A MAN and his horn and his...

sombrero and his laundry.


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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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WHO WILL KEEP THE TEMPO? Why, the dogs tail of course!

I wish I had some words of wisdom to impart about this shot, but I don’t. I purchased it today and as soon as I saw it I knew it would be my Sepia Saturday post. It has nothing to do with the actual suggested theme.


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My theme this week is to honor all the amazing posts done by musician Mike Brubaker at TempoSenzaTempo. If you haven’t stopped by to read some of his detailed pieces about musicians from the past you’re missing out.

The photo was taken at Peoples Studio at 133 S. Gay St, Knoxville, Tennessee.

UPDATE: I was hopeful Mike Brubaker might see this post and make a comment providing some information about this image and he did. Thank you Mike!

Gosh, I'm very flattered! Such a neat photo! Band uniform capes start around 1930s when school bands started to march and play for football games - in the rain. And Ok it's an alto saxophone and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier (maybe). A dog's howl and a saxophone's yelp are pretty much the same annoyance.