Mitzi's Collectibles Blog

Cool Off at Newton's Beach

During the recent heat wave, Newton's Beach on Crystal Lake was all booked up, but this weekend I might be able to squeeze you in, if you can manage the complexities of time travel.  You see, my grandparents owned Newton's Beach on Crystal Lake, Michigan.  Their little resort included several cottages, a trailer park, bath house, boat rental, and refreshment stand.  So get yourself back to the 1950's and have some good old-timey fun at Newton's Beach!

First of all, you need to decide the cottage in which you would like to stay.  We have the Octagon Cottage, my personal favorite:

The Cement Cottage:

Or maybe the Stone Cottage.  Although I don't have any interior shots, let me assure you the cottages are clean as a whistle and decorated with colorful bark-cloth curtains and rustic cottage furniture:

 

Here's the cottage where my grandparents live.  They stay nearby to make sure the needs of their guests are met at all times!

There's plenty of parking for your DeSoto, Studebaker, or Bel Air:

 

Once you settle in, you can rent a bathing suit and an inner tube and head for the lake.  Or, if fishing is more your style, you can rent a little boat and buy some worms from my uncle Clare and aunt Hazel, who have their own worm farm, and do some fishing on adjacent Mud Lake.

 

Can't you just feel the cooler air along the water?

 

After water activities, my grandma will make you a great lunch.  She's had plenty of experience cooking. She and my grandpa used to run the College Cafeteria at Central Michigan College, Newton's Dining House and the Harmony Restaurant.  With the Newtons in charge, nobody will be going hungry! 

But don't forget, you have to wait an hour after you eat a meal before you can swim, or you'll get a cramp and drown!

Later in the day you can take the kids for a Sno Cone and the carousel on Crystal Lake for a ride or two.  In the evening, there's a band shell on the lake so and the adults can listen to big band music and do some dancing under the stars.  Now doesn't that sound like the perfect day?

Hope to see you there,

Mitzi

More Photography Tips From Guest Joshua Smith!

In February 2010, I featured photography tips from a well respected and seasoned photographer and friend, Mr. Joshua Smith, who also shared some of his fabulous work in portrait photography.  Because I've been trying to focus on better photos (no pun intended, but there it is), I thought I'd return to Joshua Smith Studios for more helpful tips.  So take it away, Mr. Smith!

Greetings and salutations, my friends!  I'm so delighted to be a guest once again on Mitzi's blog, and hope to provide you with some of my proven techniques for portrait photography.

Let's first consider the older folks, who may well be sitting for their last portrait, although I should mention that I am also very experienced in post mortem portraits, and have portable equipment that can be set up discreetly at the funeral home or parlour.  At Joshua Smith Studios, our motto is "We'll Take Your Picture, Dead or Alive." But I digress!  Allow me to share my secret technique for eliciting a warm and affectionate look from the older ladies:  I flirt with them just a bit, and flatter them, appealing to the inner youthful girl that still resides in the more mature individual.

 

 

 

Many times I find it effective to include the beloved family pet in the portrait.  There is no better way to bring out the warmth and caring of an older woman than by pairing her with her faithful canine companion:

 

 
Gentlemen can be more of a challenge, although appealing to their vanity is always an option.  Sometimes a light-hearted joke will break the ice and elicit a cheerful expression.

 

I have found unparalleled success photographing couples, and, if I do say so myself, capture the look of love that is impossible to suppress in the young engaged or newly married lovebirds.

 

What is my secret tip for photographing couples?  I often break the ice by asking the two how they met, or to describe the marriage proposal.  Occasionally this backfires, when there has been an arranged marriage that both members found most unpleasant, but my success rate with couples is quite high nevertheless.

 

 

 

Last but not least we have my speciality, the instantaneous portraits of children!  My top secret tip for photographing the little ones?  I keep one hand on my camera, and in the other I squeeze a squeaky toy that never fails to make the little ones giggle gleefully, allowing me to capture the jolly visage of the youngster.

 

 

 

Mitzi believes that perhaps I captured, on film, the first known example of a peculiar coif known as the "mullet".  Just another feather in my cap at Joshua Smith Studio!

 

 

I hope you find these tips helpful as you practice your photography skills with friends and family.  That's how I got started early on.  Allow me to engage in one more of our favorite slogans at Joshua Smith Studios:  We turn negatives into a positive!  And I want to thank Mitzi for hosting another peek into the world of Joshua Smith Studios!

