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Acting Chairman: 1917
1917. "J. Reynolds, performing acrobatic and balancing acts on high cornice above 9th ... full size. Mr. Chairman Federal Reserve Chairman Reynolds talking to ranking members of the Congressional Banking Subcommittee ... 1919 (The Gallery, Curiosities, D.C., Harris + Ewing) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 12:45pm -

1917. "J. Reynolds, performing acrobatic and balancing acts on high cornice above 9th Street N.W." Our second look at this aerial act. View full size. Mr. ChairmanFederal Reserve Chairman Reynolds talking to ranking members of the Congressional Banking Subcommittee in his 9th Street office. "The national economy is rock-solid and quite safe; we are forecasting at least 100 years of prosperity to come." Or,"Tabling the Motion" I get nauseousjust looking at that photo. Crazier than anything I've seen Harold Lloyd do. Natural HistoryThat's the Smithsonian Natural History Building in the background, finished in 1909. http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/historic/natural.htm I looked for an obituary where Mr. Reynolds ("it's not the fall, it's the sudden deceleration") was transformed into road pizza, but was unable to find it. What, no hat???The truly astounding thing about this picture is that he's scandalously removed his hat and suit jacket! Sheesh!That guy is nucking futz! I'm with Vic on this onePhotos like these make me feel ill. So much can go wrong in a split second that the gamble Mr. Reynolds has taken isn't worth it. I'd guess that getting up there was the easy part; its the getting down that's the trick. I'd have felt better seeing a rope tied around his waist and held by one of his assistants. Also, who holds liability if something goes wrong? Reynolds may well have gotten down safely but one of those chairs could have fallen to the sidewalk and impaled someone. All in all, I like it here on the ground - at sea level. Life is full of random, unfortunate events so why tempt fate? Scared of heightsI don't even like standing on a chair to change a light bulb. Worth It?Of course it was worth the danger. Mr. Reynolds probably made a good living at this daredevil stuff, and we get to see a great photograph. For VernonHow many Shorpians does it take to change a light bulb? One to prepare and operate the camera, one to stack the chairs, another to respond to press inquiries.... He's excused.Too windy. No hat or jacket...But he has a tie on. See it fluttering in the breeze? DemiseDoes anyone know how the fellow eventually met his maker? "Jug" Reynolds Try It On the Roof Mr. Reynolds seems to be going by "Jug" at this time -- I can't imagine that there would be two "J. Reynolds" crazy enough to do this stuff. (Click on image for larger version) Popular Science Monthly, December, 1919 (The Gallery, Curiosities, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Chair and Balanced: 1917
Washington, D.C., 1917. "Reynolds, J., performing acrobatic and balancing acts on high cornice above Ninth Street N.W." Our fourth glimpse of "Jug" Reynolds at work atop the Lansburgh furniture store. Harris & Ewing. View full size. Gulp!! I like the way the other chap is ready ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 10:17pm -

