Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: running

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of shape up! (people exercising) . This is an early twentieth-century real photo postcard with the name "Lambert Weston & Son, Folkestone" embossed in the lower right-hand corner (the embossing isn't really visible in this image, unfortunately). The photo shows a number of men who are getting some exercise by running a footrace. The runners, strangely enough, are wearing neckties and white shirts more suitable for an office than an athletic field. A large crowd has gathered to watch the competition, and a large round building is visible in the background. The building in the background appears to be one of the Martello towers --"small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century"--and might be one of the towers that are located in Folkestone, Kent, England.

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park for the topics of spirit photography / ghostly images / haunted houses (post up to 3 images on any combination of these themes) . Ghostly images of semitransparent kids and a grinning bunny make for a haunting scene in this undated snapshot.

"What the pig tho't of the ghost." A humorous Halloween postcard published by Julius Bien & Co. in 1908.

"Backus, the Clothing Row hatter and gent's furnishing goods, 799 Broad St., Newark, N.J."

"You're not safe in 1908—unless you have your (marriage) license. Leap Year. Dog wagon. Ma. Pa. 1063."

"Leap Year. Running after a good catch."

What means this shoe so very new? Why, "23" skidoo, skidoo! But if you'll be my Valentine, This shoe, my love, will not fit you. The "23 skidoo" fad--a joking way to tell someone to "scram" or "get lost"--was popular in the 1900s and 1910s. For an amazing compilation of information regarding the fad, see the 23 Skidoo Postcards Web site. Postmarked: Newark, N.J., Feb. 13, 1909. Sent to: Mr. Miles Tarbell, Groton, Tompkins County, New York. Message: Yours sincerely, Belle D.

"The giant cracker is a big red brute, with a tail that's like a snake. You can easily tell when they're about, by the awful noise they make." An anthropomorphic firecracker strikes fear into the hearts of the local populace.

"Don't be in a hurry to run home if someone tells you your house is on fire, it is only the work of an April Fool!"

This Thanksgiving postcard, which was published in 1908 and postmarked in Lynn, Mass., on November 25, 1910, seemed more appropriate for Halloween to me. I couldn't resist changing the message to make it into a Halloween postcard. See Happy Halloween, You Turkey! (below).

This Halloween postcard actually started out as an authentic 1908 Thanksgiving postcard (see Thanksgiving Greetings below). I couldn't resist doctoring the Thanksgiving message, however, in order to transform it into a Halloween postcard with a modern sentiment.

Or at least it looked like a runaway bride to me at first glance. After seeing what was written on the back of the photo, however, it appears that "Verla" (on the right) and an accomplice (on the stairs) are running out of the church in order to play a prank on the bride and groom by "decorating" their car ("Gil's car") in some amusing, inconvenient, or embarassing way. I still remember how some friends "decorated" the getaway car at my cousin's wedding by spraying shaving cream all over it. Handwritten description on the back of the photo: "Front view of church & shows how windy it was. Verla in foreground.They're on their way to decorate Gil's car." Dealer's handwritten caption on the back of the photo: "Holy #&@! Run!!"