Photobooth picture of man in white hat. Private Collection.
A cute Photobooth snapshot of a bright eyed guy (with that twinkle again lol) leaning forward and smiling under his heavily tilted white hat. I think this picture was taken in the 40s or 50s just because of his open shirt.
Gents Furnishing & Misfit Parlor storefront. RPPC. Private Collection.
I love this very quaint and informative picture. And there is another employee looking out from behind the shop’s door; too shy to get in the picture? This looks like it may have been a family business. Most caps in this shop were .39c. Some suits are priced at $4, some cheaper. At the time the median daily wages for average skilled workers was between $1.50 and 3 dollars a day, so it gives you an idea of how expensive clothes were. There were no cheaper options like we have today. After rent, clothes took the largest chunk out of people’s earnings, with food (and tobacco and drinks *cough*).
This shop sold menswear but also cleaned and pressed. I find it humorous they called it the Misfit Parlor. The younger gent to the left with a dog at his feet (probably theirs) is looking a bit bored.
Detail.
Another storefront group RPPC in this collection, this time of tailors.
My grandfather. Family photo.
Once in a while I do love to post family photos. I think this one is precious, but then this is because my grandfather was the sweetest person and he loved me dearly. I miss him so very much. He was a soldier, a volunteer fireman, and an excellent craftsman. His hobby was making straw baskets and he made *many*. He taught me how too, when I was around 8!
He also had orchards and made his own cider. And drank much of it. lol
Zuli, David and a lady friend. Cabinet card. Private Collection.
My 200th post!
Zuli is one gorgeous lady. David is in a bowler and high collar with dark gloves, but the ladies…look at the ornate big ‘Merry Widow’ hats! There’s a whole cake on top of Zuli’s head! What a cute and uncommon name too. The ladies in these pictures are always the stars, but I love group pictures of handsome gents with their pretty women. ;)
David’s last name was Strader, Miss Zuli’s last name was Frop. The name of the second woman in glasses is illegible. I think she looks like she was related to David -maybe his sister. There’s a number too: 5-10. May 1910?
Summertime75 posted a funny article from 1908 on the ‘Merry Widow Hat’ trend that swept the nation. It’s worth reading for a good laugh. People of the day found those large hats rather ridiculous! This was an upper society trend. Those hats were quite expensive and a status item.
Another funny N.Y Times article dated June 14, 1908 describes a stampede when at the end of the Broadway show (which inspired the trend) 1,200 souvenir hats were supposed to be handed to 1,300 awaiting women.
Photographer: Emery’s. 162 Main Street. Blank back.
1900s-1910s RPPC. Private collection.
This sophisticated New Yorker posed all smile in a slim fitting coat with a black cane in hand, the other hand in the coat pocket. The striped shirt adds a bit of pattern to the overall crisp look. A very classy and artistic portrait. No busy backdrop. Just him and it works.
Photographer: Strauss Studio. Brooklyn. New York.
RPPC: AZO 1904-1918
Digital restoration work titled The Brooklynite Dandy by Caroline C. Ryan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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Bowlers And High Collars 