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

Souvenir Photo of Man and Woman at the Wawona Tree

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 03:30:02 +0000

A photo of people in or by distinctive trees for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

A man and woman pose with their automobile at the Wawona Tree, a giant sequoia in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California. The sign on the left says, "Wawona, diameter 26 feet, height 227 feet, roadway cut in 1875" (Wikipedia, however, indicates that 1881 was when the opening was cut through the tree).

The Wawona Tree fell to the ground in 1969 after a heavy snowfall. It was about 2,300 years old.

Goofy Guys Backwards and Frontwards (Fronts)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 03:53:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Three funny fellows pose facing the camera in this photograph. See also another photo with the same fellows with their backs to the camera. For more information, see the original real photo postcard, which incudes both pictures.

Goofy Guys Backwards and Frontwards (Backs)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 03:53:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Three funny fellows pose with their backs to the camera in this photograph. See also another photo with the same fellows facing the camera. For more information, see the original real photo postcard, which incudes both pictures.

Goofy Guys Backwards and Frontwards

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 03:53:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of Rückenfigur or "back to camera" - any photo in which one or more of the subjects have their backs fully or partially facing the camera.

On this real photo postcard, which combines two separate photographs, three funny fellows pose twice, first with their backs to the camera and then a second time as they face the camera. The three are sitting on a board or plank that extends between two chairs. In the first photo, all of them have bowler hats on their heads, and the guy in the middle has what looks like a picture frame hanging over his shoulder and down over his back. A stool and a wooden box with a handle are visible on the floor in front of them. The wall behind the men is partially covered by a painted backdrop, so presumably they're having their picture taken in a photo studio, though no studio name appears on the front or back of the card.

In the second photo, the guys seem even goofier as they face forward with funny expressions. The man on the left has a mischievous look on his face, and he's holding a small kettle with the handle of a spoon or some other utensil sticking out of the top. The guy in the middle has opened his mouth as if he's laughing or yelling. The bowler on his head is jauntily tilted to the side, and his right hand is blurred -- was he pumping his fist or gesturing toward the basket that he's holding in his lap? And what's in the basket? The third man is grinning, probably because instead of a hat he's wearing something on his head that looks like a lampshade with ruffles. He has his arms wrapped around himself as if he's cold, and he's holding a pitcher under one arm.

The undivided back (for an address only) on the other side of this real photo postcard indicates that it dates before 1907 (when both an address and a message were allowed on the verso), and the Cyko stamp box design (in use as early as 1904) printed on the back also fits this time frame.

Archers on the Woodpile

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 04:24:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of odd, unusual, or quirky.

Trick photos with double exposures usually involve typical scenes with props like wheelbarrows (see A Man Simultaneously Pushing and Riding a Wheelbarrow) or playing cards (Aunt Maggie's Trick Shot). The setting for this one, however, is rather unusual.

A huge pile of firewood dominates the scene. On the left, two boys stand at the bottom of the woodpile. Partially visible behind them is a farm wagon and beyond the wagon are some trees. Both boys are looking toward the photographer. One of them is pointing toward the top of the pile and wielding a piece of wood as if he intends to use it as a weapon. The other boy is about to start climbing up the pile.

On the right, standing at the top of the woodpile are the same two boys. They're both drawing bows as if they're about to shoot arrows, but neither of them has an arrow.

So, it appears that the storyline is that the boys are about to climb the woodpile to stop themselves from shooting arrows as they stand on top of the pile. Or at least that's all I can make of it.

Grandma and Grandpa Take the Cake

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 19:46:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of grandma and grandpa (grandparent(s) featured in a family photo).

A grandmother and grandfather hold a two-tiered cake as they pose for a photo with their grandson. All three of them are wearing flowers in their coat and jacket lapels.

The presence of the cake and flowers makes me wonder if the grandparents are celebrating a special wedding anniversary. Given how the cake is tilted, I just hope that it didn't slide off onto the grandson's head!

Happy New Year Airship

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 04:46:04 +0000

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An early twentieth-century postcard depicting a couple aloft in an airship as they celebrate the new year by scattering gold coins and red hearts across the countryside.

Christmas Greeting, Edward Ridley & Sons Department Store, New York City, 1880

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 16:45:02 +0000

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Edward Ridley & Sons, a New York City department store, printed this trade card for customers during the holiday season in 1880, and the store also took out newspaper ads to offer its "annual greeting."

The other side of the trade card is a wintertime illustration of a little girl holding some toys as she stands in the snow. This side (above) features the store's Christmas greeting:

32nd Annual Greeting

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Toys, Dolls, and Holiday Presents.

Edw. Ridley & Sons

309, 311, 311½ Grand St.
59 Orchard St.
58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 Allen St.

New York

The following excerpt from the store's advertisement in the New York Herald on December 5, 1880, provides additional details about its holiday sales:

Thirty-second Annual Greeting

Santa Claus' New Building. Opening Monday, December 6.

First Floor—Endless variety toys, dolls, hobby horses. Also china, glass ware, &c.

Second Floor--Work boxes, writing desks, Japanese varieties, &c., &c.

Tuesday, December 7. Third Floor—Dolls, dolls, dolls. And everything belonging to a doll.

Fourth Floor—Wednesday, December 8. Will contain toys of the very finest description….

Our new building gives 23,000 square feet. All devoted to toys. Come and see the toys and our methods.

Worsted embroideries, slipper patterns, brackets, &c. Photo and auto[graph] albums, in plush, Russia[n] leather and French calf bindings.

