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

Mennonite Couple Arm in Arm on a Farm (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 02:42:02 +0000

A Mennonite couple standing arm in arm. For more information, see the full version of this photo.

Mennonite Couple Arm in Arm on a Farm

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 02:42:04 +0000

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of arm in arm.

A Mennonite couple -- notice the woman's plain dress -- stand arm in arm in front of a picket fence as they pose for this photo, which I purchased in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Two farm buildings are partially visible in the background. On the right-hand side is a barn with a ramp leading to its second level, which is a typical feature of barns in Lancaster County. The building on the left-hand side may be a tobacco barn, which is also commonly found on farms in the area.

See a cropped version of the photo for a better view of the couple.

A Thanksgiving Greeting from the United States Capitol

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 22:58:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A couple of turkeys arrive at (or depart from?) the United States Capitol Building, Washington, D.C., in this illustration from a Thanksgiving postcard dated 1910.

The postcard is addressed on the other side to "Mrs. Geo Hamlin, 9 Dean[e] St., Portland, Me.," and postmarked in New York City on November 23, 1910.

Handwritten message: "Rena & Geo out for a ride. Best love to both of you & hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. Kitty."

Rena (1882-1974) and George Hamlin (1882-1958) were both twenty-eight years old and had been married for about three years when they received this postcard. It's possible that Kitty, the sender of the card, was Catherine Lewis, Rena's mother.

For some other turkey motorists, see Thanksgiving Day Fugitives and A Wingless Steed Will Take the Winner to a Fine Thanksgiving Dinner.

Happy New Year Airship

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

Alan Mays has posted:

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.

Sophomore Barn Party Ticket, East Petersburg, October 27, 1920

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 03:10:42 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

David Bachman Landis of Landis Art Press (formerly Pluck Art Printery) printed this Halloween party ticket for the sophomore class of a local high school or college. Perhaps it was for students at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and they may have taken the special 7:00 p.m. streetcar from Lancaster to East Petersburg, which is located about six miles away. Or possibly it was for a group in East Petersburg itself.

Compare this ticket with two others that Landis that printed, one for a dance held two days later--Hell'o'een Masked Dance Ticket, Lancaster, Pa., October 29, 1920--and another for a dance that took place two years later--Black Cat Dance Ticket, Lancaster, Pa., October 27, 1922.

Soph. Barn Party

East Petersburg, October 27, 1920.

Special car leaves square 7:00 p.m.

Price per couple, $.150 [$1.50?].

Smooching in the Yard

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 03:36:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A kissing photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park topic of knitting, fishing, and kissing (photos of people who are knitting, fishing, or kissing; post examples of all three if you have them.).

A real photo postcard of a guy and a gal hugging and kissing at an awkward angle out in the yard (is that a kid's toy wagon they're sitting on?). And judging by the tilt of the picture, the photographer evidently had a slanted view of the couple's relationship.

Submarine Chaser

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 21:30:02 +0000

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"U.S. of America Submarine Chaser."

A "submarine chaser" is "a small and fast naval vessel that is specifically intended for anti-submarine warfare," according to Wikipedia.

I'm not sure where this sub chaser was docked or when these two couples reported for duty aboard the ship, but perhaps they were chasing an F-6 submarine.

Lovey-Dovey Couple in Boat

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 03:55:58 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo of people exchanging "a look" that the photographer has captured perfectly for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Never mind that it's a fake look in a fake boat—the photographer who created this real photo postcard has captured a studio scene of a man and women looking into each other's eyes and pretending to be in love. I just hope that the swan got out of the way before it got caught in the wake of the speeding boat!

Did You Know That Eleven and Twelve Make 23?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 04:20:12 +0000

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"What time is it down there?" "Just eleven." "It's twelve up here—you know eleven and twelve make 23." Handwritten: "Did this ever occur to you?"

So what does the mother mean by yelling "eleven and twelve make 23" down at the couple hanging out on the hammock in the front yard at midnight?

To understand the humor of this postcard from 1909, it helps to know that a fad about the meaning of the number "23" became wildly popular in the United States in the early twentieth century. Beginning around 1906 or 1907, "23"—along with "23 skidoo"—came to be used as a shorthand way of telling someone to "scram," "beat it," or "get lost," usually with a humorous or joking connotation.

Referring to "23" in unexpected ways—as on this postcard or on a valentine—and even placing "23" in surprising places (like on the front of a painted automobile prop in a novelty photo) was a humorous way to let others in on the joke.

So it's obvious that mom is keeping tabs on her daughter as she watches the couple from the second-floor window. And her reference to "23" makes it clear (to those in the know, at least) that she wants the guy to skedaddle.

Postmark, address, and handwritten note on the other side of this postcard:

Omaha & Ogden R.P.O. [railway post office], Apr 1, 1909.

Miss Hazle Hainline, Grand Island, Neb., 222 W. 6th St.

Hello Girlie, wish I could have had the pleasure to set and hear you sing and play tonight. How is mama and dad. Tonight is the first I have eaten since I left your place. Haven't been hungry. Mora.

