Barbara Ann 1944
Two more photomatic photobooth photos of Barbara Ann Fremier. The photomatic format, as far as I have been able to discover, was never available outside the USA. If any one finds that I have misread the hand written name on the back of the picture, please let me know your interpretation and I will consider it and make changes.
Barbara Ann Fremier 1940s
One of my reasons for collecting found and vintage photos is the wonderful sense of melancholy and nostalgia they invoke. Clothes, hair-styles, the many different photograph formats, stains and scuffs, all add to the otherworldliness of each image. Is it that this little girl, now dead or an old woman, is no longer loved and remembered? Were the photos discarded accidentally, perhaps carted away unseen at the bottom of a box of miscellaneous goods at a garage sale? Perhaps it was just the poor condition and quality of the photos that caused their separation from the original owners? Whatever the reality, to me they make up a beautiful wee story-book of possibilities.
16 July 1992
16 July 1992 No.2
July 1992, London
Whilst in my final months at the Crafts Council in Melbourne, I was lucky enough to be involved in organising a national craft-prize exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. I enjoyed the experience so much that I started to consider the possibility of doing a course to further my qualifications and job prospects. Once I realised I had more time in London than previously envisaged, I applied to the Tate Gallery, now known as Tate Britain, as a volunteer in the Registrar’s Department. I worked there 2 days per week for 5 months, concurrent with my job at Liberty. I also applied for a position and was accepted to study for a Museum Studies diploma at the University of London for the 1993 academic year.
Although working at the Tate was a great experience where I had opportunities to get my hands on some extraordinary art works, visit St James Palace, (which is not open to the public) and delve into the sketch book archives of J.M.W. Turner, my time there made me reconsider whether I would enjoy a career in that field. Still undecided close to my departure from the UK, I thought I’d keep my place on the course until I returned from my trip to Central America, in case I had second thoughts.
The photobooth pictures above were taken at Pimlico tube station near the Tate Gallery.
One day, earlier this year I received the above book in the post from the USA. In addition to collecting photobooth photos and ephemera, I also collect books about photobooth photos, of which there are a surprising number. This one Photobooth Dogs by Cameron Woo was published in 2010. Over the previous year or two, I had noticed in my online shopping adventures, that vintage booth photos that included a dog, were going for higher and higher prices. I fully expected to see one or two pups that I recognised in this book.
Having made myself a cup of tea, I settled down for a long peruse. There were some stunning snaps of dogs alone or with their owners, big and small, cooperative and not so cooperative but the photos that really grabbed my attention were of an unexpectedly familiar face. There was My Femme Fatale in all her glory with a companion I hadn’t seen before; a fuzz-faced poodle. It had been some time since I had looked at my French collection, so before mentioning my discovery to anyone, I sought them out to confirm that it was indeed my lady.
And here she is forever immortalised in print – living on in the book, in my blog, in my collection and my imagination.
June 1992 London
Liberty of London Identity Card
June 1992, London
Prior to heading off to Central America, I had arranged to meet Moana in England, where she had been working for the previous 2 years. I was also very keen to catch up with the Holbrooks and the many friends I had made on my last visit to London. What was supposed to be a one month visit, turned into 9 months by mutual agreement with Moana. Rather than eat into my savings, I decided to earn some money to support myself and make the most of what that wonderful city has to offer.
I started to sell my hand made cards around town. Among the numerous stores I successfully approached was Liberty in Regent Street. I made three ranges of cards exclusively for them. On one visit to deliver an order, I discovered they were looking for casual staff for a sale period, so made a successful application. After working as a temp for one month, I was offered a two day per week permanent part time position.
As you can see the booth photo was taken for my id-card for my temp job.
Rejected for International Driver's License
License, January 1992
January 1992, Melbourne
In January 1992 I had almost finished my two year contract at the Crafts Council and was preparing for my next trip. I had done some driving lessons whilst living in London but failed my test as I was unable to reverse around a corner! After about one month at my job as Promotions Officer I was told that part of my responsibilities was to visit regional centres to offer our support to their craft guilds. I asked how I would get there when told I would be heading to a region with no public transport. When they realised I had no drivers license and realised that they had not ascertained that fact at the interview, (it was not a prerequisite of the job and they didn’t ask), they also realised they were stuck with me. They reluctantly paid for my driving lessons, some of which I did in their Toyota Hilux van. Thus, on my next trip away from home, keen and excited to be a driver, I thought I might need an international license. As it turned out it would be many years before I had the opportunity to drive outside Australia.
