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George M. Kotuby:
"This is our first assignment in January 1947, and someone took this
of me."
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"This one is of me with the standard
GI issue 4 X 5 Speed Graphic.
Taken 1947." |
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Each Darkroom Technician's Class would pose for a "Class Picture" as
they approached the end of their training. This is Class D-53; photo
taken in late 1947. Note that this is the first class with WACS - at
least while I was there. (I had a few more after we moved the school
to Ft Monmouth.)
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This is a view of the entire
compliment of SCPC Standing and awaiting for the annual AG
inspection. The company was supposed to line up in front of the
barracks thus being in the sunlight and easier to photograph.
However, it was so hot in this August of 1948 that they were placed
in the shade. In front of the formation is Lt. Thomas and First
Sergeant Percy Ricks.
(Percy Ricks remained with the
studio until it closed in 1970, serving in later years as a civilian
production specialist with the Laboratory Branch.)
I believe he was one of the early
black first sergeants of a company. (Our barracks were also one of
the early integrated ones.) I think I remember that one or more of
his brothers were members of a top recording singing group of the
day.
In the top photo, the arrow is pointing to the
officers doing the inspection.
The bottom photo is the completion of the
inspection and the final salute.
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"This is class D-49, my first as an instructor,"
wrote Kotuby. "I started it with Mike Chopko, my instructor, who left
after a couple of weeks to start another class and then prepare for
discharge. We had a cariticurist in the class, Dick West, who did
the 'funnies' for the group." |
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"This is of Terry Beam who was the
school clerk. He apparently mentioned to Lt Buck that he was going
to take some snaps to send home. Lt. Buck asked me to take them for
him with this result." |
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"This is a shot of my very good friend, T-4
Thomas M J Condie, taking a break after finishing a tough class. Tom
was also sent to Ansco about a year after I went and, together, we
formalized the School Lesson Plans. Tom went on to be a very
successful commercial photographer (he did Harley Davidson ads for
years {until they got really big time} as well as Westinghouse
Refrigerators, Lillian Vernon catalogs and many others). Sadly, Tom
died two years ago."
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"This is of Private Paul Heiderman, cadre (motor
pool, I think). He just got off KP and sat on the foot locker I was
using for some portraits. 1948." |
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"This is another shot of Scotty Alexander taken in early 1947. It
was part of an early assignment on indoor portraiture." |
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Technical Sergeant Walter Klink was an instructor
in the Darkroom Technician's School, circa 1946-1948. This
photo was supplied by fellow instructor
George M. Kotuby, who wrote, "This
is of fellow instructor and friend, Walter Klink of Pennsylvania.
Last contact - he was studying journalism at Columbia, 1948." |
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"This photo is of G. Royce McGowan.
He was one of my students in Class D-60. He was pulled in the last
couple of weeks to become an Assistant Director on the big sound
stage on a film they were making. Taken in 1947." |
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"This is of Al Werner, a classmate of mine, taken
in 1947 near the Tri-Borough Bridge. Our instructor, Mike Chopko
wouldn't allow us to use exposure meters. We were to calculate the
exposure based on our lessons."
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"This photo is of T-4 Cecil Riley,
an instructor in the Still Picture School. He was very good; was
even denied an apprenticeship with a top notch photographer because
he had more knowledge than the photog. Picture taken in 1947." |
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"This photo is of Pvt Lowell Storms, first one of
my students and later an assistant. Taken in 1947." |
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Barracks interior, 1947. |
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"Because it was the Army, we had to have a Guard
Shack and pull guard duty. As you can see from this, it was very
informal. Pvt Roy Haefner was on Guard Duty so I brought my radio
out and kept him company." |
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George supplied these three photos: "I believe they all are from 1947. The
top shot is of the main building; the middle one shows the orderly room and
barracks T-3; the bottom is of barracks T-4 & T-5. Four squads of up to 12 in
each barracks together with special cadre rooms. Seldom had 48 in any of the
barracks. They were heated with little pot-bellied stoves." |
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George also supplied this holiday greeting card, circa 1947. |
