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Wheat Spouts: 1941
... Superior, Wisconsin." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Smokin on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/09/2020 - 11:59am -

August 1941. "Closing up hold of a grain boat. Superior, Wisconsin." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Smokin on the Hold DeckMy understanding is that grain dust can be highly explosive -- guess the guy in the cap is willing to take that chance. From a DeckhandI did this (placed wooden covers on the hatches) exactly 60 years ago this past last week of November in Superior -- perhaps even at the same grain dock. Note the neat lifting handles for hatch cover pieces. Then put those canvas tarps over the hatches, put those battens over the tarp edges and pounded wedges (maybe in the buckets) between battens and wedge holders at the start of a below-freezing trip to Cleveland with storage grain on the final voyage of the SS Price McKinney. She was towed across the Atlantic and broken for scrap in 1961. She might have been the last vessel with wooden hatch covers in entire US Great Lakes fleet in 1959. Tears froze on my face as blown chaff stung it as we battened down on leaving Superior that night. Fortunately, and unusually for that time of year, we had low wind and relatively calm seas on the trip. Chaff was blown mostly by our 10 knots and light breeze. You can see the chaff blowing out of the chutes and clouding the guys standing on deck downwind. Upwind guys were probably the Mate and the boss and helper from the grain dock. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, John Vachon)
Aerial Omaha: 1938
... Nebraska." Gateway to the West. Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Fans ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2017 - 9:05pm -

        UPDATE: Our vantage point for this view north along 14th Street is the Woodmen of the World tower at 1323 Farnam. November 1938. "Omaha, Nebraska." Gateway to the West. Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. FansAnyone aware of what the contraption is on top of the building on the left. I see fan units. Was this an air conditioning system? If so it is very narrow. Three Corner TavernsInteresting to note the small corner taverns in the Omaha photographs: in the “Omaha Suds” image, in the Theodore's Place image, and the Oaks Tavern in this image. Three corner taverns, each about the same size and height, although some more decorated than the other. I wonder how many others existed? Across the street is the Paris Bar and Billiards. Oaks and Paris advertised together. What Depression?For a small city during the worst of the later Depression years, this photo portrays an impressive proportion of late model vehicles. As opposed to the trucks, the great majority of the cars seen here are within 3 or 4 years of age if not newer -- a mix probably not excelled in most U.S. localities today. Brand new Ford TudorThe car almost directly in front of the "Nebraska" is a new 1938 Standard Ford V8. I've had one of these since the late 1970's. Once considered the ugly duckling of the 30's by almost everyone is now kinda good looking. Kinda. Scorch marksSo what was the commercial establishment that burned at the corner of 14th and Capitol? Whatever it might have been, the fire appears to have thoroughly gutted the place. Pay no attentionI'm assuming that this picture was taken from an airplane, so it's interesting that none of the many people on the street are looking up at the photographer. It seems like an airplane flying low over the downtown area would attract a lot of attention! [The photo was taken from the Woodmen of the World building at 1323 Farnam Street. - Dave] Gateway to the WestJust a minute, that nickname belongs to my native city, Winnipeg, Manitoba. But wait, Wikipedia points out that it also refers to no fewer than 6 cities in the US (Fargo, Fort Wayne, Omaha, St. Louis and the Gateway Arch, Kansas City, Pittsburgh) and one whole state (Oklahoma, although particularly Tulsa). Location, Location, Location?I believe this photo was taken from a building on the southeast corner of 14th and Farnam. In an aerial photo from the early 1950s I can see a tall building located at that corner. Furthermore, in that aerial photo I can clearly see the Hotel Fontenelle a few blocks to the west at 1806 Douglas and I can positively identify the fronts of the buildings in the 1300 block of Douglas where Palace Billiards and the Oaks Bar were. [You are correct about the location (my first guess, the Hotel Fontenelle, is on the wrong block). Which means our vantage point is the 19-story Woodmen of the World headquarters, at the time of its completion in 1912 the tallest building between Chicago and the West Coast. - Dave] No Apartments AvailableThe three story brick building being demolished was an apartment building offered for sale in January 1937. Directly across the street from it was the “Hummel Auto Shed” and the Omaha World Herald delivery truck garage and parking lot and the vacant space diagonally across the street was the site of the Jefferson Hotel, demolished in 1935. Win some, lose someBetween the Oaks Bar and the Nebraska theater is a campaign office with banners for 19938 candidacies of (James T.) English for (Douglas) County Attorney, and (Frank) McGrath for (Douglas County) Clerk of Court. English won, and later became a state-court judge. McGrath, an incumbent mired in scandals, lost. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Omaha, Railroads)
Foot Traffic: 1941
... yard." The street last seen here . Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I'm ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/10/2020 - 5:04pm -

March 1941. "Portsmouth, Virginia. Houses near Navy yard." The street last seen here. Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I'm waiting fora report on the guy with all the stripes. Hey Chief!Get your hands out of your pockets! Disapproving lookWhat a marvelous tableau, with so many groupings of people at various levels of interaction. My favorite is Dad with Junior pushing the stroller while Baby cranes around for a look, all under the scowly and scoldy scrutiny of Madame Tightly-Clasped Hands. CPO The guy with all the stripes is a chief petty officer. He has at least sixteen years service according to the hash marks (diagonal stripes). The stripes are only on his left sleeve and in this time period that would signify his rating was something other than a normal sea going rate which would be displayed on the right sleeve. The rating badge is between the chevrons and the rocker and is difficult to make out. It appears to have wings which signify an aviation job. The chief appears to be feeling his Cheerios he's taking a good stride I have to agree with rayray, the chief has five hash marks not four, and what I took to be wings are probably ships propeller blades which is the rating badge for machinist mate. The Navy would abbreviate his rank and rate as MMC. An Old SaltThe old salty sailor is a Chief Petty Officer, Machinist Mate. The Navy authorizes one service stripe per every four years completed. This chief's got 5, so he's been in the Navy 20+ years. More than likely he's looking forward to retirement, but that's probably not going to happen with December 7 looming in just nine months. Here's hoping he made it through the war unscathed. All the stripesbelong to a Chief Petty Officer, looking bored to be back on land. Child laborI'll bet that baby carriage was fun to push with those little tiny wheels. The little guy pushing it seems to be working all out on it while Dad looks amused. The house seems to have a sagging problem. Great scene. Navy heading homeLooks like a Chief Machinist Mate with 20 years service. If they are gold colored it means he served with Good Conduct (not getting into any trouble) This part of the street sure looks a lot dirtier than the previous view. Six seconds in the futureThe CPO is pushing the carriage, having recognized dad from Shop 31 at the Yard. Chief and dad discuss their mutual 1920's China gunboat service; the serviceman has recognized the civilian's tattoos as similar to his own. Junior walks between the two, holding his father's hand and happy to be relieved of his duties. The little shaver continues to stare intently over his shoulder, impressed by his uniformed motivator. Most good ladies of Portsmouth disapprove of tattoos. CPO RatingHis rating badge looks like a caduceus to me, which would make him a Hospital Corpsman. Which would make some sense in that his stripes are on his left sleeve indicative of a less than normal chance he'd be at sea. Also there is a large naval hospital in Portsmouth. MMCMachinist Mate Chief Petty Officer (MMC) Back in the day it wasn't so much an issue but in the last 40-45 years the Navy has frowned on "slovenly", unprofessional appearance while in uniform. This includes walking with your hands in your pockets, wearing your cover (hat) askew, jacket unbuttoned, etc. I know it's not definitive, but, the stripes (and rank chevrons) appear to be gold. Gold stripes were authorized for 12 years of continuous good service/conduct. In the early '80s, I recall seeing a few "ole timer" Chiefs, Senior Chiefs and even one Master Chief retiring with red stripes. Another tradition that has been done away with. Today, when authorized, all service stripes will be gold. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, NYC)
Kroger Depot: 1941
... Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. In the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2020 - 3:33pm -

June 1941. "Carloads of fruit and vegetables at terminal. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. In the vicinity of 21st & Railroad Street In the Strip DistrictPittsburghers know the Strip as the place to find the best cheese, coffee, pasta, meat, pizza, sandwiches -- just about anything you can eat and some things you can't eat. I'm getting homesick just thinking about it. Not your father's Strip DistrictThe Strip District is much different than Sewickley likely remembers it. This site shows just how much the area has changed over the years. Primanti's is still there, though, and surviving the pandemic quite well. The second picture shows the old Kroger warehouse and the upscale apartment building that is there now. Refrigerated BoxcarsCan you imagine the amount of ice needed for those cars. I Found The Locomotive!It was hiding among the fruit cars. If the lids are up- - -the "reefers" are empty. Things that are still there (sort of)The bluff across the river is known as Troy Hill. The cluster of dark brick and light stone buildings on the left of the bluff is definitely the old North Catholic High School. The school has moved to the affluent suburbs of Butler County, but the buildings remain and houses a charter school. The darker buildings farther to the right on the bluff is most likely the church and school of Most Holy Name of Jesus parish, but I can't find any good photos to confirm my guess. Reefer roof hatchesThe roof hatches are opened to circulate cold air across the load, and to cause the ice to melt, to release cold (actually absorb heat). Salt was also frequently sprinkled on the ice in the "bunkers" so it would melt faster, releasing more cold air. The melted saltwater was drained next to the rails, which is why railroads used to run annual work trains to spray oil on the sides of the rails, to reduce rail and spikes rusting from all that salt water. The oil then combined with traction sand and cinders to make a gunky mess that you never see these days. Other techniques frequently used were a circulating fan, belt driven from an extended car axle end, and top icing, ie blowing chipped ice on top of the fruits or vegetables. Meat reefers were entirely different, they had monorail tracks under the roof to handle hanging sides of beef or pork. The tracks connected to tracks at the warehouses and packing plants. The railroads had massive ice making plants spaced along the line, (100 or so miles) with elevated platforms to allow sliding the heavy ice blocks into the bunkers without having to lift them. Workers at the ice platforms also handled adjusting the roof hatches for temperature regulation, sprinkling salt on the ice, and refreshing the top ice when specified. I remember the big NKP ice plant in Bellevue Ohio. It was all very complex, and employed many people. Camera PositionPhotographer was standing on the 16th Street Bridge looking northeast up the Allegheny River. re: Reefer roof hatchesThese would be empty cars or cars about to be emptied. The hatches are open to dry out the car. You would not be icing cars at their destination. I assume this is a canning plant that gets fruits and vegetables from the West. Early container on flatcar. On the fifth track from the right are two cars of PRR containers that were put into operation in the early thirties. The idea was to pull LTL freight from the highways and back on the rails. It was a good idea that proved to be impractical. The biggest problem was persuading connecting lines to build the terminals needed to handle the containers. The Great Depression affected freight traffic on all railroads and after ten years or so the little containers were repurposed into tool sheds and line-side electrical cabinets. One of These Cars is Not Like the OthersAmong all these boxcars are a couple of oddballs. Roughly centered in the image there is a car that looks like five modules with lifting hooks on the roof. Three cars behind there is another that we can see more clearly (far left lower in the photo). What is that? Edit: my question crossed with the answer below; thanks Rob. I found a clear photo of one of these Pennsylvania RR FM flatcars carrying the DD1 containers: (The Gallery, John Vachon, Pittsburgh, Railroads)
Leo and Benny's: 1943
... cleaner on Washington Street." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Nineteen ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/27/2013 - 11:42am -

