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

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

(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."

Yonker's Tower, Polish Mountain, U.S. Route 40, Maryland

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 15:33:38 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Caption on this real photo postcard: "A wonderful view, 15 m. E. of Cumberland. Yonker's Tower, top of Polish Mt., U.S. 40. Elv. 1340 ft."

Sign at the top of the tower (to the right of the flag): "Yonkers." Sign on the tower below the Yonkers sign: "Mountains of Imperial, The Cream of All Ice Creams. Greatest View in Md."

Yonker's Store and Observation Tower was a place where motorists could gas up, get a bite to eat, and enjoy the view at a high point along U.S. Route 40 in Maryland. Mouse over the image above to see a close-up of the building and tower.

Yonker's Tower, Polish Mountain, U.S. Route 40, Maryland (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 15:33:36 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

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

Women at the Rockefeller Center Roof Studio, New York City, June 4, 1952

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 17:23:21 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Rockefeller Center Roof Studio, New York, 850 feet, 70 stories."

Handwritten date on the back of this real photo postcard: "Taken June 4th, 1952."

For a similar souvenir photo, see Man and Woman at the Rockefeller Center Roof Studio, New York City:

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:

Grand View Ship Hotel: A Steamer in the Allegheny Mountains, 1932

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 20:48:34 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Caption: "S. S. Grand View Point. A Steamer in the Allegany Mts. Elv. 2624 ft. 17 m. W. of Bedford, Pa. U.S. 30. 4-CEG-32."

Signs and banners: "Grand View Point Hotel. Post Cards. Souvenirs. See 3 States and 7 Counties. Visitors Welcome. Free Telescope." "Restaurant. Rooms." "S.S. Grand View Point....Open for Business."

This image of the famous Ship Hotel, which was a popular roadside attraction along the Lincoln Highway (U.S. Route 30) in western Pennsylvania until it burned to the ground in 2001, is a real photo postcard by Charles Elmer Gerkins (indicated by the initials "CEG" in the caption) that's dated April 1932 ("4-32").

In The Ship Hotel: A Grand View along the Lincoln Highway (Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 2010), author Brian Butko quotes a 1930s WPA guide to explain the reason that the building was shaped like a ship: "The S.S. Grand View Point Hotel was remodeled in 1931 to give the impression of an ocean liner, because the owner saw a resemblance between early morning mists rising from the valley and billowing ocean waves."

After enlarging the image, I discovered that two of the banners on the building (including the one hanging on the railing just above "3 States") indicate that the "S.S. Grand View Point" is "Open for Business." Since the building was remodeled to look like a ship sometime in 1931 (the smokestacks, deck, and bow-shaped front of the building were added at that time), I wonder if this photo from April 1932 shows the building just after it reopened.

See also two linen postcards that illustrate the 63-Mile View from the hotel and the Approach to the Hotel:

Bald Eagle Lookout, Uncle Tom's Cabin, West of State College, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 21:02:14 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo of public transportation (at the airport, or bus or train depot) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

For this real photo postcard, mouse over the image above to see details showing close-ups of Uncle Tom, the Bald Eagle Lookout, and the Greyhound bus.

Caption: "Uncle Tom's Cabin, 7 Miles West of State College, Pa., Route 322."

Signs on the building: "Bald Eagle Lookout, see 75 miles, free tower." "See Bald Eagle, 1000 ft. below." "Free tower." "Coca Cola." "Uncle Tom's Cabin." "PeRo the ice cream, delicious."

Bus: License plate 03219. Destination was Chicago. "Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines." "4188. New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Detroit." "PRR" (keystone logo of the Pennsylvania Railroad). "Pennsylvania Greyhound Transit Co. Pa. P.S.C Certificate 19425." "Pennsylvania Greyhound Transit Company, carriers & operators."

Bald Eagle Lookout, Uncle Tom's Cabin, West of State College, Pa. (Lookout Tower)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 21:02:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The two women on top of the Bald Eagle Lookout tower are posing for the photographer instead of viewing the mountains and valleys that are visible in the other direction.

See below for the entire real photo postcard along with details showing close-ups of Uncle Tom and the Greyhound bus.

Signs on the building: "Bald Eagle Lookout, see 75 miles, free tower." "See Bald Eagle, 1000 ft. below." "Free tower." "Coca Cola." "Uncle Tom's Cabin." "PeRo the ice cream, delicious."

Bald Eagle Lookout, Uncle Tom's Cabin, West of State College, Pa. (Uncle Tom)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 21:02:12 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Is that Tom (or whatever the proprietor's name actually is) standing there in the middle? And I wonder if the man at right is placing one of these postcards in the mailbox.

In addition to this close-up of Uncle Tom, see below for the entire postcard and details showing the Bald Eagle Lookout tower and the Greyhound bus.

Caption: "Uncle Tom's Cabin, 7 Miles West of State College, Pa., Route 322."

Bald Eagle Lookout, Uncle Tom's Cabin, West of State College, Pa. (Greyhound Bus)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 21:02:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The bus driver is posing for the photographer while the customer in the background purchases snacks or souvenirs at the counter.

See below for the entire card and details showing Uncle Tom and the Bald Eagle Lookout.

Bus: License plate 03219. Destination was Chicago. "Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines." "4188. New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Detroit." "PRR" (keystone logo of the Pennsylvania Railroad). "Pennsylvania Greyhound Transit Co. Pa. P.S.C Certificate 19425." "Pennsylvania Greyhound Transit Company, carriers & operators."

