In The Photobooth

[TheDutchess]

Hey ya'll, I was looking for vintage photos and I found this website that has bunches of pictures of people in photo booths from past decades maybe from early 30's to 70's. Its pretty cool looking at the different garments from the past and makes me wonder about the stories behind these photos. Just though I would share with ya'll. Hope I posted this in the right area.

http://www.squareamerica.com/pb1.htm


Oh yea if you click on the little icons at the top of the screen it takes you to more pictures from the past.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Those are some strange pics there.
Some of them look very familiar.
Like this guy,...I could swear he's one of the Jackson Five.

[/IMG]

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Great site, thanks for sharing!

Now, I have a question: is it just me, or could it be the styles of yesteryear, or, really, have we just blanded, as a people, into sameness? All those faces were...interesting! They showed character and emotion and the burden of time. Is it just my own love for all things old, or do they REALLY look different from us? Opinions?


Edited to Add: YOU HAVE to check out the rest of the site too! Great stuff!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Great site, thanks for sharing!

Now, I have a question: is it just me, or could it be the styles of yesteryear, or, really, have we just blanded, as a people, into sameness? All those faces were...interesting! They showed character and emotion and the burden of time. Is it just my own love for all things old, or do they REALLY look different from us? Opinions?

They sorta do look a little different now that ya mention it. I think maybe the hair styles, in particular on the women, make them look different than contemporary women. [huh]

 

[Forgotten Man]

Fantastic site! I love it because they are real and not professional studio portraits.

I don't think people really look different from today... in some ways yes but, I feel that it really has to do with the clothes and hair styles. I've seen some women today that have similar features... I always think to my self: Gee, if that gal was wearing a nice vintage dress or suit... and her hair and makeup done... could look right out of the 30's or 40's.

People have always come in different shapes and sizes... just like today... only difference is the style of clothes, hair and makeup. These types of photos and snap shots are my favorite types of references because you're looking at the real McCoy and not a Hollywood glamour shot.

 

[Ada Veen]

I enjoyed that, thanks for posting the link.

 

[ShortClara]

I love this one! They look so cute (and dig her gorgeous dress!)

<img src="http://www.squareamerica.com/images/pb4.jpg">

Ditto to the comments about the great faces. Wow!

 

[ShortClara]

I'm blown away by this site! So many wonderful photos!

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

I think this is a great window into the "everyman" of various time periods, rather than movie stars. Of course, some seem dressed up in finery to have their pics taken.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I'm blown away by this site! So many wonderful photos!

Whoa! ShortClara! This one resembles YOU!!!

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I love the gal on the right! She looks so mischievous! Almost a little naughty.

Amazing hat and outfit (what I can see of it!)

This could be a Hollywood portrait. Her spit curls are amazingly perfect along with everything else.

HAT LOVE.

Hat and coat love!

What fabulous hair!

Ok, I'll stop now...getting too carried away! Thanks for sharing such a great site!!

 

[scotrace]

Mr. 6 & 7/8 out on the town with Mr. 7 & 5/8.

"Gladys! Check out this new fountain pen I got... oops."

"I dare ya... I got two bits says you won't do it..."

"I've found a way to take my pet barn owl everywhere I go..."

"Mommy has told you over and over to stay out of my makeup!"

Fred spends a day at Coney Island with Duke "Sweaty" Johnson.

The name's Jesse, but my friends call me "Booger."

Uh, Holy Smoke!

 

[LolitaHaze]

Looks like Katie Holmes to me.

I love the gal on the right! She looks so mischievous! Almost a little naughty.

 

[Shearer]

I'm a little late to this thread, but vernacular photography is a huge interest of mine.

Square America is fabulous, so if anyone else is interested try these other sites as well:

Bighappyfunhouse - the absolute best of the best, as far as I'm concerned. The owner usually puts up 2 or 3 pictures a day, and there is a huge archive to poke around in.

Oopik's Negativity - more townscapes than portraits, more blog than archive, but definitely worth a look.

Swapatorium - some vernacular photography along with goofy thrift finds and Lileks-like food experiments

Shorpy - really beautiful vintage photography.

Old Pictures - just what it sounds like. Vernacular mixed in with professional shots. It has a really wide array, from the 19th century on.

Time Tales - found photographs from pre-1930 to the present.

Box of Slides - just what it sounds like!

Anyone else have links to sites I've forgotten to mention/don't know about?

A lot of these sites are linked to each other, but I thought I would stick them here for easy reference or for anyone looking for a great way to kill time.

Be warned though, you can easily lose hours just looking at Bighappyfunhouse's archives

 

[deelovely]

Mr. 6 & 7/8 out on the town with Mr. 7 & 5/8.

"Gladys! Check out this new fountain pen I got... oops."

"I've found a way to take my pet barn owl everywhere I go..."

"Mommy has told you over and over to stay out of my makeup!"

The name's Jesse, but my friends call me "Booger."

BAHAHAHAHAHA!!lol lol lol LMAO!!!lol lol

 

[MrNewportCustom]

Great site, thanks for sharing!

Now, I have a question: is it just me, or could it be the styles of yesteryear, or, really, have we just blanded, as a people, into sameness? All those faces were...interesting! They showed character and emotion and the burden of time. Is it just my own love for all things old, or do they REALLY look different from us? Opinions?


Edited to Add: YOU HAVE to check out the rest of the site too! Great stuff!

I haven't been to the site yet, but will go soon. That said, I've been noticing the differences between now and then for a long time. I've often looked someone's face and wondered how they would look in, say, an old black and white movie or advertisement. Sometimes, I can visualize them back then, but more often I cannot. Of course, this is something I do in my head. To really get an idea how someone from today might look in the past, you need to have Quigley Brown photoshop their face into an old movie or painting. lol


Lee

 

[Hawkcigar]

I can't get this picture out of my mind. I don't know exactly what it is, the eyes or maybe the expression. This lady looks like she has seen some rough times, has been through a lot and is just weary. It makes me kind of sad.

 

[goldwyn girl]

I love looking at the old photo sites, it's become a regular Saturday night event in our house. After dinner and such we sit and look into the past. Sure beats TV. This as also another favorite. Vintage Disneyland Yeah!!!
http://davelandblog.blogspot.com/

 

[Fletch]

Back when men were men

Meet Private Ernie Bilko.

Guy on left: o O ( Oh good. The mickey is taking effect. Won't be long till I get that wallet. )

"Dear Mother: I miss the drug store, but my this cycling life is thrilling. Here's a picture of me taken by my new pal Tom. He's an artist from Finland - oh, the people you meet on the road! Love, Wendell."

Mr. I'll-Give-You-Something-to-Cry-About for 1948.

"We don't wanna hurt anyone. We just wanna kill 'em and desecrate their dead bodies. Idn'nat right, Frank?" "That's right, Frank."

 

[Dr Doran]

Scotrace, Fletch, you guys are murdering me. Those captions are priceless. You could put a book together.

The site is wonderful even without the captions and thanks for sharing.

As far as "vernacular photography" goes: I saw an exhibit at SFMOMA maybe a decade ago of snapshots. Most were not portraits. There were a lot there. A thousand? Miscellaneous found snapshots in which the light was just right or the expression was precious or something was just remarkable. That was one of the best exhibits I have ever seen.