Wisconsin Stories: Novelty Postcards of Alfred Stanley Jonson

Gallery:
Tall Tale Postcards by Alfred Stanley Johnson
Beaver Dam photographer Alfred Stanley Johnson specialized in the tall tale postcard featuring oversized produce and animals. The postcards in this gallery date from 1911-1917.

Each image required several steps to complete the illusions. First, Johnson staged his family and friends to pantomime the story lines. He then added enlarged images of fruits, vegetables, or animals and carefully cropped them to fit in the set-up background. Next, Johnson retouched the composite photograph to blend the giant subject into the scene.

Once printed, the tall tale postcard often extolled the alleged superiority of local soils, so fertile they produced giant crops. The tall tale negatives included titles that attributed bountiful crops and animals to local communities. gallery>>

a man carts a giant onion in his wheelbarrow.

"How we do things in Waupun, Wisconsin."

SHSW LOt 2602. Photo by Alfred S. Johnso. ,Not to be reproduced without written permission from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

"Loading Cabbage." Cabbages are loaded into a freight car.

SHSW Lot 356. Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Loading Cabbage C 1909 Alfred Stanley JohnsonNot to be reproduced without written permission from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

Two men stand on a pile of enormous potatoes.

"Plenty Potatoes" or "The Kind We Raise at Abbotsford, Wisconsin."

SHSW Lot 3565. Photo by R. S. Johnson, 1912. Not to be reproduced without written permission from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

"We Never Stop" or "Scene on the Road Near Madison, Wisconsin" illustrates a spirited cow leaping high in the air.

SHSW Lot 3565. Photo R. S. Johnson, 1915. Not to be reproduced without written permission from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

Background photo for "Will It Go In?" Models pose as if trying to shove giant vegetables into the cellar.

SHSW Lot 4602. Photo by Alfred S. Johnson, Waupun, c1911/ Loaned for copying by Waupun Heritage Museum, 1977. Not to be reproduced without written permission from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

"Will It Go In?" A family tries to shove giant vegetables into their cellar.

Big Onion Lot 4602 WHi (X3) 32506. Photo by J.S. Johnson. Not to be reproduced without written permission from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

"Shooting the Shoots." Chidren slide on enormous carrots.

SHSW Lot 4602 Tell Tale postcard c. 1913. Photo Alfred S. Johnson. Photo loaned for copying by Waupun heritage Museum WHi (X3) 32569. Not to be reproduced without written permission from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

Background for "Kickers," before the photographer adds images of giant frogs.

SHSW Lot 4602 WHi (X3) 32494. Tall-Tale postcards copyright 1913 by Alfred S. Johnson, Waupun. Loaned for copying by Waupun Heritage Museum. Not to be reproduced without written permission from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

Giant frogs leap over a hunter and his dog.

In "Kickers," a hunter is overwhelmed by giant frogs.

SHSW Lot 4602 WHi (X3) 32576. Tall-Tale postcards copyright 1913 by Alfred S. Johnson, Waupun. Loaned for copying by Waupun Heritage Museum. Not to be reproduced without written permission from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.