This cabinet card portrait seems to capture dance partners preparing to participate in an episode of “So You Think You Can Dance”. A quick assessment reveals that they need to work toward looking more relaxed and natural. This image comes from the studio of T. G. Zunker in Hartford, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee city directory listed Zunker as a photographer in their issues of 1897 through 1899. Hartford and Milwaukee are 39 miles apart. According to the historical photography web site Langdon Road, Theodore Zunker operated his photographic business in Hartford from 1900 through 1915. The reverse of the card has an inscription that states “Fond Du Lac” which is a city 37 miles from Hartford. There is also a humorous comment written on the back of the photograph. The message states “When you get your man, hang on to him”. It seems that everyone becomes a comedian when they see this image. This cabinet card definitely begs for a humorous caption.
THE CATATONIC DANCERS OF HARTFORD, WISCONSIN
PRETTY WOMAN WITH FRIZZY HAIR IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
This cabinet card features a pretty woman with frizzy hair. She is wearing a dress with a high collar and a long necklace. The photographer did an excellent job of capturing the woman’s facial expressiveness. The Holdmann Photo Studio produced this image. The propietor of the studio was Edward Lutzenberger and the studio had a location in both Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Printing on the reverse of the photograph indicates that this image came from the Milwaukee studio. Also on the reverse of the photograph is printed guarantee and request for feedback that could be seen on any internet auction site. Lutzenberger guarantees that photographic portraits from his studio would not fade. The statement that sounds like it could be from modern day times is “If you are pleased tell others, if not tell us.” Lutzenberger probably purchased his studio from Charles Holdmann (1851-?). Holdmann’s studio was located at 224 Grand Avenue in Milwaukee. The 1900 US census reveals that Edward Lutzenberger lived at his mother-in-law’s house with his wife Anna Drager Lutzenberger and their one year-old daughter Norma. Lutzenberger and his wife married in 1897. Both Edward and Anna were born in Wisconsin. Edward was of German descent. He was employed as a photographer. The 1910 US census reports that Edward and his wife and daughter remained in Milwaukee and Edward was still working as a photographer. The 1920 census lists Edward and Anna as still living in Milwaukee with their, then 20 year old daughter Norma. There was a new addition to the household. Norma had a six year old son named Edward. It seems young Edward was born when Norma was around 14 years old. Norma was employed at the time of the census as a stenographer. The 1930 and 1940 census found Edward and Anna living in Milwaukee and Edward was working for the Railroad police. Milwaukee business directories list Edward as a photographer from 1894 through 1913. He certainly may have worked as a photographer in additional years but research could not document other years.
MILWAUKEE’S BEST: PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY WOMAN IN BREW TOWN
This cabinet card portrait features a pretty young woman posing at the studio of Joseph Sasse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee’s Best isn’t just a beer brewed by the Miller Brewing Company (founded in 1855). The young woman in this photograph was likely considered one of Milwaukee’s Best eligible women by the many suitors she must have attracted. She appears to have had a fondness for jewelry evidenced by her lovely collar pin. The large buttons on her dress are interesting. In the middle of each button is a six point star. She is wearing her hair in a “Gibson Girl” type style and has a hair bow atop her head. The photographer, Joseph Sasse, according to the 1900 census, was born in Germany (1854) and married his wife Walbolia in 1888. He worked as a photographer and he is listed as working in that profession in a number of Milwaukee city directories from 1895 through 1915. He had a son, Joseph Sasse Jr. who was born in 1887. Over time his son worked as a musician and as a movie operator. The 1920 census reveals that a man named Joseph Sasse, born the same year as photographer Sasse, was divorced and an inmate in a Milwaukee jail. There is no confirmation that these are one and the same man but it certainly does seem likely.
FORLORN BRIDE AND DISTANT GROOM ON THEIR WEDDING DAY IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN (CAN THIS MARRIAGE BE SAVED?)
This cabinet card is a wedding portrait photographed by Lecher, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The bride in this picture appears quite attractive in her wedding gown. She has a lovely veil and has a bouquet of flowers on her lap. The bride seems troubled. Is she questioning her decision to marry her husband? Did her Maid of Honor look more beautiful than she did? The well dressed groom appears quite concerned as he stands quite far from his bride with his hands clasped behind his back, and his top hat rests on the table next to him. The posing of this wedding couple is quite unusual. The couple seem emotionally and physically very distant from each other. Can this marriage be saved? The photographer, Paul G. Lecher, was a native of Germany, who came to the United States at two years of age. Research reveals that he definitely operated his studio in 1889 and 1890, and perhaps, in other years too.
MILITARY MARKSMAN IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
This cabinet card features a young soldier in his uniform. He is a member of the Wisconsin 4th Infantry, Company D. He is wearing a kepi on his head and a fatigue coat. His uniform displays a number of marksman badges. The photographer is Herman A. Feiker of Milkwaukee, Wisconsin. Research is incomplete, but, reveals that he operated a photography studio during 1889 and 1890. In 1889 he was partners with George Raab in running a studio at 1102 Walnut, in Milwaukee. Records indicate that Feiker married Mina Horstman in 1887.
BRIDE AND GROOM IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
This photograph is a portrait of a bride and groom posing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The bride is holding a bouquet of flowers and appears to have flowers pinned to the front of her dress as well as to her shoulders. Perhaps a visitor to this site knows if such pinnings were the practice of that era. The bride, in a high collar gown, is also wearing flowers in her hair and white gloves. The groom looks dapper in his three-piece suit. Note that the ends of his mustache curve upwards. The photographer is Charles Brodesser (1857- ?) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Brodesser was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1872. He settled in Milwaukee in 1877. Further biographical information about Brodesser has not yet been found.
“It’s Miller Time”: Three Guys Having a Beer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This Cabinet card depicts three guys out for a beer. They look like they are going to do some serious drinking and have a pitcher ready on the floor for refilling their glasses. The photograph was taken by F. W. Streit of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. How appropriate! Milwaukee is and was the unofficial beer capitol of the United States. The city was once the home to four of the world’s largest breweries and was the number one beer producing city in the world for many years.
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 