Suburban Parties

I really need to add more color to the collection.  I've got a feeling that I wouldn't have liked living in the fifties.  But, I could be wrong.  These people look like they're having a wonderful time.

Happy Birthday From the Nurse's Dorm

I don't know where this photograph was taken, but I do know when it was printed.  Stamped on the back, "THIS IS A Kodacolor Print MADE ONLY BY KODAK WEEK OF JUNE 1 - 57"  But what's going on?  Going by this young ladies age,  my guess is that she's a nursing student, she's in her dorm room, and her classmates have thrown her a birthday party.

Party Party

Nothing written on the back of this photo, but I'm guessing the fifties and somewhere in Europe.  Take a look at the table top, and you'll see a pack of TAT cigarettes.  Now, I hate smoking.  My European mother was a smoker, and every time she lit up, I got a bad headache.  But, because of her habit, I have a working knowledge of American tobacco brands, and I've never heard of TAT.  Love the parasol.

The German American Collection, The Album 10

Costume party time. I have no idea who the man is supposed to be. It looks like a full length rain slicker. Then again, it might be some sort of wizard's cloak. And the group photo is numbered, but the key is missing.

The German American Collection, The Album 5

It's a wedding. So that's why all these people have gathered together. I do hope people will click on the individual images and bring them up in a bigger window. It will make it easier to see that the man straddling the barrel in the second photo is the accordionist in the first. And since there is a date on the beer keg, August 5, 1923, we can then get a good idea of the wedding's date.

Getting Tight

When these photos were taken, one didn't get bombed, fried, wasted or hammered. One got tight. What is the power of language? If drinking is about getting tight, does that imply a level of self control no matter how much is alcohol is consumed? When one gets wasted, does that imply drinking to insensibility? Stamped on the back, "VOC PHOTO SCHOOL" I assume that VOC means vocational.

The Football Banquet

The high school season is over, the bowl season is just getting under way, and the pros are closing out the season. Take a look at the decorations. These five ladies are standing in front of a stage with a football themed graphic. Before school boy sports gained it's cult like status; before parents hired personal coaches to prepare their children for college and, with a bit of luck, a pro sports career, they would get all dressed up, and hold a pot luck diner at the local VFW hall and pledge money for uniforms, balls, and maybe a couple of new pieces of training equipment.

Before Taking

So what were they taking on Dec. 1st, 1905? I'm assuming that we are looking at five couples, (I've spotted one wedding ring.) who are about to go off on some sort of adventure. Perhaps a trip to a far off city or maybe even Europe. Perhaps they're missionaries headed off to the far east. Maybe it's a trip to one of the health resorts that were quite popular in that era. Maybe they are college students about to take winter finals. Maybe something very simple like a sleigh ride. So many choices, so few clues. Just the way I like it.

The Ladies Only Picnic

Every time I see photos that look like they could have been taken during World War 2, I wonder how the people in those photos were affected by the war. From Pearl Harbor to V-J Day, more than 16 million Americans, almost all men, would spend some time in the military. There must have been a lot of all women picnics in those years.

