Show your Americana / Non-Sports Memorabilia

[canjond]

In light of the B/S/T change, let's see what you have...

I've always been an avid fan of political and/or interesting signatures. Below are a few from my collection.

[GrayGhost]

Nice haul of JFK's sir!!!

[canjond]

Thanks Scott. Always been a collector of his sig's. I have one additional, too - a Profiles in Courage soft cover. The hardcover is actually a very recent pick-up but had to have it since it is a Presidential signature (signed during his time in office).

[Ladder7]

Great JFKs;

Japanese propaganda photo #1; The airbase at Wheeler to the north, struck minutes prior and Hickham being stomped simultaneously. The 1st Japanese wave of bombers focus on Ford Island Naval Air Station. Meanwhile, the torpedo squadron begins the day shift with Battleship Row.

Note beautiful Waikiki Bch and Diamond Head, top right.

To paraphrase the caption, "The Enemy's battleship Okrahoma destroyed by our brave Airmen."

[thekingofclout]

"Happy Birthday, Mr. President" was a song sung by Marilyn Monroe on Saturday, May 19, 1962, President John F. Kennedy, at a celebration for his forty-fifth birthday, Sung in a sultry voice, Monroe sang the traditional "Happy Birthday to You" lyrics, with "Mr. President" inserted as Kennedy's name.

Monroe continued the song with a snippet from the classic song "Thanks for the Memory", for which she had written new lyrics specifically aimed at Kennedy.

Thanks, Mr. President
For all the things you've done
The battles that you've won
The way you deal with U.S. Steel
And our problems by the ton
We thank you so much

Afterwards, JFK came on stage and joked about the song, saying, "I can now retire from politics after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way," alluding to Monroe's delivery, her racy dress, and her general image as a sex symbol.

The song and Monroe's performance have been remembered for numerous reasons. First, it was one of her last major public appearances (Monroe died August 5, 1962). In addition, there are persistent rumors that President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe had had an affair, giving Monroe's performance another layer of meaning.

Vintage original TYPE I photo.
marilynJFKbirthday.jpg

[oriolesbb6]

A one of a kind!!!

[GoldenAge50s]

Not much more to say after looking at THAT profile!

(referring to Marilyn, not the bear!)

[yanks12025]

I'll post some photos of my small military collection. Please dont take offense for the German helmet it's only for historical purpose, was dug up from a battle field over in Russia. The last two photos are of a P-51 Mustang which a family friend of ours own. I get to spend alot of time around it during the summer, even got the chance for a flight in it and to fly next to it and take photos(4th pic).

P.S.
David, i love that propeller.

[GrayGhost]

After those helmets and plane photos..all I can say is WOW

[GKreindler]

Wow, Brock. Just wow.

[Ladder7]

That P51 sparkles!

I have a piece of a WW2 plane (currently on the Bay). This is the Belly tank from the "Dauntless" divebomber. Instrumental in the sinking of Yamamoto's carrier fleet at Midway. I think there are only two still flying today. Wifee says it has to go.

[slidekellyslide]

Hmmm...I always thought this was a bomb my grandpa is leaning against, but maybe it's a part to a plane?

[Oldtix]

Great stuff as always, folks! We are the new museums. Brock, there was a special air show here in Columbus a couple of years ago at which 100 P-51 Mustangs gathered for a "final" reunion. It was pretty impressive to see and hear that airborne armada flying in formation.

As a big band and old radio fan, I was thrilled to buy this "Chesterfield Advertising Sign" as it was posted on ebay six years ago. I was even more thrilled to discover after research that it was part of the actual bandstand set on Glenn Miller's Chesterfield radio program from 1939-1942.

[milkit1]

Love the original Red Rose Speedway photo and the John Leibowitz shot!

[thekingofclout]

.

[thxforthebp]

Found this in a box of misc. cabinet photos.... Comanche Jack Stilwell indian fighter and US Scout. I guess you could say a pretty famous western personality in his own right, his less famous brother Frank was involed in the shooting of Morgan Earp, and was ambushed and killed by Wyatt, his brother Warren and Doc Holliday. Jack then lead an unsucessful hunt of Wyatt to avenge his brothers death. I have only ever seen one other photo of Jack Stilwell so I dont know that much about this one. The photos found with this were all signed military officers on the back so I have a feeling this might be Jacks own signature.

[sylbry]

Great thread!

Although I am not much of a non-sport collector, I do have a few things that would be considered Americana. Sorry for the poor pics. Just took them with my blackberry.

