#595 Photo: Woman, Friends, at Beach, All Unidentified, Possible Date 1940s-1950s

From box 2010.3.6 (origin: California, U.S.)
Item #595
Sku #2010.3.6.595
The original is for sale for $10.00. It can be purchased on Amazon here or contact me directly Anna@AnnaLovesBooks.com / 312.493.6476

3 1/2" x 5" black and white photo. Unidentified women, date unknown, possibly 1940s-1950s.

Potential information: This information may serve as clues to help identify the era of the photo, the people in the photo, the place where the photo was taken, or even the photo studio where it was developed. It also may not serve those purposes. The first, and often biggest, clue we have is the box number. A search for that box number will turn up all the items that where found together, which will often lead to connections we couldn't make with just one item. If you have anything you'd like to add, you can do so in the Comments.

Surroundings: In the middle of the group of friends, there is a portable radio. Transistor radios are said to be pocket-sized on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor_radio), but I'm going to use that to suggest a date of post-1954. On the right (viewer's right) upper portion of the photo, there's a semi-military-looking vehicle. The closest I could find to it online is http://www.supafly.com/images/journal/JeepWilliesTruck.jpg, from http://supafly.com/2006/09/ which says: "a military truck built from the 1940s Jeep Willys". There is a counter-height fence that may actually BE a counter. At the end of it, there are two signs. One is illegible; the other has words in three sections. The first section says "Dogs" and the third says "Bars" under smaller print, probably "Ice Cream". In the distance, there may be some white buildings and, beyond those, hills.

The people: I'm sure the style of bathing suits would be a dating hint to someone. For me, all I know is bikinis have been around, popularly, since the 1940s, so that's no help. The woman whose face is toward the camera is wearing a ring on a chain around her neck. Her right hand is on the shoulder of a mostly-not-visible person of uncertain gender. There are three other women and a man lying with their faces mostly not visible to the camera. The face of one woman, with large blonde hair, is partially visible.

The photo itself: Scalloped edges. Back marked "Velox". According to http://www.cycleback.com/photoguide/stamps.html "If the back of a photo has the printing 'Velox,' the photo dates circa 1940s-50s." so that's a possible date.