Presenting LAURA MAE WHITE and HAROLD BATEMAN ROBERTS

Harold Bateman Roberts and Laura Mae White were married on June 21, 1939.

Harold was born, I believe, Dec. 19, 1906. Laura graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California in 1936. This would make Harold around 33 and Laura around 20 when they married.

I never knew these people.

Click on any image to see it larger.

The wedding photographer was Witzel-Los Angeles. I don't know if this Witzel, a Hollywood photographer, was the same photographer, but I'm guessing it might have been someone from his studio.

This calendar page is from their scrapbook.

Before being married, Harold had spent many years traveling on various adventures in the U.S. Coast Guard. Specifically, he'd been to Alaska on the USS Northland multiple times.

All of this was purchased several years ago at an estate sale at the Roberts' home. I do not know which of them had most recently passed. In fact I do not know if they were even still together.

At the sale I purchased many photographs, a photo album that contained photos of Harold and various friends before his marriage, and a scrapbook named "Harold & Lolly." I'm still disgusted with myself for not buying his Alaskan adventure album. It was several hundred dollars and they did try to convince me to buy it. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I will always be sorry I didn't. There was an entire office filled with his memorabilia, including a lot of old movies he'd shot in Alaska. I was told there was someone coming from Hollywood to purchase the movies.

Below are a few more newspaper clippings from their scrapbook. And you can click on the labels (Roberts) or do a search of this blog (top left corner of blog) to find more photos of both Harold and Lolly that I have posted over the years.

There were also many photos of a little girl that I purchased, but I have no idea if she was theirs. There are a lot of wedding cards and anniversary cards in the scrapbook, but no birth announcements except for one small one that might have been for Laura.

Below are two handmade cards that are also in the scrapbook. No idea who made them.

If anyone ever finds anything about Laura Mae White Roberts or Harold Bateman Roberts I'd love to hear about it.

For now, they'll always be a mystery in which I know just enough to make me even more curious.

This is my last August submission for this month's them on Sepia Saturday.
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Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 7 available at Amazon.

CONCENTRATION with every move and every step

I first posted this snapshot in 2008. In my attempt to participate in this week's Sepia Saturday I was racking my brain for an image that might fit the theme. Then the lightbulb went off and I remembered this one. Now I find I already posted it once before for Sepia Saturday. Apparently my lightbulbs are a bit old.

The man on the left is Mr. Roberts who was a member of the US Coast Guard in the 1930s. Click on the label "Mr. Roberts" to see other photos of him. No idea who the fellow on the right might be.

What really comes home to me right now about this shot is the stare on Mr. Roberts face. Since yesterday I've had the same stare, but not for the same reason.

My doctor finally said my ankle has healed enough to stop wearing the damanable boot all the time. While I'm at home I can use a lightweight fabric brace and a sturdy shoe. I just need to wear the boot when I go anywhere. Now, I thought "YES! I'm free of the boot!" Rushed home and took the boot off and for the first time since March 17th I stood freely on my left foot. I was not prepared for what followed. I imagined it would feel awkward to suddenly put pressure on my leg since the muscles have wasted away these past months. I knew that would happen, add in the fear of falling and rebreaking it, and you have the sensation of confusion I've been dealing with. But I wasn't prepared for the nausea. It's not nausea caused by pain, more of an equilibrium thing. I just know I feel dizzy when I'm vertical and find I tire out easily. My steps are very cautious and I know I'll be relying on my cane for the foreseeable future. I'm left thinking about the Bill Murray film "What About Bob" with the saying "baby steps." I'm now taking baby steps. It is my new mantra.

Mr. Roberts SUIT

Can't pull anything over on the Sepia Saturday crowd.

Here's Mr. Roberts back in the 1930s in full diving suit. To see other posts about Mr. Roberts click on "Mr. Roberts" in the labels below.


Click on image to see it larger.

Mr. Roberts SHOES

This will be a two part post. Today the shoes in keeping with this weeks Sepia Saturday challenge. Tomorrow the man in the shoes.



Anyone want to guess what these shoes are? I'm thinking it's almost too easy.

THE GAME and the GAMERS

With no opportunity this weekend to participate in Sepia Saturday I did want to post this vernacular image for the theme of "games."

The fellow on the left is Mr. Roberts who was an adventurous member of the Coast Guard. I do not know who is on the right. It always struck me as an image from an old 1930s movie.

To see more of Mr. Roberts click on "Mr. Roberts" in the labels below.

MEN and THEIR CARS: Part 6

This is Mr. Roberts in Washington D. C. next to the Arlington Memorial Bridge which crosses the Potomac River. To the right of the bridge is the Lincoln Memorial.

