 1905
... plants, fern and palm and all sorts of gay blossomings for window, garden or lawn. Mingled with the scent of flowers comes the ... season and cranberries flaunt their exquisite tints like Christmas berries stripped from a holly bush. (The Gallery, Baltimore, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/31/2013 - 12:18pm -

Baltimore, Maryland, circa 1905. "Lexington Market." Yes, they have bananas. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Bad ScanThis is clearly a bad scan of a relatively sharp photograph. Too bad, because there's a lot going on here. [The scan is fine. The camera was moved during the exposure. If the problem was with the scan, the dust specks and writing on the negative would also be doubled. And, technically speaking, these negatives are not "scanned" -- they're imaged in one big data-gulp. - Dave] Wow!This is one of the earliest 3D images I have seen! WWooww!!For the first time, I wish I hadn't viewed full sized! I need a little tonic for this double vision! Earthquake handsLooks like every single part of the photo has slightly doubled image. It's broad daylight and no sign of ghosts for long exposure. Camera shake? Before Polock Johnny'sWowzers. Lexington Market is still there in a newer (urban redevelopment?) building. Still lots of fun to stop there when attending an O's game. And get a "Super Polock" at Polock Johnny's, one great Polish sausage! SeasickI pity the person who scanned that image. And the person who kicked the tripod when the image was being made. Citrus Pyramids Baltimore Sun, June 2, 1907. Lexington Market Has World-Wide Fame … There is no portion of Lexington Market that is not a scene of color and form to delight the soul of an artist. The flower and fruit stands that begin long before the market proper is reached are an invitation in themselves whose allurement cannot be escaped. At present season one threads his way marketward through veritable hedgerows of daises that can be bought for a song. Interspersed with their golden eyes and white petals are fragrant clusters of pink and purple sweetpeas, and back of these again are potted plants, fern and palm and all sorts of gay blossomings for window, garden or lawn. Mingled with the scent of flowers comes the fragrance of tropical fruits—oranges piled high in golden pyramids, grapefruit in paler tints, the ruddy tones of pineapples from overseas and whole harvests of pungent lemons. The belated apple and forward peach unite the limits of the fruit season and cranberries flaunt their exquisite tints like Christmas berries stripped from a holly bush. (The Gallery, Baltimore, DPC, Stores & Markets)
Boy Toys: 1910
"Boy looking at Xmas toys in shop window" in New York circa 1910. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain ... was to keep people from sitting there. (The Gallery, Christmas, G.G. Bain, Kids, NYC, Stores & Markets) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 10:10am -

"Boy looking at Xmas toys in shop window" in New York circa 1910. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. ToysWhat a handsome kid. Ouch!Look at those pointy things on the windowsill. I guess that was to keep people from sitting there. (The Gallery, Christmas, G.G. Bain, Kids, NYC, Stores & Markets)
God Bless America: 1941
January 1941. "Window in home of unemployed steelworker. Ambridge, Pennsylvania." ... a nice clivia being nurtured through the winter on the window sill. The leaf tips are so pointy because the brown parts were scissored ... like a starter cutting from an epiphyllum, probably a Christmas or Easter cactus, and a longtime favorite of cold-climate indoor ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2012 - 2:23pm -

