Zombies

Don't tell me I'm the only one thinking it.  Probably a rock band.

The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection-Mystery Location

When I pulled this one out of the envelope, I was sure I had seen this place in real, as opposed to photographic life.  I've been thinking about this one for awhile, and I'm leaning towards a dam somewhere in southern Arizona.  I have memories of driving through the mountains, going around a curve and being on top of a dam, maybe on the Salt River, maybe somewhere else.  I mean, I can't imagine these four gentlemen, and the fifth, the photographer, saying to themselves, "Hey, what an ordinary wall next to a road, let's all stop the car and take a picture!"  At least that's my impression.

There's not that much more to go, but I think I'm going to leave the last of The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection (Remember to click in labels to see more.) for another time.

The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection-The Faceless Family Connection

There are only so many photos in this collection that have any sort of caption, and this is one of them.  Written on the back, "my cousin."

Click on The Here There and Everywhere Collection at the bottom of the post to see the rest.

The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection-The Track Meet

Some of you may have guessed that I'm posting images as they come out of the envelope, and that there is no real order to anything.  Images from the last couple of posts look like early twentieth century to me.  Probably no latter than the World War 1 era.  This one looks more like the thirties or forties.

Anyway, for anyone who wants to see other images or read some of the commentary, click on The Here There and Everywhere Collection in labels.

The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection-A Really, Really Damaged Print

Someone peeled this one out of an album and didn't do a very good job of it.  Click on The Here There and Everywhere Collection in labels to see more and learn more. 

The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection-One Picture on a Bit of Album Page

Well, I don't think I need to scan a second image to show position on this one, and I don't think I need to zoom in on the photo only.  This little girl can be seen on some of the other posts from this collection.  At least, from what little I can see from this pose, I think so.  Click on The Here There and Everywhere Collection in labels to see more.

The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection-T'other side

As I noted in the previous post, this one is clearly related to an earlier post.  I've seen the sprinklers before.  But what purpose do they serve?  They seem to be watering a pond.  It must be some sort of water treatment system. 

And dare I suggest it?  Click on The Here There and Everywhere Collection in labels to search out those sprinklers.

The Here, There, and Everywhere Collection-Sitting and Standing Album Page

It's been awhile since I've posted anything from this collection, so I guess I should recap a bit for those not inclined to click on The Here There and Everywhere Collection in the labels section at the bottom of the post.

I bought an envelope of photos and loose album pages from a dealer who assured me that the whole lot was from an estate sale and was all related.  Of course, I've been collecting things long enough to know that sellers  often tell buyers what they think they want to hear.  In a nutshell, I have my doubts about the story I was given.  A lot of the contents of the envelope are clearly related, including this loose album page, while other stuff, well let's just say that I think some photos got thrown in to make the collection look bigger.

So, an upper middle class family for the pre World War 1 era?  That's my best guess for this particular album page.

Kids and Their Bikes (And a Dog, Too.)

No date on these, but I'd bet somewhere between the mid 50s and early 60s. 

Da Drums, Da Drums

In The Blue Dahlia, (1946) Alan Ladd plays a navy pilot newly returned from the war.  After arriving stateside, he discovers that his wife is having an affair with a nightclub owner played by Howard DeSilva.  After Ladd's wife is murdered, he becomes the prime suspect.  With the help of Veronica Lake, he searches for the true killer.  It turns out it's not the club owner.  His best friend from the war, played by William Bendix,  suffers from PTSD.  Every time he hears jazz it triggers memories of being shot down in the south Pacific and his survival on an island, inhabited by a local tribe.  "Da drums, da drums," he shouts, and then he loses self control and kills Ladd's wife.  The Blue Dahlia was written by Raymond Chandler.  Still, I prefer This Gun For Hire, in my opinion, Alan Ladd's best movie.

Growing Up In San Francisco

It's time for me to go on one of my favorite rants.  How dare antique dealers cut up old photo albums and sell the pictures individually.  This one looks like it was  a good one.  Perhaps an elderly woman putting all the photos of her life in one place, or a younger women collecting memories to give to her mother.  At least the person who sold me these two photos had the good sense to save the captions.  I haven't been to that particular store for a while, but if I get back there, I'll search the 50 cent  photo box and with any luck, find some more images from this album. 