Click on image to see it larger.

This photo was taken in 1941 when Mr. Roberts and his wife, Lolly, visited D.C. As you can see the film was processed at a Peoples Drug Store.

MEN and THEIR CARS: Part 5

Another shot from the estate sale of Mr. Roberts belongings. The young man leaning on the back of the car which looks like a race car is Mr. Roberts years before he was in the Coast Guard and off on his adventures in Alaska.

This shot, like the one from yesterday's post, was also most likely taken near San Bernardino. The fellas were out and about and taking shots of themselves with their cars. What an adventure it must have been in those days before paved roads, interstates with repair garages and gas stations, and of course, no cell phones thus no way to easily call the auto club. Mind you, the Automobile Club of Southern California had been in existence since 1900. Phonebooths...harder to find.

I think the old jalopies are grand!

Click on image to see it larger.

MEN and THEIR CARS: Part 4

Other than remembering where I purchased this snapshot (the Mr. Roberts estate sale) I have no idea what's going on. I purchased a series of shots of men and young men in cars/jalopies driving on dirt roads. This one with the sign is the most telling of location. Perhaps there's someone out there who knows something about the sign and road. I'm guessing this was the "highway" of its time located in Southern California. The photo was most likely taken in the late 1920s to early '30s. As to what the tower is in the background, I haven't a clue.

Click on image to see it larger.

The copy on the sign:

History of the United States

San Bernardino 2 Miles

Six miles northeast of San Bernardino in the Arrowhead with its hot springs, one of which has a temperature of nearly two hundred degrees and a daily flow from the rock of half a million gallons.

UPDATE from reader Daniel Nauman. Thanks Daniel!

I believe that's a mid 1920s Hudson---at least all Hudsons had a triangluar emblem on the radiator. I'd date the photo circa 1930, because the tire on the billboard (a US Tire) is starting to 'balloon' into the tires we're familar with, which became standard circa 1934. A side note would be that US tires were made at the old Samsome factory south of LA---they one with the hyroglipchics(sp), now an outlet mall. I suspect this is taken near the shoulder of US 99, which ran through Colton at the time, about that many miles south of San Berdoo (US 66 actually went into Berdoo). The Sierra Madres are probably hidden behind the billboard. The tower looks like to be a rock crusher to me---the area is all river washes, and it may have been used to grade gravel for a paving project.

WOMEN and TRANSPORTATION

To think there are places in this world where women aren't allowed to drive makes my head spin. I won't go into it other than to say the men in those countries have some serious problems. Anything that impedes on a woman's right to make self-determined choices in her life, all aspects of her own life, are simply wrong.

Using this weeks Sepia Saturday image as my jumping off point I give you Women and Transportation, all sorts of transportation.

Most of these images come from the Ten Buck Box. A couple come from the estate sale of Mr. Roberts.

Click on any image to see it larger.

On the door it says "Just an old Ford" and "Merry Widows".

I believe this may be Gertrude (Rich) Bowen.

This one is from the Robert's estate and I'm guessing this was taken at Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California.

I'm guessing this one was taken in Nebraska.

I'm hoping this is homesteader Frances (Rich) Cheney in Colorado.

If anyone knows what model these cars are drop me a line so I can add the information to the post. Why? Well, just because. Oh heck, if you know what the farm equipment is called give me that too. I'm seriously doubting anyone will have any info about the horses...then again....

Now get out there and drive, drive, drive wherever your heart takes you...and a full tank of gas.

AIRLINES used to be fun

I'm glad to be old enough to remember what flying on commercial airlines used to be like. You dressed up and you behaved yourself. Flights took longer, but you were treated with respect and not spam in a can. These days I'll do everything I can to avoid flying. The airlines stink and too often so does the person you're sitting next to. Yes, I'm glad I have my memories, my vinyl Pan Am bag, my little United wings, old TWA folders, my postcards, etc.

The worst flight I ever took was from the West Coast to Dulles. It took over 32 hours. These days, that's normal. How the mighty have fallen, which brings me to these vintage snapshots of planes.

This weeks Sepia Saturday image shows two people working on an aircraft engine which logically made me think of vernacular photographs I have of people traveling by plane.

These first three photos all show a man by the name of Mr. Roberts who led a fascinating life. I've posted images of him in the past. I have been told what this first seaplane is, but now I can't remember so I'm open to suggestions.

Click on any image to see it larger.

The image above shows Mr. Roberts about to fly with Century Air Lines on a Stinson Tri-Motored 10 passenger plane. On the back it says "September 1931." To see a 1932 brochure from Century click here. They even provided chauffeured transportation to and from the airport. Imagine that?

