1940s

1945 Wedding Reception or Garden Party

Zizi V. totally owned the WWII WAC uniform. She was my third and last model to wear it. My first retro shoot with Anita had all the awkwardness of a first-time (everything), which made for very authentic emotions. With this third shoot in the WAC uniform, I was more confident and explored beyond the studio to the front room and outdoors (where the natural light was perfect). We played more with the set, even in the studio, and the pictures just turned out different. I think that the outdoor and natural light photos turned out looking like 1940s era snapshots and candids.

World War 2 Soldier Picture

WWII WAC Uniform

Back in 2011, I got to borrow this World War II Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC and later WAC) uniform with matching garrison cap from a local historical society.

This was my first shoot for the Carondelet Historical Society, and the first picture from this first shoot is my favorite.

1940s Swimming Pictures

A family in 1944

A new car, in 1944

I imagine this 1940s couple getting this car as a gift, or the husband giving it to his wife before he leaves back to fighting overseas. She looks so proud and you can see them posed together, with him in his military uniform. What cute WWII-era Kodachrome slides!

Changing the Muslin Cover & Pad – and misc

Ironing Hints and Tips

How to Machine Iron Lingerie

How to use an IronRite Ironing Machine

Why do we iron?

Cover and Envelope of IronRite Ironing Machine Manual

I’m trying to sell this IronRite Model 85 from the late 1940s… but may as well scan the instruction manual and paperwork in the mean time!

Here is the envelop and the front and back cover for the instruction manual. Pages coming soon.

Bus Routes to the Muny and Guarantors of the 1943 Opera Season

It appears as if bus service to the Muny at Forest Park during World War II was very comprehensive! Bus service extended as far as Gravois and Hampton, Grand and Holly Hills, 3rd and Washington (downtown), Florissant and Kingshighway, and Delmar and DeBalviere… a pretty wide radius!

Also in these last few pages of the 1943 St Louis Municipal Opera program, besides ads, was the list of large donors who gave to the Municipal Theatre Associations guarantee fund. It reads like a long list of old St. Louis society’s who’s-who and includes Adolphus Busch II and his son, August Buch (of the Anheuser-Busch brewery). It’s interesting to see who the early supporters of the Muny were!