Wednesday, July 31, 2024

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- July 31, 2024

cdc.gov

COVID-19 statistics have been going up. 

We had an insane month, with an awful debate between President Joe Biden and convicted felon Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention, President Biden withdrew in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. 

We seem to have a stalemate in Ukraine. 

The Paris Olympics started with an entertaining opening ceremony.

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Rube Goldberg -- The Nation is Ruled by Motorcycle Cops -- July 30, 2024

Buffalo News, 21-August-1924

Cartoonist, engineer and inventor of Goldbergian devices, Rube Goldberg, was a native of San Francisco. In this item, he expressed the anxiety many people felt about traffic cops. Some cities and towns figured out early on that they could supplement their budgets by liberally distributing tickets.

Monday, July 29, 2024

Interior of Vaucanson's Automatic Duck -- July 29, 2024

Scientific American, 21-January-1899

French inventor Jacques de Vaucanson created an automaton, called the Canard DigĂ©rateur (Digesting Duck) in 1768. It appeared to eat grain from a person's hand, digest it and excrete it. It may have been destroyed in a fire.

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Evansville Airship and Its Inventor -- July 28, 2024

Saint Paul Globe, 04-June-1899

EVANSVILLE (IND.) AIRSHIP AND ITS INVENTOR.

EVANSVILLE, Ind., June 3. -- (Special.) --The Aerial Navigation company's airship was tested tonight, under the direction of Its inventor, Arcidas Farmer, and was entirely satisfactory. The manufacturer of the balloon did not arrive as was expected. Mr. Farmer was too impatient to wait longer and decided to make another test. About 3 o'clock this afternoon Mr. Farmer commenced getting things in order to inflate the balloon, and at 6 o'clock attempted to make the ascent himself, but discovered that the balloon would not raise his weight.

He then placed his son Dorris in the car in his place. The boy understands the working of the machinery perfectly and made the ascent to a height of about forty feet above the ground, but on account of a brisk wind which was blowing from the southeast it was found that the flying machine would not answer to the steering apparatus properly, and the test was postponed until this evening.

At half past 8 o'clock tonight the balloon was again Inflated, and Dorris Farmer again made the ascent, allowing the airship to rise to a height of sixty feet above the earth. There was but little wind to interfere with the test, and the lad had no difficulty in managing it as he desired.

He steered the machine in different directions, making several circuits above the base ball park, where the exhibition or test was made. There were fully 200 people present, including the stockholders in the company and a number of scientific men of considerable prominence in this section of the state. They watched the movements of the aerial vessel with great Interest as it moved about above their heads, under the control of the boy. If the balloon can be inflated sufficiently to raise the weight of the inventor, he will make another public test Sunday afternoon.

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Doctor McLaughlin's Electric Belt -- July 27, 2024

San Francisco Call, 22-September-1901

Doctor MC McLaughlin was one of many quack doctors who offered electric belts as cures for various male health problems: "Rheumatism, Lame and Weak Back, Sciatica, "Come-and-Go" Pains, Constipation, Loss of Appetite, Wasted Vital Strength. Nervousness, Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Sleeplessness, Lost Energy and all ailments resulting from exposure and excesses." 

Friday, July 26, 2024

Paris 2024 Olympics -- July 26, 2024

paris2024.org

The 2024 Summer Olympics open tonight in Paris. 100 years ago, the 1924 Summer Olympics were also held in Paris. 

Update: We watched the live feed starting at 10:30am Pacific. This was the least boring opening ceremony I have seen in many years. Having the teams ride boats down the Seine was a fascinating idea. The caldron was suspended from a balloon in the courtyard of the Louvre. There were dancers on the scaffolding around Notre Dame. 

Thursday, July 25, 2024

New Cat #121 -- July 25, 2024


I took the photo on 07-July -2024. She was testing the bed in the hotel room in Camarillo. She approved, but she also enjoyed going under the covers. 

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Bob Newhart, Duke Fakir, John Mayall, Jerry Miller, Shelley Duvall and Martin Mull RIP -- July 24, 2024

listal.com

Bob Newhart has died. He was close in age to my father, and his dry humor reminded me of my dad and his brothers from Ohio. I like to think that I carry on the tradition. I watched his television shows and I was happy to see that he appeared in many movies in more recent years.

