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From 1931 until 1982, Gainsborough Photographers did business at 223 West Washington Street, on the street level of the Odd Fellows
Temple in downtown Sandusky.
Though this close up view is not very clear, you can
see that at Gainsborough’s you could have portraits taken, or purchase a
camera.
Samuel Barkan opened the Gainsborough photographic
studio in Sandusky in October of 1931. There was a studio in Lorain as well. An
opening day special included twelve 4 x 6 inch pictures in a folder, and a 7 x
9 inch color picture in an easel frame, all for $7.50.
In the 1940s, Sam Barkan resided on
Fifth Street in Sandusky with his wife Ann, and their two daughters. During
World War II, there was a patriotic display at the Gainsborough Studio during
Sandusky’s fifth war loan drive. Every customer who purchased a $25 war bond
received a picture of one of the panels of the Honor Board that was on display in
Washington Park.
This undated advertisement shows
the services available at Gainsborough’s, which included family and commercial
photography, sales of photographic equipment and supplies, camera repair, and
one day film finishing, as well as reprints and enlargements.
When customers picked up their developed film, the
prints were inside a paper album that stated “Send a snapshot with every
letter.”
In the 1950s, Sam Barkan wrote a newspaper column
entitled “The Camera Column.” This column appeared in the May 12, 1954 issue of
the Sandusky Register Star News.
This artistic picture of a championship bowling team
was created by Gainsborough Photographers.
Sam Barkan’s name was associated
with the Gainsborough Photography studio through the 1960s. In the 1969
Sandusky City Directory, he was listed as the president of
Gainsborough, Inc. and Mrs. Ann Barkan was the secretary-treasurer. From 1970
through 1977, George A. Hassenplug was the proprietor of Gainsborough
Photographers. Rick Abbott operated Gainsborough Photographers
from 1978 until the studio closed in October of 1982. By 1970 Sam and Ann
Barkan had moved to Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Sam Barkan passed away at the age of 67
on September 6, 1972. Ann Barkan died in 2006. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barkan were
buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus. During their years in Sandusky, Mr.
and Mrs. Barkan were active members of the Oheb Shalom Temple.
3 comments:
My mom & dad had several Kodak folders like the one in this article, although the folders in my family have a different photographic studio name on them. It was a great advertising ploy!
The Barkan's lived on Fifth Street on the southeast corner of Marlboro St., one block from our house, which was at 1126 Fifth on the southeast coner of Buckingham. Visitors to both families sometimes got our 2 houses confused, because both were of the same exterior design (one-a-half storey houses). Sometimes the errant visitors arrived at mealtime, adding to confusion and merriment in our respective families. Sam Barkan took many photographs of our family members in his Gainsborough studio on Central Ave, near Decatur. He would always prompt us to smile for the camera, altho it is our recollction that he, in fact, never smiled when he was working!!
These were my grandparents! Sam was ahead of his time in technique and was a great man. He passed when I was 5, so I didnt know him well. My grandmother lived to 96 and passed in 2005 or 2006. Sam passed in 1972. Loved seeing this article. R. ROSS. Columbus.
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