Alan Mays' photos

Lecture To-night Rev. Thos. Coke Carter, D.D., will deliver his humorous lecture on Matrimonial Mistakes in the Oberlin U.B. Church, Thursday evening, October 4, 1900, at 7.45 o'clock. Dr. Carter is a lecturer of national reputation, and this is one of his most charming lectures. The press of the country speak in the highest terms of the lecture and lecturer. If you wish to drive away the blues, hear this lecture and have a good laugh. Admission, 15c. Two tickets, 25c. Advocate and Verdict Print, Steelton, Pa. -------- It's difficult to get a sense of what Rev. Thos. Coke Carter spoke about in his "Matrimonial Mistakes" lecture based upon this printed announcement, but the following account--published over six years later after Carter had become a bishop in his church--provides some details: Entertaining Lecture: Was "Matrimonial Mistakes" Delivered at the Court-house Monday Evening The lecture in the Court-house, Monday evening, by Bishop T. C. Carter, of Chattanooga, on Matrimonial Mistakes was a treat to all who heard it. From beginning to close the lecture was one of sound logic, interspersed with humor and adorned with sentiment. The many mistakes, their origins and fearful consequences were vividly pictured but the crowning feature, the full weight of the discourse, was directed to a higher and broader conception of matrimonial relations, the wisdom displayed in choice, and the blessings that reign over the homes of the fortunate in wedlock. If this lecture could be delivered throughout the country, it would prove a great blessing and would doubtless save many an erring one from a fatal step, disperse misery, and install happiness in many homes. The lecturer was introduced by Gov. J. R. Hindman in his usual happy manner, after listening to inspiring music made by the Columbia Band. In closing Bishop Carter dwelt on the tender memories of early life and paid a just tribute to home--one that impressed his many hearers with its many blessings, after which the Band played "Home Sweet Home." Adair County News (Columbia, Adair County, Kentucky), Wed., April 3, 1907, p. 1 , col. 1. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress.

Something "mysterious" for the the Vintage Photos Theme Park . This photo was identified as a " spirit photograph " when I bought it at an antique co-op in 1994. Handwritten on the back of the photo is the following: "Camp Silver Bell, Mountain Springs Hotel, Ephrata, Pa." Camp Silver Belle was a Spiritualist group founded by Ethel Post-Parrish , a medium whose Indian spirit guide was named Silver Belle. The group held lectures and meetings at the Mountain Springs Hotel in Ephrata, Pa., and published a schedule of programs as late as 1976 (see Silver Belle Presents Lecturers, Teachers, World-Famous Psychics, 1976 ). Eventually, however, the group became inactive, and the hotel fell into disrepair. Today, the facade of the old hotel remains , but the rest of the hotel site was demolished in 2004 to make way for a Hampton Inn hotel and an Applebee's restaurant. So what is that strange haziness hovering above the audience? An ectoplasmic manifestation from another spiritual realm? Hokum conjured up by sleight of hand and camera? Or just an odd yet coincidental defect in the film or developing?

"Silver Belle, Ephrata, Penna. Nationally renowned. 1932-1976. Ephrata Mountain Springs, Lancaster Co., Pa. Historically famous, 1753-1976. Silver Belle Association presents an outstanding array of internationally known lecturers, teachers, world famous psychics." For information about Camp Silver Belle, a Spiritualist group, see Spirit Photo, Camp Silver Belle, Mountain Springs Hotel, Ephrata, Pa.

"Service Shoes, Size 17 EE. The largest size shoe issued by the Pennsylvania National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap." On display at the Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum , located at Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, near Annville, Pa. The museum has two floors of interesting and intriguing exhibits and is definitely worth a visit. For the Vintage Indoor Oddities group.

Part of the latrine area on display at the former barracks building that houses the Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum , located at Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, near Annville, Pa. The signs on each of the toilets warn, "For Display Only, Do Not Use," and the blue-bordered sign on the wall repeats, "Do Not Use." For the Vintage Indoor Oddities group.

Although it's difficult to make out, the soldier at front middle is holding up a piece of cloth that looks like a pillowcase. Printed or embroidered on the cloth is an American flag along with the words "American Beauties." Notice, too, the soldier--perhaps a sergeant or other officer--at top middle who's standing head and shoulders above the rest. Rather than facing the camera like the others, he seems to be peering off in the distance at something out of the frame of the photo. Mouse over the image to see close-up views of sarge looking sideways and the pillowcase hold-up.

For the original photo, see American Beauties .

For the original photo, see American Beauties .

A real photo postcard for the Vintage People in Wheelbarrows group.

For this menu, see the front (above), inside , and back . "Jackson-Jefferson Day Dinner honoring U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver, Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Reading, Pa., March 1, 1952." According to Wikipedia, " Jefferson-Jackson Day is the most common name given to the annual fundraising celebration (dinner) held by Democratic Party organizations in the United States. It is named for Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. During presidential election campaigns, certain dinners are considered important venues for candidates to attend." Estes Kefauver was a U.S. Senator from Tennessee who was seeking the Democratic nomination for president when this dinner was held in March 1952. He had adopted the coonskin cap as a campaign symbol after political opponents claimed that he was a "raccoon-like Communist puppet." The unique headgear became popular in the 1950s and 1960s as the result of television programs that featured Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone wearing coonskin caps. As Wikipedia explains, "In the 1952 presidential election , Kefauver decided to offer himself as a candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Campaigning in his coonskin cap, often by dogsled, Kefauver won in an electrifying victory in the New Hampshire primary, defeating President Harry S. Truman, the sitting President of the United States, prompting Truman to cease campaigning for renomination." Despite Kefauver's early success, the Democratic presidential nominee that year was Illinois governor Adlai Stevenson.

For this menu, see the front , inside (above), and back . Menu: "Half grapefruit maraschino, celery hearts, mixed olives, sliced roast tenderloin, parisienne potatoes, buttered lima beans, hearts of lettuce, Roquefort dressing, rolls, butter, coffee, blueberry tartlette." Program: "Address, Hon. Estes Kefauver, U.S. Senator, State of Tennessee. Music by Leo Brailer Trio."

For this menu, see the front , inside , and back (above). "Sponsored by Labor's League for Political Education."

"Buffalo Wire Works Company, Inc. Established 1869 as Scheeler's Sons. Buffalo, N.Y. Philadelphia, Penna."

A 1971 Bus & Car Co. Golden Eagle 05 bus on display at the Museum of Bus Transportation , Hershey, Pa.

This silhouette of a man wearing a hat and glasses (or a monocle?) is apparently cut from thin black paper. The Eiffel Tower at right, an unidentified building at left (anyone recognize it?), and an airship at top fill out the background of this souvenir postcard.

Doesn't everyone secretly yearn for their own vintage painted wooden sign for corn dogs ? I couldn't resist for some reason when I saw it at a local antique mall a couple of weeks ago. If I decide to open a corn dog stand at the fair next year, I guess I'm all set! 8-)

Despite the impressive illustration, this small Cracker Jack prize, constructed of multi-layered cardboard, required kids to pull the layers apart, push out die-cut pieces, and then stick the pre-gummed areas of the pieces together in order to form a less-than-convincing moustache disguise. Text printed on the back of the kit (the numbers and letters refer to a small accompanying diagram): "Instructions. Back of pieces 1 & 2 are gummed. Push out pieces 1 & 3. Moisten back of end marked A on 1 and stick on end marked A of [on] 3." Todd Franklin (Neato Coolville) also has a copy of this over on Flickr: Cracker Jack Handlebar Mustache Disguise Kit .