Friday 28 December 2012

Never Smile at a (Vintage) Crocodile

crocodile-and-butterfly

Living in north Queensland, we are used to crocodiles.  Here, for instance, is the sign at our local beach, just a block away from our house.

010  010 - Copy
Cheery, no? And these are salt water crocs, big scary things usually 3 to 5m long, that often take a dog or bird from along the shore.  Australia has fresh water crocs too, which are much smaller and tend to eat only fish.  I last saw some in the badly named East Alligator River in the Northern Territory.  Australia even has crocodile farms – there is one just four hours south of me at Rockhampton.  Most Crocodile farms in Australia have been operating since the 1980s, but Hartley’s near Cairns in far north Queensland began in the mid 1930s, starting as a rest stop and kiosk and gradually adding a crocodile show and zoo.
bus
The bus, with mail service, stopped at Hartleys’ halfway kiosk c. 1933. source

Crocodiles and alligators also featured in circuses at the turn of the century.
1895
Circus alligator lady, c. 1895 source

Although crocodiles are big attractions now in Australia, in the past Aussie croc farms never seemed to go into the whole tourist thing very much  - not like the Americans . For instance, I haven’t found any Australian photos or postcards like this:

vintage kids gator farm
Girl riding alligator c. 1900 source

I mean really, would you let your child do this?!
alligator (1)
source

10-16-alligator-farm
riding in an Alligator cart, c. 1915

Obviously they did at the LA Alligator farm at the turn of the century.  Alligators must have been a real statement – in these next photos the alligator is at least stuffed.
Girl & Alligator

girl-on-alligator

Mind you things haven't’ really changed that much in America it seems, as a quick visit to youtube will show. And there also seems to have been a craze for grown women sitting on alligators.
lady_gator
vintage salt and pepper set, source

Or even trying to brush their teeth.
teeth
c. 1950s source

Personally I like my crocodiles like this, and being vintage I don’t feel so guilty – it’s really preservation to buy these!:
shoes
1940's natural alligator sling back peep toe platform shoes Etsy

Or even this:
bag
1950s alligator satchel bag etsy


What about you?
Deb xxx

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