Early Photograph of a Cross Dresser

Well, I think this snapshot qualifies as an early photo of a cross-dresser...even if it was posed in jest. Still an unusual vernacular photograph. Untitled (Man in Women's lingerie) anonymous Dated on reverse 1935. Collection Jim Linderman

At the Circus. Vintage photographs of Circus Performers and Trainers from the Jim Linderman Collection

Most of these antique circus photographs have appeared on the Dull Tool Dim Bulb blog before, each with a story and some documentation. This post is just to look. Various 19th and 20th century circus photographs Collection Jim Linderman

Where are Marion and Irma? Vernacular Photographs

Marion and Irma are playing games at the Sally Rand Nude Revue show at the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939 San Francisco.  Pair of original snapshot photographs 
Collection Jim Linderman

Large Folk Art Whirligig in the Sky

Large Folk Art Whirligig  original snapshot c. 1950? Collection Jim Linderman

Love During Wartime Vietnam Edition. Pair of Snapshots

Love during wartime, Vietnam Edition.  Identified as "house girls" on reverse.  Anonymous photographs, circa 1970 Collection Jim Linderman  One of a continuing series on Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

A Genuine Dog and Pony show

Genuine Dog and Pony show! On reverse: Willie J. Bernard, Manager.  Bernard's Freak Animal Fair Canaan, NH. No date, circa 1930?  Collection Jim Linderman

Gay Aquatic Review and Mike Duffy Miniature Sideshow Carnival At the Circus in Black and White

I've done thirty or more "at the circus in black and white" posts here over the years, but this one is most curious.  The snapshot appears to show a MINIATURE circus.  Small period signs announce the performers.  A tiny "Cotton Club" stage and show.  The snapshot reverse reads "Mike Duffy and nephew on horse.  Carnival Midway front and background".  No date, but 1930 to 1950 I presume.  I have no idea what the "Gay Aquatic Revue" is.  

Original snapshot photograph of miniature Duffy Circus Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb 

Topiary Bicycle

Topiary Bicycle snapshot collection Jim Linderman
THANKS TO BOXLOT

Young Donald Trump and Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III of Alabama Wall Off the World

Young Donald Trump and Jefferson Beauregard Sessions the Third of Alabama Wall Off the rest of the World
Original Snapshot collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Frat House Freeze! Ice and Snow Sculpture from Maine 1939 Vernacular Photographs

See also the Book (and ebook) In Situ: American Folk Art in Place available now.
Ice and Snow Sculpture from Maine 1939 Vernacular Photographs. From the Facebook site BOX LOT.

Love during Wartime Anonymous Vernacular Photograph circa 1940

Love during Wartime Anonymous Vernacular Photograph circa 1940  
Collection Jim Linderman

Kissammee Momument of the States 1952 Original Snapshot

The Monument of the States contained a rock from every state in the union (at the time...two of our states with the most rocks were not eligible yet) collected after Pearl Harbor.  The originator of the project was Dr. Charles Bressler-Pettis.  Charles did not go get the rocks.  He wrote all the governors and had them send one down to Florida!  It still stands!  See a contributor revisit his rock below! 

Workers Prep the NEW BIG SIGN (for something...)

Early automobile race?  Horse race?  Guesses?  Somebody is going to need a whole lot of chalk.  Undated Snapshot

Sepia Pin Up Calendar Storefront original photograph collection Jim Linderman

Sepia Pin Up Calendar Storefront.  This snapshot likely shows a photo studio associated with Sepia Magazine, which ran over 35 years but never achieved the reputation of the competitor Ebony or the mini-digest Jet.  Still, it was a popular media source for the Black country within the country.  Starting in 1947, Sepia was published in Texas by Good Publishing Company.  Good was also responsible for the few African-American scandal magazines of the mid 20th Century.  Hep, Jive and Bronze Thrills also came from Good.  Interestingly, The owner was a white man named George Levitan, but the staff was largely African-American, and Mr. Levitan was a civil rights supporter.

This could be a satellite office.  The magazine had nation-wide distribution, so it is possible a studio looking for glamour shots of African-American women would be in NYC or Chicago.  It is also possible this was simply a storefront set up by an anonymous photographer using the Sepia name.  What better way to attract talent?  There is a similar snapshot for sale on a website which identifies the date around 1930, but that is unlikely.

There is so little documentation of early African-American pinups.  My book Secret Life of the Black Pin-up is out of print., but many of the images have been shared and posted by others.  The phrase "Black is Beautiful" was intended to wake up all races…African-American residents were so abused, even they had doubts.  Yes, Black women are beautiful and they had their own subculture of pin-up beauty, but the history is buried and the issues scarce.