January 1941. "Window in home of unemployed steelworker. Ambridge, Pennsylvania." Medium-format negative by John Vachon. View full size. HouseplantsThat looks like a nice clivia being nurtured through the winter on the window sill. The leaf tips are so pointy because the brown parts were scissored off to keep the plant looking good. The lumpy little thing in the small pot to its right is looks like a starter cutting from an epiphyllum, probably a Christmas or Easter cactus, and a longtime favorite of cold-climate indoor gardeners. ConfidenceI admire the "God Bless America" sign in the window despite his employment status at the time. Faith in his Country and in the Future. We need more of that can do attitude today. Rough times, yes, but this is America! Nothing is impossible! Patriot GamesI remember the door of my father's laundry store had, what must have been, a holographic banner with an American flag in the center and when you looked toward the left a picture of General Eisenhower appeared and to the right, one of General MacArthur. Unemployed to Overemployed in 12 monthsJust think... if this is January 1941, this guy is about to go from unemployed to working 12 hour shifts seven days a week for three years in the next 12 months. WOW. Numerous NumeralsI wonder what the house number was. (The Gallery, Ambridge, John Vachon)
Pantry Patrol: 1943
... children throwing the detested pudding out of the nursery window. I believe they eventually met their comeuppance when the junket hit ... copy of the Junket Flibbity Jibbit book. I think it was a Christmas promo or something. The artwork in it fascinated me as a kid: ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/03/2016 - 4:34pm -

June 1943. New Britain, Connecticut. "A child care center opened September 15, 1942, for 30 children, ages 2 through 5, of mothers engaged in war industry. The hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., six days per week. Miss Machmer and the dietitian checking the amount of food used during the month and making a general inventory of all supplies on hand." Medium format nitrate negative by Gordon Parks for the Office of War Information. View full size. Re: Flibbity Jibbit by ZenjiveI'm 76 and ate lots of junket in my youth but never saw this book before. I found the artwork you mentioned to look similar to a cross between the (Rice Krispies) Snap, Crackle and Pop characters and the very old Walt Disney art. On Shorpy, we definitely do learn something new every day. Thank you for sharing. Not universally popular...I remember this story as a child. It involved two frightfully privileged children throwing the detested pudding out of the nursery window. I believe they eventually met their comeuppance when the junket hit one of the outdoor staff. NutsThe large glass bottle appears to hold walnuts. WowMy Mom worked in Woolworths when I was a kid, the lunch counter served Junket Rennet Custard, back then the boxes had Baseball coins in them, She brought them home and I had hundreds of them, of course they're long gone now. Why would you juice a tomato?Hurff Tomato Juice is named for the sound I make right after I drink it. Flibbity JibbitMy father still has a copy of the Junket Flibbity Jibbit book. I think it was a Christmas promo or something. The artwork in it fascinated me as a kid: http://www.junketdesserts.com/flibbityjibbit.aspx Junket DreamsDuring my 50s childhood Junket was like the Brand-X dessert in place of Jell-O. Its various flavors came packaged in small Jello-sized boxes and, once made, resulted in something that had a consistency similar to Jell-O but opaque. Sort of like plaster but wiggly. The flavor was OK but not as intense as Jello-O's. For a kid, it was better than nothing. Interesting obit of her husbandhttp://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/06/us/eugene-fubini-84-helped-jam-nazi-ra... Must be the dessert closetI had forgotten all about the existence of Junket Rennet powder that my mom used often to make various custards of all flavors. Haven't had any of it in over 60 yrs. either but it was a mild, soft easy-to-digest supposedly healthy dessert. My ill grandfather had been told by his doctor it was nourishing so we all had to eat it. My favorite flavor was maple and I see on the top shelf a full gallon jar of walnut halves, a flavor very popular in New England. This picture also shows tapioca, another frequent old time dessert, and lots of canned fruits. Pudding and Jello was served much more often than it is today. Tomato juice on the other hand was served as an appetizer before a meal. I believe most day care centers today serve the kids only processed, prepared, prepackaged individual servings of everything. (The Gallery, Gordon Parks, Kids, WW2)
Fare Maiden: 1943
... a fill in or inserted into a NY Yankee's rain delay. On Christmas Day after their Yule Log burns out, they'll have a Marathon of these ... outfit, not unlike Hattie's. Destination From the window route sign, it appears that this streetcar is from the 14th Street line, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/16/2014 - 7:24pm -

