Album Toys from Alan Mays

Two Boys with Lots of Toys

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 18 May 2026 03:37:04 +0000

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of birthday presents.

There's no birthday card or cake, but I suspect that this undated photo shows a display of birthday gifts on the coffee table in front of two boys. One of them -- perhaps the younger boy in the white shirt -- is presumably the birthday boy.

Toys on the table include a car, airplane, boat, rocket, and two pull-string flying propellers. There's also an Erector Young Builder's Set (Gilbert Set No. 10021) with packaging that features an illustration of two boys assembling a robot. Next to the Erector set is a container of Davis Pick-up Sticks manufactured by the Davis Toy Corp., Brooklyn, N.Y.

There are two books and a stamp album on the table. One book is The Bible Story, Volume 10, by Arthur S. Maxwell, and the other is How to Tell Time: A Little Golden Activity Book (1957), by Jane Werner Watson. George A. Tlamsa was the editor of My First Stamp Album (Minkus Publications, 1960), and a packet of 130 foreign stamps is visible in front of the album.

I'm not sure what the boy on the right is holding, but is that a barrel of a rifle in the hands of the boy on the left? Could that be another birthday gift?

See also the full version of this photo.

Two Boys with Lots of Toys (Full Version)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 18 May 2026 03:37:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An undated photo of two boys with a bunch of toys.

For more information, see the cropped version of this photo.

Mickey Mouse and Friends, Spring 1939 (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:58:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A close-up view of two children and their Mickey Mouse Toss-Up Balloon as photographed in 1939.

For more information, see the full version of the photo.

Mickey Mouse and Friends, Spring 1939

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:58:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of shadow of the photographer.

Two kids pose for a picture as they sit on the steps of a house in "spring 1939," as written below the photo. It's a bright sunny day, and the shadow cast on the cracked sidewalk in the foreground likely belongs to the photographer.

The balloon in front of the kids is listed in a 1938 novelty catalog as a "Mickey Mouse Toss-Up Balloon" with the following description: "Made of Latex rubber. When inflated measures 26 inches. Packed in cellophane package, complete with heavy cardboard feet." The catalog also explained, "When tossed in the air [this type of balloon] will always land on its feet."

See also a cropped version of the photo for a better view of the children and the balloon.

Christmas Kid with Tiger, Monkey, and Humpty Dumpty, 1956 (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 03:03:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A kid and his new toys, Christmas 1956. See also the full version of the photo.

Christmas Kid with Tiger, Monkey, and Humpty Dumpty, 1956

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 03:03:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of aww, isn't that cute!

A little boy has a surprised look on his face as he poses in front of the Christmas tree with the new tiger, monkey, and Humpty Dumpty toys he received as gifts in 1956.

See also a cropped version of the snapshot.

Two Girls and One Doll (Detail)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 27 May 2024 03:34:00 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

This detail from a real photo postcard by photographer C. C. Kuhn shows a doll and the way Kuhn added his name and a number to the photo.

For more information, see the full version of the photo.

Two Girls and One Doll (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 27 May 2024 03:34:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A real photo postcard of two girls and a doll taken by photographer C. C. Kuhn.

For more information, see the full version of the photo.

Two Girls and One Doll

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 27 May 2024 03:34:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of holding a doll.

Notation on photo: "C. C. Kuhn. Photo.#716."

A photo of two girls -- one standing and one seated -- posed on a piece of carpet among some shrubbery and potted plants. C. C. Kuhn (Carl C. Kuhn, 1888-1948) was a well-known photographer who lived in Cashtown, Adams County, Pennsylvania, at the time he took this photo.

This is an unused real photo postcard with an Azo stamp box design (four corner triangles pointing up) on the other side, which suggests a date that may be as early as 1904 to 1918.

For a closer view of the girls and the doll, see a cropped version of the photo. For a close-up of the doll and Kuhn's name on the photo, see an even smaller detail.

Boy with Strunk's Studio Horse, Reading, Pennsylvania

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 03:59:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of rocking horse.

On the other side of this real photo postcard is an Azo stamp box (with four corner triangles pointing up) that indicates that the photo may date to sometime between 1904 and 1918. The back of the card also gives its origin: "Strunk's Studio, 750 Penn St., Reading, Pa."

At first glance the boy in the photo appears to be posing with a rocking horse, but a closer examination reveals that the horse's legs are attached to a wooden platform. It may be the same toy horse mounted on wheels that appears in other Strunk photos. See, for instance, a cabinet card with Roy Peiffer on Strunk's Studio Horse, Reading, Pennsylvania.

