New York City

A postcard used to promote the Crosley automobile during the 1939 New York World's Fair . Also on display at the fair were various other products, including refrigerators, washing machines, stoves, and radios, that were designed and manufactured by Powel Crosley, Jr. , and the Crosley Corporation. -------- Front: The Car of Tomorrow at the World of Tomorrow. As shown at the Crosley Building at the N.Y. World's Fair. Also the amazing Freezorcold Shelvador Refrigerator, Feather Touch Electric Magnetune Radios. See the newest of the new in home appliances at popular prices. Crosley Reado, facsimile radio printing. Crosley Camera, Press Jr. model, Gas and electric ranges. Electric and gas engine washers. Electric ironers. At Crosley Dealers everywhere. Back (printed not handwritten): My feet are no longer tired after what I've seen at the Crosley Building.

A snapshot of "Johnny Gaso" (or "Gasso"), who was the "host of Wonderland," which was located in the Gas Exhibits Building at the New York World's Fair. The Johnny Gaso character was played by actors of short stature. For another photo, see the NYPL Digital Gallery's Gas Industries - Johnny Gasso, "Uncle Don" and man image. As Andrew F. Wood explains in his book New York's 1939-1940 World's Fair (Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia, 2004), p. 104, visitors to the Gas Exhibits Building in 1940 saw a "Gas Wonderland" that included "mystery gardens, disappearing dwarfs, flaming cactus plants, and Tiny Town with talking houses."

Printed on the other side of this real photo postcard: "Souvenir Post Card, Seagate Photo-Studio, Coney Island, New York. Mrs. Quartner, Prop., Surf Ave., Opp. 15th Street."

"The Olzen Accordion School, 75 6th Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Phone Nevins 8-1431." According to Victor Greene, A Passion for Polka: Old-Time Ethnic Music in America (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992), pp. 184-85, Eric Olzen (born 1895) was a popular Swedish accordionist and composer who came to the United States and opened a music school in Brooklyn in 1926. In the 1930s, he hosted a radio show that was popular among Scandinavians in New York, published sheet music compositions such as "Koster Waltz" and "Sunbeam Polka," and played on many records. I take it that Eric Olzen is the one standing without an accordion in the middle of the third row. He's surrounded by 51 male students and 4 female students. I wish I could have attended one of the Olzen Accordion School's concerts!

A hold it photo (people holding something) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park . Caption: "By durn, Samenthy, this beats the old pump all holler. Push jest a leetle harder and she'll be here." Sign on wall: "Hotel Astorf-Waldoria. Ring once for bell boy, twice [for] ice water, three [times for] hot water." Name on trunk: "Silas Green, Wayback, O." Printed along the sides: "The 'Perfec' Stereograph. (Trade mark.) Patented April 14, 1903. Other patents pending. H. C. White Co., Publishers. General offices and works, North Bennington, Vt., U.S.A. Copyright 1903 by H. C. White Co. 5587 (2)." This comic stereoscopic card (see the full card below) shows two country bumpkins who are visting the city and staying at the highfalutin Hotel Astorf-Waldoria (a thinly veiled reference, of course, to the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City). Unfamiliar with big-city ways and new-fangled technology, Samantha (or "Samenthy," as her husband Silas pronounces it) is pushing the call button (normally used to summon hotel staff) while Silas holds a water pitcher below the mouthpiece of the wall-mounted telephone. In their naivety, Samantha and Silas have misunderstood the sign ("Ring twice for ice water") and have mistaken the phone for a pump that will provide water once the button is pushed. In 1903, at a time when indoor plumbing and telephones were less common in rural areas, viewers of this stereographic photo could laugh at the silly antics of this foolish backwoods couple from Wayback, Ohio. Looking at the image a hundred years later, we can catch a glimpse of the different styles of clothing, wallpaper, carpet, and furniture that were popular back then, and we can also consider how the modern technology that we take for granted today--faucets with running water and mobile phones--has made the humor here obsolete.

A comic stereoscopic card. For additional information, see Silas and Samantha at the Astorf-Waldoria, 1903 .

"Jack Dempsey's Broadway Restaurant. The Meeting Place of the World." Printed on the back of this linen postcard: "Come in and say Hello! Jack Dempsey's Broadway Restaurant on Broadway bet. 49th & 50th Sts., New York City." Postmarked: Philadelphia, Pa., March 27, 1944. Handwritten message on the back: "Having a swell time, am half drunk. Love, Francis."

