Vintage Slides from the Marion Collection

-Still under reconstruction-

(left) Exterior view of case. Its full-metal jacket is virtually indestructible.

Long thought lost forever, this 50s-era metal slide carrier/viewer recently reemerged from hiding on Warrington in Ann Arbor. It turns out that I myself -- me -- had personally placed it in an old suitcase along with a number of other random photographs, albums, and documents while packing for our move here in 1997. Then I stuck the suitcase high on a shelf in our hallway coat closet for safekeeping. In rifling through that closet recently, I decided to pull down the suitcase and check it out. In the intervening years, I had completely forgotten what was in it. (Interestingly, you may recall that, just a few months ago, I sent out an all-points-bulletin in an effort to locate this very item, but nobody claimed to possess it. Now, we know why. Premature Alzheimers is a terrible thing.) In any event, as you'll see, it contains a veritable trove of family "Kodak Moments," dating from the late 40s to the late 60s. And over the next few months, I'll scan and post them right here.

Interior of case. The collection consists of a shitload (still have to count them) of old slides, some conventionally-clad in cardboard carriers, and others (the red ones, as seen above) hermitically-sealed in metal frames with glass covers, virtual photographic chastity belts. What a pain in the ass scanning those those will be. Note MMM's partial cataloging of contents on yellow index form on inside cover. She also diligently inscribed vital info on the slides themselves.

A Foreshadowing?

Mick-Mouse Marion, Chairman, Cox Classic, takes a break from a very challenging round of caddying. Boyne Highlands, summer, 1965.

Winter, 2005 - As these bitter days follow, one after the other, here's a shot to warm your bones. Mom dated it "1965" and labeled it "Lakeview," but still not sure where it was taken. Note that Tammy actually let the behatted one, JP, hold her (it). Also worth a second look: Julie's stylish jeans and babushka; Mick Mouse Marion's cool shoes, positioned toe-to-toe for this shot; and Mom's well-dressed presence.

(Used with permission of Tammy, Vintage Marion Slide Collection.)

(I actually remember this. It was taken pool-side at the motel/resort just south of the county park on the west shore of Lake Otsego. We spent the nights here, but during the day we headed over to the Kelly cottage on Lake Horicon. Photographer possibly John McCluskey.) JPM

The Sunshine State,or Bust!

Spring Break, 1966. There were no minivans, seatbelts, or airbags; cheapflights, Orbitz, or travelocity.coms; cell phones, ipods or ibooks; video games, portable dvd players, satellite radios, books on tape, or tape decks; directions from Mapquest, assistance from OnStar, or direct routes (we had to detour off of then-unfinished I-75 through Appalachia, including a much-anticipated drive -- given all the signs leading up to it -- through Dogpatch, KY); bottled water, power bars, anti-bacterial handwash, Starbucks, or fast food joints at every blink of the eye. But the seven Marions (six of whom are seen posing here for photographer WJM with the McCluskeys -- Kitty, Jud, and John who, of course, drove separately in their ultra-spacious, fully-powered Buick Electra 225) made it all the way from Dearborn, Michigan, to Disney-free Florida and back again in a seven-passenger car. (And we still don't know how!)

Nice transpo for a family of four...but for a family of seven...taking a roundtrip of some 2800 miles???!!!

Surviving the 60s

Click the above link to read an essay (author unknown, sent by Char in an email) related to the topic above...

Motley Crew

A companion to the above photo, this shot could have been used to blackmail most of its subjects. Instead, we'll simply post it and permit ourselves a good laugh instead. Were the Beatles influential, or what? (Or maybe it was the Dave Clark Five or Herman and the Hermits.) In any case, we KNOW where Julie and Michael J. got their style inspiration...Jerry Mathers and Patty Duke, no doubt.

Musings on the above photo by some of its posers

(40 years later)

I believe Bill's outfit was the inspiration for the movie Men In Black. RJ

###

As I told Bill, I opted for the tsunami pants. Clam diggers were too long.

And how about that tsunami sports coat?

I'm sure Mike was slipping into it within a week or so.

I vaguely remember Julie using Dippidy Doo and ironing her hair.

As Bill (one of the Men in Black) pointed out, the amazing thing is that seven people in one car had enough room for sports coats, slacks, gallon jug of Dippidy Doo, iron, etc...

Sincerely,

Elvis Costello (AKA, JP)

###

Brother John,

When you've got IT, flaunt IT!

I think those previously referred to pants look VERY cool

with your sporty red blazer. Quite Gentlemen's Quarterly.

You stylin', bro!

With love,

from your much older sister.

ps: I swear I've been fighting natural curl all my life

and do NOT remember my hair EVER being that

straight----especially in hot and humid Florida.

And didn't you guys share a duffel bag for packing?

After I ironed my hair, I probably pressed all your dress shirts and suits, too. Sorry I never got around to those pants of yours, John. I suppose the steam from the iron began making my hair curl----and I was getting dangerously low on that "dippity doo". :-)

(isn't Mike cute?) JJ

###

Gentleman's Quarterly, yes. Or Esquire. Or the Value World Gazette... WOM

###

This was also the last time anyone saw him (Bill) without a moustache, (besides his drill sergeant). JP

Chillin' by the front door at 434. Circa 1960. Teenybopper Julie (BC - Before Contacts) and Family Pet Mick-Mouse-Marion (BT - Before Tammy).

