Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Friday, February 24, 2012

Sepia Saturday # 114 Saturday 25 Feb 2012 - Shoes

THIS IS A SEPIA SATURDAY POST

THE MYSTERIOUS LADY WITH ONE RED SHOE

Shoes and even boots are often a peculiar thing.  Really, without other objects within the photo it's hard to date the actual year it was taken.  This photograph may have been taken (by the wood flooring) long ago, or it may have been just a few days ago.

SO,
You tell me!

Again, Alan (from Sepia Saturday) has slipped the shoe (so to speak) ha ha to Teresa Wilson Rogers from Forgotten Faces and Long Ago Places, to step into her own theme for this week.

Can you guess?







Shoes is the right fit!....and yes, ladies will also be a perfect fit!



...and while ladies are very fitting
like this photo from within a shoe factory in Lynn, Mass. (Courtesy of Mass. Historical Society), these hard working women-shoe makers quite busy styling the right fit for a great many customers.




Of course there were men and boys....

Involved in shoe making as well.


Who were all very proud not just to own a decent pair of shoes, but to hold a job at a shoe factory.  Like this group of hard working young boys in the Robert Johnson Rand Shoe Factory in Washington, Missouri.
(Courtesy of St. Louis, Mo. Historical Society.)and Hine, Lewis Wickes (is one of Alan's favorite photographers I think) Photo taken in October 1910. 

...and could that be Charlie Chaplin sitting on the right side of this proud group!


Yes, there were many jobs associated with shoes.



Many of those young boys worked well into the evening.... as this photo was taken after 10:00 P.M.
Apparently this was a common thing to stumble upon, many years of footsteps behind us.
Courtesy of Indianapolis, Indiana Historical Society

Today you might see this at the airport, or a highly expensive resort.....but stepping back to those days pictured here, this was a worthy job to have.  Also, more people wore shoes that required a shine, then shoes of today. 

So step on forward and please put your best foot forward and throw us a shoe or boot or two in your post.  Or just try on a few of our own shoe posts.  Need to know where to put that foot forward, just go here



For those who enjoy musicals you may discover a bit of a "Red Shoe" story here



It's called, The Red Shoes - a British Film from 1948.

19 comments:

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
aspiritofsimplicity said...

I live in Salem which is right next door to Lynn. Great post.

Kat Mortensen said...

I can't solve the mystery, but those shoes are way too high for me. I'm getting dizzy!

Little Nell said...

Snap! Red shoes rule ok! I can’t take part in the quiz as I have insider knowledge;) This is an entertaining journey into shoe-land. Great fun.

21 Wits said...

Kat...thanks! I know what you mean...my daughter wears some amazing heights, even when she should be wearing boots! ha ha

21 Wits said...

Little Nell, I'm still laughing, that's funny, you do...but it kind of went unnoticed! But I find it all so funny! That's what Red Shoes can do! ha ha!

Dani Jonsson- Lopez said...

Oh the life of shoes..... they've had an interesting journey....

Kristin said...

I think the shoe photo was taken recently. Then again, maybe it was taken in the 1950s...

21 Wits said...

Kristen- your first guess was right! Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend.

Postcardy said...

I think the red shoes are "apple red" which is brighter than the red color on shoes of the past.

Bob Scotney said...

I'm glad someone guessed correctly. My face would have been red if I had got it wrong. But did her lipstick match?

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

i was going to say 'i have no idea' about the shoes! (but saw the comments) i'm a sneaker fanatic and like to keep my feet flat on the ground. ha.

always love to see your sepia pictures!!

Christine H. said...

2008.
Oh heck, I don't know. I like the idea of mismatched shoes though...as long as the heels are the same height.

Alan Burnett said...

I have many a pair of mis-matched socks that could be worn with mis-matched shoes. As usual, a most enjoyable post.

Bruno Laliberté said...

Back in the days, I used to go to a leather bar where there was a shoe shine boy, and I did indulge occasionally, having my boots shine for me, even if there were already shine perfect. Just part of the fetish...
;)~
HUGZ

Wendy said...

Photos of factory workers are always fascinating.

Tattered and Lost said...

The shot of the women making the shoes reminds me of a scene in a movie called "If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium" which was about American tourists touring Europe on a bus. One guy can't wait to get to Italy to buy a pair of handmade shoes. He doesn't speak any Italian and the "shoemaker" doesn't speak any English. The Italian takes all sorts of measurements, determines what style and color the American wants, then when the American tries to pay the Italian mimes that he can be paid when the shoes arrive. The American leaves thinking he's going to get handmade shoes mailed to him. As soon as he leaves the Italian takes out a catalogue and orders a pair to shoes for the fellow.

Tattered and Lost said...

The shot of the women making the shoes reminds me of a scene in a movie called "If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium" which was about American tourists touring Europe on a bus. One guy can't wait to get to Italy to buy a pair of handmade shoes. He doesn't speak any Italian and the "shoemaker" doesn't speak any English. The Italian takes all sorts of measurements, determines what style and color the American wants, then when the American tries to pay the Italian mimes that he can be paid when the shoes arrive. The American leaves thinking he's going to get handmade shoes mailed to him. As soon as he leaves the Italian takes out a catalogue and orders a pair to shoes for the fellow.

tony said...

Re;The Mismatched Shoes,I Bet She Has Another Pair At Home!