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Temple of Transport: 1910
... sets of 4 funnels belonging to some of the contemporary ocean liners. If the photo was indeed taken in 1910, the bigger one nearer to ... "RMS Mauretania" or "RMS Lusitania", the only 4-funneled ocean liners at that time whose smoke stacks were spaced evenly. Further off in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/18/2017 - 2:17pm -

Circa 1910. "Bird's-eye view of Penn Station, New York City." Also a bird's-eye view of someone's underwear and diapers. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Pier 59"If the nearer 4-stacker is, however, the White Star liner "RMS Olympic", she'd be docked at Pier 59..." Pier 59 was at 18th St, wasn't it? That liner isn't at the foot of 18th St-- the tower just left of it is atop DL&W's Hoboken Terminal, and you can draw a straight line from the camera position to the tower that was rebuilt in the same position a few years ago. The liner looks to be at Pier 56, at 14th St. I'm guessing Pier 59 is the one just right of the Hudson County Courthouse-- the second pier right of that dark square churchtower just right of the four-stack liner. Caught NappingThe original "roofie." Cleaning the Water Tank?Looks like two girls with ladders and a chair, perhaps a broom or pole ... would they be cleaning the open tank or checking water depth? Ca. 1910 or June, 1911 perhaps?I just love these types of photos, so much rich detail and near-endless entertainment to the curious eye. In the left upper corner I see a few sets of 4 funnels belonging to some of the contemporary ocean liners. If the photo was indeed taken in 1910, the bigger one nearer to us on the Manhattan side would have to be either the "RMS Mauretania" or "RMS Lusitania", the only 4-funneled ocean liners at that time whose smoke stacks were spaced evenly. Further off in the distance, on the other side of the river in Hoboken, are 4 funnels spaced in pairs of 2-2, indicating a German express liner, possibly one of the bigger ones, like North German Lloyd's "Kaiser Wilhelm II" or "Kronprinzessin Cecilie". If the nearer 4-stacker is, however, the White Star liner "RMS Olympic", she'd be docked at Pier 59 and the earliest this photo could have been taken would be June 21st of 1911, the first time the "Olympic" was in NYC after her maiden voyage. However, the funnel proportions and some barely visible deck structures make me think it's the "Mauretania". Befuddling funnel riddle (almost) solved@Timz: I would say that based on your comment, you helped me identify those four funnels as belonging to one of the fast Cunarders. I've been staring at grainy enlargements of the area and still can't positively say which one of the two it might be. Those things are important, you know! 4 Stack ObsessionI'm a long time browser of the site.... so first THANK YOU. This picture and trying to identify the four stack liner has me obsessed with solving the riddle. I'll update if and when I have some success! (The Gallery, DPC, NYC, Railroads, Streetcars)
Time and Tide: 1941
September 1941. "By the Pacific Ocean. Seaside, Oregon." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/18/2022 - 9:55pm -

September 1941. "By the Pacific Ocean. Seaside, Oregon." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Promenade HomeThese folks appear to be sitting on Seaside's Promenade in the only area with curved railings, the Turnaround. The Prom was built in 1921, so at 101 she looks good but has had some work: the railing cement looks different so it was renovated or replaced, and the lamps look old, but aren't the originals. Spread out!Social distancing, the early years. Edward Hopper was hereWas Ed coaching the photographer, or did this shot lodge itself in his mental trunk of painterly images? (The Gallery, Landscapes, Russell Lee)
Old Orchard Beach: 1904
... has changed. It's too bad, really. You can't even see the ocean from it anymore. Horse on the Beach That alone could make it an ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 11:38am -

Circa 1904. "Old Orchard, Maine, from pier." Surf, sand, and Lady Zamora. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Swimsuits to LetLove this photo of the beautiful hotel! Interesting to see that this photographer has captured another photographer working. Also, the sign on the extreme right -- can you imagine anyone today RENTING a bathing suit? Eww. PaparazziIt seems we have another photographer on the beach, capturing a coosome twosome sitting on the walkway. (Paparazzo #2 seen through the lens of Paparazzo #1) Offshore!I love surfing OOB, and by the looks of it, that's some decent waist-high stuff coming in. And wow, how the pier has changed. It's too bad, really. You can't even see the ocean from it anymore. Horse on the BeachThat alone could make it an unpleasant experience. What ifBe funny to see the reaction of the folks on the beach if some young thing walked out wearing a thong. Pier pressureThe old one washed away in a storm when I was a kid in 1978. The one that's there now is only about half the length and stuffed full of crap. You can't even get a view of the water unless you go into the el sleazo bar at the end of it. The beach itself is still very nice indeed. Le OOBOr, as les Quebecois would say, "Old Or-SHARD Bitch." (The Gallery, DPC, Railroads, Travel & Vacation)
Minute Service No. 5: 1925
... you'll see a handful of streets within a few blocks of the ocean have gas lamps, which are four sided. I bought a house on 21st Street for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 12:23pm -

1925. Washington, D.C. "Texas Company. Linworth Place and C Street S.W." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Street ArchitectureI'm no expert, but that street light looks 19th Century. I always enjoy seeing these moments of transition, as here with automobiles and Victorian-era housing and street lamps. And I'm also guessing that's a Franklin auto sitting at the pump. EmissionsHow 'bout that..... There is still horse exhaust in the street from what, the milkman or possibly other delivery-types. Great image that captures a transitional period in our history. Street Light - Street Sign ComboNow that is a beautiful thing. Someone had a good idea there. Gas and GasAre those gas street lamps on the street? And yet the station itself seems to have electric lamps around it. Another example of a transitional period. I don't think I've ever been in the presence of a functioning gas lamp. Darn it. Long GoneThere's no trace of Linworth Place on current maps, at least that I can find. Either it's the short stretch south of Agriculture that's now marked as 13th St., or it was wiped out for some federal building or for I-395. In any event every single building depicted is surely long gone. Long shadowsLooks like an early morning shot - very long shadows and no evidence of people anywhere, even in the car waiting for gas. Haunting photo. Linworth Place Linworth Place ran for a block on either side of C between 13th and 14th SW. By the 1930s the USDA building expanded south into the north block of Linworth Place. The south block was razed for an engraving annex and steam plant. It's not hard to imagine the need for more space at the USDA given the importance of the agency during The Depression helping farms, food distribution, and loans. Gas lampsIf ever in Manhattan Beach CA, you'll see a handful of streets within a few blocks of the ocean have gas lamps, which are four sided. I bought a house on 21st Street for that reason. So. Cal. Gas Co. has a special division that repairs/maintains them. Minute Service StationYes, it is quite small. (The Gallery, D.C., Gas Stations, Natl Photo)
Gold Coast: 1905
... - Dave] But they never get them wet! For all that ocean, and all those bathing suits, somebody should be getting wet, yes? ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:58pm -

Florida circa 1905. "The beach at Palm Beach." Making a cameo appearance here: our old friend Alligator Joe. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. A light perambulator, of adult sizeHenry James, the great novelist of the American expatriate experience, made a ten-month return visit to the United States in 1904-05 and described his impressions in "The American Scene." In Chapter 14, he describes tourists at Palm Beach traveling "by means of a light perambulator, of 'adult size,' but constructed of wicker-work, and pendent from a bicycle propelled by a robust negro." And where were they going? To visit a citrus grove -- or, as James calls, it, a "jungle." Swimming AttireIs the person to the left of the umbrella actually wearing a tie in the water? I didn't realize Palm Beach was so dressy back when. Finally some African-American faces!They may not have been permitted on the beach, but at least they got to enjoy the sun and breeze while propping up signs and peddling velocipede-chairs. CSI Miami - 1905Someone call Horatio Kane - from the looks of the beach strollers, the remains of a homicide victim have been discovered off the boardwalk behind the wall. It's going to take the whole forensics team and trite dialogue to solve this case. "Expert Life Guards"The bathing hours on this beach are 11 to 1 during which expert Life Guards and Boatmen are provided for the safety of Casino Guests. Please be guided by their advice when entering water. -- Geo E. Andrews Supt Move along, folksThe crowd down by the water's edge is looking at something. The only thing we can see are the two guys in the rowboat and a few guys between them and the beach. Was something dangerous happening? Or does Alligator Joe have a new exhibit in the water? ClothesI don't know why half of them aren't dying of heatstroke. Especially the men in dark three-piece suits and hats. And in that salty and sandy environment... makes me itch just to look at them. [It's winter, or thereabouts. - Dave] But they never get them wet!For all that ocean, and all those bathing suits, somebody should be getting wet, yes? (The Gallery, Bicycles, DPC, Florida)
WWWWW: 1962
... piece of water where the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean meet. What makes it nasty is its rip, and this rip makes it a very ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/09/2018 - 4:16pm -

