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The Metropole: 1915
... down to the bottom using kelp and saw many beautiful fish. 120V Vestiges My house in California, built in 1954, was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/08/2018 - 8:20pm -

Avalon, Calif., circa 1915. "Bathers at Hotel Metropole, Catalina Island." And yet another popcorn stand. 5x7 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. C'mon BillyLet's go over to that big sewer outfall and play! Surprise! It burned down.The Metropole continued to thrive during the early years of the 20th century, right up until the disastrous early morning hours of Nov. 29, 1915. Between 3:30 and 4 a.m., a fire started mysteriously near the rear of the hotel. Avalon’s small fire department quickly was overwhelmed by the blaze, which spread until it had destroyed fully half of the town’s hotels and buildings. Many residents were left homeless. The 1915 Catalina fire destroyed half of the resort town. The Hotel Metropole was a total loss, as were five other Avalon hotels: the Central, Bay View, Rose, Grandview and Pacific. Though no definitive cause was found, the unofficial word was that a man who lived in a small apartment at the rear of the Metropole was about to be foreclosed upon, so he set the blaze in order to get insurance money. A 52-room Hotel Metropole now stands on the site of the original structure in Avalon at the center of the Metropole Market Place development. LaddersCatalina Island: Home of the Unobtrusive Fire Escape. Clean(ish) water for me, thanks.Upon noticing the sewer pipe leading directly into the ocean water, I think I'll put up my parasol and head over to the Hotel Central for some fresh roasted peanuts. Vive le popcorn standThe list of better things to have around is far shorter than the list of worse ones. The Black Hole of CatalinaI suspect there might be a mean, vile, hideous clown waiting for some unsuspecting sunbather to come curiously walking into that drain. That's a hard nope for me! I just want to know-Is that kid on the fence coming or going? Plus 103Here’s the waterfront today. It looks pretty modern, but a visit reveals a time capsule of the 1950s. RemnantsMy wife and I visited Avalon in 2013, and, seeing the age and original condition of many of the houses, I rented a bicycle and rode up and down the back alleys in search of antiquated electrical wiring. I was not disappointed. This service switch and knob-and-tube wiring very likely dates back to 1915, and wasn't exactly best practice even then. The meter is a later replacement, from the 1940s. Catalina MemoriesI remember going to Catalina Island in the 1950s with my brother and friends in a speedboat. We swam out a way from the beach in front of the hotel, pulled ourselves down to the bottom using kelp and saw many beautiful fish. 120V VestigesMy house in California, built in 1954, was completely knob & tube when we bought it in 1969. It did have a (somewhat) more modern service entrance - two 30A main plug fuses feeding four 15 amp branches! We still have two interior walls we never opened, with k&t intact, tied into Romex in the attic. 240V actually, even as-built. Très moderne! (The Gallery, DPC, Swimming)
Drop Me a Line: 1915
... great many people stop at Broad Channel in the summer, and fish, mostly with improvised lines, from the two bridges at either end of the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/04/2011 - 10:13pm -

Queens County, New York, circa 1915. "At Broad Channel -- fishing at your front door." 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. CaughtThe lady in white hooked a plankfish! Breezy Pointon stilts. Suppose I'll have to clean that, tooIs our woman in the ruffled cap the family maid? The people around her are in a state of barely-suppressed hilarity, while she remains dour. Big Egg Marsh New York City Guide, 1939, Federal Writers' Project. The Jamaica Bay Islands, sprawled among the twenty square miles of shallow Jamaica Bay, are marshy flats on which about four thousand people dwell in comparative isolation within the corporate limits of New York City. All but two per cent live on Broad Channel island; the remainder are scattered over the Raunt and other tiny islands. Cross Bay Boulevard and the Long Island Railroad connect the region with the mainland and the Rockaways. … The few islands that are above high tide were not permanently settled until about 1880s, when a fishing village was established on Big Egg Marsh (now known as Broad Channel). Here, before the city's open sewers contaminated Jamaica Bay, fluke, flounder, weakfish, oysters, and clams were abundant. … In 1925 Cross Bay Boulevard was built, beaches were developed, and a business district sprang up. At present a great many people stop at Broad Channel in the summer, and fish, mostly with improvised lines, from the two bridges at either end of the island. On the eastern side the shore dips and curves; here the cottages are whitewashed and trim. In other sections long rows of ramshackle buildings lean over the water on their uncertain stilts. Poverty and decay marks the dirt streets and battered houses whose gardens are decorated with mounds of bleached shells. Men in sailor caps and dungarees tinker with boats, and housewives may be seen working over kerosene stoves. Vacationing in waterfront slumsPeople willingly left their homes for this? HoneydewsOne day, Jake will clean out the basement. Take The "A" TrainBehind the houses, underneath and following the line of telegraph wires, is the Long Island Railroad Rockaway Line. The LIRR line across Jamaica Bay was closed after one of the wooden trestles burned down in the early 1950s. The abandoned right-of-way was acquired by the city and reopened in 1956 as an extension of the IND 8th Ave/Fulton St line. Originally serviced by the "HH" shuttle train the line is now served by the "A" train, providing a direct, mostly express, link to midtown Manhattan. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, NYC)
Seafood City: 1943
June 1943. "A scene at the Fulton Fish Market, New York." Medium format negative by Gordon Parks for the Office ... on in Manhattan at four a.m. I've been down to the Fulton Fish Market." Tender at the Bone , Ruth Reichl, page 8 (The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/13/2012 - 8:19am -

June 1943. "A scene at the Fulton Fish Market, New York." Medium format negative by Gordon Parks for the Office of War Information. View full size. BurrrInteresting story of why it was called "The Bank of The Manhattan Company". Not the Manhattan Bank or whatever. Apparently Aaron Burr was a slimy character in colonial New York even before the revolution. He wanted to start a bank in New York (there were no banks in the Colonies at that time). He was turned down several times. Finally, he proposed a company to drill water wells in Greenwich Village. In small print hidden in the text of the proposal, was a provision that would allow the company, to be called The Manhattan Company, to lend money. Since the Manhattan company could lend money that part of the company was call its bank. They never did drill for water. Gordon's work will endureA long time ago I came across a photograph by Parks of a jazz musician. I think it was Milt Hinton (a great photographer in his own right) walking off stage after a performance. Whatever the details, I became an instant fan of Gordon Parks. While looking for more of his jazz musician photos, I discovered the enormous range of the man's talent. For whatever ‘firsts’ are worth, he was the first black guy to direct a major Hollywood film, “The Learning Tree,” 1969. I sat through the movie about four times to get a glimpse of Jimmy, ‘5 by 5,’ Rushing in a bit part. If we last that long, people will be marveling at Gordon’s work (not sure about Shaft, though)even 100 years from now. The three tall boys in the background are...The City Bank-Farmers Trust Building, the Cities Service Building and the Bank of Manhattan Trust Building. Well, that's what they were called in 1943. They're still there and still going strong. Joe MitchellAgain, I refer Shorpyites to Joseph Mitchell's "Up in the Old Hotel", a compilation of four of his earlier books which anthologize his writings from the "New Yorker". It has great pieces about the Fulton and other seaside seafood markets and restaurants. Mitchell placed third in a clam-eating tournament on Block Island in 1937 by eating 84 cherrystone clams. Re: Gordon's work will endureThe 100th anniversary of Mr. Parks's birth will be celebrated this year with exhibits all around the country. Well worth seeing one. PigFishMost mornings I got out of bed and went to the refrigerator.... One day in 1960 I found a whole suckling pig staring at me.... I was puzzled; the refrigerator in our small kitchen had been almost empty when I went to bed. "Where did you get this stuff?" I asked. "The stores aren't open yet." "Oh," said Mom blithely, ... "I woke up early and decided to go for a walk. You'd be surprised at what goes on in Manhattan at four a.m. I've been down to the Fulton Fish Market." Tender at the Bone, Ruth Reichl, page 8 (The Gallery, Gordon Parks, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Green Acres: 1937
... USA That old patched up rowboat must have brought fish home for dinner from Bartlett Lake. (The Gallery, Cats, Kids, Russell ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/22/2018 - 12:57pm -

