The Classic Look into the Future Pose

 

This is a favorite pose of politicians, running for office.  Slightly below eye line, looking off at a slight angle.  Though, I suspect this lady isn't throwing her hat in the ring.  I suspect she's looking away from the sun. 

Jo and Lucy From Italy

 

There's some Italian writing on the back of the print and after running it through Google Translate, I've come up with a meaning, though there was one word I had trouble working out.  So, after trying dozens of possibilities, I'm going with the only wording that makes sense.  "Jo and Lucy collect the balls and Tesy on the porch takes them."  Bocci ball?  It's like lawn bowling.  I grew up in a small rural town that had an Italian-American Club that was about a hundred or so yards from my back door. The old men who always seemed to have a game going would chase me away when I stopped to watch.   

Comfort

  

 It looks like this poor guy is all set for a lazy day on the back porch, but his wife, purse in hand, is ready to go.  Dated, "OCT 1958" 

On the Porch

  

I only paid 50 cents for this photo and there's a stamp on the back that reads "ASK FOR (VELVET SHEEN FINISH)" that's kind of interesting to someone like me who spent decades working in photo labs. 

Nice Bike

 

Looks like he's getting ready to go out on his bike.  So am I.  Hope the heat doesn't get to me. 

Throw In on the Porch

 

Every so often I buy an envelope full of old snapshots.  Usually, there are only so many prints that I want, a few that are interesting, but  I wouldn't buy them as individual prints.  And then there are the throw-ins, pictures I'd never buy in any other way.  This is one of those throw-ins.  Probably suburbia from after World War 2.  Note the air-conditioning unit in the window, so someplace with hot summers.   

Who Left the Bottle?

 

And while we're asking questions, are those earmuffs she's wearing?   It doesn't look that cold to me. 

The Dress

Believe it or not, I bought this photo because I liked the woman's dress.  It reminded me of designs I've seen in Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. 

Woman With Mustache

When I first saw this very small photograph I could tell that the mustachioed gentleman on the left was actually a woman.  What I couldn't tell: Was the lady on the right a man?  After scanning, and blowing it up, it became obvious that, yes, she was a she. 

Showing a Little Leg

Leopard skin jacket, hiking up her skirt just enough, and a bit of snow on the porch.  And what is that thing in the lower right corner?  Is it a barbecue?  Why isn't barbecue spelled with a "Q"?

More Swapped Photographers

 

Every time I run across a group shot, whether it's two, three or more people, I always know that one member of the group didn't make it into the frame.  The photographer just doesn't make the cut unless the camera gets passed around.  Now, these are very small prints.  I can cover them with my drivers license.  After I scanned them and they came up on the screen something didn't seem right to me.   So, I enlarged them as much as possible, and I think all four of these people are men.  I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.  Labeled, "Berwick, Pa 1919"  Berwick is near Wilks-Barre, anthracite country, lots of coal mines.

The Here, There and Everywhere Collection-Three on a Porch

And a great bicycle in the background.  Click on The Here There and Everywhere Collection in labels, etc.

The Here, There and Everywhere Collection-Not Twins of Any Kind

I have to admit, this is an incredibly common pose.   Anyway, this photo was mounted on a bit of album page, but since who ever tore it out didn't get a second picture I didn't see a need to show position(lower corner) on the page.

And, click on The Here There and Everywhere Collection in labels and all that.

The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection-The Maid, The Cat, and the Dog

Well, the best thing to do is click on The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection in labels to get an explanation, and see more from the lot.  But in a nutshell, the person who sold me this collection said it was all from an estate, but then again, take that with a grain of salt.

So, the first two photos reveal the why of the title.  There she is, the maid, in one image she's holding the cat, and in the other, the dog.  I guess, the real question is this; Are these the photographic memories of the maid, and her career, working for different families, or did mi'lord and mi'lady just need someone to show off their pets?  My next post will be the other side of this album page, and may provide a clue.

Relaxing In The Sun

The thing about living in a city that's always sunny, it's hard to appreciate how good it feels to just relax in the sunlight, knowing that winter snows are just around the corner.