Wellington, New Zealand. "Worser Bay Surf Life Saving Club, team of 1962, with Cook Strait trophy." Seated: Barrie Davenport, first person to swim Cook Strait. Large format negative by Crown Studios, Wellington. View full size. And their teeth are getting Worser... from right to left. Worst of Allis the merman in pain trophy they apparently won. Please, please tell me that the Worser Bay club kept it in some case at their headquarters and nobody had to take it home. A Commonwealth traditionFirst prize: Orthodontia Trendy before their timeThat trophy anticipates today's zombie fad by at least 40 years. Worserthan what? Worser Bayis better than Worse Bay, but just a bit better than Worsest Bay. Worser Bay-thing SuitsI don't know what's worser, their bathing suits, the bay, or Dave's title. Hot thighs awardThe lifeguard on the left makes up for his challenged teeth by having the most muscular, developed sexy thighs of the whole bunch. TrendsettersNice mini-dresses, Gentlemen. And the whole crew.......that made the swim possible. 'Twas the first time in recorded history that anyone had swum Cook Strait. Many had tried before Barrie Davenport, and failed. For those who don't know Cook Strait, there is a distance of 22 kilometres (14 miles)at its narrowest point between the North and South Island of New Zealand. It is an nasty piece of water where the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean meet. What makes it nasty is its rip, and this rip makes it a very unpredictable and dangerous. The pilot was my uncle, and Barrie Davenport attributed his success to my uncle's knowledge of the tides and the rip. (Bizarre, New Zealand, Swimming)
Lake Worth: 1908
... summer car along the famous palmetto avenue, from Jake to ocean, … The only other land conveyances are single and double bicycle ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:38pm -

Palm Beach, Florida, circa 1908. "Along the shore of Lake Worth." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Whew!Having lived in Florida for a spell, I just can't imagine HOW they dealt with the heat having only fans and no A/C. Yet somehow they survived! [Palm Beach, and Florida in general, was a winter resort. People didn't visit when it was hot. - Dave] I realize that, I was speaking of life in Florida in general, year-round. It can get to 90 in January :) ContrastsA straight shoreline and crooked trees. Geography Palm Beach is a barrier island off the mainland from West Palm Beach. The body of water which separates West Palm Beach and Palm Beach is called Lake Worth; but it is really just part of the Intercoastal Waterway that runs down the length of the coast of Florida from Jacksonville to Miami. Seems like each segment of the Intercoastal has been given a different name as it runs through different parts of the coast. For example: it's the Halifax River in Daytona Beach; Indian River down near Cape Canaveral; and eventually Biscayne Bay in Miami. One assume the picture was taken on the grounds of the massive hotel in the background, but it's really hard to say which part of Lake Worth is pictured. [You are no doubt thinking of the Intracoastal, not "Intercoastal," Waterway. - Dave] Well, if you Google it, you find that both spelling are used to describe this passageway. I've always heard it called "Intercosstal." [Google indeed reveals plenty of misspelled words. The waterway in question is the Intracoastal -- meaning along a single coast. Intercoastal would mean connecting two coasts. I was born in Miami and grew up in Florida, and so was well acquainted with the Intracoastal. - Dave] Adult Perambulators Farm Journal, November 1905. No horses are allowed in Palm Beach, — only a lone mule pulling a light summer car along the famous palmetto avenue, from Jake to ocean, … The only other land conveyances are single and double bicycle chairs propelled by liveried colored men at a cost of $1 per hour. These can be seen going in every direction on the paved walks, the jungle trails, and over the long bridge across Lake Worth to West Palm Beach. The American Scene, 1907, by Henry James. It is by means of a light perambulator, of "adult size," but constructed of wicker-work, and pendent from a bicycle propelled by a robust negro, that the jungle is thus visited; the bicycle follows the serpentine track, the secluded ranch is swiftly reached, the peaceful retirement of the cultivators multitudinously admired, the perambulator promptly re-entered, the darky restored to the saddle and his charge again to the hotel. Waterway NamesThe reason for different names along the Intracoastal Waterway is that the different names were usually there first. The Waterway is a route - like a US Highway route on land, which might run over many roads with different names, but always the same route number. Many parts of the Waterway were originally separate bodies of water that have been linked by man-made canals and channels. On a different note - why are the trees on the left side of the photo so twisted and the ones on the right side comparatively straighter? "Intercosstal"As in "between the ribs"? Landscape architectI think Dr. Seuss must have been in charge of tending the trees on the left side of the walk. Favorite Bike TrailWhen I lived in WPB I used to ride on the Lake Trail regularly. This is a section of the South Trail with the Flagler mansion in the background. Palm Beach Lake TrailThe Palm Beach Lake Trail has changed very little in the past 100 years. At the time of the photo the building in the background was the Henry Morrison Flagler home. Today it is the Flagler Museum. The Lake Trail runs some 6 miles almost to the Palm Beach Inlet and is only for pedestrians and bicycles. (The Gallery, Bicycles, DPC, Florida)
Daddy's Boy: 1933
... 26, 1995. Vincent P. Ahearn, Jr., of Leisure World and Ocean City, MD; beloved husband of Ethelee Hughes Nalls Ahearn; father of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 1:01pm -