One reason so few of the original Good Publications magazines are seen today is due to the "pass-along rate."  Unlike, for example, issues of National Geographic, which are stockpiled in many garages in nearly mint but moldy condition, most of the race magazines were shared over and over until they wore out.  They cost from 25 to 35 cents…and before the 1960s, there was little disposable income for the minority.  They were seldom collected by libraries.  A few examples of Good Magazines are shown here.

See also HERE and HERE. 
Original snapshot Sepia Pin-Up Calendar Storefront.  No date, circa 1955?  Collection Jim Linderman.  Jim Linderman's book The Birth of Rock and Roll published by Dust to Digital is available for purchase HERE and HERE.

  

Patriotic Poontang Pinup Tear off a Piece! War Bond Sign from World War Two makes it HOT

Patriotic Poontang Pinup Tear off a Piece!  War Bond Sign from World War Two makes it HOT!

Well, it is nice to see a World War Two Pinup who isn't Betty Grable...but my guess is that this risque folk art painting disturbed some of the folks on the home front.  It is working though...more than halfway to the goal!  The small text reads "Buy Bonds and make it HOT for the Japanazis.  

I had no idea the phrase "tear off a piece" went back that far.  It goes back to the 19th Century.  "A phrase denoting seduction or sexual achievement from the male point of view" but raising money was at the time was more important than good taste, I guess.

This isn't the first "piece" of risque WW2 ephemera I've seen.  Here is a set of sexy patriotic pins I presume were worn by USO women helping serve the boys.  PIN ME DOWN SAILOR! 

Snapshot circa 1943 Pinup Bond campaign and Patriotic Pins Collection Jim Linderman courtesy Curley's Den of Antiquities  

Bicycle Stunt Snapshot Vernacular Photo

Bicycle Stunt Snapshot Vernacular Photo Collection Jim Linderman

One Man Play? Bizarre Fetish? Magic Trick? Performance Art? Interrogation? Mystery Snapshot

A curious snapshot comes by way of a friend.  One Man Play?  Bizarre Fetish?  Magic Trick?  Performance Art?  Interrogation? 

Li'l Elvis vernacular photograph collection Jim Linderman

L'il Elvis is in the building.  Vernacular photograph 1/19/67 collection Jim Linderman

In the Doghouse (Misanthropic Misogyny Version) Early 20th Century Sexism and the Idiom Vernacular Photograph

In the Doghouse (Misanthropic Version)  Early 20th Century Sexism and the Idiom Vernacular Photograph

In the Doghouse is an idiom.  In the case above, a particularly misanthropic mysogynistic representation of dominant male culture of the 1930s or so.  I presume it was all in good fun…but we'll never know.  An astounding snapshot.  You can see the real dog being entertained in the background, the filthy cur.  Well, it wasn't his fault.  Only a human can treat a human like a dog.  As I write a companion blog called Vintage Sleaze, that a woman from the early 20th century would be posed like this comes as no surprise at all.  Still, it seems to me an iconic snapshot depicting sexist mores, and believe me, they persist.  The BBC has been running a series on Sexual Violence worldwide, and it has been gruesome.  The planet certainly has a long, long way to go.     One source traces the phrase origin to the book Peter Pan (!) in 1911,  when author J. M. Barrie put the father Mr. Darling in the doghouse for not protecting his kids.  At least he was a guy.

Anonymous Snapshot circa 1930 Collection Jim Linderman (Thanks and a tip "o" the hat to LL)
BOOKS AND $5.99 Ebooks by the author available HERE.

Speculation on a Found Photograph Pinup in the Office and Starting Anew

An anonymous boss seemingly creates a less than harassment-free work environment in this found photograph snapshot.  Let's examine it!

If I am not mistaken, the year on the pin-up calendar is 1945.  Squint.  Odd that the calendar has been placed OVER another poster, unless you consider it was the end of World War Two.  One way to celebrate the start of a fresh, war-free year?  Cover up the World War Two propaganda.  Then roll up your sleeves and get back to work.  Maybe this photo shows two "Rosie Riviters" out of dungarees and back to work at the office.

Not speculation, but old fashioned pin-up gawking reveals another tidbit.  The dame with nice gams was rendered by painter Rolf Armstrong, I believe.  

Snapshot circa 1945 collection Jim Linderman   
BOOKS AND $5.99 EBOOKS BY THE AUTHOR AVAILABLE HERE