Frederic A. Birmingham’s 1960 memoir of New York, It Was Fun While It Lasted (J.B. Lippincott Company), describes a Harlem which few New Yorkers would recognize today.
The action takes place from approximately 1915 -1925, when Birmingham was between the ages of 4 and 14. Continue reading
Previously we featured this photograph of Bettie Page a number of years ago. But we never gave the backstory, so here it is.
The photograph was taken in Africa, USA by future Playboy magazine photographer (and later a pin-up girl herself) Linnea “Bunny” Yeager.
Bunny Yeager self-portrait 1960 photo: Bunny Yeager
Bettie Page and Bunny Yeager 1954 at Africa, USA photo via Gnarlymag.com
If a bizarre pose, pointy brassiere and looking up somebody’s nostrils are considered sexy then this photo has the necessary boxes checked.
The caption on the rear of the photo says:
“Candis Leo age 19 from West McHenry (Illinois) is selected to be Miss Panic for 1948.” (credit: unidentified February 2, 1948)
Besides the unusual pose, why is this publicity photo a complete failure?
For one, the woman in the picture is identified as Candis Leo.
It is not. Continue reading
Every so often we look back at life in the Unites States 100 years ago. In this case, we were looking at Buffalo, New York.
Besides the household prices for groceries, we glanced quickly at a few news items from the Buffalo Evening News newspaper for February 21, 1924.
Buffalo was dealing with a major blizzard. Continue reading
Pick of Nation In Race For Nation’s Beauty Crown!
A staggering fascinating view of the cream of America’s beauty , gathered from all corners of the United States to vie for title of Miss America at Atlantic City. The beauties of all sorts and moods – are pictured as they appeared September 8, lined up for rehearsal of ceremony of picking of winner. photo: Pacific and Atlantic Photos 9/9/1926
The Miss America prize was awarded to “The Most Beautiful Bathing Girl in America” starting in 1921. As you can see in our photo, originally the competitors were from various cities around the United States and not representing individual states.
The irrelevant Miss America contest still takes place but without the bathing suit competition. Continue reading
My mother and father tell of practicing “duck and cover” in school.
The drill was to supposedly protect oneself from a nuclear bomb. As if crouching under a desk would have done anything to shield you from an atomic blast. Continue reading
Page 2 article New York Herald January 16, 1921
In 1921 instead of illegals, the New York City Police Department were gathering up men from other cities who were jobless.
This article is from the January 16, 1921 New York Herald:
POLICE ROUNDING UP NON-RESIDENT IDLE
Jobless Who Do Not Live Here Arrested as Vagrants.
Squads of detectives and uniformed policemen, under orders to arrest unemployed men who could not prove themselves residents of New York City, went through the lower East Side last night and early to-day inspecting saloons and lunch rooms. At one saloon at 199 Worth street twenty-nine men, who had nothing to do but warm themselves beside a stove, were made prisoners and locked In the Elizabeth street station on charges of vagrancy. Continue reading
On December 7, 1941 our country was pulled into World War II by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan. As January 1, 1943 arrived the United States had just completed a year of austerity and patriotic sacrifice. Many people realized the grim reality that this war would go on for years. It was hard to find a reason to celebrate anything. Continue reading
With today being Christmas many Americans make their annual appearance in what was once a a weekly tradition. Attending religious services has been on a steady decline for decades. Continue reading
This illustration from the December 21, 1895 Harper’s Weekly shows some of the tests put to applicants of the NYPD.
Instead of Tammany Hall patronage to get on the police force, Continue reading