March 1943. New York. "A street cleaner on Washington Street." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Nineteen Forty!!!I would love to go back in time to tell any Ranger fans lurking about New York in 1943 that, even though their team had won three Stanley Cups in their 17 year history in the NHL (1927, 1933 and 1940), it would be more than fifty years before a player in a Rangers uniform would hoist the Cup again (1994). Original NHL sixOh, I do so love that large poster advertising Rangers games at the Garden, curiously listing the Black Hawks and Red Wings by their city names but Montreal by its team name. Plus the truck up the street with its side door open, and the two seated guys, and the look of the passing street cleaner, and a restaurant named Leo and Benny's. There's so much great stuff in this delicious photo! Oops!Love how the street sweeper is looking at the camera as he walks right past the trash in the street. Leo & Benny'sThis particular dining establishment must have washed its last greasy spoon in the 1930s. There is no entry for "Leo and Benny's" in the 1940 Manhattan Telephone Directory. StoryMakes you wonder about the story behind "Leos and Benny's", brothers? Chums? Think the two fellas sittin' there are hoping for a re-opening. Or maybe that's Leo and Benny trying to decide what to try next. Fight cardIn the fights at Madison Square Garden advertised on the poster at right (which already had taken place by the photo date), Johnny Greco won a decision over Cleo Shans in a ten-round lightweight match, while Sal "The Pride of East Boston" Bartolo outpointed Pedro Hernandez in a 10-round featherweight match. Trivia: this was the first of the 12 fights that Bartolo would have in 1943. Today a boxer who fights 12 times in five years would be considered unusually active. Boxers were a tougher breed back then. High LinerWashington Street is in the heart of the very trendy Meatpacking District. The area is also part of the new High Line Park neighborhood. You can rent a 1 bedroom apartment in the $5,000 a month realm or buy one in a condo for about $2 million. Too bad Leo & Benny couldn't hang around longer. Attached is a view of the Meatpacking District that I took a few years ago as I was walking through the High Line Park. Real hockey fansknow that you never put "Ice" before hockey, it's a Canadian thing, and no sissy helmets back then. Charlton & WashingtonThe corner of Charlton & Washington with Greenwich St in the distance. The cameraman is standing on Washington St looking east. Today, Charlton St no longer extends to Washington, the UPS distribution center is now built there. The building in the background is 345 Hudson St. Standard and Poor's moved into 345 Hudson in 1930. re: Original NHL sixMy thinking is that the team was referred to as the Canadiens and not Montreal because there was another team from Montreal named the Maroons. While the Maroons were basically defunct as of 1938 and didn't play for several seasons they were still technically a part of the league until the mid-40s I think. MaroonsInteresting speculation, sanman9781, but the last time the Maroons played was 1938, and this is 5 years later, so I don't think anyone would need clarification on which team was Montreal. By the way, it was back to just the original six in 1942-43 (Black Hawks, Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Canadiens, Bruins and Rangers), and the Stanley Cup was won a month later by Detroit. The Myth Of The Original SixBoth sanman9781 and davidk are technically correct. The NHL was down to the six teams that would come to be known as the "Original Six" in the 1942-43 season, both the Montreal Maroons and Brooklyn Americans (previously the New York Americans) franchises existed although both were suspended. In the case of the Americans the League had promised to revive the team after the end of the war, a promise that was reneged upon in 1946. The American's owner "Red" Dutton was convinced that the cancellation of the franchise was demanded by the owners of the New York Rangers. He cursed the Rangers saying that they wouldn't win another Stanley Cup in his lifetime. They didn't win the Cup again until 1994, seven years after Dutton's death. Actually the NHL didn't go "back to just the original six in 1942-43" simply because that was the first season in which the so-called "Original Six" alignment of teams existed. The NHL's first season - 1917-18 - started with five teams and ended with three: Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto St. Patricks, Quebec Bulldogs (didn't start the season though they'd be back in 1919-20) and Montreal Wanderers (who started the season but withdrew when their arena burned down). The notion of the "Original Six" only came about after the equally misnamed "first expansion" in the 1967-68 season - misnamed because the NHL had expanded from the three teams that finished the 1917-18 season to ten teams by the 1925-26 season. (The Gallery, John Vachon, NYC)
Love Before Breakfast: 1936
... than Vaudeville. further reading An article by John Tagg in the January 2003 edition of Narrative discusses this photo, also doubled evidently by FSA archivist/photographer John Vachon, in depth. I got that article on J-Stor searching "billboards." ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2012 - 1:06am -

Houses in Atlanta. March 1936 View full size. Photograph by Walker Evans. Looks like CabbagetownFrom the building and smokestack that you can see in the right rear and between the houses, I'm guessing that this is Cabbagetown, just east of downtown, near Oakland Cemetery. Can't tell what street it is. Cabbagetown was a mill town, based around the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill. Here's a Wikipedia link. vodvilAnd would the Lombard film be debuting at the very same Paramount where a young Sinatra made his debut as a solo act (without the Dorsey band)? Old Fourth WardI believe this Old Fourth Ward, which backs up to Cabbage Town. This is the neighborhood that MLK Jr. was born and raised in. The MovieLove Before Breakfast (1936) was the scintillating title Universal chose over Spinster Dinner, the Faith Baldwin novel upon which this airy comedy is based. Carole Lombard is a Park Avenue beauty squired by Preston S. Foster and Cesar Romero. Since neither gentleman is a prize catch, Lombard is fey and fickle throughout the film. That's all there is to Love Before Breakfast, which might have been completely forgotten had it not been for a famous 1930s-era painting in which a detailed poster for the film is the focus of attention. There's one iconoclastic alteration in the painting: Carole Lombard has been given a black eye. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide Love Before Breakfast..Left side poster features... Margaret Hamilton? Three years before the Wizard of Oz! Margaret HamiltonGood ol Margaret! Although I think that's Anne Shirley who's pictured on the loveseat. Margaret HamiltonFor those who are interested! Margaret Hamilton co-starred as the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of OZ" in 1938. Margaret HamiltonA bit of trivia. Margaret Hamilton's grandniece was my son's kindergarten teacher in Oakland, CA, in 1970. He's 41 now and has never forgotten that. Of course, his daughter (now 6) has watched The Wizard of Oz more time than any of us can count. SpellcheckThe Capitol Theater is advertising 8 big acts of "vodvil", every week. I guess it's easier to fit on the bill, than Vaudeville. further readingAn article by John Tagg in the January 2003 edition of Narrative discusses this photo, also doubled evidently by FSA archivist/photographer John Vachon, in depth. I got that article on J-Stor searching "billboards." Famous painting?Could it be that the "famous 1930's era painting" referred to by Hal Erickson is indeed this photograph? This image is considered a masterwork of photography and is rightly held to be among Walker Evans's finest. Love Before BreakfastI think Hal Erickson was confused. All the posters for Love Before Breakfast that I can find online have Carole Lombard with a black eye. It hasn't been altered. http://www.stage-fright.com/lovbefbreak.html So he could also have confused a painting with a photograph as well! Similar housesNote the similarity of the houses, with small detail differences, like the corner on the right, and length of the porch. Then, as now, builders played games with us. If you drive through new developments in my small town, you can see many cases where houses are built with slight variations on a common plan, and then they cost $300,000. Triple that and you have my neighbourhoodAnd they're all on 25-foot-wide lots. Black eyeCarole was given the black eye because in the film, she was punched by her husband Preston. Wondering why that wall of billboards was put upThis is a well known photograph but I've never seen any explanation of why someone would do that to a neighborhood, and whether these homes have survived. They were obviously originally rather large single family homes built for a comfortable middle class clientele. The homes look badly in need of a coat of paint and some siding repair, even though they would not have been all that old at the time. Ok, the neighborhood had slipped some, but why in blazes would someone erect a really ugly wall that actually blocks access from the homes to the street? The homes look like they were still occupied; how did you get to them? A rear alley? (The Gallery, Atlanta, Movies, Walker Evans)
Ironed Out: 1941
... at FSA trailer camp. Erie, Pennsylvania." Photo by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... carefree moments. Life is too short. (The Gallery, John Vachon, WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/06/2020 - 9:13pm -

June 1941. "Wife of defense worker ironing clothes in utility building at FSA trailer camp. Erie, Pennsylvania." Photo by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. High-impedance air gapThat iron would probably work a little better if it were plugged in. [On old electric irons without an off switch or rheostat, you regulate the temperature by unplugging it. - Dave] Where's the brown paper bag?Like my mom used to do to get the perfect crease in a pair of my Dad's RAF pants. Worked every time. Split bag seams, open flat, place on top of pants leg, iron. I also loved the smell. And she never once burned the paper. Ironing - not so different in 2020Much has changed since the days of the icebox and the streetcar, running boards and tube radios. But ironing still involves standing at the ironing board and drawing hot metal across wrinkled fabric. Sure, today's so-called no-iron clothes need less ironing than this lady's cotton, but great grandma would know exactly what to do. Let's iron this outI own an ironing board and a couple of irons. However, someplace hot is going to freeze over before I again voluntarily employ any of these objects. That's because a couple of years ago, after ironing piles of my husband's 36-inch-sleeve white shirts (at that time he used six per week) for approximately 37 years, standing in front of the TV trying to pretend I was distracted enough by an old movie not to care that my back and legs were killing me after the third shirt, one fine day I said NO MORE. He now takes his shirts to the cleaners. If something I own needs freshening, I use a handheld steamer. This picture makes my heart hurt for those lovely ladies, although I know they took pride in making the clothes look nice and I suspect they wouldn't want my pity. But still. I wish they could have ironed fewer clothes and had more carefree moments. Life is too short. (The Gallery, John Vachon, WW2)
Crank Call: 1940
... Scranton, Iowa." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. "Turn ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/24/2019 - 9:15pm -

April 1940. "Lady signaling operator on old-style telephone. Scranton, Iowa." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. "Turn crank briskly ... "In October of 1975 I drove my 1965 Falcon from Vancouver, Canada, to San Francisco on a leisurely trip down the coast. I arrived at a road junction north of Fort Bragg, and saw a phone booth. I planned to stay with friends in San Francisco, and thought this was a good time to call and let them know of my arrival day. Upon entering the booth, I discovered the pay phone had no dial, and below it was a black box with a crank on it. There were detailed hand-written instructions on how to use it. "Remove handset to be sure line is clear." There was no dial tone, and this was to determine if anyone else was using the party line. "Replace receiver, and turn crank briskly to signal operator." A male voice answered in Fort Bragg, and placed the call to San Francisco. The final instruction: "Turn crank briskly to clear the line". I charged the call to my Vancouver number, and when the bill came it read: "Call from North Rockport Toll Station No. 1." Vancouver was one of the last large cities to convert to dial phones, a 20 year process finally completed in 1960. A visit to New Zealand in 1985 revealed that some small towns still had not received dial telephones, as shown in this photo of a pay phone in Taihape. I have the wheat pastebut could you bring the brushes and seam roller when you come over to help hang the wallpaper today? I have to burn some incense in the Buddha to cover up the smell from Bob's fish dinner. Just When You ThinkIt could it get any better? Dave comes up with this caption!!! Now I have to add THIS ONE to my all time favourites list. [Thank you! Although "Crank Call" is the title, not the caption. The caption is the writing under the photo. - Dave] [Right! My old brain needs to reboot :) - Baxado ] Roll CallShe has rolls of something in bundles and it seems she's calling the person she prepared them for to say they are ready. Perhaps she is making some side money. What are they? Corner shelfI made one in wood shop class identical to that one in junior high school around 1977. Calling up CatfishMy grandfather (b. 1898) had the innards of one of those telephones in a bucket in his fishing boat. When he was hungry for catfish, he'd load me up and we'd go out to a deep bend on the Clear Fork of the Brazos and slide the jonboat through the reeds and into the river a couple hundred feet upstream of the bend. On one of the copper telephone wires he had tied a horseshoe as a weight, which he dropped straight down off the side of the boat. The other, much longer wire was tied to a big iron washer -- about the size of a #10 can lid. I'd paddle down to the deepest hole in the river and he would swing the washer over his head like a lasso and toss it as far as he could. As soon as the washer hit the water, he'd holler "crank it!" and I'd wind the magneto as fast as I could, creating a current between the two poles and stunning any catfish caught in between them. After a few seconds he'd get the dipnet and scoop up any electroshocked fish and we'd repeat until he had enough for a fish fry. I later discovered this was regarded as unsporting and possibly illegal means of harvesting fishflesh. In the mid-'60s, however, I never passed up and opportunity to go "call up some catfish". Where's the bird?She looks a lot like Granny from the Tweetie and Sylvester cartoon. Makes me think of Bryant Pond, MaineBryant Pond was the last community in the U.S. to have crank telephones, switching over to plain vanilla dial phones in 1983. To call my friend in Bryant Pond, I had to dial 0 and ask the operator (remember operators?) to place a call to Bryant Pond 32 -- which was my friend's number. Some operators took it in stride; others took some convincing. Oh, my aching backI'm pretty sure her phone calls never lasted long - look at the posture she has to assume. That table makes her stand about two feet away from the phone and then lean forward over the table to get close to the mouth piece. I'm surprised I don't see a hand mark on the wallpaper from bracing oneself. And of course she'd never just clear that table and sit on top of it. She doesn't look BuddhistSeriously, I am a little surprised by the Buddha figure on her shelf. Grandma was practicing way before it was hip! About those rollsI'm probably wrong but, those rolls seem to me to be too narrow. Is it possible that they are player piano rolls? A couple of them seem to have narrow wooden slats along one edge. I remember seeing player pianos in one of my aunt's homes when I was a kid in the early 1950s and they generally looked like these, but were usually stored in boxes. No hands voice dialingThat phone used no hands voice dialing, an amazing technology that is virtually unavailable today. More!A person can never have too much wallpaper. Well, maybe sometimes. BuddhaMy grandmother had one -- an incense burner, in green-red-gold. Isn't It Obvious?Those rolls next to her can't be anything but more wallpaper that needs hanging! I really like the woodworking on that fern table in front of her! (Technology, The Gallery, John Vachon)
Drink Gluek: 1940
... Gluek's and Grain Belt on tap. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Still standing All that remain of Gluek's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/05/2013 - 12:42pm -