September 1937. "Cabin of Steve Flanders, cut-over farmer near Northome, Koochiching County, Minnesota." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Ned's Grandpa?Hens love roosters, geese love ganders: Everyone else loves Ned Flanders! What's the R value of tarpaper?Looks like it could be mighty cold in that cabin in February. Tough Pioneer StockThin wood tar paper shack for a home in a place that nearly every winter gets down to 35-40 below zero! Lace Curtain... Belgian? Dutch? Radio Antenna?That single glass insulator attached to the roof peak is more likely a one wire telephone, ground being used for the return part of the circuit. It does not appear that they have electric service. Telephone was likely dry cell battery powered. The birch trees in the background are about a decade old, the 200 foot white pine virgin forest having clearcut. What is the older girl's uniform -- CCC? Northolm Northome weather today? A balmy high of 27 F. How they kept warmAt this point in time, many homeowners actually used newspaper to insulate their homes--a guy I used to work with was fascinated as he pulled old insulation/newspapers out of his 1930s era home in suburban Minneapolis. You will also hear stories of not heating the 2nd story of a home (frost on the blankets, yes), and even today, owners of older homes will put bales of straw around the base of their homes to avoid pipes freezing in the basement. I am guessing these guys did about the same. Worked 70 hours Last WeekAccording to the 1940 US Census, Steve was 59 at the time of this photograph. He had worked 52 weeks in the past year and 70 hours in the week before the census enumeration. His wife Lottie was 53, Richard was 27, Leonard was 15, Opal was 12 and Ilene 10. I'm guessing that we see Opal and Ilene. Steve owned his farm and valued his home at $150. Not an easy life to say the least. Where's Steve?He must be plowing the back 40 on the ol' Hoyt-Clagwell Opal Only Lived to Age 25Opal Irene Flanders 1924–1950 BIRTH 15 JUL 1924 • Rollag, Minnesota, USA DEATH 12 APR 1950 • Bemidji, Minnesota, USA That old patched up rowboatmust have brought fish home for dinner from Bartlett Lake. (The Gallery, Cats, Kids, Russell Lee)
DeLovely: 1904
... dropping bread in the crystal clear river and watching the fish grab the food. At the time there was an abandon, two story, wood hotel ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/04/2013 - 8:55pm -

Florida circa 1904. "DeLeon Springs near DeLand." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Looks like a decent fishin' holeI would love to throw a spinner bait across that pond! Second of two picturesSometime back you had a picture with a view of only the house on the right, along with the leaning tree with boards nailed on for a ladder. The rope across the water was also in the first picture and the overall look was one of complete isolation; no other buildings in sight. This view changes all of that with the addition of the large extended building to the left and the couple in the carriage. The water is clear and ice coldand they have a mill there where they grind flour and you can sit at these big tables and make your own pancakes. I can't recall if it was there that the big manatee would come in the winter or nearby Blue Springs, but I spent many happy times there in my youth swimming with the sunfish and being able to see all the way to the sandy bottom. Water qualityI can see the real estate ad now: The nearby pond is spring-fed, directly from the Fountain of Youth. Swimmers InvitedIn that this was taken when most 'Gators were ending up as luggage, it was probably perfectly safe to swim in this pond -- or reach, or slough or whatever. Except for the moccasins, rattlers, copperheads, and the odd nautical coral snake, of course. Not Exactly Golden PondBut we've been here before. It's a haunting location. Location, location, locationAn idyllic scene with the Spanish Moss, until you realize that the location by the pond in Florida probably has insects the size of flying tomatoes as well. Bewitchin' PoolI sure would like to go there and have some lemonade with Aunt T. Old timesI lived next to DeLeon Springs from 1958 to 1963. My grandmother worked in the gift shop, next to the 30 foot water wheel. I spent many happy days swimming in the springs and in the river. What was fun was dropping bread in the crystal clear river and watching the fish grab the food. At the time there was an abandon, two story, wood hotel at the springs. My grandmother told me it closed down when a guest had fallen through the floor because the wood was so rotted. It was all boarded up to keep people out, especially little boys. While the visitors were swimming, workers would attach two foot long "Visit DeLeon Springs" signs to the bumpers of the cars. My dad made sure the workers knew not to put a sign on our car. At the spring's parking area were peacocks, a free roving Emu and two Ostriches in a fenced in area. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Florida)
Million-Dollar Pier: 1907
... John Young's 1,700-foot pier was a deep-sea net haul of fish from the far end. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/01/2011 - 1:07pm -

Atlantic City, New Jersey, circa 1907. "Young's Million-Dollar Pier." One of the main attractions of "Captain" John Young's 1,700-foot pier was a deep-sea net haul of fish from the far end. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Where's Cinderella?I think we found her three sisters. Free Willy's ancestorsI'd be most interested in seeing the live whales. The Insignificant SumCapt. Young the proprietor is giving visitors and residents of Atlantic City the greatest array of Amusements this resort has ever attempted for the insignificant sum of ten cents. Incidentally, bear in mind, that after purchasing one admission ticket for ten cents the visitor to the Pier does not have to pay another cent for anything. It's a big free show after one enters the gates. Must have been a no hat day !!Accustomed as I am to photos of this era and the preponderance of hats on both sexes, it seems odd to see six women hatless in this photo ! Also the gentleman by the lamppost left of center looks a bit shifty as well ! Hat Hair!These ladies give new meaning to the phrase "hat hair" - nary a hat in sight except on the males! Spell check, please"...no settlement what ever OCCURD..." Hope they were better at pouring concrete than they were at spelling. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
Buffalo Dredging: 1905
... the '60s (long after this picture was taken) we boys would fish from this breakwall. The local rowing club would practice in the canal as ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/10/2021 - 4:02pm -

