My photo industry career

February 7, 2010 at 3:58 pm · Filed under FAMILY Memories, Photography, senior thoughts ·Tagged , ,

I hadn’t written anything for the past two week, because I had been approached by a historian working for the N.Y Inst of Photography for an interview of my experience in their school.  The NYIOP will soon be celebrating the 100th year of its existence.  I met with Anna,the historian and we had an interesting two hour lunch’  Her project is to dig up as much details of  the owners of the school,its students and teachers and its method of instruction, etc. She is having a difficult time finding historical details due to changes in management and ownership.  Business records are missing. We had an interesting discussion and I hope I was helpful.

The meeting really stirred memory and I had a difficult time falling asleep that evening.  Scenes of those early years flashed through my mind.  Memories that were buried so long ago, from pre-war period.  The period may have been during 1937 thru 1941.   My younger brother Nat had graduated from High Schol and released me from my job at the family store.  I had completed my Night school attendance in the NYIOP and was ready to seek a job in photo-graphy.

The economy at that time is similar to the one we are now experiencing.  In 1929, we experienced the Wall Street Crash.  In the 1930s FDR became president and he was using Government stimulus programs to create jobs. So, you can imagine the difficulty I was faced with to find work.  I had no contacts  in the photo field, so I relied on the want ads in the newspapers and also the job agencies that were lined up  on Sixth Avenue in the 30th-40th St. area.

My first job was with a Xerox Studio that catered to the Advertising field. The owner was a man in his thirties and his father had purchased this new apparatus that made it possible to reduce or enlarge art work. I was his assistant and also the pickup and delivery boy. My memory is mostly af the employer, who was tall but gaunt, in his thirties and very sad.  He told me that he was a concert violinist, but unable to earn a living and this is what he is sadly doing to support himself and family. It was not an encouraging place.

I’m not sure how long I stayed at this job.  While I was doing the pick-ups of work, I would look at store windows and door signs where offers of jobs were displayed.  The Xerox studio was in lower Manhattan.  I passed a window that wanted a photographer for passports.  This shop was near City Hall.  I was accepted and worked there for several months. I enjoyed it , only because the developer and printer of the snaps that I took , became very friendly and we were two blocks from Chinatown and ate $2.50 lunches.  The shop was tiny and offered 1 hr service.  After, I took the photo, I would put the negative and holder into a basket that was tied to a rope and sent up to a balcony level, where my lunch friend was located to develop and print.

The owner of the shop had advised me that he will close down when the travel season is over and to keep my eyes open for another place to work.

(to be continued)

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Post-war, 1946

January 20, 2010 at 1:16 pm · Filed under FAMILY Memories, Photography

Well, there we were finally married and ready to assume a life together.  This period required a lot of adjustment , from a wartime atmosphere to one of peace.  The past 4 years our country was fully concentrated on producing goods and equipment for its wartime efforts.  The GIs were returning home, millions of them.  How will they adjust to the economy?

As I look back now at  least about 64 years later, I wonder at the lack of concern we displayed regarding our future life together.  I returned with  my assets at zero.  I had to start to seek employment. And we were concerned with a place to live together. I was 28 years old,  an alte bucha without a plan of action. But with Shirley as my planner, everything was worked out.  Like all of our friends, we moved in with the bride’s family.  Fortunately, they had a 3 bedroom apartment, so there was room for us and also for Shirley’s sister Ida and her husband, Walter, who returned from service 2 months later.

Employment for me was another problem.  The government passed a law guaranteeing servicemen their jobs when drafted into service.  My job at that time was photographer in the Navy based on the East River in Brooklyn. The pay scale was very low, so I never reported back for the job. The government also passed a law to provide GI’s unemployment insurance, named the 52/20 club,  (20 dollars a week for 52 weeks)  This seems now like so little, but remember, that then it only cost a nickel to ride the subway.  So, I used that time to seek work.  Also, Shirley, bless her, was earning a good salary at her office job. Incidentally, her boss was also named Roth (no relation) .

