The Mid Century Vault

Currently Playing: 086 Family Portraits Were So Awkward, So Awesome!

Do you remember the itchy outfits, the "muzak" playing at Sears, and the frantic last-second grooming? Welcome back to The Mid-Century Vault! In this episode, Philip Mershon dives into the peculiar, professional, and often hilarious world of the Mid-Century Family Portrait. We’re tracing the history of the "photography democratization" started by Olan Mills in 1932 and the massive "assembly line" of department store studios like Sears, Kmart, Montgomery Wards and JCPenney. From the iconic "Cloudy Blue" mottled backdrops to the high-tech (for the time) "floating head" double exposures of the 1970s, we explore why these portraits became a middle-class must. 📸 JOIN THE CHALLENGE: Philip shared his "Mae West" bathtub photo—now it's your turn! Head over to our Community Tab, post your most embarrassing or cherished family portrait, and tell us the story behind it. I dare ya! Topics covered: The rise of Olan Mills and the affordable portrait. How Sears and Kmart changed the family legacy. The "Floating Head" aesthetic of the 1970s. Why digital cameras and, later, smartphones "shut the shutter" on these studios. #MidCentury #VintagePhotography #OlanMills #AwkwardFamilyPhotos #1970sStyle #TheMidCenturyVault #Nostalgia #SearsPortraitStudio