Circa 1905. "Waterworks and Niagara River, Buffalo, N.Y." Panorama made from three 8x10 inch glass negatives. Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Childhood memoryThe right side of this picture includes the Black Rock Canal, while the left side is the Niagara River. As a child in the '60s (long after this picture was taken) we boys would fish from this breakwall. The local rowing club would practice in the canal as well. I believe that the canal was an extension of the old Erie Canal that brought barges down from Lockport and North Tonawanda into the port of Buffalo. Wow, talk about a bygone era!! Buffalo was one of the ten largest cities in the US at the time of this picture. I'm impressedI can tell from the amount of smoke and the number of smokestacks that you are a modern, prosperous city, Buffalo! I don't see any buffaloin the dredge scoop yet. Three legged dredgerThe three legs are driven down into the river bottom. It can raise itself up and level using the three legs. Also helps stabilize its position. I have seen modern versions of this kind of dredger but didn't know the concept has been around so long. Another great Shorpy history lesson. Also kudos to either Detroit Publishing or Shorpy for the excellent job of stitching these negatives together. Spud bargeThe dredge is built on a spud barge. The legs drop by gravity and are not driven into the bottom by any other force. The barge could not jack itself up on them, as is done with some modern drill rigs. The picture appears to be taken from the Bird Island Pier, looking north along the Black Rock Channel toward the International Railway Bridge (on the left) and the Ferry Street Bridge (on the right, the old one, not the current 1914 iteration) leading to the docks on the Niagara River side of Squaw Island. Rail traffic over the international Bridge was probably over 200 trains a day at the time this photo was taken, peaking at 264 in 1916. (Panoramas, Boats & Bridges, Buffalo NY, DPC)
Sleeps With the Fishes: 1940
July 1938. "Man sleeping in the Baltimore fish market." 35mm nitrate negative by Sheldon Dick for the Farm Security ... My grandfather owned a stall in the old Baltimore fish market. My father worked there as a kid. I'm looking for any other ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/06/2018 - 9:38am -

July 1938. "Man sleeping in the Baltimore fish market." 35mm nitrate negative by Sheldon Dick for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. More from Balt MarketMy grandfather owned a stall in the old Baltimore fish market. My father worked there as a kid. I'm looking for any other images from this time period. Any leads? Thanks, Greg (The Gallery, Baltimore, Sheldon Dick, Stores & Markets)
Downtown: 1962
... world. Just out of frame on the left is the Fulton Fish Market and assorted fish related business - trawlers still land along the shore - This area was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/16/2017 - 8:56am -

March 2, 1962. "New York City views. Downtown Manhattan skyline from the Al Smith houses." 4x5 acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. Edison PowerThat tall smokestack would be the Edison Power station on Fulton Street. Long gone, but a plaque marks the spot. The Singer building still stands on the far right - it will be there for another six years. Once the tallest in the world. Just out of frame on the left is the Fulton Fish Market and assorted fish related business - trawlers still land along the shore - This area was eyed to be the location of the proposed World Trade Center, but was rejected as being too swampy - and it headed to the West Side. My homeThe buildings on the lower right - the blocks defined by Fulton, Pearl, Frankfort, and Gold Streets - are now a superblock containing Southbridge Towers, built in the early 70s, which was until recently a Mitchell-Lama affordable housing complex. Hanging in my apartment: two ancient street signs from before the streets around there were demapped. Jacob and Ferry Streets, and Pearl and Hague Streets (which was where now stands the Verizon Building, not pictured or built yet). You can barely make out the Brooklyn Bridge at the very bottom of the photo. Power StationThat tall stack on the left belongs to the Edison Power station on Fulton St. Building long gone but the station is commemorated by a plaque. NY SteamThe smokestack at left is on the New York Steam Company plant on the west corner of Water St and Burling Slip/John St. The original Edison plant was on the west side of Pearl St, a block away. In the lower left corner, Pearl St has recently been cut through to a widened Water St. The bus is pointed at old Pearl St. Just coming into view left of center: must be 60 Broad St under construction. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
Apples and Oranges: 1943
... New York, May 1943. "Pushcart fruit vendor at the Fulton Fish Market." Photo by Gordon Parks for the Office of War Information. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 7:50pm -

New York, May 1943. "Pushcart fruit vendor at the Fulton Fish Market." Photo by Gordon Parks for the Office of War Information. View full size. BuildingsAlright all you NYC experts, please name the buildings in the background. I could guess at it, but I'm sure many viewers can nail it the first time. May-October VendingI know that even back then they performed miracles of agriculture in Imperial Valley, but somehow I doubt they were picking apples in May. It's a very safe bet this picture was taken round about October. Flo and her motherWere quite the tomatoes. re: BuildingsFrom left to right: First National Bank of NY building Cities Service building Chase National Bank building Consolidated Edison Steam Plant (building heat) American Sugar Refiners building 55 years ago I had a view of all from my bedroom in Brooklyn Heights. California?The Macintosh apple comes from eastern climes. It was originally a Canadian product. And it' ain't "sweet" neither. Price of ApplesInteresting how produce prices between 1943 and now have stayed constant. According to the Federal Reserve online inflation calculator: six cents (the price of a Macintosh apple shown in this photo) in 1943 would be equivalent to 81 cents in 2012. Yesterday I purchased some Macintosh apples in Madison, Wisconsin, and they cost me 83 cents each. (The Gallery, Gordon Parks, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Radio Nut: 1924
... homebrew circuitry into odd, discarded containers. Tuna fish cans are a favorite, although things get a little funky once the resistors ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/22/2013 - 7:38am -

June 1924. Washington, D.C. "Radio nut -- this set with everything necessary for receiving music and speech by radio has been put into a coconut shell. It was built by H. Zamora, a native of Manila, Philippine Islands." Marketing suggests we call this the iNut. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Gilligan's IslandThe Professor did this practically every week. PrototypePanasonic Panapet. Staring eyesLooks as if she is receiving messages from outer space! The cat's whiskerThe gizmo that she's fondling is likely to be the cat's whisker, a metal pin that is poked onto a galena crystal to make a crude rectifier for demodulating the AM signal. It needs to be moved now and then to get good audio. At least it's something to do. Banana phones?I suppose their clocks were powered by potatoes. Cast-off CabinetryThere's a long-standing tradition among the real nuts of radio -- ham radio operators -- of building homebrew circuitry into odd, discarded containers. Tuna fish cans are a favorite, although things get a little funky once the resistors heat up... what's that smell? Margarine tubs, cereal boxes -- hams are nothing if not thrifty. The message:Submit, puny Earthlings! Resistance is futile. (Technology, The Gallery, Harris + Ewing)
Look What We Got!
... maybe, or Twentynine Palms -- give or take. Nice looking fish guys. Beautiful sightseeing. Miss it muchly. Ten years after This ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/07/2011 - 10:20pm -

"Rinker boys. June 1960." This looks to be in California. View full size. ColorsThe colors here are beautiful. CaliforniaJudging from yellow plate on the pick-up - and a 1960s date, California sounds right. Probably somewhere in Southern California. High Desert IIThat is a pinon pine tree and the boys are holding trout. That looks like the Inyo Mountains in the background. Maybe a day of fishing on one of the creeks in the Owens Valley. High DesertMy guess is the high desert. Desert Hot Springs maybe, or Twentynine Palms -- give or take. Nice looking fish guys. Beautiful sightseeing. Miss it muchly. Ten years afterThis was my brothers & me in 1970 - Pińon pines, pickup beds and all. (The Gallery, Kodachromes 1, Sports, Travel & Vacation)
The Eerie Orb: 1925
... left. Question So how do you get the water and fish in? Mystery solved This is (allegedly) the world's largest perfect ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/27/2014 - 11:54am -