There we were , 6 people in the Weinbaum apartment and getting along so well, that we had lots of fun and pleasure together.  The parents were happy with the company, especially Shirley’s  mother, Rose, who did all the cooking.

Walter and I looked for jobs and even thought of working together.  For a short period of time we tried selling costume jewelry, but this did not work out.  I then decided to return to the camera trade and applied for work at Fotoshop 42nd Street, where I had been employed before the war. The camera trade and photography was booming at this time.  You can relate this to the current tech movement in the digital world.  This is the period when Life and Look magazines sprung up.  Leicas, Nikons, 8mm movie cameras, Rolleiflex, etc.  were appearing on the market.  This photo market was expanding rapidly and I entered it at a propitious time.

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Family connections

January 1, 2010 at 6:47 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged , ,

Shirley in a captivating pose.

Before we left for our honeymoon, Reggie had been in contact with our Aunt Gussie, who had been invited to our wedding. She was living in Florida and was unable to attend. She insisted that we phone her and visit with her.

After a few days of swimming and sight-seeing, we phoned Tante Gussie and she invited us for dinner.  She arranged it at a friend’s apartment because she had a small living space for her and her husband Max (my uncle-in-law). I really loved Aunt Gussie.  She was always jovial and gracious with me and often visited our house during the period of my pre-teens.

The Lautmans, Max and Gussie, always lived near us, because they were dependent for support from my father and mother.  Before Gussie married, a census report indicated that she lived with my parents in the Pitt St. apartment.  This was 1916.  I was born in 1917. She knew me from early childhood.  When we moved to 46th Street, the Lautmans moved a halfblock away.

So , the first words spoken by Tanta Gussie were ” Irvingle, it’s so good to see you. I never thought you would get married.  You were so shy.  Every time I came to your house you would hide under the table”.  (this was during my pre-teen years.) We smiled and I said ” I did very well”. Gussie was always a kibbitzer.

Of all of my aunts on my father’s side, there were five, Gussie’s life was the most dismal.  It is best described in Reggies’s autobiography, which I will condense and use. “Gussie was a gay, social being and Max was a fancy dresser. He was sent to America by his family, because he was a ne’er-do-well.  They did not pay much attention to their children.  When they went on trips to Europe or on week-ends to the country resorts, they would always park the children with Mom.  Mom resented her because she was a card-player and never home to supervise her children.  And whenever we moved to a new residence, Gussie would move nearby.”

Gussie had three children. Blanche, (1911) William(1913) and Lillie(?). She had no joy from her children.  They were always left alone.  Blanche, in my memory had a maimed shoulder, causing her posture to be distorted. William was killed in a car accident(1936) at age 23 and Lillie was a problem child, mentally defective.  Whether all of this was due to lack of supervision by parental supervision is debatable.  My opinion is the gene transmitted by Max.

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Roth-Maltz Family

December 4, 2009 at 3:27 pm · Filed under FAMILY Memories ·Tagged , ,

This past Saturday, Dec. 20th, I was riding home from the Colodner party given to honor the engagement of Ken and his future bride. Meeting all of my sister’s children , their spouses and offspring made me realize that we go back five  generations since my parents embarked on the ships that brought them into the USA.  This feeling was amplified when I gave Ellen the photo of my parents with Jack, Bill and Regina ( 3 yrs of age).  We figured that the photo was taken in 1916, previous to my birth, which was 1917.

Reflecting on these family meetings, I mentioned to Shirley that we always read about the Kennedy family meeting together during Summer breaks.  And I remarked that we also had our summer breaks, not as elaborate as theirs, but we too enjoyed the family togetherness at Kaufman’s Bungalow Colony.  This period of family meetings plus the annual Seders, created a wonderful bond within our family structure.

It occurred to me that I go back almost 5 generations.  My parents and Shirley’s emigrated to the U.S. during the 1890’s.  The U.S. was expanding westward and needed all types of laborers.  This allowed the disadvantaged in Europe to move to the U.S. to seek better opportunity and get free from restrictions that they endured in their countries of origin.  My parents came from Mielitz, So. Poland(Austrian Province} and Shirley’s parents came from No. Poland.