I pulled up a map of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and found 7th Avenue and Irving Street.  From Lincoln on the southern side of the park, drive two blocks on 7th, past Hugo and there you are. 

Girl Friends

I've got lots of these gal pal photos.  I always wonder, who was the photographer?  Are there always three women in these groups?  A boyfriend, or maybe a parent?  Who knows.   Looks like a pretty depressing town.

Who Is This Woman?

This woman looks familiar. I'n sure she's someone famous, but I can't remember who. Probably from the 1940's.

Kymene

If nothing else, collecting old photographs is a learning experience.  If I had never seen this picture, I'd never have known about Kymene.  Next time you wipe something down with a paper towel, and if it doesn't turn into a wet mushy blob, thank Kymene.  The stuff is a resin that gets added to things like paper and cardboard to keep them from falling apart.  Originally produced by the Hercules Powder Company, it's been around since 1951 and it's still in use.  Let's just hope, for the sake of the lady in the barrel, that Kymene isn't carcinogenic.

Standing and Leaving

I love bicycles and I love bicycle racing.  It's Tour de France time and all I have to say is anyone but Chris Froome.  Any team but Team Sky.  Look at those legs, she clearly loved her bike.

A Bit Of Sweden

Hey, I like a good smorgasbord.  A Bit of Sweden isn't there anymore.  It was at the corner of Sunset and Doheny on the Sunset Strip.  I wasn't able to find out when it went out of business, but I like the idea of Jim Morrison dropping in for some meatballs after playing  the Whiskey. 

So, information from the back, "Bit of Sweden  9051 Sunset Blvd.  HOLLYWOOD, CAL  Phone. BRadshaw 2-2800  The Unique Restaurant featuring the world's largest Smorgasbord, find foods and liqueurs."  "A Shini Color by Colourpicture, Boston 15, Mass., U.S.A. 2143 So. Alsace Ave., L.A."  Colourpicture was in business from 1938-1969. 

I found the original black and white photo on line.   The colorist at the publisher removed a poll and a lot of cars. 

Floor Show

I got these from a different source from my previous post, but they are related by theme.  I'm open to suggestions, but if I were guessing (And I am.)  I would say post war Japan, an American style floor show for occupation personnel.  If so, were Japanese patrons allowed?

MSN

Sometimes, the internet is just no help whatsoever.  I was fairly certain that wasn't an American uniform seen in the top photo, so I blew it up as large as I could.  The insignia on the man's collar, an anchor and the letters MSN.  Needless to say, type MSN into a search engine and all you get is Microsoft.

So with the Asian hostesses, these were probably taken somewhere in the far east, so maybe Japan, the Philippines, or even Vietnam.

Nita Borka, Contortionist

For those who are not old enough, many years ago, there was something called The Ed Sullivan Show.  Ed Sullivan had been a newspaper columnist on the New York Broadway beat.  Despite the fact the he wasn't particularly telegenic, and far from charismatic, Ed Sullivan became one of the early stars of network television.  Every Sunday night he hosted a variety show.  While he booked some pretty big acts, and made rock & roll mainstream, he also booked these weird novelty acts that probably hadn't worked since vaudeville died.  Personally, I liked the plate spinners. 

There's a label on the back of this photo that I've translated from German.  Well, actually Google Translate did that, but I did type it in.  "Photo is the property of the artist.  Please do not hesitate to return to agency G. Schnitzler.  HAMBURG 13-Innocentiastr. 12."  Well, Innocentiastr. is an abbreviation, str. is probably strasse, or street.  Innocentia doesn't come up as German, but does mean harmless in Latin.  So, for what it's worth.  There's a second stamp, "Photo reproduction Garloff & Richter, Magdeburg."  And a third, all abbreviations, "Reg. Nr.  IV-14-68."  Good bet that means April, 14, 1968. 

What's intersting is that Hamburg was in West Germany, while Magdeburg was in the East.  Perhaps by 1968, a contortionist wasn't sophisticated enough for the more advanced west, but  in East Germany, Nita Borka could still make a living.