April-May 1925. Washington, D.C. "NO CAPTION." If you stare at this long enough, you really don't need a caption ... caption ... caption ... caption ... Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. New from AppleThe iBall. Papa Escher"M.C., when will you stop fooling with that thing and make something of yourself?" Mesmer EyesI want to be the first to say that it did not go unnoticed that you spherized the Shorpy logo at the bottom left. QuestionSo how do you get the water and fish in? Mystery solvedThis is (allegedly) the world's largest perfect crystal sphere. LOC has a captioned photo (dated 1930) of the orb on display at the Smithsonian. The Evening Star ran a May 7, 1925 story, while the Post seems not to have addressed the subject until Feb. 28, 1926, when it published a very long (& in my view extremely overwrought) rumination on the sphere & Oriental divination. The Star's story: Museum listingThe Smithsonian still has custody of this item, per the catalog entry. The gentleman in the pictureHe looks to be George P. Merrill (1854-1929)Dept. Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution http://www.barringercrater.com/about/history_4.php Finally!...something I recognize on Shorpy! I've seen this crystal ball up close! As a kid in the '80s my family and I visited the Smithsonian; the sphere was on display in the minerals and gems collection. Heck, I might have even touched it (I remember it just being out in the open (it's not like anyone was going to stuff that thing into a pocket and walk off with it)). (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Family Getaway: 1915
... A cottage in the Jamaica Bay island colony, where the fish are biting and the sweaters need mending. 5x7 glass negative, Bain New ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/19/2012 - 5:21pm -

Queens County, New York, circa 1915. "At Broad Channel, in the living room." A cottage in the Jamaica Bay island colony, where the fish are biting and the sweaters need mending. 5x7 glass negative, Bain New Service. View full size. Different Priorities The sweaters may be attended to, but the rug is certainly threadbare. Old ShoesI find it fascinating to look at the shoes in these old photographs. The child on the left, and the woman darning both have nice shoes. The other three? I should think even the least fastidious of modern folk would throw them away, and certainly not wear them in the house - not even a beach house. I realise that hand-made shoes were quite expensive, but other than the shoes these women and children are relatively well dressed, their clothing is clean and so are there surroundings. I just find it jarring to see those worn-out shoes, particularly those of the child in the middle and the woman to the right. Happy Family SpecialI'm not judging, but these appear to be very humble people considering their feed sack dresses, worn shoes, dust caps, etc. Still, there is a look of genuine contentment and serenity on every face. All are engaged in doing something, be it designing a fishing line, repairing old clothes, reading about the Broad Channel Yacht Club she cannot join or playing with gremlins (or whatever they are) like the little girl bookends. Gotta wonder if Dad was taking the picture. Some of the adult happiness may have been induced by the almost-gone bottle of liquor on the top shelf. I really like these people and their attitude. Thanks Shorpy. [The photo was taken by Bain News Service. These were people who could afford a second home, or to rent a cottage on the water. - Dave] Play clothesI think the kids have on their "play" shoes. I remember having to change my good shoes after school or church into my play clothes & shoes. Seems like these kids did too! The ShoesFrom stories that my grandmother told me - she was born in 1906 - you didn't throw anything away back then. No matter how much money you had. They did not have the casual "it's worn a little bit, let's throw it away" attitude that today's consumers have. If these are vacationers as one commenter suggested, and were on the water to have a good time, I'm sure that Mom would have commanded the kids to wear their "old" shoes. Why ruin the good Sunday best shoes while out fishing while on holiday? (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, NYC, Travel & Vacation)
Cooley Airship: 1910
... with one big plane extending downward like the fin of a fish, and various small planes, or sails, are rigged on the 15-foot pole ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/01/2012 - 12:08am -

Rochester, N.Y., ca 1910. "Cooley Airship. The aviator sits in the front to manage the wheel and the engineer sits six feet behind to control the engines." John Cooley's giant kitelike aircraft, of a design dating to the 1890s, was something of an aeronautical dead end. More here as well as here. Bain News Service print of a glass plate now in the Albert R. Stone Negative Collection. View full size. Aerial YachtWhat dreamers … Farm Equipment Dealer, January, 1911. A Gigantic Aeroplane. "In construction at Rochester, N.Y., where since early spring John Cooley and a force of seven mechanics and draftsmen have spent ten, and sometimes twelve, hours a day in hurried but careful labor," says a correspondent in Fly, "is a craft which is confidently expected to revolutionize the navigation of the air, and to relegate existing types into the obscurity of mere playthings for ennui-afflicted men of wealth seeking diversion in its most exciting form. This is the Cooley model, a gigantic aeroplane, nearly 100 feet long. In late September, 1909, the plan of building a monster aeroplane for use as a commercial transportation medium was conceived by Inventor Cooley, who has spent twenty-eight years in the study of aerial navigation, and the backing of several New York capitalists was secured, among them that of Richard Parr, the customs official, who was awarded $100,000 by the United States Government for his services in exposing the sugar frauds. … The greatest difficulty that confronted the builders was the utter lack of existing types from which to draw comparisons and gain ideas. Every detail must be worked out in the brain of the inventor, with no regard for fundamental principles connected with the operation of other types of air-navigating craft, since the Cooley model differs essentially from every known make. To describe it adequately in a limited space is impossible. The general shape of the ship suggests a large yacht, with keel and tailboard, and even a bowsprit, with the similarity ceasing when a front view is obtained. Not an inch of resistance is opposed to the passage of the big man-made bird through the air. All is gradually sloping lines and inclined surfaces, with the plane surface so placed that the passage of air beneath has a tendency to push upward so long as even the slightest velocity is continued. One hundred feet from tip to tip, and less than 15 feet wide across the center, the plane will sustain a weight of 1400 pounds—one pound to every square foot of soaring surface—thus giving a margin of safety of over 500 pounds. Two wide planes extend from the center like the upper planes of an ordinary biplane, with one big plane extending downward like the fin of a fish, and various small planes, or sails, are rigged on the 15-foot pole extending out in front of the main body. A framework of cloth and strengthened ribs encloses a space similar to the hold of a ship, in the sides of which are cut numerous portholes for use of the pilot in guiding the immense machine through the air. All mechanism is controlled from a seat in front of the center line, wires running to every part of the craft and a signalling system connecting the pilot with his engineer, or engineers, as no limit is placed upon the size of the crew carried. Two 40-60-horsepower engines are installed working independently, both engines occupying a space amidships, just behind the engineer's quarters. On each side a driving shaft runs through a hollow wooden conduit to the propellers, which are placed approximately five feet from the ground, without taking into consideration the elevation of the machine when the wheels are installed. A tail tapers gradually from the center body fifteen feet to the rear, and is graduated from the top of the framework, twenty-five feet from the ground, to a sharp point. No detached steering plane is used, the control of the plane depending upon the working of the many small sails which take the place of the usual ailerons. Strengthened bamboo is used throughout, with a special brand of Naiad rubber-covered silk, and the wheels are extra wide because of the immense strain placed upon them. One of the chief features of the "Flower City," as the big craft will be called, is a device for lessening this strain, consisting of a spring just above each axle, with a give of one foot. To say that the model will be a success would be to make an unsupported prediction, but inventors and aviators who have looked over the machine have expressed the hope and belief that it will prove to be the sensation of the aviation world. Models constructed upon the same plans and driven by small motors have flown successfully, and have shown the most important feature—absolute stability in the air. The plans of the promoters sound like a romance of the middle ages, and are quite as hard to realize, calling, as they do, for a complete world tour in the ship, with stops at all the principal cities of the United States and Europe. The crossing of the Atlantic is but one of the least daring of these plans, and a direct flight from Rochester to New York is first on the program. A crew of four men, with Mr. Cooley and supplies to last for a three days' journey, will be placed in the plane on the trial trip, so that, should the idea prove a success, no time need be lost in demonstrating the practicability of the machine to the world. Another "Life Imitiates Art"?I Wonder whether Mr. Cooley had got his idea from reading H. G. Wells' "The War In The Air" (published 1908)? Kite shaped aircraft take a major role in the plot of that novel, and as fixed-wing heavier-than-air aircraft they best lighter-than-air airships. Which was something the experts of the time could not quite bring themselves to agree with. Not yet anyway. After all, the airships did fly somewhat longer and further than those mousetraps. Not even the horrendous losses of the German war airships drove that point home. It took at least one horribly failed airship project for each major power to do that trick. But did it fly?I can't tell from either of the links if this contraption ever got off the ground. Given that Mr. Cooley disappeared towards the end of the project, I can't decide if he was either a visionary or a conman. Either way, it is clear that those days really a great age of invention where daring ideas could be tried. An ungainly beast!I would have loved to see this contraption fly. "The magnificent airship of Rochester and its hangar are said to have been destroyed by a windstorm." http://rocwiki.org/Cooley_Airship Mr. Cooley's Air Ship Sailed Away But the men at the ropes could not manage the vessel. This I would have loved to have seen. The giant airship swooped up in the air while men were unsuccessful in holding her down as she soared to 500 feet and then landed on top of four oaks. A viral You Tube moment. NY Times Article Re: Cooley's AirshipThe NYT article which EvenSteven links to is from 1895 - 15 years before this photo. It refers to a different aircraft - probably either a massive kite or a lighter-than-air balloon. (The Gallery, Aviation, G.G. Bain)
Elko Tango: 1940
... An old (probably new at the time the picture was taken) fish bowl gas pump half way down the street in front of the John Deere store. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/31/2018 - 10:17pm -