1933. "Vincent P. Ahearn Jr., portrait." The Ahearns lived at 7324 Hampden Lane in Bethesda, Maryland. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Threads of historyInteresting puzzle, Google shows that Mr. Vincent P. Ahearn Sr., was honored at a road construction industry function in October 2004, however his name is not listed in the obit. Father & Son apparently worked in the same industry, unfortunately the son had a short retirement stepping down from his post as President of the National Aggregates Association in July of 1994. RIP. [Vincent Sr. wouldn't have been listed as a survivor in his son's obituary because he'd been dead for decades. The 2004 dinner honored America's top 100 construction professionals of the 20th century -- most of them posthumously. - Dave] How About Daddy?Dave, did you run into Daddy Ahearn's picture, or any other pictures of the family? [There are 10 photos, including the two we've posted so far, made in 1933 and 1939. But none of Dad. - Dave] 1932-1995: SuddenlyAs an A'Hearn I find this (and the previous Ahearn) picture of great interest. Could we be related? It is incredible to see a baby picture of Vincent Jr. in one browser tab and simultaneously read his obituary in another. From the Washington Post, Oct. 29, 1995: Vincent Paul Ahearn, Jr. Suddenly on October 26, 1995. Vincent P. Ahearn, Jr., of Leisure World and Ocean City, MD; beloved husband of Ethelee Hughes Nalls Ahearn; father of Jeanie G. Ahearn, Sue Ahearn, Victor [sic] Paul Ahearn III, Mary Belle Toubman, Peter L. Ahearn; stepfather of Michael A. Nalls Jr. and John P. Nalls. Also survived by 10 grandchildren. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, Md., on Sunday 3 to 5 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Grace Church, 15661 Norbeck Blvd., Leisure World, Silver Spring, on Monday, October 30 at 10:30 a.m. Entombment Calvary Cemetery, Nashville, TN. Please omit flowers. Memorials to Georgetown Preparatory School, 10900 Rockville Pike, N. Bethesda, MD 20853. The nannyInteresting how the nanny (I assume) sort of fades into invisibility, even in the comments. [In 1933, she would have been called the maid. - Dave] NashvilleI'm interested to see that Vincent Jr. is buried in Calvary Cemetery here in Nashville. Calvary is a very old cemetery with elaborate markers and tombs. Since his obit doesn't appear to show any Nashville connections, I wonder why Calvary was chosen as his burial place. Nashville connectionThere is at least one connection to Nashville, which appeared in his mother's obituary. It was the home of Vincent Jr.'s aunt on his mother's side, according to his mother's obituary. This is a comment Dave posted at the other Ahearn photo: Washington Post, Jan. 25, 1969 AHEARN, MARY BELLE On Thursday, January 23, 1969, Mary Belle Ahearn of 8024 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, Md., beloved wife of Vincent P. Ahearn Sr., mother of Mrs. Richard H. Walsh, Mrs. Roland H. Berger Jr. of Camp Hill, Pa., and Vincent P. Ahearn Jr.; sister of Mrs. Nonnie C. Geary of Nashville, and Mrs. Edward Brunn Bruner of Dallas. Also survived by 14 grandchildren. Services Saturday, January 25 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Bethesda, where Requiem Mass will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Interment private. Please omit flowers. ClarificationMany of the names are incorrect in the obituaries. Vince had family ties to Nashville; both of his families were from that area, It was his request that his remains rest in Calvary Cemetery. A cousin who is more like a sister lives in Mt. Juliet. Please feel free to contact me if I can give you further information. My familyVince is entombed in Calvary Cemetery, in Nashville, where most of our family is buried (Geary and Ahearn). The woman in this photo did work for my aunt Mary Belle Ahearn (Aunt Belle) for many years, but my aunt never considered her a nanny or a maid -- she was a dear, trusted friend and confidant in a time when women could hardly find jobs in the marketplace, especially women of color, so they usually hired out as "domestics." Maggie was well paid and loved by the whole family. The misspelled names in Mary Belle Ahearn's obit are those of my mother, the late Mrs. Edward (Aline Geary) Brunner, and my aunt, Nonie Geary. Both of Vince's parents were born, raised, and attended schools in Nashville. My NameSorry, I forgot to put my name on the comment titled MY FAMILY. I am Sally Wyly Plemons, the only child of Aline Geary Wyly Brunner, and Vince's cousin. [What was Maggie's full name? - Dave] A great sense of humorI worked for your dad, Mr. Ahearn, as a cpa auditor from 1978-1981 at NSAA and NRMCA in Silver Spring. I remember his wonderful sense of humor after all these 35 years. He was a warm and kind person. (The Gallery, Harris + Ewing, Kids, Portraits)
Diamond T: 1920
... system. Goods crisscross the globe by rail and ocean freight faster and cheaper per ton than ever before, but still must get ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/24/2014 - 8:21pm -

San Francisco, 1920. "Diamond T truck -- DeLand & Son Draymen." Draymen and drayage being haulage-related terms that eventually became as extinct as the Diamond T. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Without fixed sidesAnother aspect in the definition of dray is a cart without fixed sides, as illustrated in our current photo. Drays.Dray and Draymen are still in common usage in England to describe specifically beer deliveries to pubs and bars. But I've never heard of 'drayage' before. Not quite dead yet"Drayage" survives! At least in exhibition halls and trade show venues, where the cost of having forty packing crates conveyed from a loading dock to a trade show booth site might just eclipse the value of the display materials themselves. In modern times, the term "drayage" connotes a mashup of operational logistics, fork lifts, and an occupational fervor reminiscent of medieval guilds. It's nice to remember the word, but you'd really better remember to allocate a big pile of cash for drayage. TeamsterDraymen maybe extinct, but the term teamster is alive even though teams of horses were on there way out in 1920. In horse drawn parlance a dray had the rear wheels no higher than the deck of the body; a wagon with rear wheels that extended above the deck was called a truck.(simplified explanation) DrayageDrayage as a term is not extinct yet! Here in SC, we have Smith Dray Line http://www.smithdray.com/ . Moving and storing since 1888! Not that anyone would ever suggest SC is mired in the past or anything.... Last MileGranted, the term may be extinct, but draymen and drayage are here to stay. Drayage hauling is one of the most critical components of the global economy's intermodal transportation system. Goods crisscross the globe by rail and ocean freight faster and cheaper per ton than ever before, but still must get from the rail yard or port to customers. This "last mile" of delivery is still done by truck, though Diamond Ts are hard to find. All of those brown trucks and red-white-blue trucks delivering Amazon, Zappos, and sexynighties.com packages are draymen. The packages arrive by air and make their "last mile" in an panel truck operated by an independent contractor, though the transportation unions would prefer employment. Check out www.drayage.com My great-great grandfather ran a drayage company by covered wagon from the rail yards to rural customers in Comanche County, TX. He died of pneumonia in his wagon on the banks of the Brazos River in the rain waiting for the flooding river to subside so he could ford it. More Inventions NeededSomeone needs to invent a forklift. Those crates look very heavy even if they were empty. This truck has solid rubber tires. The cargo and driver have to endure a bone shattering ride. UK ExtinctionBritish English near equivalents for extinction are 'carrier', 'carter' & 'haulier'. Drayage Historical Turning PointDrayage got a lot easier when they started using wheels. That didn't affect the term, however. [A dray is a cart or wagon, so presumably they've always had wheels. - Dave] I knew a Drayman onceAs a youth in England growing up in the East, my father ran an old sea coast hotel in King's Lynn (Norfolk) for one of the breweries. When the men delivered the beer barrels and such, my dad referred to them as Draymen. That was back in the early 70's. Dray definitionAccording to the Oxford English Dictionary a dray was originally a sled and later the term became applied to the low heavy wagons with wheels particularly used by brewers. The lap of luxuryRoof, tilting "wiggly" glass windshield, padded seat & backrest, leaf springs with maybe a half inch of travel. The life of the drayman. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Fine Groceries: 1905
... That wavy cobblestone street could pass for the ocean on a windy day. Must have been a very bumpy ride. Tea Time I'm ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2012 - 7:44pm -

New York circa 1905. "Exterior of tenement house, E. 40th Street." Our fifth look at this building. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. ThinkThe young lady look's deep in thought. I wonder what she's thinking about? "Maybe I should have brought my umbrella." He's in big troubleHe was supposed to pick her up a half hour ago after her shift at the deli but he's down at the pool hall and time just got away from him, you know how it is. She hopes he's not dead so she can kill him herself when he finally pulls up. Please do not siton the railings or abutment. Look carefully at the sidewalk and streets.Totally immaculate. In fact, you can eat off of them. Brick lintelsI have NEVER seen brick lintels arranged in such a decorative fashion before. For such a plain building there's a lot going on in the brickwork. Woman by door:"Oh dear! Google Maps seems to have led me astray. I was only look for medium-quality groceries. Whatever shall I do?" QuandaryNow where the devil did I leave the Ford? Seasick?That wavy cobblestone street could pass for the ocean on a windy day. Must have been a very bumpy ride. Tea TimeI'm surprised no one has made comment of the young lady standing alone on the street. Just above her though, through a partially openend window, appears to be two or three ladies enjoying high tea or something of the sort. Looks like one is reaching for a salt or pepper shaker. Shorpy provides a portal into the past to view moments enjoyed over 100 years ago! Amazing when one thinks about it. A Worrisome Thought I imagine we will never know if our heroine was able to connect with her new beau. Although she is an attractive young lady so I'm sure things worked out for her and some viewer of Shorpy might be looking at their great grandmother. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Short Subjects: 1938
... Memories I remember seeing those at the arcades in Ocean City, MD in the 1960's. Only by that time it cost 2 cents. There was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/17/2013 - 12:04pm -