Old coke machine. Still works but just sits in my garage.



World War 2 newspapers.




And there has got to be some American Muscle in this thread. 1970 Olds 442 convert. Still a work in process.

[thekingofclout]

WOW! That 442 is SWEET!

[mr2686]

Coca Cola and Muscle Cars...doesn't get more American than that!

[Ladder7]

Crager SS's are still the sweetest rims.

Medallion minted in part, from pieces of the Command Module and the LEM. c1970

[Runscott]

1920's pool cue:

[Jcfowler6]

I don't have much. Please don't read into this to much.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Jcfowler6

I don't have much. Please don't read into this to much.

LOL

[71buc]

I seldom venture out from baseball but occasionally I will pick up a Type 1 photo of a historical figure that interests me. I couldnt resist this image tonight (hence the water mark). It does include Jesse Owens so it isn't necessarily a non-sports item but the combination of the Cotton Club, Bo Jangels and Owens were too much fun to pass on. The other image is from 1914 and depicts Pancho Villa on an Indian Motorcycle. He fascinates me. Obviously he isnt an American so this may not qualify for the post. My great grandfather rode with him (on horses) so there is a familial connection. Perhaps I should have waited for a Mexicana post?

[Scott Garner]

Not trying to hijack this thread, but I've always enjoyed this unpublished photo of Gene Autry (The Singing Cowboy), president Richard Nixon and some guy named Nolan Ryan yucking it up in Gene's "luxury suite" on opening day 1973. To put things in historical perspective, this was during the Watergate era and Nixon was close to impeachment.

As many of you may know, Nixon was a HUGE baseball fan and lived in south Orange County (San Clemente- the "Western White House"). He was close friends with Gene Autry and would sneak in an Angels game whenever he had the chance.

I've never shared this photo before with anyone other than Jimmy C., The King of Clout, on net54. Not early vintage, but pretty cool in its own right...

[Bumpus Jones]

This is a group photo in front of the new cotton club (los angeles) circa 1935. Fats is third from left.

[RichardSimon]

Jefferson and Madison on the same document.

[slidekellyslide]

Do gold records count as Americana if the singer is an American? My brother picked this up for me at an auction yesterday...it's an RIAA award for Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend and 100% Fun records going Gold. I live in the same hometown that Sweet grew up in...this one was given to his aunt. Needs a new frame as the black has come off of two sides.

[thekingofclout]

.

[smokelessjoe]

Terrific thread... I feel I could go on and on with this thread.

I have 50+ historical documents related to Louis John Frederick Jaeger (Iaeger) also know as "Don Diego". Jaeger was a big part of the early history of Yuma Arizona, helping soldiers (Fort Yuma), Indians and thousands of people cross the Colorado "gold rush"!. Jaeger owned and operated a ferry across the Colorado of which the town essentially grew up around. Many of the documents are associated with mining, claims, deeds, letters etc. Jaeger survived several Indian arrow wounds including one to the back of the head. Jaeger met Olive Oatman (she was an Indian captive since childhood who appeared as an adult with a tattoo on her chin that showed she was not native) and many other historic people. A real pioneer!

I am trying to gather all the info I can, and trying to decipher what I have.
If anyone has any additional info or contacts, your help is much appreciated.

Now the good stuff:

1. The first scan is a letter written by Jaeger to his wife - You can just feel the urgency Jaeger writes with having not heard from her - Jaeger even mentions that he sent letters to her via an Indian named Carabe???

2. Second scan is a letter from Frank P Clymers wife written to Jaegers wife - Beautiful penmanship written in Spanish - If anyone can translate I WOULD BE VERY THANKFUL!

3. This is a letter written by Jaegers son (Jaeger Jr.) to his sister back home. Interesting that Jr. was in Washington DC two months after his father had passed away in DC. The father was in DC trying to settle a federal claim in regards to his ferry being destroyed by the Indians.

4. This is a interesting article I found online about Don Diego!!

I have more I will post,

[kaddyshack]

Front and back side of the same 3 X 5 card.

[JollyElm]

These are two of my Dad's items. The first is a letter from Vice President Spiro Agnew during the turmoil of 1973.

The second is one of many photographs he took of Eisenhower's inauguration from a naval blimp on January 20, 1953.

[stone193]

[Runscott]

I generally stay away from this sort of thing, but this one's genuine, although I don't know if the 1875 auction house date is accurate. Bottom is from an 1890 Ward's catalogue.