March 1940. "Stores on main street. Elko, Nevada." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. SkippingAny old CB user is aware of atmospheric 'skipping' and hearing and possible talking to another user hundreds of miles away. Shortwave starts where AM radio ends, so ham operators are familiar with the phenomenon. I'm New in TownAnybody know where I could find a good stiff drink? Commercial StreetOne street over from Idaho, where our house was and the previous pictures were taken. The only thing missing is a drunk or two passed out on the sidewalk. It was a pretty rough town. I spyAn old (probably new at the time the picture was taken) fish bowl gas pump half way down the street in front of the John Deere store. As there isn't a dedicated fueling spot, I am assuming the farmers came in with a five gallon can to be filled. proper namesI'm loving the Elko photos- I got there a couple of years later than these, but it still was the same when I did. Lifelong resident of the State, I still end up there now and then. But, Billy B should be informed that there weren't many "farmers" in the state, but rather we still are a state of mostly ranchers. Big diff. Long Wire Rooftop Radio AntennasThe closest radio station to Elko in 1940 was in Twin Falls, Idaho---137 miles north northeast. A listener would be hard pressed to hear that thousand watter on summer days. Nevada's only station was even weaker and 232 miles west southwest in Reno. The only reliable summer daytime reception came from 202 miles east from 50,000 watt KSL, Salt Lake City. Nights and winter offered much better reception from the West Coast and principal cities west of the Mississippi. BuickThe car closest to the camera is a 1934-35 Buick Series 40 flat back sedan (Model 47). The 1934 Buicks continued through 1935 with few changes until the completely redesigned 1936 models came out in September 1935. Elko seems to like "elks"Elk Hotel, Elk Club, Elk Bar. Elko is said to have been named by Charles Crocker, a superintendent of the Central Pacific Railroad. He was especially fond of animal names and added the letter "o" to Elk. There is no definitive evidence of this naming history, but it has become the widely accepted version. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Stores & Markets)
Detroiter and Argo: 1915
... use being Jewish to separate meat from dairy, more like fish, eggs and dairy products. It is also the part of many restaurant names. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2012 - 9:38pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1915. "W.L. Smith agency, Argo cars, 14th Street N.W." Also home, as seen here earlier, to the Square Deal Auto Exchange. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Geyer's Beer Garden Washington Post, Oct 7, 1909. Geyer's Palm Garden. F.H. Geyer has done much for upper Fourteenth street in the way of palm garden amusements for summer evenings. He purchased the place from George F. Kozel, and remodeled it, making it the best equipped in this vicinity. His winter palm garden, which has just opened, is one of the fashionable resorts of the northwest. The catering is excellent, seafood a speciality, and good music is always an attraction. Washington Post, Oct 22, 1933. Beer Gardens of Old Capital Added Froth to Life. … On Upper Fourteenth street, just below U, was the dandy of all beer gardens — Geyer's. Out in the back yard, covered with gravel that persistently got in low shoes, a band blared away while waiters rushed to and from with seidels, steins, and schooners. Geyer's was the Mecca for young love; for the young blades of the day. It was packed and jammed nightly. Gentlemen!An early SCCA or IMSA gathering. The stretch of 14th (and 15th) out from Massachusetts Avenue seemed to attract auto sales emporiums. I remember them from when at SJC on Vermont Avenue back before time was invented. Almost 100 years laterView Larger Map As Seen on ShorpyMore on the Argo Cyclecar here and here. A Quick GetawayLooks like the starting lineup of the Annual Al Capone 500. Holy Cow - another dairy sign!I guess I've led a sheltered life or something. Seeing "Dairy Lunch" signs in at least a couple Shorpy photos and wasn't sure what it meant -- milkshakes? I did a little Internet searching and I see its use being Jewish to separate meat from dairy, more like fish, eggs and dairy products. It is also the part of many restaurant names. Anyone know more about this interesting term? [More on the "dairy lunch" phenomenon here. - Dave] Thanks Dave. In addition to the extra Dairy Lunch info you've provided, I also just discovered that I can add another comment below yours ... well, at least I hope so. I will find out if this comment shows up. Love this website! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Free Hot Lunch: 1901
... to drink. Dried Herring alias the Blind Robin a former fish imperfectly preserved in salt. There were seasonal treats as well, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/27/2020 - 4:17pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1901. "View of E Street N.W., south side, looking west from 12th Street." 5x7 inch glass negative, D.C. Street Survey Collection. View full size. I'm wonderingWho or what paid for that? Because even in 1901 there was no such thing as a free lunch. Maybe they overcharged for that beer? Still in use (kind of) in the 1980sLunchtime is always a slow time at any bar. No surprise that barkeeps would offer cheap food for the price of an alcoholic drink to drum up business. Although I’m sure work after that suffered a bit. Not sure when the “happy hour” phenom took place -- I’m thinking the 1970s? -- but in New Orleans it was common for neighborhood dives to offer red beans and rice to paying customers from 5 to 6 to get them drinking after work instead of going home. It could get quite lively, as I recall. I believe MADD took care of this practice, and for good reason. Perreard's CaféI was a kid in the sixties (born in 1958), and the style of lettering on that café sign, especially the big languorous C, reminds me of hippy-themed graphics, a bit artsy-craftsy, just before the more explosive and mind-blowing style of psychedelia. Got it first time!They figured on selling enough beer to the patrons that a cheap lunch could be given away without hampering profitability. (Remember, they promised "free" and "hot" -- not a word about "good".) In fact, free lunch at saloons was something of a running gag in Crockett Johnson's Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley comic strip back around WW2. Same concept is still alive (or was until fairly recently) in Las Vegas: you could get a fairly pleasant hotel room cheap, with restaurant meals surprisingly inexpensive. In fact, the room and food were operating at a loss in hopes of enticing the guests into the hotel casino -- which raked in enough money to cover everything. +115Below is the same view from June of 2016. The top of the Willard Hotel can be seen on the right side of the 1901 view but only the Willard's flagpole is visible in the 2016 view. Once got a free lunch in MexicoMy wife and I ordered a beer each and we were served, gratis, six delightful little dishes of stuff like frijoles, ceviche, tortilla. A place on the coast near Merida called Progreso. TANSTAAFL"Free" lunch, paid for the lunchtime crowd drinking overpriced beer. C hereThe C in the Perreard's Cafe sign wasn't native to the "hippy-themed graphics" of the middle Sixties. Those designers were ripping off the French Art Nouveau movement, oh-so-new-and-fashionable here in 1901. (Think Alphonse Mucha.) I'll have another. . .This comes from the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper: “It is the custom with many saloon keepers to furnish their bars daily with a lunch bowl for customers. A German generally has a plate of pretzels and Limburger cheese ... the former thick with salt stimulates the appetite for drink. A Frenchman sets out French bread filled with caraway seeds and a bowl of garlic sliced in vinegar but an Englishman sticks to yellow cheese and crackers. ... The American saloonkeeper varies his bill of fare. Sometimes he runs to chowder then to bean soup He may have tripe and vinegar today but tomorrow he fancies raw onions in vinegar and army biscuits and ham sandwiches. Pepper and salt are used in unlimited quantities.” George Ade from The Old Time Saloon: “The average free lunch was no feast, but a stingy few edibles known to give customers an immediate desire for something to drink. Dried Herring alias the Blind Robin a former fish imperfectly preserved in salt. There were seasonal treats as well, spring onions or radishes when they were cheap, but as he reminded us “There was no closed season for dill pickles.” (The Gallery, D.C., D.C. Street Survey, Eateries & Bars)
High Water: 1903
... Cotton for sure, but letters to loved ones, heirlooms, fish and crabs and oysters, maybe some fruit. Much more romantic than a tug and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2016 - 5:24pm -

