Winnipeg - Portraits

Unposted, this portrait of Red River Slim is autographed by by him. From what I know, he and his backup band, the Westerners, were popular in Manitoba during the late 1940s and early 1950s. This appears to be his promotional card. The microphone has "CBC" on it. Published by Empire Photo Studios, 518 Main Street, Winnipeg.

Unposted. Publisher/Photographer: H. J. Metcalfe, Winnipeg Herbert J. Metcalfe is listed on the Manitoba Historical Society's list of Manitoba Photographers as having a brief career here - only 1909-1910. No location evident for the business

POSTCARD Date: Not evident. Not Posted. Publisher / Photographer: Lyall Commercial Notation: This card is a bit of an oddity. I originally thought her name was Artonia and discovered little about the woman in the photo - except that she was mentioned in a classified advertisement in a Billboard Magazine (March 2 and March 20, 1956 editions) by the company of Bernard & Barry Shows from Toronto, Ontario: "WANTED Tatooed Lady, Snake Handler, Acts for 10-in-1 for Canadian tour. Bertie Wade, Artonia [Artoria] Gibbons, Jean Carroll, answer- send photo, state all." I am confused by the ad as to whether they are seeking Artoria - or if she is already signed on. Jean Carroll, also mentioned by name, was another famed Tatooed lady. Also confusing is the nature of this photo. It is printed on Lyall Commercial postcard paper, but there appears to be another photo credit in the bottom right corner. Artoria's name seems to have been written over a previous version of it. For the sake of argument, I suspect that Artoria was in Winnipeg and running out of photo cards of herself and hired Lyall to reproduce them - which he may have done simply by photographing and old one and giving her name more prominence. Further information on Artoria Gibbons can be found at: https://www.tattooarchive.com/history/gibbons_artoria.php

POSTCARD Date: Not Posted or handwritten but the Stamp Box on the reverse is a PMC with diamonds in the corners - only known usage was in 1907. Publisher / Photographer: Unidentified Notation: This postcard was never posted, the handwritten note covers the entire back of the card. Addressed to a Mrs. Shafer, it reads; "This is not the photo I intended sending you of my husband, but we had these taken in Winnipeg last Saturday just for a joke. Don't form an opinion of him from this; the one I will send you later is a better one. We were at the matinee Saturday. It reminded me of you and Cleveland. I suppose you received my letter a few days ago. Have been busy all week writing letters, acknowledging gifts. I will tell you all of them when we get settled." Signed "Marge", an added note reads; " This is not a 'really' auto just a card behind which we could sit to have this wonderful photo. We felt so silly when we sat down that we giggled for about ten minutes."