Duke Fakir, the last surviving member of the original Four Tops, John Mayall of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers and Jerry Miller of Moby Grape have died. 

listal.com

Shelley Duvall died. I liked her in big parts and small, and even in Popeye. I have not seen The Shining

listal.com

Martin Mull died in late June. I didn't watch Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman or Fernwood2Night. The humor didn't do much for me. I liked his later work in movies and television. 


Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Seven All-Steel Dixie Fliers Daily -- July 23, 2024

Indianapolis Times, 28-July-1924

This ad touts the Interstate Public Service Company's "DeLuxe Buffet-Parlor Car Service" from Indianapolis and Louisville. 

Monday, July 22, 2024

Coulter -- Tramp Steamers -- July 22, 2024

San Francisco Call, 22-September-1901


William A Coulter did many maritime drawings for the San Francisco Call. Tramp steamers operated wherever they were chartered to go, without a fixed route or schedule. Click on the image for a larger view. 

BIG TRAMP STEAMSHIPS ARRIVE

F. S. Ciampa, Flying Italian Flag,
Drops Anchor in Port.

Among the fleet that made port yesterday were the Italian steamship F. S. Ciampa and the British steamship Cycle. Both were under charter to load wheat, but the Ciampa was twelve hours behind her canceling date, and now the charterer does not want to pay as high a rate. The matter will probably be amicably adjusted on Monday.

The Ciampa was 25 days coming from Talcahuano, while the Cycle was 24 days coming from Hiogo. The former is 4040 tons gross and 2634 tons net burden. She was built in Genoa, Italy, in 1899, by N. Odero & Co., and is 340 feet 5 inches long, 45 feet beam and 19 feet 8 inches deep. Captain Cafaiero, who commands her, has scores of friends in this port, as he traded here for years in the ship Francesco Ciampa.

The Cycle is 3411 tons gross and 2227 tons net burden. She was built in Sunderland, England, in 1900, by J. L. Thompson & Sons, Ltd., and is 331 feet 2 inches long, 49 feet beam and 24 feet 5 inches deep. Each steamship will take away about 5000 tons of grain.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Joe Biden Steps Aside -- July 21, 2024

sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com

I woke up this morning and learned that President Joe Biden is withdrawing as a candidate for reelection. This is sad. It will be interesting to see who goes forward as the new candidate. I would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. 


moveon.org


Albert Bierstadt -- Cathedral Rocks, Yosemite Valley, California -- July 21, 2024


I have always enjoyed the paintings of Albert Bierstadt. I have posted many of them over the last few years.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

A Week of Camera Opportunities -- July 20, 2024

Pine Bluff Semi-Weekly Graphic, 01-July-1924

After posting Kodak ads for more than two years, I realized that I did not know much about Kodak's early competitors. I thought I would dig in and see what I could find. 

The Buckeye Camera was produced by E and HT Anthony and Company. Like the Kodak, it used flexible film.

New York Sun, 09-July-1899

New York's Robert H Ingersoll and Brother offered "The Famous Cyclone," another box camera, but one which used plates rather than film. The Western Camera Manufacturing Company produced the Cyclone Camera. The Cyclone Senior used larger plates than the Cyclone Junior. 

Robert H Ingersoll should not be confused with orator Colonel Robert G Ingersoll, who was known as "the Great Agnostic."
.
Coconino Sun, 29-July-1899

"The most compact and least complicated of any in the market. All can operate it."


New Haven Daily Morning Journal, 20-July-1899

The Edward Malley Company, a department store, offered a variety of cameras. This gives me some ideas for future posts.

Portland Maine Daily Press, 18-July-1899

Saint Paul Globe, 02-July-1899

Schuneman and Evans in Saint Paul sponsored a camera contest. I am still looking for an announcement. I see that the winner was a lady. I wish the images had been reproduced more clearly.

Friday, July 19, 2024

Scholz, the "Quiet" Champion -- July 19, 2024

Birmingham Age-Herald, 20-July-1924

Jackson Scholz was a member of the US track team in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. His first appearance in the games was in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. He was part of the American team that won the 4 × 100 meter relay. In 1924 he won the gold medal in the 200-meter sprint and bronze in the 100-meter race. He did not win a medal in 1928 in Amsterdam. Scholz later became a writer.

