Real Photo Postcards

A distinguished gent in a souvenir real photo postcard from "Miami, Fla., 1922," as it says on the tree stump. Looks like the poor fellow is fending off alligators with his cane as he poses in front of a scenic backdrop of ocean, sky, and coconut tree, all of which received appropriate tinting after the photo was developed. For an untinted photo from the same studio, see Man and Dog with Alligators on the Beach (note that the tree stump is hidden behind the dog).

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of snow (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic) . Five fellows are flinging snow at each other in this real photo postcard. No date or location, unfortunately.

A photo of an accident waiting to happen for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Three children pose in front of a flowering bush in this real photo postcard. The nonchalant way that the youngest kid is leaning on a gun seems like it could lead to an accident (see a cropped version for a better view of the kids). It wasn't until I scanned the photo that I noticed the strange toy—a stuffed bunny with a human-like doll's face—that's on the grass in front of the children (see a close-up of the toy ).

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

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

[Oops, looks like I was a little late last night in posting my "messages, captions, inscriptions" photo, and Phil beat me to the punch with his "all dressed up and nowhere to go" photo for this week's theme. I'd be glad to remove this from the group if anyone has any objection to my tardiness.] A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of messages, captions, inscriptions (a written comment, description, or explanation added to the back or front of a photo) . Claude J. Diliplane (1887-1950) of Reading, Pennsylvania, served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War I, from May to December 1918. He was 31 years old when he noted on the back of this real photo postcard that his picture was taken at Fort Myer , Virginia, on July 18, 1918. He also jokingly said, "I think if you put this alongside the pig, he'll smile. Try it and see." He closed with "Some Pig" before signing his name. Claude was 62 years old and working as a machinist when he tragically died on Monday, January 30, 1950, from injuries he received from being hit by a car at Second and Penn Streets in Reading the previous Saturday night ("Pedestrian Dies of Auto Injuries," Philadelphia Inquirer , Jan. 31, 1950, p. 8).

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of all dressed up and nowhere to go (fashionably dressed women and men) . A real photo postcard of a woman in a long fur coat who's standing in front of a painted backdrop. The AZO stamp box on the back of the photo suggests a possible date as early as 1922 to 1926, but "4-47" appears as part of the notation at the bottom of the image (it's difficult to read because the writing is upside down and backwards). Could this date to the 1940s rather than the 1920s?

A photo of hotels/motels for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Caption: "S. S. Grand View Point Hotel. A Steamer in the Allegheny Mountain[s]. 17 miles west of Bedford, Pa. U.S. 30. Elevation 2464 feet." Signs: "Grand View Point Hotel. Post Cards. Souvenirs. See 3 States and 7 Counties. Visitors Welcome. Free Telescope." "Hotel. Restaurant." This building started out as the Grand View Point Hotel in 1927 and then became the S. S. Grand View Point Hotel, or Ship Hotel , in 1932 after remodeling. For more information about the hotel, see my description of the Grand View Ship Hotel: A Steamer in the Allegheny Mountains, 1932 . See below for some other postcard views.

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.

A photo of something beginning with S —a Schultüte or school cone—for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Photographer's stamp on the back of this real photo postcard. "Adolf E. Weiss, Reichenbach, I.V." Handwritten note on back: "Reichenbach, 9.4. 1934." A photo of a young boy holding a Schultüte (school cone) on his first day of school in Reichenbach im Vogtland , Germany, in 1934. For similar photos, see My First Day of School, April 19, 1922 , Petra's First Day of School, September 4, 1965 , and other photos in my Schultüten (School Cones) album.

Handwritten caption: "Labor Day, 1905, Elitch's Gardens." This real photo postcard wasn't postally used, and there's no address, message, or postmark on the other side that might help identify these three individuals. According to Wikipedia, " Elitch Gardens was a family-owned seasonal amusement park, theater, and botanic garden in the West Highland neighborhood in northwest Denver, Colorado, United States, at 38th and Tennyson streets."

Handwritten message on the back of this real photo postcard (no address or postmark): "My dear Aunt Clara, this post card was taken in Bridgeton on Labor Day. See if you can find me. Clarence." The AZO stamp box on the other side (four corner triangles pointing up) suggests a date as early as 1904 to 1918. Clarence and his marching band probably played in Bridgeton, New Jersey. I took a close look at the uniforms, music sheets, and drumhead but wasn't able to spot any names, insignia, or other details that would help to confirm the location or identify the band.

