Military Girl

No, my grandmother wasn’t a military girl but the next pages of her scrapbook tell a different story.  And boy are these pages in sad shape.



I’ll do my best to document these pages but things are really torn and falling apart which makes it hard to scan.

“Military Girl” was a musical and financial success!  What a difference a century makes - $100 was considered a financial success in 1915.  From what I can piece together, the production was held on Thursday, February 4, 1915.  Besides a Burlesquer, Loraine Gunzendorfer was also a Matinee Girl. 



The article also states:

There were no stars in “The Military Girl.” But each and every one in the cast – from the chorus girl to the few who portrayed the leading roles – acted their parts splendidly, and the audience was highly pleased with the production. Well rendered songs, beautifully executed dances, and appropriate costumes combined to make “The Military Girl” one of the most appreciated local talent productions presented here in years. The operetta was coached by Fred Carlyle of Oakland.

And then there is this article:



And the Program:


(These are in such bad shape that my Flip-Pal had trouble stitching them together)

Here’s what Grandma had to say about the production:



I’m not sure what this is – maybe part of the script that listed the songs?



And this must be part of the Burlesque script but it is tattered and appears to have been written in pencil which has almost completely faded.  I guess that’s what almost 100 years in a basement or storage unit will do.



A big clue from these articles is that Loraine’s friend, Elfie, had a last name – Fonda. Maybe that will help me put together some pieces of the puzzle!

Tidbits

The next pages of the scrapbook are what Grandma called Tidbits.  Just a little of this and that.

Loraine Gunzendorfer

I wrote about Grandma’s trip to the cannery before.  I’d like to think this photo was from an outing to the cannery but – gasp – maybe she was actually working there!  For the few reading who knew my grandmother, I’m sure you will agree that Loraine working in a cannery is about the last place I’d expect her to be working.  Actually, working anywhere is a bit of a stretch.

January 20, 1914 was Loraine Gunzendorfer’s 18th birthday.  This horoscope must have really struck a chord with her since she saved Cozette’s Horoscope.



I think it must have been the second to last paragraph that interested her.

Persons whose birthdate it is have a lucky anniversary.  They probably will benefit through the aid of their friends.  Young women have the omen of happy marriage.  Jupiter particularly benefits those who were born in 1866, 1878, 1890 and 1902.  Saturn may bring temporary trouble to those born on or near January 3.

While she wasn’t born in 1866, 1878, 1890 or 1902, we know from this scrapbook that Loraine had a lot of friends to aid her.  And since she was happily married to my grandfather for 49 years, I’d say that counts as a happy marriage.



This must have been from her visit to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915.  Interesting that cameras had to be licensed.

The wines and liquors were on special!  This was actually on the back of a clipping (my family always called them clippings) but I found it more interesting than the story she saved.  I have to chuckle reading about Zinfandel being invigorating to the invalids and that Riesling wine makes the dinner taste better.



Grandma writes about the Boat Club dance and the one thing she saved to help remember the event. 



I’m not sure this is what she was referring to but since it was on the same page, it must be.  Hard to tell since half of it is missing.



I wrote about the 1914 graduation here.  Here’s another reference to the stunt.



Friday night, Sept. 25, 14.  Mrs. Woolf gave a surprise for Helen.  We danced until nearly one o’clock.  A nice affair.  Elbert _____ (brought?) me home. 

The napkin with the flowers on it must have been a remembrance from the party.



Sounds like Helen Thompson fit right into her new school.  I even have her photo from the yearbook!

Helen Thompson

Uh oh, Grandma tore her dress!  And how cute that she put a piece of it in her memory book!



Here is Elbert taking her to a party again.  He was her classmate, John Elbert Hitchcock, and the brother of her BFF, Hallie Hitchcock.  I’ve been researching this family a bit as I’d love to connect with a descendant and share some of the photos with them.  No luck so far but I’m not giving up.

John Elbert Hitchcock

More tidbits coming up next time!

Who are these people?

At this part of the scrapbook, Grandma must have been bored with labeling the photos because she just stopped.  So here I am with a bunch of photos with no idea who any of these people are.  Maybe someday I’ll be able to identify a few people but until then, I can just identify my Grandma, Loraine Gunzendorfer.

Look at this beautiful dress and great hat!



Now she did a little labeling but, of course, I knew this was her.



I should be able to figure out who these kids are – maybe I can find a photo of the house and make a guess as to who they are.



Aren’t these two adorable?  If I didn’t know better I’d think the child on the left is Grandma’s brother, Wilton Gunzendorfer.  But it doesn’t fit based on the time period the photos are from.



This couple is interesting.  Another beautiful hat!



Is this girl the same as above?



An old fashioned picnic!  I think that is Grandma sitting third from the left.