June 1943. Washington, D.C. "Hattie B. Sheehan, a streetcar conductor for the Capital Transit Company." And if all you have is bills, no problem. Photo by Esther Bubley for the Office of War Information. View full size. Change?Pennies, Nickels, Dimes, Quarters ... and what? [Half dollars. Or not; see comment above. -tterrace] Streetcar Nellie Washington Post, October 10, 1943. Hillbilly Songs of Motorwomen Resound Through Car Barns Providing leisure-hour entertainment for their fellow “motormen” at their lounge opposite the carbarn at 14th and Decatur sts. nw., are four women operators of the Capital Transit Co., all of them girls from the hills who break into rollicking folk tunes when the day’s streetcar run is ended. Mrs. Hattie Sheehan, known to her friends as “Streetcar Nellie” is a smiling 30-year-old operator, who breaks into songs learned back home in Harrisonburg, Va. Although “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad” is not confined to the mountains, it is a favorite with Mrs. Sheehan who explained yesterday that “it was a good theme song for us.” … Non Cents!There were no tubes for cents or half dollars on those belt changers as a general rule. That changer most likely had 2 tubes for quarters, 2 tubes for dimes and 1 tube for nickels or 2 for nickels and 1 for dimes. Also, Gunther's beer was brewed in Baltimore City, MD. [You're right about the half dollars. She has a Johnson Universal Changer, which could accommodate five tubes in any combination, though according to the original patent not halves: "The coins according to their particular denominations are deposited in the coin tube elements... element 1 being designed for dimes, the element 2, for pennies, the elements 3 and 4 for nickels and the element 5 for quarters. Of course, any number of elements of a particular denomination of coins may be used..." -tterrace] Glen EchoThe amusement park was still a popular streetcar destination in 1943. Hattie probably kicked up her heels at the Spanish Ballroom on more than one occasion. Don't forget to buy tokensTwin City Lines Minneapolis/St. Paul changers had pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and a double height section that stuck out above the top for tokens. More on HattieAt age 18, Hattie Lucas Bennett married Emory P. Sheehan in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in their home county of Rockingham. By the 1940 census they were still living outside Harrisonburg, with Emory working as a bookkeeper and Hattie in a shoe factory. According to records of Woodbine Cemetery in Harrisonburg, Emory died April 9, 1945, when he was about 44. She lived until July 2, 2000. Her brief obituary in the Harrisonburg Daily News Record the following day notes that "she was a bus and streetcar driver for D.C. Transit during World War II." How Sweet It IsAs attractive as Ms Sheehan is, she brings back memories of the TV show "The Honeymooners". It starred, as Brooklyn's most famous Bus Driver, Ralph Kramden, brought to life in hysterical performances by Jackie Gleason. The sitcom played from 1951 through 1955, initially on the DuMont network and later on CBS. The cast included Art Carney as Kramden's Sewer working Buddy, Audrey Meadows as Gleason's gutsy wife and Joyce Randolph as Mrs Norton. A local TV station WPIX will show some of the Honeymooner episodes every so often as a fill in or inserted into a NY Yankee's rain delay. On Christmas Day after their Yule Log burns out, they'll have a Marathon of these shows. As old as they are they're still very funny. Attached is an ad for a Ralph Kramden children outfit, not unlike Hattie's. DestinationFrom the window route sign, it appears that this streetcar is from the 14th Street line, Route 50 (Short or cutback service) from the Bureau of Engraving to 14th & Decatur Street. (The Gallery, D.C., Esther Bubley, Streetcars)
Oakland Tribune: 1920
... eyes working the machine on the threaded stand; the sole Christmas decoration (the wreath in the far window). All the men are lounging or motionless, while all the women are busy ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/25/2016 - 8:02pm -