 

Remembering Those Old School Chums

Yesterday I blew through Me Again Flea Market on South Cedar in Lansing, Michigan, my not-so-secret source of costume jewelry, tiny treasures, and most recently, some wonderful old photo albums.  The owner of Me Again, Sue Grainger, is a friend and knows exactly what makes me tick.  She starts pointing out things I need to see the minute I walk in the door.  I'm always in a hurry, and Sue saves me time by directing me to the sweet stuff.

The minute I picked up this "Memory Book", I knew I had a winner, and a blog post.  This album was carefully compiled back in 1926 by a young lady named Miss Ollivene (pictured below), a spunky little brunette with long brown curls, and documented her first year at Oberlin College.

 

 

FYI:  Oberlin College is a highly selective private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio.  According to Wikipedia, it's noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students.  The Conservatory of Music is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the country.  It was also associated with abolitionism and was a key stop along the Underground Railroad. 

Ollivene was there to study pianoforte, piano, violoncello, music theory, physical education, and "ear theory", according to the first semester schedule in her memory book.  She lived in a house in a residential neighborhood supervised by a house matron, Mrs. Weeks.

 She had two roommates who seemed to become fast friends, Fredie and Rene:

 

The girls studied in their bedrooms which didn't look like dorm rooms at all:

 

 

Of course, there were strict rules to be followed by the girls regarding social conduct.  Perhaps some of the college students today would be wise to adopt some of these.....

 

 

Wait, there's more.....

 

 

Despite these restrictions, Ollivene has some pictures of the boys and their rooms in her memory book:

 

 

 

Ollivene made fun of the boys' athletic wear at Ohio Northern University, calling them "pajama rompers":

 

Overall, it seems that contact between boys and girls was pretty limited, so the girls got their jollies by staging a "mock wedding", where one gal dressed up as a groom.

 

 These are admission tickets to activities at nearby Bowling Green State College.

 

 

Nothing about life at Oberlin was trivial for Ollivene.  She even saved the wrappers to her favorite candies!

 

Breaks included time with family, including some clowning around for her sister's birthday party:

 

 

She was a sweet girl, wasn't she?

 

It appears that one of Ollivene's suitors, a classy gent named John, went the extra mile with this fantastic fan calling card:

 

 

Boys will be boys, as this doodle of a Hot Nurse confirms.  Ollivene notes: "Swiped from Ray's Spanish book".  In case it's hard to read, it says "I'm gonna get sick!" at the bottom.

 

 

Then, gasp, an urgent sounding letter from home is attached to the last page of Ollivene's memory book.  Her mother writes: 

Jeannette would very much like to come to Oberlin for the exciteful occasion.  If you would like her to stay overnight, please drop her a note.  Please keep the wedding as quiet as possible.  Do not say anything to anyone.    

What could have happened?  Do you think the suave John swept Ollivene off her feet with his romantic ways?  Or do you think the hormone-driven Ray took advantage of our innocent girl with the brown curls and got her in a family way, jeopardizing her college education and wasting all those hours of ear theory and pianoforte practice? 

I've only had this album in my hot little hands for 18 hours, so with a little more time, I might be able to get to the bottom of it all and find out what happened to our Ollivene!

Mitzi

 

Taking a Closer Look at Vintage Photos

Today I'd like to show you a few vintage photos from my collection, including a couple interesting interior shots of people at their jobs.  I enjoy discovering old pictures such as these, and if they don't have any specific information written on the back, like many do, I enjoy the challenge of observing the details and trying to figure the time period in which they were taken, or what's going on in them.

The first picture has some identifying information at the bottom, indicating this man is the county clerk for St. Johns, Michigan.  Could this man be working on his TPS reports, and if so, is he aware of the new cover sheet?  (Office Space reference) This is what an office cubicle looked like in the early 1900's.  The building obviously has very high ceilings, like many old downtown structures did.  Notice the cool pendant lights hanging down....these ain't from Pottery Barn!  The man is sitting in an oak swivel chair, and the decor includes some dramatic wallpaper, and patterned linoleum underfoot.  On the man's desk is a candlestick telephone, giving me a clue that the picture was taken in the early 1900's, when this type of phone was very common.  Oh, let's not forget the old cast iron radiator, right under the window.  I'll bet this fella got uncomfortably hot in that wool suit periodically during the day:

 

Next we have an adorable toddler, whose mother must have spent quite some time curling her little girl's hair for her photo.  I love her little button top shoes, her dress, and most of all her happy expression:

 

