Thinks happen: The Story Behind the photograph - Galveston Beach Swim and Clam Choking Team

Things ain't what they used to be. (In fact, they never was.)
The Profile (more than you really wanted to know) is here.

It is the Galveston Beach Swim and Clam Choking Team Picture by the famous photographer L. Tobler of Galveston Beach.

The mates gathered at the Breakers Beach House to commemorate the second anniversary of the team’s all out effort and defeat twelve years ago to the Simmons City, Iowa, Flute club. It was all Whitley’s idea; at least they blamed him afterward.

Whitley (far right) who had been in an herbal tea drinking contest earlier that day, wanted dearly for the photo session to be over.

Toodie, (back row, center) whose real name is unknown, is standing on a box. His height is not regarded as a subject for conversation.

Beldon (seated, left) had forgotten his bathing trunks and so they cleverly positioned Harmon (front) to disguise that fact. And no one ever mentioned it again. Harmon is related by marriage to Mr. Tobler’s half-sister, Morris.

Sam (short for Ezekiel, far left) did not vote in the last election and was usually omitted from these social gatherings and photographs. Although it was only a painted backdrop, Sam (short for Ezekiel, far left) became sea-sick and threw up (far left, far right and center). Also, it was discovered later that he had taken a slash from a bottle of Mr. Tobler’s photo fix bath, mistaking it for Buck-Eye’s Afternoon-Vintage, Blended Sauterne. Easy mistake.

Gatley, (seated, right) who was not really part of the team at all, was instead recruited from a nearby pub where he had been engaged in a scavenger hunt. He was quite reluctant to participate until Whitley assured him that he would have to shave only one leg for the photo. Then he was carefully positioned to give Whitley a place to lean. Dismissed after the session, he was seen much later buying a ticket and a box of Milk-Duds at the Vogue Art Theater in Toledo.

Mr. Tobler spent his entire fee that day on a new backdrop.