Fourth of July

And, kids, don't go shootin' up the town and scarin' the neighbors with all your guns, cannons, and fireworks!

Postmarked June 22, 1910.

"Copyright 1908, P. Sander N.Y." Handwritten on back of postcard: "From Momma for Clarence, July 4th, 1910."

Mouse over the image above to see enlargements of the top half and bottom half of this fireworks display announcement. James Pain presented his "pyrotechnic displays" of fireworks at Coney Island for the first time on the Fourth of July in 1879, and this broadside is an announcement for his third show held two weeks later. For additional background information, see David A. Sullivan's illuminating article Coney Island History: The Story of Pain's Manhattan Beach Fireworks Shows . For a later James Pain production, see the following trade card for Pain's Last Days of Pompeii : Pyrotechnic Displays by James Pain, Coney Island, July 19, 1879 Alexandra Exhibition Co. The next in the Series of Pyrotechnic Displays Under the charge of Jas. Pain, Esq., Pyrotechnist of the Alexandra Palace, London, England, and also of the Royal Yacht Squadron, will take place Saturday, July 19, '79 at Manhattan Beach, Coney Island. The Enclosure lies East of the Bathing Pavilion. Programme 1. Salute of Aerial Maroons. 2. Electric Illumination, with Colored Fires. 3. Grand Display of Large Colored Rockets. 4. Ascent of Magnesium Balloons, weather permitting. 5. Golden Tourbillions, ascending and descending. 6. Girandoles of Fire, with Brilliant Circles, Batteries of Roman Candles, Jewelled Mines, Rockets, &c, &c. 7. Discharge of Shells of Various Colors. 8. Set Piece, Saxon Cross in Brilliant Gold and Emerald Fires. 9. Asteroid Rockets, with Floating Lights, changing colors while sailing through the air. 10. Pigeon Cotes, with Fiery Pigeons Flying to and fro. 11. Set Piece, Mammoth Silver Fire Wheel, with interesting centres continuously changing colors. 12. Pleiades, or Seven Floating Stars, thrown from one rocket. 13. Set Piece, Fairy Fountain, with gold and silver jets. 14. Fire Picture of a Palace River Steamboat. 15. Discharge of Shells, forming gold clouds, silver streams, &c. 16. Forest of Fire, produced by simultaneous discharge of Monster Golden Trees. 17. Set Piece, Grand Star Device. 18. Set Piece, Passion Flowers, represented in various forms and colors. 19. Second Display of Large Rockets, introducing the Wondrous Silver Stars with Cometic Tails. 20. Grand Naval Attack. - Sighting of the Ships -The Attack - The Running Down - Explosion and Sinking of one of the Combatants. 21. Second Discharge of Large Shells, in various colors and effects of the latest invention. 22. Grand Cascade of fire, falling from a great height, and covering a space of several thousand feet. 23. Finale, Flight of Large Rockets, forming a Gigantic Aerial Bouquet. Admission 25 cts., seats 25 cts. extra. The Display will be over in ample time for the comfortable return home of our visitors. American Bank Note Co., Type Department, 53 Broadway, New York.

For more information, see the bottom half and the full version of this fireworks display announcement (below). Pyrotechnic Displays by James Pain, Coney Island, July 19, 1879 (Top Half) Alexandra Exhibition Co. The next in the Series of Pyrotechnic Displays Under the charge of Jas. Pain, Esq., Pyrotechnist of the Alexandra Palace, London, England, and also of the Royal Yacht Squadron, will take place Saturday, July 19, '79 at Manhattan Beach, Coney Island. The Enclosure lies East of the Bathing Pavilion. Programme 1. Salute of Aerial Maroons. 2. Electric Illumination, with Colored Fires. 3. Grand Display of Large Colored Rockets. 4. Ascent of Magnesium Balloons, weather permitting. 5. Golden Tourbillions, ascending and descending. 6. Girandoles of Fire, with Brilliant Circles, Batteries of Roman Candles, Jewelled Mines, Rockets, &c, &c. 7. Discharge of Shells of Various Colors. 8. Set Piece, Saxon Cross in Brilliant Gold and Emerald Fires. 9. Asteroid Rockets, with Floating Lights, changing colors while sailing through the air. 10. Pigeon Cotes, with Fiery Pigeons Flying to and fro.

