The three men in the photograph look a little anxious. They’re at the races in Brisbane in 1939, dressed in suits and hats and carrying binoculars. Perhaps the race is about to start and the adrenalin is beginning to flow. Once it’s under way they’ll be chewing their lips and gripping their binoculars with sweaty palms and white knuckles, shouting and screaming as they will their chosen horse to the finish. What a pity we can’t see the ‘after’ picture. Will they be crestfallen and ashen-faced, when they realise they’re going to have to go home and explain to their wives that they’ve just lost everything? Or perhaps they’ll be throwing those hats into the air and shouting “Yipee!”- we’ll never know. They’re a good match for this week’s Sepia Saturday photo prompt, which also features three Australian men in suits and hats. The prompt picture is possibly of the annual stud sales by the Commonwealth Wool and Produce Company in Sydney in the early 1930s, so the men would be attending to see what the sheep stock was like rather than studying the horses’ form.
‘A Day at The Races’ was a famous 1937 Marx Brothers film and later the rock group Queen named one of their albums after the movie (following on from their previous album, ‘A Night at The Opera', also a Marx Brothers film). The film’s ‘disjointed plot line’ revolves around horse racing and is full of scams, comic routines and musical numbers.
Three men, but only two hats* |
The entire film is available to view on YouTube, as are many well-known clips, such as this one featuring the famous ‘Tutsi Fruitsi Ice Cream’ scam which foiled Groucho’s attempt to place a bet on his chosen runner.
For more tales of trios of well-suited and hatted men, race over to Sepia Saturday and see what other Sepians have made of the prompt.
* courtesy of Dr.Macro.com
I know many a person wishing they had stayed away from the horse races! We have a friend and a neighbor that used to run a few horses, at Canterbury Downs, not too far away. Going there to visit behind the scenes was my greatest adventure in horse racing. It is a pity that we won't know the outcome for those first three chaps. But the look on their faces certainly cry, go home quickly. I was hoping you'd have another mysteries in the painting with your post. I've always been quite fond of hunting hidden objects and the stories connected.
ReplyDeleteWow, I never saw all that in that last picture, but now I will have to be more vigilant about looking at a picture, thanks to you.. :)
ReplyDeleteA truly enjoyable post! I love your imaginative description about what might be happening in that first photograph. I do hope they all won at least a little something rather than losing a bundle. I'm still searching for the items you mention in that last painting. Painters apparently like to tease us that way. As Rosie said, I think I shall have to start looking more closely at paintings from now on!
ReplyDeleteLong before I was born, the family story goes that my grandfather had a problem with betting on the horses. I'm sure he would worn his fedora down to the track, but it was probably only to the bookie's shop.
ReplyDeleteOver the past few years I've been to special exhibits of Victorian paintings and they are a most fascinating art form. In the age before film these artists really invented a new way of storytelling.
Three great photographs and I do enjoy reading your explanations of the detail in paintings which we can so easily miss.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely racing types in that first photo, even in a pinstriped suit. You have preempted next week's telescopes too.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the best Queen albums, and I haven't seen the film yet (it's on my towatch list). Thank you for another painting filled with clues. Even without knowing the details you can see there is a lot going on.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos on theme, and love the references to "paintings as entertainment."
ReplyDeleteI almost posted one with a jockey but opted for family photos...I like that first photo of the men at the races...wonder if they made big winnings.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I still can't see the newspaper on the deck, my eyesight must be failing! These days, if we see a male in a smart suit and hat around here, 10 to 1 he's headed for the races, eg. Caulfield racecourse, which is just across the highway from where we live.
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling the man in the middle has been to the races before. From the look of his hat, I'm guessing he's lost many a bets and has taken that hat from his head and slammed it against his thigh more than once.
ReplyDeleteA trio of trios - well chosen, well presented and well described.
ReplyDeleteYou could use this post for next week's prompt too.
ReplyDeleteMarx Brothers are still funny.
The first photo is a really good match for the prompt.
ReplyDeleteI like the first on too, although I like to hear the stories hidden in those old paintings.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting images, they tell great stories.
ReplyDeleteHats off to you!! Great post!!
ReplyDeleteThe story behind the painting is fascinating!
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