Bal Tabarin, San Francisco

Yet another in my collection of night club souvenir photos, though this one is a bit more interesting, historically. The Bal Tabarin was opened in 1931 at 1025 Columbus Avenue in San Francisco, CA by three men; experienced restaurateur, Bob Grison, big band leader, Tom Gerun, and manager, Frank Martinelli. With the end of prohibition nearing, the partners built a club with a performance space, and a sophisticated cocktail lounge atmosphere that was meant to appeal to women as well as men. In addition to Gruen's band, a number of famous acts were booked at the Bal Tabarin, including Sophie Tucker, Tony Martin, the Duncan Sisters, and Spanish puppeteer and ventriloquist, Senor Wences, who, during my childhood, was a frequent guest on the Ed Sullivan Show. Tap dancer Ann Miller, at thirteen, lied about her age and began her career at the club, spotted by Hollywood talent scouts, and Bal Tabarin patron Lucille Ball, she was signed to a studio contract. (Anyone wishing to see Miller dance, should watch On The Town.) Bal Tabarin was very successful through the war years As the club lost business, after the war, it was sold, in 1950, and was renamed Bimbo's 365, becoming a major jazz venue. Where I need some help on this post is info about the photograph. Labeled, "Our ASA dinner, at Bal Tabarin, July 6, 1944." I've done a number of Internet searches trying to identify ASA, and while I've come up with a number of possibilities, (The military does love it's acronyms.) I believe the most likely candidate is ASA radar, a long range search radar, used by the navy in it's patrol planes and ships. The women all have anchors on the lapels of their uniforms, identifying them as WAVES. But, what would these women have to do with ASA radar? Women were not allowed in combat during the war. It's possible that they could have operated land based radar stations. It's also possible that they could be repair technicians or analysts of some kind. In any case, I can't be sure, and if anyone out there can set me straight, please do so. Please notice that the rest of the club seems to be empty, so this might have been a private dinner party. And finally, the gentleman is a puppeteer, just like Senor Wences. All the photos I've been able to find of him are from the Ed Sullivan Show era, but it''s the same facial structure. Printed on the inside front cover of the photo folder, "We sincerely hope you have enjoyed your evening at the Bal Tabarin...Your Hosts TOM GERUN, FRANK MARTINELLI." On the back cover, "For additional prints write to Hollywood Nite Club Photos. PICTURES ARE $1.25 EACH. PRICE INCLUDES TAX AND MAILING CHARGES. Be certain to mention BAL TABARIN, this number, 23, and date, JUL 6, 1944. 6304 Riley Way, Carthay Circle Theatre Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif. WAlnut 9880."

Green Bay Business-Crowning the Queen

I haven't put up any of the pictures from the Green Bay Business College collection for awhile, and it's time to put some up some more. To recap, i bought a bunch of prints, some of which came in envelopes addressed to Kenneth Bierke, 225 Quinton, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Some are of a school dance, some are from some school banquets, and some are family photos of, I assume, Bierke clan. Click on Green Bay in the labels section to see some of the other prints I've already posted. This one looks like the Queen of the school dance is being crowned.

Culture In America 2

These photos were found in the same envelope of the ones in the previous post. While there is no proof that they were taken at the same function, the number is right for a single roll of film, and the lady with the fur muff in the first image is in the party photos. No dates or location.

Culture In America 1

I'm dividing this collection into two parts. I've got a lot of photographs that were all found in the same envelope. No dates, or locations. They seem to be photos of a party, divided into the adults only half and the more a kids/young people friendly group. Part two are pictures of the entertainment.

Candids By Lee

From the fifties or sixties. Stamped on the back, "CANDIDS BY LEE 2466 W. ARMITAGE AVE. BE. 5-8187 SP. 2-1980" A couple at a party with the mother-in-law.

A 50's Costume Party

There are a couple of guests dressed as stereotypical beatniks, so I'm guessing the 1950's.

Crazy French People

Written on the back, "12 Jueller 1936. Faiet de Foutunebleau." They look like they're having fun.

Green Bay Business College- Another Dance

Another picture from the Green Bay Business College package. A dance, but with a different date from the two previous posts. On the back of the photo, "THIS IS A KODACHROME PRINT Made by Kodak WEEK OF FEB. 16-59 RD."

Green Bay Business College-Riverside Dance #2

These square format photos are from the same Green Bay Business College dance as the previous post. Those photos were done by a professional photographer, these look like amateur pictures. Stamped on the backs of the color images, "THIS IS A KODACOLOR PRINT MADE BY EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY T. M. REGIS. U. S. PAT. OFF. Week ending June 23, 1956. Ro 3" With the June 3 post mark from the earlier post, the dance was probably end of May. An end of term dance.

Green Bay Business College-Riverside Dance

I've got a lot of these. A few years ago I purchased a group of pictures from the Green Bay Business College in Green Bay, Wisconsin. There are far too many of them to put up in one post. There is also some variety in the collection. Many of them are family pictures that appear to be family pictures of a faculty member. I'm starting with a small group of pictures that were all in the same envelope. The envelope is addressed to the "Green Bay Business College, 123 S. Washington, Green bay, Wis." The return address is "G. Ashert Studio, De Pere, Wis." The post mark is from De Pere and dated July 2, 1956. The theme of the dance is I Love Paris. There is an image of three guys standing in front of the punch bowl, written on the back, "Three too many." The name Ken Bierke is written on the back of several of the photos.