Alan Mays' photos

For more information, see the full cover of this booklet:

"Visit Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster, Pa. New . . . ride the fantastic overhead monorail. For youngsters of all ages from one to ninety-one. 34 acres of enchanted adventure for every member of the family." Cover of a brochure advertising Dutch Wonderland , an amusement park located along the Lincoln Highway (U.S. Route 30) in the "Amish Country" tourist area of eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Dutch Wonderland (the name refers to " Pennsylvania Dutch " rather than Holland Dutch) opened in 1963 and observed its fiftieth year of operation in 2013. See also Amish Folks at Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster. Pa.

A real photo postcard.

A real photo postcard with a couple of usually down-to-earth military types mugging for the camera and pretending to drive (look at that big steering wheel!) an aeroplane.

On maneuvers and "in the army" with the Vintage Photos Theme Park group. A real photo postcard of a camp scene, probably dating to World War I. Soldiers are standing in line as they wait to get their chow at the ramshackle building at left. A young boy, who appears to be talking with some of the soldiers, is visible in the center of the photo. Situated along the fence to the right of the boy are some wooden baskets and a box from which the soldiers are evidently getting the plates and cups that many of them are holding. In the background are wall and pyramidal tents typical of those used in the First World War. Unfortunately, I don't have any information regarding the specific date and location of the photo.

A real photo postcard showing a picnic scene with a ghostly double exposure.

Crawl from here over to the Incredibly Boring Postcards group . Some areas in the vicinity of Altoona and Hollidaysburg--located in the Allegheny Mountains of western Pennsylvania--are noted for the presence of large mounds (or "ant hills") created by the Allegheny mound ant . Those with an entomological bent will want to seek out Henry C. McCook's early article, " Mound-Making Ants of the Alleghenies, Their Architecture and Habits ," published in the Transactions of the American Entomological Society (1867-1877) , vol. 6 (1877), pp. 253-296.

Undated slide.

An undated red-border Kodachrome slide.

A couple of "family pets" for the Vintage Photos Theme Park . Handwritten on the back of this real photo postcard: "Ray Mellott and his two pet geese." Handwritten notation added later by a postcard dealer: "Mercersburg, Pa." Mouse over the image above or select the thumbnail image below to see a close-up of the boy and his pet geese .

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

"Commencement Exercises, Opera House, Friday, June 18, 1886, at 2 o'clock, p.m., afternoon only. Admit one."

"Radio Pineapple Delights. Contents 14 oz. avoir. Distributors, M. J. Caplan Co., Incoporated, Lawrence, Mass. MJCCo. Accepted, American Medical Assn., Council on Foods." You know about " TV dinners " and how they became popular in the 1950s, right? Well, I'm guessing that "radio pineapple" in the 1930s probably wasn't quite as successful. 8-)

Gilbert's Guide. Along the Lincoln Highway in Pennsylvania from the Ohio line to Philadelphia. To find the distance between two places, move the slide to the name of place at top of card. The number in the first row opposite the name on slide is the distance in miles. Daniel Gilbert, Chambersburg, Pa. Eddie Herr. Quality auto insurance. Service that satisfies. -------- Ohio Line, Beaver Falls, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Ligonier, Jennerstown, Bedford, Everett, McConnellsburg, Chambersburg, Caledonia, Gettysburg, Abbotstown, York, Wrightsville, Lancaster, Coatesville, Paoli, Philadelphia.

"Sycamore Meadows, E. J. O'Brien, prop., cabins. 3½ miles west of Chambersburg at Back Creek. Lincoln Highway--U.S. Route 30. P.O. address R.D. 4, Chambersburg, Pa. Tourist cabins. Modern rest rooms. Running water in cabins. Free parking and tables."

A cheesy contribution to the Incredibly Boring Postcards group. Printed on the back of this postcard: "The Alpine Cheese Factory Viewing Center at 'Ohio's Showplace of Cheesemaking,' Alpine-Alpa, U.S. Route 62 S.W., Wilmot, Ohio." I had a chance to visit Alpine-Alpa some years ago (picked up this postcard there, but didn't get any photos, doggone it). This place has since closed, unfortunately, and the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock , another attraction at this cheesy place, was recently relocated to the nearby town of Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Parked over at the Incredibly Boring Postcards group. Printed on the back of this postcard: "The beautiful Monroeville Shopping Center, Monroeville, Penna." The Monroeville Shopping Center, known today as the Miracle Mile Shopping Center, was situated just a couple of miles away from the location of the later Monroeville Mall , where George Romero filmed his cult horror film Dawn of the Dead .

"Consumers Cigar Box Company, Red Lion, Pa. Manufacturers of fancy and novelty boxes. Capacity 15,000 per day. 'If It's wooden boxes we make them.'"