While we were growing up, our families lived close to one another.  So, we had close ties.  Cousins, uncles and aunts knew one another.  But as we grew older and married and moved further apart, we lost contact. Take my family.  Jack moved to New Jersey, Bill  to Long Island , Nat  to Lakewood , Blanche to California and England

We went from a horse and buggy age into the mobile age of auto and air travel. This caused a division of close family ties and the thoght of losing the closeness that I feel when I visit the Maltzes, worries me.  The Seders that started in 1937-by Pop and Mom, and carried on by Reggie and then Barbara, will fade away.  How can we extend this gathering  in the future?  I’m open to suggestions.

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Honeymoon, Jan. 1946

November 15, 2009 at 7:17 am · Filed under FAMILY Memories, New York Memories ·Tagged , ,

Our planned honeymoon was to go to Florida.  This was very special for us, as we were not world travelers as  current youngsters are.  For us, this was very special.  We had tried to register in the Roney Plaza but there were no rooms available  The best we could do is get a room at the Grand Hotel which was across the street.  We later learned that the hotel catered to the gamblers who frequented the race tracks.

Our location was good. It was on Collins Avenue,  the main shopping area and quite busy.  The best part of this location was the South Park  directly in front of our entrance and the beach where we enjoyed the sun and swimming in the wavy warm water.  For me it was a wonderful setting for photography.  I spent lots of time getting shots of SW on palm trees, posing her sexy figure and admiring her beauty.

But prior to our arrival in Florida, we experienced annoying problems.  We had been advised to send our luggage ahead by rail to our destination.  We did this two days prior to our date of boarding the train.  We got on board in the morning after our night spent in our hotel across the street.  We had no seat reservations,which we knew nothing about.  So, by the time we got there, I found a single seat at one end of the car and Shirley a seat at the other end.  The trains were really crowded.  Those were the days when train travel was more popular than air. So, we were separated for the entire trip.  You can imagine how miserable we felt.

When we arrived in Miami, after this long and miserable ride, we went looking for our luggage.  We had noticed that many of the travelers had taken their suitcases with them.  We were so smug, seeing them shlepping the luggage. When we arrived at the pickup area to get our pre-shipped luggage, we were advised that they had not arrived.  “here is our phone number, check for its arrival”.  We spent two miserable days in our winter clothes, until they arrived.

But nothing could destroy our joy, our togetherness.  We spent the time sightseeing and on boat trips and when the luggage arrived, we were able to enjoy the beach and even sneak some sunbathing on Roney’s beach chairs.

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Florida Honeymoon, Dec,Jan., 1945-6

October 28, 2009 at 7:55 am · Filed under FAMILY Memories, senior thoughts

It has been 6 weeks since my last post.  I really must apologize to all of my diligent readers, but I am frustrated by my inability to keep up with the quick changes in our current technology.  I have spent all of this time sorting photos of our honeymoon and pics of 46th Street, for the purpose of scanning and inserting them into a slide show.  I thought that I knew how to do it.  But suddenly I get  a notice of a disconnect between my scanner and the computer.

The more I try to keep up with the new technology, the more obsolete I feel. The changes in tech is so rapid, that by the time I learn to cope with something new, an upgrade  is brought out.  I have Windows 2000 in my computer.  4 changes were introduced by Microsoft.  Now we have the introduction of Windows 7.  It’s being promoted now and I believe that it has caused my computer to break down my connection for scanning photos into my computer.  Is this a planned action to force me to buy the new program? I’ve got enough trouble keeping up with cell-phone use and other  tech changes like texting.  This alone has changed the communication system.  Nobody writes anymore.  Scripting is unknown to our kids.  Vocabulary will change to text-words.  Letters from family and friends are a thing of the past.  Emails are quicker and now we have Facebook and Twitter and cloud programs.  Who can keep up with all of this?  Not me, at this age of my life.  I am really obsolete.