"Hosford & Ketcham, Stationers, Nos. 57 and 59 William Street, New York." A Victorian-era business card with elaborate and colorful typefaces.

"J. E. Kaughran & Co., 767 & 769 Broadway, New York. M. Heminway & Sons, Sublime Quality, Warranted, 100 yds. Manufactory, Watertown, Conn. Established 1849." In this nineteenth-century advertising trade card, Uncle Sam is running rampant with his goat cart, which is constructed with oversized spools of thread, while a foot-juggler performs with a ball on the back of the cart. For the other side of this card, see John E. Kaughran, Dry Goods, New York :

"John E. Kaughran & Co. Importers, Jobbers, & Retailers, Dry Goods, 767 & 769 Broadway. Cor. Ninth St. New York. John E. Kaughran, Jacob Rice, Thos. F. Kaughran. Presented by ________." For the other side of this advertising trade card, see J. E. Kaughran, New York :

"H. Sinnigen, dealer in choice groceries, teas, coffees, sugars, fruits, canned goods, &c., 1033 Gates Ave., cor. Ralph Ave., Brooklyn."

Correspondence from "Marion" to "Charles" that 's constructed using words and illustrations cut out from one or more New York City newspapers in the manner of a stereotypical ransom letter. Charles was evidently a soldier in 1917 as World War I raged in Europe, and there are references to "the captain," "pass time," the Quartermaster Corps , and Madison Barracks that may provide clues to where he was stationed (300 miles away at Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor , N.Y., perhaps?). The letter also mentions popular entertainments of the time--Ward's Jazz Band performing at dances, silent film actress Theda Bara appearing in Cleopatra at the Lyric Theatre on 42nd Street, and music playing on the Victrola . -------- Oct. 30, 1917 Dear Soldier, Latest news from New York. Friends and fellow citizens, hear us. Special gossip of a day. Prepare now. Advice free. Every time is pass time--nit. And the captain answered, this way out! The land of joy. Dance awhile, no charge for dancing. Splendid dance floor, Ward's Jazz Band, windows and light on all sides. Business before pleasure. See mummies come to life again when they see Theda Bara in Cleopatra, the William Fox production, Lyric Theatre, 42d St., W. of B'way . . . . Charles, now is the high cost of living so save rice. Don't marry. Oh, boy, take me to motion pictures at Madison Barracks and have lively music on Victrola. Have you fancy groceries and table luxuries at the Quartermaster Corps kamp? The very idea! We specialize in all kinds of sea food. I have a nice can of jam for you, big friend. Yours very truly, Marion

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.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of famous - a person or place . On June 19, 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower , the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force and future U.S. president, rode in a car with New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia ias part of a parade to celebrate the end of World War II. In this snapshot, Eisenhower is standing in the parade car with his back to the photographer, and La Guardia is seated behind him. The building in the background, located at 680 Fifth Avenue, housed the tobacco and gift shop of Alfred Orlik on the first floor and -- according to the sign in the window -- "Bernard Weatherill, London, Civil & Sporting Tailors" on the second floor. For additional information about the parade, see When Johnny Came Marching Home to Cheers , an article by Stuart Marques on the blog of the New York City Department of Records and Information Services, November 8, 2019. The blog post includes a photo of Eisenhower waving from the parade car . For a close-up of the car, crowd, and building, see a cropped version of the photo.

A snapshot of General Dwight D. Eisenhower riding in a parade car with New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia on June 19, 1945. Note the people visible in the window of the tailor shop on the second floor of the building. For more information, see the full version of the photo.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of on vacation / holiday . Sign: "The Club." Life preserver: "U.S. Vol. Life Saving Corps." This is a hand-tinted real photo postcard addressed on the other side to Miss G. Manning, 331 W. 29 St., N.Y. City. It was postmarked at Midland Beach , Staten Island, N.Y., and New Dorp , N.Y., on August 25, 1908. Handwritten message (with original spelling): "Dear Grace, I'm having a splendid vacation down here. We have a bungaloe down here for the month of August & part of Sept. It's great sport. I would have written sooner but never think of writing down here. I didn't attent that millinery class in the YWCA because you didn't. Love, F. Cooper." Added to the message: "Drop me a card. My address -- name. c/o W. H. Putnam, New Dorp, St. Island, N.Y. Woodland Beach." See also the full version of this card.