Don't Weep or Sigh

No, this collection is not a never ending project.  Away back in 2013, I bought an envelope of postcards that the seller referred to as his flirtation set.  (Click on flirtation in labels to see other cards.)  Most are based on photographs, some are pure illustration, which get posted on my Fair Use blog, and some, well I can't be 100% certain, so I use my best judgement on which blog gets the post.
This one's pretty easy, since it has a photo credit on the border.  Scott and Van Altena were partners who produced images form postcards, and primarily, lantern slides that showed between movies at early nickelodeons.  Edward Van Altena was the photographer, and John Duer Scott was the colorist.
This card was published by Theodor Eismann, and it's from the illustrated song series, cards that used lyrics from popular songs as the caption.  And when this card was made, that could mean either 78 RPM records or sheet music.

This card was never used.

The Working Women of Unit 12

Almost certainly taken during World War 2 when women began working in machine shops like this one.  Too, the hairdos and clothing look 1940s.

When I was in college, one of my history professors used to talk about CK, common knowledge that everyone thought was true but, in fact, was not true.  One bit of CK was that women didn't enter the work force in great numbers until World War 2 created labor shortages.  Actually women of a certain economic class and above stayed home and learned to be good wives and mothers. Women below that class worked just like the men.  They didn't  work in mining or a heavy industry like ship building or steel, but they worked in textile plants, canning, and a whole host of other factory jobs.  Women were also farm laborers and servants.

One of the worst industrial disasters in American history was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.  On March 25, 1911, a fire started on the factory floor, probably caused by a discarded cigarette.  On an upper floor of a New York high rise, with only one working elevator at the end of a long narrow hallway, with only two doors, one locked to prevent theft, and the other opening inward, 146 workers, almost all young immigrant women, burned to death.

A Nice Firm Handshake

Here's a fun fact.  The handshake is symbolic of having an open hand, without hidden weapons.

As a small boy I was taught to have a firm handshake with a strong grip.  Quite frankly, I hate shaking hands because a good half of the men I know interpret that as crushing the other persons hand.  More a show of strength than a greeting.  But what are young girls taught?

Going by the tie and dress, I'm guessing that this photo is from the seventies, but where was it taken?  There's a bit of a military uniform in view, but I don't think it's American.  Of course, he could be the doorman.

Cruising In Luxury

 

Alright, the bottom picture is kind of crappy, but I don't like to edit stuff from collections, even small ones.  As a matter of fact, the top two photos aren't that great, and the color restoration setting clearly has some limitations, but....

One of our local radio stations (Local is Los Angeles.) has an ask the mayor show.  I was on my way out the door, I was getting ready to turn off the radio, and the last thing I heard was that one of the questions for that day was about ferry service between Ventura and L.A.   To a lot of people that will seem like a daft idea, but I say why not?  As a matter of fact, I think an L.A.-Ventura connection isn't ambitious enough.

 As the population of our state increases, as the need to get around grows, it only makes sense to add boat traffic to the mix.  If I need to get to San Diego from Los Angeles, I'd rather take the light rail to the Santa Monica pier and a coastal ferry to San Diego than sit on the I-15.  Yes, I know, there's already trains, planes, and buses, but why not add sea travel into the mix.  Hey, L.A. to San Francisco, Oakland to Eureka or Crescent City, it all makes sense to me.

I know what some people will say.  "Won't it be expensive?"  We subsidize mass transit, Amtrak, and if it ever gets built, we'll subsidize high speed rail, so I don't see  the difference.

All pictures dated "WEEK OF OCT. 25-58 RN"

Liquid Lunch

Hint to the photographer.  Move a few feet to the right or left, and the pole isn't bisecting the lady's face.  Now, someone out there has to recognize the beach?  The ones in L.A. and Long Beach aren't that broad.  It's too empty to be Atlantic City.  Florida? The Gulf Coast?

Straw Boater and Cane

This had to have been taken at a photographer's studio.

Tiny Boat Pictures 2

I grew up next to one of the most polluted rivers in the United States.  That didn't stop me from going in the water.  I can remember wanting a boat so I could go down river.  Never got the boat, but I've been told the Kiski River isn't dirty anymore.

Tiny Boat Pictures 1

Tiny pictures, a bit under 2 inches on the long side, but not a tiny boat.  A small boat, but not tiny.

Lost 10-Won 1

Well, it says soccer, rather than football on the front, so I'm going out on a limb and say that a team of American soldiers got beat big time by locals who had been playing the game for most of their lives.  I also suspect that that one win might have been thrown to make the Yanks feel a bit better about themselves.

Croquet and the Olympics

Here's a fun fact.  Croquet was once an official Olympic Sport.   Croquet made it's Olympic debut at the 1900 Paris Olympics.  It's final appearance was at the 1900 Paris Olympics.  It was also the first sport that allowed women to compete.  They played against the men, and they lost.  Alas, women's croquet was, in 1900, not up to the male game.  Ten competitors fought for medals in three different classifications.  All of them French.  Croquet drew exactly one spectator.

And the medal winners:  In singles, one ball, Gold, Gaston Aumoitte, Silver, Georges John, Bronze, Chretien Weydelich.   In singles, two ball, Gold, Chretien Weydelich, Silver, Maurice Vignerot, Bronze, Jacques Sautereau.  And finally, in doubles, Gold, Gaston Aumoitte and Georges John.  There were no silver and bronze medals awarded, since Aumoitte and John were the only entrants.

Okay, I know this all sounds pretty silly, but don't forget, skateboarding is set to make its Olympics debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

All photos dated "1962."

Life in the Big City

From the thirties or forties I would think.  Siblings or a lucky guy with two beautiful girl friends?