The Columbia "
Diggins" event takes place at
Columbia State Historic Park and is meant to reproduce a typical 1850's tent town as would have been found in the area during the California Gold Rush. It's an exceptionally well planned, funded and organized event with dozens of volunteers.
This was our third year attending and, as in previous years, we brought my period Telegraph, Tintype Portrait Studio, and of course, the Magic Lantern. Shannon and Brandon operated the Tintype booth and sold Tintype portraits to those that were interested.
We ended up doing about two dozen tintypes during the event. Here are a few examples.
Matt operated the Telegraph and performed the Magic Lantern shows. We had both venues next to each other so he could easily get between them.
There was consistent public traffic and entertainment outside the venue. Here was a staged bar fight that the public, and The Lanternist, enjoyed watching.
For the Magic Lantern shows, we were set up in the only room that can be darkened - a reproduction 1800's style building. We did 6-8 shows per day.
As our shows are all performed with period slides, it's important to bring along some tools and supplies to repair slides in the field. Matt usually will carry along a small wood "slide repair" box with tools - glue for fixing wood frames, small nails for holding glass in place, Teflon tape for slip slides that lose their cardboard spacers, and most importantly -
Lineco Gummed Linen Hinging Tape. The Lineco "moisten to stick" tape is great for repairing slide edges, emergency fixes for broken glass, and pull tabs on slip slides.
This photo caught me sitting at the Telegraph repairing my "Good Night" slide with the Lineco tape sitting against my box of slide repair tools.
Overall this was a really fun four day event and we look forward to doing it again next year!
1 comment:
I attended the Diggins 1850 'be-in' this year. I've lived up here in the mountains for 7 years, but due to scheduling, this was my first time. I won't miss it again! Everybody is dressed in period costumes and the 'living museum' aspect is populated by good natured and knowledgeable people. What a photography opportunity!!
Jeffery Luhn
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