Photobooth
Various photographer-less attempts have been made since the 1880’s, but the first commercially successful Photomation did not appear until after the turn of the century. The format for Photobooth prints has changed numerous times. ‘Sticky backs’ such as this one can be considered the initiation of the Photobooth trend, an early version of Japan’s Purikura or sticker-photobooth phenomenon. There are versions with 4 - 8 prints on a single vertical or horizontal strip, single images, and ornate cardboard frames. The iconic vertical strip of 4 images was most commonly understood to be a Photobooth picture until recently. Today, the majority of people understand ‘Photobooth' pictures as digital images digitally printed onto glossy photopaper.
The photograph of this young lady is attached to a simple rusting aluminum frame. Taken in 1939 at Hampton Beach as revealed from the scripted date on the back. The back also reveals the brand ‘Photomatic’. There were a couple brands worldwide at this time providing single images. These booths became staples at carnivals, beaches, and major transit hubs. The first Photomatic booths in America were installed at Grand Central in NYC and New Haven, Connecticut train stations.
