Quote and Credit

Quote and Credit

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Tiny Lord's Prayer from Zion Illinois RPPC



Well, I'm posting an enlargement to keep teeny tiny writer George Chenoweth honest. He claims this microfilm size Lord's Prayer is written NINE TIMES in the space of a postage stamp. 645 words, 2489 letters, and his name and address is also written in full. Squint. Count. Ta DAH!!!!!

Please also note I have started a "line extension" which is a term used in advertising to indicate a new flavor for an old product. That would be "OLD TIME RELIGION" on which I am posting just that, and every damn day rather than just saturday nights as I used to here. Feel free to follow! It's gonna be Heavenly!

The miniature Lord's Prayer on a Postage stamp sized piece of paper on a Real Photo Postcard, Collection Jim Linderman

Brenner, The Bozo of Baltimore (And Bozo vs. Brozo)



Stephen G. Brenner was not only the Bozo assigned the Maryland beat, he was also involved with carnivals and sideshows all his life. Brenner was born in 1894 and published his autobiography "My Life Story as a Clown" in 1978. He was an early, if not the first Bozo. Incidentally, There is a list of dozens of regional Bozos listed in Wiki. Larry Harmon is, of course, the most famous, but my favorite is Victor Trujilo of Mexico City who created "Brozo el Payaso Tenebrosco" (Brozo the Creepy Clown) shown here in a clip with his inspiration the Mexican Bozo.



Real Photo promotional card for Stephen G. Brenner, Collection Jim Linderman


The Rise of True Crime: 20th Century Murder and American Popular Culture (and the delivery system missed)





An interesting read and a few tiny, hand-held examples the author missed. Jean Murley discusses the rise of "true crime" as a form of entertainment in a scholarly but readable manner. At least I read it all, and my attention span lasts as long as a grape fizzie in warm water. From pulp magazines in the 30's to websites trading rumors circling around the latest "missing white woman of the week" a very nice survey of media channels through history clamoring for the lurid market. You HAVE to love a book with the phrase "incendiary ambulance-chasing pseudojournalist Nancy Grace..." The trading cards date to the 1930's, a fabulous set of 240 true crime cards, each with the thrilling exploits of a lawman fighting a gunsel...and like it should be, the good guys always win. Book is linked at right.

Set of G-Men and Heroes of the Law Trading Cards, c. 1936. Collection Jim Linderman

Sing Along with Jesus and Roy


Several more children's gospel records are posted at old time religion

The Lord is Counting on You by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. 5 inch sound recording disc Collection Jim Linderman

Book and Job Printers Upstairs


Original Photograph, circa 1900 Collection Jim Linderman

International Center of Photography

Just a quick note to remind all to JOIN and FOLLOW the International Center of Photography. It is an incredible institution and the exhibits are outstanding. The course list, which I just received in the mail, is extensive and impressive. Membership is not only affordable, it is tax deductable. It also includes reciprocal memberships at many photography institutions around the country, likely one or two near you. Their website is state of the art and their blog "FANS IN A FLASHBULB" is intelligent, beautiful and manages to achieve a historical presence with a contemporary appeal. Plus, I wrote them a question in the comment field once, and the answer was informative, well-researched and appreciated!

Little Girls and Big Dogs: The Wonderful World of Frank Wendt Photographer






Five Cabinet Card photographs, Frank Wendt. C. 1895 Collection Jim Linderman

Love Awakening Zones Marriage Manual




Images from a 30 page Untitled "Marriage Manual" No Publisher, No date c. 1920? Collection Jim Linderman

Announcing OLD TIME RELIGION! Vernacular Photography Ephemera and Miracles from the Jim Linderman Collection




old time religion!

The newest blog revealing miracles from the Jim Linderman Collection!

" Vernacular religious detritus from the Jim Linderman collection of photography and ephemera. Jesus is my jet plane and I have the Lord on speed dial. Old Time Religion is a natural line extension from Dull Tool Dim Bulb, where posts of this nature occur every Saturday night while the rest of you are sinning. Wake up, it is Sunday morning! Praise the Lord and Click to Enlarge! "

I will continue to post the sacred, the saved and the glory of salvation here of course...but then Old Time Religion has a link to send a prayer message directly to GOD.


old time religion

Back to School


Large, Ugly Composite Photograph, 1890 Collection Jim Linderman

Barnum (Horrors in Wax #12)


Wax P. T. Barnum sizes up the purses of passing rubes as tiny wax Tom Thumb and huge wax mammoth look on. Barnum's first hoax was passing off a blind and paralyzed African-American woman as the 160 year old George Washington's former nurse. As 1500 paying spectators found out during her public autopsy (!) she was only 80. His next African-American spectacle was Man-Monkey William Johnson, a microcephalic who was taught to speak a "mysterious" gibberish language. He tried to purchase William Shakespeare's birth home. Two days before his death, Barnum gave the local newspaper permission to print his obituary so he wouldn't miss it. Before passing, he paid for a "life-sized statue" for Tom Thumb's grave.

Number twelve in my "Horrors in Wax" series. Click blue subject heading below to see them all.


Postcard, c. 1970 Collection Jim Linderman

Harvest


Real Photo Post Card Providence, RI 1915 Collection Jim Linderman

Take Me to the Water Baptism Book Reviews and MORE



Just a brief reminder that reviews of TAKE ME TO THE WATER: IMMERSION BAPTISM IN VINTAGE MUSIC AND PHOTOGRAPHY 1890-1950 are being collected HERE along with press information, the film, selected images and more. The recent reviews here are from organizations I admire and am taking the opportunity to link their sites. Additional material (and much, much more) is available at the incredible Dust-to-Digital. There have been dozens of reviews, all glowing, and I am grateful for every one.

Living Blues is an institution, over 200 issues have been published since 1970. The magazine of the African-American blues tradition was incorporated into the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi in 1983, an organization of considerable importance. We know what has happened to many "hard copy" music publications, but this one has a solid rock of authenticity behind it. See their website and programs HERE.

The Michigan Photographic Historical Society is one of the longer running and more active regional photography organizations. Since 1972 they have "focused" on the collection and preservation of photographic equipment, images, literature and history. Their coverage extends far beyond the Mitten State and I am proud to be a member, if you are interested in collecting photographs or the art of photography, membership is recommended. See their website and join HERE.


Thank you

Boy Preacher Charles Taylor


Charles Forbes Taylor, Boy Preacher.

During more than 80 years of preaching, Rev. Taylor lectured in more than 1,000 US cities and visited all 50 states and five continents. In the 1950s, he was also billed as "the jet-propelled evangelist."

Original press photograph with crop mark embellishment, 1913 Collection Jim Linderman

To follow my blog of similar material, click OLD TIME RELIGION

Frank Maresca Gallerist, Herman Bridgers Preacher, Artist, Grave Digger







(click image to enlarge)

The current issue of Antiques & Fine Art profiles Frank Maresca. It also shows his apartment in Manhattan, which is always a treat not only because I love Frank's collection and his skill of design, but because there is often shown an object or two which speaks particularly loud to me, the primitive and powerful work of Herman (Bridgets) Bridgers.
More than anyone Frank has shown how to present American folk art sculpture as the art it IS. Well-lite, on pedestals, with room to be seen, appreciated and to breathe. Frank has been an influential gallerist. writer, curator and designer for nearly 30 years, and through his books and exhibits he has literally changed how a country looks it its own art. No small feat. Mr. Maresca has always championed the work of a modest artist who lived in Enfield, North Carolina I wrote about in 1996. Seeing some of his work again in the magazine reminded me it should be archived online, so here it is.