Plywood Caveman ? Vintage real photo postcard of the Ozark Bluff Dwellers

Plywood Caveman Cutout! Real Photo Postcard directing tourists to the Bluff Dwellers Cave in the Ozarks. The cave was discovered in 1925 and opened to the public two years later. Once inhabited by the "Ozark Bluff Dwellers" but sealed by a landslide 2000 or so years ago. The card is unmailed and not dated but likely not long after the owners opened it for tours. "SEE MY CAVE" roadside sign RPPC collection Jim Linderman

Wooden Lumberjack at the Snohomish, Washington Grange State Fair 1936 Folk Art Sculpture Real Photo Postcard

Wooden Lumberjack at the Snohomish, Washington Grange State Fair 1936. The fair continues to this day. Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog

African-American Yard Show Folk Art in the Black Eden Idlewild, Michigan Black History 1915 RPPC Collection Jim Linderman

Dated 1915 (which makes it likely one of the earliest photos of an African-American Yard Show) this scarce RPPC comes from Idlewild, Michigan. The city was founded in 1912 specifically as a resort town for black tourists who weren’t welcome most places at the time. A refuge from Jim Crow laws still rampant. Here, Black citizens could legally buy property, relax, use the facilities, fish the lake and take up residence. Numerous black notables visited and vacationed in Idlewild…even Louis Armstrong purchased a home there. The famed Flamingo Club operated and attracted countless famous Black entertainers. Members of the Black intelligentsia from Chicago and further established a foothold and the city flourished. By the 1920s Over 6000 people had purchased 17,000 lots in the area. Many articles and several books tell the history of the birth, decline and ongoing restoration of this Black Eden. The owner of this establishment is unidentified. The awning identifies the place as “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and the rock creature has “Swannee River” written on it. Both problematic now, but during the earliest days of the 19th century black condemnation of Uncle Tom was not as strong as today. As for “Swannee” River, it could refer to the actual waterway (which ran from Georgia to Florida) rather than to the Stephen Foster song “Old Folks at Home” by written in 1851 and STILL the official state song of Florida. The song has a controversial history well-documented (having been composed as a minstrel tune) but it is surprising to see here in this context. Several of my posts have received informative comments from Michiganders. I hope some can add more information on this unusual find. The Folk Artist from Black Eden. African-American Yard Show art Idlewild, Michigan 1915 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb I have posted numerous other yard show photos on the Dull Tool Dim Bulb blog over the years, but this one is the oldest. #yardshow. #yardart. #blackfolkart. #african-american. #rppc. #idlewild #michigan. #realphotopostcard. #outsiderart. See the Wikipedia article on Idlewild HERE

Where did Noah's ark land? Programmatic Architecture Original postcard c. 1950 Collection Jim Linderman

If you have ever wondered where Noah’s Ark landed, here it is! North of Leucadia, CA at the Batiquitos lagoon! Note the pair of Giraffes poking their heads out of the roof. George Herbert build the boat in 1946 and it served patrons until around the 1960s. This appears to be a scarce postcard, the only other I find is an illustration. There must be considerable interest in the place, as someone is selling modern copies of the original menu. Deserts seem of most interest. They served up a Camel Banana special, a Brown Bear special, a Giraffe special and a Black Panther hot fudge sundae. Noah’s Ark Restaurant c. 1950 postcard collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Antique Folk Art Sculpture Thresher and Steam Tractor c. 1920 Real Photo Postcard

Someone received a nice giant toy! Antique Folk Art Sculpture Thresher and Steam Tractor c. 1920 Real Photo Postcard Collection Jim Linderman

Gorillas in Chains! Folk Art Real Photo Postcard

A handsome giant gorilla is shown in the Crescent City Totem Pole Park, and a rudimentary smaller version from my shelf. Real Photo Postcard Gorilla, c. 1940 and carved version of same. Collection Jim Linderman

Folk Art Shovel-Tailed Snow Snake Real Photo Postcard

Folk Art Shovel-Tailed Snow Snake Real Photo Postcard of Rice Lake, WI.  "Largest one ever seen."
Collection Jim Linderman courtesy Curley's Antiques

Plein Air Portrait Painters

Two aspiring illustrators apply their craft outdoors.  Enjoy the Summer!

Original Real Photo Postcard inscribed on the reverse with date 1912 and
Original Snapshot inscribed on reverse with date 1953.
Collection Jim Linderman
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Folk Art Wood Loiterer circa 1920 Real Photo Postcard

Folk Art guard named "Sourdough" watches over the shop. 
Real Photo Postcard c. 1920 Seattle  Scenic Photo Publishing Co.
Collection Jim Linderman

A curious photograph. Orphans? Wards of the State?

