click here to enlarge | photo source
I’m heading to the beach for the week so I decided to do a post dedicated to old, nostalgic photos from New York beaches. Can you imagine wearing these “swimsuits”? Those dresses must have been so hot and heavy!
{About the Photo}
On August 14, 1945, when the surrender of Japan was announced in the United States, ending World War II, everyone took to the the streets to celebrate. In Times Square, a photographer named Alfred Eisenstaedt was taking pictures of the spontaneous scene and spotted a young sailor running around kissing every woman he could find. Just south of 45th street, the man grabbed a nurse and Alfred captured the moment of their kiss, with the intersection of Broadway and Seventh in the background. The photo, entitled V-J Day in Times Square, was published a week later in a Life magazine spread and become one of the most iconic images of the era.
Did you know that another view of the same kiss was published in the New York Times? This one is called Kissing the War Goodbye, taken by photo journalist Victor Jorgensen:
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(NYC Subway, 1967)
Today, it’s a sweltering 99 degrees in NYC and it feels like 108! Can you imagine commuting in a subway car without air conditioning? On July 19th, 1967- 46 years ago today- the first air-conditioned subway train went into service on the F Line! Read about the history of air conditioning on NYC’s subways here.
This is one of my favorite nostalgic NYC shots. It was taken on July 10, 1913 (100 years ago today!) and features New York City’s buses stopped just north of Washington Square Park. This little section of the city is on my running/walking route so I have a particular fondness to the image!
On July 8, 1889, the first issue of The Wall Street Journal was published by Dow Jones & Company. Dow Jones & Company had just recently been founded in 1882 by reporters Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser. The publication cost only two cents at the time!
The Beatles can trace their roots to John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s first meeting on July 6, 1957 at a Quarrymen performance- 56 years ago today! John was the lead singer of the band and while setting up to play at St Peter’s Church, one of his friends introduced him to Paul McCartney, who had just turned 15 years old. The two hit it off right away and soon after, Paul joined the Quarrymen! Read more on The Beatles Bible.
If you’re a New Yorker, you’ve seen the big red Silvercup sign across the river in Long Island City when driving on the FDR or crossing the Queensborough bridge. Silvercup Studios is NYC’s largest film and television production facility. The Devil Wears Prada, 30 Rock, Gossip Girls, Gangs of New York, Mad Men, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, and Meet the Parents were all made at Silvercup! The studio opened 20 years ago in 1983, taking over the building formerly occupied by Silvercup Bakery.
On June 17, 1885, the French Steamer Isère carried the Statue of Liberty into New York City’s harbor! I love this photo, “Unpacking the Head of the Statue of Liberty”. photo source
I came across this picture taken on June 14, 1913 months ago when combing the Library of Congress’ photostream on Flickr and saved it immediately. I love its feel!
Story behind the photo: Finley Johnson Shepard (1867-1942) was the Eastern representative of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and his wife, Helen Miller Gould (1868-1938) was an American philanthropist and socialite from NYC. Helen’s father was wealthy American Railroad developer, Jay Gould. Finley and Helen were married on January 22, 1913 and soon afterwards, they adopted 3 children together and had one foster son. Their first adopted son was a 3-year old found on the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral! This picture was taken at the Newport Cup polo match at Meadow Brook Field (now The Meadowbrook Polo Club) in Long Island. photo source
On June 13, 1927, Aviator Charles Lindbergh was honored for his solo flight across the Atlantic with a ticker tape parade down Broadway in NYC! I love this photo of the flurry of paper falling from the office buildings above- it almost looks like snow. So beautiful, although horribly wasteful!
(photo source)
This photo, “Fresh Air Outing”, was taken 100 years ago in NYC. We love the bows in the girls’ hair! (photo source)
(1883 click here to view larger)
The Brooklyn Bridge, originally called the East River Bridge, opened 130 years ago today on May 24, 1883. Here are some of my favorite images of the bridge from the 1870s to the early 1900s. I love the construction pictures! Click on each image to enlarge.
Happy Mother’s Day! Click through for a photo collection of Mothers and children from 1890-1990. For our post from last year’s Father’s Day, Fathers: 100 Years in Photos, click here.
![[New York Giants Opening Day line-up at the Polo Grounds [New York]. Left to right: Fred Snodgrass, Tillie Shafer, George Burns, Larry Doyle, Red Murray, Fred Merkle, Buck Herzog, Chief Meyers (baseball)] (LOC)](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3069/2635673019_d58767d6e4_z.jpg?zz=1)
100 years ago today: the New York Giants’ opening day line-up at the Polo Grounds.