"Loading steamer Chalmette during high water, March 23, 1903, New Orleans." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Grand PictureLike a scene out of Show Boat. Wonderful If only we could know the cargoAs a former merchant seaman, I can't imagine lading a ship like that, much less navigating it on the Mississippi. Oh, if only we could know the contents. Cotton for sure, but letters to loved ones, heirlooms, fish and crabs and oysters, maybe some fruit. Much more romantic than a tug and integrated barge full of anhydrous ammonia. Spot, the dogOr spot the dog. Can you see it? I have a half-baked theory that dogs disappeared from city streets when automobiles became prevalent. I developed the theory from my unscientific study of Shorpy photos. One year later she was goneThe "Chalmette" was originally named "The City of Vicksburg", which was wrecked by a cyclone in the harbor of St. Louis. In 1898 she was rebuilt and renamed "The Chalmette". In her life on the river, she was the victim of many small accidents such as breaking of chains or timbers. Finally on July 12, 1904 she hit "a snag" and sank, taking with her her cargo valued at the time at $30,000. There were approximately 40 people on board at the time, but were no fatalities. http://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/cdm/ref/collection/LWP/id/5042 Mean manual laborWhen I look at all those stevedores making a beeline over that gangway I come to think that container ships may be much more boring to look at than those paddle steamers of yore. But I guess they are much more fun to load and unload. CargoThe contents of the steamship may have been similar to the steamship Arabia's cargo - everything from pickles to dishes to prefab houses. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans)
High Sierra: 1930s
... either. Re: Worm carrier They caught plenty of fish. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Tonypix, Travel & Vacation) ... 
 
Posted by Tony W. - 09/17/2011 - 8:18pm -

Yosemite National Park seems to have been a favorite of this family throughout the years. I do not know the identity of the woman but she is in quite a few other pictures I have. View full size. Boot LacesNot a standard length at the local hardware. High Sierra: 1941The remake with Ida Lupino was better. Worm carrier. That is what the unit is attached to her belt in front of her belly. It rotates, and a hinged lid can be lifted, allowing access to the worms. You could add some moist soil to keep the worms fresh. Close the lid, and rotating it back locks the lid and keeps the worms from falling out. I used to have one. Oh, and I envy those that traveled this state in the wilds back in those days. I bet they had the fishing all to themselves. Didn't have to sign a permit either. Re: Worm carrierThey caught plenty of fish. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Tonypix, Travel & Vacation)
Broom & Board: 1910
... Fuller: This is ghastly. The detail at the top resembles fish bones. The geometric shapes beneath the windows are weird too. And those ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/03/2021 - 12:34pm -

Jacksonville, Florida, circa 1910. "Hotel Seminole (includes street cleaning activities)." The building last seen here. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. In the detailsThis just goes to show how a basic 10-story rectangular box can be made handsome with some careful and inspired detailing. (And, yes, I read the comment by Mal Fuller in the linked post.) Man sitting on the window ledgeOne floor down from the top, five windows from the left. Forsyth and HoganAccording to the hotel's letterhead, it was at the corner of Hogan and Forsyth streets. The devil isNormally davidk and I are simpatico but on this occasion I'm with Mal Fuller: This is ghastly. The detail at the top resembles fish bones. The geometric shapes beneath the windows are weird too. And those two sticky-outy suspended things over the entrances? I can't even. I admit I would have enjoyed sitting on/in these veranda/porch/overhang spaces on a pleasant day to enjoy a meal and watch the world go by, but as an architectural feature, they look like window washing platforms with roofs. Most unfortunate as this looks to have been the place to be. Prairie School influenceJacksonville's growth in the early 1900s coincided with the Prairie School influence, and the detailing in the Seminole reflects that. The same architect did the St. James Hotel, which is now the city hall, and its one of the great landmarks of Prairie School commercial design. Personally, I love the style. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James_Building (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC, Florida, Jacksonville)
Buy a Slug: 1941
... a fortress pay phone to make a free call, or trying to fish a coin out of the coin box. It's still on the books, at the Municipal ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/30/2019 - 1:54pm -