Oakland, California, circa 1920. "Offices of the Oakland Tribune." The premises of the late lamented newspaper (1874-2016) are now home to a bar, the Tribune Tavern. 8x10 glass negative by the Cheney Photo Advertising Co. View full size. Dipso-JournalismNot to perpetuate what is probably an urban myth, but I wonder how many years it will take for the Tribune Tavern to dispense as much alcohol as was consumed just during work hours by the stalwart hacks of this great paper during its run? So much to seeSo many intriguing items in this lovely chamber: the designs on the hanging lamps; the ornamentation visible as the eye rises up the columns and walls toward the ceiling; the man in the fedora leaning on the marble counter; the pigeon holes under the counter; the bald man, slightly blurry, looking forlorn, staring at the camera; the heavy book in front of him; the grim woman with downcast eyes working the machine on the threaded stand; the sole Christmas decoration (the wreath in the far window). All the men are lounging or motionless, while all the women are busy and working. What kind of machine is that?The lady in the aisle: is that an early adding machine or a ticker tape machine? I know that smart-rear ends Shorpians will be able to enlighten me. [An adding machine, possibly this Burroughs. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Christmas, The Office)
Sunday Dinner: 1942
... in large families, particularly at Thanksgiving and Christmas, was graduation from the "kids' table" to the adult one. I think I ... at that time, but the young lady by the extreme right window has hair waves reminiscent of a surfing utopia. Still, we all enjoy ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/18/2017 - 3:51pm -

May 1942. "Southington, Connecticut. The family of Ralph Hurlbut. A Sunday dinner honoring Corporal Robert Hurlbut, twenty-one, home on his first furlough from the Army. All of the Hurlbuts are on hand for the occasion, including the married and grandchildren. Corporal Robert is not the only Hurlbut serving his country. The elder Hurlbut (far left) works in a defense plant and Mrs. Hurlbut and all of the children old enough are enrolled in various American voluntary services." Photo by Fenno Jacobs, Office of War Information. View full size. Rampant discrimination or refuge from scrutiny?One of the most eagerly awaited promotions in large families, particularly at Thanksgiving and Christmas, was graduation from the "kids' table" to the adult one. I think I see the former in the corner (unless they're holding their plates on their laps). The baby, of course, is too busy testing the Law of Gravity with various food morsels to care about seating arrangements. On those rare occasions when this only child found himself in similar circumstances, I actually preferred the kids' table, where no one said "My, how you've grown" or asked "How's school?" Dry ConversationI notice there is not a single beverage visible on this dining table. This brought to mind a story from a Connecticut friend regarding his grandmother forbidding anything to drink while eating a meal at her house. She said it would "wash down the food" and apparently ruin the experience. Eat like a horseA wise elderly gentleman I used to know said is is unhealthy to alternate eating and drinking. He said to watch a horse. They eat their food then they drink. How a horse would know how to eat is beyond me, but the title seems fitting. Baby discrimination and family featuresThis is a common situation with large family dinners when there is no way for everyone to sit at the one main table and some will invariably have to be isolated like the couple between the windows. One wonders if the banished baby with everybody's back to him (or her) is puzzled by the fact that a similar age baby gets a prime spot at the center of the crowd facing all, while he sees only backs. Also the Hurlbuts have inherited some genetic resemblances, especially the Corporal and his obvious brother sitting behind him, both with the Tyrone Power eyebrows. The fact that most of the females have sausage curls may have been the style at that time, but the young lady by the extreme right window has hair waves reminiscent of a surfing utopia. Still, we all enjoy seeing families sharing a festive meal together in peace. Bless them all. Dry, indeed!Bunky, your friend's recommendation tallies with my own family experience. I can't tell you how many times I requested a drink of water, during childhood meals, and was refused. "You'll just guzzle water and not eat!" was the inevitable reply, even when I was a young adult who could be presumed to "drink responsibly." Swallowing dry food without benefit of water was no mean feat. I notice how the baby is left to his own devices in his highchair. In our family, the baby was usually the center of attention at meals. My siblings would never have put up with being set behind everyone else, away from adult adoration. The young fellow here is clearly enjoying his independence and his food. The AngelusThe print on the wall behind the diners no doubt expresses the prayers of our nation for the safety of our troops and the rapid end of hostilities. I saw this kind of print often on walls during my childhood in the 1940s. (The Gallery, Fenno Jacobs, WW2)
Auld Lang Syne: 1918
... 5 o'clock position from the man standing by the leftmost window looks (to me) like a young Burt Lancaster. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! ... much to zapruder here over and over... (The Gallery, Christmas, D.C., Natl Photo, New Year, WWI) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/31/2015 - 11:24pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1918. "Service club -- couples dancing." And a Happy New Year from Shorpy! National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Aye EyeA couple of the gentlemen had their eyes closed... and retouched to sort of seem open? Either way, there's not one face in the entire crowd that isn't "interesting." Usually there's one who'd be considered attractive by today's standards but they're all full of character. [It's that old Shorpy favorite: flash-powder eye; the lens was open long enough to catch the eyes both open as well as shut when they blinked at the flash. Result: eyeballs superimposed on eyelids. -tterrace] Happy New Year!First things first: wishing a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year to all my fellow Shorpyites out there! I have learned so, so much about people, automobiles, trains, etc. since I started reading this website; being a native New Yorker, photos of NYC are especially endearing. And my fellow commenters are incredibly intelligent: their in-depth knowledge of arcane subjects is astounding. BTW: the soldier at about the 5 o'clock position from the man standing by the leftmost window looks (to me) like a young Burt Lancaster. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Happy 'Nother OneHey, isn't that one of the photos on the wall in 'The Shining'? TraditionI vote this photo become a new annual re-post a la Office Xmas Party 1925. So much to zapruder here over and over... (The Gallery, Christmas, D.C., Natl Photo, New Year, WWI)
Caroling Cousins
... playing the piano. I also see Grandma reflected in the window. My Dad was the photographer. Singing carols at the farm house was a ... family gathering and welded for all time the emotions of Christmas to Christmas music for me. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery) ... 
 