October 1940. "Beer signs on truck. Little Falls, Minnesota." Gluek's and Grain Belt on tap. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Still standingAll that remain of Gluek's are the silver buildings at left in the street view. They used to be part of the loading docks. View Larger Map This is a recent look at Grain Belt, now home to architects and a public library. These brewers were about ten blocks from each other. What's playing at the Ripley ? Childhood VisualsBeing a kid from Minneapolis, these signs bring back memories of crowded neon over the sidewalk. I think I see a Fitgers sign in the middle. That would make sense because Little Falls is about the same distance from Duluth as it is from Minneapolis and beer was pretty regional in distribution at this time. Your Beer in NeonThat Gluek's neon sign must have served as a beacon in the stormy night to many a thirsty soul. Alas, they are no more. http://www.nemplsonline.com/node/1149. The beer was also sold in cone top cans for many years. The pull/pop-tab-can generation should Google "Gluek's cone cans" to view this era of the beer delivery system. Some of these old cans are worth more than a loaded iPhone 5 to collectors. Now Playing at Ripleys Theater.I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now, (1940). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032621/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 "In this low-budget musical, two sets of politically ambitious parents attempt to pair up their youngsters who unfortunately despise each other and only pretend to like each other to please their parents." Plus 73The truck is long gone, but the buildings are still there, as is the light post in the foreground (you'll have to rotate the street view map to see it). View Larger Map Must haveI Must have those signs for my man cave!! Those would be sooooooo cool. Hell, I'd put 'em up on side of house to the annoyance of neighbors. Gluek's & Grain BeltGrain Belt is still produced for local Minnisota consumption, though now it is contract brewed as the brewery no longer exists, but here is a little summary of the Gluek's Brewery: "The brewery enjoyed modest success until the spring of 1880, when it burned to the ground. Reconstruction was immediately begun, but G. Gottlieb, the founder, was to die that fall. His sons continued the business as G. Gottlieb & Sons, and later as the Gluek Brewing Company. By 1902, the plant was turning out 44 barrels a day. The brewery survived Prohibition but was eventually sold to G. Heilemann in 1964, who tore the place down two years later. The Gluek's label was acquired by the Cold Spring Brewing Company, which today produces beer for the Gluek's restaurant in downtown Minneapolis." So Gluek's still exists, in a manner of speaking. What's there, what isn'tIt's nice to see the buildings have been saved. On the other hand, it's too bad the same can't be stated of the atmosphere, which time has mercilessly obliterated if the Street View image may be trusted. I'd just love to become a time traveler and snatch one of those mint-condition neon signs, by the way. Heck, I'd make off with the entire truck and its load, given the chance. The Minneapolis Brewing Company, which conceived and produced Grain Belt, shut down long ago. Thankfully, the brewery's buildings were apparently too darned big to make them easy candidates for demolition, and many of them have been restored. On the other hand, the Gluek brewery buildings and the Gluek brand have vanished. (As far as I know, that is; the brand was resurrected for a time by Cold Spring Brewery, I believe.) In its day, the Gluek brewery's advertising cleverly indicated how one should pronounce its odd name. See, for example, this coaster, and this ad unearthed and posted by James Lileks (http://www.lileks.com/). Even the Name is now GoneThe Gluek beer name has now vanished as well. IIRC on the Twins radio broadcast Dan Gladden even advertised for Gluek in the early and mid 2000's. See this. Small (people) worldThe movie showing in Oct. 1940 at the recently-opened Ripley was "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now." The cast was a set of generally forgettable actors, with one exception: Margaret Hamilton, who will forever be known for her role in "The Wizard of Oz" as the Wicked Witch of the West. Ironically, Little Falls was also the home to lumber heir Laura Jane Musser, who would become Margaret Hamilton's biggest fan. As this 2012 article in the local Little Falls newspaper explains, Ms. Musser, who spent much of her life living in a set of wood-framed mansions at 608 Highland Avenue known collectively as "Linden Hill," was deeply into the movie in general and Ms. Hamilton in particular. The socialite visited the set during the movie's production, and eventually she and the former witch became lifelong friends. Hope they didn't get a flatIt looks as though there's no tire on the spare rim. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Genoa Jalopy: 1940
... in Nevada. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Small Towns) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/12/2017 - 8:39am -

March 1940. "High school students in jalopy. Genoa, Nevada." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein, Farm Security Administration. View full size. Jalopy? It might be a jalopy but it is only ten years old. A 1930 Ford Model A Deluxe sedan. The Bard lives onShylock; "How now, Tubal? What news from Genoa? Hast thou found my daughter?" Tubal; "yes, she has been joy riding with friends in a jalopy and spending all your money!" Center of townHere's the spot. The stone monuments just to the right of the hood are still there: NOT Italian!People need to know that is is jen-OH-a, not GEN-oa, emphasis on the oh. Oldest town in Nevada, I believe. I have friends from there. http://www.genoanevada.org/visitgenoa.htm http://www.genoanevada.org/history.htm Lovely little town. Tires from Sears, and a brush with fameThe tires on the Ford are Allstates, sold by Sears. Genoa was also the filming location for the bank robbery scene at the beginning of the 1973 Walter Matthau film "Charley Varrick", as the fictional Tres Cruces, New Mexico. The exterior of the Genoa Courthouse Museum (just down the street from our merrymakers) played the "Tres Cruces Western Fidelity Bank of New Mexico". And yes, Genoa is the oldest permanent settlement in Nevada. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Hello Trouble: 1937
... D.C. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. Confectionery ads Love the ads on the lower front of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2011 - 1:42pm -

December 1937. Midcity Cinema at 1223 Ninth Street NW in Washington, D.C. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. Confectionery adsLove the ads on the lower front of the store "Welcome Students Get A Lift With A Camel". I had forgotten about the movie stills. Our local theater placed the big advertising poster in a display behind glass and had the movie stills in small frames all around it at one end of the lobby. If I remember correctly, they were also in frames seen from the outside of the theater too. All those beautiful brass fixtures, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, crystal drop sconces on the walls that dimmed slowly as the movie started, velvet wallpaper, all gone now. Sign in the WindowS.H. Dudley, Promoter and Producer. King's Beauty ParlorKing's Beauty Parlor offers the Poro System of beauty treatment, which, though now mostly forgotten, was probably the most significant and socially important factor in the assertion of Afro-American women's self-esteem in the first half of the 20th century. See the Answers.com bio for Annie Turnbo Malone. At the MoviesA rather curious mix of pictures at the Midcity. They're showing a double feature of two movies made five years apart. The main feature is "Easy Living" which was released on July 7, 1937. It starred Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur and a young Ray Milland, and was written by the great Preston Sturges. The second feature is the real puzzler. According to IMDB, Charles "Buck" Jones made "Hello Trouble" back in 1932. In fact it was release July 15th 1932 meaning it was a week shy of being exactly five years older than "Easy Living." Also visible but nowhere near as prominent is a poster for a serial "The Black Coin". Even it was newer than "Hello Trouble." having been released September 1, 1936. A line-up that would seem to indicate at best a second run house. The cast of "The Black Coin" is sort of interesting. It included a couple of really major silent movie stars - comedian Snub Pollard and Clara Kimball Young - as well as the legendary stunt man and stunt coordinator Yakima Canutt. Canutt was the second unit director who directed the chariot race scene (among others) in the 1960 remake of "Ben Hur." Also in the cast were Dave O' Brien, who would go on to win an Emmy as a writer for Red Skelton, and Ruth Mix, the daughter of legendary cowboy star Tom Mix, in what would turn out to be her final movie. As for Buck Jones, he is considered to be one of the greatest of the "B" movie western actors. He made 57 more movies in the ten years between "Hello Trouble" and his death in 1942 in Boston's Coconut Grove Fire (November 30, 1942). Washington D.C.?Why was the Farm Security Administration taking photos in D.C.? I can understand that the govenment might need images of small town and rural American but this was just a few blocks away. Lobby stillsThose movie stills - which incidentally were almost always displayed in glass-fronted cases outside cinemas in the U.K. - were never actual prints taken from the movie footage. They were specially taken on-set by a studio stills photographer shooting with a 5 x 4 camera from more or less the movie camera position. As a result sometimes, though not often, they showed angles and even set-ups that didn’t appear in the movie itself. Midcity CinemaA chunk of ceiling and chandelier fell on audience in 1945: http://cinematreasures.org/theater/23359/ [Thank you. Now we know the address, which I added to the caption. - Dave] Midcity CinemaThis location is now Washington Convention Center. Mid City AddressTthe address of the Mid City was probably 1223 7th St. During our research on the address of the Alamo, the most reliable source of info was the website about the Shaw District of Washington DC where the theaters were located: http://planning.dc.gov/planning/lib/planning/preservation/brochures/hist... This document mentions the address of the Mid City Theater twice on p. 14, including a reference to the theater's owner: "As early as 1907, Shaw residents could enjoy a vaudeville act or be treated to the new technology of a moving picture show in their own neighborhood. The Happyland, Gem, Alamo, Mid-City, and Broadway Theaters were all built between 1907 and 1921 within five blocks of each other on 7th Street; the Raphael was two blocks over on 9th Street. Of these, the Broadway and Mid-City were owned and operated by African Americans for the largely black patronage in Shaw by this time. In 1919, well-known vaudeville performer Sherman Dudley advertised his Mid-City as “the only theater on Seventh Street catering to colored people that does not discriminate.” Colleen (The Gallery, D.C., John Vachon, Movies)
The Old Paxton Place: 1938
... Omaha, Nebraska." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. 2556 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2020 - 6:44pm -