September 1938. " 'It's a dirty gyp,' say the mine workers' sons in the penny arcade at outdoor carnival. Granville, West Virginia." Stepstools helpfully provided for the shorter cineastes. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size. After the photo was takenI bet these kids were worried about their parents seeing them watching the peep show! MemoriesI remember seeing those at the arcades in Ocean City, MD in the 1960's. Only by that time it cost 2 cents. There was never anything really obscene. It was usually some sort of mildly naughty gag shot. "Without expectation there can be no disappointment"The enticing photos and titles on the signs invariably promised more than the 1¢ show delivered. In reality, the flip cards seldom showed more than an attractive girl fully covered by a diaphanous cloak that she almost removes by the last card. You are always left with the impression that if there were just a few more cards, you would have received your money's worth. Peep Shows at Rocky PointThey still had a few of these at Rocky Point in RI when I was a kid. I remember viewing one called "What Girls Do When Alone"; instead of the hoped-for steamy Sapphic interlude, the ancient, worn images showed two flappers dancing. That was it. I guess you do get what you pay for at the Penny Arcade. Double FeatureMy favorite filmgoers are the two guys both watching the "Strip Poker" show, trying to get a double-view for the price of a penny. Golly gosh gee whizThis just can't be true, the youth of yesteryear were all virtuous and wholesome and never thought of, or even knew about Sex. I Miss Those ThingsUp until about 5 years ago, they still had a few of those peep shows at the Minnesota State Fair Penny Arcade, tucked away amongst the flashy, noisy video games. Some of them didn't work, but one or two always did, and they were still a penny. I found them to be charming and always made it a point to watch one each time I went to the fair. When they moved or removed the Penny Arcade, the peep shows went away too. I tracked down and contacted the guy who owned them, hoping to buy and restore them, but he wanted much more than I could afford. I hope they've been restored and are still entertaining people somewhere. Truth in advertisingPlayland-Not-At-the-Beach in El Cerrito has a few of these old peep shows. One, called "How to Clean Up at the Races," is a tiny diorama of plastic horses, a shovel and manure. Another, "Fan Dancer," is exactly that - a shaking paper fan with doll legs. You got exactly what was advertised with these things, so don't call them "a dirty gyp," kid. We expected to finally see the censoredIn 1957 at Bertrand Island Lake Hopatcong NJ we kids would drop our pennies in and see "The electric chair at Sing Sing" a prisoner being executed. and a Victorian era Fan dancer...hot stuff. The flip card viewer was a real attraction. (The Gallery, Kids, M.P. Wolcott, Movies)
Beach Picnic: 1941
... gaze is no doubt imagining World War II raging across the ocean his family is frolicking beside. [The often-overlooked Mexican ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/17/2010 - 11:08am -

January 1941. Sarasota, Florida. "Guest of Sarasota trailer park with his family, picnicking at the beach." Photograph by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size. Sands of TimeThe little girl holding the soft drink would now be in her mid-70s. Re: Sands of TimeWhen this picture was taken, I was four and also sat on my father's lap at the beach (though in the summer in the Northeast) in the company of my two older sisters. Only I and the youngest girl survive. MaturityIt may just be current-generational predjudice, but photos of that era and earlier reveal an earlier maturity for the adults of the time. The dad in the photo can't be more than 35, but compare his photo to men of his age today. Advanced juveniles; and our society seems to show it. Back thenthe farthest my family could travel to the beach was to the Irish Riviera, a.k.a. Rockaway Beach, Queens. FinallyThe first appearance of beach blankets on Shorpy! Suits HimI have a photo of my dad in the early 30's, about that boy's age, wearing the same kind of bathing suit. Always seemed like a weird style to me. Maturity 2Well, the dad in the photo just spent the prime days of youth (late teens to early twenties) in the Great Depression. His thoughtful, distant gaze is no doubt imagining World War II raging across the ocean his family is frolicking beside. [The often-overlooked Mexican Campaign? - Dave] Earliest known photoOf Sir Elton John! (The Gallery, Florida, M.P. Wolcott, Travel & Vacation)
Allouez: 1941
... large amounts of supplies and troops across the Atlantic Ocean. 5. Even if we did move an army across the Atlantic, Americans were ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/06/2020 - 3:01pm -

August 1941. "Iron ore docks at Allouez, Wisconsin." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Powell Stackhousehttps://www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com/histories-by-name/s/stackhouse-p... Rustless ScupperThe Powell Stackhouse looks brand new. What Were They Thinking?I am always amazed at the amount of commerce and industry in the Shorpy photos shown before the U.S. entered WWII. But what really amazes me is who did Germany and Japan think they were taking on when they declared war on the U.S.? They Knew They Were SunkFollowing Pearl Harbor, Admiral Yamamoto, architect of the attack, opined that Japan would achieve victories against the U.S. for six months before beginning to lose the war. Albert Speer, German Minister of Production, concluded at the same time (according to his memoir) that the Third Reich was doomed in light of American production -- an opinion that he prudently saw fit to keep to himself. Head ExplosionHoly Shorpy! There are so many things going on in this photo, each one regularly getting a complete photo to itself, but here we have, as supporting actors: Loco 831 with full tender AND engineer leaning out of window; a Great Lakes freighter with legible text (Powell Stackhouse, Bethlehem Transportation Corporation); railcars with iron ore as far as the eye can see; a tugboat with an angry stack; a brilliant metal dock built over 80 years ago in America; and that whole wire system strung over the railcars. Each one of these could be 20 comments, easy. Look at them all, together here! And, please, check on the map for Allouez, WI: it’s actually on Fox River, leading to Green Bay, on Lake Michigan. [Actually not: corrected by archfan to Superior, WI.] I’m loving this John Vachon trip. Untouched by human handsInteresting. I assume they raise the hatches, lower the chutes and tip the ore cars? Efficient, if that's how they do it. The other AllouezIt looks like the LOC description is incomplete. These are the Allouez Bay Ore Docks in Superior. The dock was also owned by the Great Northern RR. They're still standing but they ceased operations over thirty years ago. We're Not in Green Bay AnymoreI grew up in Allouez, WI and Archfan has it right, this is not in the Green Bay area (where I still live). We had the Fox River, ships, railroads, paper industries and smoldering coal piles, but not iron ore. Today we have the same industries including a small meat packing industry which gave birth to a certain Football Team we are very proud of. If you are a fan of U.S. history, the Green Bay area has a very rich history dating back to 1634. Getting the ore from the cars.The ore cars have sloped bottoms like a funnel. A gateway at the bottom of the car is opened and the ore flows between the tracks to the ship. No tipping required. Videos Show How The Ore Docks WorkYouTube has a number of videos showing how this sort of ore dock works. Most focus on the railroad aspect, but this one is more focused on the unloading, and has some good close-ups of how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rui21mx8RKQ Hitler's miscalculationsAccording to histories I've read, Hitler was advised not to declare war on the U.S. after Pearl Harbor but overrode the advice for the following reasons: 1. Although Germany's mutual-defense treaty with Japan didn't obligate Germany to declare war on the U.S. after Japan became the aggressor by starting the war, Hitler said that staying neutral would make Germany look weak. He didn't want to dodge the war on a treaty technicality. 2. Great Britain was already receiving U.S. assistance through the Lend-Lease program, so declaring war on the U.S. wouldn't materially alter the balance. 3. Hitler doubted that U.S. industrial production would rise significantly if the U.S. entered the war. 4. Even if production did rise, Hitler believed his U-boat blockade would prevent the U.S. from shipping large amounts of supplies and troops across the Atlantic Ocean. 5. Even if we did move an army across the Atlantic, Americans were an inferior "mongrel race" and no match for German soldiers. Last port of call for a doomed freighterThis is the very dock where the Edmund Fitzgerald loaded on that fateful Nov. 9, 1975. https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,3885535 (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, John Vachon, Railroads)
Dialog of Giants: 1942
... were built by Clyde's successor, Amclyde. These are all ocean based, and there are a lot of them out there. (The Gallery, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/30/2017 - 11:41am -

