Vintage People
Say, what should I share on today's "Anything Goes Saturday"? I know! How about some Vintage People?
From February, 1961 comes this photo of a mother (?) and son, enjoying some tunes from the electric organ. Mom likes to play opera, and luckily her son has a rich tenor voice reminiscent of Placido Domingo. My Aunt Florence (who is 101 years old!) used to play the organ for us in her Minnesota basement. Her husband (Leonard) had some very cool old toys down there too, I wanted to play with them but was afraid I'd break them.
This first one is so dark and weirdly-colored that you might wonder why I wanted to share it. But the slide mount had the words "First Paycheck" written on it.
June 30, 1940! From The General Fireproofing Company (in Youngstown, Ohio). Karl Brant was paid the princely sum of $30.33. Adjusted for inflation, that is the equivalent of about $640.00 now (believe it or not). Was that for one week? Or two? My guess is two weeks. But we can infer that Karl was awfully proud of this occasion. Way to go, Karl!
And finally, here's an undated photo of two ladies posing next to an Indian teepee, presumably part of some roadside attraction - I wish I knew where. The woman with the flowered dress is worried that she might get bopped by that rolled up paper thingy. What could it be?
21 comments:
Wow, someone was awfully eager to get to that organ and play it. She took off her coat, and her shoes and socks. One of her shoes even landed way across the room, underneath those drapes with the super cool pattern on them.
Major-
There certainly is a lot of early, mid-century 'decorating' in that first image; that, judging from the shape of the TV, the image was taken much later. (That 'life mask' above "Mom's" head is a nice touch). So is that 'mini "toy" safe' on the book shelf. And there's no problem leaving your clothes strewn across the carpeting... I wish I could figure out the brand/model of that fairly basic electronic organ.
Thanks, Major.
I was trying to discern the brand of the organ, but no such luck. The name plaque is, I believe, on that dark strip just below the music book; but it's too blurry. I like those drapes. I guess they're just some abstract design. It also looks like Mom took her shoes and socks off to play the organ; which seems strange.
Does anybody know what that gold-colored thing is on Karl's pants, just above the word "blog"? (No wisecracks, please.) A belt buckle? A count clicker? Too small for a change maker, I think.
The lady with the rolled-up bopper has nice ankles. But the other lady has a bad case of "cankles" (calf ankles). I think the rolled-up tube is a velvet Elvis painting.
OK, so it looks like Tokyo! commented on the same things I did, with about the same words, and posted it before me. TOUGH! Get over it! I'm not deleting anything! Oops... did I say that out loud?
Nanook, I tried enlarging the organ image and "clarifying" it to death, but I still couldn't read the name plaque.
I like anything goes pics as much as un-rejected rejects. Thanks, Major.
@ JB-
I would assume that 'gold-colored thing' is the buckle on his belt; but one never knows. Judging from his watch and [wedding-?] ring - he's well-appointed; so that snappy buckle would fit right in.
Photo one: Lighting: "oh dear". Decorating: individually those things have merit. In aggregate: they've TRE'd their own abode. Death Mask: a nice touch. Looks like Dad stripped after getting home and "grabbed a shower". I don't know why you would "grab" a shower. Shower's seem ungrabbable. I'm not sure I've ever said "grab a shower", but have heard it many times. Curtains are amazing. I've got to lighten up the furniture, but it looks like there is a small armory behind the sofa. I would like to see all of that chair please. Lamp: amazing, but not in this context. Looks like toile, but I don't think it is. I'd like to have the shade. The base looks a little "Chinese Restaurant Hostess Desk", and it could possibly be leather wrapped. In acting class we had to recite "red leather, yellow leather" thousands of times in a row. Also "Betty bought some butter...." On to pic 3: "I'm so proud of my check, please take a photo with me and my underpants." The roses are pretty amazing however. I am jealous. Pic 4: Looks like Hyacinth Bucket and her neighbor Elizabeth have taken time out from a coffee to visit the American experience. Hyacinth has a time traveling Tory Burch purse, and Elizabeth has the architectural plans that were lost at King's Island by the Brady's. She better get them to Mike's meeting ASAP. Perhaps this location IS King's Island! That certainly would be an interesting Sit-Com mash up. Carol Brady meets Hyacinth Bucket. Excuse me "Bouquet". Thanks for the morning musings Major!
My goodness, what a strange lot. This collection seems like something dreamed up by an Artificial Intelligence. “Robbie, show us a bizarre collection of photographs”
I can’t add much to the commentary of photo 1 other than it seems to sum up the entire premise of the series as a collection of oddities and provides sterling proof that the Whole Can Be Less Than the Sum of It’s Parts.
Photo 2, Way to Go Karl! General Fireproofing is much more general than their neighbor and competitor, Specific Fireproofing, located across the river. Karl looks too old to celebrate his first entry into the workforce. Maybe this is resumption of employment after an extended hiatus, but his watch and ring have survived, so maybe this is just an upward move into a higher tax bracket. Judging from the date, maybe this job came from the ramping up of industrial activity before the War that everyone knew was coming. I’m glad for Karl, nothing like the pride of Productive Work or a photo of commemorate it.