Brad Davis played Scholz in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. Scholz lived to see the movie and did an American Express commercial with Ben Cross, who played Harold Abrahams, the man who beat him in the 100-meter in 1924. 

listal.com


Thursday, July 18, 2024

If It Isn't an Eastman It Isn't a Kodak -- July 18, 2024

Morgan County Democrat, 17-July-1924

George Eastman's Kodak cameras allowed many people to take up photography. 

Daily New Dominion, 01-July-1924


Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Time Magazine -- James Stillman Rockefeller -- July 17, 2024

Time, July 07, 1924

With the coming of the 2024 Summer Olympics, soon to be held in Paris, I thought I would mention the 1924 Summer Olympics, also held in Paris. James Stillman Rockefeller was a graduate of Yale who was the captain of a team of rowers, including his former classmate Benjamin Spock. They won a gold medal in rowing.

He later worked for the bank that morphed over the years into Citibank. 

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Orange Crush -- Worth Fightin' For! -- July 16, 2024

Middlesboro Daily News, 03-July-1924

I seem to be on an Orange Crush streak, but I like this ad.

Monday, July 15, 2024

Red Hot Weather! -- July 15, 2024

Cordele, Georgia Dispatch and Daily Sentinel, 30-July-1924

In light of the record heat wave afflicting much of the United States, I thought I would post this Coca-Cola ad. "Everybody talks about it! Why not do something about it?"

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Bastille Day, 2024 -- July 14, 2024

San Francisco Call, 14-July-1897

Happy Bastille Day, everyone. In 1897, the Chutes, an amusement park, celebrated the holiday. "2 P.M. Literary Exercises. Mayor James D Phelan addressed the crowd. "Fireworks and Grand Ball at Night," all for 25 cents. Sounds like a good deal. 

celebratebastilledaysf.org

This year's celebration does not appear to include Literary Exercises. 

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Trump Shot -- July 13, 2024

cnn.com

Someone took a shot at convicted felon Donald Trump during one of his Nuremberg rallies and nicked his ear. He is ok, but one innocent bystander has died and two are in critical condition. The shooter is dead. 

Violence is not the way to do politics. I hope convicted felon Donald Trump recovers soon. 

Wedding in Camrillo -- Part 2 -- July 13, 2024


We drove home from Camarillo on Monday. Traffic was much lighter than it had been on Saturday. One place we stopped to change drivers was San Ardo. I had driven by the sign many times but had never gone there. 

I was wondering about the name San Ardo. After we got home, I looked it up and found that the town was founded when the railroad went through and was named San Bernardo. In order to prevent people from confusing it with San Bernardino, they truncated the name. 

We stopped in front of Our Lady of Ransom Church. I had never heard of that title of Mary. It turns out that that feast was removed from the calendar after Vatican II. 

We were happy to get home. The cat is enjoying her usual napping places. 

Friday, July 12, 2024

Wedding in Camarillo -- July 12, 2024

gerryranch.com

On Sunday, our niece Emmy got marries in Camarillo. Saturday we drove south on 101. There was horrible congestion from Gilroy to the road for Monterey, and in spots after, especially in Pismo Beach and Santa Barbara. The temperature in the Salinas Valley got up to 115F. 

We had to bring the cat along, because she doesn't eat when we aren't home. She is best car cat I have ever had. She didn't meow all the way down and back. She slept in her carrier and enjoyed the air conditioning. 

We checked into the Marriott Residence Inn in Camarillo. The room was all right, but the cat said it was poorly designed. She couldn't hide behind the couch or under the bed. She didn't eat the first day. She did better with help from an appetite stimulant prescribed by her vet. 

Saturday evening, we went to the Twisted Oak Tavern for dinner. A good guitarist was playing and singing. 

Later, my wife and her sisters, with their families, celebrated the mother of the bride's birthday at the hotel. 

Sunday we made a quick trip to the outlets, then went back to the hotel to get ready.

The Gerry Ranch is an active farm and it serves as a wedding venue. The scenery was nice and the temperature was 85F or lower. Our niece was a beautiful bride. Her sister gave a nice speech as the co-Maid of Honor. There was lots of dancing at the reception. My daughter and son-in-law were unhappy that they were seated at a different table than we were, but they did ok. 

It was very dark when we left. They need more lights. 

