Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan31
The hat business was booming in the 20s
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Most women and men wore hats back then. People seemed to dress better, care how they looked. At the top of the photo: "Rooms with bath $2.50". Dollar went farther back then, but an average wage was less than $50 a week, some jobs only $25, even less. You could rent cheap studio apartments for $25 a month in most cities. Complete dinners at "Chinaland" (right side of photo) for 55 cents, "luncheon 35 cents", " prices reduced". Guessing this photo is early depression, before it got really bad, maybe 1930 (most likely) or 1931, judging from the cars and the women's hats, most of which are not the helmet-like cloche that typify the '20s, but the smaller beret-like hats of the early 1930s. About the same time our Ruth short was filmed. Might be 1929, doubt it is earlier. On the right there is a sign on a building that appears to say "Disney". Interesting. Is this L.A., or an eastern city? Probably eastern, judging from the heavy overcoats. NYC? Broadway? 42nd St.? A couple of signs advertising "theatre tickets", so I would guess near Broadway if it is NYC. Also, one of the brightly lit signs on the left says "automat", which were more common eating establishments in New York. Right beyond a brightly lit sign that appears to say " Strand"...wasn't that a Broadway theater? Another sign says "Astor". NYC again. Automat: put a dime in a compartment, take out a sandwich or a pie slice. Very modern in 1930, their version of fast food. Look at the crowds! Something is going on. New Years? A premier? Wild guess...the premier of the film "42nd Street" on 42nd Street? Very interesting photo. Thanks for posting pic Stan!
