New Booth Photo? Er . . .

[L Verge]

Were Windsor knot ties worn during this period? Seems I've seen some in CDV's, etc....

I don't know the history of ties, but for some reason, I have always thought of Windsor knots coming in the decades after the CW. I think the most typical earlier knot with long ends was called a four-in-hand. They might pre-date the war. I don't recall seeing too many 19th-century photos with men wearing either types of these.

Betty, you are an equestrian; didn't the term four-in-hand come from the type of knot that carriage drivers used on the reins? Being a military brat, I think it also used to be the regulation knot for army uniforms.

[Sally]

Tamaqua appears to have been an early railroad town, so I wonder if any lines that Booth would have taken ran through the town? Like Betty, the head gear on the gentleman in the photo speaks more to railroad conductor than it does to the fashionable Mr. Booth. Any chance of enlarging the photo so that we can examine the rest of the attire?

It's unlikely the sartorial Mr. Booth would be caught dead in that hat, let alone have his photo taken wearing it!

[BettyO]

Betty, you are an equestrian; didn't the term four-in-hand come from the type of knot that carriage drivers used on the reins? Being a military brat, I think it also used to be the regulation knot for army uniforms.

Exactly, Laurie! The term "four in hand" refers to the reins of a four horse team - not an easy feat to manage....I don't know about the military reference -

[RJNorton]

I also detect a tiny goatee under this man's lower lip, what we call a soul patch today. I never remember seeing Booth with that extra addition.

I found this photo on the web. I think it's actor E.A. Emerson (or possibly E.A. Sothern). Could it be him?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Great find, Roger. This attire to my eyes matches the new "Booth" photo better than the real JWB - and this gentleman, too, has a goatee.

[BettyO]

Also don't forget that a lot of men (with similar facial features/hair, etc.) were mistaken for JWB and mobbed before cooler heads prevailed....

Emerson could have easily been mistaken for JWB at the time.

[Carolyn Mitchell]

I am no longer making any attempt to give opinions on photos, and my friends and colleagues will know why. Questions:

If there is a Baily Photographic Collection, what decades does it cover? What years did he do business in Tamaqua?

Does the building shown date to the 1860s?

Someone with access to newspapers - can you locate the Simon Jefferson lengthy obit?

How close would Tamaqua be to the oil fields of Pennsylvania that Booth had an interest in?

Are any of our Booth scholars here familiar with the lady Booth scholar mentioned as finding the photo? Carolyn, any recollection of the lady contacting Tudor Hall? That would be the logical place for a Booth scholar to have strong ties.

The hat on the subject's head speaks volumes to me about being part of a uniform, not civilian dress

I don't think she reached out to Tom Fink as far as I know. I emailed the link to the article to Dave Taylor the other day. He told me this lady sent this image to him back in 2015 after she found it. He told her it wasn't Booth.

I also replied back on the article and said the same thing.

[Gene C]

It could be a photo of Booth in costume from an unsuccessful off Broadway play "Stop the Train, Conductor".

Here's the theme song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bZJMhdwwPQ

[BettyO]

I've heard of that play, Gene...."Stop the Train, Conductor - I Want to Get Off!"

[Gene C]

A few more questionable ?? photo's of John Wilkes Booth

http://jessejamesphotoalbum.com/john-wilkes-booth/

[Susan Higginbotham]

A few more questionable ?? photo's of John Wilkes Booth

http://jessejamesphotoalbum.com/john-wilkes-booth/

"Nine people went to the gallows"? Oh, my.

[Carolyn Mitchell]

A few more questionable ?? photo's of John Wilkes Booth

http://jessejamesphotoalbum.com/john-wilkes-booth/

Sorry but definitely not John Wilkes Booth.