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Radiocast Stars Enliven B.L.A. Open Meeting -- July 11, 2024

Chicago Tribune, 13-July-1924

The Broadcast Listeners' Association must have been an interesting organization. One of their meetings included several "radiocast stars." One of the stars was Jelly Roll Morton, "world's greatest jazz pianist." Now I'm looking for his name in the radio listings. 

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

New Orleans Joys -- July 10, 2024

Indianapolis Star, 24-July-1924

Gennett Records' offerings included "Perfect Rag" and "New Orleans (Blues) Joys," by Jelly Roll Morton. Morton was a great composer and pianist. His name may have been Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe or LaMenthe or something else. He told many wonderful stories about himself and some were probably true.  He said that he invented jazz.  He didn't, but he had a lot to do with its growth and increasing sophistication.  He spent time in San Francisco, playing in the Barbary Coast, where he owned a club called the Jupiter. He said the cops drove him out of town.  I would like to write a story about that. 

Jelly Roll Morton - Perfect Rag


Jelly " Roll" Morton New Orleans Joys


Tuesday, July 9, 2024

The Lynching Record For the First Six Months -- July 9, 2024

Salt Lake City Broad Ax, 12-July-1924

THE LYNCHING RECORD FOR
THE FIRST SIX MONTHS,
July 5, 1924.

Julius F. Taylor,
Chicago.

Dear Sir:-- 

The following statistics on lynching for the first six months of the year 1924 have been compiled by the Department of Records and Research of Tuskegee Institute.

Total number lynched, 5. Offenses charged: Rape, 3; Attempted rape, 1; Killing Officer of the law, 1.

Record by states: Florida, 2; Georgia, 2; South Carolina, 1.

Comparison of Records: First six months of 1924, 5; of 1923, 15; of 1922, 30; of 1921, 36.

It is gratifying to note that the record thus far for the year 1924 is the lowest for the first six months of any of the forty years during which the record has been kept. It is an encouraging sign of progress toward the elimination of this evil, which is condemned by public opinion. It is an indication of the growing sentiment against lawlessness in general, and in my judgment a result of the spread and influence of interracial co-operation. All of the persons lynched were Negroes.

Yours very truly,
R. R. Moton,
Principal.

Monday, July 8, 2024

Comic Book -- Two-Fisted Tales -- July 8, 2024

mutoscope.listal.com

Two-Fisted Tales was a famous war comic from EC. This cover of this issue depicts an aerial battle during World War One.

Sunday, July 7, 2024

Pulp -- Battle Birds -- July 7, 2024

mutoscope.listal.com

Battle Birds featured some interesting covers. Here we see a Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a battling with a colorful flock of Fokker Triplanes.

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Bivens -- Wow -- July 6, 2024


Sunday we went to our first Giants game since COVID-19. There was a full house because we were playing the Dodgers and the first 15,000 fans received Giants caps with mouse ears. The kindergartners should like them when I do yard duty. 

Spencer Bivens made his first start and went five scoreless innings. As you can see from the image above, the Giants scored in each of the first four innings. He left with a 5-0 lead. We saw Shohei Ohtani for the first time in person. Bivens struck him out twice. Things got a little close in the last innings, but the Giants won. BART and Muni were crowded coming and going because of the game and the Pride Parade. 

The weather was warm and sunny. 


Tributes to Willie Mays surround his statue.


The scoreboard displayed this animation after Matt Chapman's home run. 

Friday, July 5, 2024

20% Discount on All Straws -- July 5, 2024


Men used to wear straw boaters during the summer. I haven't found one that felt comfortable. 

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Happy Independence Day 2024-- July 4, 2024

Perth Amboy Evening News, 04-July-1924

Happy Fourth of July to all. 248 years ago, we declared our independence. 

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Air Mail Victory -- July 3, 2024

Imperial Valley Press, 14-July-1924

On 01-July-1924, the US Post Office launched day and night transcontinental airmail service. 

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Red Devils Return to Pacifica #18 -- July 2, 2024


Pacifica is one of the two cities on the San Francisco peninsula that allow the sale of fireworks. The booths arrived last week. This is the stand at the Linda Mar shopping center. I took the photo today.

Many Pacificans agree that selling fireworks is a bad idea: We have steep, brush-covered hillsides that pose a fire danger. People use the "safe and sane" fireworks to mask the unsafe and insane variety. Not to mention my cat hates the Fourth of July.