November 1938. "The old Paxton residence. Omaha, Nebraska." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. 2556 Douglas StreetI can't tell if the Yeshia Fregger Grocery is incorporated into the house or in front of it, but either way, this would have been at the corner of Douglas and South 25th Avenue. Now an empty lot in a commercial area. Tough centuryThe 20th century was not kind to the Paxton family of Omaha. In July 1907, at the home at the corner of Douglas and South 25th Avenue, its patriarch William A. Paxton -- pioneer turned entrepreneur turned Gilded Age oligarch -- "was sitting in a great porch chair chatting and laughing in the best of spirits with his wife and the Misses Sharp, friends of the family" when "he gasped suddenly," nearly fell off the chair, and died of a heart attack. Their only son, William Paxton Jr., died unexpectedly of pneumonia less than three years later, in 1910. Son William left a wife (Georgia) and four-year-old adopted daughter, Prairie Paxton. His widow soon married a New York state senator, Martin Saxe, and in 1912 relocated with her young daughter to New York, leaving the great house and "many of her business interests" behind. Prairie Paxton married Randolph Day, gave birth to a daughter Georgia, suffered an illness for two years, and died in 1930 at age 24. Signs, signs, everywhere a signThat has to be the busiest US Route sign I've seen. I learned A LOT about the US highway system running through Omaha figuring it out. With the wagon sign I am guessing the Oregon Trail ran very close by. Any idea on what "B-16" means? A position locator one could then reference? Stae highway signThe diamond shaped sign is a Nebraska state highway marker, which was adopted in 1926 and designed by state engineer Robert L. Cochran. The oxen-and-wagon symbol later became the official state symbol of Nebraska, according to Wikipedia. I can't tell however if the sign reads 8-16 or B-16 though. Brick artThat is one gorgeous chimney. It’s plenty of fun looking at the house, fantasizing about occupying it, but I keep coming back to that masterwork of brick. Nebraska HighwayThe sign with the covered wagon is a Nebraska state highway sign. The Oregon Trail wasn't even close. It ran west from Kansas City, crossed the Kansas River at Topeka, and then went northwest into Nebraska. Budget RemodelNeed to get rid of some windows? Stucco 'em over! Baffling signageIt seems strange to me, twelve years after state highway engineers came to some sort of consensus about nationwide standardized signage, that we had signs that were so illegible. We have a US route shield with four route numbers instead of one, and the word "alternate". We have a state route shield that looks like a caution sign, with an inexplicably graphic depiction of a covered wagon, and two barely-visible route numbers. And I don't understand how anyone ever thought it was a good idea to place route signage on a post so low that it could be obscured by a single parked car, and yet we see this repeatedly in pre-war photos. Also, not shown here: the letters L or R, on a smaller US route shield beneath the numbered one, to indicate a left or right turn. Even if the engineers were that oblivious to non-English-speaking drivers, were arrows really that radical of an idea? But I'm just barely old enough to remember the last few dozen miles of western highway not bypassed by Interstate, and I'll turn 52 tomorrow. It's All About EfficiencyIt is commonplace in cities for numbered highway routes to converge and "run together" for a distance before separating. Nowadays in the USA, US routes have individual signs, sometimes resulting in dizzying arrays of 9 or 12 markers. Much more efficient to have one sign calling out four different routes, no? Similarly, the Nebraska state highway marker shows the conjunction of state routes 8 and 16. Makes Sense To MeAll four of those US highways are running "concurrent" through Omaha. They converged there, and will separate inside or out of the city. You don't need an arrow or turn instructions there because you have just passed through an intersection or junction and are now reading an "assurance" sign to let you know you are on the right path. Keep going and follow the signs. "Alt. 30" (or any other number) is nothing unusual in a city, even to this day. Still there in 1955Historic Aerials shows the old home still there in the 1955 imagery. The next newer imagery is 1969 and the lot looks to have been a parking lot by then. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Omaha)
Clean Plate Club: 1943
... drivers at a coffee stop on U.S. Highway 90." Photo by John Vachon, Office of War Information. View full size. Nickel bets Don't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/01/2017 - 5:49pm -

March 1943. "Pearlington, Mississippi. Truck drivers at a coffee stop on U.S. Highway 90." Photo by John Vachon, Office of War Information. View full size. Nickel betsDon't know about the meal, but I'd love to have any one of those old, mechanical, one-arm bandits! They may have been crooked, but they were pretty pieces of machinery. Reminds me of Paul NewmanThe fellow with the fork to his mouth looks a lot like Paul Newman in Hud or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Or maybe it's just the hat. RE: REAL coffee creamer!Indeed noelani, perhaps some of them would have been appalled, but then again I remember having seen more than a few articles, newsreels, cartoons, and such from this time period touting the postwar world of the future where people would no longer have to toil at menial tasks like harvesting grain and milking cows (or brewing coffee for yourself), and that science and technology would rid us of the need to bother ourselves with food preparation, or concern ourselves with things like crop pests and drought. So in fact, I think might be equally likely that time travelers from this period to ours would be more dumbfounded at our modern obsessions such as “sustainable organic” and “farm to table”! Police protection neededPearlington is west of Gulfport, my childhood home. In 1955 a 2nd grade classmate was the son of a local policeman. I remember looking through the window of their garage and seeing a row of slot machines much like the ones in this photo, though they were 25 cent slots. I had never seen so many shiny quarters. I guess my friend's dad was keeping them out of the hands of malefactors. The little decantersI agree that some of the little bottles were cream, but what about the ones that looked full of powder? Sugar? Highway 90: The jobs are gone . . .Highway 90 ran from Jacksonville, Florida, to West Texas. Can't hear the name now without thinking of Nanci Griffith's "Gulf Coast Highway," a song worth a listen. Hand me my salts!The glass salt shakers with the bumpy cross-hatching have been around forever. My mother and grandmother each had one, and the shaker I bought in college sits on my kitchen table now. The design is at least 75 years old, and still in production! Look out behind you!One armed bandits! Slot MachinesI just wish I owned one of those slot machines in the background. Today they're worth a small fortune! REAL coffee creamer!It doesn't look like those men drank their coffee black! Look at those little cream bottles! Maybe it was half and half, and not heavy cream, but you can bet that it actually came from a cow, unlike what we get, these days! I think if people from WWII era and before could see what we eat, now, they would be appalled at all of the non-food that we eat. I think they'd also be appalled by the way that coffee has become something many people don't make for themselves, but spend $8 a day to have made for them (with more artificial ingredients added). Post-script to KINES: You may be correct about a certain section of society, but not everybody. My grandfather, who was in his 30s when the picture was taken, was a dairy farmer, at the time. I'm sure he probably dreamed of something less demanding than milk a bunch of cows, by hand, every morning and evening. However, he was still around in the 90s, and he WAS appalled at some of what was passing for food! I think he, and many others, would have appreciated some of the new technology that would have shortened his work day, considerably, but he would still have wanted to have REAL food, for his labors. The only people I can imagine who would not also want that would be those born too late to have a chance to get to know what food was for millennia before they were born. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon)
Hitler's Children: 1943
... matters, especially if you're Xavier Cugat. Photo by John Vachon. View full size. Right in the district It's not surprising ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/20/2013 - 5:00pm -

March 1943. "New York. A dairy truck on 44th Street." At the Paramount, a double bill where the distinction between "on screen" and "in person" matters, especially if you're Xavier Cugat. Photo by John Vachon. View full size. Right in the districtIt's not surprising that Dunkel's butter, egg and cheese business was located at 345 Greenwich Street, as that Tribeca address is in the heart of the old butter, egg and cheese wholesaling district. These products were known as "staples," a usage which lives on in a short street called Staple Street right around the corner from 345 Greenwich. At its peak in the 1930's the district was home to over 100 wholesale businesses with thousands of employees. It began to decline in the 1950's, though the last few wholesalers held on until the 1990's. Cuchi-cuchi!For those of a certain age, if you don't know what that means...you weren't really there! I'm embarrassed to admit that I've seen "Hitler's Children." The star of this 1943 anti-Nazi gem is Bonita Granville, who later went on to produce the "Lassie" TV show. As a tiny one, I spent many a Sunday evening negotiating with my Dad over whose turn it was to watch "Maverick" or "Lassie," as they came on at the same time. I usually won. Xavier CugatThat must have been a step down from the Waldorf-Astoria. That's the side entrance of the ParamountParamount's main entrance was in the heart of Times Square on Broadway at the corner of W. 43rd Street. Opened in November 1926, it became one of the most famous theatres in the US. Xavier Cugat was in good company playing there. Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Eddy Duchin, Glenn Miller and Guy Lombardo all performed there at the height of their careers. Frank Sinatra, the Andrews Sisters and the Ink Spots sang there. The 3,664-seat Paramount was originally owned by William Fox and contained one of the largest pipe organs the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, NY, ever built. It contained 36 sets of pipes and weighed in at around 33 tons. It still exists in the Century II Center in Wichita, Kansas. The Paramount closed in 1966. The interior space was remodeled to accommodate various businesses. One of them, the Hard Rock Cafe, still uses the Paramount's massive marquee. Samuel Dunkel & Co.Samuel Dunkel & Co. and Sondra Egg Products Corp. were found guilty in 1943 of “conspiring to defraud the United States of approximately $650,000 by delivering under contracts with Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation about 650,000 pounds of rejected egg powder and falsely representing that it had been tested and found to comply with the terms and conditions of the contracts.” They were also convicted of conspiring “to defraud the United States by obtaining the payment of certain false claims.” The sentences included fines and jail time. Slight CorrectionThe small marquee in the photograph was actually located on the north side of West 43rd Street just west of Seventh Avenue, not 44th Street. The stage door and the loading entrance was located on the south side West 44th Street, just west of Seventh Avenue The Hard Rock marquee is a repro, the original having been destroyed when the building was converted to offices in the mid 60's. Not too shabby for a repro. Special Added AttractionMy most vivid recollection of the Paramount Theatre was back in the early 1950s, they were showing the film "The Lemon Drop Kid". I was there with a few friends just killing time before cruising the Times Square area later that night looking for whatever. After the movie ended, the mighty organ could be heard as the stage rose up from its pit. I sort of remember Johnny Long as the band leader. An announcer introduced a special guest, Bob Hope. He was there to promote the film and he read the monologue that he would use on his radio show that week. It was better than the movie. I guess Mr. Dunkelwas a real butter and egg man! Finally, one of mine!That's a 1941 Dodge Luxury Liner peeking out behind the truck, probably a coupe, with the uncommon factory turn signals and fog lights, plus a radio. It's a very fine, if somewhat mundane, car. Its flathead Six and Fluid-Drive transmission offer smooth, quiet, and may I say, leisurely, performance. Let's RockIn 1958, my friend Billy and I took the subway into Times Square. We saw The Allen Freed Rock and Roll show at the Paramont (it also was at the Brooklyn Fox). The show had a whose who of headliners at the time. His co-host was Murry the K (Kaufman). What a great time. Paramount marquee restoration...was paid for by the World Wrestling Federation of all things. They had their restaurant there for a few years before moving out. Really good burgers and lots of rasslin' merchandise if you were into that sort of thing. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Movies, NYC)
Walnut & Fourth: 1940
... is all it says here. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Modes of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/03/2019 - 4:02pm -

April 1940. "Des Moines, Iowa" is all it says here. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Modes of DeliveryI can't stop looking at the delivery van that is turning the corner. That doesn't seem to be a common design but looks very similar on top to the modern UPS trucks with the skylights in the back. Having walked the streets of Des Moines on many lunch hours I have come across bits of railroad track protruding from the ground where the asphalt has crumbled in the winter. This is the first picture that I have seen of those very tracks. Additionally, I keep a Des Moines Railway Co. fare token in my pocket that my grandmother gave me. I thought it was such a neat piece of the past and I'm glad to finally see a picture of those services in action. Attached is a picture of that very token. Streetcars and "Curbliners"While there is evidence in this photo that tracks are being removed, streetcars ran for another 11 years in Des Moines. They were replaced with electric trolleybuses (example below) uniquely named "Curbliners" in a contest; they lasted until the mid-1960s. Des Moines has an interesting history in urban transportation that you can check out here. Mr. Sole Must Be Lonely In this highly automobile-populated photo that includes a Buick dealership, it seems odd that (beyond the dealership premises) there is nary a Buick to be seen except for the 10-year-old sedan in the oncoming lane near the fire hydrant. [It was Des Moines' Sole Buick. - Dave] Hotel RowWhen completed in 1930 the new 12-story Kirkwood Hotel (left) became Des Moines' third "skyscraper hotel," in addition to the two 11-story 1919 additions, the Hotel Fort Des Moines to the west and the Hotel Savery (top center). The Kirkwood, where I had lunch with the federal judge for whom I clerked every day he sat in Des Moines, remains but has been converted to apartments. The Savery has reopened as a chain hotel after a long renovation. The office building between the Kirkwood and Savery hotels is 1916's Valley National Bank building, which was imploded in March 1981 and replaced by Capital Square. Memories of a time I never knewMy parents were both in Des Moines as students in 1940. They met the following year, and were married in December of 1942; my dad was then in the Army and headed overseas. They both remembered their years in Des Moines fondly, and it makes me happy to think that they were somewhere close by on the very day this photo was taken. Progress is coming.There is an extra wire for Curbliners, but only over the track with the trolley car, not in the other direction. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, John Vachon, Streetcars)
Dakota Station: 1940
... Aberdeen, South Dakota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Correction ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/18/2019 - 8:31pm -

