Topic: OLD Black and White pictures of people wearing masks. please look!!

[swapped89]

So the other day i was hangin out with some family and we got to looking through old photo albums. These pictures struck me as very odd and im wondering if anyone has a clue what kind of people took pictures like this? or any info at all. One person said they thought it was Hitlers family IDK.  The pictures kinda give me the heeby jeebies.

[MiniSimp]

Deffinetly civil war era.
They are not gas masks or anything like that, just like animal masks.
Only wierd thing is that it looks like they are trying to take a portrait without people being able to identify them if it was ever found.

[swapped89 [OP]]

All right, civil war era, anyone else have anything to comment on about these pics?

[fade]

So wait I'm lost they were in your family picture ablums? Maybe it was just young couples messing around for pictures or halloween and they were a little higher up class and could afford pictures of that?

[Wermz84]

The first known "Furrys"   


ok,  idk.   i would be courious to know why.

[abnormaltoy]

Given the "Mammy" headgear on those seated in the photos, I'd say it has some racial overtones...makin' fun of the darkys.

[Wermz84]

Given the "Mammy" headgear on those seated in the photos, I'd say it has some racial overtones...makin' fun of the darkys.

You might be on to something.

[*** YELLER ***]

So wait I'm lost they were in your family picture ablums

X2


MOM !!! is there something we need to talk about

[abnormaltoy]

You might be on to something.

On something?

[abnormaltoy]

I linked this thread to the closest thing I know to a human encyclopedia, my older brother. This is his response...

"Probably not as old as the Civil War (the late unpleasantness) ... people tended not to fart around for photos.  I'd say, given the straw skimmer on the guy on the right, its turn-of-the-century.  Those are minstrel masks & costumes.  Not upscale shows like Zeigfield's or "Pop" Christy's, but a rural effort.  Notice the simplicity of the frocks that all 4 are wearing.  No hot-stuff wardrobe & no finesse in the masks."


For you Yankees..."The Late Unpleasantness" is what we Southerners call the civil war...when we want to be polite. Otherwise we call it "The War of Northern Aggression".

[swapped89 [OP]]

I linked this thread to the closest thing I know to a human encyclopedia, my older brother. This is his response...

"Probably not as old as the Civil War (the late unpleasantness) ... people tended not to fart around for photos.  I'd say, given the straw skimmer on the guy on the right, its turn-of-the-century.  Those are minstrel masks & costumes.  Not upscale shows like Zeigfield's or "Pop" Christy's, but a rural effort.  Notice the simplicity of the frocks that all 4 are wearing.  No hot-stuff wardrobe & no finesse in the masks."


For you Yankees..."The Late Unpleasantness" is what we Southerners call the civil war...when we want to be polite. Otherwise we call it "The War of Northern Aggression".

I see I see. thanks for that.

Its not my family per say... Its my Girlfriends, step moms, family.
the album is from her step moms great aunt.
 

[Wermz84]

What is a straw skimmer?

[toyotanner]

the guy on the left reminds me of mike meyers from halloween eeek

[fade]

What is a straw skimmer?

Its a old fashoined hat...

[Wermz84]

Its a old fashoined hat...

I see.  thanks.

[peacesells]

So did you jack the pictures? shits creepy...

[swapped89 [OP]]

So did you jack the pictures? :pokinit:s creepy...

Na i didnt jack'm i just took pictures of the pictures with my iphone.

The guys masks remind me of the clown mask from the band "slipknot". Ya they are kinda creepy.

[1972TLC]

Either the two women are African American or they are two white women that painted their hands black. Can't exactly tell which it is because their hands look naturally black but the color around their eyes and mouth is white. But is the white the true color of the women's skin or just a color painted on their masks?  

Maybe two men (brothers?, neighbors?) were having relations with these two possibly African American women. Perhaps they wanted a "couples" photo? Since that would not have been acceptable back then perhaps they did indeed where masks so they could have a "couples" photo without anyone knowing who was being photographed.  

[Shamb]

Given the "Mammy" headgear on those seated in the photos, I'd say it has some racial overtones...makin' fun of the darkys.

This was the first thing that came to mind when I looked at the pictures.

Interesting though!

[abnormaltoy]

Either the two women are African American or they are two white women that painted their hands black.

If, indeed, they are photos of a local minstrel troop...they are more than likely men, with blackened hands...not wominz. There seems to be something lacking in the boobage area, no  ?

[-Jake-]

If, indeed, they are photos of a local minstrel troop...they are more than likely men, with blackened hands...not wominz. There seems to be something lacking in the boobage area, no  ?

They must've been hard up for women, if they are men, because they're wearing skirts also.

[abnormaltoy]

They must've been hard up for women, if they are men, because they're wearing skirts also.

It's common, throughout history, for male actors to play female roles...it doesn't happen just in San Francisco!

[NoPower]

Ummm that's creepy 

[Shamb]

Wouldn't matter if they were rockin' some motor boats in there. With those big heavy jackets on i'm sure they're smushed down.

Looks like painted hands to me.

but on the other hand one males wearing gloves... the other looks like a light shade of brown?

[abnormaltoy]

motor boats

I like that. I've never heard that name before.

[V-Man]

Wouldn't matter if they were rockin' some motor boats in there. With those big heavy jackets on i'm sure they're smushed down.

Looks like painted hands to me.

but on the other hand one males wearing gloves... the other looks like a light shade of brown?

    The photos are very yellowed, and if it's the summer or just about any time in the south, even the whitest of us can get browner...It's call a "TAN"..

[toyotanner]

maybe they are interracial couples that had to hide there identity back in the day

[JanMarie13]

I think abnormaltoy's brother nailed it really.  If you google "minstrel masks" you'll see it was a pretty common thing way back when.  They're just actors and must have been performing that day.

[79coyotefrg]

maybe they are interracial couples that had to hide there identity back in the day

is this deja vu ??

Either the two women are African American or they are two white women that painted their hands black. Can't exactly tell which it is because their hands look naturally black but the color around their eyes and mouth is white. But is the white the true color of the women's skin or just a color painted on their masks? 

Maybe two men (brothers?, neighbors?) were having relations with these two possibly African American women. Perhaps they wanted a "couples" photo? Since that would not have been acceptable back then perhaps they did indeed where masks so they could have a "couples" photo without anyone knowing who was being photographed. 

  NO i'm NOT loosing my mind





a very long time ago i saw a picture of someone similiarly dressed. I asked my grandmother who it was and all she said was "we dont want to talk about that"

[79coyotefrg]

I see I see. thanks for that.

Its not my family per say... Its my Girlfriends, step moms, family.
the album is from her step moms great aunt.
 

well, at least its not any blood kin