Girl Friends at the Cabin

I once asked a friend of mine, who happens to be gay, why gays were always reading a sexual context into things when none was apparent. He told me that gays have historically been in the shadows, so they took what they could get. The probability is that these four women are nothing more than friends, but who really knows after all these years.

Hobo of the Great Depression

This image is a perfect example of my love/hate relationship to old photo dealers. I was told that this photograph was taken from an album, and labeled "bum, Washington, D.C. 1934." Maybe that's true, or maybe it was just something the dealer told me to make a $2.00 sale. In any case, in an album, this image would have had historical context. It would be possible to see what the photographer was drawn to. It could have shown a much broader picture of the United States during the great depression. As a stand alone image, removed from the album, it's an interesting image, and nothing else.

Cameras on the Beach

Looks like this beach goer has a nice 35mm camera, or maybe an old stereo camera. In any case, it looks like it's time to put in new film.

Zoot Suits and Bicycles

I've got a lot of bicycle pictures in the collection and this is one of my favorites. I don't know whether or not these guys are wearing zoot suits or not. I'm just not that much of a fashion expert. But I'm willing to bet that these three men are riding some nice tricked out bikes. Id say that these three are the symbolic ancestors of the low rider bike makers in America's urban areas. From the forties or fifties.

Nellie Jacobs Rice in Pittsburgh

Written on the back, "Nellie Jacobs Rice taken in Pittsburgh, Pa. 1937 Bill" I bought this small snapshot for several reasons. It's dated, it was taken in Pittsburgh, where I used to live, and because I liked the folding camera that Nellie Jacobs Rice is holding.

Society Photo

This faded and ink stained image, is a nice example of a photograph taken during some sort of social gathering. A society luncheon, or a church gathering, it's impossible to say. My guess is that it's from the 1930's.

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.