November 1940. "Schulstad boys listening to radio. Aberdeen, South Dakota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. CorrectionThat's Baby Snooks not Spooks. I always thought that belief that people of my (raised on radio) generation always looked at the radio while listening was baloney since my mom, dad and I didn't, but apparently some did. At this time of year back then I would have been pouring over the Lionel train section of the Western Auto catalog while listening to Tom Mix or Tennessee Jed. Entertainment CenterThere's not only a radio but there's a magazine rack, and temperature and humidity. Staton's StationAll through my childhood, I misread/misheard this as the name of the great jazz vocalist Dakota Staton. I think I assumed she took her name from a railroad stop. And the back-then-popular picture... by Gainsborough on the wall. I can't tell you how many of those pictures I've seen in antique shops over the years. PostureNice to see that the ubiquitous slouching in a chair has remained unchanged. These kids did it, I did it, and now my daughter does it. What a difference three years makeMy wife, who is only three years older than me, has trouble believing that people actually sat and watched the radio. In 1950 I was five, and I remember sitting in front of the radio with my sisters, eating popcorn and "watching" Baby Snooks, Beulah, the Lone Ranger, and lots more. We really saw the programs in our minds. By the time she grew old enough to remember home entertainment her family had a television, and she only thinks of radio in terms of music. Our radio was in the corner like that and there was an ashtray and magazine rack just like in the picture. I probably had holes in my shoes too. PinkieThe painting (a reproduction of course) above the radio is by Thomas Lawrence, and is a painting of the 11 year old Sarah Goodwin Barrett Moulton (1783-1795), aka "Pinkie". She was the aunt of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 1934 Sparton Radio1934 Sparton brand radio made by the Sparks-Withington Company from Jackson, Michigan. Baby SnooksI restore old radios like the one shown and listen to a fair bit of old-time radio on them (with my own short-range transmitter). A lot of the dramas, cowboy, and detective shows hold up OK, although the level of violence is amazing. The comedies, aside from a few very rare exceptions like Jack Benny or the Great Gildersleeve, don't. Many of them are rather painful to hear, like Lum and Abner, where *absolutely nothing happens, funny or otherwise* and the pace is usually glacial. Below, Ozinor mentions Baby Snooks -- Fanny Brice pretending, very unconvincingly, to be a small child. By far the worst, utterly excruciating. And it just goes on and on. I have heard better humor at a Cub Scout play. My late father told me the same thing, almost completely unbidden, when he was talking about old-time radio -- which he referred to as just "radio". Apparently his dad routinely threatened to shoot the radio when Baby Snooks came on, but apparently my grandmother loved it, so they always had to sit through it, apparently while making snide comment after snide comment. Fun guy, my dad. Pinkie's niecePinkie "was the aunt of Elizabeth Barrett Browning," who it seems was not the inventor of the machine gun after all. Radio's Visual EffectsWith respect to Ozinor's post, I was born in 1943 and experiencing Radio is one of my earliest memories of media contact. Radio for my generation has visual subjective closure patterns. I have friends born in the late 1940s and early 1950s and their first media experiences were typically television based and television doesn't have a visual subjective closure pattern. Nor does the telephone, another low-definition medium I never took much interest in. TV and telephone involves all of the subjective sensory closure patterns in low definition, and all-at-once, whereas radio involves the subjective visual sense in high definition (resolution) while engaging the non-verbal auditory receptors for frequency and vibration. I've never had any interest in television. High definition media like radio, print, cinema and photography have been my most enjoyable media experiences. I have memories of thisI was 6 years old then. On the floor listening to the serial shows. Same holes in my shoes. Less than a month later, Pearl Harbor. DonaLee, the little girl next door, was crying 'cause her dad was in the Navy. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Berrien Bunkhouse: 1940
... only unmarried Negroes." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Not the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/19/2020 - 9:34am -

July 1940. Berrien County, Michigan. "Old barn used as bunkhouse for migrant fruit pickers from the South. This grower employs only unmarried Negroes." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Not the HiltonBut better accommodations by far than those endured by the man with his sons and (I assume) his wife, living and sleeping in the back of a truck. But what is that black hairy-looking stuff on the walls? Soot WebsThose webs are actually caused by charged particles of debris floating in the air that are leftover from whatever they have been cooking on the stove. This is common to see in homes that have had a fire loss or you can find them in the homes of heavy smokers. They look creepy but it's just science doing its thing. Consider this a benefit of fire and mold remediation classes. The sad thing is, in a fire loss, clean-up companies and claims adjustors have to continually let distraught insureds know that it's not because they didn't keep their house clean, but because of the smoke that was present in the fire. Here's one of many resources put out by ServPro that explain this phenomenon: https://www.servproofnortheastwichita.com/blog/post/100600/fire-smoke-da... Tangled websI believe the "black hairy-looking stuff" JennyPennifer inquired about is an accumulation of soot-covered cobwebs. The major cause of the soot, of course, is visible at right. At least they'll stay warmYes, these are better accommodations than were provided for a lot of the migrant families we've seen on Shorpy. They even have a stove. So I wonder, was it easier for the unmarried migrant workers to get the best paying jobs with the better housing? Although the poor gentleman in the polka-dot socks is in desperate need of a new pair of shoes. [Wives and kids require extra housing. Hence the preference for bachelors. - Dave] Much we still don't knowI question Tamara's statement that these bachelors obtained the best paying jobs for this work. They were also selected because they were negroes. From what I know about 1940s America, a negro work crew would have been paid less than a white one … or charged more for lodging, food, etc. I understand migrant workers with families have less personal time to devote to themselves. Still, I am struck by how well groomed are these four men. Each one is clean shaved, except the one mustache, which is neatly trimmed. Their hair is neatly cut. Maybe they helped one another keep groomed? Well groomedThey work hard during the day but still have hopes of getting lucky at the nightly dances! They need to look nice. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon)
Pit Stop: 1940
... County, Michigan." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/01/2018 - 7:37pm -

July 1940. "Migrant fruit workers from Louisiana fixing flat tire along the road. Berrien County, Michigan." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The problem is deeperIf it were just a flat tire, why would he need to touch the wheel hub? Safety First...or as Mike Rowe from "Dirty Jobs" would say, "It's at least in the Top 10 there somewhere!" I'm glad they have that rock blocking the front wheel to keep that Ford from rolling away. It also looks like they'll be doing this again on down the road. Those tires appear to be the "Maypop" brand. You know, as in "they may POP at any time!" Brake/break job.This Model A Ford is in decent shape having lost a few items over the years such as horn, center bumper clamp, license plate clamps. Note the license plate was digging into the radiator, so it was moved to the side. The wheels are from a 1930-1931 Ford. This example is the 1928-1929 type, a Tudor in Ford parlance. Expensive tripLooks like they had to replace the front right tire outright already on this trip. Others look like they're getting their money's worth. Berrien County is still a good fruit growing region--I grew up going downstairs almost every night for a mason jar of fruit my mom had canned after buying it for a very reasonable price. They're even getting some decent wineries after moving away from growing Concord grapes for bum wines for a long time. The JobI picked cherries in MI as a kid in the mid 50s. If nothing changed, they make you pick the whole tree (not just the easy cherries), and punched a ticket for every full bucket you gave them. The punches turned into money when you turned in the ticket. You could eat as many cherries as you wanted. This didn't turn out to be as many as you might think. And more to fixlooks like someone lost the little wire clips that hold the headlight lenses in place last time they got new bulbs! With the randomly oriented lenses, they are probably seeing only treetops and wandering possums at night. A remarkable number of Shorpy migrant and depression era pictures include '28-9 Fords -- they were the national standard for cheap and reliable used cars. [Also MIA: the passenger-side headlamp visor. - Dave] The George McFly lightBack when sealed-beam headlamps were secured by two adjusting screws and one strong spring (that is to say, only three decades ago), I used to joke that if you lost the spring, and the headlamp pointed into the treetops, you could spot Marty McFly's dad in time to stop. Safety rule , avoid pinch pointsI hope that vehicle was blocked up securely and not just held up by a jack . They have a rock under the front right tire to stop forward motion. But judging from the tension on his forearms he's pulling hard on the hub or brake assembly . The rock is not going prevent sideways movement . This is while exposing his legs which are under the vehicle . No need to remove the wheelOn the Model A (and probably other cars of the period) could change tires or repair tubes without removing the wheel. I've done it a few times. Joke's on RussiaThe Russian government showed their people the movie "The Grapes of Wrath" so they could see how bad things were in America. Instead, the Russian people were very impressed that even poor people in America owned cars. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, On the Road)
Hop In: 1937
... Uncaptioned photo from a batch of 35mm negatives taken by John Vachon in the fall of 1937 in Annapolis, Maryland, and Newport News, Virginia. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/06/2012 - 5:39am -