A photo of readers (people reading books or magazines) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. (Or people reading newspapers? Hopefully my fellow VPTPers will indulge my topic drift from magazines to newspapers.) A real photo postcard of a young girl holding an issue of the North American newspaper (mouse over the image for a close-up view of the paper —I haven't been able to determine a date or decipher any of the headlines, unfortunately). The girl has a smirk on her face and a pair of pince-nez glasses on her nose as she looks down at her newspaper. I'm not sure what might be in the case that's on the floor next to her chair.

A detail showing a close-up of the North American newspaper from a real photo postcard. For more information, see the original photo .

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park with the assignment to find a poem to match your photo . "Where we learn to be wise at Pine Island. Our public schools." This real photo postcard features a pre-digital photomontage of oversized owls perched on the roof of the public high school in Pine Island , Minnesota, circa 1910. " A Wise Old Owl ," a nursery rhyme dating to 1875 or earlier, seems an appropriate match to this whimsical photo: A wise old owl lived in an oak The more he saw the less he spoke The less he spoke the more he heard. Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?

A photo of three women, three men, or three children for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "On a toot in Chicago, Ill., Jan. 18/08. E. R. Negur. R. S. Hambliton. P. C. Pell." A real photo postcard addressed on the other side to Miss Ethel Barber, Oberlin, Ohio, 99 S. Prof. St. Postmarked at Chicago, Ill., Jan. 20, 1908, and at Oberlin, Ohio, on the same date. Handwritten message: "Sun., 1/18/08. The auto on the other side is busted now, or I would take you riding. I left Roy take it & he broke it. The streets are crowded with extra news boys all about war with Japan. Heard Burr McIntosh lecture tonight, and he claims war will come soon. Heard [Gum Savlans?] this a.m."

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park topic of disasters (fires, earthquakes, floods, etc) . Caption on this real photo postcard: "Cyclone, June 12, 1911. S. Otselic, N.Y." Damage to trees from a cyclone (tornado) that hit South Otselic , New York, on June 12, 1911. For another photo taken the same day, see Cyclone Damage on Barn , an image from the collection of the Farmers' Museum, Cooperstown, New York.

A cars and trucks photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. This is a real photo postcard addressed on the other side to Mr. Sam Ekey, Warren, Pa., R.D. #4, and postmarked in Warren, Pa., on March 31, 1913. Handwritten message: "Warren, Pa., 3/30, 1913. Dear Brother, Wm. Kopf would like to have his posts Saturday. If you need the money take it, 12½¢ each. Frank needs about 10 7 fts. Maybe we can give Henderson his and give Frank Henderson's from last year [meaning, as far as I can understand, that "Henderson" is going to get the fence posts originally intended for "Frank," and Frank is going to receive his ten seven-foot fence posts from among the ones that they prepared for Henderson last year]. Everything OK. Norman has the mumps. He is at home on the farm. E.E." It's likely that "E.E." was Emil Ekey (1886-1976), who was writing to older brother, Sam Ekey (1881-1965). "Frank" may have been Frank A. Ekey (1868-1959), another brother. A quick search didn't yield any information regarding the other individuals--William Kopf, Henderson, and Norman--that Emil mentions. The flooded street was the result of the Great Flood of 1913 , which "occurred between March 23 and March 26, after major rivers in the central and eastern United States flooded from runoff and several days of heavy rain." I assume that the photo shows a street in Warren , which is located in northeastern Pennsylvania at the confluence of the Allegheny River and Conewango Creek. The license plate on the car in the photo is no. "23801, Penna., 1913," and the man in the driver's seat is looking back at the photographer. Beyond the automobile there are three people--one of them only visible through the vehicle's windshield--wading through the floodwaters. To the left of the threesome is a mailbox stranded by the water, and to its left are two individuals standing in the doorway of a building. A mailman wearing waders and holding a mailbag is standing in the water on the right-hand side of the photo. Perhaps he was headed over to the mailbox to collect the mail. Emil didn't mention the flood in the note he wrote to his brother. I wonder if either of them knew any of the people in the photo. It would also be interesting to know who the photographer was.