Souvenir Photos

A real photo postcard showing three dapper gentlemen in suits, ties, and straw hats pretending to ride in an airship in a photo studio located in Douglas, Isle of Man. Notice how the pilot is carefully operating the fake control lever as a cigarette dangles from his mouth. I just hope that the gas bag above him doesn't contain dangerously flammable hydrogen! Printed on the back: "F. Johnson, Fort William, Douglas, I.O.M."

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of my old pal—depicting friends, buddies, pals enjoying each other's company . Sign: "We don't care if we never go back." Banner: "Indianapolis." An unused real photo postcard of two friends pretending to be in a hot air balloon as they pose for a souvenir photo in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Noko stamp box on the other side suggests that it may date between 1907 and 1929. I have other cards with photos of the fellow on the left that were postmarked in 1911. See also I Don't Care If I Never Come Back .

A barrel-of-fun photo for the theme of photographic tricks and amusements during the free-for-all week of Wild Card Month in the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

"A barrel of fun at the Steeplechase Pier, Atlantic City."

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of smiling faces of yesteryear (photos of smiling people, based on the Flickr group of the same name) . "Memento of the world-famous Bavarian evenings at the Café Bauer, Garmisch." Stamped on the back of this real photo postcard: "Foto Franz, 81 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Kainzenbadstr. 26, Tel. 3202. Erinnerung an die weltbekannten Bayerischen Abende im Café Bauer, Garmisch."

A photo of hands on hips for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. (For an entire group devoted to this theme, see Just Put Your Hands On Your Hips .) This novelty photo features such detailed cowboy costumes--including hats, vests, bandanas, chaps, wrist cuffs, gun belts, and revolvers--that it must have taken these fellows a good while to suit up. The signs in the background of this real photo postcard are difficult to read. Two of them are: "Leave your horse outside, also the bull." "Safety first?"

This could be a scene from a movie —a photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. I know it's only a novelty photo, but the guys in this real photo postcard are so elaborately outfitted—cowboy hats, revolvers, chaps, gun belts, wrist cuffs, vests, and bandanas—that I could imagine them stepping away from the cartoonish saloon backdrop and heading right onto a Western movie set. These kinds of cowboy getups must have been popular. Take a look at these fellows in Shootout at Dead Man's Gulch Saloon (below), which I previously submitted to the Theme Park as a Wild Wild West photo.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of hold it (people holding something) . These three guys are holding guns and a baton as they pose in cowboy and police costumes. Printed on the back of this real photo postcard: "Metropolitan Photo Studio, 645 Sixth Ave., N.Y." The signs in the background are difficult to read. Two of them are: "Brother Jones' Gin Mill." "We use the best chemicals in our distillery."

See also the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

A paper moon photo for the theme of photographic tricks and amusements during the free-for-all week of Wild Card Month in the Vintage Photos Theme Park. See also the full version of this real photo postcard.

A real photo postcard with "Elmer, age 6, Clair, age 7."

A paper moon photo for the theme of photographic tricks and amusements during the free-for-all week of Wild Card Month in the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Judging by her blurred appearance, the youngest child was squirming in her seat when the photo was taken, and her brother and sister don't look like they're having a good time either.

Printed on the back of this real photo postcard: "Souvenir of Salt Air Beach , Dave Levene, mgr., season 1915."

See also a cropped version of this real photo postcard:

A cropped version of a souvenir real photo postcard. See below for the full version :

A photo of donkey rides for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Printed on the back of this souvenir real photo postcard: "Paul Goerke & Son, Manitou, Colo. Duplicates 10 cents each. Order by number on the picture." Handwritten note on the back: "Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Englar, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Snader at Garden of the Gods , Colorado, 1914." See also a close-up of the women and men .

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.