Uncaptioned photo from a batch of 35mm negatives taken by John Vachon in the fall of 1937 in Annapolis, Maryland, and Newport News, Virginia. The car, a Cord convertible, would be worth around a zillion bucks today. View full size. Suped-upAh, the Cord convertible. In "Anybody Can Do Anything," a sequel to "The Egg and I," Betty MacDonald writes about the cream-colored Cord convertible her brother owned, and how the family would go for rides on weekends until they couldn't afford the gas. Then the Cord became part of an intricate series of trades that I think ended up with him acquiring a house. I found this interesting, from Wikipedia: Supercharging was made available on the 1937 812 model. Supercharged 812 models were distinguished from the normally aspirated 812s by the brilliant chrome-plated external exhaust pipes mounted on each side of the hood and grill. With supercharging, horsepower was raised to 170. It was too late to save Cord, but the contraction "Suped" (referring its supercharged engine) lived on in American lexicon as the hot-rodding phrase "Suped-Up." [To be taken with a grain of salt. The expression is "souped up" -- for which Webster's gives an entirely different derivation. - Dave] A Gazillion Equals $75,0001937 Cord 812 Convertible Must be that "new math"It seems that $75K only gets you the original steel body, with all mechanicals replaced with modern equipment. A complete original will go well into 7 figures. There's a nice original yellow '37 here in my hometown that I see at the post office or court house now and again, owned by a local retired grocer (who owns more than 60 cars of similar caliber). Another pricey car I see frequently is a '37 Auburn boattail convertible used as a daily driver by a retired auto dealer. (I'd hate to see his insurance bill). Our smirking driver here is no more attractive than the grocer's daughter whom I dated in high school, with a face too high a price to pay daily for a chance to inherit even that collection. $185kThere is a nicely restored '37 Cord Phaeton currently in Hemmings for $185k. http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/cord/810/1412757.html Thought balloon"That's right, my car is better than yours." Of course,it's not a doozy! Tom Mix had oneA nice supercharged 37 went for 130k at last fall's auction in Hershey. I believe it was a former AACA winner from the 70's, but still a 90+ point car on the CCCA scale. Tom Mix had one of these and it still exists and has been restored. Front Wheel DriveOne of the most important features of this car is the front wheel drive. It is one of the few front wheel drive American cars made before WWII that were produced in any appreciable quantity (1,146 in 1937). The Cord 812s with superchargers are even rarer (less than 200 built over two years). Cost in 1937 was $2,560. Prices today vary depending on condition, originality, presence of a supercharger, provenance, options, etc., but expect to pay $200,000 - $275,000 for a supercharged exampled in very good condition. InsuranceOldFogie wonders below about insurance premiums. One of my colleagues restored Studebakers. I asked him about insurance, and he said it was quite reasonable. The impression I got is that insurance companies figure collectors/restorers are good risks. Can any of you more knowledgeable guys/gals chime in on this? A first and a last.This car was noted for being an early front wheel drive vehicle but it was also one of the last cars to be designed entirely by one man. Gordon Buehrig was the designer's name. He was also responsible for Auburn's boat tail speedster and many other notable design concepts. And blinking headlamps, too.Aside from the front wheel drive, another innovation is the disappearing headlamps. Geo might have a point about insurance for collectors as good risks. I pay $56 a month, full coverage, for a fleet of vintage Jaguars and one vintage Cadillac (no accidents, ever). Most I know pay far more for a single car. But I'm betting insurance on a real classic *driven as a daily driver* would be considerably higher than for one infrequently driven (a point my insurance agent checks annually with odometer readings). Quotes for my insurance varied by a factor of 20. Timeless beauty The 810/812 series Cords replaced the disastrous L29s. Errett Lobban Cord wanted a car bearing his name. Front wheel drive. On the cheap. Thus, it was decided the straight eight Auburn motor would be used in order to save the R and D costs associated with a new engine. The result was that the normal front to rear sequence of engine, transmission and differential was simply reversed in the L29. From the front it became differential, transmission, and the very long straight eight. The car was engineered by the one and only Harry Miller, and design was under the supervision of Auburn chief designer Al Leamy. Industrial designer Brooks Stevens worked up a stunning one off L29. Functionally the cars were a disaster, as the long wheelbase put very little weight over the front drive wheels. Uphill movement, especially in the rain, became hazardous because there was so little traction. The wheels would slip, and frequently ignore any attempt at turning. The model lasted two years, I believe. By the time the beautiful Buehrig ‘coffin nose’ masterpiece came to market, engineered and designed to perfection, it was too late. The depression pretty much did the car and the Auburn, Cord Duesenberg Company in. I understand Cord was in England settled in for the long haul, as the Securities and Exchange folk wanted to talk with him. Buehrig eventually ended up at Ford, where he had a hand in designing the lovely 56 Lincoln Mark II, among other cars. It’s a rare ‘most beautiful cars ever’ list one will see that doesn’t include the Cord 810/812s. They’re timeless. InsuranceCollector Car insurance is pretty reasonably priced (compared to the value of the vehicle). It's generally based upon very limited street usage, with severe limits to the number of miles that the car can be driven. Unfortunately, things like Cords tend to mostly be trailer queens these days, with the majority of their miles put on during tours before or after car shows. (Thus speaketh the car show judge) Old Car InsuranceTo chime in on this subject, most collectable and antique vehicles (25 yrs. old and older) are insured by companies that specialize in this coverage. They agree on a stated value, and limit annual mileage to 2500 miles (this may vary depending on the insurer). This coverage will not allow the vehicle to be a daily driver, just what would be considered normal driving to car shows, swap meets, cruise nights, and the occasional spin around town. Because of these restrictions, the cost of insurance is very reasonable. As OldFogie noted, driving one of these classics "every day" is a different story. You would have to find a mainstream company to agree to a stated value and then pay through the nose, I'm sure! So he was an artistRE: "Buehrig eventually ended up at Ford, where he had a hand in designing the lovely 56 Lincoln Mark II" -- interesting point I did not know. I liked that Lincoln, and only that Lincoln. It seemed rather out in left field compared to Ford's other production. His hand in it explains that anomaly. Stars with CordsThere's a much circulated Internet photo of the happily-married Hollywood stars Joan Blondell & Dick Powell in their Cord convertible, taken about 1937 looking both glamorous & prosperous. Also, cowboy star Tom Mix met his untimely demise speeding through Arizona while driving his Cord convertible in 1940, when an unsecured heavy metal suitcase slammed into the back of his head. TM's restored car survives and was recently featured in an Antique Automobile Club magazine article. Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg FestivalBorn in Motown, having a father that loved autos and then living in South Bend, Indiana from 1970-79 afforded my family the opportunity to visit Auburn during the Labor Day weekend "Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Festival" in its infancy in the early 70s when I was about 10 or 11. My dad's territory (he was a salesman for Belknap Hardware, a Louisville-based hardware wholesaler) was northern Indiana and SW Michigan and had heard through the grapevine about a classic car festival and auction at Auburn High School. We were off! The museum is a wonderful tribute to art deco architecture and for anyone passing through Fort Wayne or with an appreciation for the classics, this is a must see. Though I would highly recommend attending during the Labor Day weekend. Studebaker was but a distant memory for South Bend even in the 70s. We moved back to Detroit in the 80s and visited Auburn during the festival a few times since. It has grown considerably in size and attendance and a few years ago went through tough times with the auctioneer being accused of not paying sellers after their vehicles sold. Auburn is where dad taught his daughter true appreciation for--and identification of--the classics. My favorite is indeed the Auburn Boattail Speedster! Invitation to the pastIt's as if this lady is beckoning us to come back in time and take a ride in this classic car. The chrome is pristine, the paint glows. The leather is soft and supple. The finely tuned engine purrs with restrained power. Take a ride and relish an era before plastics and electronics rob us of the soul of the machine. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Tattooing & Curios: 1941
... Norfolk, Virginia." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/24/2020 - 10:43am -

March 1941. "Tattoo parlor on West Main Street. Norfolk, Virginia." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. 'Cowboy' LuttrallLooking at the names on that wrestling bill and I suspect 'Luttrall' is Clarence 'Cowboy' Luttrall who was involved in Jack Dempsey's 'comeback' in 1940. SI has the story here. And they spell it 'Luttrell' which seems to be a common variation. Luttrall went on to bigger and better things, he founded Championship Wrestling From Florida later in the decade. OTOH, Cowboy Luttrell/Luttrall has no Virginia bouts listed in the wrestling database so this one may be a local. Something weird about the addressCaptions says "West Main Street. Norfolk, Virginia", and the number in the window shows 433, but West Main Street is only one block long. 433 West Main would be about two blocks into the Elizabeth River. Perhaps someone can shed some light on this. East Side, West Side, All Around The TownNorfolk’s 1940-50s West Main Street was about a block long, from Granby Street to the waterfront; East of Granby Street were several blocks of notorious East Main Street’s rundown two-story tattoo parlors, pawn shops, and bar after bar, one more rowdy than the next. If you walked in to one of them with the wrong ship’s patch on your shoulder, chances were high that you would be carried out! All gone now, replaced with fancy marble-faced office complexes, but this once-young sailor’s memories remain (*sigh*). Let us out of here!Those tools look like they're screaming to get out of there. Like puppies in a pet shop window. I'm fairly certain that's what the man is thinking as well. $60 and $600I was interested to read in the shop window that they offer tattoo removal. I'm not a big fan of tattoos, which makes me even more of a dinosaur. I've always appreciated my cousin's argument with her teenagers against them getting tattoos. She asked them: "You like that shirt you're wearing? Do you think you'll still want to wear that shirt in 20 years? If not - you don't need to get a tattoo." The above amounts are what a friend paid to have a tattoo put on her leg … and to have it removed. A victim of urban "renewal"Alas, federal tax dollars encouraged many cities to demolish much of what we now recognize gave them their character. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Norfolk,_Virginia Not surprisingly, many minority and mixed neighborhoods were hardest hit. Certainly true here in DC where I now live. Party favorOne of my father's young officers had a tattoo removed by having the thing literally cut out with several layers of skin. Apparently it was too big and vivid to cover or bleach and it featured an old girlfriend's name, so it was that or a divorce. Occasionally, when it was his turn to host an officers' get-together, he would over-imbibe (old Army, plenty of that going around), bring out the jar of formaldehyde in which the excised graphic floated, and show it around. The wives were not amused, his in particular. I was but a callow adolescent, so I once suggested it might have been easier to have his wife change her name. Unfortunately, she overheard my helpful comment; thenceforth, they restricted their invitations to adults. (The Gallery, Bizarre, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Blinds, Frames: 1940
... Iowa. Sash and door mill." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. It's a Vachon-a-rama here at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/01/2010 - 8:17pm -

April 1940. "Dubuque, Iowa. Sash and door mill." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. It's a Vachon-a-rama here at Shorpy, thanks to high-resolution versions of this photographer's 35mm work being recently made available online by the Library of Congress. View full size. A good smokeI'm old enough to recall the billowing smokestack being a symbol of prosperity. Farley & LoetscherThis is the Farley & Loetscher Manufacturing Company at 750 White Street. The building is still standing, but the original parapet has been covered over, along with the tops of the upper row of windows, and the painted wording on the upper edifice has been sandblasted off leaving a row or lighter colored bricks encircling the structure. A recent photo of the building is below. Farley & Loetscher was originally founded by Christian Loetscher in 1875. By 1879 Jesse Farley had joined the firm, and he had invested $85,000 for the firm's new building. The company grew to such an extent that it eventually had it's own electrical plant and telephone system. The wood, shavings, and sawdust leftover from the manufacturing processes was gathered up, shredded, and then fed into a furnace to heat the various plants. Their buildings, except for a few warehouses, were all interconnected by a series of bridges over the city roads. Employment eventually peaked at 1,250, but increasing wages and lower demand for millwork eventually caused the firm to be purchased in 1960 by Clear Fir Sales Company. The firm ended production in April 1962. An advertisement form the 1939 Dubuque city directory below shows the wide array of products available from the firm. The Encyclopedia Dubuque states that the firm made the millwork for the Navy torpedo boat Ericsson and Revenue Cutter Windom, the interior of the Willard Hotel in Washington, and the outer doors of the main chambers of the U.S. Supreme Court, in addition to many other structures. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Parochial Playground: 1940
... Dubuque, Iowa." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Ball I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/27/2019 - 3:34pm -

April 1940. "Catholic church and schoolyard. Dubuque, Iowa." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. BallI never learned how to throw a ball because no one ever taught me, not my father, not any gym teachers. The boys were shown how, but not the girls. (That was back in the sixties. My daughter, a decade ago, was taught how to throw a ball by her female gym teacher.) So it doesn’t surprise me to see the boys and girls in separate parts of the schoolyard, playing different games. But I do feel for the girl in the plaid dress on the left, passing by the wall of the church, casting a glance over at the boys and their ball game. At least I think it’s a ball game. How would I know? That Swingset and the NunLooks like the good sister is strung up vigilante-style. A little eighth-grade justice for those rulers-on-the-knuckles. Hula Hoops and MarblesI attended grade 6 at the old Brown public school on Avenue Road in Toronto for six weeks before our family moved to Australia for five years in 1958. The rear of the school had signs over two of the doorways: BOYS and GIRLS. The north half of the school yard was populated by only the boys who played marbles. The south half was filled with girls playing with hula hoops. No one dared cross the imaginary line that separated the two areas. When it was time to go into the school, a teacher appeared at a doorway and rang a large, brass bell, and we all filed in through the appropriate entrances. Our classroom had old row desks with inkwells and dip pens, and the teacher brought out a leather strap to maintain order. Impressive schoolyardThe Catholic schoolyard of my youth consisted of the unadorned, asphalt covered church parking lot. This one has the luxury of a genuine dirt surface -- a little dusty perhaps, but less likely to produce abrasion holes in school uniforms. The swings and other equipment appear to be accessible to everyone outside of school hours. But then I'm a BaptistThe swingset nun has me doing an imaginary running-scared routine down through the years, what with her Grim Reaper-like garb. She was probably a nice lady but that's simply terrifying. And I never spent a single minute in a Catholic school. Now a Parking LotNo more swing sets. Now a parking permit is required. It says so right on entrance sign. Saint Columbkille'sI believe this must be the playground of Saint Columbkille’s elementary school (né Saint Vincent’s Academy, 1879). The Saint Columbkille parish next door purchased Saint Vincent’s elementary and high schools from the founding Sisters of the Presentation of the BVM in 1930 for $35,000 and the facility has been in almost continuous use as a school ever since. Today, Saint Columbkille’s is a K-5 facility and part of Holy Family Catholic Schools. Skinned knees and torn skirtsThe Catholic school I went to in Detroit in the '60s was surrounded by city streets and black-topped parking lots. At lunchtime, these were blocked with sawhorses or pylons so we could play. We were broken up by grade, not boy/girl, and the fortunate ones were in the center courtyard. I think they were largely 4th graders in there. My knees were bare between the hem of my skirt and the top of my knee socks and I don't recall having anything BUT scabs on them from 1st to 6th grade from falling on that city cement while playing hopscotch, jumping rope or touch football. Not exactly St. Patrick'sThose kids are playing in the dirt yard of a real-life cathedral, St. Raphael's, of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, an example of a cathedral that mainly functions as a local parish catering to the local population. The school closed in 1976 and the yard is now a (paved) parking lot. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids)
A Drink for Baby: 1943
... Carolina en route to Charlotte." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Easy Peasy ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/31/2017 - 7:45pm -