April 1941. "South Side Chicago. Telephone booth in Negro tavern." The Bronzeville watering hole known as Tony's Tavern. Acetate negative by Russell Lee. View full size. Those happy carefree days ...... when your chances of being killed in your automobile by someone using the telephone were basically nil. *sigh* Buy a slug?This concept is new to me. Was it intended to discourage nickel thieves? Or was there another reason? Buy a slug, but don't use itI think the WARNING on the back wall of the booths is titled "An Ordinance Prohibiting the Use of Slugs...". A little research shows that Chicago has a law against using a slug in a fortress pay phone to make a free call, or trying to fish a coin out of the coin box. It's still on the books, at the Municipal Code of Chicago, section 8-8-180. That section only has two clauses, but I think the warning in the booths also includes section 8-8-190, which is the penalty. 8-8-180. Manipulating telephone coin boxes. It shall be unlawful for any person to insert, or to attempt to insert, into the coin box or money receptacle of any telephone, any slug, button, or other substance, or to manipulate or operate, or to attempt to manipulate or operate, in any manner whatever, any telephone instrument or any mechanism or device connected or commonly used therewith, with the intent to obtain telephone service without paying therefor. It shall be unlawful for any person to insert, or to attempt to insert, into the coin box or money receptacle of any telephone, any slug, button, wire, hook, or other implements or substances with the intent to obtain from such coin box or money receptacle a legal tender coin of the United States. 8-8-190 Violation - Penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter, where no other penalty is provided, shall be fined not less than $5.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense. So ... why does the sticker want you to buy a slug, that the sign tells you that you can't use? Western Electric 160 Series Payphone The Antique Telephone Collectors Association reports about this 3 slot payphone: The original design for the 3 slot pre-pay paystation was the result of an engineering partnership between the Gray Telephone Paystation Company and the Western Electric Company. This partnership was formed after the loss of lawsuits by the Bell System brought by Gray Mfg. ...... The history of the 3-slot payphone is a part of Americana that spans almost 70 years. Right above the vault compartment you may read: “The Gray Telephone Paystation Company and Western Electric Co. Inc. Makers” Wall artI cannot help but notice the wonderful hand painted decorations on the walls. The lower ares between the booths also look to be faux cut stone. Buy a slugI can dimly remember when almost every vending machine had engraved on the coin slot escutcheon "NO SLUGS." I had no idea that the legend might be referring to anything more sophisticated than those round pieces punched out of electrical junction boxes. Later, however, I was to discover that a penny immersed in a certain acid solution for the duration of a high school chemistry lab would be interpreted by at least one city's parking meters as being a dime. As the statute of limitations has long since granted me immunity, I can confess that the four cents profit I made on each one I sold to classmates adumbrated a career possibility to me until my better nature deterred me from such a risky life path -- that and my desire to attend West Point rather than matriculate at San Quentin. Just WonderingWhy would you need a slug to use the phone instead of a proper nickel or a dime? (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Russell Lee)
Army Surplus: 1919
... the same as for the peas photo: "Buying Army food sold at fish market." Though the goods here seem to be blankets. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/27/2012 - 3:21pm -

1919. The caption for this is the same as for the peas photo: "Buying Army food sold at fish market." Though the goods here seem to be blankets. View full size. Under the boxThe box the flirting guy is under isn't a box, but a hanging sign, like the other two; it just happened to be swinging side to side during the exposure. This candid shot also gives the lie to the oft-expressed contention that people didn't smile in those days. Unless there was some guy yelling at them "OK, now look at the camera and hold it!" they smiled just fine. DestinyMethinks the guy under the box and the woman in front of the uniform are destined for bigger things. Office Romance!Holy cats, would you look at those two sweethearts gazing into each other's eyes over the water glass? That is the sweetest thing I've seen on Shorpy in many a day. All the figures around them just melt into the background as they eyes are drawn in - and I'm sure that's how it felt for them, too! Makes me want to run out and but a plaid cotton/wool Army blanket. Can I buy you a blanket?Did the flirting couple eventually tie the knot after being fired for not paying attention on the job? You're Right PurtyI think the fellow is smitten, the woman maybe not so much. The thought balloon over her head could well read, "Golly, if he comes on to me once more, I'll scream." The six folks in the right half of the photo form quite a tableau. I like the direct gaze of the other young woman. The uniformed guy probably was there looking for a hat that fit. A penny for her thoughtsThe woman in front of the couple has captured my interest. Love to know what she is pondering! (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, WWI)
Local Characters: 1938
... though the bakery (at 265) is long gone, but there's now a fish market at 263. As for the faded wall signage on the grocery store, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/27/2017 - 11:43am -

July 1938. "Neighborhood boys. Housing conditions in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Home of the American Bridge Company." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. What is, what wasLooks as though the bakery (at 265) is long gone, but there's now a fish market at 263. As for the faded wall signage on the grocery store, it's been there so long that nobody needs reminding as to the nature of the enterprise. Nice selection of non-edible smalls in the display window under the awning! Where the boys areGood grief. This neighborhood seriously needs some girls. Marketing 101Love the tag line on the Jeri's hair tonic ad... 'There is romance in the hair'! Curious wiresOnly coming out of one window, shortwave radio antenna? Radio antennaTo anwser dat hippie's question- even domestic radios of the 1920s-30s needed external antennas to hear anything beyond a few local stations. I notice many of them in Shorpy photos of that era. As a boy in the 1950s I saw some on older houses before they were removed and replaced with antennas for that new thing called television. R-J: with real Root JuicesSome of the signs around 1938, seen here, seem to have been rather rare. The "Drink Coca-Cola Ice Cold" I could finally find with the more or less "right" bottle, the barber shop signs like this one are also rare. The "Chew Mail Pouch" I only found with the addition of "Tobacco", without that you were also recommended to smoke. I was happy to find the Coca-Cola thermometer, as well as the Royal Crown billboard. The Jerris ad I found is from the fifties, when the man found himself more closely attracted to the woman. I failed to find the right "Drysmoke" tobacco pipe stand, the same for the "Sun Glasses" stand with the "hanging" sun glasses. (The Gallery, Ambridge, Arthur Rothstein, Kids, Stores & Markets)
Up Fifth: 1905
... stage I found an account of riding it by Hamilton Fish Armstrong, First World War diplomat; and editor of Foreign Affairs ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2018 - 1:38pm -

New York circa 1905. "Up Fifth Avenue from 28th Street." With a view of Marble Collegiate Church. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Horse-drawn busWas it cheaper to ride inside or on top? Maybe it depended on how much you annoyed the driver. I see several women sitting on top. It must have been interesting watching them get up and down from that lofty perch. [That's the Fifth Avenue Stage, also seen here. - Dave] Removal SaleD.B. Bedell & Co. must have moved to West 34th St. soon after this photo was taken. The ad below is from the New York Daily Tribune on May 28, 1905. Traveling lightAs usual with these old city scenes, I'm impressed with how unencumbered people are. Most are not carrying anything and have their arms free, including the women. The two foreground women's cinched waists illustrate the misery of wearing a tight corset. Fifth Avenue stageI found an account of riding it by Hamilton Fish Armstrong, First World War diplomat; and editor of Foreign Affairs magazine 1928-1972. http://stuffnobodycaresabout.com/2012/10/31/riding-a-turn-of-the-century... Born in 1893, so his related experience would have been about 1902. The fare was five cents. Silent FilmI noticed the ad for Marceau Photography — it must have been difficult for people to sit for a picture when the photographer was miming everything. How did they know if he was actually doing anything? Yamanaka & Co.Just to the left of the stagecoach can be glimpsed the storefront of Yamanaka & Company. Sadajiro Yamanaka was one of the earliest dealers of Japanese art and antiquities in U.S. The Japanese and Chinese art he collected and sold was vital in the genesis of the impressive Asian art collections of the Metropolitan Museum, as well as the basis of the collection of the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery in Washington. More recent view (The Gallery, DPC, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Two Forks: 1939
... still pined for that cool riverbank and a willow pole to fish with. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dorothea Lange, Handsome Rakes) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2008 - 9:52pm -

October 1939. "Hay forks. Northern Oregon farm. Morrow County, Oregon." View full size. Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the FSA. True LoveAh, how sweet. Looks like true love. Very Arty!Look at how the rectangular frame at the upper right actually echoes the angle of the far left hay fork shadow...and if you removed that arrow shaped door "latch" on the door frame, the whole composition would change. American madeI'm willing to bet those pitchforks are made in the good old U.S. of A. Tools of the DevilMmong the many derogatory names we had for the implements of torture forced upon us on a beautiful summers afternoon, we also referred to these as 'Witch' forks. Pitching hay in a hot barn on a 90 degree day was only marginally better than stacking bales in the loft. You knew it had to be done, but still pined for that cool riverbank and a willow pole to fish with. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dorothea Lange, Handsome Rakes)
Yuen Hing & Co.: 1921
... eat, if you are in the mood, Shark-fin soup, bean cake fish. The girl who serves you all your food Is another tasty dish! You ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/01/2015 - 2:05pm -

