Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: kids

An amusing postcard that draws upon the "Oh You Kid!" craze of 1909 for its humor. This card was a bit risqué for its time, suggesting that a husband might fool around with other women while his wife is away. The caption on the card comes from the song, " My Wife’s Gone to the Country! Hurrah! Hurrah! ,” which was one of the "Oh You Kid!" songs published as sheet music in 1909: My wife’s gone to the country, hurray! hurray! She thought it best "I need the rest" That’s why she went away She took the children with her, hurray! hurray! I love my wife, but oh, you kid! My wife’s gone away In this age of social media, it's difficult to appreciate just how popular this--nudge, nudge, wink, wink--idea of "I love my wife, but oh, you kid!" became as it circulated in print through sheet music, postcards, and newspapers. Jody Rosen, however, documents its wide-ranging influence in a fascinating article that appeared in Slate magazine. See " How a Sexed-up Viral Hit from the Summer of '09–1909–Changed American Pop Music Forever ." For some additional postcard and sheet music examples, see my Oh You Kid! and Its Variants album.

It's somewhat difficult to see, but the caption, "The Kids from Butler, Pa.," is written in gold lettering across the left side of this postcard. Multiple baby cards like this were published in the early twentieth century. Printed on the back: "Serie 1525. United Art Pub. Co., New York." Postmarked Butler, Pa., March 24, 1910, and addressed to Miss Twila Daniels, Clarington, Pa. Unsigned message on back: "I love my wife but O you kid . You know who."

"Miniature Railway for the Kiddies, Willow Grove Park. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. 07694625. One 6¼¢ fare. G. W. Davis, treasurer." Handwritten: "1924." From the Street Railway Review , Feb. 16, 1906, p. 66: " Willow Grove Park is owned by the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. [which later became the Philadelphia Transportation Company ]. It is situated in Montgomery county, 13 miles from the center of Philadelphia, and is the terminus of six direct car lines, making it easy of access from all points in and about the city. It covers an area of more than 100 acres containing many natural and artificial beauties."

Kids, It's Here! The New Mystery Atomic-Jet Flying Saucer. Watch it sail way up in the air--you can make it fly higher than a tall building. It will do five airplane stunts, too. Get several of them--and have flying saucer contests! Even dads go crazy over it. Be the first in your neighborhood and amaze your friends. Atomic-Jet Flying Saucers and extra flying wheels on sale at ________.

"In memories oft' I close my lids, pleading that you be good and let me hold your kids."

"The New York Evening. Obituary. The sudden end of the whole Dam family came as a shock to the public last Saturday. They were the most popular and widely known family in the United States on account of their unfortunate name. 'Too much notoriety,' is rumored to have killed the Dam family. The only thing that survives them is the dog, who eventually will see his finish as a Coney Island frankfurter." For more information, see the full postcard: The Last of the Whole Dam Family . Or take a look at The Whole Dam Family Postcard Craze, 1905 .

"The Last of the Whole Damm Family. Miss U. B. Dam, born 1889, died 1905. Mrs. I. B. Dam, born 1860, died 1905. Mr. I. B. Dam, born 1855, died 1905. Lizzie Dam, born 1900, died 1905. Baby Dam, born 1903, died 1905. Jimmy Dam, born 1884, died 1905. Annie Dam, born 1884, died 1905. Deserted." The obituary on this postcard (mouse over the image to see an enlargement of the text ) jokingly announced the end of the Dam (or Damm) family, with the exception of "The Dam Dog." At the same time, of course, the publication of the postcard actually perpetuated the "Whole Dam Family" humor fad. In any case, the obituary was probably correct in suggesting that "too much notoriety" was what eventually caused the entire family of Dams--and the humor they generated--to fade from the scene. For other "Whole Dam Family" cards, see The Whole Dam Family and The Whole Dam Family on Their Vacation . Or take a look at The Whole Dam Family Postcard Craze, 1905 .

"The Whole Dam Family on Their Vacation. Mrs. Dam, Mr. Dam, Miss Dam, Master Dam, Cissy Dam, Kity Dam, Baby Dam, The Dam Dog. Copyright, 1905, W. G. Kress." The "Whole Dam Family" postcard craze was in full swing when the Insurance Press asked about the Dams in its May 31, 1905, issue, p. 6 : "Whence the sudden prominence of this family of strong and sturdy patronym? At present writing, the streets of every city and town ring with the name of these celebrities. Venders, fakirs, and newsboys vie with one another in sounding their glories, and stationers' windows are graced with their smiling portraits. On poster and mailing card they are displayed--a handsome, happy group labeled 'The Whole Dam Family,' from Mr. I. B. Dam and Mrs. U. B. Dam through the grades of little Dams, down even to the Dam dog. An ideal family!" For other "Whole Dam Family" postcards, see The Whole Dam Family and The Last of the Whole Dam Family . Or take a look at The Whole Dam Family Postcard Craze, 1905 .

"The Whole Dam Family. Billy B. Dam, Sarah Dam, The Dam Kid, Mamie Dam, Miss U. B. Dam, The Dam Dog, Mrs. I. B. Dam, Mr. I. B. Dam, The Dam Nuisance. Copyright 1905 by Souvenir Post Card Co., N.Y." Comic depictions of "The Whole Dam Family" with their humorous--yet somewhat scandalous--names were wildly popular subjects for postcards in 1905. The "Whole Dam Family" postcard craze influenced other media, and the Dams also showed up in silent films , vaudeville sketches, printed advertisements, wax cylinder recordings , 78-rpm records , and sheet music . For other "Whole Dam Family" postcards, see The Whole Dam Family on Their Vacation and The Last of the Whole Dam Family . Or take a look at The Whole Dam Family Postcard Craze, 1905 .