Category Archives: Others

December 27, 2015

Showing off the monkey

By C.E. Ryan
Showing off the monkey. 1930s-40s snapshot. Private Collection.

Showing off the monkey. 1920s-30s snapshot. Private Collection. Click for larger image.

Was it Family Day on this USS? Here two sailors are happy to show off their pet monkey to a group of civilians, the one on the left distracting it while the one on the right is at a control board’s commands…but to what purpose? Also, I have trouble believing sailors were allowed to have a pet monkey, but it’s looking like that one got a free pass aboard!

The young girl to the right is tired, rubbing her eyes while the lady behind looks like she was in the middle of saying something, maybe about that monkey. The gentleman in suit and boater is the lone soul of the group who caught the photographer in time for the snapshot, and he isn’t shy to smile big.

I’m not familiar with the history of the U.S Navy ships, but going by the man’s suit and detachable collar, and the women’s big flowery hats I’m thinking this was taken in the late 10’s, 20’s, or at the very latest the early 30’s…and I’m only mentioning the 30’s because I have no idea what USS Navy ships looked like then, but to me those canons look like they were going to be used in WW2.

I love how busy this photograph is; everyone seems to have had a good time on board. And the curled tail of the monkey around the sailor’s neck.

Are these two related?

The wife, sailor brother and a far cousin?

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December 12, 2015

Cap and Bowtie

By C.E. Ryan
photostrip-jaunty-cap

1920s-30s studio portrait. Private Collection.

This picture is photobooth size, and what a lovely portrait of this gentleman with the cap. This charming fella looks to be Italian too, and a blue collar for certain. He comes off  as the friendly, hard working father of a fast growing family. :)

Photographer: Stamped on back – THE LITTLE PICTURE SHOP (how cute of a name is that??) 80 Kansas Avenue. Topeka – Kansas.

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November 6, 2015

Overexposed in 53

By C.E. Ryan
1953 snapshot. Private Collection.

1953 snapshot. Private Collection.

The photographer most probably didn’t intend to overexpose his or her subject, but the high contrast along with the low angle works. This young man looks to be standing in front of a store awning. But what is “Waco Owl”? The back is stamped with the year.

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October 30, 2015

Three 1920s studio portraits of adorable Cecil Brown from Topeka, Kansas

By C.E. Ryan

You know ‘Freckles’ had to be his nickname, that or ‘Ginger’ ;). This is a cute trio of portraits from the 1920s of young Cecil Brown from Topeka, Kansas. Cecil is not the usual type you’ll find in my collection but I could not resist his portraits. There’s something so loveable about him! He makes me want to smile, and my followers know just how much I love people smiling and laughing on pictures! These portraits taken at different times give off the feeling Cecil was generally of nice temperament.

The first is Cecil in his cap and bowtie, with his signature on the side. On the second he’s laughing, and on the last one he looks a tad older but this could just be my impression. He still has a smile on his face. The town and state are written down on the back of the first one.

These are photobooth size studio portraits. I believe them to be late 20s, early 30s.

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October 21, 2015

Up Close II

By C.E. Ryan
Up close in checkered cap. Snapshot. Private Collection.

Up close in checkered cap. Snapshot. Private Collection.

I just received this one in the mail. He looks like he’s got a trick or two up his sleeve! When I first saw it I was happy to have another amateur close-up from the late 10s or 20s. It must have been his favorite cap to wear too. It looks like it was due for a wash!

And then I realized it came from the same seller I got another up close portrait from last June, but only recently posted (seen below). The format is similar although the first had its edges trimmed. One difference is that it’s much more sepia toned than the second one. Now, how did that happen? They both do have album glue residue on the back.

But they are positioned to the left, and at the same distance to the ‘shoreline’, the sun hitting them from high above. I think these two were playing with the same camera! Here’s them side by side:

Related?

Related?

The more I look at them the more I see some facial features they seem to share…Were they related? Well, this fine duo wished to record themselves up close on a beautiful day, and aren’t we glad they did! Their personalities shine through.

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