Below is an interior shot of a bank.  The bank manager is standing proudly in the middle, with three employees.  I think the wallpaper is fabulous.  It appears to be a "trompe l'oeil" paper with classical columns and decorative borders.  The ceiling is either a patterned tin ceiling or more wallpaper.  I'm guessing this picture was taken about 100 years ago:

 

Next we have an interesting interior shot of a parlor, with the family relaxing there.  Although the picture is a little washed out, can you make out the bare Edison bulb hanging from the ceiling for overhead light, the family photos lined up on the piano, and the layers of patterned carpet?   Remember, there was no TV, no radio back then.  What do you think people did with their free time?  How about talking to each other, playing the piano, reading, and keeping the hands busy with needlework if you were a woman.  Writing correspondence was another popular and necessary activity.  Mail was delivered twice a day around 1900, and this is how folks communicated with each other. 

 

Next we have a general store.  Stores long ago weren't arranged in the ways we are accustomed to today.  There were lots of goods kept behind the counter, and the customer was expected to ask for the item and the clerk would hand it to them.  I love the wood panelled ceiling and the long glass showcases lining both sides of the store.  I'm curious about that display the man is standing by that resembles a ferris-wheel.  Would any of you hazard a guess as to what that would be?

 
Next we have two very attractive gals that are probably sisters.  I love their identical coifs and their fancy outfits.  Both have a pocket watch with a chain on display, and the gal on the left has a modified bustle in her skirt.  According to the Timeline of Fashion, their costumes typify the Edwardian Period, which spanned the late 1890's to 1911. The girl on the right is holding a letter and envelope.  I wonder what this signifies, or if it's just a photographer's prop?   Or perhaps a beau is breaking up with her, and her sister is standing firmly behind her in a show of support!  Their expressions lead me to believe that may be true....

 

I like this picture of a small family because of the affection you can see between the two girls and their parents, and their cute little bob haircuts.  I'm guessing this picture is from the 1910's to 1920's based on the hairstyles and clothing.  An atttractive Arts and Crafts style folding screen is in the background.  What an abrupt change from the frilly, fancy, over-the-top Victorian style popular in the past:

 

Now let's fast forward four decades.  Here we have a picture of a typical class of elementary school kids with their dedicated teacher, circa 1953.  Did your third grade classroom look just like this?  A chalkboard, a pull down map, the alphabet in cursive, and a flag.  You really don't need too much more than that to get a classroom together.

 

Let's take a closer look at our teacher.  Is this the face of a person that loves her job?  Oh my.  She truly looks miserable!  Looking closer at the kids, check out the boy in the middle of the second row down.  He's making a face.  Perhaps we've just identified the class clown!  Although most students are following directions by keeping their hands to their sides, the boy at the end of the second row is displaying some individuality by waving at the camera.  And the girl right below him....could her head scratching be the first evidence of an outbreak of nits?  Finally, the boy holding the sign is a dead ringer for Dennis the Menace, don't you think?

 

This is the TV version of Dennis the Menace:

 

I suppose I'm easily amused, but I hope some of you found these pictures worthy of your inspection.  The upcoming holiday is a good time to have relatives dig out some old photo albums.  Who knows what you will discover when you take a closer look?

Happy photo viewing!

Mitzi

Fun With a 1966 Yearbook

At Mitzi's Collectibles, we appreciate the little things, and it's the little things that can sidetrack one into a fun vintage world that takes you away for a bit.  Old things have a story to tell, sometimes in written form, other times in pictures, or in the beauty of a handmade object.

Take, for example, this 1966 High School yearbook.  Once I opened the dusty cover I found 245 pages of pure, unadulterated fun, and a trip back in time to teenage life in the 1960's, so different from teenage life today.  Now, I'm about to poke a little fun at some pictures, and I hope I don't appear to be mean-spirited.  I think we all can look back at ourselves many years ago and have a little chuckle over our hairdos, clothing, or accessories.  So here goes (names were changed to protect the innocent)....

  

ERHS Welcome Back Students Newsletter 1966

by Ed Nesbitt, Principal

At Eleanor Roosevelt High School, there are many interesting clubs to join.  We want to encourage students to consider joining an academic or social club to enhance their experience here ar ERHS.  Students can choose from old standbys like the Latin Club, Spanish Club, or something that's a little more "hip", the Hootenanny Club!  The Hootenanny Club was the most popular club at the school last year!

Two of our staff members have generously volunteered to chaperone the Hootenanny dances this fall, and who knows, maybe they will learn to do "the Shag" while there!  What do you say, ladies?

