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Hobo Observed, Pier 88, New York City, 1957
Inside a store on a New York City pier is a most unlikely spot to be seen on Halloween night. Either coming or going though the decal decorated glass door that says PIER 88 backwards and advertises 7up twice, a lovely lady sporting a smart grey swing coat smiles. Body language speaks volumes. Especially bar stool body language. Apparently young Master Snooty isn’t terribly impressed with the Halloween hobo look of 1957! Could it be the painted beard that’s overgrown up his nose and between his eyes? Otherwise little Mr. Hobo man is perfect in every detail right down to the cigar, mismatched patches and giant safety pin keeping his fly closed. Where’s Master Snooty’s costume?
Ancient religious harvest time traditions have evolved into our most bizarre holiday.
Children disguise themselves and threaten neighbors. Trick or treat. Give me candy or there will be consequences. That’s not very polite and certainly not very neighborly. Yet trick or treaters aren’t greedy. They are not trying to extort a whole candy bar – just an individually wrapped special Halloween bite size sample will do.
Here’s to the hobo, eating more candy than on any other day of the year and YOU!
Trick or treat!
Posted Thursday, October 26th, 2006 under Slide of the Week.
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It looks like Mr Snooty is checking out the
Hobo’s basket!
Hey! Is that child smoking a cigar?! It really was a different time!
People would have a fit nowadays if a child were to wear a costume like that.
I have pictures of when I was about 6 years old. And you guessed it ! Mom and Dad decided it would be a good idea to dress their charming only child as a bum ! Shocking. Wait?? Charles was I technically a Hobo? Hobos are much more civilized versions of bums right? Or is it a Vagabond? Either way I didn’t appear to be very happy with my outfit that particular Halloween. See you soon buddy.
my friend and i were just talking about
“so what are you gonna be for halloween?”
“a bum.”
(or, “a hobo.”)
we didn’t do blackface, though. it took me a minute to realize that’s what he’s attempting in that pic …
… or maybe it IS soot. i’m as puzzled as his observer.
Never-Been-A-Hobo Charles!
Perhaps I’m a bit naive, but when did hobos take on blackface? Is this some kind of bizarre tradition wherein the fine art of whiskering the hobo is subtly blended onto the whole face to create a vaudevillian, minstrely, hobo? Our young Mr. Riding the Rails has, at the very least, taken his hobo to another level … including, it seems extensive hand injuries. Are those gloves are bandages?
Simply put: my favorite part of the slide is Mr. Sassy Pants with his hand on his hip surveying the situation. That boy has an attitude. And frankly, I love it! I believe I just might take up the same pose if I am confronted with a hobo in blackface. I do think such a sight requires a little bit of sassy consideration.
Perhaps the young Hobo With A Cigar and Pants Patches has been invited to a “Hobo Hike” as suggested in _The Good Housekeeping Party Book_ (1958). It’s the kind of party that includes Gorp (that’s good ol’ raisins and peanuts, natch!), “nose bags”, and faux knives!
Hobo Hike
Invitations: Boys (and girls, too) love this active kind of party. Ask each guest to come as patched and tattered as he can.
Post a sign (crayon on a piece of cardboard) on front door, stating “TRAMPS — BACK DOOR, PLEASE”. Present each child with his stock in trade: stick with a gay bandanna “nose bag” (filled with part of lunch) tied on the end (hobo sandwiches, sugar cookies, raisins, and salted peanuts).
Lunch
Wayfarer Stew (any of your favorites will do)
Hobo Sandwiches (just plain bread ‘n’ butter)
Raisins and Salted Peanuts for Nibbling
Sugar Cookies
Cups of Milk
Off to Hobo Haven: As soon as hikers and you or Dad set off (don’t make their trek too long), chauffeur the pot of stew, lots of chilled milk, and the necessary utensils to the spot you have chosen. Make it a place where a fire can be built, and have the fire blazing merrily when the hikers arrive.
When the hikers reach Hobo Haven, let them investigate their surroundings for awhile. Then serve stew, and open “nose bags.” Serve milk in paper or tin cups.
By the Fire: Afterward, in front of the fire, ask each child to imagine aloud the last freight-hopping trip he took. Help his imagination with a candy treat, and reward the biggest “whopper” with a rubber knife or other side arms — the play kind, of course.
Back Home: If you think the children will be too tired to hike back, plan to have a car to take the weary hobos home.
Perhaps Our Inappropriately Darkened Hobo has strayed away from Hobo Haven! He wandered into a local store looking for a place to refill his nose bag! Or maybe he’s just on his way home and after all that storytelling and Gorp eating, he might just lunge at Snooty Looks with his rubber knife! “How’s that for freight-hopping, Mr. Not Invited on the Hobo Hike?”
xoxo!
Miss Sharon
I am more disturbed by Mr. Snooty than Sooty-Faced Hobo, but I can’t quite put my finger on why. There is something not RIGHT there.
Can anybody see what books or magazines are in the far left rack?
lousy slide this week…what is this?
To David, To answer you question – The books on the left are 25cent Golden Books. The two legible titles are Christmas is Coming and American Presidents.
And To Bill, Thank you for your honesty! Note taken!
Dear Charles,
That poor boy. Seems he got his hobo beard confused with the socially incorrect black face.
Reminds me of the “Dixie Daze” photo from one of your slide shows!
I hope our young fellow did no venture into the Harlem neighborhoods on his Trick or Treating rounds!
And by the way, don’t you just KNOW that the American Dental Association started this whole candy gobbling holiday? Just to drum up business.
Boo!
Bob
Wow! How times have changed!
Lookie here, a real live hobo party!
Charles even joined the fun.
http://www.lottaliving.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=12671
I agree with Christine’s post–there’s something odd about Mr. Snooty..wait?!! I think Mr. Snooty is a girl…! Then again, maybe not….
Having been a kid during in the early ’50s, I can tell you from expirience, that what some of you think is, isn’t. That is SOOT on the young mans face put on no doubt with a cork burned and blackened by a match. Hobo costumes were the main standby back then if you could not get/afford a costume, or think of what to be on Halloween. For younger readers info, hobos road the rails in the time of steam locomotives burning coal, hence the soot.