Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
Summer 1938. Hamburger stand at the Buckeye Lake amusement park near Columbus. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Ben Shahn, who goes on to describe the place: "Buckeye Lake is the weekend and summer months resort for all of central Ohio. Its patrons are clerks, Columbus politicians, laborers, businessmen, droves of high school and college students. The rich occupy one side of the lake, the rest rent cottages on the other side. It has an evil reputation and an evil smell. It has furnished Columbus and the neighboring small towns and cities with dancing, cottaging, swimming, etc. for several generations. This is the most unsavory place the photographer ran across in Ohio." But how are the hot dogs?
Mr. Shahn neglected to to say that Buckeye Lake played host to many KKK outings in the 20s and 30s. It's still a rather nasty little place in spite of the newer homes being built around it. It began its life as a swamp.
Wow, I had no idea Ben Shahn was so prissy! Where did he spend HIS vacation - on the grounds of a European palace? These were just working-class people having a good time. Nothing evil about that.
I love the dog-shaped hot dog sign, by the way.
I saw my first Grateful Dead concert there in about 1988..... Now that was EEEEVIL. And so awesome.
When it comes to photography and in particular the photographers, there are those who visit this site that have their favorites -- their heroes, if you will. For me, while I love photography, a camera and I and not the best of friends. In fact when I shoot a photo, there is slightly less than a 50/50 chance that what I am shooting will even appear on the image. However, in poking around this afternoon I came upon this and wanted to share. For me, this man I would consider my hero:
I bet the hot dogs were fantastic and the coffee delicious.
Why, eeevil, of course.
-- bloghwhoring @ http://indigestible.nightwares.com/
"Buckeye Lake was the first large reservoir built in America and became Ohio's first State Park in May of 1949. The 3,000+ acre lake was built near the highest point of elevation separating the Scioto and Muskingum River watersheds, it was built solely to provide water for the canal system."
http://gmcnow.www5.50megs.com/buckeyelake/
Traveled to Buckeye Lake for a concert in the mid-90s. Had to park in a hayfield that seemed to be miles from the outdoor theatre. What fun it was to drive over discarded beer bottles and who knows what else in the dark on the way out.
Clark Bars and King Edward cigars -- my college diet.
I guess Mr. Shahn bypassed Cleveland.
Ba dum dum
Thank you folks, be sure to tip your waitress. I'll be here all week.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5