 

Here we have three members of the Buddy Holly Fan Club.  Vernon Wallis is the acting president of this upstart club:

Besides clubs, we've had some exciting contests here at ERHS.  Here's a picture of Robby Featheringham, the winner of the Howdy Doody lookalike contest we had last spring:

 

These boys from the Math Club are suggesting that the Senior Trip visit NASA this year.  I suppose that can be arranged, but there won't be any girls going.  Have you thought of that, boys?

 

Here at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, our dedicated staff spends many an after school hour working with the student body.  Let's meet  Miss Minerva Wooten, who runs the Girl's Finishing Class, providing fashion advice and lessons on civility and decorum that our young ladies so desperately need.

 

One of Miss Wooten's fashion tips:  Let the young lady wear the hairdo, don't let the hairdo wear the young lady!  Here are a few of our senior girls that need to heed Miss Wooten's advice:

 

Miss Wooten says that girls should find a look that's right for them, and sometimes what a girl thinks is attractive is actually distracting to others.  Our young debs shouldn't be covering their pretty features, just enhancing them!

Miss Wooten believes that our senior girls are spending far too much time on their hairdos, and not enough time on their studies!  Too much peroxide, too much teasing, and all of that hairspray equals an overblown and distracting hairstyle, not to mention time away from reading, writing, and math! 

These young ladies chose to wear their eyeglasses in their portraits, which Miss Wooten recommends.  After all, she always wears hers....

  

Then we have the underclassmen. How awkward the early teen-age years can be!  It is our wish that each boy and girl will leave ERHS with a solid educational foundation, if not a sophisticated sense of style:

Picture day this year will be September 24.  Picture re-take day will be October 24.  Please don't hesitate to consider a retake if you aren't happy with your first picture!

 

Remember boys and girls, the first day of school this year is September 6.  I can speak for the teachers when I say we can't wait to see all of you here for another fantastic year at ERHS!

Yours Truly,

Mr. Nesbitt

Principal, ERHS

In The Good Old Summertime

Today is the Fourth of July, and I thought I'd share some old photos of people enjoying their summer long ago, when times were simpler.  These all came from the same photo album chock full of black and white pics that I purchased at a flea market, and I've enjoyed looking through it very much today.  The pictures show a typical American family evolving and growing over the years, new babies being born, a son returning from World War II, their home decor changing, the clothing, hairstyles, cars, everything reflecting the times in which they were taken. 

You can click on these photos and print them out for your own artistic purposes if you wish.  I've used a bit of "poetic license" and added names to those folks that have been separated from their identities over the years.

Summertime was when Norbert and Ruth Anne fell in love:

 
The family had a mini-reunion in early July, hosting several aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Here are cousins Ruth Anne and Bernadette by the old apple tree:

Cousins Eugene and Franklin learning how to smoke behind the house, those naughty boys!

Getting little Clifford to sit still long enough for a picture next to Emma was difficult:

Little girls posing with their cherished dollies:

Here the older aunties caught up on some gossip:

Elsie agreed to pose with brother Erwin on the front porch, right above the peony bushes.  The kids were on their best behavior, because they would be going somewhere special if they were good:

The whole family went to the carnival, here lining up for the Rocket Bomber:

What's more fun than riding the ferris wheel on a hot summer day?

Cooling off at the lake.  There are quite a few bathing beauties in the family!

 

Jumping in!

The family always spent the Fourth of July at the lake.  Notice the American flag?

I hope you and your family enjoy the simple pleasures of summer this weekend.  Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Mitzi

Meet Joshua Smith, Child Photographer Extraordinaire

Dearest Readers,

Today I'd like you to meet Mr. Joshua Smith, Practical Photographer, and specialist in the "Instantaneous Portraits of Children".  He's going to tell us a few things about his art, perfected after many years of trial and error.  The photographer of children does have to have specialized skills, there's no doubt.  So without further ado, let's hear a little from Mr. Smith and see some samples of his work!

Mitzi

When photographing children, it's especially important to make them feel comfortable in the studio.  At Joshua Smith Studio, every aspect of the child's comfort is taken into consideration, beginning with our special studio props and furniture that will surely put them at ease:

As a photographer of children, I'm always looking to capture that special expression, that gleeful look a child will give when in the hands of a true artiste like myself....

As this group of siblings illustrates, I'm especially adept at capturing the loving and affectionate nature of young girls:

Some babies simply won't cooperate unless photographed within the family unit, and at Joshua Smith Studios we encourage the whole family to rally around the little one so he or she can shine!

