Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: pictures

A Victorian-era chromolithographed card with an added photo (a rectangular portion of the card was cut out of the middle, and the photo--part of a CDV--was affixed to the back). As far as I can determine, "Merry Christmas 1890" is what's stamped at the top.

Posted on the day after the U.S. presidential election as a reminder that Santa Claus isn't always who he seems to be, and he may not bring the presents we expect to receive. Here are a couple of other Santa masks, along with a masked Santa:

"All my dreams came true." Info on the back of this postcard: "Genuine Frees Animal Series. Photographs of real live pets. No. 765. Christmas Comics. 6 designs....Publ'd by the Nyce Manufacturing Co., Vernfield, Pa." This printed postcard reproduces a photo by Harry Whittier Frees (1879-1953), who posed cats, dogs, and other animals in amusing scenes like this for magazines, books, and other publications. Mary L. Weigley's fascinating article, " Introducing Harry Whittier Frees, World-Famous Animal Photographer ," which originally appeared in Pennsylvania Heritage , Spring 2014, describes how Frees captured these images: "Frees's photographs were uncommon because he used live animals and no tricks were involved... He attired them in dresses, work uniforms, smocks, shawls, robes, and aprons made by his mother or his housekeeper Annie Edelman. The clothes were held in place by pins so the animals could be quickly dressed and undressed. They were then posed in human situations--ironing clothes, cooking on an old-fashioned cast-iron stove, hanging laundry, playing a piano, pumping water, even casting votes in a wooden ballot box! The work was challenging, time-consuming, and nerve-wracking. It caused Frees so much anxiety that he photographed his furry subjects for only three months a year." Weigley's article goes on to tell about the popularity of Frees's photos and his success in publishing books (such as Animal Mother Goose, with Characters Photographed from Life , which came out in 1921) and providing illustrations for magazines, advertisements, and picture postcards. Sadly, though, Frees died alone and ended up in an unmarked grave (check out the article for the full story). His imaginative photos, however, continue to delight us today. Here's another postcard from the "Christmas Comics" series:

"Transfer Picture Book. Made in Japan." Cover of a small booklet containing a few pages of decals or stamps. The creature on the cover is Mogera , a robot with laser beam eyes that first appeared in Earth Defense Force , a 1957 Japanese science fiction film that was released two years later in the United States as The Mysterians (yes, that's where the music group Question Mark and the Mysterians got its name). The Mysterian Space Station, a ringed planet, a Sputnik -like satellite, and a couple of rockets are visible in the sky above Mogera (did his laser beams miss that rocket or are they going right through it?).

A novelty advertising card for country musician Hank Keene's radio show that gives instructions for experiencing an afterimage of Keene's silhouette. Magic Picture - Hank Keene Keep your eyes on the white spots on the face and count slowly up to fifty. Then turn away from the picture and look at one spot on the ceiling. The picture will then appear before your eyes on the ceiling. If you keep your eyes on one spot on the ceiling the picture will appear and disappear several times. Amuse your friends by showing them this magic picture. Tune in on Hank Keene and his Radio Gang on station WHAS, Louisville, Kentucky, every morning except Sunday from 6:00 to 6:30 Central Standard Time.

Hmm, so now Santa and the Easter Bunny are in cahoots?!?! It just doesn't bode well for us naughty kids. 8-) A Message from an Old Friend There are some folks so new fashioned They've laid aside the habit Of believing in a Santa Claus Or even an Easter Rabbit. And to save our reputation Where perhaps it may be shaken We just went off together And had our pictures taken. We'll send you one at Christmas And one at Easter too And when there's folks that doubt us We'll refer them all to you.