Topic: Possible Bluesman sighting in York Beach Maine

[Mr.OMuck]

Shovel, where DID you find this amazing photo?

[Johnm]

That is completely cool that you sent off the message and got that response from Cynthia Young-Gomes, Phil.  Good on you for taking action and not just talking about how somebody should do something.
All best,
Johnm

[Mr.OMuck]

Thanks John. This picture grabbed me, probably because of the incongruity of a Bluesman (if that's what he was) in Maine and as a reminder of the fact that we only know fractions of bits and pieces of the whole cloth of the past. It was simply irresistible to try to get a window onto this photo's moment and it seemed possible to unearth something. Sadly not.

[Shovel]

Shovel, where DID you find this amazing photo?

I save all kinds of photos that I see online to my hard drive.  The one in OP is without a doubt the coolest I've seen.

Here's another good one I saw:

[Shovel]

Here is another photo, it was dated 1915.  Looks a bit like a young Gus Cannon, but NOT Gus Cannon.

[Shovel]

And here is one that looks like it could be a similar lineup to the Dallas String Band, or something similar..

[Shovel]

This is an interesting picture of a guy with a victrola .. no reason to think he's proudly listening to his own recording.  No reason at all.  But, still a cool picture

[harriet]

Thanks Shovel for the photos - they are great, much appreciated - I'll check out ebay as well - not that I collect or anything.

Harriet

[Shovel]

Thanks Shovel for the photos - they are great, much appreciated - I'll check out ebay as well - not that I collect or anything.

Harriet

Thanks for the kind words.  Sure  thing.  It's rare I buy any of these from ebay either.  How much I like a photo and how much I can pay for it rarely level out but I'm always looking for interesting ones.

That said, I strongly feel there are likely pictures of a lot of our Blues players "out there".   Many of the photos may never see the light of day, whether stashed away i private/public/university collections, but ebay is a spot where LOTS of photos get listed and interested folks can monitor without having to get out to a sale or meet.  A lot of the ones I posted above were from a collection that had a lot of different interests, but one interest was old pictures of african american men with guitars.  Perhaps we'll find something.

I'm attaching another related photo I came across to this post.  There's a little more to this one.

Also, pretty much unrelated, but worth a click if you've never REALLY seen a dog and pony show: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1870s-Dog-Pony-Show-PHOTO-Greyhound-Dalmatian-Rare-Horse-Street-Omaha-NE-/301863849843?hash=item46487ccf73%3Ag%3AKUgAAOSwKtlWsYeq&nma=true&si=JEc1OL2lP%252FCUkUmqmM8SGfKxkaw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[Shovel]

Last one I think.

[Mr.OMuck]

You've chosen an incredibly great, interesting hobby John. These photos contain whole worlds, lost worlds. They give an idea of the vast unrecorded world that got away. In a sense they serve as a metaphor for how small a window we have on our species' past altogether.

[Mr.OMuck]

I think your idea for a thread of photos awaiting ID is great. Also just being able to see these beauties is a treat. Go for it sez I!

[Shovel]

Here are a few more ...

This first one ID'd as a Civil War era couple

[Shovel]

One more couple, this ID'd by owner as an original photo postcard from the 20s
8 string mandolin?
Religious songbook?

*I think the posting screen says 8 attachments per post?  I haven't figured out how to do more than one.. if I could figure that out I'd share a lot more photos, including string bands, ethnic, and such.