Beaches and Shores

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 Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of a stitch in time (doing needlework, knitting, or weaving) . An undated snapshot of a woman knitting as she sits on a sandy beach. For more knitting photos, see People Knitting: A Century of Photographs , a book by Barbara Levine (Princeton Architectural Press, 2016). An article about the book, 100 Years of People Knitting , by Claire Voon, appeared on Hyperallergic.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of on the beach . Handwritten caption on the other side of this real photo postcard: "Atlantic City, July 5, 1925." On the day after the Fourth of July in an unidentified photo studio in Atlantic City, New Jersey, this couple posed on the real sand of a fake beach. Behind them is a painted backdrop of dramatic ocean waves and an extremely long pier that extends the whole way to the horizon. For other studio beach scenes, see Two Woman Posing for a Boardwalk Souvenir, Atlantic City, N.J. , and Women in Swimsuits .

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of on vacation / holiday . Sign: "The Club." Life preserver: "U.S. Vol. Life Saving Corps." This is a hand-tinted real photo postcard addressed on the other side to Miss G. Manning, 331 W. 29 St., N.Y. City. It was postmarked at Midland Beach , Staten Island, N.Y., and New Dorp , N.Y., on August 25, 1908. Handwritten message (with original spelling): "Dear Grace, I'm having a splendid vacation down here. We have a bungaloe down here for the month of August & part of Sept. It's great sport. I would have written sooner but never think of writing down here. I didn't attent that millinery class in the YWCA because you didn't. Love, F. Cooper." Added to the message: "Drop me a card. My address -- name. c/o W. H. Putnam, New Dorp, St. Island, N.Y. Woodland Beach." See also the full version of this card.

A real photo postcard from 1908. For more information, see the cropped version of the card.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of sticking tongue out (or any other interesting or funny facial expression) . A snapshot of a woman sticking out her tongue as someone takes her picture. She's sitting on a towel on the beach and holding a cigarette in her left hand. Judging by the shadows in the foreground, the woman may be situated under an umbrella similar to those visible in the distance. Unfortunately, I don't have any additional information about the date or location of the photo. For variations on the theme, see Elmer's Acting Up! and Aieeeeee!!! .

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of beach umbrella . With sunbathers and umbrellas in the background, a woman poses awkwardly for a photo in the middle of a busy beach. This is a small trimmed snapshot with no date or location information.