For more information, see the top half and the full version of this fireworks display announcement (below). Pyrotechnic Displays by James Pain, Coney Island, July 19, 1879 (Bottom Half) 11. Set Piece, Mammoth Silver Fire Wheel, with interesting centres continuously changing colors. 12. Pleiades, or Seven Floating Stars, thrown from one rocket. 13. Set Piece, Fairy Fountain, with gold and silver jets. 14. Fire Picture of a Palace River Steamboat. 15. Discharge of Shells, forming gold clouds, silver streams, &c. 16. Forest of Fire, produced by simultaneous discharge of Monster Golden Trees. 17. Set Piece, Grand Star Device. 18. Set Piece, Passion Flowers, represented in various forms and colors. 19. Second Display of Large Rockets, introducing the Wondrous Silver Stars with Cometic Tails. 20. Grand Naval Attack. - Sighting of the Ships -The Attack - The Running Down - Explosion and Sinking of one of the Combatants. 21. Second Discharge of Large Shells, in various colors and effects of the latest invention. 22. Grand Cascade of fire, falling from a great height, and covering a space of several thousand feet. 23. Finale, Flight of Large Rockets, forming a Gigantic Aerial Bouquet. Admission 25 cts., seats 25 cts. extra. The Display will be over in ample time for the comfortable return home of our visitors. American Bank Note Co., Type Department, 53 Broadway, New York.

Does anyone recognize this location? There's no identifying information on the back of this real photo postcard, and I can't quite figure out what the word written at the top might be.

In this real photo postcard, a man and woman sit in a carriage decorated with flags on the wheels and top. Perhaps they're waiting to join a parade for the Fourth of July or some other patriotic occasion. Note, too, the two children who are looking on in the background. And nailed to the tree just behind the horses is a "Ladies Only" sign.

"Will go off on the 4th." Printed on the back: "4th July Series Number 705."

"I'm going off on the 4th." Printed on the back: "4th July Series Number 705."

A parades photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. In this undated real photo postcard, a girl playing the part of Lady Liberty stands in a decorated car and holds her torch high as she poses for the photographer. A man and a woman (Lady Liberty's parents?) in the front seat of the car and three girls (her sisters?) in the back seat are also dressed in patriotic garb and seem to be awaiting the start of a parade (note the second vehicle behind this car). The word "Liberty" appears on the windshield of the car and on Lady Liberty's cap. If you look closely (mouse over the image above to see an enlarged view of the occupants of the car ), you'll notice that no one seems to be too enthusiastic about their participation in the parade--Lady Liberty is frowning, her mother is givng the photographer an icy look, the kids in the back don't seem happy, and dad is hiding his face. I certainly hope their moods changed once the parade began!

See also the full version of this real photo postcard:

A housework photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. The young woman on the right is preparing to use her baseball bat of a carpet beater to remove the dust and dirt from the rug hanging on the frame in front of her, while the one on the left is sweeping the walk. Perhaps they're getting ready and airing out the flag--it's awkwardly draped across the doorway--for a celebration on the Fourth of July or some other patriotic occasion.

"Super Atomic Brand. Supercharged Flashlight Crackers. Super size, super report, super power, super flash. Made in Portuguese Macau. Lay on ground, light fuse, get away quickly."

"Grand Independence Ball at Reynolds Hall, Oaksville, Tuesday eve., July 3, 1883. Yourself and ladies are invited. Music by Wager's Band. Bill $2. A. C. Reynolds, prop'r." An advertising trade card announcing a Fourth of July dance in Oaksville, New York.