113 Pub. by Keller Bros., Portland, Or.

How We Pass the Time at Pittsburgh, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 02:41:25 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

One in a series of amusing "How We Pass the Time" postcards published in the early twentieth century. This noon-time example is postmarked 1911, and it illustrates how "Pittsburgh" has been spelled with and without a final "h" at different times.

How We Pass the Time at Pittsburg
A stroll at noon, a quiet spoon,
The time it passes all too soon.

Advice to the Lovelorn–Give Him Plenty of Encouragement

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 10 May 2017 16:16:48 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Advice to the Lovelorn. If he is bashful, I would advise you to give him plenty of encouragement. Put your arms around me–so! Oo-oo, I don't like ter! August Hutaf. P.C.K. 1908."

One in a series of humorous "Advice to the Lovelorn" postcards by illustrator August Hutaf (1874-1942). For more of his work, see Advice to Vacationists–Take the Children with You (below) and my other Hutaf postcards.

The Biggest Couple with the Greatest Show on Earth

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 19:49:32 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the topic of bring on the clowns or any other circus performer.

"Greetings from the Biggest Couple with the Greatest Show on Earth. Fischer. A-132. Campbell's Photo Art, Dayton. Ohio."

Mr. and Mrs. Fischer were billed as the "world's tallest married couple" when they appeared with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus ("The Greatest Show on Earth"). Head over to The Tallest Man Web site to see postcards and other memorabilia on separate pages for Gottlieb Fischer and Elfriede Fischer.

Halloween Chestnuts—Uncertainly, Hope, Despair, Happy Ever After

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 18:40:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Hallowe'en. Uncertainly. Hope. Despair. Happy ever after. Ellen H. Clapsaddle. Int. Art Pub. Co. 1909."

In a Halloween posting about Pumpkins and Postcards and Portents–Oh My!, Mikaela Taylor of Middlebury College explains that the illustration on this postcard reflects a Halloween custom that involved throwing chestnuts in a fire:

"Anthropomorphized nuts, paired off with the titles 'Uncertainty,' 'Hope,' 'Despair,' and 'Happy Ever After,' represent the practice of interpreting the behavior of chestnuts in a fire. Those participating would assign two chestnuts to a couple and observe whether the chestnuts burned together, jumped apart in the flame, crackled loudly, or came together. A couple was said to live a long happy life together if their corresponding chestnuts burned brightly and quietly next to each other, or their relationship would end in disaster if they crackled contentiously and popped in different directions."

Decoration Day: The Story of the Flag

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 27 May 2016 18:40:28 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Decoration Day. Story of the Flag. C. Bunnell."

This 1908 postcard for Decoration Day (now called Memorial Day, of course) is unusual for its humorous take on the holiday. The illustration of a couple kissing behind a flag is quite a contrast to the depictions of monuments, gravesites, and soldiers that typically appeared on Memorial Day postcards in the early twentieth century.

Grand Social Banquet Ticket, Nashua, N.H., March 15, 1860

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:23:38 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Grand Social Banquet at the Central House, City of Nashua, N.H., on Thursday, March 15, 1860. Cards of admission, two dollars. Tickets, $2.00. 18155."

The Haunted Lovers

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 15:19:53 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A trick or treat photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Although my copy of this stereoscopic card doesn't include any publication information, versions posted on Flickr are titled "The Haunted Lovers" and were published by Littleton View Company in 1893 (see Photo_History's The Haunted Lovers Stereo Card and depthandtime's The Haunted Lovers).

For the full stereoview card, see The Haunted Lovers (Stereoscopic Card):

The Haunted Lovers (Stereoscopic Card)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 15:19:51 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For information about this stereoscopic card, see The Haunted Lovers:

Remember That Day, Jefferson Rock, Harpers Ferry, W.Va.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 15:07:42 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A tattered & torn (or otherwise damaged) photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Handwritten caption: "Remember that day."

Handwritten note on the back: "Isn't this sweet. Give me one in the place of this."

An undated and well-worn photo taken at Jefferson Rock, which overlooks the town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. According to Wikipedia, "The name of this landmark derives from Thomas Jefferson, who stood there on October 25, 1783. He found the view from the rock impressive and wrote in Notes on the State of Virginia that 'this scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.'"

Note that the silhouette of someone's head and shoulders is visible in the background between two of the pillars that hold the top slab of the rock in place.

Here's a 2009 view of the rock taken from a similar vantage point:

Honk! If You Think We're Nuts

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 20:38:23 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A 1970s photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

In the original scan of this photo, the Pennsylvania license plate on the back of the truck looks like it has a "74" or "75" sticker in one corner, so I'm reasonably sure that it dates to the 1970s.

I'll Eat Oranges for You—You Throw Snowballs for Me (Full Version)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 16:07:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"I'll eat oranges for you—you throw snowballs for me."

Embossed studio name and address: "Flag Studio, 25 E. Colo. St., Pasadena."

See also a cropped version of this real photo postcard: