Turn of the Century Show Business Portly Gents Vaudevillians RPPC

A portly pair of buffoons battle bellies in Chicago at the stage door, circa 1900.  Play unknown.  Yiddish theater?  

Real Photo Postcard, Azo Back Circa 1900 Collection Jim Linderman

Bearded Band House of David Musicians RPPC

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Duck Dynasty the Band?  Nope.  City of David Real Photograph Post Card mailed from Benton Harbor, MI 1947.  Collection Jim Linderman

Pole Climbing Daredevil Stunt Real Photo Postcard

A pole climbing daredevil makes it to the top with his partner supervising from the platform below.  Click to see spectators at lower right wondering if they are to witness a fall. Pole climbers have been documented for centuries, a few more are discussed HERE.  In this case, an early photographer has positioned himself to capture the moment, but there appears to be few folks for him to sell his RPPC to after the fellow descends.  Location unknown.

Daredevil Real Photograph Postcard Circa 1920 Collection Jim Linderman

The Famous Painting of Professor Woodruff AKA Nude Lady Held Up in the Lake (September Morn)

The Hold Up, Professor Woodruff's masterpiece.  Speculating here, I am going to guess Woodruff painted his dream, or a vision, or an obsession.  I hope it was not painted from life, as it appears to show a man holding a gun on a nude woman, And Woodruff seems pretty darn proud of himself.  I have checked the inventories of some lauded institutions with no luck.  Does anyone out there know where Woodruff's rough masterpiece ended up?
(Just for the record, see the link HERE)

Real Photo Postcard circa 1915 collection Jim Linderman

BOOKS AND EBOOKS BY JIM LINDERMAN (MORE COMING)  
ARE AVAILABLE HERE

Comic Foreground Novelty Vintage Photographs ARGENTINA TINTAMARRESQUE The New Dull Tool Dim Bulb Book

Argentina Tintamarresque!  Comic Foreground Vintage Photographs.  You know the drill by now.  The newest Book from House of Dull Tool Dim Bulb, and it is only $5.99 in Ebook form, and $21.95 in paperback.  66 pages of fun! Cutout novelty screens were invented by the same guy who first painted dogs playing poker. That astounding fact may just be enough for you to purchase this, the most curious of books, but I will throw in a few more encouragements. One, all the photographs included in the book predate 1930, and two, all are from Argentina. Cassius Marcellus Coolidge is credited with creating "comic foregrounds" which put a sitter behind a caricatured painting. Staple of carnivals, "just off the exit" rest stops and anywhere one wants to have fun looking stupid. Argentina Tintamarresque, as odd as it may seem, collects tons of them.  Why?  Why NOT?

Most are real photo postcards, but there are snapshots.  Not only are the futuristic modes of transportation all wrong, the folks perched behind them seldom smile, as these are so old folks still thought you had to refrain from moving.  In glorious South American sepia, each a little gem.

Argentina Tintamarresque is OUT OF PRINT!  Current books available under the Dull Tool Dim Bulb imprint from Blurb are HERE

Olof Krans Folk Art Painting on a Real Photo Postcard c. 1927

Olof Krans Folk Art Painting on a Real Photo Postcard 

An original real photo postcard from 1927 showing a magnificent naive painting by Olof Krans.  Krans was a Swedish immigrant brought to Illinois at age 12 by his parents in 1850.  They settled at Bishop Hill, as noted on the image, a utopian settlement founded by Devotionalists. 

Olof Krans painted for much of his life, initially producing stage backdrops and signs.  Could he have also painted backdrops for photographers?  He worked at a photographer's studio in the late 19th century (according to the Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century American Folk Art and Artists by Chuck and Jan Rosenak) but his major works were done from 1900 to 1916.  Estimates of his output range from 90 to 200 paintings.  Many are portraits, but his best works are his farm scenes of prairie folk lined up as straight as a horizon.  Sow straight and reap!
 
How, or why, one of his paintings was shown on this postcard (mailed in 1927) is beyond me.


In 1996 Krans was the subject of a 30 minute documentary produced in Sweden by Göran Gunér available for purchase HERE.  A translated description of the film follows.

Målaren från Bishop Hill/The Painter of Bishop Hill
(30 min, 1996). Written, directed and produced by Göran Gunér. English narration.

This is the story of a Swedish Utopia on the prairie founded by a religious sect in 1846. Led by their prophet Erik Janson some 800 Swedes emigrated to the US this year, which also marks the start of mass emigration from a poor country in the north. Soon the prophet was murdered in a court house, but the colony continued to prosper until the breakout of the Civil War in the early 1860s.
Olof Krans, the painter of Bishop Hill (born in Sweden 1838, brought to Bishop Hill By his parents in 1850) recalled at old age his childhood memories and painted them with naïve charm. Through these images it is still possible to visualize this Utopia on the prairie. Bishop Hill is nowadays considered the most remarkable cultural monument outside Scandinavia. And Olof Krans is one of the most prominent names in American folk art. He has his own museum at Bishop Hill, Illinois, a few hours by car from Chicago. 

Real Photo Postcard 1927 Olof Krans Painting  Collection Jim Linderman

Books and ebooks by Jim Linderman are available HERE

 

SUPERMAN and SUPERWOMAN superboy and supergirl RPPC collection Jim Linderman

CLICK TO SUPERCHARGE SUPERMAN AND SUPERWOMAN

Real Photo Postcard circa 1950 Collection Jim Linderman

Order or Browse Books and $5.99 ebooks for iPad by Jim Linderman HERE

The Eldoras Delicate Act of Balance A Different Novelty colllection Jim Linderman

It is a delicate "balance" of art, skill and athleticism as one of the Eldoras avoids looking up the skirt of the other Eldora.

The Eldora's (sic) A Different Novelty Real Photo Post Card Undated (circa 1940?) Collection Jim Linderman

Ebooks ($5.99 Each) available HERE from Blurb.com

You NEVER Forget your first Airplane Ride! Real Photo Postcards from Argentina Collection Jim Linderman

Magnificent Argentinians in their flying machines.  A group of Real Photograph Post Cards circa 1920 - 1930.  I haven't explored the diffusion of real photo technology throughout the world (nor the use of goofy fun house photo props) but it would seem to be a field worth pursuing.

Original Real Photo Postcards from Argentina circa 1920 - 1930 collection Jim Linderman
See Books and Ebooks available HERE

Card Game Bride? RPPC Deck of Cards Wedding

Deck of Cards Wedding Party

I have no idea why this wedding party has participants dressed as a deck of cards, but maybe you do.


Real Photo Post Card circa 1900 Collection Jim Linderman

Have you Seen Freddie Cunningham Boy Wonder ? Nope RPPC collection Jim Linderman

Sorry, no.  Only in this card.

Freddie Cunningham The Boy Wonder Unexcelled High Wire Artist circa 1900 Collection Jim Linderman

Jim Linderman Books and Ebooks available HERE

Goofus Glass Carnival Glass FREE Origin of the Collectable RPPC collection Jim Linderman

Carnival Glass was largely given away or sold cheap, as you can see here, at carnivals.  The booth reads FREE but I am sure they had some angle.  It is also called "Goofus Glass" as the decoration was cheap and wore off, hence people felt it was goofy or that the seller had tried to "goof us" according to Wiki.  It is highly collectable today, but according to me this real photo post card is far more scarce than goofus glass. Not only does it show the questionable source of the glass, it has a few sleazy carnies hovering around for the photo.


"FREE" Carnival booth with glass and notions Real Photo Post Card dated on reverse 1908 Collection Jim Linderman


Order Books and affordable Ebooks for iPAD ($5.99 each) by Jim Linderman HERE at Blurb.

Fake Native American Band RPPC Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman

Real Photo Postcard circa 1910 Collection Jim Linderman

Browse and Purchase Dull Tool Dim Bulb Books and EBOOKS ($5.99)  HERE

Madcaps Fingerama Musical Madness (I guess...)

Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for THE MADCAPS and their original FINGERAMA !!!

Original Real Photo Postcard Date Unknown Collection Jim Linderman

Pet Cemetery ? Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman

Mystery.  Pet Cemetery?  Garden layout?  Any guesses?

Real Photo Postcard circa 1900 Collection Jim Linderman

Jim Linderman books and ebook catalog is HERE

Pimped Out in Crepe Vintage Parade Automobile RPPC Collection Jim Linderman

Drive slow until the glue dries.

Real Photo Postcard unknown date Collection Jim Linderman

World's Biggest Ice Cream Cone fights Midwestern Heat!!

I gotta say, this summer of 100 degree plus days and apocalyptic, biblical quality drought is starting to bother me...but then I moved to the mitten after reading the day would come when water would be more expensive than gasoline.  I can go dip it out of the lake with no problem, but as it has been sullied by mankind, I hate to think of all the wood I'll have to chop to boil it first.  

Oh well, junior here isn't worried about the heat.  

Real Photo Postcard, circa 1890? Collection Jim Linderman

Books and ebook downloads by Jim Linderman HERE

House of David House Band ! RPPC

The Women's band at Eden Springs, the House of David commune at Benton Harbor, MI.  To see Dan and Debbi Geib's wonderful "virtual tour" of the House of David site and history visit HERE.  The site is created with vintage photographs, real photo postcards and even films.  Much recommended! 

Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman

Tinsmith Horse Weathervane with Barn Cupola Folk Art

Some documentation here from when Main street had a tinsmith, or maybe down the road a bit.  Barn Cupolas are wonderful, big throwbacks to the family farm.  I don't think those huge chicken factories hidden back behind chain-link fences so you don't go see how they are raised need cupolas.  They need FANS for sure...but our major bird breeding manufacturing processes aren't too concerned with the blowing wind direction...or making the factory stand out.  An indication of their shame, I think.  What they are interested in is hormone fed birds and clipping their beaks so they don't fight.

Tinsmith with Horse Weathervane Sample and Trade Sign circa 1890 Real Photo Postcard Olivia Minnesota Collection Jim Linderman

Don't Take the Train

Real Photo Postcard circa 1900 Collection Jim Linderman