JIM REEVES FAN FORUM

Mysterious photo...

Posted by Mike Slater User icon on May 7, 2024, 11:41 am

This photo is in the big book that was included in the "Nashville Stars On Tour" CD/DVD set on Bear Family. I just noticed something about this photo. Jim is holding something that looks exactly like a cellphone, right down to what looks like the little icons you would see on the screen. I included an enlargement of that portion of the photo here as well. Of course, it was decades before the first cellphones appeared when this photo was taken. Does anyone know or have a guess as to what that is in Jim's hand?...

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Roy Zinck User icon on May 8, 2024, 6:10 pm, in reply to "Mysterious photo..."

Well Mike....Have you ever thought of being a Gold miner because you have the gift of finding treasurers. First the unique check you posted on the April 10th, and now this.

I have no explanation as to what Jim has in his right hand. As you said looks nothing other than a modern day cell phone something only developed a quarter of a century after Jim's passing. The only thing that is obvious is Bobby Bear's amazement at what he is looking at....seems quite entertained !!

If you look closely it seems Jim is using a touch screen as well. I can only echo your question Mike.... does anyone have an answer to this photo..?

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Robert Wagner User icon on May 9, 2024, 5:39 am, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

I am technically challenged and still using a flip phone. However this photo is very curious. It even seems to show the start button and speaker locations on smartphones as well as the touch screen. The only thing I can come up with is maybe an early video game of sorts, but that seems too early in time as well.
Perhaps they were in Germany on the European Tour which was the source of most innovation at the time, space exploration, and medicine being examples.
We might all be embarrassed if a simplistic answer is found. Will see. This deserves follow up.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Tom Irvine User icon on May 15, 2024, 3:08 am, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

I have not seen the original picture you show but there is another on the internet with Jim Reeves, Bobby Bare, Anita Kerr, and Chet Atkins all sitting together. Seems like it was taken at the same time. Chet Atkins is hold a piece of paper or small card. All are amused. I can only assume that somebody has added a mobile phone and erased the card.
It is very unlikely that icons like those were in use in 1964.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Mike Slater User icon on May 15, 2024, 11:40 am, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

Yes, Tom, I've seen that photo too. Jim is crouching down and his elbow us resting on Bobby Bare's knee. These were indeed taken at the same time. They are both in the book that's included in the big 16-CD Bear Family set. However, this set came out in 2003 and phones that look like the one in the photo hadn't come out yet, so it couldn't have been cropped in any way...

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Tom Irvine User icon on May 15, 2024, 6:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

Hello, good to hear from you. So that photo on this site now, was actually taken from the 2003 Bear Family set and it was before those icons and that type of mobile phone came out ? I have never seen the Bear Family set so I cannot comment. Is it from the original 2003 set and it is not a fairly recent issue ?
I think we should ask Bobby Bare what it is all about ! He could certainly solve the mystery.

It is always good to hear from a Jim Reeves' fan.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Robert Wagner User icon on May 16, 2024, 6:00 am, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

I agree. Bobby Bare is vertical and ventilating. Don't know about his mental state, but it is worth making contact to further this investigation. I have the Bear Family set and will check the photo there.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Robert Wagner User icon on May 16, 2024, 6:13 am, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

Contacted the Bobby Bare website. Will see if there is a response. He is 89.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Tom Irvine User icon on May 16, 2024, 3:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

Yes, I looked at his website and almost asked him myself but decided not to as he, or whomever is running it, might not reply or know what we are talking about. Hope you get a response. Good to hear from you.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Robert Wagner User icon on May 20, 2024, 5:19 am, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

I left contact information about "The Jim Reeves Way" and where to go in it for explanation of the issue at hand, in my Email to Bobby Bare's site.

So far nothing. Disappointing, I don't expect a response to be forthcoming.

I would suggest others give it a try. At 89 Bobby Bare might appreciate the interest.

Like you say, he might not be getting any info directly there.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Tom Irvine User icon on May 20, 2024, 3:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

The other picture, seemingly taken at the same time, of Jim Reeves, Bobby Bare, Anita Kerr, and Chet Atkins, has an advert on the wall of Hanover Fair, May 8th 1964. So it seems that it was taken in Germany.
I wonder what Larry thinks of this ?
Hoping we get a reply.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Robert Wagner User icon on May 20, 2024, 4:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

Germany was my bet also.

I used to make a semi general comment growing up that the Germans invented things and the Japanese refined them for sale.

If anything futuristic is really in this photo it would likely come from Germany back then.

By the way, the Bear CD of Jim Reeves songs done by German artists is pretty good.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Mike Slater User icon on May 21, 2024, 6:58 am, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

This Bear set was printed in Germany, but according to the book,these photos were taken at Kennedy Airport in New York. Must have been a connecting flight...

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Tom Irvine User icon on May 21, 2024, 4:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

Yes, I believe that you are right. Seems to have been taken in the V.I.P. lounge of Lufthansa at Kennedy Airport in April 1964.
So it is logical that an advert for Hanover Fair would be on the wall.

Re: Mysterious photo...

Posted by Roy Zinck User icon on May 21, 2024, 7:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Mysterious photo..."

By now, I think we can agree that obviously this is an altered photo. Tom you are correct in your post about adding and then erasing an image. Robert alluded to a simple answer and this seems to be the case.

However, the question or mystery then becomes..as Mike so correctly pointed out that since this photo was published 21 years ago, then how could it show the altered smart phone. If what I looked up is correct... quote..'' The first phone of any kind with a large capacity touchscreen was the LG Prada, announced by LG in December, 2006''. 18 years ago.

The original that I have seen is showing a mans wallet (opened and held lengthways in Jim's left hand) and what may be a business card that Jim and Bobby seem so tickled by. Hope some of this makes sense, I will gladly stand corrected !!

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