Posted by bhappel - 02/03/2022 - 7:46am -

1961 (approx) Brownsburg, Indiana at our ancestral farm house. I'm the boy in the sweater. My sister is to my left and three of our cousins are pictured along with their mother playing the piano. I also see Grandma reflected in the window. My Dad was the photographer. Singing carols at the farm house was a highlight of the holiday family gathering and welded for all time the emotions of Christmas to Christmas music for me. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
And Now a Word from Santa
... my mother's family gathered at the farm house to celebrate Christmas Eve. For a brief few years Santa arrived during our party to ... Santa nearly scared the life out of me by tapping on a window shortly after we arrived home from grandma's house. I screamed and burst ... 
 
Posted by bhappel - 12/26/2015 - 1:46pm -

This picture is from the early 1960s. Every year my mother's family gathered at the farm house to celebrate Christmas Eve. For a brief few years Santa arrived during our party to distribute gifts. I was young enough and excited enough not to notice the absence of my Uncle Tommy during Santa's visit. As Tommy's boys became old enough to be aware of his absence, Santa stopped coming to the party. Uncle Tommy was reasonably serious and reserved healthcare professional, so it is fun to see him hamming it up, giving us all a thrill for Christmas. View full size. Relative SantaIn my house, we celebrated Christmas Eve like the Swedes (because we were). No one ever dressed up as the Swedish Santa, Tomte, but my grandfather for a few years used to excuse himself during dinner, and while he was gone, a mysterious pile of packages appeared on the back porch. Many years later during a snowstorm, there was a knock at the door. There was Santa needing to use the phone because his "sleigh" was stuck in the snow. Thanks for the good memories and for all you do at Shorpy. I look forward to viewing the latest every day. Santa's VisitsI remember the house and visiting family but I do not remember Santa visiting! The house is still there and will always be "Home Place" to me! Thanks Cuz. Sure looks familiarOn a Christmas Eve when I was about seven or eight, Santa nearly scared the life out of me by tapping on a window shortly after we arrived home from grandma's house. I screamed and burst into tears which only stopped after he came inside and started pulling toys from his large white bag. It was Uncle Wayne behind the beard and, although I didn't immediately figure it out, a couple of things did seem suspicious. One was the request for a kiss on the cheek (an Uncle Wayne trademark) before he left and the other was his leaving the empty bag behind. I later learned it was one of Mom's sheets she had sewn into a bag and which, after she secretly removed the stitches, I probably slept on many times in the coming years. Height problemsWhen we got together for family visits my Mother always took the pictures. This was strange as she always took pictures at eye level and she was 4'10". I now look at entire albums, recognizing aunts, uncles and cousins by their clothes and body shape since they are all headless. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
The Patio: c. 1957
... I think. The screen door leads to the living room. The window to the left of the screen door opens onto the dining room, where my family was having their Christmas dinner. View full size. Tilt lens effect The very ... 
 
