My elusive grandparents were travelling stage actors.
Can anyone say what year this was taken? and also take a guess as to what the ladies are carrying? they look like little boxes to me, anyone?
I was looking at the men's collars and ties. There's quite a variety. And the men's hats (flat caps and beret) could be from almost any time. I don't know when the homburg became popular. My uncle (born 1916) wore one for years.
Thanks Dorothy,James and OC........reticules are like a purse or bag,so I wonder why they're carrying both.
Could be books/Bibles but why different sizes? and as you say no men have them.
Men have various forms of neckwear haven't they?
I was always told my Grandfather was tall chap, third from the left,back row and wearing his cap back to front :D........or would that be beret do you think John?
Right, I'm with you now...the flat white things are surely prayer books, usually given to a girl at her confirmation. I don't know what men got - probably a prayer book too, but in sombre black!
Men have various forms of neckwear haven't they?
I was always told my Grandfather was tall chap, third from the left,back row and wearing his cap back to front :D........or would that be beret do you think John?
On second thoughts, it's a flat cap, worn sideways (peak facing his right).
Mau - I've looked again at the photo and am just not sure. I looked on some Fashion History sites, but they seemed to largely deal with ''posh'' frocks ;) but I found this site which might help - I haven't had time to look at it properly myself - but you may find it helpful.
The photo they show on there as an example is from 1910 and a quick look makes me thin yours can't be far out from that.
I believe I'm right in saying that girls under 16 could wear their dresses a little shorter, but it was thought unseemly for an older female to do so. Also the hats in the photo are similar to yours. The men have a mixture of hats, but also some homburgs (and boaters!)
Going back to the idea that your pic shows them after Confirmation - I would doubt that a group of Travelling players would be regarded as suitable! :D But they might just have gone to church.
My first impression was that the background was a stage set rather than an outdoor landscape (although I can't see the floor/ground clearly.)
Any chance that it is a cast wearing their stage costumes? In which case, it makes it even harder to date, if they are in period dress for a production.
Jay
JanetinYorkshire
Genealogists never die - they just swap places in the family tree
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