By comparison, I saved my “last paycheck” from one job. I didn’t want to leave at the time, but it turned out to be the right move.
Photo 3, the blonde lady is the designer of the Indian Village inspecting the teepee mock-up. Can we still say teepee? The lady in purple is worried that the viewers will notice the Indian Head she painted on the side of tent will be recognized as a pirated image of the obverse of a penny.
A wild trip into the Outback of Speculation, Major, and a refreshing start to the weekend, thank you!
JG
@ Bu-
"Betty bought some butter..." There are so many of them.
I slit the sheet
The sheet I slit
Upon the slitted sheet I sit
There isn't much room for error with that one.
TokyoMagic!, it reminds me of the way I take off my pants as I run into a good restaurant!
Nanook, ha ha, I didn’t even notice the life mask, how funny. I had a brother who thought he was going to grow up to do monster makeup, so he made a life mask of me. It was a bad experience! I think it finally broke. It would be weird to see it had it survived!
JB, true artists take off their shoes and socks to play the organ, that way you can really feel the pedals. Meanwhile, as a kid who failed at piano lessons, the idea of an instrument where you had to play with your hands AND your feet was just too much for me. I assume the gold thing on Karl’s pants is a belt buckle? Granted it’s an odd looking one, but what else could it be? “Nice ankles”, why I can’t believe I have heard such filth here on GDB! This is a family blog! And remember, you don’t “clarify” pictures, you “ENHANCE” them (thanks to CSI: Miami and other such shows for teaching us that).
Nanook, I concur!
Bu, you can’t expect great lighting in a basement! I haven’t lived in many houses with basements, but the one that had a nice finished example seemed underlit no matter how many lamps we put down there. Maybe it was the wood paneling? I “take” a shower, but I never “grab” it. But… language is malleable. I could never be an actor because I am not articulate enough; I honestly will watch movies and think, “I could never talk that fast”. And it’s true. You’ve met me, I sound like Huckleberry Hound. “Hyacinth Bucket”, ha ha. I wish I knew somebody named Hyacinth. Names like that are too old fashioned. My grandma was named “Ruth”, when was the last time you met a Ruth? Years ago that episode of the Brady Bunch came up on GDB, and you can watch some of it on YouTube. Man is it terrible!
JG, oy vey, I am already tired of “art” made by AI. It all has a creepy look that I find very unpleasant. It’s like drinking something that has a metallic taste. I supposed it will get better as the machines slowly take over. The oddness of family photos is part of the charm as far as I’m concerned, it’s what makes them fun to look at 50 or 60 years later. I definitely wondered about Karl and if he served at all in WWII; as you noted, he is already “up there”, so I doubt he would have been storming any hills on a remote Pacific island. Maybe he became the guy who shouted “Put out that light!” during blackouts? As for “teepee”, I’ve seen “te-pee”, “teh-pee”, and practically every conceivable spelling variation, so I don’t know what’s correct. If “teepee” is wrong, I’ll gladly change it in the future.
Nanook, thanks, you made me say a bad word.
Nanook, yeah, it's probably a belt buckle. But it seems to be facing the wrong way; maybe it's unfastened.
Bu, "Chinese Restaurant Hostess Desk" Ha! Exactly! Haha, these two ladies actually DO have a resemblance to those two characters. And thank goodness you corrected yourself and said "Bouquet", otherwise, Hyacinth would have come down hard on you.
Major, I found that using the organ pedals actually makes things easier. With your feet doing the bass part, it makes your left-hand accompaniment less complicated. When I switched to using a synthesizer I really missed the pedal board.
And I truly apologize for the "nice ankles" comment. I can picture all the three-year-olds reading this blog, running to their mommies with tears in their eyes. :-D
Major-
I've never had a personal life mask; but a rather talented friend, who worked in the special effects biz did take proper impressions of my teeth so he could make a nice set of 'fangs' for me - which, naturally still fit. It does make for challenging talking, however - it kinda reminds me of the way you talk - all Huckleberry Hound-ish-!
Here's one that offers little chance of 'mis-speaking' a naughty word - and may be more familiar to many:
Chester chooses chestnuts,
cheddar cheese with chewy chives.
He chews them and he chooses them.
He chooses them and he chews them.
Those chestnuts, cheddar cheese and chives,
in cheery, charming chunks.
@ JB-
I saw that name plaque on the organ; regrettably even with its indecipherability, had there been a [major] organ manufacturer for the home consisting of two words - that could at least give some clue. I can't think of any manufacturers using more than one word for their corporate name:
Airline (Montgomery Ward)
Allen
Baldwin
Conn
Gulbransen
Hammond
Lowery
Magnus
Rodgers (frankly, their organs are way too sophisticated for that setup)
Silvertone (Sears)
Thomas
WurliTzer
I'm certain to have skipped someone, but.
Yes, of course I did... and an obvious one, too: Kimball
Fun pictures and comments to start off the weekend!
Bu and Nanook, along the lines of speaking, I'll add this, regarding reading and spelling:
English can be weird. It can be understood through tough thorough thought, though.
Photo #1: Earth tones. All earth tones. Nothing but earth tones. Besides everyone's comments, I also love the curtains.
