Atlantic City, 1947

I always love it when things are dated. It not only places the print in context, but it gives a reference for dating other photos. Written on the back, "Julia in Atlantic City, N.J., 1947" Even with out the labeling, the movie marquee in the background would have dated this image. Johnny O'Clock was directed by Robert Rosen, film noir about a gambler, starring Dick Powell, Evelyn Keyes, Lee J. Cobb, and Nina Foch was released in 1947.

Topless From the Fifities

These used to be sold from under the counter at news stands all over the United States. This was one of the things that passed as adult fare before the age of Playboy. Not very explicit by the standards of today, or for that matter the standards of the fifties. It wasn't so openly sold, but there was plenty pornography was out there.

Apollo, Pennsylvania

I've had a life long tendency to collect things, and while the old photo collection didn't become a huge passion until I started working in photo labs, I actually started picking up old pictures when I was a child. This one is my first. It's an old postcard of my home town, Apollo, Pennsylvania. The large building, just a bit high and to the left of center was the town's high school. I don't have a date on this image, but I went to that school in the 1970's.

An Adventurous Woman

I found this print in one of those antique malls. I think I paid around half a buck for it. It's one of my favorite images. This young woman is in her hiking boots, she has her folding camera, and she looks like she's working her way upstream in the Sierras. I did buy it in California, after all. No name or date, but I'm thinking twenties or maybe earlier.

Pennsylvania Doughboys

I was going to write the story that I've always heard, that World War 1 American soldiers were called doughboys because of their fondness for fried bread, but when I went online to confirm that information I found so many other explanations that I've decided to pass on this web address that has plenty of alternative explanations. www.worldwari.com/dbc/origindb.htm Note the keystone on the soldiers tunic. These are two of the earliest photos in my collection. I purchased them back when I still lived in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania is the keystone state. They have to be from the state militia.

John E. Reed, Hooray for the Girls

This the second post from Hollywood glamour and theatrical photographer, John E. Reed. Written on the back, "Marian Ryan in Harry Howard's Hooray for the Girls." I tried both http://www.imdb.com/ and http://www.ibdb.com/ for Marian Ryan, and came up empty. In ibdb I found two references to shows produced by Howard, one in 1940 and one in 1945. From the January 1945 issue of The Juggler's Bulletin I found a reference to Ben Berri appearing in Harry Howard's Hooray for the Girls, playing in Wichita, Kansas.

Camping on Lake Champlain

Written on the back of the card the print is mounted on, "Camping at Putnam Station, Lake Champlain About 1904-1906." The ink doesn't appear to be contemporary. It looks like it's from a ball point, and it's very bright, not faded from age. It could have been something that the seller wrote to attract buyers, or information reported as accurate by the original owner.