June 1942. "Tennessee Valley Authority -- construction cranes at Douglas Dam." Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size. WOWTerrific photo, imagine what it took just to build the support infrastructure to build the dam and during the war years when resources were in high demand for the war effort. Douglas DamThe dam was built to provide power to Oak Ridge for the Manhattan Project, whose factories produced the materials used in the atomic bomb. Astonishingly built in only 13 months. Star WarsThey could have been the beginning of AT-ATs. Clyde CranesThese cranes were manufactured to exclusive design by Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, MN. The company is gone but several cranes are still around including two at the Port of Duluth. Clyde cranes still workingHere is a mid-sized Clyde, still working full time. https://youtu.be/-WMqNYO22W8 Reportedly, this one was originally steam, as were most of the barge-mounted Clyde derricks. US Corps of Engineers has several former steam Clydes, smaller than this one, on the Great Lakes. A few years ago, I watched the 2 big dock cranes at Superior (Duluth) WI, using a spreader bar to buddy lift windmill generators that were too heavy for either crane alone. Some of the largest floating cranes, many times this size, but still recognizable as Clyde design, were built by Clyde's successor, Amclyde. These are all ocean based, and there are a lot of them out there. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Industry & Public Works)
Triptych: 1917
... navy in close touch with war vessels in the Atlantic Ocean. It has been the dream of naval officials for years to erect such a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/27/2012 - 3:19pm -

Arlington, Virginia, circa 1917. "Radio." Masts for the Navy's wireless station, built in 1912 at Fort Myer. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Questions Could it have been in contact with the Titanic, or was it too early? How about the Lusitania or other ships in distress? Was it used in WWI? What were its accomplishments? Wireless TelegraphyThe Navy's wireless communiques transmitted over the Fort Myer and Chollas triatic antennas, and well as ship to shore, were all sent with telegraph keys using Morse Code and naval encrypted telegraph codes. For the inaugural commissioning ceremony at Chollas Heights, a special sterling silver and ebony telegraph key was created by a local jeweler. Voice and other forms of data transmissions between these stations would come much later. Old FaithfulA concise history of early Navy wireless. The signal from NSS at Arlington was audible across the country. I used to hear it easily in Kansas.... the rhythm of dah-dit dit-dit-dit dit-dit-dit remains in my memory like a favorite song. [I think you linked to the wrong article. - Dave] Fort Myer's Twin SisterIn 1917 the triatic antenna at Fort Myer was linked to a series of similar wireless station antennas that allowed the Navy to communicate with Pearl Harbor and the Philippines. San Diego provided the transcontinental relay to Hawaii with the Navy's 600-foot triatic antenna at Chollas Heights (a few miles east of San Diego Bay), seen here in a San Diego Historical Society "Journal" image. On Dec. 7, 1941, the Chollas antenna relayed the news from Pearl Harbor to Fort Myer, and remained in use until the 1970s. It was demolished about 8 years ago to make way for a naval housing project. The three 600-ft. towers supported a solid copper wire, the actual antenna element, suspended vertically between them from the top level down to a radio room on the ground. Those little horizontal catwalks at the top of each tower in both photos were 32 feet wide. Naval Dreams Navy Will Erect a 600-Foot Tower at Fort Myer A powerful wireless telegraph station of the navy, capable of communicating with naval vessels 2,000 and possibly 3,000 miles distant from Washington, will be erected at Fort Myer. The high-power plant will be designed to keep the headquarters of the American navy in close touch with war vessels in the Atlantic Ocean. It has been the dream of naval officials for years to erect such a station in the environs of the National Capital. At one time it was suggested that a wireless mast for the purpose be constructed on top of the Washington monument, but strenuous objections were raised to the proposition, and several sites have been suggested since and discarded. .... Washington Post, Mar 27, 1911 Will Build 3 Towers U.S. Wireless Plant at Arlington to Eclipse Monument The construction of three wireless towers to be erected on the government reservation at Arlington by the Navy Department will mark a new era in electricity. The towers will be arranged in the form of an isosceles triangle, the central one being at the apex and standing 600 feet over all. The other two towers will be each 450 feet in height and self supporting; that is, there will be no guy ropes of any kind reaching from one tower to another. Some idea of the massiveness of the frame work in the towers may be gathered from the fact that 900 tons of steel will be used in the construction. Notwithstanding this fact, they will not be bulky, but will present a pleasing appearance of a delicate cobweb tracery against the skyline. The original plan called for towers of reinforced concrete, but as one of the structures will be higher than the Washington Monument, patriotic naval officials decided that a change of idea would be necessary to avoid detracting from the memorial to the first president. ... Washington Post, Jun 13, 1911 War of the Worlds!Three machines, striding across the misty landscape and the leader, with arms outstretched, about to tromp on an unsuspecting household. VLF transmittersVery few are left. There's one preserved in Sweden, still used one day every year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimeton_VLF_transmitter What a rare treat ! I love this!I am the radio System Manager for Arlington County, Virginia, and I needed to thank you for the photos at Fort Myer, in San Diego, and the newspaper article from 1911! To be able to peer into 1917 and see those towers is a gift. We cannot build towers in our urban Arlington any longer, but must use existing office buildings for our radio sites. Thank you for this, it is meaningful in so many ways. I only wish my grandfather were here to ask if he remembered them!! A big thanks to my co-worker, Paul, who found this site. TimeclockThe Arlington, Va. towers sent out a regular time signal from the clock at the National Observatory. Weather reports were also broadcast. Permitting others to synchronize with an official time was significant. Time of day is a subtle empire thing. You just cannot imagine the difficulty created when there is no settled arbiter to declare the top of the hour. ["Subtle empire"? - Dave] San Diego tower sistersI was in San Diego and watched a similar set blown up in the 90s. They were the ones that had recieved and passed on the news from Pearl Harbor. (The Gallery, Harris + Ewing)
Naval Bombing Plane: 1922
... seen again." Well, at least it disappeared over the ocean instead of crashing into someone's house. CT-1 torpedo dropper ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 6:24pm -

January 18, 1922. Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. "Naval Curtiss bombing plane at War College." View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. N-9 Aerial TorpedoI looked and looked and couldn't see a cockpit anywhere. Google & wikipedia to the rescue - it was a (failed) flying bomb. Not a great chapter in aviation history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hewitt-Sperry_Automatic_Airplane "When last seen, the N-9 was cruising over Bayshore Air Station at about 4,000 feet (1,200 m), heading east. It was never seen again." Well, at least it disappeared over the ocean instead of crashing into someone's house. CT-1 torpedo dropperThat's not a flying bomb. It's got a perfectly good open-top cockpit, over the wing between the engines. See the picture about 1/3 of the way down this page, which shows someone in it (search the page for "A-5890", which is the aircraft number as you can see on the pontoon): There's some more information about it on this page (again, search the page for A-5890). The N-9 was a biplane.The N-9, upon which that aerial bomb was based, was a biplane, and apparently not a floatplane. Of course that doesn't help identify this one, but I don't think it's the aerial bomb you suspect. And to me it looks like there's an open cockpit with no windshield in the central fuselage, right up front. might also be a ring mount for a gunner aft of the cockpit. Curtiss CT-1Only one built. more info and another photo of the same plane can be found here. NAS AnacostiaThe aircraft is on the seaplane ramp at NAS Anacostia. The building in the background is the National War College at Fort McNair. (The Gallery, Aviation, D.C., Natl Photo)
Hotel Windle: 1910
... is the same view from January of 2008 (looking west from Ocean Street). More of the Fire of 1901 The first photo is of City Hall ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 8:34pm -

Jacksonville, Florida, circa 1910. "Forsyth Street west from City Hall." Note the city-issued car tags. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Nothing to see here, move along...The Windle was demolished in 1962 and replaced by the Haydon Burns Library. Sadly, very few of the buildings in this photograph remain 102 years later: View Larger Map The only ones I can identify with any certainty are the large (hotel?) in the center of the photo and the smaller, more classical structure next door (both of which are really showing their age): View Larger Map +98Below is the same view from January of 2008 (looking west from Ocean Street). More of the Fire of 1901The first photo is of City Hall after the fire. The second is a view looking east along Forsyth, City Hall top left in the photo. The Shorpy image would have been taken 9 years later from Forsyth near City Hall, looking toward the photographer's vantage point in the second photo. A lot quainter than the current City HallAnd you can see Hotel Windle behind it. http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/166965 A few more shots at FloridaMemory.com and search for Jacksonville City Hall. Forsyth after the 1901 fireLooking like Dresden in WWII. Pretty good recovery by 1910. VehiclesI really like the cars in this photo, but what really caught my eye was that archetypical station wagon parked in front of the Windle Hotel. Hi-DefI have a 14.2 megapixel DSLR that could not have taken a picture this clear 100+ years later. Wow. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC, Florida, Jacksonville)
The Metropole: 1915
... 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 ... 
 