March 1943. "Melvin Cash, truck driver, putting water in his radiator along U.S. Highway 29 in North Carolina en route to Charlotte." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Easy Peasy Nice and EasyI'll take the jacket, the hat and the water bucket. I'd take the truck too but parking could be a challenge. I love SHORPY -- it never fails to deliver. Truck IDBrown; in house make of Associated Transport. [The tractor is a circa 1938 Corbitt in Horton Trucking livery. Some of these were rebadged as Browns after Horton entered into the Associated Transport merger. - Dave] Sealed beam conversion?Hayslip, looking at the size of the headlight buckets versus the headlights, I'm wondering if it has been fitted with a sealed beam conversion. One big advantage that came with the advent of sealed beams was that the lamps were a universal 7-inch size that would fit anything. It was much easier to replace the lamp after it burned out, and replacing one after taking a hit from a stone meant you didn't have to try to find parts specific to your vehicle - especially important for over-the-road trucks. The REAL movers and shakersThis comment may seem off-topic, but I'd like to acknowledge all the truckers and railroad workers that often provided a bright spot to the day for many youngsters, me included, at least in the 1940's and 50's since we walked everywhere including to school, church, movies, the park, etc. It was such a kick for a kid to see a big rig coming down the road and know that if he just put up his arm and pretended to pull a rope, that the congenial trucker would blast on his air horn just for us. Likewise, if a train was passing by and we could see the engineer or the caboose man, they would wave and blow their whistle and make one feel important. Yes, I was a sometimes lonely, small town kid, usually walking alone everywhere, but these men made me feel like I had some influence in the world. It was a feeling of mutual respect on both sides and I salute and thank them all for taking the time to acknowledge the requests of all the powerless children everywhere who enjoyed immensely causing the instant reaction from the vehicle's operator. I know the work of truckers and railroaders is grueling and often taken for granted but they made the day for many kids and brought everything people needed to remote villages and towns across the country and they still do. Thanks guys. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Ready for Liftoff: 1938
... in Greenhills, Ohio." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. What a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2017 - 2:46pm -

October 1938. "Playground in Greenhills, Ohio." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. What a contrast!From the wild abandon of the flying girl on the left to the doubly-attended young sir on the right receiving drink service on the swing. What a little swinger!It looks like she could fall and break her neck any second while everyone is just ignoring her! Taking FlightI guess one is flying coach and the other first class. Not just for trousers.The lady on the right is wearing the most peculiar skirt. The waistband is almost up underneath her bust. At first I thought that fabric around her natural waist was the bottom of her shirt, but it looks like a piece of the same fabric that made her shirt, fashioned into a belt of sorts. I've never seen a high-waisted skirt before. I wonder if it functioned like a girdle to smooth her shape and give her a flatter midsection. You can tell it's all one piece (the skirt) by following that dark seam, possibly a zipper, up from right alongside the knot in her "belt." Young risk takerI guess gravity and centrifugal force kept her feet on the seat. The slack in the chain is worrisome though. Good timing on the picture taking. Swing it!Looks exactly like the swings they used to have at Alice Keith Park in Beaumont, Texas, hard wood plank seats and all. We would try and swing high enough to get parallel with the top of the frame, and when we got tired, would slow down and get a good jump off the swing into the sand. Of course, you had to scramble out of the way so you wouldn't get bopped in the head by the returning swing seat. Someone's going to end up cryingIn my youth, we did that on a routine basis, and were convinced we could get it all the way around with a little more effort. That was before I got a degree in physics, clearly! That slack chain is going to cause a vertical drop and no rotation, or even further over on her back, followed by a very abrupt shock when it finally comes to the end of the chain, snapping her forward sharply. I know, I did it (about 50 years ago). She will be very lucky to even hold on, maybe going onto the back of her head from about that height. Indulging the kidThe Crown Prince enjoys a cool beverage and two ladies in waiting while the little Wallenda girl goes on her merry way, fearless and free, undeterred by a glass ceiling. Top of the World MaAfter a day of swimming (One thin dime admission price) at the Clifton Park Pool a park with similar swings was our first stop on the walk home. Nobody ever made the loop which we thought was possible but it was not for lack of effort that we didn't. After the try to go in orbit it was time for Twisties. Two boys would turn the swing around while the Twistee would patiently wait while making sure he didn't caught in any twist. When it was as tight as it could get the two Twisters would shove the swing as it began it's untwisting. The Twistee got a wild side to side spinning ride which compared to many carnival rides and gave all of us a cheap non-alcoholic high. After that it was time for Battle Royal in which we all stood on the swings and made them go sideways in hopes we would knock off the boy next to us. Knockoffs very seldom happened but it sure was fun trying. After about an hour there plus the 4 to 6 hours we spent at the pool we would finally walk the mile and a half home debating the things 10 year old boys always talked about ... Could Batman beat up Superman? Could Captain America cause Spiderman to get caught in his own web? Were Fords better than Chevrolet? Was Gene Autry a better cowboy than Roy Rogers? Along the mile and half walk home we never got tired and surely loved those happy carefree days. PS. We were always tired when we had to cut our small postage stamp lawns but if Mister Hancock offered us a quarter to do his we got a surge of energy. Same thing after a snow we were too fatigued to shovel our walk but Mr Hancock's was a snap. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids)
City Terminal: 1941
... vegetables at city terminal." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Gulf Tower ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/31/2020 - 9:25pm -

June 1941. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "Carloads of fruits and vegetables at city terminal." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Gulf TowerSo prominent then at 44 stories, lost in a sea of taller brothers now. Which boxcar goes where?How did they ever figure it out. Either people were a lot smarter or they had more fingers and toes back then. Each boxcar has a number and paperworkRailroads "group" freight cars in trains by destination. Each car had (and has) a multi-digit car number. Each loaded car has paperwork called a waybill. Freight train conductors and the switching foremen get copies. A buddy of mine used to work for NY Central and check car numbers of loads placed at an A&P warehouse. The car numbers were six and seven digits long and he said, "Typos mess everything up." So every evening he would get the switch list and trudge through the warehouse sidings "checking numbers." Once in a while he found a mistake but not too often. Nowadays they use computers, computer-generated car lists and scanners in the big freight yards. Good question! Blue FlagThat metal flag clipped to the rail at the lower center of the photo is a "blue flag", so named because, yeah you guessed it, it's blue. Decades before OSHA was invented and created "lock out - tag out" safety rules for machinery in all American industry, the railroads created a similar rule protecting workers on and around locomotives and cars from unintentional movement while servicing this equipment. A blue flag is placed on the approach track, and/or at the controls of a locomotive attached to such cars, to forbid entering that track, or coupling to or moving cars on that track. The switch stand controlling entrance to that track is further locked with a blue painted padlock. Note the track switch is aligned to prohibit entrance to the flagged track. At night, a blue lantern serves the same purpose as the flag. Only the person, or foreman of a group of workers, may remove such as flag or lock. Lots of ChangesAnyone familiar with the current configuration of Pittsburgh's famous Strip District may find this photo pretty confusing. It took me a while but I think I have it figured out. The row of fairly tall industrial buildings are on the south side of what is now Smallman Street. The White Terminal building and the building just to the left still stand today between 17th and 18th streets, although the White Terminal building has been chopped up a bit. The long two-story building that extends along the north side of Smallman has to be the famous produce terminal (currently being converted into luxury condos). But that building now extends all the way to 21st Street (just out of the picture on the left) and was somehow reduced to a single story. This is what confused me, and I couldn't find anything on the web that talked about a major change. But a Google Earth view clearly shows that there is a splice in the building right around 18th. So there must have been a major modification after the war when they removed the railroad yard and the terminal switched to purely truck distribution. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Pittsburgh, Railroads)
Pies in Repose: 1940
... i like about this site; it reintroduces photographers like John Vachon and Jack Delano. Reflections on a holiday Taking the photo in the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/25/2010 - 7:23pm -

November 28, 1940. "Pumpkin pies and Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Mr. Timothy Levy Crouch, a Rogerene Quaker living in Ledyard, Connecticut." Photo by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. OriginWe finally see where the origin of the fruitcake came from. Could it be the exact same one that my mother had on the table that no one ate in 1950? The First FruitcakeI remember well the ritual of the long process of making the holiday fruitcakes from cracking nuts (in shells) to chopping candied fruit and dicing dates and finally, after it was all baked for hours, to wrapping it in brandy or rum soaked cheesecloth and storing it away in some cool spot being forbidden to cut into it before Thanksgiving. These rustic pies look and smell (I have a good imagination) incredibly tasty, and the laboriously crafted fruitcake had no idea that in less than 70 years it would become a much maligned and unwanted joke. The elderly in your audience will remember when fruitcake was a highlighted specialty of the holiday season. I understand that now they actually shoot them from cannons and use them for doorstops. As for this photo, I find it outstanding in every way, just beautiful. Thanks yet again for this warm family portrait. Mmmmm, pieeeeI can smell them! NeatoI love that wallpaper. I wonder what colour it was. Ummmm, pie!The pies look delicious. I would be willing to bet those flaky crusts were made with good old lard, too. When you talk of shortening, there wasn't anything shorter than lard. $5 on the pumpkin pie!I wonder what the folks in this wonderfully American family photo would think if they knew that 70 years later thousands of people were spending their Thanksgiving gambling at a massive casino (Foxwoods) located in the very same town? It's the kind of wallpaper that's difficult to hangIt's interesting to analyse past family festive gatherings by the relative loudness of the patterns on the wallpaper and curtains in the background. This kind of wallpaper is annoying to hang to get the patterns to line up. Could we have a sequence of photos on 'wallpaper and curtain patterns through the ages'? (The 60s and 70s seem to have been particularly loud). Family albumMore of the Crouches here. How It Was DoneThe pie in the center front brings back memories of watching my mother finish putting together pies by holding a fork upside down and pressing the tines into the pie's rim all the way around, sealing the top to the bottom and making those tiny grooves. OmigoodnessI have nothing clever or insightful to say, just want to express my appreciation to Shorpy for showing a slice of life gone forever. We are fortunate indeed to have these photos. The lively wallpaper and cloth speaks to a Quaker way of life I did not know existed--no "plainness" here. "Just shut it, Tim"The centerpiece lets me pretend it's the Missus sticking the fork in his mouth. There's something about this pictureThat is just lovely. This is what i like about this site; it reintroduces photographers like John Vachon and Jack Delano. Reflections on a holidayTaking the photo in the mirror is a great idea. RogerenesI had never heard of the Rogerene Quakers before, which surprised me, since I am a Quaker and have read quite a bit about Quaker history. A little googling shows that the Rogerene Quakers had no connection to other Quaker groups, although there was some similarity in their beliefs (particularly pacifism). They also resemble Baptists and Seventh Day Adventists. I have to say that's a lovely photo, the use of the mirror is terrific. And I would love to have a slice of that fruitcake. I don't know why they have such a bad rep. Like everything, there are good ones and bad ones, and a good one is a real treat. Compare and contrastInteresting to contrast this family with the one in Kentucky of which we saw so much earlier in the fall. I wonder if their dessert table ever looked liked this? The pies at my daughter's house yesterday looked just like these--courtesy of my ex-wife. Makes me feel guiltyI only baked two pies yesterday! I wonder what kind the two-crust pies were; apple, cherry, mincemeat? This also reminds me of a certain fruitcake my mother baked in 1967. It was kept in our extra fridge, in the utility closet. That was also where my dad's huge liquor collection resided. Mom was soaking it with bourbon every once in a while, and so was I. By Christmas that was some wonderful fruit cake! It had a lovely bourbon flavor, but didn't taste like alcohol. I hate hearing all of the maligning of fruitcakes that takes place, now! It was just like everything else; bad ones were awful, but good ones were delicious. I would bet the one in this picture was delicious! I like fruitcakeWe don't see very many people in this mirror view, but the impression is that there aren't that many. After all, the stove in a previous picture wasn't cooking cauldrons. So, six pies (at least), and a fruitcake? Wow. Those home-made pies were probably great, but still seems like a lot of pie. On the Wallpaper-Mr. Plate looks sad. Now THISis Pie Town! The wallpaperThe wallpaper really got my attention. The house we rented from 1958-63 had a very similar print washable wallpaper in our kitchen. Given that this photo was taken in 1940, then our wallpaper might have been 20 years old (or older) at the time. FROOTSCAKES!Let me at that fruitcake, man. Om nom nom nom nom! No punsAbout the large family of the rogerin' Quakers? Good, because that would be rude and tasteless. Thanksgiving 1940Thanksgiving day 1940 was November 21st, not November 28th! [It was celebrated on two different dates that year, as well as 1939 and 1941. The New England states observed the traditional fourth Thursday in November. - Dave] Cookery I can't speak for these dear people, but my family always coded two crust pies differently. The slits and occasional decorations on top denoted the contents. I would guess, a pumpkin, sweet potato, cherry, apple and peach. While that glorious molasses and candied fruit and nut bundt would wait for evening coffee and tea, foolishly ignored by the unsophisticated children, in favor of the sweeter and juicier fruit offerings. FruitcakeI never liked it until I ate my mother in law's. Now, our family demands I make it every year. Usually made two at a time to begin with so one will be ready for the next year. Then every year after, one is made and stored away while the previous year's is eaten. I have to say it is the best I've ever eaten and my family agrees. Even the kids like it. Love to see pictures like this. Brings back memories of my childhood. My mother wore her hair like that and our family Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were enormous. Lots and lots of people and food. So many, we had to eat in shifts. Such happy memories. The Timothy Levi Crouch familyThis pictures, along with several others, were taken at my great-grandparents' Thanksgiving dinner in 1940. My grandfather, one of their sons-in-law, is the gentleman with the fork in his mouth. This collection of pictures by Jack Delano is really neat, and I love to see them posted on the internet. There were 14 Crouch children living at the time this was taken, the youngest being about 12. There were definitely more people at the dinner than this picture would indicate, and most likely some of the other married children dropped in later in the day to enjoy pie. For many years the family only knew of this one picture. It wasn't until the age of internet that we discovered that there were about 20 of them along with pictures taken at the one-room schoolhouse. My mother is in pictures at both locations. She remembers the photographer being at the dinner, but she doesn't recall him being at the school. It was quite the shock when I showed her all the pictures! (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Thanksgiving)
Rocky II: 1954
... be PS 19 on First Avenue, not PS 9. (The Gallery, John Vachon, NYC, Sports) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2013 - 6:36pm -