 

Let's take a closer look at this little charmer:

 

Twins can be a particular challenge, so I've learned that photographing them together in the buggy or pram is a way to ensure that they feel secure and comfortable.  Once the babies feel completely relaxed, we can capture those endearing expressions their proud parents want to record for posterity....

 

Older children can be photographed outside the studio, whilst playing with a favorite toy.  This has proven to be a successful method of securing that blissful look that children at play exhibit!

I would like to remind parents that they should dress their children in an outfit in which they feel comfortable.  The photography session will be much more successful this way.

Teenagers can be a particular challenge, with their uncooperative nature and sullen demeanor.  At Joshua Smith Studios, we've also had success with teenagers, as the pair of sisters below illustrates.  We even employ a hairdresser that will make sure the coif is just so, to satisfy those vain young girls!

I'm proud to announce that we now have branched out into wedding photography as well, as some of our long-time clients eventually grow up and think of Joshua Smith Studio when they tie the knot!

 

And who knows?  Perhaps the proud young couple will entice Grandma and Grandpa to come to Joshua Smith Studios for a special portrait in studio or on location that will emanate their warmth and joy for all to see, many years after they pass on.....

Just for readers of Mitzi's Collectibles' Blog, Joshua Smith Studios will be offering a 20% discount on all photography sessions during the month of March. 

Regrettable Vintage Hairstyles and Other Photo Fun

When it comes to vintage photos, I appreciate the fact that they can provide great inspiration for craft projects such as collage art and altered art which has become so popular.  For my own purposes, I can't bring myself to draw on top of the faces to alter them or emblazon someone's portrait with negative text.  I think we should have some respect for the dead, I guess.

OK, so I won't alter old photos with negative text, but I'm not above poking fun at pictures with my snarky comments.  If you focus on something like hairstyles and accessories, you can have a little fun when you sort through a pile of cabinet photos or flip through a photo album.  Let's have a look at what I'm talking about....

This young lady's portrait begs the question:  Can photographers be sued for malpractice?

Here we have a serious case of "helmet hair":

 

This girl's hairstyle seems to be imitating Daniel Boone's coonskin cap:

 

Take a look at this couple.  I think she put his glasses on, and he has on hers.....

 

No photo album is complete without a naked baby picture!

 

Here we have a situation where the gal forgot to brush out her curls after she took out the rollers:

 

A cute pair of identical twins, both wearing the same facial expression called the "half-smile":

 

This adorable tot is sporting a fashionable coif achieved by cutting around a cereal bowl:

 

All little girls should have bows in their hair, as far as I'm concerned, but maybe this one is a bit on the large side:

Now this is better:

Too cute!

This little gal is ready for cold weather:

 

What the heck is going on here?  This hairstyle defies explanation:

I'm not poking fun at this girl.  I think she's really pulled together, and the photo mat sets off her pic in beautiful Art Deco style:

I hope you had a chuckle, or at least a half-smile while viewing these pictures.  Have a great weekend everyone! 

Mitzi

There's A Lid For Every Pot

Just in time for Sweetest Day, I have some images to share that prove "There's a Lid for Every Pot".  I guess it's just a matter of looking for your lid, if you don't have one.  Do you ever wonder how couples ended up with one another?  I do, when sifting through boxes of old cabinet photos, photo albums, and other ephemera.  When all you have to go on are the physical features, it simplifies things.  I also like looking at family portraits to see how the children resemble one or the other parent.

This looks like a happy young couple, even though they aren't grinning like fools in love:

I'm not sure why people didn't smile during the time these pictures were taken.  You almost never see a toothy grin or even a slight smirk in any of the studio pictures.  I have two theories:  People had poor dental health and didn't want to advertise their unpleasant looking teeth; or maybe because they had to pose longer than we do now, and it just wasn't realistic to hold a smile long enough for the film exposure.  Do any of you readers know why folks didn't smile in old pictures?

This middle-aged couple seem to have body language indicating they have a happy marriage, although the woman has a melancholy expression:

I would say these two aren't really into one another:

This couple made me wonder how they found each other.....they look like the Odd Couple!   There's a date on the back showing the portrait was shot in 1884:

I think these two shared a love of flamboyant accessories:

This young fella just signed up on E-Harmony.  Do you know someone that might like to sit next to him on that paper moon? 

Happy Sweetest Day from Mitzi's Collectibles!