This photo postcard comes from the Francis Quinones scrapbook of digitized photographic images shared by William Quinones who could not provide any biographical details about the woman in the photo. Long after Louis de Planque took photos in Brownsville and Matamoros and a few years before Robert Runyon and Manuel Morales came on to the scene there was a "C. Gilhousen" who advertised in the Brownsville, Herald as early as 1908.
"Mr. Gilhousen and wife have opened a first class photo studio in Brownsville. They will appreciate a goodly share of your patronage. All work done promptly and up-to-date with delicate tones and finish." [March 30, 1908]
By August 18, 1913 the Gilhousen's were still at it but who knows for how much longer after running this ad in the Daily Herald:
"Photos at bargain prices to close out present stock. Gilhousen Studio"
This has nothing to do with the 4th of July as far as we're concerned unless someone finds out a story behind "Rose" and her ol' glorious attire.
All we know about "C. Gilhousen" is that he brought the Electric Theater from Adolf Ditmann around 1912. Dittmann, you may recall built Brownsville's first theater built specifically for that purpose which included a stage for vaudeville acts. Mr Gilhousen renamed it as The Grand (not to be confused with The Grande which opened on the same spot as the Dittmann which was renovated and renamed in 1948).
1908 Adolf Dittmann
When we see "--Adv." we can assume this is an advertisement, right?
For more about Adolf Dittman just click on the "Early Theater History" label on the lower left corner of this post for a look at Brownsville's earliest theaters.
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