Handsome jewel and combination cases, pocketbooks, cigar cases, &c.

Prices below every other house—we warrant.

Girl with Toys in Snow—Christmas Trade Card for Edward Ridley & Sons, 1880

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 16:45:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

This is the front of a Victorian-era trade card advertising a New York store (for the other side, see Christmas Greeting, Edward Ridley & Sons Department Store, New York City, 1880).

I'm not sure why this wide-eyed little girl is taking all those toys with her out into the snow. She's dressed for the winter weather, however, and is even holding her hands—and her doll—in a muff to keep them warm.

Season's Greetings, 1949—From Our House to Your House

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 16:56:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of boots (high button boots, rain boots, farm boots, etc.).

"Season's Greetings, 1949. From Our House to Your House."

A young girl, who's decked out in winter clothes and boots, poses with Santa Claus (or a reasonable facsimile), who's also wearing boots.

The girl posed with Santa again in 1950 for another photographic Christmas card. See Season's Greetings, 1950.

Woman in Fur Coat

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 16:15:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of all dressed up and nowhere to go (fashionably dressed women and men).

A real photo postcard of a woman in a long fur coat who's standing in front of a painted backdrop. The AZO stamp box on the back of the photo suggests a possible date as early as 1922 to 1926, but "4-47" appears as part of the notation at the bottom of the image (it's difficult to read because the writing is upside down and backwards). Could this date to the 1940s rather than the 1920s?

A Happy New Year (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 06:48:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

A Happy New Year

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 06:48:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A real photo postcard with a CYKO stamp box on the back that suggests a date between the 1900s and 1920s. The fellow in the photo doesn't seem to be too happy about the New Year.

Two Santa Clauses in Naples, Italy, January 1, 1962

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 15:32:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Second of two in a series of two or more photos that tell a story (number them, if appropriate) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "Naples, January 1, 1962."

Janet, Kit, and George Buck pose with two Santa Clauses in Naples, Italy, on New Year's Day in 1962. These two Santas, with their masks, slightly different clothing, and one holding a cane, seem to me to be rather mismatched and maybe even a bit creepy, but Kit is smiling broadly and looks happy.

Janet and Kit previously had their picture taken with a giant Santa in Athens, Greece, on or before December 30, 1961.

Based on the note that Janet wrote on the back of that first photo, the family was continuing to travel and expected to arrive in Germany by January 6, 1962. These two photos provide a glimpse into what must have been a busy and fun-filled European trip.

If He Gets No Puncture—Kreider Shoe Manufacturing Company, Elizabethtown, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 04:23:05 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A humorous "advance card" for the A. S. Kreider Shoe Manufacturing Company in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Salesmen from the company sent postcards like this in advance of their trips to let store owners know when they planned to visit.

The salesman depicted here is wearing his motoring clothes—goggles, cap, and coat—as he steers his shoe-shaped automobile through the dusty streets. His "A. S. K. Shoe Co." case of sample shoes is safely stowed on the running board.

The Kreider Shoe Manufacturing Company is no longer in business. Its former factory buildings in Middletown (below) and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, now contain apartments.

For other salesmen postcards, see my album of Advance Cards.

If He Gets No Puncture

Our Mr. ________ will be at your store on or about ________.

The Kreider Shoe Mfg, Co., Elizabethtown, Pa.

Boys', youths', and little gents' McKay sewed and Goodyear welts.

A. S. K. Shoe Co.

Mirror Photo of a Little Girl Standing on a Chair

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 05:14:22 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Spanish real photo postcard showing a mirror photo of a little girl standing on a chair. It's dated 1919 on the other side.

For more like this, see my Mirror Photos album.

Bringing in the Corn

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 03:35:42 +0000

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A photo of horses, carriages, or wagons for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Handwritten note on the back: "I think [this was] taken at Guthrie farm." The AZO stamp box on the other side suggests a possible date as early as 1904 to 1918.

This young fellow has placed his jacket on the ground to strike a jaunty pose in front of a wagon containing a bumper load of corn.

Easter Bunny and Boy, 1956

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 15:18:36 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Polaroid photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Run, Johnny, there's a big bunny behind you!

For a similar photo, see A Visit with the Easter Bunny:

The Ghosts of Easter Past

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 05:03:18 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park for the topics of spirit photography / ghostly images / haunted houses (post up to 3 images on any combination of these themes).

Ghostly images of semitransparent kids and a grinning bunny make for a haunting scene in this undated snapshot.

High Water Mark Monument, Gettysburg, Pa., December 2, 1906

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 20:22:25 +0000

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Handwritten message on the front of this real photo postcard (see writing at right, above): "High Water Mark. 12/2/06. This was all done today. What do you think of that grin? The fellow tried to take the picture without exposing the plate and we were trying to keep from laughing."

The giant book behind the two men is part of the High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument, which is, as Wikipedia explains, "a Gettysburg Battlefield memorial which identifies the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia units of the infantry attack on the Battle of Gettysburg, third day, with a large bronze tablet, as well as the Union Army of the Potomac's 'respective troops who met or assisted to repulse Longstreet's Assault.' The memorial is named for the line of dead and wounded of Pickett's Charge which marked the deepest penetration into the Union line at The Angle when '4,500 men threw down their arms and came in as prisoners.'"

For later views of the monument, see Bicyclists at the High Water Mark Monument, Gettysburg, Pa., 1912 and High Water Mark Monument, Gettysburg, Pa., August 8, 2013 (below).