Friday, April 12, 2013

Keyhole Dilemma: Stereoviews A-Z




This has the look and feel of a 
television era soap opera. 

What happened here?



"Disagreeable" (ca. 1890s)
 
"The keyhole must be full." (ca. 1890s)
  
An odd place for a keyhole, it seems. I remember stuffing tissue into an old skeleton lock keyhole for privacy as a girl. Older homes in the 1920s had keyholes large enough to see through, and stuffing one could block a key from turning. My guess is the fellow above is no longer welcome. A consequence of the first scene? 

I placed these two together because of the story they appear to tell, but neither is part of a set. Some stereoviews appear to be a commentary on life, and perhaps were intended to generate conversation or a sense of morality as to right and wrong. The series itself is called New Educational Series, so it does seem likely.

What do you think?




(See Post A and Post B for history of Stereoviews/Stereoscope)



Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing



Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl;
Gravseth family archive; New educational series 1890s



12 comments:

  1. My first thought when I saw the first set was "What are those two guys doing? And why on earth would they let their mother watch them!"

    Yep, I went there ;P

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  2. These are great! Where did you find these? You do have to wonder why one fellow is being thrown out in the first one. It looks like a fight scene: a piece of furniture overturned in the lower right.

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  3. BTW, Thanks for stopping by my Victorian blog and commenting.

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  4. Fascinating photos. I have some of those keys in a box I inherited years ago!

    Thanks for following my paintings!

    Mary Montague Sikes

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  5. I remember those old keyholes. My grandmother's house had some of them. Those door handles didn't turn easily like the ones we have today, either. Lovely story. Soap Opera indeed!
    tm

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  6. ahahaha I 'didn't' go there, but I'm there now.

    My grandma had those kinds of keyholes too. I never thought of stuffing them. We hung a shirt over the knob.

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  7. I think the dude is prowler/pervert. In the first set he is being tossed out by our hero who arirrves home unexpeceedly to find his wife is being accosted. In the second set, the sicko is looking for another victim.

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  8. I love these cards!! The first one I had to do a double take. I'm thinkin' he made inappropriate remarks to the other mans daughter.

    Peanut Butter and Whine

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  9. I wandered over thanks to the Challenge. I LOVE your theme! This is so fascinating. The stories that these images could tell.

    Happy to "meet" you,
    Jen

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    Replies
    1. Appreciate the follow, Jen. Nice to meet you :)

      Delete

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You could call me an eternal optimist, but I'm really just a dreamer. l believe in dream fulfillment, because 'sometimes' dreams come true. This is a blog about my journey as a writer and things that inspire and motivate me.