Columbus

I run across these strip photographs from time to time and if anyone out there knows, are they made in camera or in the darkroom? Stamped on the back, "SCHREICK'S "CUTE" PHOTO STUDIO 202 1/2 N. High Street, COLUMBUS, -OHIO. DEC. 12, 1911" Hand written. "Oscar Krustf " Schreick's Photo Studio was founded by Frank X. Schreick in 1902 and remained open to 1979.

Gun Culture

Typed on the back, "Teddy, and his new gun" I have mixed feelings about America's gun culture. I grew up in a small town with a tradition of hunting. When I was in high school, during small game season, many of my classmates brought rifles to school. And then I moved to a city and met lots of guys who thought that guns made them tough guys. Maybe Teddy was a hunter, maybe he grew up to be another Charlie Starkweather. Dated "MAR 58"

Fun Times

Knowing the date of a photograph is always informative, but it can also be maddening. This bit of amateur cheesecake is dated 1940, the great depression was basically over, and while war had come to Europe and Asia, the United States was still at peace. Two years latter and these two young ladies could have been war workers at an aircraft plant, WAVES stitching up wounded marines in the south Pacific, or young widows. I'd love to know what happened to them, and not knowing is both the draw and frustration of snapshot collecting.

Two Couples From Youngstown, Ohio

All I know about this photo is that it's from Youngstown, Ohio and it's from the nineteenth century. Youngstown was a mill city on the Mahoning River, and while the wealthy of Youngstown couldn't compare to the rich from Pittsburgh or Cleveland, one could do well there. For a nice color postcard of boaters on the Mahoning River, go back to my post, Newton Falls, Ohio published on 5/3/11.

Kennedy For President

Dated 1963, my guess is that one of the people in this photograph, after the assassination, had it printed as a remembrance of their time as a Kennedy supporter.

City of Los Angeles

Heaven help me, I'm becoming a postcard collector. It's bad enough that I spend money I don't have on fifty year old snapshots, and now postcards! "The streamliners, City of Los Angeles, 39 3/4 hours between Chicago and Los Angeles, carry de luxe coaches, standard sleeping cars, dining cars, club and lounge cars. Ten round trips are made each month." Post marked, "OMAHA NEBR., BURLINGTON STATION JAN. 9 12:30 PM 1943" Addressed to, "Mrs. Mary Hackler, 805 Edw. Rd. Madison, Ill." And the message, "Just arrived in Omaha, Neb. 8:45 A.M. Sat. And talk about gravy without potatoes. I nearly got it, and no kidding. Just like a new world for me. Son, Willie." In 1943 I can think of only one way someone could nearly get it. Soldiers called it the million dollar wound. Bad enough to get sent home and out of the army, but not bad enough to be permanently disabling.

And I'm convinced I recognize the location that the original photo that is the basis of this card was taken. About half way down the Cajon Pass above San Bernardino.

The German Couple

I almost didn't put up this nice studio portrait because of the prints textured surface. I had to use the descreen setting on the scanner, losing some of the sharpness. So, why is that I have so many pictures from Germany? Is it just a coincidence, or did German immigrants to the United States treasure their photographs more than immigrants from other countries? A question that will never be answered. Stamped on the back, "Foto Dickopf, das Fachgeschaft in Siegburg." I think that means Photos by Dickopf, at the department store in Siegburg. Any German speakers out there, please feel free to correct my translation.