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

Men Behaving Badly — Celluloid Photographic Medallion

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:17:02 +0000

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of bad habits.

The man at upper left is smoking a cigar as he opens a bottle of wine. The man at upper right also has a cigar in his mouth and is holding a bottle in one hand as he reaches down with the other to give the man at lower left a drink.

There's no date, location, or manufacturer indicated on this celluloid photographic medallion, which consists of a metal backing and a photograph covered by celluloid, an early type of plastic.

For additional examples, see my album of Celluloid Photographic Medallions and the George Eastman House's collection of Celluloid Medallions & Buttons on Flickr.

See also Gerald Perlman and David Trachtenberg's book, Collecting Celluloid Photo Medallions, published by Victoria Victoriana Antiques in 2014.

Spinning a Tale of Dogs in Glasses (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 19:04:25 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For more information, see the original photo:

Spinning a Tale of Dogs in Glasses

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 19:04:27 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Mister Peabody, the cartoon dog in the Rocky and Bullwinkle TV show, wore eyeglasses, and Addison MacHenry, the fictional dog in Ransom Riggs's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children book series, had goggles and a pipe, but I'm not sure why the dogs in this real photo postcard are wearing glasses and a top hat, smoking pipes, and pulling a cart (mouse over the image above for a closer look).

And then there's the girl with the spinning wheel. What are these kids up to?

Police Car

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 04:55:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of law and order.

A real photo postcard dating to the early twentieth century. The partially visible sign in the background indicates "18 Miles to Balto" (an abbreviation for Baltimore -- I identified the sign based on another photo posted online).

The same automobile and painted backdrop also appear in a photo showing Three Gents in a Car.

Three Gents in a Car

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 04:55:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A real photo postcard. The same automobile and painted backdrop also appear in a Police Car photo.

A Merry Halloween—Corncob Jack-o'-Lantern Scarecrow

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 04:25:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An early twentieth-century postcard with a Corncob Jack-o'-Lantern Scarecrow smoking a corncob pipe.

For another corny creature, see I'm All Ears.

The Way We Catch Them

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 04:19:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"The Way We Catch Them. Souvenir Post Card Co., N.Y." Postmarked Ocean City, N.J., Sept. 6, 1919.

Three Jaunty Fellows, Berwick, Pennsylvania

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 15:59:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo of friends for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Printed on the back: "J. M. Snyder, photographist, Berwick, Pa. Duplicates can be had at any time."

Three jaunty fellows--friends with self-assured looks on their faces and cigars in their mouths--peer out at us from this nineteenth-century carte de visite photo. Checkered vests and pants must have been in vogue at the time.

Easter Greetings, A. Steiert and Son

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 03:51:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Easter Greetings. A. Steiert & Son."

Postcard addressed on the other side to Hauck Bros., Mechanicsburg, Pa., and postmarked Philadelphia, Pa., April 16, 1924.

A. Steiert & Son was a manufacturer of brooms and brushes.

They Laughed When We Sat Down at the Piano

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:30:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park demonstrating the quality of being vice versa.*

A real photo postcard of a couple amusingly posed on a piano bench with the woman wearing men's clothes and vice versa.

I was able to identify the sheet music on the left side of the piano as "Flower Song (Blumenlied)," Beaux Arts Edition, by Gusatv Lange, ca. 1907. An issue of The Etude, a music magazine, is barely visible on the piano between the woman and man (I couldn't determine the date, but it may be one of the issues from 1907 or 1908 judging by the typeface used for the title and its position at the top of the cover).

The framed print hanging on the wall at upper right appears to be a copy of a lithograph entitled "2 Spirited Horses," one version of which was published by Jos. Hoover & Sons, Philadelphia, in 1908 (it's also similar to a Currier & Ives lithograph "Horses in a Thunderstorm," but the the horses in that print are facing to the right instead of the left).

*The full description of the theme: "Vice versa"--"A lady and a gentleman dressing in clothes of the opposite sex are vice versa." This definition comes from a letter in a 1923 newspaper regarding a fancy dress/costume competition, and as the judge ruled in 1923, “the dress of each is complete without the aid of the other." Your photo can be of an individual or a couple.

Man Lighting a Cigar

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 07:10:20 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A smoking photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

I hope that match didn't burn his fingers as he waited for the photographer to take his picture!

First Pick

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 18:27:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"First Pick. O. L. Schwencke, lith., N.Y."

A cigar box label printed by O. L. Schwencke. Notice how a box featuring this label appears within the design of the label itself. This recursive picture-within-a-picture is called the Droste effect, which is named after the Droste cacao tin that featured an illustration of a nun holding the tin.

Out for a Stroll in the Park

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 17:36:47 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Out for a stroll in the park. Entrance to Highland Park, Pittsburgh, Pa."

