Before and After the Wedding

These two small photos came from the same source, and appear to be the same woman, a few years apart. One looks to be the woman on her wedding day, putting on the wedding garter. The second image, dated August 1955, looks like it's a few years latter into her wedded life.

More Photos With the Desert Base

As I've noted on earlier posts, these collections that I buy usually have a number of prints that are more interesting than others. I actually bought this small estate collection for a group of five prints that had been taped together to make a panoramic image of what looked like to be a desert military base, that I published separately on 8/25/09. Some of these images seem to be from a college graduation. My guess from the 1930's. There is a picture of an older man wearing a medal. I think it's from the GAR, the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans organization for union Civil War soldiers. On the reverse, it's dated May 1930. The guy in the denim suit with the glasses is, I'm fairly certain, in the military, and he's wearing fatigues. I wish the skiing picture had been fixed properly and hadn't faded and turned brown. If the military base photo was from the California desert, then the skiing photo could be from one of the California ski resorts that had opened in the 20's and 30's. On the back of the cabin photo, "In front of our cabin." A motel cabin, I would think. I love the woman in the middle in her black dress. The boy in the fur coat, also faded and turning brown, is is interesting and has a stamp on the back, "ELKO LIFE TIME PRINTS K.C. MO." The only image with a location, noted, though it's pretty obvious that Mt. Rushmore, still being carved, ID's South Dakota. I also liked the picture of the three older men. Look closely, to see an airplanes cockpit in the background. And in a subtle way, the picture of the grandparents, daughter and grandchildren is very interesting. The older people are dressed, the woman in the long dress, in a pre World War 1 manner, while the daughter is probably from the 1920's or 30's.

Jane Marshall, Stripper

With all of the interest in classic burlesque out there; in a world were many nice, middle class, well educated young ladies are putting on pasties and joining burlesque troupes, you'd think I'd be able to find some biographical information on Jane Marshall. Not so. Identified by name, with type in the border, that I've cropped for the scan. Stamped on the back, "WILL GROFF THEATRICAL AGENCY 211 S. MARSHALL ST. YORK, PENNSYLVANIA." Jane Marshall and Marshall Street, I'm guessing, is just a coincidence.

Four Portraits

I won't even try and guess when these were taken, nor their purpose. They could have been some sort of advertising shot, or just personal portraits.

A Black Face Minstrel Show

Well, you don't see one of these everyday. Printed on a very heavy paper, this appears to be a lobby card for a minstrel show. Primarily a 19th century entertainment, minstrel shows didn't die out until the early 20th century, making it very difficult to date. The costumes would have been pretty much the same for the history of this type of show. Performed mostly by white people in black, burnt cork, face makeup, the entertainers would tell jokes and sing songs lampooning African Americans. Sort of a precursor to Amos and Andy.

Topsy's Cafe Postcard

By and large, I don't buy a lot of postcards, but I wanted this one because it was a great companion piece for an old souvenir photo folder I own from this club, (see my post published 8/25/09) and because it confirmed my assumption that Topsy's had a plantation theme. Printed on the back, "TOPSY'S CAFE is located at 8101 Long Beach Boulevard 15 minutes from 7th and Broadway and a short drive from Long Beach. No cover or minimum charge Sunday or week days. For reservations telephone LAfayette 1414." Is that 7th and Broadway, downtown Los Angeles, and is that via the Red Car Line?

Kohler Studios, Milwaukee Wisconsin

A nice studio portrait of a middle aged woman taken at Kohler Studios, 275 WEST WATER STREET MILWAUKEE. From the teens, I would guess.