(Rouen FR)
Category Archives: Photography & Ephemera
What should I do with this empty bag?
Ommm
Microphones
Nothing is more emblematic of the Golden Age of Radio than the microphones of that era. I asked ChatGPT to identify a few that were used at KBOA.
RCA 77-M (early) or RCA 77-A / 77-B variant. This is an earlier RCA 77, before the D / DX refinements. These were extremely common in regional stations transitioning from prewar gear.
Shure 55A or 55B (pre-“Elvis” Unidyne). This is the earlier Shure 55, before the iconic chrome “Elvis” look (the 55S). Radio stations used these constantly in the late ’40s–early ’50s. Key tells:
- End-address (announcer speaking into the top)
- Horizontal grille rings
- Small-diameter cylindrical body
- Cable exiting low, angled
RCA 44-BX ribbon microphone. The 44-BX was the mic for Groups, Music, Dramatic readings, Anything needing that huge ribbon warmth
Birthday Party (1956)
The mother of my friend John was a dedicated scrapbooker. I believe this photo actually appeared in the local newspaper (it was that kind of small town). It was taken at John’s birthday party, probably 1957.
Top row, R-L: Chris Jones, Otis Mitchell, Joe Browning, Jim Blankenship, unknown, David Covey, Steve Watson
Bottom row, R-L: Jim Robison, John Robison, Steve Mays, Terry Hunter, unknown, Jane Robison
Robison Family Photos
My friend John’s brother Jim passed away earlier this year and left a number of flash drives with family photos that Jim had scanned (ScanCafe) from family photos lovingly maintained by their mother, Betty Jane. There are 851 photos in this first album (with several more to come)
The screenshot below is an example of this treasure trove. I made John listen to my spiel on get-them-in-the-cloud-and-let-the-Universe-take-it-from-there. I find these fascinating as-is, with no information about the photos.
Prison photo a “liminal space”
In 2013 I posted this photo to my Flickr account. About a year ago someone commented: “This image is now famous on the internet for being known as a liminal space and a ‘level of the backrooms’ called “Electrical Substation” theres even video games or maps based off this image.”
I didn’t notice the comment at the time but when I came across it today I became curious about the “liminal space” reference and went to ChatGPT for some background. Continue reading
Zap Car
(Wikipedia) “ZAP was an American company that specialized in electric vehicles of various types, such as cars, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, watercraft, hovercraft, ATVs and commercial vehicles. Its name was an acronym for Zero Air Pollution. It was based in Santa Rosa, California, but it is no longer active.”
I spotted this beauty on the floor of MacWorld in 2008.
Adding time and place to photos
John Mays with Baby Steve. Probably spring (leaves on trees). 638 Cynthia St., Poplar Bluff MO
The only way this could have been better is if mom had included the date. I was born on March 8, 1948, so this is probably early spring? But having the address of where they were living (in Poplar Bluff, MO) is priceless. I checked street view on the maps apps but that was almost 80 years ago.
I have so many photos from this time I tend to take them for granted. To see the loving expressions of my mother and father… whew.
I like to blog in the nude
