Hi Jess-
You know I was quite young when the Olive Studio closed down, I’d say in the mid 1970s. I can’t say what exact year. There were studios are Southcenter, Northgate, etc and they remained after the one on Olive closed down.
It was called Kennell-Ellis because Kennell was my grandpa’s name and Ellis was my grandma’s name. They were active travelers and did these extensive slide shows of their travels to faraway places. They showed to publicize their business and encourage others to explore the world. They were in Bali in the early 1950s and have these extensive slide shows of Egypt, India, etc. They were quite well-known around the city for their civic involvement and their wandering natures, at a time few people were traveling so far and wide.
The studio photography business used to be so vital to society and that changed with the changing technology and everyone taking snap shots. I have fished out a photos of their first studio in Colfax taken in 1919, exterior with Earl and Irene Kennell standing by their car out front, and the interior. It might be fun to put that with the other photo. The fancier photo is the interior of the studio on Olive taken in 1938 with Earl and Irene Kennell behind the counter, so that one was not taken by my family but rather one of their “artists.” That Olive Way Studio was south, just down the street, from the original Ward Family “El Gaucho” restaurant.
When I go into the homes of old Seattle families I see that their wedding photo on display or children’s graduation photos were taken by Kennell Ellis and the 20% of Seattle residents that were born in the city relate my last name to that business in a snap. They did early early hand-colored photos and they are still fun to see. I am the keeper of the family photos and I’ve scanned many of them, you can imagine what an archive they have. They were both born in Washington so they have a treasure trove of photos for instance of Armistice Day etc.
[...]
All the best,
Kristin Kennell
You know I was quite young when the Olive Studio closed down, I’d say in the mid 1970s. I can’t say what exact year. There were studios are Southcenter, Northgate, etc and they remained after the one on Olive closed down.
It was called Kennell-Ellis because Kennell was my grandpa’s name and Ellis was my grandma’s name. They were active travelers and did these extensive slide shows of their travels to faraway places. They showed to publicize their business and encourage others to explore the world. They were in Bali in the early 1950s and have these extensive slide shows of Egypt, India, etc. They were quite well-known around the city for their civic involvement and their wandering natures, at a time few people were traveling so far and wide.
The studio photography business used to be so vital to society and that changed with the changing technology and everyone taking snap shots. I have fished out a photos of their first studio in Colfax taken in 1919, exterior with Earl and Irene Kennell standing by their car out front, and the interior. It might be fun to put that with the other photo. The fancier photo is the interior of the studio on Olive taken in 1938 with Earl and Irene Kennell behind the counter, so that one was not taken by my family but rather one of their “artists.” That Olive Way Studio was south, just down the street, from the original Ward Family “El Gaucho” restaurant.
When I go into the homes of old Seattle families I see that their wedding photo on display or children’s graduation photos were taken by Kennell Ellis and the 20% of Seattle residents that were born in the city relate my last name to that business in a snap. They did early early hand-colored photos and they are still fun to see. I am the keeper of the family photos and I’ve scanned many of them, you can imagine what an archive they have. They were both born in Washington so they have a treasure trove of photos for instance of Armistice Day etc.
[...]
All the best,
Kristin Kennell
Interior of the Kennell-Ellis Photography Studio at 616 Olive Way taken in 1938 with Earl and Irene Kennell behind the counter. Photograph courtesy Kristin Kennell.
The first Kennell Studio in Colfax taken in 1919, exterior with Earl and Irene Kennell standing by their car. Photograph courtesy Kristin Kennell.
Inside the first Kennell Studio in Colfax. Photograph courtesy Kristin Kennell.
Inside the first Kennell Studio in Colfax. Photograph courtesy Kristin Kennell.
I love the 1920 photo with the bare bulb and the potbelly stove. Really an evocative image, and unusual too, being shot from a slightly elevated position and including only half of the man at the counter. I also love the last one with the angled windows and that “atelier” feel, and the bench in front of the backdrops. I wonder if you could make requests, like “I’d like to be photographed in front of a Titian if you have one, or maybe a Georgione.” Thanks Jess and Kristin.
I remember always hanging around outside the place on Olive — while waiting for siblings to have their pictures taken inside — and enjoying looking up at El Gaucho’s cool sculptural signage: that big metal human arm holding a shish-kabob on a sword.
It is interesting to think that portrait photography was once a speciality, and a true art form at that. In the first photo, look at the portraits and how thay are shown…awesome!!!!
I can remember the studio photographers coming to Roosevelt High School to take class pictures and also to many of the dances. I believe Kennell Ellis was well represented in this endeavor. And, of course, at every wedding.
These old photos are wonderful. Glad you could save and share them.
Every great once in a while I search ‘Kennell-Ellis’ on the web to see if anything comes up for Seattle’s most legendary photography studio. What a piece of luck that I discovered your site Kristin. I grew up in the Kennell-Ellis studio world. My father, George, started out as the Manager back in the 50′s at the 5th Ave. Studio then became Vice P and General Manager in the 60′s. I still have a Kodak Studio Light Book from 1927 using Kennell-Ellis Photography and a 8 x 10 negative of Betty Grable (Movie Starlet) that I discovered when it was my job as a tenn-ager to clean out an old negative storage room. My 88 year old mother and I could tell you rafts of entertaining stories about the good old days of Seattle’s premiere photography studio.
Thanks for keeping the legacy alive.
Any chance that the Kennel-Ellis photos will be placed with an archive like UW or MOHAI?
This is awesome. I love the light bulb. I wish there were still places like this. Lots of history.
I’m curious about Kennell Ellis since I have several studio photos from them probably from the 40′s or 50′s of family members but I was under the impression the studio was in oregon. Anyone have any information? I dont suppose there are any means of identifying someone in these photos is there?
We recently found a photo of my mother-in-law, probably taken in the 40′s or 50′s. We know she lived in Oregon & attended a school for teachers there. We were hoping to verify where this picture was taken. Any information about a studio in that area?
My mother worked at the Seattle studio back in 1940 -43 and them moved to the San Francisco studios in 1944-45. She was a color artist.
We found a photo of Miss Oregon 1955 –
Dorothy Mae Johnson who is a good friend of my wife. On the back of the portrait the stamp and negative number are located. The Portland studio was located at 313 SW 5th Ave Portland 4, Oregon. This is all the information I have. This picture is dated May 27th, 1956.
I was a customer. My mother had my photo taken at the 5th Ave Studio in October of 1957. I use it on my Facebook as the earliest version of me. Glad I ran into this in my search.
I come from a large family. Kennel Ellis was a part of every important family occasion; baby pictures, graduation pictures, Christmas pictures etc. I have very fond memories of going into the studio in Northgate and seeing all the equipment and watching the photographer pose the subjects using tricks, props and jokes to evoke the desired expression.