Instead of a gusher -- fire!

“This well was being ’shot’ to increase oil production. Rocks thrown out hit steel. Sparks, explosion, and fire resulted. The photographer, set for a gusher view, snapped this remarkable picture!” — which, in turn, was hand-tinted by the Curt Teich folks. This is card number 4A-H296, manufactured in 1934.

I am reminded of the old joke about Red Adair:

A drunk walks into a Texas oil patch bar during the boom days. There’s a bunch of ‘roughnecks’ at the other end, drinking and laughing it up. “What’s goin’ on?” he asks the bartender.

“It’s Red Adair,” the bartender says, “the great oil field fire fighter. The boys are asking him questions.”

“Is that right? Well I gotta question.”

“Go ahead,” says the bartender, “he’s in a good mood.”

“Hey, Red, Red Adair!” the drunk yells.

“Yes?” says the big man.

“Were you sleeping with Ginger Rogers?”