Category Archives: Photography

Classic Hollywood #196 – Future Movie Star Esther Williams

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16-Year-Old Swimming Champion Esther Williams – 1938

It will not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever seen an Esther Williams film that she was a swimming star before a film star.

The caption from our news photo reads:

Time Out To Pose
Los Angeles, Calif. – Photo shows (left to right) Iris Cummings, National 220-yard breaststroke champion: Billie Steitz, Pacific coast backstroke titlist and Esther Williams, freestyle star, as they pose during a practice session. The trio will take place in the Southern California swimming and diving meet within a few days in the Los Angeles Athletic Club pool, as well as the National Championships next month. Credit Acme Photos; March 22, 1938

Williams first major film role was in “Andy Hardy’s Double Life” (1942). Did it really take four years from the time of this photograph to discover Esther Williams? Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #198 – Brooklyn Bridge c.1890

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Brooklyn Bridge Walkway & Elevated Trains

This magic lantern slide view of the Brooklyn Bridge is from around 1890.

On the right is a train and on the left we can get a glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge shuttle station. Trolleys and horse drawn vehicles are on the outer roadways as  pedestrians cross the span on the bridge’s central walkway.

At first Continue reading →

New York City Taxis Of The 1920s & 1930s

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The Taxi Cabs Of New York City Of The 1920s & 1930s

At the turn-of-the century, New York City had over a million horses serving the public.  That situation was greatly affected by the arrival of automobiles. By the 1920s there were few horse drawn carriages still transporting people to their destinations. Along with the subway and buses, the taxi / auto industry had taken the horse’s place.

So what did these early taxi cabs look like? Below are some examples.

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Old New York In Photos #197 – 23rd Street Before The Metropolitan Life Tower

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Metropolitan Life Insurance Building & 23rd Street – 1900

This Detroit Publishing Company photograph is from 1900. We are looking east along 23rd Street.  The corner of Madison Avenue and Madison Square Park is visible on the left.

The 11-story building completed in 1893 is the home office of The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

To the left of Metropolitan Life is the Madison Square Presbyterian Church. The church was led from 1880-1918 by Dr. Charles Parkhurst, a vocal foe Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #196 – Union Square East 1905

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Union Square 14th Street & 4th Avenue 1905

We are looking east along 14th Street towards Fourth Avenue. There are al least 50 people in the background, but the sparsity of pedestrians and traffic in this usually very busy area indicates that this was probably taken on a Sunday morning.

The seven small buildings between 14th and 15th Streets feature advertising of the day.

With street scenes as this, establishing a date is as simple as looking at the surroundings. Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #195 – Tyrone Power & Sonja Henie

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Tyrone Power & Sonja Henie Dining -1937

Skating Star & Actor Who Are Romancing
Beverly Hills, CA – Sonja Henie, famous figure skating star, at present working in pictures in Hollywood, and Tyrone Power actor, do a little billing and cooing at the Tropics Cafe, here. Photo: International News Photos February 7 , 1937.

Tyrone Power was Sonja Henie’s co-star in Thin Ice with production of the film running from May through July 1937. It’s the story of a hotel ski instructor who falls in love with a man who goes skiing every morning.

Sonja Henie was born on April 8, 1912. The Norwegian three-time Gold medal Olympic skater Continue reading →

Bob Feller Wins Father Of The Year

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Bob Feller Kisses Wife After Winning “Sports Father Of The Year” 1948

FELLER NAMED SPORTS FATHER OF THE YEAR
New York, NY –  Bob Feller kisses his wife, who ought to know, after he is awarded medal as 1948’s “Sports Father Of The Year” at the Yankee Stadium here today. In addition to the kiss, Mrs. Feller got orchids from her husband too. The medal was awarded to the Cleveland star pitcher by an ice cream company in behalf of the youngsters of America who look upon Bob as quite a guy. Photo: Herb Scharfman / International News,  June 12, 1948

The award to Feller was first announced on May 26, 1948 by the National Father’s Day Committee. The previous year’s sports award winner was Babe Ruth. The award was given to Feller between games of a double-header at Yankee Stadium.

68,586 fans attended the twin-bill on June 12 and saw the Indians sweep the Yankees 7-5 and 9-4.

The Indians would go on to win the World Series in 1948.

In 1948, the 29-year-old Feller had two sons Steven and Martin. A third son, Winthrop Bruce Feller was born 1950.

But Feller had issues with his wife Virginia Winther, who he married on January 16, 1943.

According to the Society for American Baseball Research,  “Virginia, had become addicted Continue reading →

Marilyn Monroe’s 100th Birthday – What She Would Look Like In 2026

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June 1 Is The 100th Anniversary Of Marilyn Monroe’s Birth

What Would Marilyn Look Like Today?

Marilyn Monroe in New York City sitting by a fountain. c 1955 photo Sam Shaw

The odds that any female movie legend reaches the age of 100 are extremely slim.

Currently Eva Marie Saint (On The Waterfront; North By Northwest) is 101. Lee Grant (In The Heat of the Night; Shampoo) is 100. Olivia de Havilland lived to 104. Gloria Stuart (Titanic, The Invisible Man) was 100 when she died. If movie stars do reach the magic age of 100 they generally stay out of the spotlight and will not allow photographs to be taken of them.

Had Marilyn Monroe not died at age 36 on August 4, 1962, it is unlikely she would have lived to be 100-years-old. Life expectancy actuarial tables bear this out. Marilyn’s documented medical issues, both physical and mental, would be another longevity barrier, Speculating what Marilyn would look like at 100 is preposterous.

But why should that stop Artificial Intelligence programs from creating an image of what Marilyn would look like at age 100?

Marilyn Monroe 2026 AI photo edited

If Marilyn Had Aged

Marilyn Monroe’s mother- Gladys Pearl Monroe Baker Mortensen Eley c 1970s.

Gladys Baker Eley July 6 , 1963 photo: AP

Marilyn’s mother Gladys Monroe Baker lived until 1984, dying at  the age of 81.

These two photographs of Gladys, Continue reading →

A Play At The Plate You’ll No Longer See

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Rusty Staub Takes Out Catcher Jerry May At Home Plate – 1970

MONTREAL: Montreal Expos’ Rusty Staub (10) collides with Pittsburgh Pirates’ catcher Jerry May (12) after scoring Montreal’s second R.B.I. on a single by Coco Laboy, which also scored Don Hahn in the first inning here. August 4, 1970 photo: UPI Telephoto

Even though Rusty Staub scored, the Expos lost the game 4-2.

Baseball players have always played hard. It’s just that Continue reading →