Our Sepia Saturday 331 theme image shows three award winning babies at a 1938 Baby Show which was part of fundraising efforts for the Dartford Hospital in Kent. The picture was taken by the Daily Herald Staff Photographer, Reuben Sandman, and forms part of the Daily Herald Archive which is held by the National Media Museum. Selections from the archive - including this photograph - form part of the National Media Museum Flickr Commons stream.
_________________________________________________________________________________The door-to-door photographer rang Patty's door one fine day in the San Fernando Valley circa 1940.
An excellent salesman, he talked her into sitting for a portrait in her living room. She changed into the dress she'd worn just weeks before as an attendant in her sister's wedding. All was well until Richard, my husband and a rambunctious child, was causing a ruckus and distracting her. The frustrated photographer finally said, "Oh, just pick him up."
This photo of Patty, my mother-in-law, in her pretty satin dress holding a diapered, pleased-with-himself-looking Richard was the result. He's won the greatest prize of all - his mother's attention. It's my favorite of his baby pictures. He thinks he looks goofy and I agree with him.
Unrelated to this photo is a certificate I found in a pile of photos in an antique store in Temecula. I googled the Los Angeles Express Better Baby Exposition and found out that Judy Garland won it in 1930. If I had time, I'd look up Duke Earl Saunders and see if I could find out if his life continued on the same winning upbeat path. The future certainly looked bright for him in 1927.
We're leaving today for Seattle and a cruise up to Princess Louisa Sound and back. See you later.
Meanwhile, to read more stories about prize winning babies check out Sepia Saturday here
Your husband's mother was certainly a pretty woman. Richard - in the photo anyway - kind of reminds me of a "Teletubbie" from a few years back. Cute little fella.
ReplyDeleteHe'll love your Teletubbie remark.
ReplyDeleteDelightful story --- and quite a mom to hold a 1940s diapered boy whilst wearing a beautiful satin dress!
ReplyDeleteYour husband looks like a mischievous little imp. Much nicer to have a charmng mother and child photo rather than a glamour shot.
ReplyDeleteHe does look a little goofy but absolutely adorable! And Mom's very pretty!
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Great story behind the portrait. Yes, lookalike,the prototype for the teletubbies. Hopefully he received good dividends.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Titania, the story behind the photo is a great one.
ReplyDeleteGreat back story to a lovely photo. I'm intrigued by the idea of a "Better Baby Exposition". Was it like a car or boat show, where people can marvel at the improvements in baby design and check out the new innovations to build a better baby?
ReplyDeleteMike beat me to it! There’s no more to say on that one. I’m full of admiration for a mother who can look so cool whilst holding on to an (extra) slippery baby.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to see a mom/son photo with such a great back story...there's no way that photo could be explained to future generations otherwise!
ReplyDelete