UMBRELLAS on the steps, Part 2

78 people in this photo, 77 hats. Only one person isn't wearing a hat. Imagine that. Everyone showed up wearing a hat.

Other than baseball hats, what sort of hat do you see on a regular basis at any gathering? The baseball hat is a functional hat, but mostly rather ugly. Too often they're walking bumper stickers for products, sexual references, bad humor, politics...and so on and so forth. We express ourselves with our baseball hats; most assuredly the promotion of a specific sports team.

Imagine these folks. They wore hats just because. They did not feel the need to advertise a product or a point of view other than to maybe hear, "Nice hat!"

Click on image to see it larger.

UMBRELLAS on the steps, Part 1

This portion of an image, an RPPC, is actually better in pieces than the whole. The whole image is interesting, but the people become so small as to be insignificant. That's why I've chosen to take it apart and let you put it back together. I will eventually post the entire image.

For now, sit on the steps and take a look at these faces across time. All the lovely ladies in their hats; all the gentlemen with their umbrellas. I'm not kidding. There are a lot of umbrellas in this shot. There is no information on the back indicating what this group was about.

This photo comes from the fun box my best friend sent me a couple summers ago.

Click on image to see it larger.

Watching the FERRY

Really, I think the title just about sums up what's going on here. Even enlarged I cannot tell what state the license plates are for, but the one does appear to have "35" on it. So I'm guess we're talking around 1935 for this shot.

I haven't been on a ferry in a long time. I don't know of any in California anymore. We have bridges. Lots of bridges. It's always a challenge to figure out which roads to take to go around the San Francisco Bay so as to not have to pay a toll. It can be done.

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The PARENTS of George and Gladys

Alfred Kallman and Lorena Aina Beck. These are the parent's of George and Gladys. I do not know where Alfred was born, but I'm finding references to Montana. Lorena was born in Colorado.

From what small information I can find Lorena was born December 7, 1898. Her father was a Beck, her mother a Sjoberg. She died November 19, 1952 at age 53 in San Francisco.

As to Alfred, I'm not sure if what I've found is actually the Alfred we're looking at. What I've found says John Alfred Kallman was born August 27, 1892. His father's last name was Lassfalk which means for some reason Alfred had a last name change. His mother's name was Kaeko. He died September 26, 1954 at age 62 in San Mateo, California. I do have a photo of his parents, but the name is Kallman. Thus I'm assuming the father is a step-father and Alfred and any siblings were adopted.

Alfred owned a company that did house painting and wallpaper hanging. Lorena was a nurse. He also owned a small mine. There will be images from all of this in future posts.

For now, just introduce yourself to Alfred and Lorena.

Lorena Aina Beck

Alfred Kallman

I believe this is Lorena Aina Beck.

Lorena and Alfred on the right.

Alfred and Lorena Kallman

Alfred and Lorena Kallman

Alfred and Lorena Kallman

And in the bottom of one of the boxes of photos were these glasses that once belonged to Lorena, the mother of George and Gladys.

Another Sepia Saturday presentation.

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And could I ask a favor? Take a look at another post I did this week. I'm trying to figure out if the people in this photo are recognizable to anyone.

IS SHE OR ISN'T SHE a little on the Royal side?

This real photo post card has languished in a box of old family photos, specifically the Scottish side of my family. I have two of them and have always wondered who these people are. It's a very nice, good quality card, but I have no idea how it relates to my family other than it was shot in Motherwell, Scotland.

Click on image to see it larger.

Looking at it last night I started to notice that the woman in the dark hat and clothing sort of looks like the Queen Mother, but then thought, "Nah, why would she have a portrait taken in Motherwell?" But I'm not convinced it isn't her with a group of crusters, far more upper crust than anyone in any of my family. This photo has always stood out from everything else.

So I'm wondering if this was perhaps a souvenir card of some sort featuring these upper crusties. Maybe the photographer didn't actually take it and simply did the printing. Perhaps someone somewhere will recognize someone and then let me know.

The photo was taken by T. Johnstone, 71 Brandon Street, Motherwell, Scotland. The only information I've found so far is from a genealogy site:

The firm of Thomas Johnstone was in Motherwell for over 50 years, very popular for weddings etc. There would have been thousands of photographs taken over the years and I very much doubt if any records were kept. It was quite common for people to pop in and have their picture taken on the spur of the moment. I can remember this studio, it was half-way down Brandon Street, on the left-hand side near the City Bakeries shop.

T_Johnstone.jpg

Whoever, whatever, these people are they look like characters out of

Upstairs, Downstairs. Surely they had their own Masterpiece Theater

show.

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.

Let's make her part of OUR GANG

This little dahlin' looks like she should be in an episode of the Our Gang series, including the dog with the spotted eye. In reality I have no information about her other than a few years ago my best friend sent me a fun summer box full of magazines and photos.

Let's see, what category shall we put this little gal? Girl with dog? Laundry on the line? Odd looking pump in background?

Seriously, does anyone know what the pump thingie might be?

Can I get a SLICE OF CHEESECAKE TO GO with my new shoes?

1940s or 50s? I don't know. You can see the back of the print and all the information I have.

She's flirtatious and sweet. Was this a shot for a soldier overseas? Or was it really just a shot of her new shoes? We'll never know.