Studio Glamor

I recently bought a hard-cover edition of the brand new Bonnie and Clyde biography Go Down Together by Jeff Gunn. Since I am (slowly) reading about five different books right now, I haven't gotten very far; I've covered Clyde's harrowingly destitute childhood, but that's about it. I can, however, already recommend it very highly as an engaging and well-written piece of historical literature.

Go Down Together gets extra brownie points for its nice collection of illustrations, mostly rare photographs that relate to the principals' early lives. One of my favorite pictures is a 1925 (or thereabouts) studio portrait of a teenage Bonnie Parker, an item the low-born girl would have had to really save up for. It's a gorgeous picture, and worth contrasting with the famous snapshots of her clowning around with a shotgun. Those pictures were taken about twelve years later, and you can see the effects of a stressful and difficult life on twenty-something Bonnie. The woman in those pictures had aged quickly and no longer had any illusions about life.

The photographic gem below was purchased the same day as the Hawaiian vacation group shot, and from the same vendor. I don't have any information on the woman, but the picture struck me with its simple beauty and wonderful little details (look at those sleeves!) as well as its clarity.

Matching Hats

This was another pick from Sunday. Not quite worthy of submission to Awkward Family Photos, but close. The dour expression on the little girl is priceless.

Bad Ideas: 40's Teeth

Here was a terrific find from Sunday's foray into snapshot hunting.


One thing I learned from this photo: Women with tragic grills tend to favor leopard collars (?!?) dramatic scream queen eyebrows (a given).

Also, I question the armchair upholstery. I know we can't see the whole thing with the Lois and Stewie in the way, but it just looks bunchy and unprofessional. That dashes to the rocks all my assumptions about the superiority of pre-1970 furniture.

The baby is adorable. How much you wanna bet those eyebrows turned him into a homosexual during his adolescence? There's a screenplay in there somewhere.

From My Collection

I've been equal parts busy, uninspired and neglectful when it came to keeping up this blog over the past month. With my extended work trip up to the bay area and constantly shifting schedule back here (with a fair number of social engagements to provide distraction), posting snarky comments about hundred year old photos hasn't been anywhere near on my mind.


I promised I would post something from my own small collection of vintage snapshots, and I think I chose the right one. No real back story on this one. I got it on my last trip to the flea market on Fairfax. I have no idea who these people are. I wish I knew the story or even the year (my guess is c. 1915). Can anyone identify that steel bridge-structure behind them?

So there you have it: the first update in almost a month. (I feel so ashamed!) I thought this post would double nicely as a tribute to some friends (and they shall remain nameless by request) who will be visiting Hawaii. After all, those things around the woman in the center are unmistakably wearing lei's. Come to think of it, it can do triple duty by also paying tribute to some new friends (themselves Hawaii transplants) I acquired while staying in San Francisco about a month ago. Everyone wins!

There will be more posts like this in the future. However, I think I will try to diversify, and write about things other than old movies, old photos and old fashion.