Ouch! Anyone ever hear of Knoto?
Tags: ephemera photographs photos found photos pitch cards cards portraits Knoto men contortionists contortion performers circuses sideshows knots legs arms bodies heads disembodied disembodied heads humor humorous funny strange grotesque antique old vintage awkward
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Although I have not been able to uncover any information regarding an "Ellen Probst," this postcard may have been used as a pitch card for a child performer in a sideshow or similar attraction. If so, the girl seems disconcertingly young to be working as a snake handler or charmer.
Tags: ephemera postcards pitch cards Probst Ellen Probst children girls snakes snake handlers snake charmers sideshows performers patriotic flags stars stripes backdrops antique old vintage strange bizarre
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"John Pecinovsky, the famous Half & Half Man, owner and operator of the Bonair Tavern, 4 miles west and 3 miles north of Cresco, Iowa. We serve Fitger's Beer, Walt Rush, distributor. Ice cream, soft drinks, and candy. Half & Half, Bonair, Iowa. Souvenir post card."
As one brief obituary explained, "For years Pecinovsky wore suits in which half of the coat was white and the other black, one trouser leg white and the other black. One side of his face was always kept shaved smooth while the other was permitted to support a luxuriant crop of whiskers" (Waterloo Daily Courier, April 7, 1942).
Originally posted on Ipernity: John Pecinovsky, the Famous Half and Half Man, Bonair, Iowa.
Tags: ephemera postcards advertising postcards advertising advertisements ads paper printed Pecinovsky John Pecinovsky men clothes clothing suspenders Half & Half Man Half Man Half and Half Man Half Half & Half Half and Half performers beards shaved owners operators proprietors Bonair Tavern taverns bars restaurants Fitger's Beer Fitger's beer strange unusual Cresco Bonair IA Iowa antique old vintage typefaces type typography fonts
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A snapshot of "Johnny Gaso" (or "Gasso"), who was the "host of Wonderland," which was located in the Gas Exhibits Building at the New York World's Fair. The Johnny Gaso character was played by actors of short stature. For another photo, see the NYPL Digital Gallery's Gas Industries - Johnny Gasso, "Uncle Don" and man image.
As Andrew F. Wood explains in his book New York's 1939-1940 World's Fair (Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia, 2004), p. 104, visitors to the Gas Exhibits Building in 1940 saw a "Gas Wonderland" that included "mystery gardens, disappearing dwarfs, flaming cactus plants, and Tiny Town with talking houses."
Originally posted on Ipernity: Johnny Gaso, Host of Wonderland, New York World's Fair, 1940.
Tags: ephemera photographs photos found photos snapshots portraits advertising advertisements ads Gaso Johnny Gaso Gasso Johnny Gasso advertising characters characters mascots Little People hosts Wonderland Gas Wonderland Gas Exhibits Gas Exhibits Building exhibits displays gas propane gas industry industry manufacturers companies New York World's Fair 1939 World's Fair NYWF world's fairs fairs expositions expos New York City NY New York 1939 1940 1930s antique old vintage typefaces type typography fonts
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A Happy New Year photo originally posted to the Vintage Photos Theme Park on Ipernity: Best Wishes for the New Year.
Handwritten message on the back of the photo: "Best Wishes for the New Year, Frank Schluth."
I believe that this photo shows Mr. Schluth dressed in a costume for the Philadelphia Mummers Parade. As Wikipedia explains, "The Mummers Parade is held each New Year's Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. . . . Local clubs (usually called 'New Years Associations') compete in one of four categories (comics, fancies, string bands, and fancy brigades). They prepare elaborate costumes and moveable scenery, which take months to complete." For addional information and recent photos, see the Philadelphia Mummers Parade Web site.
Tags: ephemera photographs photos found photos portraits snapshots Philadelphia Mummers Parade Mummers Parade parades New Year New Year's New Year's Day January 1 costumes men antique old vintage vptp upd
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