Toledo, Ohio – Part 1
This is the first of a series of posts I will be doing, of images of the same young, attractive woman. What do we know about her? She was a Christian, indicated not only by the ecclesiastical choice of back-drop but by the cruxifix she is wearing. I know that she came from or visited Ohio, USA in the 1940s, as gleaned from the back of two snapshots (below) that came with a collection of photobooth images of her. They are stamped with the name of the processor, The Gross Photo Supply Co. in Toledo. I also know that she was fond of photobooth photos.
The two photos above measure 80 x 105 mm and 38 x 44 mm respectively. The larger is a common sized enlargement of a booth photo. Booths, in this era, were commonly located in photographic premises which offered a multitude of services, including enlarging, hand colouring and framing.
Look out for more posts of Ms Toledo in the coming few days. I hope . . .
Stylishly well dressed.
Looking fetching in a proto-bikini!
Photobooth Journal 
These are great Katherine! Ms. Toledo is beautiful. And the ‘proto bikini’, love the term. That’s a very risqué’ photo for that era I suppose. Maybe even a bit naughty! And today? Good to see you! 😍❤️
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Hi John. Thanks for commenting. You are one of my longest serving ‘faithfuls’! Yes, I thought it was quite risque for the era, too. She is indeed beautiful and quite the spitting image of an Australian actor and comedian, Marg Downey. I am trying to do post no. 2 of the series done, so that I have at least one other under my belt today. I will post a pic of Marg then.
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Love the pictures, Kate! I wonder, what is that building? A school? Government building? She looks like a teacher of a secretary to me. Love her ‘proto-bikini’ 🙂 I have a photograph of my mother in such outfit 🙂
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Wonderful, Inese. Do you think it was a very daring thing to wear in those days? Was your mother very ‘fashion forward’? As to the building, I had similar thoughts that it might have been where she worked. She looks to be dressed as a professional woman of some sort.
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It was a little bit daring 🙂 My mother was always very well dressed, mostly in tailor-made stuff. I was in my early twenties when our ‘family tailor’ suddenly got sick and died. I was in panic 🙂 Then I got married, had a baby, and my priorities changed 🙂 Now, in my very late fifties, I still respect fashion, but my main concern is to make sure that my style doesn’t make people feel uncomfortable around me 😉
The girl is dressed as a professional woman indeed. I see her in the office, doing payroll or this sort of things.
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I’m in my early 50s and would love to get something tailor made! I know what you mean about changing priorities. My grandma was a marvellous seamstress and made all her own evening wear for all the concerts she performed in (she was a professional pianist). She and my mum taught me how to read a pattern and use a sewing machine. I used to make a lot of my own clothes for casual wear but never moved up to making anything fitted and more formal. To get someone to make clothes for me would be wonderful but a luxury not in my budget, unfortunately.
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In the 1960-70 it was not really a luxury. I cannot imagine doing it now though 🙂 When I was younger I knitted and sometimes altered stuff for my baby daughter and for myself. My mother never made anything bigger than a kitchen apron, but actually almost every family used to have a sewing machine, and it wasn’t there just to collect dust 🙂
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Which is what mine is doing these days! 🙁
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🙂
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What a classic beautiful woman. Great photos.
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I feel lucky to own them, and there and more lovely ones to come!
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I’ve enjoyed them all so far; it’s a lovely project.
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In the top ones, I’m reminded of a quickie wedding photo, or bridesmaid… during the war, when so many didn’t dress up. Her smile, the corsage… love the mystery of each photo!
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Thanks Dawn! I love it when people see different things in the photos. It makes sense that it could’ve been a wedding photo and all the ones with the groom were kept elsewhere, hopefully with a descendant!
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