LAURA Playing Her Harp in Her Boudoir

Our final glimpse into Laura's life. A boudoir shot. Did she have two harps or did she have to drag this one through the house? Was the house single floor or did she bump this thing up the stairs?

So we leave Laura alone with her thoughts and her harp. Well, she's not really alone, is she? The photographer is there and most likely her mother...and the person shining the bright light.


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Now who in the heck were these taken for? Who was it that her mother wanted to impress? Create your own story.

LAURA Playing the Mandora in the Living Room

And Laura continues to play and pose. Here she is, again in the living room, playing another instrument. This time it's a mandora.

So, what do you think these photos were for? Was her mother in pursuit of a suitor for Laura? I'm baffled by Laura moving around the house posing for photos with her instruments.

As I've said in a previous post, I hope she played the instruments well. I can easily imagine some visitor coming to the home, the mother bustling about saying, "Laura, play something nice for Mr. Butterkins." And then turning to Mr. Butterkins and saying, "Let me get you some tea Mr. Butterkins while Laura serenades you." And did he smile weakly, a quiet pained expression, as Laura moved from instrument to instrument making sounds usually only heard in cat fights, but looking very pretty doing it? And did he finally just say, "Ummmmm...I'm actually here to talk to talk to you about life insurance."


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LAURA Playing the Violin in the Living Room with Mother Reading

Laura's mother is the one who wrote everything on the back of all of the photos. She seems to have adored Laura. Let's hope Laura adored her back.

This is another view of the living room from the opposite direction.


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And here, the only shot of the mother.

LAURA Playing the Harp in the Living Room

And so we meet Laura. I have no information about who this woman was, but she played a variety of instruments. Whether she played them well...I don't know. I have a story in mind that she was doted upon by her family, but really had no talent. You know those sorts of parents. They say their child is a genius and no child outshines them in art/music/sports, etc. Was Laura a child like that? Or was Laura a very gifted woman? We'll never know.


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THE PARTY was just getting started

Another vintage snapshot from the Ten Buck Box.

I believe the fellow standing at the fence may be Gertrude's son, Arthur Bowen. As I've mentioned in a previous post he was in the military stationed in Germany following the war. At some point I believe he became a civilian contractor of some sort for the US government, still in Germany.

Perhaps this shot was taken on a military reservation in government housing. I really have no idea where it was taken; no information is provided on the verso of the image.

It appears these folks are getting ready for a party. It looks like there are several containers full of cold beer against the fence. The lady and the gent, probably the mixologists for the evening, might be studying a "cookbook" which means it probably got more interesting as the evening wore on.

The band consists of drums, fiddle, and guitar. The fellow shading his eyes is holding something, but I don't know what it is. Perhaps a flute?

So what do you think was their speciality? Bluegrass? Swing? Bach concerto? Bloody Mary's?

Let's hope a good time was had by all, including the neighbors who were hopefully invited.

SERENADE, oh so blue

I haven't a logical clue about what is going on here. The young lady seems to have been interrupted while reading a book by two guys wishing to serenade her. Could she look less interested? And no, it really is that blurred.

Our bored lady appears to be leaning on an organ and..there's a tiny tiny Girl Scout in the background. Say what? A munchkin on the organ? You don't get to say that everyday.

And I see that the violinist is in uniform. Marching band? Were there ever marching bands with violins? Oh man, I'd love to see that at the Rose Parade. Violins and violas attempting to march down the boulevard behind a float of a fire breathing dragon that's gone awry. Happy New Year indeed!

This image, an RPPC, comes from the same place as yesterdays. The summer fun box from my best friend.