Posted by Mvsman - 01/13/2011 - 11:01am -

This is our backyard and patio in beautiful West Covina, CA about 1957. Mom and I are getting the BBQ set up for Dad. Those are agave and palm plants in the center of the patio, I think. The screen door leads to the living room. The window to the left of the screen door opens onto the dining room, where my family was having their Christmas dinner. View full size. Tilt lens effectThe very archetype of a Southern California 50's backyard! Interesting how the lens distortions at the top of the frame give this image the now wildly popular "tilt lens" or "shallow depth of field" effect that makes a full sized scene look miniature. The camera manufacturer didn't quite get that lens glued in straight. [Another possibility: warped transparency. - Dave] All those LA palm trees that have not fallen over or been removed have gotten ridiculously high in recent times. MvsmanThis was the house where I spent the best part of my childhood. Thanks for your comments! That's a new patio, too!Looks wonderful. Palms & PatioGreat window into 50s California suburbia. I'm going to say those are iris rather than agave with the little palm in the center; agaves form a circular rosette, and those leaves appear to be in a fan formation. I see a little racing car at the edge of the patio. If you were like me, you'd forgo the patio and build a system of roads in the dirt for it. I became quite adept at conditioning dirt, either by shaving or pulverizing it, to a consistency that emulated asphalt that I'd then use to "pave" my roads. Of course, much of it wound up caked on the knees of my jeans, resulting in my leaving a trail of little hardened mud cookies if I didn't clean up thoroughly before going inside. Lovely BlueWhat a wonderful picture. It's now my new desktop background. Thank youThis home and neighborhood was where my fondest childhood memories took place. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Keep a Light On: 1940
... achieve. Major Award Just needs a leg lamp in the window. A lump in my throat Nearly 60 years ago I spent two sleepless ... I can see George Bailey running past, shouting "Merry Christmas, folks who left the porch light on!" (The Gallery, John Vachon, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/03/2020 - 7:54pm -

November 1940. "Porch light to welcome expected visitors. Pierre, South Dakota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Truck ID1937 Ford (I bet Tom Bodett would love this pic) "Photographer of Light"What Thomas Kinkade could never achieve. Major AwardJust needs a leg lamp in the window. A lump in my throatNearly 60 years ago I spent two sleepless days and nights and almost another hitchhiking from my base in North Carolina to home in northwest Pennsylvania. I saw lots of scenes like this one along the way. Every one of them choked me up. I don't remember praying but the guy who picked me up somewhere near Mars told me I was the first hitchhiker he'd picked up since the last one beat him up and left him for dead in 1949. He took me almost all the way to my home from the middle of nowhere. It's a Wonderful LightI can see George Bailey running past, shouting "Merry Christmas, folks who left the porch light on!" (The Gallery, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Santa's Mailbox: 1922
Washington, D.C., 1922. "Christmas Post Office." Last glimpsed here . National Photo Company ... semi-legible clue is the white sign in the second-story window, which seems to say "[ILLEGIBLE] BEAUTY SHOP." I took a quick run ... on my efforts. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Christmas, D.C., Natl Photo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/18/2017 - 7:25am -

