Alan Mays' photos

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of waving (as a greeting or for any other purpose) . When I purchased this small photo at an antique mall in Hershey, Pennsylvania, I thought it showed some men smoking as they sat together on a bench. I liked how the man in the middle is crouching on the bench and waving at the photographer, and I noticed that some of the men have something -- probably cigarettes, as far as I could see -- dangling from their mouths. But once I took the photo home and had a chance to take a closer look (see a cropped version ), I discovered that the men are -- strangely enough -- balancing on a seesaw rather than sitting on a bench. And what I thought were cigarettes are apparently pieces of some sort of food, though I haven't figured out what it might be. Beyond the men and their seesaw is a road, and a house located on the other side of the road is visible on the right-hand side of the photo. Between the shirtless guy and the fellow next to him, we can barely see the waters of a river in the distance. Some boxcars, almost hidden from view behind the crouching man's knees, reveal the existence of railroad tracks that parallel the roadway. Although there's no way to identify the exact location of the photo, this combination of waterways, roads, and train tracks surrounded by hilly terrain is typical of the landscape alongside the Susquehanna River and Juniata River in south central Pennsylvania.

A snapshot of five men on a seesaw. For more information, see the full version of this photo.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of pick a particular format (daguerreotype, cabinet card, CDV, real photo postcard, cyanotype, slide, Polaroid, or what have you?) . Handwritten caption: "Betty -- J.G.R. -- Louise -- Harry. Venice -- 1914." This is a real photo postcard showing two couples -- Betty and J.G.R. along with Louise and Harry -- pretending to ride in an early biplane (see a cropped version of the photo for a better view of the foursome). The design of the Noko stamp box on the other side of the card indicates a date range of 1907 to 1929, which corresponds to the handwritten year of 1914 on the front. Although the caption indicates the location as "Venice," the structure pictured below the biplane was the pier in Long Beach -- not Venice -- California. The photo, of course, is a montage composed of a studio photo of the plane and its flyers along with the addition of a separate image of the pier. For a similar shot of an early plane, see Buzzing the Beach in a Biplane, Los Angeles, Calif. For an interesting discussion of the captions and messages on other real photo postcards, see Kenneth Wilson, Snapshots and Short Notes: Images and Messages of Early Twentieth-Century Photo Postcards (University of North Texas Press, 2020).

Four flyers pose in an early biplane in Long Beach, California. For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of peek-a-boo . This is a snapshot of an unidentified woman peeking out from behind a bush. For more peeking, see Peculiar Peek-a-Boo, July 3, 1908 .

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of sticking tongue out (or any other interesting or funny facial expression) . A snapshot of a woman sticking out her tongue as someone takes her picture. She's sitting on a towel on the beach and holding a cigarette in her left hand. Judging by the shadows in the foreground, the woman may be situated under an umbrella similar to those visible in the distance. Unfortunately, I don't have any additional information about the date or location of the photo. For variations on the theme, see Elmer's Acting Up! and Aieeeeee!!! .

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of when I grow up (children dressed as adults or dressed for work, e.g. as policeman, nurse, train driver, etc.) . It also fits the monthly theme of group portraits . Caption in the upper right-hand corner: "The Deestrick Skule." A penciled-in dealer's note on the other side identifies the location as "Strasburg, Pa." This is a photo of children dressed in costumes to portray pupils, the schoolmaster, school committee members, and local citizens for a play about the funny goings-on at the old-time "Deestrick Skule" or district school -- the one-room schoolhouse of the early nineteenth century (not the school districts that resulted from the later consolidation of these small schools). Mrs. M. H. Jaquith of Topeka, Kansas, was the author of The Deestrick Skule of Fifty Years Ago (1888) and "Exerbition" of the Deestrick Skule of Fifty Years Ago (1890). Both of these provided scripts and suggestions for producing local theatrical productions that could accommodate fifty or more participants (there are forty kids in this photo). The Cyko stamp box (Cyko 5, variation A2.66) on the other side of this divided-back real photo postcard has an earliest known usage date of May 2, 1910, according to Brogan and Weseloh's Real Photo Postcard Guide (2006).

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of toys or gifts . A Christmas photo of a girl, who is smiling and seems happy, and her doll, who is rigid and tense -- and seems a little scary! Before you cautiously back up and quietly exit the house, take note of the metallic Christmas tree, the granny square afghan on the chair, and the girl's striped shirt and Santa pin. For another potentially scary situation, see The Doll Waited Patiently for Them to Come Home .

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of waterfalls . Handwritten note on the other side of this real photo postcard: "Von meinem Geburtstagsausflug an die Triberger Wasserfälle, 12. Sept. 1936." (Translation: "From my birthday outing to the Triberg Waterfalls, 12 Sept. 1936.") The names of "Mr. & Mrs. Vogal, Pforzheim, Germany" are written in a different hand where an address would go. There's no stamp or postmark, however, so I wonder if the Vogals are the couple in the photo. As Wikipedia explains, the Triberg Waterfalls "are waterfalls near Triberg in the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg (Germany). With a descent of 163 m, it is one of the highest waterfalls in Germany and a landmark in the Black Forest region." Search for Triberger Wasserfälle to see other Ipernity photos of the falls. For another souvenir photo from a different waterfall, see Frances and Ned at Leura Falls, New South Wales, Australia, March 15, 1914 .

Charles Wright MIller (1837-1921) "revolutionized passenger and baggage transportation" in Buffalo, New York, in the nineteenth century, according to Susan J. Eck in her article, Charlie Miller's Livery Business , which she posted on her Western New York History blog. "A traveler could purchase a ticket and in a single transaction arrange to be picked up at home or a hotel, transported to the respective train station, and have baggage processed through to the traveler's final destination," Eck explained. "No other company in the U.S. had observed the need for such coordination of travel arrangements, and it was immediately successful." This pass allowed "M. O. Adams and Family" to travel during the year 1892 using the services of Miller's horse-drawn omnibuses and baggage delivery. The design of the pass reflects the Victorian-era Gaslight Style that used layering to produce a three-dimensional effect. The shadowing under the letters, for instance, gives them a raised appearance, and the superimposition of the curved lines of text -- "C. W. Miller's" over "Omnibus" over "Baggage Express" -- also provides a feeling of depth. A hanging baggage tag behind the text along with a cloud-like background adds to the multi-layered effect. See also the other side of the pass . C. W. Miller's Omnibus and Baggage Express, Buffalo, N.Y. Pass M.O. Adams and Family In Omnibus until Dec. 31st No. 2622. 1892. C. W. Miller. Proprietor Printed on the other side: Not Transferable. Good in Omnibus only between Hotel and Depot and transfer of Baggage in City.

The back of a Victorian-era pass for omnibus travel and baggage delivery. See also the front of the pass . Not Transferable. Good in Omnibus only between Hotel and Depot and transfer of Baggage in City.

A nineteenth-century ticket for a temperance lecture, date and location unknown. Grand Temperance Lecture 10 Cents, Admit One.