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)
Jersey Shore: 1910
"Belmar, on beach." Beachgoers at the New Jersey ocean resort of Belmar circa 1910. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/01/2009 - 2:14pm -

"Belmar, on beach." Beachgoers at the New Jersey ocean resort of Belmar circa 1910. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. TanklesI can barely keep my shirt buttoned when I'm at the shore, there's no way I would be able to wear a full set of clothes. The lady on the right might even get some sun on her ankles in such a provocative pose. Great Kojak!I never knew Telly Savalas was that old. Jersey shoreI live near the Jersey shore close to here, and things don't look that different now. The obviously striking thing about this photograph is the clothing. I would like to know what month this is, because New Jersey is a very humid state, and in the middle of the summer these women would smell atrocious to be out sweating on the beach like this. I'm always amazed by the clothing standards a hundred years back and earlier. What a difference a decade makesFunny how things can change in 10 years. I have tons of pictures of my grandparents at the Jersey shore in the 1920's wearing just a fraction of what these ladies have on. Baby on BoardThat's a beautiful baby carriage. Probably not very fun to push through the sand, but it doesn't look like this group was too into beach practicality in the first place. The large gaps in the sides of it would be so against the rules today, but I'm willing to bet the kid never slipped out anyway. Very similar to today...What a great picture! I spent a number of days this summer in Belmar, fishing. I would not be surprised if some of those houses are still standing. I would love to see some old pics of Spring Lake, as well. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Sports, Travel & Vacation)
Home Work Wagon: 1912
... the sweat off. - Dave] Titanic? Who can ID the ocean liner in the window. Not the Titanic The Titanic was a 4 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/10/2007 - 6:55pm -

August 1912. "The wagon that delivers Home Work to Somerville, Massachusetts. The owner of the wagon (who is not the driver) is O. H. Brown, 27 Main Street, Reading. These wagons (about 4 in all) are worked on commission, not owned by factory." ("Home work" here meant pre-cut cloth patterns ready to be sewn into various articles of clothing.) View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. Note the curious tassels hanging off the horse. (Answer: It's a fly fringe.) TasselsMaybe to keep flies away? just a wild guess. [Yes, or maybe to wick the sweat off. - Dave] Titanic?Who can ID the ocean liner in the window. Not the TitanicThe Titanic was a 4 stacker vessel. There are only two on this ship. Could have been one of any number of other ships that brought a steady stream of immigrants to America during that period. Three of my own grandparents came here that way. 1905The house after the lot has a stone marked 1905, would that be the date it was built or the address? [Year. - Dave] tasselsTo keep the flies off -to combat the dreaded mosquito-born equine diseases. Guy in the tie.I just love the guy in the white shirt and tie with his hands on his hips. You can just tell what he's thinking, "Hmm, what's that young fellow with the queer looking box doing out there in the middle of the durn street? He's looking to get run over, that's what he's fixin' to do..." If those were for flies IIf those were for flies I wonder how effective they were. How ever did horses survive without humans to drape strings on them and cover their snout with a feedbag. [It's called a fly fringe. All the fringes need to do is move back and forth a little as the horse moves to do their job. - Dave] HomeworkI swear, Elmer...... that there horse eats better'n I do. (The Gallery, Horses, Lewis Hine)
Beach Baby: 1910
... quite like this. The camera is angled to view from the ocean. No more boardwalks or piers seen in this pic. Ah! The Jersey Shore ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 11:18am -

The Jersey Shore circa 1910. "On the beach at Atlantic City." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Great GunsThe lady looks like she could crack a walnut in the crook of her elbow. Those are some impressive arms for a woman. Hands too. Tights on the BeachI still marvel at the sight of these women in their stockings or is it tights? Compare them to how the men are dressed. What also amazes me is no more than a decade later how different fashion would become for women. Different perspectiveI don't remember seeing a photograph quite like this. The camera is angled to view from the ocean. No more boardwalks or piers seen in this pic. Ah! The Jersey Shorebefore there was a Situation or a Snooky. Those were the days!!! Just wait til I tell Opie and Andy about this!My dress hiked nearly up to my knee, almost my entire Stocking showing, and in public! My word, I'll be the scandal of Mayberry! The two guys at rightlook as if they could be with the photographer. Definitely appears to be a large camera case on the sand, and the pouch slung over the shoulder of the taller one looks about right for the plates. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Feathers, Furs, Pearls: 1920
... from a mink, fox or a rodent, but the pearls are from the ocean and the feathers are obviously from some flying creature, so she is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2012 - 6:04pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Miss Helen LeSeure." Granddaughter of "Uncle Joe" Cannon, a legendary Speaker of the House. Harris & Ewing. View full size. Transcriptionist extraordinaireHelen LeSeure Abdill acquired her own bit of immortality when she transcribed her Uncle Joe's memoirs from his days as Speaker. Sounnecessarily blurry. Unless it turns out she was really 95 years old here. I thinkshe looks absolutely lovely in that outfit and her face is adorable. Didn't she invent canned baby peas??? Natural ResourcesDon't know if she got her fur from a mink, fox or a rodent, but the pearls are from the ocean and the feathers are obviously from some flying creature, so she is probably not adorned in man-made synthetics and can still be called a "natural woman." She can also be a cover girl for "Fin and Feather." I'm not sure about the wisdom of decorating oneself with deceased animal life and personally have absolutely no complaints about polyester even though it is disdained by the hipper people. It is machine washable, never needs ironing and wears like iron. What's not to like? Of course it did not exist in 1920 and since this was before the Great Depression, conspicuous consumption by status seekers was all the rage among affluent flappers. (Don't mean to plug Vance Packard's writing, purely unintentional.) Soft focusAccording to the 1900 census, she was born in December 1899 (lived in Uncle Joe's house, as a matter of fact). She would have been around twenty years old. So the photographer's blurriness must have had some other objective. ["Soft" was the aesthetic of the era when it came to studio portraits. Negatives like this were often blurred when they were printed for an even more impressionistic effect. The goal seems to have been images that were equal parts painterly and photographic. - Dave] Spit CurlI remember my mother, who was born in 1902, telling me about these styles. The little curl sticking down from under the hat was called a spit curl because you'd moisten your finger and press it against your forehead to make it stay. The feathers are called a "bird of paradise". These were also worn sometimes sticking up from a head-band and held by an ornament at the middle forehead. "Conspicuous Consumption"The term was introduced by economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen in his 1899 book "The Theory of the Leisure Class." Even by today's standardsShe's hot! The greatest hatEVER!!! (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Portraits)
Dancing Glass Balls: 1905
... "Charles Vollmer, who conducts the Crystal Hotel on Ocean Avenue, is considered one of the most popular hotel keepers in Seaside. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/16/2012 - 11:35am -