A real photo postcard from the turn of the century depicts three children with odd dresses.  The woman in charge is "Mrs. Davis" and all three youngsters have different last names.  Each has a small number written on them, the corresponding names are written on the back.  My first thought was they they could be orphans.  Early visitors to Japan? Any guesses welcome.

Real Photo Postcard c. 1900 - 1930.  Collection Jim Linderman

Vintage Women who Fly Photograph Postcard RPPC Images collection Jim Linderman

Vintage Women who Fly Photograph Postcard RPPC Images collection Jim Linderman
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The Noah's Ark of New Hampshire RPPC

I guess we could also call this "Ness moves his Mess."  Real photo postcard shows E. W. Ness moving 34 kinds of farm animals through town on a sled.  Why?  MY guess is that the locals had created a nativity scene downtown, and Ness agreed to provide the critters.  Human Nativity Scenes used to be fairly common.

Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb.
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Folk Art Figural Ice Sculpture in Minnesota 1937

An interesting folk art sculpture made from SNOW in St. Paul, Minnesota 1937.  The creation even shows a pair of folk art portraits on the wall!  Figural snow and ice sculpture have been staples of the St. Paul Winter Sports Carnival since 1885, when the city decided to create an ice palace while the prominent Montreal, Canada festival was on lock down for a smallpox outbreak!

An ephemeral folk art sculpture which has melted away.

Many other images of the festival are collected by the Minnesota History Center HERE but this one does not appear.

St. Paul Winter Sports Carnival 1937 Real Photograph Post Card collection Jim Linderman

Similar examples of unusual folk art and sculpture appears in the recent 250 page book IN SITU: AMERICAN FOLK ART IN PLACE by Jim Linderman.  Available in affordable ebook and paperback HERE.

American Folk Art Construction in a Hardware Storefront Window RPPC

American Folk Art Construction in a Hardware Storefront Window which celebrates the local football team winning a big game.  Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman.

Who is Driving at Rockin' Chair Park?

Who is Driving at Rockin' Chair Park?  Real Photo Post Card no date 
Collection Jim Linderman

Man on ICE Real Photo Post Card of a Stunt man Freezing

Man on ICE Stunt (coming out live on the radio!)   Real Photo Post Card of a Stunt man Freezing  Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Nantucket Whirligig and Weathervane Late 19th Early 20th Century

Late 19th / Early 20th Century.  You'll see that phrase often describing American folk art Sculpture.  A real photo postcard dated 1914.  Was this fellow in business 14 years earlier?  Probably.  This "Nantucket Merchant" has the standard Sailor whirligig and Whale weathervane, but the art-twirling Bear (second from left) never really took off.  It's up to you if the crow on the right is real or not...cheap printing.  Most of the crows around here won't let you get too close.  (See his competitor below on the back cover of our new book)
Original Real Photo Postcard 1914 Collection Jim Linderman.

 SEE ALSO THE BOOK AND EBOOK IN SITU : AMERICAN FOLK ART IN PLACE available for ordering from Blurb. com by Jim Linderman.  250 Pages of forgotten folk art environments, trade signs in place and more. 

Antique Southern Hooked Rugs Folk Art from Georgia RPPC Collection Jim Linderman

Adairsville, Georgia is about halfway between Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN.  Route 75 probably allows one to skirt the roadside craft folk one could have run into during the 1930s, but it looks like Mrs. J. A. Greene did all right. Hooked Rugs and knick-knacks of wood likely made by her son.  Folk Art of the rural South.   RPPC dated 1941 Collection Jim Linderman
SEE ALSO THE BOOK AND EBOOK IN SITU: AMERICAN FOLK ART IN PLACE available from Blurb.com

Real Photo Postcard of a Man Getting Hit with a Rock Trick RPPC

A gimmick real photo postcard.  UFO in the sky?  I think a photo trick.  Either that, or he's not going to be standing very much longer. Collection Jim Linderman
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The Living Statue of Liberty by Florence Brugger, Reading, PA 1918 Real Photo Postcard

Florence Brugger was a singer and obviously a performer with body control.  A newspaper from Reading, PA in 1917 reports on a concert.  She apparently also posed for a real photo postcard riding in one of those "crescent moon" novelty real photo postcards, as I find a brief record.  That is about all I can find, but this RPPC remains…"Statue of Liberty posed by Florence Brugger in Theatre December 11, 1918."