I wonder what these people are looking at?



And one more group shot, this time from the front.  I don’t see Grandma here.



This photo is classic - what is she trying to say?  Did something happen to the missing person?  Could that have been an unflattering photo of Grandma that she never wanted to see again?  These little cryptic clues just make my imagination wander.



While I’m so thankful for the photos Grandma did label, these unlabeled ones sure are frustrating!

Girlfriends!

One thing I’ve learned about my grandmother, Loraine Gunzendorfer, is that she had lots of friends, especially girlfriends.  And since I am preparing to spend some time with my long-time girlfriends, it seems appropriate that the next pages of the scrapbook shows Grandma with her girlfriends!  I wish I knew who these women are but I’ll just have to enjoy seeing them all together having fun.

Here’s one group – Grandma is on the right.



And a bigger group – Grandma on the top right.



Check out these hats – aren’t they great?  Again, Grandma on the right.



This could  be her BFF, Hallie Hitchcock.



Does it look like the same person?  I know these two photos are of Hallie.

And here’s her friend, Elfie.  Sadly, I don’t know anything more about her than that.  Beautiful clothes and hat she has on – looks like she was dressed up for a special event.



And another group shot.  She’s looking down but I think Grandma is on the left this time.



And here’s everyone all dressed up for some special occasion.  What wonderful fashions in those days.  Grandma is back to the right again in the striped coat.



And one last photo, this time of at least one family member.  Grandma’s grandmother (my 3rd great grandmother), Fannie Goldstein Gunzendorfer, is – where else – but on the right.



I don’t know who the rest of the people are but I especially like the two lovebirds on the left.

See you soon, girlfriends!

Playful Days

I love seeing my grandmother, Loraine Gunzendorfer, as a young woman with her friends.  They seemed to have so much fun together and went so many places! 

I have no idea where they were in most of these pictures, or even who they are, but it is fun to see them ‘playing’ together.  I especially love looking at their clothes – they sure dressed differently 100 years ago!

Tennis, anyone?  Can you imagine playing tennis dressed like this?  I knew my grandfather played a lot of tennis as a young man (I even rescued a few of his tennis racquets years ago) but until recently I never knew my grandmother played, too.



Looks like this was either before or after the match based on how she’s dressed.  I love how she wore her hair up in this little bun – very stylish!  It looks like she’s pointing at something here but I can’t be sure.



Here’s a couple of her friends starting a pyramid.  I have no idea who they are, though.  Check out those bathing suits!



Thankfully she labeled at least one photo – here’s Earle in a canoe.  I’ve seen him mentioned many times in the scrapbook – he must have been a special friend.



She had this written on the page that included this picture but no other photos had two men in it. 

Gene and Earle in Santa Cruz.  Look as ‘tho they expect to have a good time.

Could that be Gene and Earle walking behind these three lovely ladies?  And who are the ladies?  I would venture to say that is, indeed, Santa Cruz in the background.



Here’s Grandma with her girlfriends.  She’s second from the left but I don’t know who the others are.  I’m pretty sure none of these are her BFF, Hallie Hitchcock.  Wonder where she was that day?



And here’s the whole gang.  I think Hallie might be second from the right and Grandma is on the right holding her hat.  They look like they’re being silly!



And one final shot of Grandma by herself – interesting hat she has on.  She looks very thoughtful!



I'm so glad she saved these photos - just wish I had more information about her friends and the places she went.

Photo Gallery

Back to the scrapbook!

Grandma had a lot of memories in the scrapbook which were unmarked but the next pages were labeled well.  She even titled the page!



There is an assortment of photos here, although I can’t identify too many of the people.  I’m not sure why she wouldn’t have liked this photo – it is beautiful and I love her stylish outfit.



Here’s her ‘best’ friend, Hallie Hitchcock.



I’ve done a little research on Hallie and found that she married Horace Read in about 1920.  Sadly, Horace died in 1930 and I haven’t been able to find out much more about Hallie.  I’d love to connect with one of her ancestors so that I can share some of these photos.

Looks like Grandma and the gang went to San Juan Canyon.



Who was the Hollister bunch and how did she know them?





I’m not sure why she would say she’s in the picture though not seen.  When I zoom in on the photo I don’t see her – is she hiding somewhere?

Look at those hats!  Grandma is 2nd from the right, underneath the “sh” in horseshoe.



And here’s a couple of the boys.  Elbert, on the left, was Hallie’s younger brother and a classmate at Monterey High School.



I just love this photo – they look like they’re having such fun!  I have no idea who Marion and Sis are, but I do know that Sis was not her sister since she only had a brother.



It’s so fun to see these photos and to get an idea of what life was like almost 100 years ago.