Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Sepia Saturday 13- Oct - 2012

SEPIA SATURDAY


Do you feel like an afternoon matinee?
Sepia Saturday style?


This was taken in 1935 when The Rainmakers was showing, starring Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey (unknowns to me). The Liberty Theater, on Saint Charles Street.  New Orleans, Louisiana.

New Orleans is where my story begins.


I'm sailing a bit off this week's theme- but on theme you'll notice, groups, hats, mention of a general, and happily no mustaches.

Are you ready for a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana?

It's a city named after Orleans, a city on the Loire River in Centre, France and is well known for its distinct French Creole architecture.  Also for its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage, and its cuisine, music (jazz) and festivals, most notably the Mardi Gras.





LOUISIANA FOLKS, CURIOSITIES, MAGICAL FABLES and HAUNTED PLACES

"Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery."
Victor Hugo

They say don't judge a book by it's cover-
But what about people?

Mostly, a happy bunch.

Is that a lunch pail the girl on the right is holding?

I'd keep my eye on these ladies.
"Yes, we do adore our life!" You know that's what they're thinking.

If I said these ladies are from very different walks in life- you'd believe me, right?  Are you surprised that one group makes their living at the Lane Cotton Mill in New Orleans, Louisiana and the other group of ladies-
also work in New Orleans, at various factories?


Which group do you think you'd rather work with?

The second photo was taken in March of 1914 and they are all Factory Inspectors, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Surely, they have run into the ladies (in the first photo)
from the Lane Cotton Mill.


*     *     *     *


They say curiosity killed the cat.  But what about ghosts?
Louisiana, and especially in New Orleans it's known as a lively place for magical fables and ghost stories.  I wonder if there's any truth to those stories?

Let's drive by 1113 Charles Street.
Looks okay to me, but looks can be....
Welcome to-
Beauregard House
Built in 1812- General Pierre Gustave Toutant de Beauregard lived in this house until 1869. He dutifully commanded Southern soldiers at the disastrous Battle of Shiloh, where thousands of Americans lost their lives.

Legend says, a legion of ghosts haunt this house, and it's also known as LeCarpentier House, and sits across the street from the Convent of Ursula in the French Quarter, at 1113 Charles Street.


But of all the haunts I've read about (and have toured years ago) there's one unique man that set out to capture all those haunted houses.  May I introduce-

Arnold Genthe (a photographer 1869-1942)
and quite a character judging by the photo below.

But, he was much more than just a photographer.

 
The photographer is unknown for this photo, but here sits Arnold
with two women friends on the beach -
in Long Beach, New York.
 
 

I couldn't remember ever reading about Arnold Genthe before, but apparently he's well known because when you search through the Library of Congress photos, with just his name you get 17213 hits!

So my story about Genthe will continue in further depth next week- and we'll explore more about New Orleans as well.

I hope you can join me!



"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."


Curiosity is lying in wait for every secret. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

So this concludes are little vacation (since our dear Alan has sailed away) for some R & R, and let's thank Kat Mortensen for taking up the ever so fun duty of keeping Sepia Saturday afloat while Alan is away!

Thanks, Kat!

If you want to see more Sepia Saturday posts
go here

http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2012/10/sepia-saturday-147-13-october-2012.html
 

19 comments:

Galen Pearl said...

I spent two years of my childhood in New Orleans. Still have friends there. Fascinating city--like nowhere else in the US. Great photos, as always!

CameraCruise said...

Great post as always, loved it!
Wonderful photos and words.
Yes, I've seen the trails the pheasants leave behind. It's so strange that it's only the males visiting our garden, we never see the females. Hope you're having a great weekend. Mette

FilipBlog said...

When I see these old beach pictures, I am always surprised that people wear so many clothes.

Greetings,
Filip

Peter said...

I was surprised to see six female factory inspectors. I mean, in 1914 weren't women expected to iron and do the dishes?
Great photographs, in particular the one showing Arnold on his day off.

Little Nell said...

A great collection of course Karen but the standout was the factory inspectors. I think their faces would have cracked if they'd smiled accidentally! Looking forward to more next week :)

21 Wits said...

Mette- I think we see more males because they love to show off more! Ha! Ha!

21 Wits said...

Filip- I totally agree with you-although not quite a change in modern day!

21 Wits said...

Peter- I have to laugh at the ironing and dishes but you are so right- although those inspector ladies don't look like they do housework at all to me! :) Arnold was a special man I'm learning!

21 Wits said...

Little Nell- I totally agree with you, their expressions sure go hand in hand with their line of work!

21 Wits said...

Galen- How lucky that you lived there, and still have friends to visit! My husband and I went there several times on business trips but we sure had fun while we were on the off hours!

Queen Bee said...

Enjoyed the tour of New Orleans and look forward to seeing more images next week. The man wearing glasses on the movie marquee looks like George Burns. I'd rather work with the young ladies than the sour looking group of inspectors. :)

Liz Stratton said...

How fun! Except for the inspectors. My Brother-in-Law once said to be careful of the profession you choose because it might rub off on you. Looks like that might have happened to those inspectors!

Can't wait for more tours or Orleans and more Genthe photos.

Bob Scotney said...

I definitely would not have liked to cross the inspectors who are a fearsome lot.
I'm always interested in ghostly tours so Beauregard House was interesting.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Hi Karen! Oh, you now have me very curious about next week. I love New Orleans, and have only been once. I really want to go back, now that I have my camera and my blog. If I ever get to, I will do as you did and take a ghost tour.

Thanks for the great pictures.

Kathy M.

Unknown said...

New Orleans must be an interesting place to visit! I'm looking forward to the Arnold Genthe photos.

Unknown said...

I absolutely loved all of my trips to New Orleans--even the one where I had to get out of town in a hurry while trying to stay ahead of Andrew in '92! My wife wasn't with me on that trip, but I did get to take her to the French Quarter a couple of times. She didn't like it all that much, though.

Jana Iverson Last said...

Great post! Wow, those factory inspectors look like they mean business!

Kat Mortensen said...

Wonderful post! I love the mystique of New Orleans. Though I have never been, it looks like a fantastic place, and I love New Orleans jazz!

As for ghost stories, we have an upcoming tour of the local museum (for Hallowe'en) that is said to house some ghosts. The building was originally the Workhouse around here and it is an imposing edifice. You can see a picture on my local photo-blog, here:
http://mylittletownont.blogspot.ca/2012/03/wellington-home.html

Bruno Laliberté said...

Those factory inspectors looked like matrons. I wouldn't have messed with them!!
;D~

Genthe seemed in good company...

Let's see what else you'll dig up!!

BTW:
Never seen [or heard of] the Rainmakers, but I remember The Rainmaker, with Burt Lancaster...
;)~
HUGZ