This is a handbill advertising a vaudeville show that took place at Woodford Farm, a venue in Ogdensburg, New York, from Thursday, July 9, through Saturday, July 11, 1903. The Ogdensburg Journal newspaper, in its issue for Friday, July 10, 1903, p. 4, didn't mention the Williard's Fun Makers or Burt Flower, but it had this to say about Prof. Hamnet's act (it spelled his name with an extra "t"); "Good Show at Woodford. Prof. Hamnett's Trained Animals and Birds Pleased Audience. Prof. Hamnett's trained animal show opened an engagement at Woodford Farm last night, giving a first-rate performance that pleased the 300 or more persons who assembled in the canvas pavilion. Prof. Hamnett's exhibitions are given by finely trained dogs, goats, geese and birds and the show is at all times bright and entertaining. It will be repeated tonight and Saturday night with a special matinee tomorrow afternoon for ladies and children." Almost as interesting as Prof. Hamnet (his full name was Florus Hamnet Frost) are the various typefaces used for this handbill. The typeface for "Woodford Farm" and "Don't Miss It" with its uniquely shaped "O" is particularly distinctive. Something New. Vaudeville Show at Woodford Farm Commencing, Thursday Ev'g, July 9, Three Nights, Saturday Matinee. Prof. Hamnet's Educated Dogs, Goats, Geese & Birds The Williard's Fun Makers Burt Flower in New Songs & Dances Don't Miss It. Doors Open 7 P.M., Performance at 8:15. Admission, 10c.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of odd, unusual, or quirky . Trick photos with double exposures usually involve typical scenes with props like wheelbarrows (see A Man Simultaneously Pushing and Riding a Wheelbarrow ) or playing cards ( Aunt Maggie's Trick Shot ). The setting for this one, however, is rather unusual. A huge pile of firewood dominates the scene. On the left, two boys stand at the bottom of the woodpile. Partially visible behind them is a farm wagon and beyond the wagon are some trees. Both boys are looking toward the photographer. One of them is pointing toward the top of the pile and wielding a piece of wood as if he intends to use it as a weapon. The other boy is about to start climbing up the pile. On the right, standing at the top of the woodpile are the same two boys. They're both drawing bows as if they're about to shoot arrows, but neither of them has an arrow. So, it appears that the storyline is that the boys are about to climb the woodpile to stop themselves from shooting arrows as they stand on top of the pile. Or at least that's all I can make of it.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of leave-taking photos (at the door, next to the car, or near the front gate as visitors are getting ready to depart) . A young man and woman pause at the front gate as a photographer snaps a photo. Are they getting ready to leave to go somewhere together, or have they just returned? Both of them appear to be dressed up, and the man is holding an umbrella while the woman has a rolled-up piece of paper in her hands. Two buildings stand across the road, and a hill with trees is visible beyond them. In the foreground, a young boy is grinning and looking up at the photographer. This is an unused real photo postcard with only a name, "Doroles," written on the back. The Velox stamp box (with diamonds in the corners and "Place Stamp Here" in the middle) on the other side indicates that it may date to as early as 1907 to 1917.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of mirror, mirror on the wall . A woman wearing a large hat peers into a mirror as she poses for a picture. The reflection of her face in the mirror is obscured by both the shadow of her hat and the silvering of the photo. This is a real photo postcard, but there's no address, message, postmark, or stamp box on the verso that would help identify a location or determine a possible date. Judging by the remnants of black paper stuck to the other side, this photo was originally pasted in a scrapbook.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of holding hands . A photo of eleven women -- six standing, one seated on a chair, two kneeling, and two holding hands as they sit on the floor -- taken in front of a window in the parlor. Notice the distinctive wallpaper and the pump organ on the left. There's a partial list of the women's names written on the other side (see below), but there aren't any clues about the location or reason for their get-together. This is a real photo postcard, and the type of Azo stamp box (with four corner triangles pointing up) printed on the back suggests a possible date that may be as early as 1904 to 1918. Written on the other side: Top row left to right 1 Ethel May 2 Maud Ressler 3 Mered Diets 4 [no name] 5 [no name] 6 Gertrude Harrington Setting down 1 Fern Rinker 2 [no name] 3 Mrs. Cora Pommert 4 Wave Pace [possibly Wave Bernadine Pace Sanderson ] 5 Irene Rinker

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of clocks . This is an early twentieth-century photo of the Floral Clock in Detroit's Water Works Park. According to Floral Clock at Water Works Park , an article by Dan Austin on the HistoricDetroit.org site, the "clock ran on cup-shaped paddlewheels that moved as water flowed. The clock itself was made up of more than 7,000 plants that were held in place by chicken wire." For additional views of this remarkable timepiece, see Floral Clock at Water Works Park - Old photos and Postcards of Floral Clock at Water Works Park . This is an unused real photo postcard, and the type of Azo stamp box (with four corner triangles pointing up) printed on the other side suggests a possible date that may be as early as 1904 to 1918.