Awkward

Oh, how awkward! Looks like Elmer's making a spectacle of himself again! He's perched on top of a bear pull toy, leaning over a container of flowers, and holding a stuffed bunny rabbit and a bear. Lord knows what he has draped over his head. Please, Elmer, leave the kids' toys alone and just grow up! (Awkwardly posted to the Vintage Photos Theme Park for the week of August 19-25, 2013.)

This real photo postcard doesn't bear a stamp, postmark, or date but was addressed to: "Mrs. Daniel Ohlinger. From Mrs. Edwin Ohlinger." Handwritten message on back: "Dear Mother, We are all well at present, hoping this card will find you all the same. Earl is as naughty as he can be. Try and come down. I must close--the mailman is coming." As far as I can determine from searching the Web, it was Earl's mother--Mrs. Edwin Ohlinger--who wrote the message, and she and her son lived in Berks County, Pennsylvania. I'm not certain, however, who the baby might be (Earl's brother or sister, perhaps?), what band Earl might have played in, or where Earl's grandmother--Mrs. Daniel Ohlinger--lived.

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park topic of awkward family photos (vintage photos of odd, embarrassing, or amusing scenes from your own family's history or someone else's) . After the cavorting couple overturned the bench they were sitting on, everyone in camp stopped what they were doing to watch as the two of them continued their awkward antics on the ground. "Black Diamond Camp" is painted on the side of the bench, but I haven't been able to determine where it might have been located. See also the full version of this real photo postcard. Another photo— Footrace Photo Finish? —that I purchased along with this one may show some of the same individuals.

For a better view of the cavorting couple on the ground, see the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

A kissing photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park topic of knitting, fishing, and kissing (photos of people who are knitting, fishing, or kissing; post examples of all three if you have them.) . A real photo postcard of a guy and a gal hugging and kissing at an awkward angle out in the yard (is that a kid's toy wagon they're sitting on?). And judging by the tilt of the picture, the photographer evidently had a slanted view of the couple's relationship.

No, probably not the Watusi . She has one eye closed, a hand on her hip, the other on her head, her left foot's out, and she may be shaking it all about. I think it could be the Hokey Pokey —that might be what it's all about! In any case, this was my strike a pose runner-up for this week's Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Slide dated October 1959, location unknown. Hilarity ensued as these two men carried the woman through a doorway into a house. Judging by the corsage that the woman was wearing and the flower in the one man's lapel, I suspect that they may have been celebrating a wedding anniversary. Note, too, that a television set is partially visible behind the doll on the left.

Getting ahead among the roots and rocks. The dealer from whom I purchased this photo speculated that it may have been taken at Devil's Den or some other rocky area on the Gettysburg Battlefield in Adams County, Pennsylvania, but I have not been able to confirm this.

I'm trying to imagine what happened at the photo studio that day. Photographer: Well, ladies, I've just received a couple of interesting new props that we can use in your portrait today. There's one here and another one over there. Do you prefer the former or the latter? Ladies: Oh, we'll take the ladder , of course! Otherwise, there are no identifying details that might help to explain the origin of this unique photo.

Part of a real photo postcard that was cut out at this angle by the original owner.

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of quirky humor (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic). I was saddened to learn that Barbara "Babs" Bird (aka corduroy cat), a former member of the Vintage Photos Theme Park, passed away on February 9, 2020. I always appreciated her quirky sense of humor. Although all of her comments disappeared when she left Ipernity a couple of years ago, I remember that she said that this was her favorite photo of mine. -------- Lots of fun details here--pouts, grins, somber looks, closed eyes, big hats, wall hangings, patterned wallpaper, a mirror. And then there's that kid in front who's yelling at the top of his lungs and ruining the picture: Aieeeeee!!! The photo came in a nice paper frame , too:

For more information, see the cropped version of this photo:

Yet another Halloween photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. A real photo postcard with a Halloween portrait of kids (including twins?), a cat, and a jack-o'-lantern all posing on the front porch (see also a cropped version of the photo). The family sent this as a Christmas greeting (notice the decorative holly leaves and berries added at the bottom) to Miss Geneva B. Haley, Cornish, Maine. The card was postmarked in Brunswick, Maine, on December 17, 1943. Handwritten message on the other side: "Yours was a lovely card. Peter read it to the other children. It's their favorite Christmas carol. Greetings from all, Cecil & Marion." I don't recall ever seeing any other Halloween-themed Christmas cards.

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

This real photo postcard was addressed to Miss Olive Hanner, Strasburg, Ohio, and was postmarked Akron, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1909. There was no greeting or message.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of awkward family photos (vintage photos of odd, embarrassing, or amusing scenes from your own family's history or someone else's) . Five young women are posing for a picture, and three of them have placed their heads through the openings in the railing of a porch. The woman in the middle has a painful expression on her face, as if she hit her head on the railing. This photo is mounted on white textured cardboard, but there's no indication of a date or a studio name.