I intended to write about our honeymoon, but I  had to send this apology.  It is off my chest.  I will get into the good old days and write our life’s history soon. When I get connected, I will make slide shows of post-war photos.

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home at last. Nov. 1945

September 19, 2009 at 4:29 am · Filed under FAMILY Memories, New York Memories, senior thoughts ·Tagged ,

Trying to recall the past, which was 64 yrs. ago, is quite difficult.  Especially when one is 92 years old and having difficulty recalling names of acquaintances.  My three years  absence from 820-46th Street did not cause a change in the area.  The same sycamore trees were still lined up on both sides of the street and the same buildings with its small front gardens added a suburban touch.  After 3 years of  living in bombed- out areas, sleeping in pup-tents and often on grassy hills, my walk up to my home  seemed like heaven, so peaceful and neat.  Nothing had changed

The changes that occurred were human.  Those who remained at home, who worried about loved ones in service  also helped in the war effort, selling US bonds, factory labor in munitions and aircraft, and USO shows.

Changes occurred in the normal lives we live.  Such as the Roth family and descendants. When I returned I encountered the following  :  Our house was now occupied by only 3  members of the family.  Pop died in 1954 and the store was sold prior to his death.  Mom displayed a sign “  Clothing Alterations” Expert seamstress.  Mom needed income to pay for expenses, etc.  Living with her were Blanche and Bill.  Nat was married in 1945 to Harriet and living in their house on the same street.  Bill returned from  the Pacific a few months later and set up his food business, storing goods in the basement.  Reggie, living in an apartment 759-46th St.  gave birth to Barbara in 1943. And I was preparing for my wedding with Shirley.  On December 25, 1945 we were married.  We went to Florida for our honeymoon and I moved out of 820-46th Street.  Thus began a new chapter in my life.

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Our happy reunion, Nov 11,1945

August 1, 2009 at 2:38 pm · Filed under WWII

I had difficulty sleeping that night.  My thoughts were tumbling around in my head, while my body was tumbling around in my army cot.  And as to remembering how I managed to leave from Camp Shanks, I have no image.  I’m assuming that I spoke with my officer in charge , that I could get home on my own.  “Could I be released now?. I can get home via train and subway to my home in Brooklyn”  He okayed it.

I’m trying to recall my day when I left the camp.  I remember going to the PX, to look for a gift for Shirley and that I purchased a bracelet that was designed in Greenwich Village. My next vision is waiting for her to appear in Penn Station and seeing her walk off the escalator to meet me.

I was asked by a family member.”How can you remember all those details of your 3 yrs in the army?”. Well,I must confess.  It was not memory but it was all of the saved letters to Shirley, Blanche, Reggie, et al, and the photos I took from Spokane and thru the war.  I’m glad that I have all of these records.  Because, now I see that it’s easy to forget complete details and personal feelings  of important moments in one’s life.

My next vision is seeing Shirley walking towards me.  My heart thumped double time and we hurried towards each other and embraced.  After a long kiss and a pause for breath, we decided to go to the Hotel McAlpin for supper and dance.  In those days all hotels had swing bands and this one may have been Guy Lombardo.  We practically had the floor to ourselves and we were in heaven gliding along to the music and holding each other tightly.

If I were writing a movie script of this scene, I would have Irv go up to the band leader and ask him to play a particular song for us.  To honor my return after three Years in the army and this is our first meeting. He agrees.” What’s the song?”  I then explain to him that ” While she was writing a letter to me, she was listening to the Andrew Sisters singing ” I’ll never smile again, until I smile at you”.  I was reading this letter while sailing to No. Africa, 3 years ago”.  You can announce this and I want to see her smile.  I wish I had thought of this.  It would have been appropriate.

I asked Shirley if she remembers how we left and when to go home and she has no vision of it. I’m assuming that I rode home with her on the subway line and then I left to go home to see my family.  But I really have no vision of it.

