Photos, videos and docs of Alan Mays, with the keywords: "1930s"

Emily and George Sexsmith, Westlake Park, Los Angeles, California, ca. 1930s

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 04:59:04 +0000

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of hand colored.

Handwritten caption on the other side of this photo: "Emily and George Sexsmith, Echo Park (McArthur Park), Los Angeles (about 1930)."

This is a hand-colored photo of Emily (Dippel) Sexsmith (1911-2006) and George Sexsmith (1908-1991) in a canoe, circa 1930. The handwritten caption on the other side of the photo notes the setting as "Echo Park" with "McArthur Park" in parentheses, but it's likely that it's really Westlake Park, which in 1942 was renamed MacArthur Park (not "McArthur," as misspelled in the caption). The park was also the subject of Jimmy Webb's popular song, "MacArthur Park," recorded in 1968 by Richard Harris.

Juniata River Near Amity Hall, Perry County, Pennsylvania, ca. 1930s

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 04:24:12 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of the long and winding road (road photos, winding or otherwise).

Caption: "The Juniata Near Amity Hall. 9."

This is a real photo postcard with a scenic view of the Juniata River in Perry County, Pennsylvania. The road in the photo is now US 22/US 322 (U.S. Route 22 concurrent with U.S. Route 322). The location is near Amity Hall, which refers to a landmark inn that closed in the 1980s, suffered a fire in 2009, and has since been torn down.

The tire cover on the back of the automobile parked along the road says, "See Bob" and "Auto Supplies." The license plate on the car is 69M52, and I believe it's a Pennsylvania plate. Unfortunately, I was unable to make out the year, which appeared on license plates at the time the photo was taken.

On the other side of the card is an Azo stamp box (squares in each of the four corners), which indicates that the photo likely dates to sometime between the 1920s and the 1940s. There's no message, address, stamp, or postmark on this card, but other copies that I spotted online had postmarks dating to 1935 and 1939.

Birthday Outing to the Triberg Waterfalls, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, September 12, 1936

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 01:54:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of waterfalls.

Handwritten note on the other side of this real photo postcard: "Von meinem Geburtstagsausflug an die Triberger Wasserfälle, 12. Sept. 1936." (Translation: "From my birthday outing to the Triberg Waterfalls, 12 Sept. 1936.")

The names of "Mr. & Mrs. Vogal, Pforzheim, Germany" are written in a different hand where an address would go. There's no stamp or postmark, however, so I wonder if the Vogals are the couple in the photo.

As Wikipedia explains, the Triberg Waterfalls "are waterfalls near Triberg in the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg (Germany). With a descent of 163 m, it is one of the highest waterfalls in Germany and a landmark in the Black Forest region."

Search for Triberger Wasserfälle to see other Ipernity photos of the falls.

For another souvenir photo from a different waterfall, see Frances and Ned at Leura Falls, New South Wales, Australia, March 15, 1914.

Jack's Halloween Costume, 1933

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 17:14:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of tricks or treats! (any kind of Halloween photo, including costumes, masks, jack-o'-lanterns, decorations, ghosts, skeletons, haunted houses, or anything spooky, scary, or frightening; no limit—post as many Halloween photos as you'd like!).

Handwritten caption in green ink, lower right-hand corner: "Jack - Hallow-Eve - 1933."

A real photo postcard showing "Jack" -- usually a man's name -- dressed as a woman for Halloween in 1933.

The photo was previously pasted in an album and has remnants of paper and glue on the other side. The photographic paper used for the postcard backing has an Azo stamp box (squares in all four corners, in use from 1924 to 1949).

Bird's-Eye View of Loon Lake and Freedom, N.H., ca. 1934

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 23:54:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

(I'm finally caught up on the Vintage Photos Theme Park postings I missed while Ipernity was offline.)

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

"Birds Eye View, Loon Lake and Freedom, N.H. 9."

This area was the setting for the intriguing story of the mysterious House on Loon Lake, profiled in an episode of This American Life radio show (take a look at the assortment of ephemera found at the house, which includes an acquaintance card similar to the ones in my album).

This is a real photo postcard addressed on the other side to Mrs. Bruce Mather, Benton, Penna., and postmarked in Kezar Falls, Maine, on August 24, 1934.

Handwritten message: "Howdy Darl, Here is where we are getting all our swimming exercise. We climbed Mt. Chocorua yesterday, We made it to return on Thursday from the White Mountains. On Monday morning we leave for Boston. Will be seeing you soon. Rhoda."

Printed on the other side: "Photograph Post Card from Studio of Eastern Illustrating Co., Belfast, ME."

Season's Greetings from the Dé Lardis, 1938

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 02:15:04 +0000

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"The Dé Lardis. 1938 Season's Greetings."