Washington, D.C., 1922. "Christmas Post Office." Last glimpsed here. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Truck IDPackard. WhereaboutsThis one's location is a bit of a puzzler. About the only semi-legible clue is the white sign in the second-story window, which seems to say "[ILLEGIBLE] BEAUTY SHOP." I took a quick run through the 1922 city directory & saw no entries seeming to correspond to the lettering in the first word. Perhaps some other sleuth, aided by the fact that this is a corner building next to a streetcar line, can improve on my efforts. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Christmas, D.C., Natl Photo)
Nuclear Family: 1958
... home for the tract and mom liked it because the big front window would be "a perfect place for the Christmas tree". The ginormous antenna was able to bring in all 4 channels! The ... 
 
Posted by Truck5man - 01/22/2012 - 11:32am -

Aaahhh, Home Sweet Home. 3 bedrooms, 1 bath. My family's home in San Jose, California September of 1958. My folks bought it in 1952 for $11,650 with monthly payments of $75.00. It's located in a tract referred to as "Bascom Gardens". It was the model home for the tract and mom liked it because the big front window would be "a perfect place for the Christmas tree". The ginormous antenna was able to bring in all 4 channels! The tree in the devils-strip is still there and is nearly 3' in diameter and is over 75' tall. That's my older brother in requisite Giants cap. He bought the home in '92 and currently lives there. He's still wearing Giants caps. View full size. A lovely homeFrom back when a man could support his family and have a good standard of living on his wages. Did your dad use his VA benefits? My dad did, and bought 2 homes (at different times) using his benefits. Do you have any shots of how the house looks today? I hope your memories of living there are good. Thanks for posting. Ahhh, suburbia!This looks like a wonderful place to live! Hitching PostThis is a perfect Shorpy composition. Old car, antenna, bicycle and kid. Even better if he was a paperboy (newsie). With a nice hitching post front and center. Thanks for the look. Suburbia!Hardly in the suburbs any more, but Rose Garden is still a lovely area to live in. That's about the vintage of our home in Campbell. I believe it was built around '52-'54. We bought it in '69 for just under $20k. Of course, that was before multiple remodels and refinances!! Kinda wish we had the original 2&1 still. "Devil's-Strip""Devil's-Strip" I've not heard before, I love it! Internet research says it's pretty much a northeast Ohio usage. (Dave, in southwest Dade, it was a swale.) (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
N.Y. See: 1925
"New York Window." Glass transparency by Margaret Watkins, exhibited at the 2nd ... Hitchcock This picture is reminiscent of the film "Rear Window" and if you live in NYC (or any big city with buildings arranged like ... uncovered. While visiting relatives in New York for Christmas a few years back, we were unintentionally witnesses to seeing a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/16/2018 - 12:35pm -

"New York Window." Glass transparency by Margaret Watkins, exhibited at the 2nd International Salon of Pictorial Photography in 1925. View full size. Before HitchcockThis picture is reminiscent of the film "Rear Window" and if you live in NYC (or any big city with buildings arranged like this) you cannot help but see into your neighbors' apartments and lives, especially if they keep their windows uncovered. While visiting relatives in New York for Christmas a few years back, we were unintentionally witnesses to seeing a family directly across the alley from us having their holiday celebration in their beautifully furnished and decorated living quarters since they constantly kept their lights on and their windows uncovered. We made an effort not to look and felt like snoops, but it would be dark there by 4 or 5 and they'd have their place all lit up. I can see how someone who couldn't leave their house would be drawn into the neighbors' business though and it was not a comfortable feeling. Talk about life in a fishbowl. Seemed like a very nice family though. I know it is easy to say "Just don't look over there" but with the placement of the buildings it was really unavoidable. [Until the binoculars broke. - Dave] Could be worseActually, in New York, this would be advertised as a "view apartment." Some people have a view of a brick wall across the air shaft. Actually, this view is kinda picturesque -- almost looks like a European village scene. The Kramdens' apartmentor, add an elevated train track and you've got Elwood Blues'. Chauncey StreetTake away the curtains and flowers and you have the Kramdens' apartment (The Gallery, NYC)
Toy Story: 1921
Washington circa 1921. A closeup of the Sport Mart Christmas window display seen here . National Photo Company Collection glass negative. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/20/2011 - 11:52pm -