1954. "Boxer Rocky Graziano walking streets in New York with local boys." From photos for the Look magazine article "The Fight of My Life." View full size. SignsThe beautiful street corner lamppost was typical throughout the New York City area, and were eventually replaced over the next two decades. I remember playing playing around lampposts such as this growing up in Queens in the 60s and 70s. The sign that reads QUIET School Drive Slowly is probably in reference to neighboring P.S. 60 with the back entrance on 11th Street, and the main entrance on 420 E12th Street. MeatlandAnd how did Rocky and his pals get so strong? By doing lots of shopping at "Meatland" the carnivore store behind the boxer! Looking north on First AvenueRocky and his friends are on the southeast corner of the intersection and the view is to the north along First. Many of the buildings are still there today, though needless to say they house a more upscale array of businesses than 1954's humble neighborhood stores. The building one over the head of the man in the checkered shirt and those to its right, located on the west side of First between 11th and 12th streets, were not long for the world at the time of this picture. Public School 9, the Asher Levy Campus, opened in that location in the fall of 1955. [No, that is not a mistake; in the 1950's it was still possible for the city to build a school in a year. Times certainly have changed.] Speaking of changes, this neighborhood has seen a few. In 1954 it was known as the Lower East Side and was mainly a working-class area. Nothing fancy, not by a long shot, but a decent place in which to raise a family on a workingman's salary. By the 1960's, however, it began a steady decline. It never quite became a slum, but was close. Just one block to the east, the Alphabet City neighborhood (along avenues A, B, C and D) became infested with drugs and gangs, and even in broad daylight could be dangerous. Starting around 25 years ago, however, the area seen here got much nicer. Today, generally known as the East Village, it probably houses more "Trustafarians" than working-class families. It's not surprising that Graziano looked worn-out in these pictures, as another comment noted. He fought 83 times in his 10-year professional career. That would be almost unthinkable today, when a boxer who fights four times in a year is unusually busy. Time and tideI was thinking that Rocky looked tired and out of shape in these photos, and sure enough, a web search shows his last fights in 1952. Therefore, his boxing prime was well over at this point. I remember watching him on the Martha Raye TV show where he was a regular. In Living ColorSome buildings still there. Some delivery vans updated. School on 1st AvenueThat would be PS 19 on First Avenue, not PS 9. (The Gallery, John Vachon, NYC, Sports)
Hot Wheels: 1942
... Better buy Buick! Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. No room at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/27/2022 - 3:28pm -

        After the halt of automobile production and "freeze" of car sales, these 1942 Buicks were among the last new models the public could buy until the end of the war. May 1942. "Grand Island, Nebraska. Auto dealer's window." Better buy Buick! Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. No room at the "N" Should've paid for larger lettering. [Or slightly smaller! - Dave] Brubaker Buick102 East 2nd Street is now an empty lot, but I was able to locate this memory. If you qualifyThe Office of Production Management issued an order on Jan. 14, 1942, to "stockpile" all cars shipped after Jan. 15. Cars shipped to dealers could not be sold until specific permission to sell was granted when deemed "in the public interest" but such permission probably wasn't granted earlier than January 1943. Dealers were also required to make the tires and tubes from such vehicles available to any "appropriate agency" at any time so requested. All manufacturers ended their production of automobiles on February 22, 1942. The January 1942 production quota had been a little over 100,000 automobiles and light trucks. The units manufactured at the beginning of February would bring up the total number of vehicles in a newly established car stockpile to 520,000. These would be available during the duration of the war for rationed sales by auto dealers to purchasers deemed “essential drivers.” The government’s Office of Price Administration also imposed rationing of gasoline and tires and set a national speed limit of 35 mph. During the early part of February 1942 all car owners were required to record the serial numbers of the tires on their cars and report them to the proper authorities. They also had to certify that they had only five tires and tubes for each vehicle they owned. Still available?It took me 80 years, but I finally qualify. Not Froze?And not Freezed either. And no snow in May. "Frozen" was not even a Disney dream at the time, correct as the grammar might have been. Hot cars indeed! That car?Could it be a Buick Super? The front end looks identical to some images I found online for that year/make/model. Assault on freedom?I am bemused by Geezer's report that in 1942 the U.S. government required everyone with a car to submit the serial numbers on their tires. Gives some perspective on the current "freedom"-defending North Americans attacking protective mask mandates. Doleful BuickSad-eyed appearance brings to mind a forlorn and lonely pet shop animal. Purchasing a Buick Straight Eight with city MPG in the 12-14 range and strict gasoline rationing in effect, wouldn't have appealed to the average buyer. SharksThat Buick behind the glass - collective image of the sales force behind? BTW, I love 40's car design. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Small Towns, WW2)
Bus Start: 1936
... We're not at the DC Greyhound terminal photographed by John Vachon on Christmas Eve 1941, with examples on Shorpy. The earlier terminal was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/30/2020 - 4:56pm -

Washington, D.C., 1936. "Bus transportation -- Greyhound Lines driver at station with coach bound for New York." 4x5 inch glass negative, Harris & Ewing Collection. View full size. The older old Greyhound terminalWe're not at the DC Greyhound terminal photographed by John Vachon on Christmas Eve 1941, with examples on Shorpy. The earlier terminal was two blocks west, on the south side of New York Avenue between 14th and 15th streets. In 1936 it was only three years old but getting crowded (particularly the awkward curved driveway), ready to be replaced by the Art Deco building where Vachon took his photos. Keep a lid on itI love that everyone wore hats, no matter what. And how about the bus driver's footwear? Sharp. PerfectHe looks exactly as one would expect a bus driver of his era to look. A Good StartAll shiny and ready to begin its career, this is a Model 719 Greyhound Super Coach manufactured for one year (1936) by Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company (a subsidiary of Yellow Cab started by John Hertz). See the "YC" centered beneath the windshields. Greyhound purchased 329 production models featuring 36 seats and a 6-cylinder GM gasoline engine. Model 719 introduced the high floor, underfloor luggage storage, a streamlined front, and rear engine. I suspect the small engine and lack of power steering made this a beast to drive over the small roads and narrow bridges of the period. Just one year later, the design was upgraded to Model 743 specification with air conditioning and a diesel engine. Greyhound purchased 1,256 of this model through 1939. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Coach_Manufacturing_Company Dapper Dan Man and Astounded at the InformationFirst, this bus driver is almost certainly a Dapper Dan Man. Those shoes are fantastic, the pants crease could cut steel, the hat is perfectly cocked to the side, and his hair (head and facial) is on point. Secondly, I'm am consistently amazed at the amount of knowledge Shorpy users have. There are people here like Phare Pleigh who have more knowledge on niche subjects than I have on my own children! I'm always delighted when experts and hobbyists share their lifetime of knowledge. Their passion for subjects (e.g. trains, automobiles, long-gone company ads, etc.) definitely shows. StarringFredric March? The knowledge of Shorpy ReadersI totally agree with Pastafarian75's comment about the knowledge available from Shorpy Readers. I almost fell out of my chair a number of years ago when some reader identified a typical fireplug in a street image and supplied info almost down to the make/model/serial number and the dates they were manufactured. Something's not quite right hereExpecting to see Ralph Kramden instead! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Joy Boys: 1940
... to build barracks at Camp Blanding -- and the reason John Vachon was assigned to take these photos, was the War. By December 1940, a year ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2020 - 2:22pm -

December 1940. Starke, Florida. "Soldiers Joy Cafe, newly constructed for construction workers near Camp Blanding." Acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size. It seems the wardid not stifle the production of beer or neon signs. Three fellowswaiting for a novel to be written about them. The middle guy and one on the viewer's left look like they could be related. Brothers? But the fellow in the coat and hat -- I bet they all told interesting stories when they were drunk. Does it really get cold enough in Florida for a coat that heavy? [Oh my yes. - Dave] Native Floridian at a glanceStarke is in northern Florida and this image was made in December so to a native of the state the weather is very cold. To those new in town it is Florida and 60 degrees is plenty warm -- all we need are sleeves and maybe a light sweater. It is even more obvious in South Florida when picking out Canadians versus natives at the pool in January. Canadians dive in when natives hesitate to dip a toe. Not at war yetFor you "Ice Gang", check the date of the photo, we are not at war yet. [The reason this bar was built -- to serve the hundreds of construction workers newly arrived to build barracks at Camp Blanding -- and the reason John Vachon was assigned to take these photos, was the War. By December 1940, a year before Pearl Harbor, America was heavily involved in the war effort. - Dave] Macabre meaningSoldier's Joy is a 200-year-old Scottish fiddle tune that Robert Burns eventually wrote lyrics for. His version is of a veteran who is homeless and disfigured from battle, but recounts the joy of having served in the army. During the Civil War the phrase became synonymous with morphine, as some lyrics written during that time go: "Gimme some of that Soldier’s Joy, you know what I mean, I don’t want to hurt no more, my leg is turnin’ green." Fast getawayI bet there were nightly face plants from those stairs. Best version of Soldier's Joy you'll ever hearOn the "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" album, with John McEuen ripping through the melody and Junior Huskey laying down a killer bass line. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn76byAtQ_g Jax also Builds Health!1940's Refrigerator - Tool Box Magnet, probably an ad design by Alberto Vargas. The gent on the rightLooks old enough to remember the Great War, certainly too old for active duty in the current one. A 1940 Fashion Statement?The sartorial skills in Starke are seriously lacking. But help is coming lads -- smart, fashionable and practical men's clothing will be widely available after the war. Weekend at Joy Boy'sEither the word "JOY" isn't in the fellow on the rights vocabulary or this was the idea for the comedy movie Weekend at Bernie's, 1940 style. Who built the bar?The building the bar is in looks like a barracks. I'll bet at night the neon looked really cool. Who dunnit?LOC says these Starke photos are by Marion Post Wolcott. [Oops. Right you are! - Dave] Joy BoysWell, OK, but the one on the right looks like a sourball. No joy with this dude. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Florida, M.P. Wolcott)
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