From auction: Remains of maker's label from Lynn, Mass. Hat cord is that of a Civil War Officer with gold bullion acorns and slide with black mesh. Stamped brass GAR wreath surmounted by 5 (Mass. Post #5 was in Lynn) on black wool felt backing, affixed to the front. A black ostrich feather plume affixed at the side.

[canjond]

Marilyn...

[Runscott]

Jon, please don't tell me you're the guy who won her bra?

But if you did, we need pics of you wearing it.

Same for the Queen's skivvies. Fess up - who won?

[Directly]

One for the Gipper & 1907 original Teddy panorama view circuit photo.

[kdixon]

S. L Clemens aka Mark Twain

[Hankphenom]

Early MM:

[GrayGhost]

I'm glad the thread has been revived ..Keep em coming. I may have something to post tomm night on here. for now, tho its English, I'll put up my 75 tour banner that flew in the boston Garden

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by Directly

One for the Gipper & 1907 original Teddy panorama view circuit photo.

Directly, That is some pano of Teddy Roosevelt...that's real? Not a repro? Never seen anything like it. Is that a family protrait? What are the dimensions? Congrats hecka nice piece!

kdixon, Darn that's great! Where the heck did you get it? I was at a book show about a month or so ago in S..F. and a dealer had a photo of Samuel Clemens shooting pool....I think it was like $35-$40,000.00 he had on it...


42" x 30"





Above is a very rare jumbo sized 42" x 30" Poker Dog print on canvas by C.M. Coolidge I picked up over this last winter. I was buying a killer hockey plaque from a mall in Canada and saw it on their website...There are about like 30 different scenes Coolidge did of these poker dogs but I can not find this exact one...It's a very close variation of one called "Waterloo"...but mine has the poodle dog waitress and the lampshade is different and a few other nuances....I had to give money for it even though it needs a little restoration and cleaning....I hated to pay what they had on it but in 25 years of collecting I've never seen a large one on canvas like this so bit the bullet.

[71buc]

These are two of my favorite non-sports photos. The first is an iconic photo of Pancho Villa taken in 1914. I cannot imagine that there many other originals of this photograph out there. The second was taken in 1936 and features the Cotton Club chorus line, Bojangles, and Jesse Owens.

[Big Six]

My wife and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary in July. Almost 13 years ago, an old friend from my days in D.C. came to see me before the wedding and handed me an envelope containing the letter below. When you think that he's amongst the most loved/hated figures in Irish history and for a time slept in a different location every night, I think it's a pretty neat piece. And for anyone who thinks he's just a terrorist, it would be much appreciated if we could avoid going down that path. Thanks...

[mcgwirecom]

I like to pick up original photos of old Harleys...

[martindl]

Originally Posted by Big Six

My wife and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary in July. Almost 13 years ago, an old friend from my days in D.C. came to see me before the wedding and handed me an envelope containing the letter below. When you think that he's amongst the most loved/hated figures in Irish history and for a time slept in a different location every night, I think it's a pretty neat piece. And for anyone who thinks he's just a terrorist, it would be much appreciated if we could avoid going down that path. Thanks...

Gerry Adams right? Tough to tell as the pic doesn't expand much.

You asked that we not pass judgment on his past, so I won't, even though his 'work' had a personal impact on me.

[Lou Criscione]

As you guys may know- we love our old sports bobbing heads. We also love the non-sport dolls. Non-sport dolls can be of political figures, monsters, comic characters, T.V. personalities, advertising and more. Below are a few from our current auction.

Enjoy!
Lou
www.insidetheparkcollectibles.com

[arcadekrazy]

Here is a piece of the first transatlantic cable. This piece most likely did not carry signals, but was harvested from left over stock that didn't make it into production.

Either way, I think it's a neat piece

[arcadekrazy]

And a neat circus poster that caught my eye

[David Atkatz]

Rocketdyne LR-101 liquid-fueled (LOX/RP-1) rocket engine. Two of these were the vernier engines on the Atlas missile. Produces 1000 lbs thrust.

[smokelessjoe]

Picked up the following signature of Cristobal Colon Duque De Veragua. From what little info I am able to find, it seems Cristobal was a relative of Christopher Columbus and was invited / visited the Chicago Columbian Exposition in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the New World.

I am guessing the 1893 Chicago fair may be where the signature was acquired?

I thought it was interesting. Love to hear your thoughts?