Room with a view...of sorts.

This was the way the world looked out the only window in the boys' bedroom at 434 N. Rosevere in Dearborn. It was a fairly bleak scene, especially in winter. Fortunately, all four residents of the room were blithely unaware of its shortcomings, focusing as we were on keeping warm half the year and keeping from suffocating the other half. Meanwhile, sister Julie, with her spacious "princess" suite just next door, enjoyed all the benefits of cross-ventilation provided by TWO windows. The downside of her situation? She had to share the tiny, usually repulsive upstairs half-bath with her four barely toilet-trained and oblivious brothers.

Some might look at this photo and see a young man squandering precious hours knocking balls into each other in a basement rec room that had seen better days (note battered ceiling tiles). Others, however, would know that this young man had a plan...that every moment spent cradling that cue stick was leading to something big...that, clearly, RJ, even then, was prepping for fatherhood.

Vintage Slides from the Marion Collection

(page 2)

Marlboro Man Michael J. proudly posing circa 1975 with larger than life Presto Whip cans, once the pride of Dearborn, but long since razed. Had these monuments to mediocre dessert toppings been saved, Metro Detroit, with its giant tire and stove, might well have cornered the market on such random, oversized structures. In fact, their very existence may even have helped revive local tourism, if not the city itself. Alas, we'll never know.

Choir Boys

Living Proof of the angelic nature of the three main subjects of this photo, taken December 24, 1962 (note Santa artifacts on mantle). Handwritten on back by MMM: "Bill, Dick, & John...Mama in rear...Xmas apron does not cover knees -- Notice drink in hand -- What else...." Also of interest here: Upon close inspection, Uncle Jerry is visible in reflection of mirror, just to the right of the flash. He's making his annual and much-anticipated Christmas Eve appearance along with Aunt Elizabeth & Cousin Harriet...looks kind of eerie, as if his head is perched on the ceramic Santa boots' vase (or whatever it is). Everyone's accounted for except Mick-Mouse (he was probably banished to bed, rugrat that he was) and Julie who, no doubt, was sequestered in her private attic-suite poring over Seventeen magazine and drooling over Frankie Avalon. (photo by WJM)

Comments fom the peanut gallery

Midnight mass. John and I sang and Bill served. I am sure of it.

I was in 5th grade, Bill was in 6th and John was repeating 3rd grade for the 3rd time.

Don't we look angelic?

I never made altar boy. Latin too tough -- one look at the card I had to memorize, and I said no thanks. Bill, who was a Latin student, did accept the position of server and did have access to the church sacristy where all the altar boy attire was kept. One time, we were back there before school after dad had dropped us off about 55 minutes before school on a very cold and wintry day. As he was showing off, and me around, there was also a mass in progress. All of a sudden the bells began ringing in the church signifying the consecration was beginning.

Bill yells, "Dick, quick, get down on your knees," at which point I nearly ruptured a meniscus following my older brother's command and trying not to offend God. After the offertory was complete, I turned to see Bill standing and laughing his arse off at the oh-so-gullible sibling. Yeah, he got me on that one. RJM

***

Choir, right, Rich & Bill. Never attained the lofty altar boy status.

J McC & I held mass in the basement once, though. I remember the sermon - "Give lots of money."

By the way, I could still hit the high notes that year.

p.s. What is Mom drinking? Red wine? JP

(left) Dapper, proud young parents Bill and Martha Marion with their firstborn, Julie. The slide from which this photo was scanned is labeled in MMM's handwriting "St. Claire Shores, 1947." Note rambling home and vintage vehicle in background.

(below) This companion photo gives us a closer look at the elegantly dressed MMM, white gloves and all, and a distracted young Julie (poopy diaper?), looking pretty stylish herself (for a kid). At 37-years-old, Martha was by no means a young mother, WWII having delayed by a half a decade and more the start of a whole generation of families, including the Marions. With Julie's arrival, they were finally parents, and with four boys still to come, it was all downhill from there....

(Commentary from Julie: Thanks for another trip down memory lane, Bill, though, to be honest, I have no memory of this day in my life.

Look at that baby in a bonnet, will you? It seems I have been in this world a very long time. I've given up

wearing bonnets. I'm still wearing white walking shoes that lace up, however. I'm taking a shine to age 58. To

paraphrase B. Friedan, I am myself at this age. I have never felt more free.

Actually, I am the second child born to the handsome young couple pictured here.

These two members of the "greatest generation" miraculously managed to survive a world war and put it behind them, then begin their married life anew, and,soon they joyfully anticiapted the arrival of their first child.

Nine months later, a full term baby boy, was delivered, stillborn. So they came home empty-handed and, heartbroken, they planned a burial.

I have always felt blessed that they somehow conquered their understandable fears and sorrow and went bravely on to have five more babies. I just happened to be next in line to arrive in this world and lead the way. Truly, it was my great good fortune to be joined in this life by my brothers four. How I LOVE you, each and every one!

And speaking of brothers, may God bless the tiny one, the heartbreak kid, that came before us all.)