Cape Girardeau History and Photos

March 20, 2015

English Prof Gerald Mills

I probably shot English Prof Gerald Mills for The Sagamore. I’m pretty sure he was married to Linda Mills, who worked in the newsroom at The Missourian.

If I’m remembering that correctly, one night they invited me over to meet one of their friends who was a professional magazine freelancer. He wasn’t a big name, but he had some nice photos in his portfolio and was very patient when I kept pulling mediocre photo after mediocre photo from a stack of paper boxes I had brought along.

Difference between a good and bad photographer

Mostly silent through the cascade of crappy images, when he saw the last print come out of the last box, he sighed, looked me in the eye and said, kindly, “The difference between a good photographer and bad photographer is that a good photographer never shows his bad pictures.”

Point made.

I can’t think of his name now, but we stayed in touch for a number of years. He was good about sending me lists of publications looking for stock freelance photos. I don’t think I ever sold anything, but it was good experience to pitch my work.

March 18, 2015

Feelin’ Run Over

I’m rushing to get a bunch of stuff done before I pull the plug and start loading the van to head back to Cape Thursday. I feel sort of like this mud-covered football player- run down and run over.

I think he’s a SEMO player, but there was nothing on the back of the print to identify him. Click on the photo to make it larger.

I have Road Warriorette Shari with me for this trip. We’re going to take mostly back roads through Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, so I’m sure there will be adventures along the way. I’ll bag a couple of quickie subjects in case we end up someplace that communicates with smoke signals instead of digital 1s and 0s.

I understand Southeast Missouri State University just razed a landmark building and has another one in its sights. I hope there is some Cape left in Cape when I get there.

March 17, 2015

Bathtub at Court and Union

If you went to Ohio University, your world centered on Court and Union. You crossed that intersection to get from one side of campus to the other. Bars, restaurants, the shopping district and the movie theaters were in the block surrounding it.

It’s where sit-ins, marches and demonstrations started, ended or passed through. In fact, two months earlier, in the wake of the Kent State shootings, a fog of tear gas blanketed that location.

I found several sleeves of negatives labeled “Riot Meeting,” which have lots of serious-looking suits probably doing “fact-finding.” Tucked in the middle of them and shot on the same day, was this collection of photos capturing passersby reacting to a bathtub sitting on the busiest corner in town.

Tub was to promote plays

On the side of the tub was a cryptic sign, “You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running,” along with some dates.

The gimmick was to promote a production of four one-act plays by Robert Anderson. The Amazon reviews make it sound like fun.

Check out the reactions

Click on any picture to make it larger, then move through the gallery with your arrow keys.

March 16, 2015

The Missing Art Student

When I took this photo in March of 1966, five students were in the picture, along with their teacher, Mrs. Edna Glenn. If you look at the crop marks on the margins of the print, though, the poor guy on the right was cut out.

I don’t know who you are, but, here, 49 years later, you have made it into print. (Click on the photo to make it larger.)

The photo caption in the March 5, 1966, Missourian said, “More than 35 local high school pupils have entered an art contest sponsored this weekend by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and the Hallmark Card Company. Here, four Central High School pupils and Mrs. Edna Glenn, Central art instructor, take some of the art works to the KFVS Studio, 324 Broadway, where the exhibit is being held. The pupils are, from left, Miss Susan Welker, Miss Linda Davis, John Young and Miss Holly Lueder. Mrs. Glenn is seated inside the car.