Grand View Ship Hotel, 63-Mile View, Lincoln Highway, West of Bedford, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 27 May 2014 21:29:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Grand View Point Hotel. See 3 states and 7 counties. Pa., Md., W. Va, 63 mile view from Grand View--Ship Hotel on Lincoln Highway, U.S. 30, 17 miles west of Bedford, Pa., looking into 3 states and 7 counties, 80 miles east of Pittsburgh, Pa. 4A-H1905."

Printed on back: "Distributed by H. Paulson, Grand View-Ship Hotel, Central City, Pa."

Grand View Ship Hotel, Approach to the Hotel, Lincoln Highway, West of Bedford, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 27 May 2014 21:29:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Grand View Point Hotel. Approaching S.S. Grand View Point Hotel on the Lincoln Highway, 17 miles west of Bedford, Pa. Elevation 2,464 feet. 3A-H421."

Printed on back: "Grand View Point Hotel at the most beautiful spot in U.S. Summit of Allegheny Mts., 17 miles west of Bedford, Pa., on Historic Lincoln Highway, overlooking 3 states and 7 counties. Elevation 2,464 feet. Distributed by H. Paulson, Grand View-Ship Hotel, Central City, Pa."

Magic Lantern Views for Children's Easter Offering, East Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pa., April 14, 1892

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 17:20:47 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Notice! Pictured Truth Meeting. East Bapt. Ch. Thursday afternoons at 4 o'clock. Magic Lantern Views. April 14, 1892, Pilgrim's Progress. Admission 3 cts. for children's Easter offering. Meeting for young and old."

A ticket for a Maundy Thursday magic lantern slide show at the East Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pa., April 14, 1892.

"Pictured Truth" in this context seems to refer to the same sort of activities that Robert F. Y. Pierce described three years later in his book, Pictured Truth: A Hand-book of Blackboard and Object Lessons, (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1895), which suggests the use of blackboard drawings (also called chalk talks) and everyday ordinary items (objects) to relate religious messages and lessons.

Or perhaps it was just the magic lantern slide show depicting scenes from Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan's Christian allegory, that was supposed to provide pictures of religious truth as well as raise funds for children to donate during the Easter services that were held three days later on April 17.

To attend those relgious services on Easter Sunday 1892, which also included baptisms, churchgoers had to present "cards of admission" (tickets) for either the morning or afternoon services. For examples of the cards used that Sunday, see Admission Cards, Easter Sunday, East Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pa., April 17, 1892.

Silas and Samantha at the Astorf-Waldoria, 1903

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 16:33:12 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A hold it photo (people holding something) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Caption: "By durn, Samenthy, this beats the old pump all holler. Push jest a leetle harder and she'll be here."

Sign on wall: "Hotel Astorf-Waldoria. Ring once for bell boy, twice [for] ice water, three [times for] hot water." Name on trunk: "Silas Green, Wayback, O."

Printed along the sides: "The 'Perfec' Stereograph. (Trade mark.) Patented April 14, 1903. Other patents pending. H. C. White Co., Publishers. General offices and works, North Bennington, Vt., U.S.A. Copyright 1903 by H. C. White Co. 5587 (2)."

This comic stereoscopic card (see the full card below) shows two country bumpkins who are visting the city and staying at the highfalutin Hotel Astorf-Waldoria (a thinly veiled reference, of course, to the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City).

Unfamiliar with big-city ways and new-fangled technology, Samantha (or "Samenthy," as her husband Silas pronounces it) is pushing the call button (normally used to summon hotel staff) while Silas holds a water pitcher below the mouthpiece of the wall-mounted telephone. In their naivety, Samantha and Silas have misunderstood the sign ("Ring twice for ice water") and have mistaken the phone for a pump that will provide water once the button is pushed.

In 1903, at a time when indoor plumbing and telephones were less common in rural areas, viewers of this stereographic photo could laugh at the silly antics of this foolish backwoods couple from Wayback, Ohio.

Looking at the image a hundred years later, we can catch a glimpse of the different styles of clothing, wallpaper, carpet, and furniture that were popular back then, and we can also consider how the modern technology that we take for granted today--faucets with running water and mobile phones--has made the humor here obsolete.

Silas and Samantha at the Astorf-Waldoria, 1903 (Stereographic Card)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 16:33:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A comic stereoscopic card. For additional information, see Silas and Samantha at the Astorf-Waldoria, 1903.

Man and Woman at the Rockefeller Center Roof Studio, New York City

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 18:09:33 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A people on rooftops photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

A souvenir "Rockefeller Center Roof Studio" photo, taken 850 feet and 70 stories above street level in New York City, probably sometime in the 1940s. The Empire State Building is the tall skyscraper visible behind the man, and 500 Fifth Avenue is the one on the left.

Today, this is the south view from what is now the "Top of the Rock" observation deck on the roof of the GE Building (formerly the RCA Building and soon to be renamed the Comcast Building). Also called "30 Rock" because its address is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the building's nickname was the inspiration for the name of Tina Fey's popular 30 Rock sitcom, which aired from 2006 to 2013.

The Glorious 4th of July / The 5th of July

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:13:01 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

These stereographic cards are in poor shape even after some touch-up, but they're intriguing--and almost macabre--for their depiction of the perils of fireworks.

Captions: "The Glorious 4th of July. No. 1." "The Fifth of July. No. 2."

Printed on the front: "American and Foreign Views. Sold only by canvassers. New Educational Series. Stereoscopic views."