Rockaway, New York, circa 1905. "The Bowery looking east." Much intriguing signage here. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Crystal Hotel"Charles Vollmer, who conducts the Crystal Hotel on Ocean Avenue, is considered one of the most popular hotel keepers in Seaside. His guests always seem to be in a happy frame of mind, which is evidence that the genial proprietor sees to it that there is nothing lacking for the comfort and amusement of his patrons. The hotel is one of the oldest on Rockaway Beach, and is noted for its original style of serving German dishes. The well appointed cafe is also an attraction". NYT July 17, 1904. The article also mentions Curley's Hotel, which was still in existence when I was a yute. Seaside is roughly in the area of Beach 90th to about Beach 110th Streets, and was damaged in the recent floods. I need glassesFor a second I thought there was a satellite dish on the 2nd roof on the left. I said to myself "Hey they had satellite back then?" When we all know they only had cable TV. Oyster StewI think I start with some oyster stew from Frederick's. Then, I'll get one of those frankfurters, and finish with some ice cream. I could also use one of those canes that guy is hawking. I can't reach most of the nuts on my pecan tree and a came would really help to pull those branches down where I could reach them. Where can I sign up?"WANTED: 500 men to eat Frankfurters" Organ Grinder ?Man in the right foreground wearing a striped vest and white, western style hat seems to be holding a box and the two people to his right seem to be looking down and are amused by something. Could he be an organ grinder an his monkey is just out of sight? Any other speculations ? What's In a Name?The real Bowery (in Lower Manhattan, not Rockaway Beach) was an unsavory area that has only recently lost its reputation for cheap dives, flop houses, and rampant street crime. The song "The Bowery," popular about the time this photo was taken, in no way presented that thoroughfare as having any redeeming characteristics. In popular culture, the area was synonymous with a trap for the unwary and a refuge for the reprehensible. Why then, one wonders, was a site of innocent amusement in Queens named after such a place -- perhaps to simulate the thrilling allure of counterfeit sin in an area of relative safety? [Coney Island also had a Bowery. - tterrace] Basket Parties WelcomeI'm afraid to know if there is some modern day euphemism, but circa 1900 a "basket party" consisted of couples or families on a day-long excursion with a picnic lunch packed in a basket. Round-About New York, 1902. M. ZIMMERMAN Established 25 Years and now the largest and best-known manufacturer in the United States. Sausages, Bologna, Frankfurters and Wiener Wurst, Smoked and Corned Beef, Smoked and Corned Tongue, Kosher Cooking Fat, 1,3,5 & 10 lb. cans. Goods shipped to all parts of the United States. Orders solicited. 318 and 320 E. Houston Street, New York. (The Gallery, DPC)
Jumping-Off Point: 1923
... at Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. It was one of the few places on an ocean surrounded Long Island that you could find calm fresh water to swim in. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/23/2012 - 6:43pm -

Washington, D.C., 1923. "Opening of bathing beach." A diving platform in the Potomac Tidal Basin. National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size. Busy LifeguardConsidering the haphazard (and amateurish) diving that's going on, I suspect the LG in the boat is kept plenty busy. Note the man to the right near the bottom about to jump on top of the woman just below him. Tidal wavesWe were in D.C. last week and on Wednesday morning visited the Jefferson Memorial when the winds really kicked up, we were leaning against the airs, and the chop in the Tidal Basin was at least a couple of feet high. Looking out at the waves made me recall the many Tidal Basin bathing beach photos posted here on Shorpy. Looks like a blast!Too bad the lawyers made this kind of fun an impossibility in today's world. Synchronized DivingAre the men at the top right leaping off separately, but at the same time? Or is one holding the other in front of him? [They're side by side. - Dave] Segregated?Was this a segregated facility? Was there a separate beach or diving platform for African-Americans? [There were two municipal bathing beaches at the Tidal Basin. The white one, on the southeastern side, opened in 1918 and was enlarged in 1921. The "colored bathing beach," on the west shore of the Tidal Basin, was dismantled in 1925 (which may have been the same year it was built; the news accounts are hard to follow, for me at least). Shortly after that, white bathing beach was eliminated. All amid much controversy. There were plans for a "colored bathing beach" on the Anacostia River, evidently so the white beach could be reopened, but that doesn't seem to have panned out. More info here. - Dave] Deja vu This could be a scene at any freshwater lake in America, 1950's summertime. The background looks much like the commercial changing rooms at Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. It was one of the few places on an ocean surrounded Long Island that you could find calm fresh water to swim in. We too had huge pump slicked slides and dive rafts, though not anywhere that tall! (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports, Swimming)
Tiller Girls: 1926
... of lifeboats was because they would block the view of the ocean. By 1913 the lesson was learned, and the boats here are stacked so tall ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 12:40pm -

New York, 1926. "Tiller girls." Arriving from England, 16 chorus girls in the troupe originated by British musical-theater impresario and precision-dancing pioneer John Tiller. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain. View full size. Titanic ProportionsThe ship in the photos is most likely the RMS Berengaria of the Cunard Line. She was originally the German ship Imperator and in 1913 had the distinction of being the first ship larger than the ill-fated Titanic to make her maiden voyage. One of the reasons Titanic was shy of lifeboats was because they would block the view of the ocean. By 1913 the lesson was learned, and the boats here are stacked so tall they actually form a wall. [Based on shipping news items in the New York Times, the boat seems to be either of the Cunard liners Carinthia or Samaria. - Dave] Tiller girlsMy grandmother was in the Tiller girls, but 25 years earlier than this. She moved from Ireland to London as a teenager and got a job on the stage as a dancer. She met and married an older businessman. By 1926 her son was 19, and at sea in the merchant navy. My mother was 9 years old. Uncle Thomas died from TB at 21, and Grandmother left her husband for her son's best friend, Uncle Bill. Sweet SixteenLooks like they are ready for rousing game of crack-the-whip! Some Like It HotTiller Girls, eh? I see Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon dead-center of that lineup! (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, G.G. Bain, NYC)
The Sands of Time: 1906
... 1910 he attempted the first air crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from A.C. in the dirigible America , but had to abandon ship near ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2012 - 3:09pm -

The Jersey shore circa 1906. "Beach and Boardwalk, Atlantic City." Brought to you by Gillette. Detroit Publishing Company glass negative. View full size. Bird's eye viewSo, was this photo shot from a hot-air balloon? Aeroplane? Observation tower? [It was made from the tallish Hotel Traymore. - Dave] Splash.Makes me want to go to the beach. Thanks Shorpy. Up On the RoofSo what's the large cylindrical object atop the building towards the end of the pier? It appears to be made of fabric. An inflatable airship? Or maybe just a giant advertisement for foot-long (block-long?) hotdogs? [The sign hanging underneath reads THE AIRSHIP. Another Shorpy Mystery! It looks something like one of Melvin Vaniman's ill-fated craft. In 1910 he attempted the first air crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from A.C. in the dirigible America, but had to abandon ship near Bermuda. He was killed in 1912 when his hydrogen blimp the Akron blew up off Atlantic City. - Dave] An idea before its timeWhere's the Barbarossa now that people are wearing Bikinis and Speedos? Gillette's advice still holds. So much to seeAnd so little time. But, my favorite thing so far are the five gals arm in arm walking away from the camera about 40 yards to the right of the covered beach chairs. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Surf Avenue: 1913
... which ran from the rear of the building along toward the ocean. The rest rooms were located beyond the sit down tables on the same side ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/25/2009 - 10:03am -