Photographer Alfred A. Dé Lardi (1900-1993) created this small but unique greeting card that superimposed photos of himself, his wife Dorothy, and his daughters Janice and Yvonne onto individual playing cards (plus there's an extra card that doesn't have a photo). Since there's a total of three queens and two kings (three of a kind and a pair), I think he was suggesting that there was a "full house" at the Dé Lardi residence in 1938!

Alfred Dé Lardi was a well-known photographer who worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, Holiday magazine, and various companies, including the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Philadelphia Electric Company.

He taught photography courses at a number of schools and colleges in the Philadelphia area, and he also authored or edited a number of books on photography, such as Let's Make a Portrait (1937), Your Child's Portrait (1937), and Ships and Water (1938).

A collection of Dé Lardi's works was held by the Philadelphia History Museum, and a finding aid, Alfred A. Dé Lardi Negatives and Photographs, circa 1929-1964, was formerly available through the University of Pennsylvania Libraries (unfortunately, the Philadelphia History Museum closed in 2018, but there are plans underway to transfer its collections to Drexel University).

I'd like to acknowledge Gary Discavage, a dealer at Apple Hill Antiques in State College, Pa., who graciously gave me this photographic greeting card. Gary originally received the card from Alfred Dé Lardi, who was his friend and neighbor when he lived in Philadelphia. Thanks, Gary!

Who Was That Masked Man?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 03:52:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of Halloween (costumes, masks, jack-o'-lanterns, decorations, ghosts, gravestones, or anything else spooky or scary; no limit—post as many Halloween photos as you'd like).

A photo of a man (or possibly a woman) wearing a grotesque mask, overalls, suit jacket, gloves, neckerchief, and straw hat. He's carrying a cane in one hand and a package wrapped in newspapers in the other.

Could this be a Halloween costume? If so, is he dressed as a farmer? Or do the cane and package suggest a stick-type bindle characteristic of a hobo?

This is an unused real photo postcard with an AGFA-ANSCO stamp box on the other side, which indicates that it may date to the 1930s or 1940s.

A couple of other details point to a specific locale. First, under magnification, the heading on part of the bundled up newspapers says, "New Era," so it's possible that it was the Lancaster New Era, a paper published in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Secondly, a pouch of "Good Bite" chewing tobacco with a fish logo is sticking out of the breast pocket on the man's suit jacket. The Good Bite brand of chewing tobacco originated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

For some other disconcerting masks, see Costume Creepiness.

Montour Park Fall Opening—Third Annual Corn Roast and Dance, Danville, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 23:52:02 +0000

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A cardboard poster from Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania, that dates to the 1920s or 1930s (September 12, 19, and 26 fell on Saturdays in 1925, 1931, and 1936).

For a similar poster from the same town, see Eddie Gilligan and His Cosmopolitan Orchestra, Riverside Park, Danville, Pa., Sept. 14, 1925.

Montour Park Fall Opening

Third Annual Corn Roast and Dance
Saturday, Sept. 12

Saturday, Sept. 19
Pfeiffer's Imperials

Saturday, Sept. 26
Alexander's Orchestra, with a Charleston Contest.

Vacation Bible School, St. John's Lutheran Church, Slatington, Pa., July 1, 1936 (Detail)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 03:47:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A detail from a photo of the participants in a vacation Bible school at St. John's Lutheran Church in Slatington, Pennsylvania, in 1936.The children in the top half of the image look like giants compared to the ones in the lower half, which makes it obvious that this is a montage of two or more different photos.

For the full real photo postcard, see Vacation Bible School, St. John's Lutheran Church, Slatington, Pa., July 1, 1936.

Vacation Bible School, St. John's Lutheran Church, Slatington, Pa., July 1, 1936

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 03:47:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A religious photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

"St. John's Lutheran Church, 12th Daily Vacation Bible School, 7-1-36, Slatington, Pa."

A real photo postcard of the children and adults who participated in a vacation Bible school at St. John's Lutheran Church in Slatington, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1936. It wasn't until I attempted to count the number of people in the photo—there are about 215—that I realized that this is a montage combining two or more images. A close-up of part of the photo makes the montage obvious.

Uncle Sam, Sunbury, Pa., 1931 (Detail)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 03:12:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Who was that masked man? Why, Uncle Sam, of course, though his appearance here was for Halloween rather than the expected Fourth of July holiday.

You may also want to take a gander at the full photo.

Uncle Sam, Sunbury, Pa., 1931

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 03:12:04 +0000

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Uncle Sam makes a holiday appearance for—the Fourth of July?

Nope, it was a prize-winning Halloween costume in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, on October 31, 1931.