Washington, D.C., 1917. "Reynolds, J., performing acrobatic and balancing acts on high cornice above Ninth Street N.W." Our fourth glimpse of "Jug" Reynolds at work atop the Lansburgh furniture store. Harris & Ewing. View full size. Gulp!!I like the way the other chap is ready to catch him (with fag in mouth). This is something Harold Lloyd would have winced at. Publicity stuntsStunts like this were common back then. There was one fellow named George Polley who was known as the human fly. He would scale any building as a grand opening stunt, or for a promotion. Once, a haberdasher had just put a new suit on a window mannequin, and was out front admiring his display when Polley came along. George said "I would stand on my head on the roof for a suit like that!" to wich the shopkeep replied, "If you can climb to the roof, I'll give you that suit." George Polley got the suit. However, his life was cut short at the age of 28. Not from a fall, but from a brain tumor. OK sir, that's enoughwe really should be getting back to the taxi, the traffic is bad this time of day. The SpotterWho says that cigarettes don't make one look cool? No vain boaster he!Two years later, Jug Reynolds appears to have moved to New York, where he was still thrilling them from the rooftops. Here is an admiring little feature about him in the October 1919 issue of Popular Science Monthly. Sweaty hands and butterfliesThat's what this pic gave me and I love heights. Everyone Knows it's Windy!!Waaaaaaaaaaaaay too windy for that stunt. The guy is clearly crazy. I wonder what that netted him? On a lark and a FarkFarked again! (The Gallery, Curiosities, D.C., Farked, Harris + Ewing)
Looking Up: 1918
... Who will be the first to invent one? Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Possibilities It's ... Perhaps they are watching the death-defying feats of Jug Reynolds. Anybody recognize the uniforms? Are they DC police or ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/08/2013 - 1:31pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1918. "No caption." Who will be the first to invent one? Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. PossibilitiesIt's a bird! It's a Zeppelin! It's ... a ... what the hell is that thing? SkywriterI think he spelled out ... uhm, looks like ... "Drink Moxie." High tech indeedI'm sure they're looking at airships, doesnt't matter what type of it. One guy has earphones! And one looks like talking on a cellphone ... nope, just my imagination. Timber!So that's what something falling off a fiscal cliff looks like. Splitting a pair of earphonesClearly nothing new! OMGAll that hot air has finally ripped the Capitol from its foundation. If it's good enough for ChaplinI musta told him a dozen times, "Harold!! Why don't you come up with a simple, safe gimmick, like a derby and cane!!" But nooo ... LesnessThe little guy with the headphones looks like Les Nessman, WKRP Cincinnati. Oh the humanity. Look, up in the sky... it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman! Oh! The Humanity!I'm betting it was a dirigible. It sure looks like these folks were expecting the spectacle they're watching. The fellow who looks like a "man on the street" reporter, speaking into a microphone, is a couple years ahead of commercial radio, but by 1918 the military and the post office were experimenting with radio broadcasting in the Washington area. And, yes, I know this shot was taken 21 years before the Hindenburg flamed out in New Jersey. Overcast of Thousands"Take a good look, as someday everything you know will be stored in 'The Cloud'!" Watching the CelebrationThousands took to the streets to celebrate the end of the Great War. No doubt aircraft participated. ConnectedThe guy in the center wearing the headset seems to be military and it looks like he's talking to an aircraft or dirigible. UmmDoes that young lady on the ladder realize she forgot to put on her bloomers? No Way!Faster than a speeding bullet, my foot!!! Complaint DepartmentSir, he misspelled your name. It looks like he's really angry. A Business OpportunityThe pickpockets had a wonderful time of it... Chin up, folks!I'm pretty sure this is the line of patients outside (and inside) the office of a highly specialized chiropractor. Sign of things to comeMan on left with cigar: "You know, that air travel thing might just catch on one day". They all said"It'll never fly." Overheard in the crowd"Keep watching, I know we'll be farked any minute." Sen. Warren Visits Army Radio DemonstrationThe gentleman at center who's listening in on an Army Signal Corps wireless telephony demonstration is Senator Francis E. Warren of Wyoming (1844-1929), then the powerful Chairman of the Senate Subcommittees on Military Affairs and Appropriations. A Civil War veteran and winner of the Medal of Honor at 19, Warren was the first elected Governor of Wyoming. He then represented Wyoming in the US Senate from from 1890 to 1893 and from 1895 to 1929, where he chaired several important committees for many years. He was also General John J. Pershing's father-in-law. Daredevil AudiencePerhaps they are watching the death-defying feats of Jug Reynolds. Anybody recognize the uniforms? Are they DC police or military? The Men in Uniformare all US Army officers: the one with aviator's wings is a major or lieutenant colonel, the one with the headset is (I think) a full colonel, the older man behind him is a major general and the rest are officers (the hat badge is peculiar to the breed) of undetermined rank. Unless I miss my guess, the lady is not just stylish but quite handsome. She may well feature in other Shorpy pictures. And the faces in the windows are worthy of Hogarth. The Senator is old-fashionedButton-up shoes. High wire"What's Houdini up to now" Aviation DemonstrationTo build on other comments, These officers are certainly all aviators in the US Army Air Service (one of several evolutionary names till finally arriving at the USAF in 1947). Since it is in DC, this most likely occurred at Bolling AFB, which is located within the District. As a retired AF officer, my guess would be an aerial demonstration of some sort with the officer in center in radio contact with the pilot. Probably performing heretofor undemonstrated capabilities and wanting an influential senator to witness, so he can go back to Congress in support of further development and funding. See how much things have changed over time? ;~) High resolutionWell, I don't know what's happening here, but I'm impressed with the high resolution of these old photos. You can actually see the texture of the fabrics! The old (and much newer) Kodachrome of my dad never achieved this kind of resolution. [The image area of this 5x7-inch glass plate negative is about 26 times that of a 35mm slide. - tterrace] "Never tired, hungry or cold"Military outside, a MPD DC officer inside. Top BrassThe older officer behind the radioman is Brig. General William L. Kenly (1864-1928), the newly named Director of Military Aeronautics and briefly head of the US Army Air Service. His first assistant was Col. H. H. (Hap) Arnold, who does not appear in this photo. I think the officer standing at left is Kenly's successor as Chief of the new Air Service, then-Brig. General Charles T. Menoher (1862-1930). Here are period portraits of both. The definitive cutline.The cutline for this photo, as it appeared in the Seattle Daily Times on December 17, 1918, reads as follows: This photograph shows members of the Senate military affairs committee at a demonstration of the improved radiotelephone. Col. C. C. Culber [sic] is telephoning orders. Senator Francis E. Warren is listening in, next to him is Maj. Maurice R. Connelly, a former member of Congress, and on the left, Senator John W. Weeks. Back of Colonel Culver is Maj. Gen. William L. Kenly, chief of aeronautics. Copyright, Harris & Ewing. Glasc-Oh!The truth is finally revealed to onlookers as the world's tallest Scotsman strides down Pennsylvania Ave. Rank has its priviligeallowing General Kenly to put his (probably ungloved) hands in his overcoat pockets. Not in my time. Some buck sergeant would have been all over me for doing the same thing. Major Maurice ConnellyThanks to Cliff's excellent searching, we now know that the aviator on the left was Maj. Maurice Connelly (1877-1921). Connelly served in the 63rd Congress as the representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district, in 1912-1913. An Army aviator during the war, after the Armistice he was reassigned as an assistant to General Kenly, and was later killed in a flying accident in 1921. Yes, yes, yes . . .Yes, but who is that STUNNING woman??? Note, she's wearing spats. What a smashing outfit she has on in general. (The Gallery, D.C.)
Daredevil: 1917
Washington, 1917. "J. Reynolds, performing acrobatic and balancing acts on high cornice above 9th Street N.W." Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. (The Gallery, Curiosities, D.C., Harris + Ewing) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 12:45pm -

Washington, 1917. "J. Reynolds, performing acrobatic and balancing acts on high cornice above 9th Street N.W." Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. (The Gallery, Curiosities, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Fall Clearance: 1917
Everything must go! Mr. Reynolds again up on the roof of the Lansburgh furniture store in 1917. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Another View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 12:51pm -

Everything must go! Mr. Reynolds again up on the roof of the Lansburgh furniture store in 1917. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Another ViewAnother pic of this "daredevil". I wonder if this guy ever made it to old age??
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