Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: cones

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of beginnings and endings (houses being built or torn down, stores opening or closing, an old year ending or a new one starting, etc.). Date and initials at lower right: "4.9.51. F.S." Printed on the back of this photo: "Photogr. F. Schumann, Pirna ." A snapshot of a young German girl who's holding a Schultüte , or school cone, which she received as a gift on her first day of school as a way to commemorate the beginning of her formal education. For a similar photo taken a few years later, see Girl with Schultüte, 1955 . For more photos, see my Schultüten (School Cones) album.

A photo of something beginning with S —a Schultüte or school cone—for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Photographer's stamp on the back of this real photo postcard. "Adolf E. Weiss, Reichenbach, I.V." Handwritten note on back: "Reichenbach, 9.4. 1934." A photo of a young boy holding a Schultüte (school cone) on his first day of school in Reichenbach im Vogtland , Germany, in 1934. For similar photos, see My First Day of School, April 19, 1922 , Petra's First Day of School, September 4, 1965 , and other photos in my Schultüten (School Cones) album.

Ein kleiner Junge mit einem großen Schultüte. (A small boy with a big Schultüte, or school cone.)

A handwritten date of 1955 appears on the back of this Schultüte (school cone) photo.

A German boy with a "Rheinland" cap and knapsack is ready for his first day of school. He's holding a Schultüte (school cone) that has the words "zum ersten Schulgang" ("for the first day of school") printed on it.

"Mein erster Schultag" ("My first day of school"). Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "Ostern 1966" ("Easter 1966"). Schultüten (school cones), miniature Easter baskets, and a stuffed first-day-of-school toy dog? Evidently these boys began their school career around Eastertime in 1966. For additional examples of these conical first-day-of-school gifts, see the Schultüte - School Cone group.

Partial transcription of the handwriting on the back of this photo: "eine kleine Erinnerung an meinen erster Schultag. 14.10.1949" (Google translation: "a small remembrance of my first day at school, October 14, 1949"). For additional examples of these conical first-day-of-school gifts, see the Schultüte - School Cone group.

"Mister Softee Cart Wheel. The very best sandwich. Ice milk. Net contents, 3 fl. ozs. Mr. Softee, Runnemede, N.J."

A real photo postcard for the Schultüte - School Cone group. Wikipedia explains the Schultüte traditon: "When children in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria set off for their first day in school upon entering first grade, their parents and/or grandparents present them with a big cardboard cone, prettily decorated and filled with toys, chocolate, candies, school supplies, and various other goodies. It is given to children to make this anxiously awaited first day of school a little bit sweeter." Stamped on the back of the photo: "Egon Sonntag, Photo-Atelier, Reinickendorf, Auguste-Viktoria-Allee 2."

"This card good for one free ice cream cone, Scooperman Ice Cream Parlor, 185 N. Second St., Highspire, Pa. 17034. One card per visit. Expires: Nov. 30, 1985." Alas, Scooperman closed many years ago!

The lovely neon sign at the now-closed Distelfink Drive-In restaurant near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is sadly in need of repair (see below for another view showing the other side of the Darkened Distelfink Drive-In Sign ). An article about the drive-in (see Lillian Reed, " Fate of Gettysburg's Distelfink Drive-In in Question Once Again ," in the Hanover, Pa., Evening Sun , June 4, 2013) revealed that the original owner of the restaurant, Cecil Sandoe, still lives in the brick house that's visible across the intersection. Sandoe operates a business that rents out storage units (visible to the left of the house) and is saddened by the decline of the drive-in over the years. "We wish we had moved because we have to see that it's not getting taken care of," he said, according to the article. “I do have regrets about selling it, but, at the time, my children were too young to take it over." Check out the Google Maps Street View of the drive-in, too.

The Distelfink Drive-In restaurant near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is closed and for sale, and its lovely neon sign is sadly in need of repair. When I passed by the place this summer, I took a took a few photos of the sign (see below for another view showing the other side of the Distelfink Drive-In Sign ). Afterwards, I discovered a recent newspaper article that doesn't hold out much hope for the future of the drive-in (see Lillian Reed, " Fate of Gettysburg's Distelfink Drive-In in Question Once Again ," in the Hanover, Pa., Evening Sun , June 4, 2013). Check out the Google Maps Street View of the drive-in, too.