The Girl Was Smiling But Her Doll Was Not

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 23:45:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of toys or gifts.

A Christmas photo of a girl, who is smiling and seems happy, and her doll, who is rigid and tense -- and seems a little scary!

Before you cautiously back up and quietly exit the house, take note of the metallic Christmas tree, the granny square afghan on the chair, and the girl's striped shirt and Santa pin.

For another potentially scary situation, see The Doll Waited Patiently for Them to Come Home.

Five Girls with Dolls (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 30 May 2022 03:54:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A real photo postcard of five girls holding dolls. For more information, see the full version of this photo.

Five Girls with Dolls

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 30 May 2022 03:54:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of side by side.

Five girls with dolls stand side by side as they pose for a photo. The girl on the right seems to be smiling and is looking toward the camera, but the other four have glum expressions with downcast eyes (see a cropped version of the photo for a better view of their faces).

Are the four glum girls annoyed at having their picture taken? Is the smiling girl happy with her doll and are the others disappointed with theirs for some reason? It's difficult to tell what's going on.

This is an unused real photo postcard with an Azo stamp box design (four corner triangles pointing up) on the other side, which indicates a date that may be as early as 1904 to 1918.

Cowboy Kid Riding a Mustang, Christmas 1969

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 03:17:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of cowboys and/or cowgirls.

In this photo dated "Jan. 70," a young boy is wearing a cowboy hat and holster as he rides "Marvel the Mustang," a Marx toy advertised as "The Real Galloping Horse" (see Marvel the Galloping Mustang on the Virtual Marx Museum for more information).

Notice the TV set with rabbit-ears antenna on the left, the decorated Christmas tree behind the boy, and the boxes stacked on the chair on the right. The boxes include one for a Tonka toy car carrier and another for a "Reflection 3 Pc. Chip 'n' Dip Set."

For a cowgirl with her toy horse, see Riding Toward the Sun: Dale Evans and Buttermilk.

Guys with Their Dolls

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 04:55:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo of dolls for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Handwritten note on the other side of this small snapshot (circa 1950, possibly from Columbia County, Pa.): "Charlie Coates (left). Ed Sharretts (right). Madge dressed Charlie & I dressed Ed. Ed got [a] prize for being the cutest."

Not to be confused with Guys and Dolls.

A Signal from Mars? (Woman with Sheet Music)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 00:20:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A woman poses for a photo and pretends to sing as she holds the sheet music for A Signal from Mars: March and Two Step.

For more information, see another detail from the same photo along with the original version.

A Signal from Mars? (Lassoing a Toy Horse)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 00:20:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The rope of a lasso surrounds a tiny toy horse.

For more information, see another detail from the same photo along with the original version.

A Signal from Mars?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 00:20:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of over the shoulder (something or somebody).

Everyone in this puzzling photo is holding something. The man on the left is holding a cane over his shoulder, and the second man has a rope wrapped around his left hand. Both men are watching the woman in the middle, who's holding sheet music and singing. The woman on the right, who's seated in a chair, is holding a lute and is playing it to accompany the woman who's singing. The woman standing beside the singer and both of the men are all holding rolled-up papers of some sort.

A closer look at the photo reveals some curious details. First, the sheet music that the woman is holding is entitled A Signal from Mars: March and Two Step, which was published in 1901 (hear a piano version on YouTube). Since the piece is an instrumental "march and two step" without any lyrics, why is the woman pretending to use it as she's singing?

Secondly, the rope that the second man is holding extends down to the floor where it's coiled around a small horse pull toy. Why did the man lasso a tiny toy horse?

I don't have any answers for the questions that this photo poses. Although the painted backdrop and patterned floor covering suggest that this picture was taken in a photo studio, I wonder if this might be a scene from a theatrical production. There was a popular comedic play with a similar title—A Message from Mars—that toured the United States between 1903 and 1905. As far as I can determine, however, A Message from Mars was not a musical, and there was no connection to the sheet music for A Signal from Mars.

Easter Sun Day (Full Version)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:06:00 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For more information, see the cropped version of this snapshot.

Easter Sun Day

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:06:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of messy (pics of mud covered children, birthday cake on the face, etc.).

Squinting in the bright sunlight, a cute little tyke sits among the carefully arranged messiness of an Easter photo op.

See also the full version of this undated snapshot.