You got that right, Mary, our grannies do look scary in their photos. “You don’t smile for the picture,” mine informed me. “You have to look serious.” This from a little old lady who well into her seventies tried to stand on her head, and who managed frequently to shock her teen-aged granddaughter. In fact her house probably still, decades later, holds echoes of her zeal and laughter.

There is in a photo from the 1890s a wasp waisted young woman in a dress. Smile? It’s a wonder she could breathe in all that artillery and in fact she does look a bit concerned. Another photo presents a lady who wears a wide eyed look of restrained mischief. The awful clothes and head splitting hairdo do not hold back the mirth in her eyes, and you wonder what she would look like with hair down and neck allowed to show. Those are two beautiful ladies whose serious countenance cannot hide their looks whereas a less attractive person would appear long faced and grim. Black and white photography was no help as it brought out harsh lines, and created the illusion of faces dull and flat.

Things got a bit better after that and by the flapper era the ladies definitely smiled as they showed off newly exposed arms, legs, and necks, and free, short hairdos. Notwithstanding, some people clung to the old ways, ergo our straight faced and otherwise happy grannies. Of course, some folk went to the other extreme as seen throughout the past few decades on the covers of magazines which present fancy ladies with glazed eyes, half open mouth, and pouting lips. Just in case the bait comes along?

The best reminder that it is okay to smile is dental work. After spending all that money you will flash those teeth constantly. If someone asks you why you smile all the time just tell them, “Support your dentist. Get your root canal today!”

Then smile.

lmg