zippypops

dustbin

I stumbled on another great photo stash while out and about today; about 130 or so, one extended family, spanning 1910-1940. the seller told me the photos were from the estate of a 97 year old woman. (once again – where the hell is her family??? why are they letting these go???) I am assuming that the woman is either Estelle or Esther.

anyway, I have started a new blog... the link is over there... to the right (dustbin), for posting my vintage photo collection. it's still pretty rough, and I will be tinkering with it over the next few weeks.

memory lane... (3?)

dated 1924.
written on the back:
'Isn't that terrible of me?'
(I am in love with the girl with the glasses)

written on the back:
'April 6, 1916,
To Seymour Benson
from Uncle S.W. Benson
(illegible), New Jersey

dated 8/12/30
written on the back:
'Mike Santagato
Winner of Uticas Boys Beauty Contest.
What a shape!!!'

dated April 15 27
(I love everything about this girl. hair. buttons! gaze. stance.)

no date, but I have LOTS of photos of this gang that follows them up through their teens and, boy, let me tell you... they look like TROUBLE to me!!

memory lane, part 2

why? why was this photograph taken here, by this tree? what's the significance? and do I spy something attached to this tree? what? why? oh, I shall probably never know.

I think that this is the same young man, maybe a year or so older. with a PIPE! (I love men that smoke pipes!) with a SERIOUS expression and a SERIOUS center-part.

THIS is a happy get-together!! my favorite is the little one, off to the left there. just wandering.... that is one thing that I love best about old photos, spotting the little kid, kicking around in the peripheral, doing their OWN thing, minding their OWN damn business!

serious men of the world, check.

graveyard, background right, check.

cornfield, background left, check.

the slightest hint of a vehicle, left, check.

little kids, kicking around in the peripheral, doing their OWN thing, minding their OWN damn business, check!

LOOK AT MEEEEE!!!! I AM A BEAUTIFUL FAIRY PRINCESS!!!! (little kid, kicking around in the peripheral, doing her OWN thing, minding her OWN damn business!

and finally, the best flipping chow-down photo I have EVER seen. (WHY don't people wear hats anymore? I mean PROPER hats, not baseball caps)

how cold IS it?!

I know everyone is complaining about it but ...
I. mean. REALLY. (David Sedaris voice)
it is cold. 

my little, tiny home office is situated on the second floor, on a corner, above the porch.
during cold snaps, this unfortunate placement makes it slightly warmer than our refrigerator, but only slightly. so, needless-to-say, at this point in time, it is probably one of the last places I want to be.

I was sifting through some more photos, and came across these two gems.
about 15 years ago I pilfered them from an ex-boyfriend's family photo collection, but I felt entirely justified!
even though I have NO IDEA who these people are, HE didn't know who they were either.
and anyway, I appreciate them more.

cigarettes and kids.
doesn't the kid on the right look like a shrunken adult? he kind of creeps me out.
I did a large triptych drawing based on this photo about 10 years ago, and I am thinking that maybe I should use this again.

and this one is just a masterpiece.
it perfectly sums up the family disillusionment and isolation that we all feel at times.
brilliant.

memory lane, part 1

I have hundreds, if not thousands of old family snapshots, tintypes, photo albums, calling cards.
never enough, no, never enough.

and because I am in a 'thinking, not doing' mode, I thought that it might be good to scan and post some of my favourites.

I am in love with this girl. red red lipstick, dark hair, all white. where was she off to? (week of January 12, 1953, stamped on the back)

bad bad boys. in suits. smoking cigarettes.  knowing, mysterious grins. *sigh*

the PROM! TIARA! PINK, POOFY, LACEY DRESS! LONG WHITE GLOVES! and is that HIS RING??!!

well, you KNOW that a mere split second after this photo was taken he was off like a shot! chasing the cat! stomping on flowers! pulling laundry off the line! there is NOTHING but trouble written on that face.

and then the lovely Flo. she is breathtaking. those eyes.....
this is the only one of the batch with writing on the back. it says:
"To Bruce from Flo. (not very good I must say) When I get a better one I'll send it."
oh, Flo, it IS very good.