Photo #2: Mr. & Mrs. Brant, displaying their wares/wears.
Photo #3: Reminds me of that infamous photo of Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield. Just saying.
Thank you, Huckleberry Hound, er, Major! ;o)
Remember too that even in 1940, many were still coming out of the Depression...or so Dad told me. Along with that WWII was the end of the Depression. That's one heck of a way to get out of one. This fellow was darn proud to be working for what was apparently a decent living. And I'm betting that was his first check or one in which he got a BIG raise. KS
Nanook, the organ name plate looks like it starts with a "B" (maybepossiblyperhaps) and the name seems to be written in script. I don't think Baldwin ever wrote their name in script, and it doesn't really look like a Baldwin organ to me. I guess it will remain a mystery forever. IT'S MAJOR'S FAULT!!! ;-)
I don't know about electric organs, but pipe organs usually have an extra keyboard that's played with the feet. It's where you get those really booming super-bass notes. Organists either take their shoes off to play or wear special shoes with very thin soles that they can feel the keys through.
Just going on the shadows in that picture, I'm going to go ahead on and assume that Karl earned that paycheck by fireproofing the gates of Heck.
Meant to add: there's a scene in Carnival of Souls where the camera lingers on the heroine's bare feet as she's playing "profane" music on the organ in the empty church.
The General Fireproofing Company started out its life (in 1902) as a manufacturer of building materials, but is more-famous for its line of steel office furniture. "In 1923 GF decided to produce a standardized steel desk which could be made on an assembly line. This led to the introduction of the 1600 Series in 1925, which was produced well into the 1970's. Starting in the 1950's, these were the largest selling commercial office desks in the world...
"During World War II, GF ceased production of all its regular products in order to manufacture aircraft parts. After VJ Day, almost the entire plant had to be converted back to the manufacture of furniture, and by 1946 the company was producing the same volume they were in 1938. In 1948, GF introduced the Mode-Maker line of executive office desks, designed in collaboration with Raymond Loewy. Many of GF’s furniture lines were discontinued in the 1970s, and the original company went bankrupt in 1989 and was bought by TANG Industries of Gallatin, Tennessee".
"...and was bought by TANG Industries of Gallatin, Tennessee."
That's a big ol' softball that Nanook lobbed over the plate that I just can't resist:
So, they took the remaining inventory of steel desks and turned it into Tang?!?!? Oh, dear. There's that metallic taste you mentioned earlier, Major.
My first office desk was a General Fireproofing product. The Air Force got generations worth of use out of them, only letting them go when modular furniture became the rage in the mid-to-late ‘90s. I was confident I would survive an earthquake under that thing.
Fun photos, Major!
@ Chuck-
I had a McDowell-Craig desk that was also built like a tank. (McDowell-Craig is 'just up the road' from Disneyland in Santa Fe Springs) - easily spotted from the 'Santa Ana Freeway'.
JB, I always unfasten my belt and lower my fly for photos. It’s how they do it in Milan, or so I’m told. I’ll take your word for it re: playing those organ pedals, but it sure looks tricky to me. It’s OK about the ankles, just don’t let it happen again!
Nanook, I not only had my life mask made, but my brother also tried a sort of latex “stippling” effect to make me look like an old man. Then he realized that he didn’t have any way to remove the gum-based adhesive that he also used (this was after we’d gone trick-or-treating). So he used acetone! My face was red into the next day at school. That was the LAST time I ever let him use me as a guinea pig. As for the organ, I’d like to believe that the one in my photo is a rare and wonderful instrument that would now be worth millions!
Nanook, I’m outraged that you forgot Kimball brand organs!
Lou and Sue, that reminds me of that Dr. Seuss thing, “The tough coughs as he ploughs the dough”! But I like yours better to be honest. I’m OK with earth tones, in fact I know a person who just painted many of their interior walls shades of blue and it is (unsurprisingly) rather cold and depressing. My sister painted one of her living room walls a shade of tomato red, which sounds crazy, but it looks great! I only wish the ladies in my photo looked like Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield.
KS, oh believe me, I have no doubt that Karl was genuinely thrilled to be able to display that paycheck. What a day that must have been for him and his family!
JB, I guess it makes me feel good knowing that people will not be getting a good night’s sleep because of me!
Melissa, I love those bass notes, and a while ago visited a place where they had a mighty Wurlitzer. When the bass notes were played, the place literally shook. Just like SENSURROUND! The musician said that those pipes are so large that a person can fit inside them.
Melissa, I love “Carnival of Souls”!
Nanook, ah, that wonderful steel office furniture. It sounds like I’m making fun of it, but it was STRONG. I had a steel desk when I was a kid, probably military surplus of some kind. I kind of wish I still had it! We probably got rid of it during one of our many moves.
JB, the astronauts needed all that steel from Tang to protect themselves from cosmic rays and space vampires. You can read all about it at your local liberry.
Chuck, modular furniture! Pfffft! Sissy stuff, I say! I don’t even like mattresses. A wooden plank is good enough for me.
Nanook, furniture that lasts forever is not a good business model. Nobody will ever need to replace it!
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