Sepia Saturday 244: 6 September 2014


This week's Sepia Saturday theme features a monkey, people in hats - it's all a bit of a circus really, though the little girl doesn't look very happy.  I think she's got the sniffles.

I am delighted to be able to produce monkeys from my mother's photo album from 1950.

She went to Taronga Park Zoo in the August Holidays.  She would have been 14 years old.


monkey sitting on top of monkey house with balloon and others below watching

This is her writing underneath and it says "The monkeys playing with a balloon at Taronga Park."

Here's another photo.


monkeys on branches with people behind wall looking at them


It says: After the ballon (sic) had burst the monkeys had to amuse themselves.

My mother was an only child like me and no doubt had to amuse herself when she got home by pasting in the photos in her album and writing captions underneath in white ink, once the photos had been processed.  

I wonder what type of monkeys these are?  I think they might be black-handed spider monkeys.   And because I am a freshly hatched Librarian and we like to classify things, here's the drum:

Scientific Name: 
Ateles geoffroyi

Phylum: CHORDATA Species class: Mammalia Order: PRIMATES Genus: Ateles Species: geoffroyi

I wish I could say that I knew that but I completely copied it from the Taronga Park Zoo website. 

Let's have a closer look at that second photo.  See the humans over there to the right.  Do you think that Mum has lifted her little girl up on to the enclosure so she can see better? The little girl seems to be wearing a scarf. Please note that the men are wearing suits.  And the women hats.  Better standard of dress in those days I think.  


Close up of Monkeys and people looking on at Taronga Park Zoo

This is where Taronga Park Zoo is.




This map shows you how far it was from her home to the zoo on the other side of the harbour.  I think they would have caught a train and then a ferry.
But they might have caught a bus.  It's more fun on the water though.



When things get hectic at work, I usually start whistling a dreadful merry-go-round theme that indicates madness.  What about you? 

This video is a bit unsteady to begin with but the music is what I'm trying to convey.


Comments

Wendy said…
I'm impressed that your mother said the balloon "burst" rather than "busted" which is what most kids (and probably adults too, I'll admit) today would say because they don't know better. I haven't been to a zoo in ages, but as a child I always liked the monkeys. Spider monkeys are cute. Some monkeys are creepy though.
Alex Daw said…
Thank you Wendy. She was forever correcting my grammar and pronunciation. She was very "particular". :)
Anonymous said…
Enjoyed the fairground organ clip. Canberra still has a Merry-Go-Round in its centre and plays all the traditional fairground music to go with it.
Anonymous said…
It's great when you can follow the theme from your own collection. That B & W photo in the zoo is very interesting. Is that a moat to keep the monkeys contained ?
Postcardy said…
Monkeys are always fun to watch at the zoo.
La Nightingail said…
I used to love going to the San Francisco Zoo & watching the crazy antics of the monkeys climbing around on Monkey Island. Some of their antics were a little crude, however, & about that time Dad & Mom would quietly lead us away. It wasn't until I was older that I realized why. The video of the fancy organ was fun. That music always reminds me of the merry-go-rounds we rode as kids (& even as adults I'm not ashamed to say!)
Alex Daw said…
I loved that Merry-Go-Round in Canberra. I'm pleased to hear that it is still in action.
Alex Daw said…
Yes boundforoz I think it is, though it doesn't look a very deep moat does it? Their enclosure has changed quite a bit now if you google spider monkeys at Taronga Park Zoo.
Alex Daw said…
I agree and perhaps because we spent so much time on monkey bars when we were young we can identify closely with their joy.
Alex Daw said…
Thank you La Nighingail. I know what you mean about antics. And I love Merry Go Rounds too.
That's an impressive piece in that video.
Now you'll have to show us your whistling skills.
I can't whistle a damn but enjoy those who do it well.
Lovely pics too!!
Lucky for you to have these.
Jofeath said…
My kids used to juggle to that exact circus music :-)
Little Nell said…
Good to see those beautiful old fairground organs being preserved in this way. Your mum’s album with her own captions is charming.
Bob Scotney said…
Loved the video and it played tunes I had heard before on fairground organs.
Alex Daw said…
Hi Ticklebear - I do like a challenge. A video of me whistling. Do you know my kids can't stand me whistling? And a neighbour infuriates my brother and sister-in-law with his incessant cheerful whistling too. Funny huh?
Alex Daw said…
I am very impressed with your kids juggling skills. I am completely uncoordinated.
Alex Daw said…
Thanks Little Nell. It is fantastic how my mother labelled and dated everything. A real treat.
Alex Daw said…
Thanks Bob. I was pleased to find it too.

Popular posts from this blog

31 Things to do in August for National Family History Month

NFHM Blogging Challenge - Week 1

Merry Month of May Movie Meme