Century Air Lines was formed in 1930 by Errett Lobban Cord who seems to have had his fingers in many pies.

In the final week of 1930, Cord announced the formation of Century Air Lines, Inc. an air-mail and cargo carrier based out of Chicago. Simultaneously, Stinson Aircraft announced the $3 million sale of 100 Lycoming-powered airliners to Century.

In early 1932, Aviation Corp., (AVCO) the parent company of American Airways, launched a hostile takeover of Cord’s Century Airlines by creating a labor dispute with Century’s pilots. Cord was not amused and spent the next few months secretly purchasing large chunks of Aviation Corp. stock.

At AVCO's fall board meeting, its directors were unpleasantly surprised to learn that Cord was now Aviation Corp’s majority stockholder (34%), which effectively gave him control over Century and American. On August 3, 1933 Cord purchased the New York Shipbuilding Corp. of Camden, New Jersey, and two weeks later purchased a controlling interest in the Kalamazoo, Michigan-based Checker Cab Co. (SOURCE: Coachbuilt)

I have no idea when the shot below was taken, but geez, even the ground crew is dressed up and they probably didn't rifle through your luggage stealing whatever took their fancy. And if that's the pilot dragging the steps away who's flying the plane?

The image below is from a photo album of a trip a couple took between June 27-July 15 in 1954.

And this is a photo I have posted before. Click here to see the fascinating response I received after posting it.

Like I said, people used to dress up to fly. Flying was an adventure, not a chore.

A page from MR. ROBERTS LIFE

The past days have been spent showing you images from one page in Mr. Roberts' scrapbook. There are three other shots that did not get scanned properly that are near the binding. I will save those for a future post after I have rescanned them. Then we'll be back to "This is the lady who is next to the medal...which is next to the parrott....

For now, here is the page. And you can see there is a photo in the upper left corner that was not featured these past few days. It was actually the image used in a post last September called "THE WATERFALL across Yosemite Valley." I guess I should properly identify them sooooooo...This is the couple...who are next to Mr. Roberts and a Lady...who are above the sailor...who is above the parrot...who is next to the medal.

For now we bid adieu to Mr. Roberts and friends.

MR. ROBERTS with a friend in Alaska

This is Mr. Roberts in the 1930s in Alaska with a friend, no doubt a shipmate. So what we have is...Mr. Roberts in Alaska with a friend...next to a parrot...which is below the sailor...which is next to the woman...well, by now you know the drill. It's in Mr. Roberts' scrapbook

Mr. Roberts and A LADY

This is Mr. Roberts feelin' frisky with a lady....next to Mr. Roberts with a pipe...next to the civilian...who is next to the sailor...who is next to the woman...who is next to the sailor...who is above the parrot...which is next to the medal...on the page of Mr. Roberts scrapbook.

There will be a test, so pay attention.

The MAN WITH THE PIPE in the cold

This is Mr. Roberts with a pipe...next to the civilian...who is next to the sailor...who is next to the woman...who is next to the sailor...who is above the parrot...which is next to the medal...on the page of Mr. Roberts scrapbook.

Only a few more to go on this page in Mr. Roberts scrapbook.

The CIVILIAN AND THE SAILOR

This is the civilian...who is next to the sailor...who is next to the woman...who is next to the sailor...who is above the parrot...which is next to the medal...on the page of Mr. Roberts scrapbook.

THIS IS THE WOMAN...

This is the woman...who is next to the sailor...who is above the parrot...which is next to the medal...on the page of Mr. Roberts' scrapbook.

MR. ROBERTS

Here is Mr. Roberts at sea. This photo is directly above the photo of the parrot...which is next to the medal....that sits on the page...with Mr. Roberts. You'll need to figure out your own punchline.

Mr. Roberts and A REALLY BIG TREE

The final in the series, for now, of Mr. Roberts and friend. This one was taken at the Wawona Tree in Yosemite. The tree was hollowed out in 1881 and fell down in 1969. 

Click on image to see it larger.

I can't really explain what it's like to see a really giant tree lying flat on the ground. I was standing next to one up along the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt County, California last fall and the story about it falling includes a neighbor miles away saying when it came down it sounded like a huge train wreck. Nobody was there to witness it falling, but it took several other trees down at the same time. And if you're thinking "big" tree I'm talking BIG TREE. You'd stand at the roots and you couldn't see the other end. Redwood forests are amazing places. Now people cutting holes through redwood trees so nutcases can drive thru, not so crazy about that. However, I did ride through this one as a child in a green Oldsmobile. For a kid it was a pretty interesting experience.

To see old postcards of the Wawona Tree and other drive-thru trees click on Image-Archeology.com.  And to read a wee bit about Redwoods click here.