Washington circa 1921. A closeup of the Sport Mart Christmas window display seen here. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. (The Gallery, D.C., Holidays, Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Candlelight By Daylight?
Blandinsville, Ill., Christmas 1955. Who ever heard of a candlelight dinner during the day? The ... Love This man truly loved his wife! Look at that huge window (with a view, no less). Look at the sill full of plants! Look at him ... I can't remember NOT having a great time at family Christmas dinners. Thank God for these special times (and the invention of the ... 
 
Posted by HankHardisty - 09/19/2011 - 2:11pm -

Blandinsville, Ill., Christmas 1955. Who ever heard of a candlelight dinner during the day? The local paper would print a news story of our visit and at the end it would read, "and everyone had a good time." I think the reporters were telling the truth. Grandmother always had devotional books at the table. Silent witnesses to subsequent generations and one that continues to this very day. View full size. True LoveThis man truly loved his wife! Look at that huge window (with a view, no less). Look at the sill full of plants! Look at him gooble up those goodies - no time to pose for a snapshot! I can't remember NOT having a great time at family Christmas dinners. Thank God for these special times (and the invention of the camera that keeps them fresh in our hearts). (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Kitchens etc.)
Dueling Big Wheels: 1968
Christmas Day 1968, Elkins, WV. Big Wheels for brother Bill and me. A ride 'em horsey for sister Kim. Best Christmas ever! View full size. Memories Ah,the sweet memories. My ... run until Mom caught a glimpse of them through the kitchen window. Gee wiz Mom hes wearing a crash helmet! Almost For Real That ... 
 
Posted by Kilroy - 12/21/2012 - 7:57pm -

Christmas Day 1968, Elkins, WV. Big Wheels for brother Bill and me. A ride 'em horsey for sister Kim. Best Christmas ever! View full size. MemoriesAh,the sweet memories. My older brother tied my younger brothers big wheel to the sissy bar of his Stingray bike. Together they sped around the neighborhood taunting other kids to the challenge. They had a good run until Mom caught a glimpse of them through the kitchen window. Gee wiz Mom hes wearing a crash helmet! Almost For RealThat would be Marvel the Mustang sister Kim is astride, another great toy from Marx. Its unforgettable jingle proclaimed "no winding - no batteries". (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Say It with Shutan's: 193x
c1930s. A storefront window display of Shutan Camera Co. on West Washington Street in downtown ... Edwin Shutan offered a large selection of quality Christmas cards and fine writing instruments - and always arranged the displays ... I love the logic: not only should you say it with Shutan's Christmas cards, but you should do it because they say more. Than what? Other ... 
 
Posted by Shutan.com - 03/09/2018 - 7:32pm -

c1930s. A storefront window display of Shutan Camera Co. on West Washington Street in downtown Chicago. My grandfather Edwin Shutan offered a large selection of quality Christmas cards and fine writing instruments - and always arranged the displays meticulously. View full size. They Say MoreI love the logic: not only should you say it with Shutan's Christmas cards, but you should do it because they say more. Than what? Other cards? Or not using cards at all? (Maybe I'm over-thinking it, but I still love that message.) As for the pen-and-pencil sets and pen stands, I'm sure they'd come in handy for those Christmas cards, but I always thought of them as the classic Bar Mitzvah gift. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
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