Men in Vintage Photos

A weddings photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten caption (barely visible at the bottom of the photo above): "Mr. & Mrs. T. Thumb." Handwritten note on the back of the photo (see below): "Mr. & Mrs. Tom Thumb." Printed on the back of the photo: "Published by the New York Photographic Co., No. 453 Broadway, New York." Other versions of this photo are captioned "Mr. & Mrs. 'General Tom Thumb' in Their Wedding Costumes" (see, for instance, Photo_History's copy, Tom Thumb's Wedding by Brady , on Flickr). As Wikipedia explains, " General Tom Thumb was the stage name of Charles Sherwood Stratton" (1838-1883), a little person who became famous as a performer for circus promoter P. T. Barnum. His marriage to Lavinia Warren (1841-1919), a little person who was a former school teacher, took place on February 10, 1863, and received extensive publicity. Stratton died in 1883, and Lavinia married another little person, Count Primo Magri (1849-1920), in 1885 (see the photo of Count and Countess Magri below). Despite her marriage to Magri, Lavinia continued to make appearances as Mrs. General Tom Thumb (see below for a 1912 theater advertisement and an undated green ticket ). Lavinia died in 1919 and was buried next to her first husband. Magri passed away the following year. After all the publicity generated by Lavinia and Stratton's marriage in 1863, people began referring to the playful mock marriages in which children assume the roles of bride and groom as "Tom Thumb weddings." These events are still held today by churches and other groups for fundraising and entertainment purposes (see below for a photo of a children's mock wedding held in the 1920s ).

Handwritten note on this CDV photo back : "Mr. & Mrs. Tom Thumb." Backmark: "Published by the New York Photographic Co., No. 453 Broadway, New York." For the photo on the front of this CDV, see Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb in Their Wedding Attire :

The Italian Count Primo Magri married Lavinia Warren , who was the widow of General Tom Thumb , in 1885. . For the back of this photo, see Count and Countess Magri (Back) (below, left). For more information about Lavinia Warren and her first husband, see Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb in Their Wedding Attire (below, right).

Handwritten note on this CDV photo back: "Count Primo Magri from Bologna, Italy. Countess." For the photo on the front of this CDV, see Count and Countess Magri :

"I'm on my way--I'll be seein' yeh. Photo by F. D. Conard, Garden City, Ks. No. 49."

Metal tags on the men's hats identify them as "Conductor 118" on the left and "Conductor 115" on the right.

See also a detail from this real photo postcard showing a close-up of the guns and ammunition displayed on the table (below).

See also the full version of this real photo postcard (below).

It's probably not the Cavern Club , but the venue does look like it's in a cellar somewhere. Anyone ever hear of the Royal Dukes? (There's an unrelated Texas-based Royal Dukes Band , too.)

Signs: At top: "[Meats]. Cash Store, A. J. Morel. Groceries." In windows: "The Morel Stores." Gas pump: "Socony Motor Gasoline."

Part of a real photo postcard that was cut out at this angle by the original owner.

A vintage science and/or cat's eye glasses photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Surgeons at a French field hospital during the First World War use an x-ray machine --"the latest and most complete scientific device for saving life," according to the description on the back of this stereographic card--to locate and remove a bullet from a wounded soldier. This image was first published by the Keystone View Company as part of a set of war stereogaphs issued in 1917-18. See below for the full Locating Bullet with X-ray Machine stereoview card. For additional information regarding the Keystone View Company's World War I stereographic sets, see the The World War through the Stereoscope , a digital collection from the Library of Congress. 18608 - French Field Hospital - Locating Bullet with X-Ray Machine Excerpt from the description on the back of the card: Before us surgeons are using the x-ray to locate the bullet in a wounded soldier. His life depends upon finding it promptly and with little probing. For this the x-ray is invaluable--it projects a shadow of the bullet in the wound. As a further aid in locating the bullet, a mechanism working on the plan of a telephone is used. One end of the circuit is attached to a bell and the other end is fastened to a sliver thread attached to the probe. When the probe touches the bullet the bell rings. Many lives have been saved by this invention, which enables the surgeon to locate the bullet quickly and to extract it through a small orifice. Notice the tube at the surgeon's ear, leading to the bell on the x-ray apparatus, so that he can hear instantly hear the first faint vibration. Observe the wire bringing the current from the ambulance. We have before us no crude emergency outfit, but the latest and most complete scientific device for saving life.

For information about this stereoscopic card, see Locating a Bullet with an X-ray Machine, French Field Hospital, World War I :

Melvern R. Evans, an architect in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, created this remarkable folded Christmas card in 1932. The front of the card, which was printed on plain green paper, simply says, "Just a minute--please." Inside (see above) is a photo of Evans holding a Santa mask along with a message indicating that 1932 was a "poor business year" (it was the height of the Great Depression ). To remedy the economic situation, Evans suggests, "Let's take off the mask and stop playing Santa Claus to the entire world ," meaning, I guess, that the United States should concentrate on addressing its domestic problems before providing aid to other countries. Despite his feelings about the dire financial conditions during 1932, Evans ends his greeting on a positive note by acknowledging old friendships and wishing a Merry Christmas "to you and those you love" (see below for the full text of the card). Just a minute--please This is a time for deep thought and accurate action . Let's take off the mask and stop playing Santa Claus to the entire world . We must have contentment at home to be a happy family . The year 1932 passes--well let it--it has been a poor business year. But ...it has ripened old friendships --and it's [because of] that old friendship that I cheer it's passing with a Merry Christmas wish--to you and those you love. Melvern R. Evans, A.I.A., Architect, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at Christmas, 1932.

"Greetings from Our House to Your House. The Herr's." A family posing with holiday decorations for a photographic Christmas card.

"Merry Christmas. The Hughes. 1963." For another photographic Christmas card from the Hughes, see A Chorus of Christmas Greetings for 1962 :

"Best Christmas wishes and happiness throughout the year." See below for some other vehicular Christmas greetings!

For information about this photo, see An Amishman and His Buggy at Zimmerman's Store, Intercourse, Pa. :