Tribute - John Gorman's vintage San Francisco

[Nancy123]

Most of my dad's thousands of prints and negatives have dates, locations, and titles, except this one. As I go through his archives, I find mystery photos now and then. I have no idea what the purpose of this photograph was but I love it. Wouldn't it be great if I could find the kid?

 

[Don_ih]

Isn't that kid Howdy Doody?

 

[warden]

Norman Rockwell for sure.

 

[Kino]

The setting is a horse race track. The young man weighing-in has a jockey cap under his arm, but is wearing a military(ish) outfit.

There is another military-type individual to the far left of the frame.

I don't know; it's pretty typical for a jockey weigh-in photo, but the military theme might place it during WWII. Themed shots like this lost popularity rapidly after the cessation of hostilities, so I would be inclined to date it 1941-1945 or so...

You might get one of those local SF "on your side" TV reporters interested as a fluff piece; "Where is he now?" and "Who is he?". Just be prepared for a flood of crazies claiming to be the kid!

 

[AnselMortensen]

That is at a horse racing track, maybe Golden Gate Fields, Tanforan, or Bay Meadows.

 

[Nancy123]

That is at a horse racing track, maybe Golden Gate Fields, Tanforan, or Bay Meadows.

Spoken like a true San Franciscan.

 

[Nancy123]

The setting is a horse race track. The young man weighing-in has a jockey cap under his arm, but is wearing a military(ish) outfit.

There is another military-type individual to the far left of the frame.

I don't know; it's pretty typical for a jockey weigh-in photo, but the military theme might place it during WWII. Themed shots like this lost popularity rapidly after the cessation of hostilities, so I would be inclined to date it 1941-1945 or so...

You might get one of those local SF "on your side" TV reporters interested as a fluff piece; "Where is he now?" and "Who is he?". Just be prepared for a flood of crazies claiming to be the kid!

That could be kind of fun, actually! :-D

 

[Nancy123]

Isn't that kid Howdy Doody?

View attachment 400777

 

[runswithsizzers]

If I understand correctly, you are scanning 4x5" negatives, and not the 8x10" prints, right?

However you are doing it you are getting great results. Do you mind sharing a few details about your process? I'd guess Step 1 is something like, "Start with an excellent negative"?

 

[Nancy123]

If I understand correctly, you are scanning 4x5" negatives, and not the 8x10" prints, right?

However you are doing it you are getting great results. Do you mind sharing a few details about your process? I'd guess Step 1 is something like, "Start with an excellent negative"?

Happy to share: It depends on what and where, meaning, when I am in one of my locations (houses), I don't have my Epson Perfection V850 Pro scanner ($1,299) that I am in the process of scanning dozens and dozens of 4x5 negs of the streets of San Francisco. (I will share some soon). As I go through negatives in said house and find something to share right now, I -- get this -- put the 4x5 neg on a lightbox, take a picture with my iPhone, put it into Photoshop, reverse image, crop edges, size down a bit, and upload. That's what I did with the boy on the scale. I intend to scan it on the Epson 850 later at hi res.

If I have a print but no negative, I will scan the print, to share here, on my Epson Perfection V30, priced very low at Walmart. My next photo, "The Creamery 1948" is that example, scanned at 600 dpi and sized down to share. But the best photos are the 4x5 negatives scanned at hi-res on the V850. And yes, all my dad's photographs are alway excellent!

 

[Nancy123]

"The Creamery" 1948. Location is 1961 Chestnut St., San Francisco. Not sure what the reason was for taking the picture but a notation on the sleeve indicated it was for the owner of the creamery. There are two girls for every guy! They would have all been born around 1930.

 

[MattKing]

On the race course scale photo, can you read (and share) what it says on the medallion on the boy's hat?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Loving these! Looking forward to more! Thank you!

 

[koraks]

These are beautiful, please keep them coming!

put the 4x5 neg on a lightbox, take a picture with my iPhone, put it into Photoshop, reverse image, crop edges, size down a bit, and upload.

Which evidently is working very well for web viewing - good job!

 

[CMoore]

THIS is what photography is all about

Even for a (pro) jockey, doesn't the guy on the scale seem a bit small and young.?

 

[Don_ih]

The Creamery

I like all the different facial expressions and that almost no one is looking at the camera. Looks very American Graffiti.

 

[Nancy123]

On the race course scale photo, can you read (and share) what it says on the medallion on the boy's hat?

I plan to scan at hi res next week and will report back. Right now, it's not readable.

 

[Nancy123]

THIS is what photography is all about

Even for a (pro) jockey, doesn't the guy on the scale seem a bit small and young.?

I doubt the kid is a real jockey. It looks to be a set up for some cute purpose, maybe even a "standalone" for the newspaper.

 

[Tom Taylor]

Most of my dad's thousands of prints and negatives have dates, locations, and titles, except this one. As I go through his archives, I find mystery photos now and then. I have no idea what the purpose of this photograph was but I love it. Wouldn't it be great if I could find the kid?

Looks like it was taken looking north from Tanforan Race Track with San Bruno Mountain appearing at the right. You might be able to get more information about the picture from the local San Bruno/South SF Historical society.

Thomas

 

[Nancy123]

You might be able to get more information about the picture from the local San Bruno/South SF Historical society.

Great idea. I just sent them an email with the image asking for information. Thank you!

 

[Nancy123]

"Tall Man" with San Francisco Examiner photographer Seymour Snaer taking his picture. Not sure of the date and I'm not sure who Tall Man was but he looks real. And tall!

 

[Nancy123]

As I said above, I would scan the boy on the scale in hi-res to read the medallion on his hat. Here are the results, along with the better scan of the negative (sized down to upload.)
"St. John's Military Academy." The school was in Los Angeles from 1919 to 1962 or 1968, not sure of the history but the campus was demolished.

 

[Ben 4]

Nice bit of detective work!

 

[Nancy123]

On the race course scale photo, can you read (and share) what it says on the medallion on the boy's hat?

In case you missed my post above, it says "St. John's Military Academy."

 

[MattKing]

In case you missed my post above, it says "St. John's Military Academy."

I saw that - and thought that it means you have another clue!