Unfortunately, our charities claim that fireworks are the only thing they can sell that will generate enough money. That can't be true. What about drugs? Weapons? They're not thinking outside of the box.

Monday, July 1, 2024

July 2024 Version of the Cable Car Home Page -- July 1, 2024


I just put the June 2024 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:

It includes some new items:

  1. Picture of the Month: "Who Remembers?" asks "When you received a real thrill by riding alongside the gripman in one of the old cable cars?" "CTC" stands for Capital Traction Company, which consolidated the District's transit companies. (source: "Who remembers?" Washington Evening Star, 07-October-1927.)
  2. On the Cable Car Lines in the District of Columbia and Baltimore page: A ten-ear update about the Washington and Georgetown Railroad including contemporary newspaper items and images. The company was forced to use cable traction at a time when companies in other cities were switching from horse or cable to electric traction.
  3. On the UK page: Added Cliff Railway Day banners for the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway (2019 and 2022) and the Babbacombe Cliff Railway (2020, 2022 and 2024).
  4. Added News item about SFMTA Christmas sweaters.

Ten years ago this month (July, 2014):

  1. Picture of the Month: Cable Train on Pennsylvania Avenue, passing the White House (source: "The Washington & Georgetown Railroad Co.'s System Completed", Street Railway Journal, September, 1892.)
  2. On the Cable Car Lines in the District of Columbia and Baltimore page: The Washington and Georgetown Railroad
  3. On the Who page: Added a profile from the Street Railway Journal about Clift Wise, who helped build many of the lines of the Kansas City Cable Railway. Be sure to check his moustache.
  4. Also on the Who page: Added an ad for Edmund Saxton, a contractor built the tracks and conduits for many lines in Kansas City, Washington DC, Baltimore and Tacoma also a profile of cable railway engineer Daniel Bontecou
  5. On the Horse Car Home Page: Thanks to Yosef Sa'ar, more Horse Car Transit Tokens
  6. On the UK page: A contemporary photo of a former depot (car barn) for London's Brixton Cable Tramway
  7. Added News item about a Muni sickout that shut down the cable cars

    Twenty years ago this month (July, 2004):

    1. Picture of the Month: A New York Metropolitan Street Railway cable car
    2. Added some new items on the New York/New Jersey page. Cable Car Run Amuck is an 1893 newspaper article about a runaway cable car on Broadway. Also an article about the Park Hill Incline, a funicular in Yonkers.
    3. Migrated some more items from the Cable Car Museum site:
      1. The Cable Car Lady & the Mayor by Walter Rice and Val Lupiz on the San Francisco page, an article about the epic battle between Mrs Friedel Klussmann and Mayor Roger Lapham.
      2. The Great Orme Tramway: The Cable Car of Wales, another article by Walter Rice, about the only street-running funicular in the United Kingdom.
    4. Thanks to Walter Rice and Val Lupiz for allowing me to be the new host of this material

    In January 2024 I started on a long overdue process of cleaning things up on my site. I started with the development pages. Actually, I guess I started last year with making the thumbnails 200 pixels instead of 100.

    Coming in July, 2024: On the Cable Car Lines in the District of Columbia and Baltimore page: A ten year update about the Columbia Railway.

    125 Years Ago This Month (July, 1899):
    Jul 15 - Peoples' Cable Railway Tenth Street line (Kansas City, Missouri) closed.
    Jul 16 - The Brooklyn Elevated Railway (New York, New York) stopped running its trains across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan, using the New York & Brooklyn Bridge's cable line, except during busy summer periods.

    50 Years Ago This Month (July, 1974):
    Jul 15 - San Francisco Giant Willie McCovey hit his four hundredth home run and Juan Marichal shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-0.

    The Cable Car Home Page now has a Facebook page:
    https://www.facebook.com/CableCarHomePage/

    The Cable Car Home Page also has an Instagram page:
    https://www.instagram.com/cable_car_guy/


    Joe Thompson
    The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-July-2024)
    http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
    San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-March-2024)
    http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
    Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 29-February-2024)
    http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
    The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
    http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
    The Big V Riot Squad (updated obsessively)
    http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/

Happy Canada Day 2024 -- July 1, 2024

eventlas.com

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends.