Alan Mays' photos

A Thanksgiving or family gatherings at the dinner table photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park . I'm not sure whether this found photo shows a Thanksgiving meal, but I like how the fellow on the right is unfurling his napkin as he sizes up the turkey.

"Holiday House. Fireproof Christmas Snow for decorating Christmas trees." Front panel of a cardboard box that still contained a few of the shiny fireproof Christmas snowflakes (these were mica flakes, fortunately, and not asbestos snow ).

A Thanksgiving postcard by illustator Frances Brundage .

But still holding up the old holiday traditions.

Now even Santa knows what it feels like to be held hostage by all the holiday advertising!

A glasses photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park . Well, no, this is probably not silent film star Harold Lloyd and his father, but the men's distinctive round glasses and straw hats are certainly reminiscent of the ones Lloyd wore in early comedies like 1923's Safety Last! (see it on YouTube: Harold Lloyd's "Safety Last " - 1923 ).

Pass issued in 1935 by The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company (TMER&L. Co.), which operated streetcar lines in Milwaukee until the 1950s. "T. M. E. R. & L. Co. Within the single fare areas of Milwaukee and Racine only. Good from 5:00 a.m. Sunday until 5:00 a.m. the following Sunday. Pass must be shown on demand. Not good on Wisc. Motor Bus Lines. $1 weekly pass. 48. Thanksgiving, November 28. 88697. S. B. Way, president."

A cringeworthy contribution for the Weird Vintage Postcards group.

"While dressed up in my very best, I wish you luck and all the rest." Postmarked: Tunbridge Falls, 27 Sep 13. Addressed to: Miss Hornsby, c/o Mrs. Fail, 180 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Falls. Message: "Dear Joyce, I expect you are very glad your birthday has come. I hope you will have a very happy one. Lots of love and kisses from Auntie Mary." The previous owner of this real photo postcard referred to the distinguished Edwardian feline as "Sir Reginald Pussycat."

The street sign says, "Market Street," the glistening sidewalk suggests that it was raining, and the people are posing in front of a store that's displaying a bed, chairs, and other furnishings in the window.

"Thanks to him who spared our living, we're here, we're here till next Thanksgiving."

"The kind we raise on our farm. Come over to dinner soon."

Anyone know where this big bunny hopped off to? I couldn't find any trace of him through Google. For another roadside rabbit posing with small children, see The Rabbits Aren't Really That Big .

"Save the day with snap shots. Thanksgiving, the day of the year which brings most families together, is a splendid opportunity to take snap-shots of the entire family, both singly and as a group. Next year may be too late. Have your camera and a few extra film ready. Master Photo Finishers of America." After I posted this previously on that other site , it was mentioned on PetaPixel and featured by Xeni Jardin on Boing Boing : "Get a load of this print ad from the Master Photo Finishers of America, 1926. . . . Scanned . . . by Alan Mays, whose photo stream is full of wonderful vintage weirdness."

The Ventrilo-phone Place the instrument in the roof of the mouth, with the scallop side in back, hold it lightly with tongue, and hiss. Keep at it, and it will soon be easy to operate. Do not get discouraged and you will soon be able to imitate all kinds of birds and animal. This is a great help to the ventriloquist when he wishes to give imitations. Three extra Ventrilo-phones by mail for 10 cts.

"Lincoln Speech Memorial, Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln's Address--Delivered at Gettysburg, Pa., November, 19, 1863." As Wikipedia explains, "The Gettysburg Address is a speech by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, one of the best-known in American history. It was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg." Stamped on the back of this oversized linen-finish souvenir card: "Published by Blocher's, Gettysburg, Pa."

"Dreamland at Legat Garden. Boudnek Photo. 58." This "Dreamland" castle was constructed in the 1920s by a man named John Legat as part of a garden in Fox River Grove, Illinois, that also included a wishing well, windmill, and fountain. Legat, who was married to the town's doctor, gave tours of his garden and sold postcard views of it (including, possibly, this one). Legat's land was later turned into building lots, and the garden gave way to a neighborhood of houses. Some of Legat's structures--including the castle--still remain, although they're in a state of disrepair. Check out Google Maps for a current view of the castle, which is located in a front yard at the corner of Grove and Lincoln avenues in Fox River Grove. For additional information, see the article, " Fox River Grove’s Other Castle ," which was originally published in the Northwest Herald , June 7, 2011. (The title of the article refers to another castle that's a full-size residence known as Castle Vianden or Bettendorf Castle; see the Wikipedia entry for Fox River Grove, Illinois , which provides a brief history and photo of this second castle.)