Alan Mays' photos

A bouquets photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "Thank you for your wedding gift. Nancy & Bob." These newlyweds used a photographic thank-you card to send out acknowledgements for the wedding gifts they received. Mouse over the image above for an enlarged view of the happy couple and the bride's bouquet. For a similar photographic thank-you card, see The Toaster! :

For more information, see the original photographic greeting card :

Apologies to Lisa for missing her posting of the VPTP themes for May until now! If I may be permitted to catch up, here's a photo for last week's theme. A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo of May Day Celebrations - May Pole dancing, May Queens, or anything else associated with May Day . A maypole dance scene from an unused real photo postcard. The girl standing in the middle next to the pole doesn't appear to be too excited about the festivities--perhaps she's hanging her head in embarrassment over being the center of attention.

"Astro Bow. Get in orbit. Go-go-go. 39¢. Buser Century, Inc." A black velvet hair bow shaped like a space capsule ! "Get in Orbit" and "Go Go Go" with "Astro Bow" is what the printed card is telling us. What Space Age gal could resist something like this?

"'Quick-Way' Truck Shovel Co., Denver, Colo." The back of an advertising playing card for a company that evidently came up with a "Quick-Way" of mounting a crane and shovel on a truck.

"Advice to the Lovelorn. If he is bashful, I would advise you to give him plenty of encouragement. Put your arms around me–so! Oo-oo, I don't like ter! August Hutaf. P.C.K. 1908." One in a series of humorous "Advice to the Lovelorn" postcards by illustrator August Hutaf (1874-1942). For more of his work, see Advice to Vacationists–Take the Children with You (below) and my other Hutaf postcards .

"490 - Miss America at Atlantic City, N.J. The Play Ground of America." A larger-than-life Miss America poses among all the little people on the beach in Atlantic City , New Jersey, circa 1920s. "Steeplechase the Funnest Place on Earth" and "A Playground of Innocent Amusement for Young and Old" are the slogans that are partially visible on the long Steeplechase Pier that extends out into the ocean behind Miss America.

Drumhead: "Singer, Mechanicsburg, Pa." Caption at the bottom of the photo: "Grangers Picnic, 1915." The Singer Band of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, posed for this photo in 1915 at the Grangers' Picnic, which was an annual event held each summer at the Williams Grove Amusement Park . Prior to the picnic, the Harrisburg Telegraph newspaper, August 28, 1915, p. 4, announced the Singer Band's participation: "Concerts at the Granger's Picnic at Williams' Grove next week will be given by the Singer Band of Mechanicsburg." The Singer Band--named for David Singer, an early leader of the group--is still in existence today. Additional photos of the band are available on the Singer Band's Web site .

A vintage photo with uniforms for the ABC Group (5/2/2017). A real photo postcard showing four U.S. Navy sailors posing in front of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Looks like it was a windy day--the wide "tar flap" collars on the uniforms of two of the men are pushed up around the backs of their necks.

"Harpel 15." Handwritten note on the back of this photo: "May Day, L.V.C., 1934. Wendell and I danced around the May Pole." May Day festivities at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, in 1934. Writing on the back of another photo (see below) identifies Minna Wolfskiel as the May Queen and Gem Gemmill as the Maid of Honor in the "May Court" that year. Luther G. Harpel or some other photographer from his well-known studio in Lebanon, Pa., captured the images of the event (evidently there were 16 or more photos, judging by the numbering on the photos). For another collegiate May Day celebration held in Pennsylvania in 1934, see May Queen and Her Court, Bucknell University, May 12, 1934 (below). For even more photos, see my May Day album.

"Harpel 16." Handwritten note on the back of this photo: "May Court, L.V.C., 1934. Queen - Minna Wolfskiel. Maid of Honor - Gem Gemmill." The May Day celebration at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, in 1934. For more information, see May Day, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa., 1934 (below). For other celebrations, see my <a href=" May Day " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">May Day album.

Celluloid medallions and plaques like this were popular during the early part of the twentieth century. The design on this colorful plaque is dated 1927. For additional examples, see my small album of Celluloid Photographic Medallions (including the two below) or head over to Flickr to take a look at the George Eastman House's collection of Celluloid Medallions & Buttons .

Celluloid medallion with a photo of a child on a colorful background of flowers and a butterfly. For additional examples, see my Celluloid Photographic Medallions album or head over to Flickr to see the George Eastman House's remarkable collection of Celluloid Medallions & Buttons .

A photo of a cute child on a colorful celluloid medallion. For additional examples, see my Celluloid Photographic Medallions album or head over to Flickr to take a gander at the George Eastman House's collection of Celluloid Medallions & Buttons .

A membership card for a flying club in Bloomsburg , Pennsylvania. It's likely that the card dates to the 1930s. Bloomsburg Flying Club Bloomsburg, Penna. No. 60. This is to certify that ________ is a member in good standing ________. Not valid unless countersigned. ________, president. ________, secretary. ________, signature of member.

"Reward of Merit for Correct Deportment. To Martha E. D. Logan. From Mary E. Miller."

"How is this for high? Farmers' National Bank, Pittsburgh, Pa." A postcard addressed on the other side to Blair Echard, R.R. No. 2, Duncansville, Pa., and postmarked Jan. 23, 1912. Handwritten message: "Dear Buz, We are stepping high in Pittsburgh, as you can see in this card. It is pretty cold here. Hope you are going to school every day and learning something too. Elmer." For other Pittsburgh postcards with similar illustrations, see Out for a Stroll in the Park and This Beats Walking (below).

"Out for a stroll in the park. Entrance to Highland Park, Pittsburgh, Pa."