Category Archives: Snapshots & Fragments
Hamra’s Department Store
The photos below were taken by Johnny “Mack” Reeder, probably in the early 50’s but perhaps as early as 1948 or 1949 (maybe a vintage car buff can help me narrow that down). This just off the “courthouse square” in Kennett, MO. The first photo is facing West.
I remember Hamra’s from my youth (born in 1948) but I’m hard-pressed to tell you exactly what they sold. Clothing and fabrics, obviously, and I recall a shoe store next to the main store shown in these photos. There were several stores like this in “downtown” Kennett. Graber’s, James Kahn’s, Penney’s and some I can’t remember.
I don’t think this was a “grand opening” so I’m guessing this was some sort of special sale. The photographer was one of the original employees of KBOA (the local radio station) and might have been recording the big crowd that resulted from advertising.
The third photo speaks to the rural flavor of our small town. Lots of bib overalls. I remember hearing stories about hundreds of people flooding into town on a Saturday to purchase supplies for the farms that made up the local economy in those days.
Cigar Box
In a world of cheap plastic and cardboard, it feels good to have these around. I’ll keep my external hard drives in this one.
Prairie Garden Trust Overlook
The name really says it all: a prairie garden. In the middle of Missouri, about 20 minutes from my house. My friends Henry and Lorna manage this treasure and while I’ve taken many walks with Henry, I’ve never seen this magnificent view. Used irresponsibly, drones can be a pain in the ass. But they’re here to stay and we’ll be seeing our world differently from now on.
Clean up your computer desktop
There’s a simple, easy solution to your nasty-ass desktop.
The Real America
The Real America can be found in this Social Security Administration waiting room. The lady in the leopard pants talks exactly like the Gary Oldman character in True Romance.
TV
Regrets
I have a theory about regret. We are less likely to admit regret for actions that cannot be reversed. I think it might even be impossible. In the latest episode of House of Cards, Claire Underwood is asked (by a woman) if she regrets not having children. Claire answers with, “Do you regret having children?” Sssssnap. It’s damned difficult to find a parent that will admit they sometimes wish they had not had children. I suspect the same is true for tattoos. No matter how ugly or fucked up the tattoo, I’ve never heard anyone say “Wish I hadn’t done this.”
Early Elvis contract
In 1955 Elvis Presley appeared at a little honky tonk called the B & B Club, in Gobler, MO. Not far from my hometown of Kennett, MO. More information here, including an audio clip with my father who was working at the local radio station. The contract above is between Elvis and Jimmy Haggett, who also worked at KBOA and booked entertainers on the side. If you look closely you’ll see Elvis was to receive 75% of the gate to be paid “after dance.”
Left his Big Boy camera in the car
What’s going on here? Can you really get credentials to photograph the national championship game with just your smart phone