Advice to Vacationists–Take the Children with You

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:07:32 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Advice to Vacationists. Take the children to the country with you--this will keep you from becoming lonesome. Hey. Help. Help. Splash. August Hutaf. P.C.K. 1908."

One in a series of humorous "Advice to Vacationists" postcards by illustrator August Hutaf (1874-1942). For more of his work, see my other Hutaf postcards.

Pete the Our Gang Dog, Steel Pier, Atlantic City, N.J.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:38:40 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Central Studios. 369P. With 'Pete,' Our Gang Dog, Steel Pier, Atlantic City."

Our Gang was "a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures" that first appeared in movie theaters as early as the 1920s. The films were later released on television beginning in the 1950s under the original Our Gang name or as The Little Rascals.

Pete the Pup, also known as Pete the Dog With the Ring Around His Eye, was a fixture in the comedies, and he (or his successor, whose ring was painted on) posed with children for souvenir photos like this one at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the 1930s.

The boy in this photo, who doesn't seem to be enjoying his time with Pete, is the same kid who's playing with his toys in Sonny, Bunny, and Dummy and A Pedal Car for Christmas.

Girls' Night Out

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 18:58:44 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An in disguise / in costume photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

This may appear to be a Halloween-time scene at first glance, but this real photo postcard of women dressed in men's clothing was actually taken during the month of June, judging by the calendar on the wall behind them.

Although the calendar is partially hidden behind the women, I believe it's a bank calendar ("The ----- National Bank"), and it's possible that the location printed on it is Liberal, Kansas. Since June 4 falls on a Friday as shown on the calendar, I'm guessing that the year is 1915 (other possibilities are 1909, 1920, and 1926). The square for Saturday, June 12, seems to be specially marked, so perhaps they're getting ready for a party or some other frivolity on that date.

For an interesting comparison, take a look at the trick or treat photo--Boys' Night Out--that I posted to the Vintage Photos Theme Park about this same time last year:

Desbecker-Block Tailoring Co., Buffalo, N.Y.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 06 May 2015 13:21:28 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The front of this advertising trade card for the Desbecker-Block Tailoring Company (above left) depicts a traveling salesman (note the "Samples" case in front of him) who's the "man on the spot" (or at least the man on an oversized playing card).

The punning pants piece on the back of the card (above right) was widely circulated in newspapers and magazines as early as 1892. It often appeared under the title, "A Boy's Essay on Pants," with an explanation about an unidentified "boy in Wichita schools" who was "suspended for reading the following essay on 'pants.'" The same pants rant and illustration was also published as a postcard.

Desbecker-Block Tailoring Co., Buffalo, N.Y.

Tailors to all America. Samples. We've a man on the spot. He takes your measure--we do the rest. You'll find him at the store of J. T. Loucks, local agent, Hvoca, N.Y. (over).

Pants are made for men not for women. Women are made for men not for pants. When a man pants for a woman and woman pants for a man they are a pair of pants. Such pants don't last. Pants are like molasses--they are thinner in hot weather and thicker in cold. Men are often mistaken in pants; such mistakes are breeches of promise. There has been much discussion whether pants is singular or plural. Seems to us when men wear pants it is plural and when they don't it is singular. Men go on a tear in their pants and it is all right. When the pants go on a tear it is all wrong. If you want to make pants last make the coat first. (over).

Dear Sir, I Have Sent You Several Boxes of Cigars

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 17:35:28 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Dear Sir, I have sent you by express, prepaid, several sample boxes of my 15, 10, and 25 cent cigars. You will also find matches and a cutter in the package. Should they please you, just drop us a postal and we will send you more samples. Your obliging servant, A. Stogie, Cigar Maker. April 1st"

Missouri Meerschaum, Cob Pipes, 1893

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 17:27:18 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Hirschl & Bendheim, 419 N. 4th St., St. Louis, Mo., sole agents, 'Missouri Meerschaum,' cob pipes. Manufactured only by H. Tibbe & Son., M'f'g Co. No. 3. No. 7. Patent. Will call about August 31st. Solomon Hirschl."

A postal card addressed on the other side to: "Messrs. H. Stern Jr. & Bro., Milwaukee, Wisc."

Postmarked: "St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 23, 1893."

Solomon Hirschl sent this to announce his sales call in advance of his trip from St. Louis to Milwaukee. This type of "advance card" was typical--see the Cigar History Museum's Salesmen’s Advance Cards for some other interesting examples.

A Wikipedia search reveals that the Missouri Meerschaum Company (formerly H. Tibbe & Son) is still in business today and is the "world's oldest and largest manufacturer of corncob pipes."

Let Us Smoke the Patrick Pipe of Peace on March 17!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:14:53 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Let us smoke the 'Patrick Pipe' of peace! March 17. HBG." Printed on back: "L. & E. Serie 2269."

A St. Patrick's Day postcard illustrated by H. B. Griggs and published by Leubrie & Elkus, ca. 1910s.