From Germany

A very small collection of five photographs from Germany. The photo of the two older people is labeled, "Augusta & Gustav Meyer, Germany 1943." Stamped, "C. Weiss, Bremen, Bruckenstr. 16, Fernrui 53283." Look closely at the woman's face and compare it with the woman in the family portrait with the uniformed soldier and child. Same shape and nose. There is no writting on the back of the print, but it is a photo post card, made for the personal use of the subjects, and the studio is identified, "Photo-Studio, Inh. Jul V. Kwanka, Hamburg, Reeperbahn 122/24 Ecke Talsstr." The picture of the house has, written on the back, "Home of Emma Schonewald, Wedel Germany." Labeled in English, but the lab stamp is in German, "Photo-Grote A1625 Wedel Muhlenstr." The other prints have some writing, but it's in German, either faded or smeared, and I can't really make it out. These photos run from World War 1 to World War 2. Where the people in these photos proud of Germany, the Kaiser and Hitler?

Horse and Buggy

In a folder marked, "Fasnacht Studio, 409 MARKET ST. HARRISBURG, PA."

Kitty Davis Night Club of the Air

Sometimes it's possible to dig up quite a bit of info on these old souvenir photo folders, and if I had been willing to pay to browse Google's large collection of old newspapers, I could write pages of info on Kitty Davis. Without bankrupting myself, this is what I've been able to put together. Kitty Davis and her husband, Daniel ran a nightclub in Chicago which was closed down by the police in the early 1940's. It was advertised as having waitresses who were refined college students. It seems they were neither refined or students and the activities of the wait staff had something to do with the closure. The most logical explanation would be a soliciting beef. Kitty and Daniel relocated to Miami Beach and ran a very popular club during the war years. Despite what the folder cover implies, the club was not in a plane, but did have an aviation theme with lots of propellers on the walls. I know that Davis continued to operate her club into the late forties, but free info dies out for me about then. Printed on the back cover, "For Extra Copies Write to PUBLICITY DEPT. OF ABBEY-STARR 1108 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach Fla. Ask for No. 3707." Written on the inside cover is the date, 5-6-44" Sadly, the sailors and their lady friend aren't identified.

A Woman in a Swimsuit

Looks like a two piece, so I'm guessing no earlier than the early fifties.

The Police

I bought this picture from a dealer in Oakland, California, so if the image isn't of the Oakland, PD, it's probably from the bay area. The woman are smiling and not cuffed, so they aren't the criminals.

Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago

The Edgewater Hotel opened in 1916. It was designed by the firm of Marshall and Fox, and was owned by John Tobin Connery and James Patrick Connery. The Edgewater had a private beach on Lake Michigan with its own seaplane service. Cut off from the beach when Lakeshore Drive was extended from Foster Ave. to Bryn Mawr Ave. it quickly lost business and closed in 1967. It was torn down soon after. The Edgewater and the Marine Dining Room was a major venue for the big bands of the thirties and forties. The Edgewater had its own radio station, WEBH. Popular with movie stars, it was also the hotel used by Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower on Presidential visits to Chicago. Stamped on the back cover, "NO. 2136." Written on the inside cover, "With love, Bernice." This is the only souvenir folder I have in the collection that is large enough for an 8x10 print.

Astrid Paulson

A nice old studio portrait. Embossed on the lower right corner, "MORRISON CHICAGO PHOTO" Written on the back, "Astrid Paulson."