"REO Speedwagon grocery truck, San Francisco, 1921." Compare with our previous Speedwagon. Glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Musically speaking,We're on Grant Avenue, San Francisco, California, USA. [Most interesting. I wonder how one would travel there. - Dave] [Ideally in a trolley, but you have to settle for a cable car. -tterrace] Weather-beatenLots of mud splatters. Could be from riding the storm out. Can't fight this feeling anymore...I like this truck. Stopping distanceI wonder what the stopping distance was for one of these trucks when fully loaded, using rear wheel only mechanical brakes, on a steep San Francisco hill. Lots of smoke, then right into the Bay! Having Learned To Drive in San FranciscoOne learned quickly the streets that were too steep to comfortably drive. Trucks, unless they were delivering locally, were usually banned from streets like Divisadero (seen in the movie "Bullit"). These delivery trucks usually had a "granny gear" which was a very low 1st gear and would hold the vehicle to a crawl when descending steep hills. Brakes were not usually needed. Chinatown Telephone ExchangeOn the side door of the truck you can see the letters "PHONE CHINA" and the beginning of a numeral. San Francisco's Chinatown had its own telephone exchange from 1887 until the 1940s when dial phones replaced the switchboard operators. How it all worked is explained here. A Hundred Million Miracles"Grant Avenue San Francisco" was in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway hit "Flower Drum Song" from 1958. The film version released in 1961 was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. Western street with Eastern manners, Tall pagodas and golden banners, Throw their shadows through the lantern glow. You can shop for precious jade or teakwood tables or silk brocade Or see a bold and brassy night club show, On the most exciting thoroughfare I know -- Grant Avenue, San Francisco, California, U.S.A. Looks down from Chinatown Over a foggy bay. You travel there in a trolley, In a trolley up you climb, Dong! Dong! You're in Hong Kong, Having yourself a time. You can eat, if you are in the mood, Shark-fin soup, bean cake fish. The girl who serves you all your food Is another tasty dish! You know that You can't have a new way of living Till you're living all the way On Grant Avenue --Where is that?-- San Francisco, That's where's that! California, U.S.A.! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco, Stores & Markets)
Pine & Second: 1943
... the corner on Pine St. Don't know which McGill sold fish. Cicero McGill was a shoe shiner at 580 Second Av. (next to Evelyn Fann's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/05/2016 - 12:38am -

February 1943. "Daytona Beach, Florida, street scene." Photo by Gordon Parks for the Office of War Information; Photobomb by Humphrey Bogart. View full size. Now Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.During last year's exhibition of Gordon Parks' photos of the Midway Neighborhood in Daytona Beach, the Daytona Times ran a "time and again" comparison of this location then and now. One (if not both) of the street names have changed. Bogart posterToday, that Bogart photobomb would go for thousands of dollars. Just the regular one-sheet poster in reasonable shape goes for close to a thousand. The movie reunited many of the principals from The Maltese Falcon for an anti-Japanese war film. And today:So, based on the Daytona Times updated photo, "driving" along with Google Street View, this now looks to be the intersection of Bethune Blvd. and Green St. in Daytona Beach. Ritz Theatre, Evelyn Fain's RestaurantAccording the Daytona Beach, Fla, city directories from 1939 through 1944 (the ones I checked), the Ritz Theatre stood on the corner of Second and Pine. That would be the substantial building sporting the poster for the Bogart movie, Across the Pacific. The same directories list Evelyn Fain as having a restaurant at 582 Second Av. Her last name is sometimes "Fain" and sometimes (as in this photo) "Fann." She lived around the corner on Pine St. Don't know which McGill sold fish. Cicero McGill was a shoe shiner at 580 Second Av. (next to Evelyn Fann's business). (The Gallery, Bicycles, Florida, Gordon Parks)
Fancy Groceries: 1936
... your chickens still in their feathers, or your fresh fish, or your flank steak, or milk and butter and cheese, or lox and smoked ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/05/2015 - 11:22am -

December 1936. "Scene along Bathgate Avenue in the Bronx, a section from which many of the New Jersey homesteaders have come." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Resettlement Administration, which used these pictures as examples of the supposed squalor from which it was rescuing its clients -- second-generation Jewish immigrant families -- by relocating them to the suburbs. View full size. Rosenbaum's Dairywas located at 1619 Bathgate Avenue, Bronx NY according to the 1940 NY Telephone Directory. JErome 7-7139. All gone now. Staged SceneLooks like a staged street scene judging from the very nice clothing being worn by the people. [That's normal garb for the period and circumstances. -tterrace] Not too shabbyI would agree that the street was very messy and unkempt but all of the people are neatly and warmly dressed and do not appear to be living in squalor. Everyone has warm coats, hats and shoes, including the two school girls carrying their books through the crowd. People are even paying attention to the vendors selling their wares from sheets on the streets (they used pushcarts on the lower east side, even into the 1950's and 60's). By employing a street cleaner, this scene could be much tidier. Squalor?Somebody grab a broom - problem solved. Careful, don't sweep up that logo. Expensive Butter?Both of my inflation calculators say that $.27 in 1936 translates to $6.30 today. That means it was fairly expensive at the bottom of the Great Depression. Billy BathgateThe hero of Billy Bathgate (1989) by E.L. Doctorow, set in the year before this photo was taken, is named for Bathgate Avenue in the Bronx. In one section of the novel, the teen narrator differentiates between the street vendors, with their pushcarts and open stalls, and the "aristocracy of the business" who had "real stores where you walked in and bought your chickens still in their feathers, or your fresh fish, or your flank steak, or milk and butter and cheese, or lox and smoked whitefish and pickles." (The Gallery, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Fancy Fruits: 1925
... Notice the dude on the roof of the Standard Fish & Produce warehouse. Also note the second-floor door on the building ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 2:38am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1925. "Semmes Motor Co. George K. Chaconas & Co. truck." A Dodge delivery van for the grocery owned by George Chaconas. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Strange NeighborhoodNotice the dude on the roof of the Standard Fish & Produce warehouse. Also note the second-floor door on the building on the right. Also, a lot of the upper story windows are broken The cursive lettering on the Chaconas & Co. Dodge is exquisite. [Also the odd corrugated metal bay tacked onto the building. It looks like two elf-size floors crammed into one. (Reminds me of Dr. Lester's office on the 7½ floor in "Being John Malkovich.") And to the right, chickens in crates. - Dave] Just how "fancy"?Whenever I see a sign like this I think: What did they mean by this statement? Just how fancy were their fruits & vegetables? Did they dress them up in little outfits complete with hats, gloves & spats? Maybe "fancy" meant that these fruits & vegetables "knew the right people" and had "connections". Or perhaps their fruits & vegetables were "fancy" because they had an education and thought they were better than the other fruits & vegetables! LocationLooks like this is located on old Indiana Avenue. you can see the old post office pavilion tower in the background, and Indiana Avenue was one of the few in the District with center parking (landscaped median). Now the location of Federal Triangle. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
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