The first picture, I rejected, the second I found better, though why I found the nasty green tee-shirt acceptable for either photo is beyond me. It is a measure of how easily one could find a photobooth in those days that I was able to get to two very different machines, within walking distance, on the same afternoon.
May 1991
Passport 1991
May 1991, Melbourne
Less than a year and a half back home and I was already planning another overseas adventure. I had kept in touch with Moana, who had suggested we might go to Central America to study Spanish and continue our Latin American explorations. I didn’t hesitate to accept the invitation. When this picture was taken I was living in Buckingham Street in Richmond with Sarah, a newly qualified solicitor and vibrant, bon vivant. I spent many an hour monopolising the study in her house while developing and making new designs for my hobby greeting card business.
This May 1991 booth pic was for my passport in anticipation of the next journey. Could my lipstick get any more intense?
January 1990
January 1990
January 1990, Melbourne
Back in Australia I was still looking for work and staying at my parent’s home in East Bentleigh. Within a week or two of date of this picture, I had started working as Promotions Officer for the Crafts Council of Victoria, at the Meat Market Craft Centre in North Melbourne and found a place to live in East Brunswick.
Whilst at the Endell Street Place in London, I had been impressed with the quality and variety of hand made cards which we had bought from local craftspeople to sell in the shop. Having been unable to use my designing skills in making ceramics, I decided to put my creative drive to use by starting to make my range of stationery. During my last November working there, I designed a range of hand made Christmas cards which sold very well. The proceeds partly helped to pay for my South American travels. Once back in Melbourne I again began to tinker with some designs which I presented for consideration to a lovely lady in Chapel Street Prahran, who had just opened her own home wares and gift shop. With her advice on fashionable colours and presentation I developed a range of hand painted designs which I began to sell at craft and gift shops around town.
The photos above were taken at Spencer Street Station in Melbourne. I am wearing hand painted silk earrings (clip-ons, as I have never had pierced ears) which I purchased from the Endell Street Place. In answer to the question most often posed about this group of pics, my hair is tied back, not shorn.
28 October 1989
October 1989, France
After having stayed a few nights at the holiday home of the Holbrook family, in Normandy, I was dropped at a railway station by Del Holbrook and her kids, Rosie and Richie, to make my way to Paris. I believe I was on my way there to meet Moana for a four day exploration of the city, which marked the end of a 2 year 10 month period away from Australia. I would very soon be on a plane back home, to a new job and a new hobby that would become a part-time business.
This picture was taken at the train station at Abbeville in Picardie. It was the first time I chose the large portrait option in a photobooth.
81 Year Old Fred Bear
Please meet my teddy Fred, who currently lives on a bed in the spare room in Melbourne. He is a very old English bear who (not “which” – he is definitely a person) was given to my mother for her first birthday in May 1930.
Fred was made by Farnell in the UK. He was in fine condition when he was given to me. He had a growl that worked, soft padded paws of pale felt, with decorative stitching and a full coat of fur. He had his original eyes and snout. By the time I had finished loving him to death he was almost bald, had no nose and badly mangled pads. His eyes had been replaced numerous times. He was taken for some TLC to the “doll’s hospital” in the Block Arcade in Melbourne about 10 years ago. He is the fine specimen of bear-hood that you see above, thanks to their help.
I named Fred after Fredd Bear from a children’s TV show, the Magic Circle Club (1965-67) on Melbourne’s ATV Channel O. Fredd (Tedd Dunn) was a silent, big, cuddly bear, who I loved dearly. Mum took me to see the cast doing a live show at the Myer store at Chadstone. I was so thrilled to see him but too terrified to go on stage when they asked for children from the audience to participate. All the kids who went up received prizes. I have remembered and regretted my shyness of that day, ever since!
Fred came with me on an outing to the Jam Factory this year. We had gone for a morning treat but as the cafe didn’t have any pots of honey we decided to skip the Teddy Bear picnic and grab a few booth snaps instead.
It may be noted that I have written a good deal more about this loved creature than I have about my sister and brother. This is definitely due to the fact that teddy bears do not have good computer skills and thus he is unlikely to reprimand me for the quality of the pictures or for saying anything which may embarrass him.
Photobooth Journal 