A handwritten note on the back of this snapshot describes the scene as "Uncle Sam in full costume, Oct-31-1931. Best masked person at Sunbury street frolic. Grand champion premium of $1.50."

You can take a closer look at that champion mask, or check out a different Uncle Sam from Michigan.

Spelling Bee Ticket, Camp Grove School, November 27, 1931

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 03:55:04 +0000

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Camp Grove School was located near Bownstown in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The ticket was printed by Landis Art Press, Lancaster, Pa.

Spelling Bee

Camp Grove School, November 27, 1931.

7:30 o'clock. Admission 15c.

Merry Christmas Anyway

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 04:11:02 +0000

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The illustration on this Christmas card from 1930 is a reference to the stock market crash that devastated the economy the previous year and signaled the beginning of the Great Depression. We see ticker tape spewing out of a stock ticker machine as brokers run around in the background trying to place buy or sell orders for stocks as the chaos of the crash unfolds. Despite the volatility of the market, the card's message is to have a "Merry Christmas anyway."

"The Bulls and Bears may have their day / But Merry Christmas, anyway. Your son, Ross."

"You can take stock in this greeting."

Handwritten date on the back of the card: "Dec. 15, 1930."

A Thanksgiving Wish—A Harvest without Measure

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 06:23:10 +0000

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A Thanksgiving greeting card with Art Deco design and color, dating to the late 1920s or early 1930s.

A Thanksgiving Wish

May this Thanksgiving bring to you
A harvest without measure:
Good cheer and joy and friendships true
And every kind of pleasure!

Stoverdale Camp, Season Meal Ticket, 1932

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 04:54:14 +0000

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"Stoverdale Camp. Season Ticket (Whole). M________. Not transferable. Present ticket at each meal."

A meal ticket dated 1932 by the dealer I bought it from. This was evidently printed for use at the Stoverdale Camp Meeting grounds that were located near Hummelstown in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

For more examples of meal tickets, see Wallace Hotel Meal Ticket, Harrisburg, Pa., The Lee House Meal Ticket, and Meal Ticket Good Only at Circle Bar, Reading, Pa. (below).

A Happy Thanksgiving with Ice Cream

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 02:32:56 +0000

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This Thanksgiving greeting card with an Art Deco-y design from the 1920s is also an advertisement for the Carry Ice Cream Company, which manufactured Carry's Frozen Pudding Ice Cream and other treats in Washington, D.C.

A Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is such a happy time. Guests arrive—the joyful greetings—jest and laughter—the Thanksgiving dinner. When all are lingering over the bountiful repast, surprise them with Carry's Frozen Pudding Ice Cream. It's so delicious and adds the delightful finishing touch every hostess desires.

Purest cream, nuts, fruits, and flavors are mingled to produce a characteristic Carry confection. Just the thing for luncheons, late suppers, and other social affairs. At all Carry dealers—or phone Lincoln 5900. Please place your orders early for prompt service.

Truckload of Copper River Salmon, Cordova, Alaska, 1937

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 21:47:38 +0000

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Caption at bottom (difficult to see): "179. Copper River Salmon, Cordova, Alaska. Photocraft."

Sign on building: "Northern Meat [Market]."

Addressed on the other side to Bob Bern, Seward, Alaska, and postmarked Cordova, Alaska, Sep. 30, 1937.

Message: "Dear Bob, How is everybody in Seward? Cordova ain't so bad, but I haven't met any girls yet. We are about a half a mile from town so I go every day. Write some time and let me know how you are. Vic Hughes, c/o Wright & Stock, Cordova, Alaska."

Gas on Stomach for 20 Years

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 22:32:57 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Gas on Stomach for 20 Years. Exercies to help constipation (page 8). What to eat (page 12)."

Constipated? Bloated? Nauseated by ads that discuss such topics? Then this small 1930s advertising booklet is for you! It discusses the benefits of Adlerika, a patent medicine that contained Epson salts and other ingredients with laxative properties.

Do you suffer from other afflictions that you'd rather not discuss in mixed company? Then you only have to flip this reversible booklet over to read about the vitality of Vinol (see the cover on the other side below).

No Man Loves a Tired Nervous Woman!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 22:32:59 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"No Man Loves a Tired Nervous Woman! Nor does a woman love a pepless man. How to get friends (page 9). How to hold your husband's love (page 12)."

Are you tired, nervous, or--ahem!--pepless? If so, then you would surely benefit from reading this small 1930s advertising booklet. It extols the virtues of Vinol, a patent medicine that contained ingredients such as cod liver oil and beef peptones, plus alcohol (as much as 15 percent).

Do you suffer from other unpleasant afflictions instead? Then you merely need to flip over this reversible booklet (similar to an upside-down book or a tête-bêche binding) to read about the wonders of Adlerika (see the cover on the other side below).