The images in this gallery are quite special. All were shot by John Walker between 1929 and 1933. To learn more about Walker, at least as far as what I know at this time, click on the Artist Profile link. These images are special not only because of the time period, but also because they are from 35mm negatives. They are special because Walker had a photographers eye. He was not a professional. He was, I'm told, a retired banker from Canada living in Pasadena. But he had talent and he recorded a multitude of things. Southeastern California and Arizona landscapes, old towns, ghost towns, desert dwellings, ships, airplanes, people, road signs in the middle of nowhere, the famous Monterey Cypress when it still looked healthy, the cable cars in San Francisco, Tombstone, Arizona in what seemed like could have been moments after Wyatt Earp holstered his gun at OK Coral. And then there were his traveling machines and the fearless approach he and his companions took to driving in some very rugged places. Plus a lot more as you will discover in touring the gallery.

This gallery is photographic, artistic, historic, interesting and just plain fun. The images are the culmination of my three year effort to restore the approximately 1500 negatives, scan and catalog them, and bring them to life on the web and as prints. Walker died in 1933. If only he could see his work become public. As you will learn in reading his profile, more than likely, no more than a handful of these images have ever been seen by anyone.

Thank you for visiting.

Charlie Osborn