July 16, 1913. Surf Avenue on Coney Island, with Feltman's Clam Bake on the left. View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. Feltman'sLocated on the south side of Surf Avenue, Feltman was best known for his high grade and more expensive hot dogs. His place though was much more than a hot dog stand. It featured the hot dog counter facing Surf Avenue on the east side nearest the camera where root beer, Moxie and other soft drinks were sold along the hot dogs, hamburgers and fries. The counter was a rectangle with serving surfaces on all four faces, three of which were inside the main building. To the west of the building was the clam bar on the other side of the main entrance which led to the bar area located beyond the clam bar and sit down tables. Behind the hot dog counter were sit down tables where you could order meals and beverages from waiters.Behind the bar was the kitchen area that prepared food for the restaurant and also the outdoor Beer Garden which ran from the rear of the building along toward the ocean. The rest rooms were located beyond the sit down tables on the same side as the hot dog counter. The Garden feature a Bohemian theme with the east wall featuring faux buildings in the theme fashion with windows, doors and red tile roofs and the walls stucco finished a grayish tan color. Special colored lamps provided lighting and live entertainment and dancing were featured at night.Select vegetation enhanced the atmosphere. There were singing waiters and strolling minstrels. Jimmy Durante and Eddie Cantor worked there when they were young. Whew!!I look at the date of this picture then look at the clothing everyone is wearing and I start to sweat! I can't imagine having to dress like that in mid-summer in NY. JFLundyIs Mr. Lundy a part of the famous Lundy family who owned the best restaurant in Brooklyn? I ate at Lundy Brothers many times as a boy in the 40's and 50's, and recall the biscuits and shore dinner with gustatory delight. A centuryI find it totally mind blowing to think of how our world has changed in less than a century, when you take into the consideration how long we have been on this planet and in the context of 100 years, how our world and society has changed. I sometimes wonder is it for the better? This picture was taken two weeks before my father's birth. Sure puts things into a different light. (The Gallery, Coney Island, G.G. Bain, Sports)
First Across: 1919
... The NC-4 was the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as part of the U.S. Navy transatlantic flight attempt." 5x7 glass ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/10/2019 - 2:19pm -

        100 years ago saw the first trans-Atlantic flight, and it wasn’t Lindbergh’s. A giant Navy seaplane flew from Queens to the Azores in 1919, eight years before the Spirit of St. Louis. It took three weeks. It wasn’t nonstop. — N.Y. Times May 1919. "The NC-4 Curtiss flying boat, designed by Glenn Curtiss, at Rockaway Beach, Long Island, New York. The NC-4 was the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as part of the U.S. Navy transatlantic flight attempt." 5x7 glass negative, Bain News Service. View full size. Three weeksNo wonder it took so long. No Propellers! Flying BoatTechnically, the NC-4 was a flying boat, not a seaplane. Seaplanes were aircraft that could take to the water by having floats fitted in place of wheeled undercarriages. Seaplanes for a reasonAll early transport planes were seaplanes. The reason is that there were few reliable methods of overland navigation, no airstrips suitable for landing a plane, and no accommodation for either passengers or aircraft inland. Seaports and coastal routes were long established. These big Navy seaplanes with "Putty" Read & five-man crew did what they could to go from Rockaway Beach - Chatham - Trepassey - Azores - Portugal - France - England. Much of it in bad weather in exposed cockpits. Pilot was first U.S. Coast Guard airmanHe had quite the vision to understand the future of flight in its infancy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmer_Fowler_Stone ReliabilityLindbergh chose single engine because he couldn't make it with a failed engine on a multiengined plane anyway. It would just double his chances of not making it to have two engines. A seaplane isn't out of luck with a failed engine over water. NC-4 Today in PensacolaToday's Pensacola New Journal has this article on the NC-4, which is now housed in the Naval Aviation Museum at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. Aviation mythsThe vast majority of flying boats (let alone seaplanes) were not designed and built to take down on the open sea. And the vast majority couldn't, accordingly, in anything of a sea swell. The boat part was not risk mitigation, it was the design solution to account for lack of land based infrastructure. As well as saving the weight of a landing gear of limited utility. Plus, Goodyear et al were not quite up yet to making tires that could take the loads associated with (for its time) large aircraft landing gear. After all, we are talking 1919 here. The time when automobiles frequently had two or even more spares, and a full repair kit, and actually needed and used them. The Spirit of St. Louis used one engine beacause one engine was (barely) enough to get it to Paris. After all, Lindbergh was on a budget. And then as now the engines are easily the most expensive part of an aircraft. And the Wright J-5C Whirlwind was arguably among the most efficient and reliable engines of its time in the first place. Hull by HerreshoffThe NC-4 hull was built by the celebrated Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. in Bristol, Rhode Island. There is (or was when I last visited) a superb model of the flying boat in the Herreshoff Museum. UnremarkableAs any school child outside the US knows, British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight in June 1919. They flew a modified First World War Vickers Vimy bomber from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Clifden, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. Centennial celebrations are being held in Ireland next month. There is only ever one first. In this case, crossing the Atlantic by island hopping on a relaxed schedule is not that remarkable. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight_of_Alcock_and_Brown [Newfoundland (an island!) to Ireland (an island!) is only slightly more impressive than Greenland to Iceland. - Dave] (The Gallery, Aviation, G.G. Bain, NYC)
Mom, Uncle John, the Porsche and Me
... of time there in the early 90s. Great neighborhood and the ocean views unbeatable -- if your house does not slide onto Pacific Coast ... 
 
Posted by AmericanJarhead - 09/20/2011 - 10:18pm -

My mother, Lea, with her brother, John, and his Porsche 912 in front of my parents’ house in the Shore Cliffs development of San Clemente, Calif., in 1969 or 1970. Scanned from the original 126 negative. My father was the photographer and the boy in the tree is yours truly! I have just been given boxes upon boxes of negatives and slides that my mother had kept in a closet for all these years. The prints are small, faded and almost colorless now. I hope to find many treasures in the following months. This is my first submission to Shorpy. View full size. Gimmmmeeee!Drrroooollll. I want the Porsche! I'll takeUncle John if he's still around. Little black dressThe lack of comments is surprising. AmericanJarhead's mom is one of the most attractive and stylish to appear on the pages of Shorpy. I go on record as saying she is a hottie. A simple back dress ... wow! I know Shore Cliffs very well, having spent a lot of time there in the early 90s. Great neighborhood and the ocean views unbeatable -- if your house does not slide onto Pacific Coast Highway. Background detailsThe Porsche is cool, Mom is cool, Uncle John is cool, but what makes this picture come alive as a slice of life is the kid hanging out of the tree. Your father showed great sense in not yelling at you to get out of the picture. 911I think that's a 911, not a 912. Porsche..I think that's a 911, not a 912. As the major difference between the two models was the engine (911 = 6 cylinders, 912=4 cylinders) how can you tell that it's a 911 from this photo? (Please don't say "because it has alloy wheels". These were readily available as a dealer option on the 912) Classic This is a classic photo. Your dad framed it perfectly, the car and the people are in a natural pose, your mother is beautiful and your uncle cool and you hanging from the tree make this wonderful. Porsche 911John's car looks a lot like my unrestored 1972 911 T except mine is a Targa. Same "Arrest Me Red" color. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
A Pretty Grille: 1927
... any of them to go into the pool. Fleishhacker was near the ocean and fit only for members of the polar bear club. It's now paved over and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/02/2015 - 8:22pm -

San Francisco circa 1927. "Cadillac and swimmers at Fleishhacker Pool." 5x7 glass negative formerly of the Wyland Stanley collection. View full size. ColleenThe young lady leaning against the radiator is so Irish, I'll eat my tam o'shanter if her hair isn't red. Pouting girlOn running board unfairly NEVER gets chosen to dive off hood. Nice carI've always said that Caddies attract the babes. Thoroughly modern MilliesBobbed hair and exposed skin aside, these girls' display of athleticism would have been quite scandalous only a few years previously. Nevertheless, I spy their chaperone lurking in the driver's seat or on the other side of the car, no doubt making sure that the photographer doesn't start encouraging them to pose in a less wholesome manner. That water was COLD!Sure, they look cute on the car, but I dare any of them to go into the pool. Fleishhacker was near the ocean and fit only for members of the polar bear club. It's now paved over and provides parking for zoo employees. Diving or Radiator CapsThey look like they are posing for a radiator cap to me. The Hood OrnamentIt's probably not nice choose favorites, but she is mine! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Pretty Girls, San Francisco, Swimming)
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