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We sail up the Hudson, Nov.1945

July 29, 2009 at 2:31 pm · Filed under WWII ·Tagged ,

We continued past Shirley’s apartment house and I thought we would debark in Fort Hamilton about 3 miles north of her.  That’s where we boarded  the ship that transported our Engineering outfit to North Africa, 3 yrs ago.  I imagined that I would leave camp and surprise her.  But to my dismay, the ship passed the Fort and continued it’s upward journey.

As I recall the day, we had come on deck after having breakfast and the fleet of ships was splitting apart.  Some went towards New Jersey and others to Camp Kilmer and Staten Island  Our deck was jammed with GIs, all excited as we were being tug-boated through the entrance to the New York Ports.

Although several other  GI returnees lived in and around New York City, the majority never visited it.  So,as I was loudly pointing out the sites a large group formed around to hear me exclaim ” There’s the bike path     we , Shirley and I rode on”    “,there’s the Belt Parkway”     ,” we are now passing the 69th St. Ferry pier that goes to Staten Island”.    We then approached  Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  This created a mob scene of GIs crowding towards the left side of the ship. It was a great sight to see and even I got a thrill at the sight of it. 

     As we contimued up river , I thought we would debark on the N.Y. Piers in the 50’s, but this did not happen.  I wondered “Where are we going?”.  I surmised to my audience.  By this time, we settled down to a slow cruise up river towards the Bronx and further North. We also passed Washington Heights, where my brother and family lived.  After we sailed under the G.W. Bridge, I ran out of sights and shut down my sight-seeing dialogue.

     We sailed slowly upstream.  The Hudson River and the surrounding mountains on both sides were really beautiful to see.  But we were all weary from the long voyage and anxious to set foot on firm ground.  Finally we stopped and prepared to land.  I learned that it was in Camp Shanks, a newly built facility for the purpose of handling troop movements to Europe and for our return.  ( If you are interested, Google Camp Shanks).  We arrived in time to settle in barracks, shower and have dinner.  I got off and inquired about making a phone call and how to travel to New York City from Orangeburg, this town we docked in.

Just recalling it now, the entire scene is making my heart  flutter.  I dialed Long distance and recalled the phone number ESplanade 2 2604.  I called collect and  Shirley accepted the call.  So I knew we were okay.  She was expecting a call.  She had read about my arrival in the newspaper.  We made a date for the next day, to meet in Manhattan at Penn Station.

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Homeward Bound,Nov. 1945

July 25, 2009 at 4:52 am · Filed under WWII ·Tagged

Well, the war was finally over.  We were ready to de-mobilize.  It took two months for my name to be placed on a notice for my transfer to a group to be sent to the port of debarkation somewhere in the Netherlands.  My final discharge papers dated Nov.11,1945, were  given to me at separation center, Ft.Dix, N.J.

One month was spent in Frankfurt airport and the balance of time in the campsight located on the North Sea. We could see the ships moving in and out and wondered when we would be called up for the voyage home. We were housed in Pyramidal tents that were set up on level grounds close to the seaport. I have very little memory of this period.  There was constant movement of GIs arriving and leaving.  I have no memory of packing and boarding the ship home.  Reflecting on this period, I can see how difficult it was for our military to move a million personnel from Europe back to the States.

Fortunately for me, Shirley, my fiancee, who waited for 3 years for my return, had saved the announcement of my return on board the ship,  Sheepshead Bay Victory.  The headline was “10 Troopships Bringing 15,522 GIs Home.”  Can you imagine the logistics involved in this maneuver?  It was a good policy to list the names and addresses of the soldiers.  It prepared our families and friends and raised our spirits.

Our fleet of 10 ships plus some naval escorts had a smooth voyage.  I can’t recall any sea-sickness at all.  I’m not sure of the voyage time, but I guess it may have been a week.  When we approached the area of Coney Island and the mouth of the Hudson River, we became excited.  Our ships were flying victory flags and as my ship passed by Bay Parkway, I pointed out to some friends the apartment house that Shirley lived in.  My heart was skipping madly. ” Home at last”, I yelled.

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