Once again, tourists in Hamburg, Germany. These are true-found photographs. I was walking down the street and there they were, blowing down the sidewalk. Very few of these photos have anything written on the back, but a couple are dated 1989, so I'm assuming that they were all taken around the same time. Some of the buildings in these photos are painted with a medieval feel, and this is just a guess, but Hamburg was heavily bombed during World War 2, so an attempt to give Hamburg a feel that it had before the war. Click on Hamburg Vacation Collection in labels to see the rest.
Friday, February 21, 2025
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Musso & Frank
Musso & Frank is old Hollywood. It was opened in 1919 by French immigrant Firmin "Frank" Toulet. I guess Frank was easier for Americans than Firmin. In 1923, Toulet partnered with Joseph Musso, and Musso & Frank Grill was born. Over the years, ownership has changed and even expanded into a neighboring space, but it's still at the same address. Right from the beginning, it attracted the film community. Movie stars, studio executives, and talent agents would drop by the restaurant for a steak and martini, hash out deals, and gossip about who was sleeping with whom. Still in business, it still has a menu that leans towards steak, and alcohol. It also has a dress code. Suits and ties for gentlemen and dresses for ladies are no longer required, now it's business casual. I suspect I'd be turned away if I showed up in my usual blue jeans and tee shirt.
The caption on the back of the card, "Musso & Frank Grill. FINEST CUISINE. 6667 Hollywood Boulevard, Calif 11 A.M. to 11 P.M. HO 7-5123 or HO 7-7788." And the publisher, "PUB. BY "CUMMINGS" (213) 344-6560"
Sunday, December 29, 2024
A Vacation In Hamburg 5
I've got a lot of these, some of the few true-found photographs in my collection. I was, walking down the street, and there they were, just lying in the middle of the sidewalk. Click on Hamburg Vacation Collection in labels to see more.
Saturday, December 28, 2024
Meet Me In Paris
I've long been fascinated by World's Fairs but have never visited one. Many years after it closed, I was in Seattle, went up in the Space Needle, and rode the monorail, but it wasn't the same as being there during the fair.
This postcard is from the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, its motto being "Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Conforms." Well, I'm not too fond of the Man Conforms part, but still. I spent some time doing research and found a few actual photographs that were similar to this card, but not an exact match. There is a credit, "KAUFMAN-FABRY PHOTO," and while that's not a guarantee that this card started out in life as a photo, it's a strong indication. The caption on the back of the card, "STREETS OF PARIS, A very worth-while reproduction consisting of typical shops, buildings, and cafes." Published by "N. SHURE CO., CHICAGO, ILL." Made by "C.T. ART COLORTONE," MADE ONLY BY CURT TEICH & CO., INC., CHICAGO U.S.A."
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
True Found Photography, The Cha-Cha
Yes, I'm the type of person who picks things up off the street. A photo booth strip that I found in the gutter. It must have been one hell of a party.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Poinciana
Poinciana is a tree, it's a small town in Florida, golf club, and a popular name for restaurants. So, basically, I couldn't find anything telling me where this photo was taken. Written on the back of the top photo, "June 1953."
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Hold Still, Ladies
It looks like some photographer is chasing a couple of women down the street. Of course, more than likely, the cameraman knows his female subjects. I always search the background of photos for clues as to where and when the picture was taken, but no such luck here. I suppose I could try to match hairstyles and clothes to an era, but I don't feel like doing the research. Let's take a guess of the 1930s to 1940s. Is that the photographer's thumb in the bottom photo?