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

Thanksgiving Feast with Phonograph, Lamp, and Wallpaper (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 06:59:02 +0000

Note the cylinder phonograph on the sideboard, the kerosene lamp on the right, and the wallpaper in the background, See also the full version of this photograph and a photo of a similar cylinder phonograph.

Thanksgiving Feast with Phonograph, Lamp, and Wallpaper

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 06:59:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the monthly topic of family gatherings for Thanksgiving or other occasions.

A family pauses for a photo before they dig in to their Thanksgiving dinner. Despite the turkey, pies, and other dishes on the table, my eye was drawn to the kerosene lamp hanging from the ceiling, the elaborate design of the wallpaper in the background, and the cylinder phonograph hidden in the shadows on the sideboard. See a cropped version of the photo for a better view of these items. For another photo with a similar phonograph, see Young Man Posing with an Edison Cylinder Phonograph.

This is a real photo postcard with a divided back (introduced in 1907) but no stamp box, address, or message.

Watching from the Window

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 03:57:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of something interesting or surprising in the background.
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At first glance, this is a typical photo of a woman sitting on a chair. In the background, however, is a girl watching from the window, which seems a little spooky.

This is a real photo postcard with a divided back. "R. B. Hunter, LisbellAw" is stamped in ink on the other side, but the card is otherwise unused. Could "LisbellAw" refer to the village of Lisbellaw in Northern Ireland?

Who Was That Masked Man?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 17:14:08 +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!).

A photo of three young men goofing around in the backyard. I'm not sure if that's a Halloween mask or whether the fellow in the middle is wearing it voluntarily, but the two other guys appear to be having fun. There seems to be a lot of activity going on around them, with a woman partially visible on the right, a dog on the left, and a man walking in the background.

Fred Flintstone with Halloween Jack-o'-Lanterns, ca. 1966

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 17:14:10 +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!).

As far as I've been able to determine, the boy in this photo is wearing a Fred Flintstone costume -- a Ben Cooper TV Hero Costume -- that dates to 1966. He's posing behind three jack-o'-lanterns. Note the flame at the top of the middle one and the used matchsticks on the floor.

Girl with Glasses and Lapel Watch

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 03:38:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of photo with decorative border or frame.

Printed on the other side of this real photo postcard: "White House Photo Parlor, W. H. Burnham, Prop., 25 Clinton Ave., Cortland, N.Y."

A portrait of a young girl with glasses. Her dress has a lacy collar, she has a bow in her hair, and she's wearing a necklace and a lapel watch with chain.

The type of Azo stamp box (with four corner triangles pointing up) printed on the other side suggests a date that may be as early as 1904 to 1918.

Compare the oval border of this photo with the one used for Man's Portrait in Elaborate Border.

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.

A Halloween Masquerade Invitation! October 23, 1920

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 03:10:48 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

I'm guessing that a masquerade held near the end of the month of October in the year MCMXX (or 1920 in Arabic numerals) would have had something to do with Halloween. One of the classes—juniors, sophomores, or freshmen—at an unidentified high school or college evidently created this invitation to ask the seniors to come to a party "garbed in costumes appropriate for th' occasion."

Also, someone used a pencil on the invitation to darken the masquerader's ruffle and add lines to some of the squares in the plaid clothing design.

A Masquerade!

When? Saturday, October 25, MCMXX at 7:30 o'clock.

Where? In the Conference Rm., News Bld'g.

Hark, ye seniors: come garbed in costumes appropriate for th' occasion.

Quirky Costumed Couple

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 01:15:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of costumes and uniforms—Halloween, theatrical, and other kinds of costumes, or uniforms from medical, military, and other settings (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic).

Is it a ghostly apparition or just some out-of-focus Halloweeners? Sometimes it's hard to tell.

A red-border "Kodachrome Transparency," circa 1955.

Hearty Partiers (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 04:58:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The woman on the left is holding a ratchet noisemaker. A BPO[E] (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks) flag is draped over the shoulder of the woman in the middle. The woman on the right is holding a mask.

Take a look at the full version of this real photo postcard to see the entire group of partygoers.

Hearty Partiers

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 04:58:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of the secret lives of grown-ups (adults letting loose and having fun or possibly behaving badly with other adults; all in good taste, of course).

Printed on the back of this real photo postcard: "Novelty Studio, 1118 First Ave., Seattle."

These three couples are ready for a party. The woman on the left, who's a little out of focus for some reason, is holding a ratchet noisemaker. The man in the back on the left is holding a BPO[E] (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks) flag that's draped over the shoulder of the woman in the middle. The woman on the right is holding a mask (mouse over the image for a better look at the noisemaker, flag, and mask). The man on the right has some sort of flag tucked under his right arm, and all of them except that man are wearing party or regular hats.

Were they attending a New Year's party at an Elks Lodge?

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.

Hell'o'een Masked Dance Ticket, Lancaster, Pa., October 29, 1920

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 05:59:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

See also Black Cat Dance Ticket, Lancaster, Pa., October 27, 1922 for another Halloween dance held in Hiemenz's Auditorium.

Hell'o'een Masked Dance

Hiemenz Auditorium, Friday, Oct. 29.

Kiphorn's Orchestra. Admission, 60 cts.

The Man with the Iron Mask—Walking Round the World

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 17:54:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A postcard addressed to W. F. Esling, 26 The Grange, Beccles, and postmarked Colchester, July 16, 1908.

Has this gentleman arrived your way yet?

Handwritten message on the other side: "Dear Fred, Has this gentleman arrived your way yet? He was in Col. a day or two ago. I don't think he will manage it, do you? Thanks for nice P.C. I don't know where we are going at L-- yet but will let you have address, that is, if you like. I am looking forward to going. Yrs., Edith. Going to Ipo. on Thurs. to have photo taken."

So who was this gentleman that Edith wrote about, and why was he traveling around England in 1908? Furthermore, why was he wearing a helmet and pushing a baby carriage with a "Walking Round the World" sign?

After some searching, I found that the man's name was Harry Bensley, and he had to walk around the world to fulfill a bet that he lost. It required him to wear an iron mask (a helmet from a suit of armor) to conceal his identity, and he also had to push a perambulator (baby carriage) throughout his travels. He called himself "The Man with the Iron Mask" (inspired by the seventeenth-century Man in the Iron Mask), and the only way he could support himself during his journey was by selling postcards and pamphlets (see my gallery showing some of his other postcards that appear on Flickr).

I don't think he will manage it, do you?

In her message on the postcard, Edith expressed doubt that the gentleman would manage to complete his walk, and her suspicions were well founded. Newspaper accounts provide documentation that Bensley did travel through part of England in 1908 (see Tim Kirby's Research for an impressive Google Map that traces his route). Some sources claim that he continued walking through other countries for the next six years, stopping only when World War I began in 1914 (see the Official Story), but there doesn't seem to be corroborating evidence for this. In any case, it's clear that he did not "walk round the world" to meet the terms of his bet.

All bets are off!

In fact, it turns out that there wasn't even a bet! Bensley made the whole thing up! See, for example, Harry Bensley - Man in the Iron Mask: Hoax, a posting on the Big Retort blog. It reproduces an article, "The Great Masked Man Hoax: The True Story of an Astounding Fraud," which appeared in Answers magazine, December 19, 1908. The article is written in the first person but doesn't identify the Masked Man as Harry Bensley.

If Bentley was the Masked Man in the article and if we can believe this story, then we learn that Bentley concocted his scheme in 1907 while he was in prison. He set off on his journey on January 1, 1908, and immediately received newspaper publicity about his walk and the alleged bet. His main motivation, as far as I can figure, was to earn money from the sale of his postcards and pamphlets. He kept up the ruse for ten months, claiming that he traveled 2,400 miles while pushing a heavy perambulator and wearing an uncomfortable helmet the entire time.

For additional details about the whole strange affair, see Iron Mask: The Story of Harry Bensley's "Walking Round the World" Hoax (Bear Alley Books, 2018), a brief, unpaginated book by Steve Holland.

Other walking wagers?

While looking for information about Harry Bensley, I came across EastMarple1's Flickr photo of John Clark of Douglas, Isle of Man alias "Marcello The Walking King," 1905, who "alleged that he was walking around the world in 1905 for a wager of £1,000." That makes me wonder whether there were other travelers besides Bensley and Clark who said they were walking for similar reasons, real or imagined.

Patriotic Toddler

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 04:44:27 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo with decorative border or frame for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

"Reporting for diaper duty, sir!"

With an elaborate border consisting of an eagle, flag, canons, bombs bursting in air, and other patriotic and military symbols, it's surprising that this real photo postcard features an image of a child rather than a soldier.

Fancy Cow and Calf (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:08:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

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

Fancy Cow and Calf

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:08:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Mama cow and baby calf seem to be giving the photographer a sideways glance as the farmer and his family hold them in place to pose for the camera. See a cropped version for a close-up of the disgruntled bovines.

The decorative mask--with its stylized flowers and curled-up edges--gives the appearance of a fancy photo frame. For a similar real photo postcard, see Man's Portrait in Elaborate Border.

Woman Standing in an Elaborate Border

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 04:44:03 +0000

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A woman standing among the shrubbery is surrounded by the stylized scrolls and flowers of the decorative mask used to print this real photo postcard.