September 15, 2011 – Looking West
Sunset over the City. Unretouched, no filters.
New York City at Sunset
Leave a reply
Category Archives: Photography
You Can’t Go Out Unrecognized, Can You?
Babe Ruth Signing Autographs
The Yankees won’t be in the World Series this year. The Detroit Tigers beat the Yankees three games to two in the American League Divisional Series last night. So we won’t be hearing God Bless America at Yankee Stadium during the 7th inning stretch for the rest of 2011 at the ballpark in the Bronx.
In 1936, after Babe Ruth retired, he did not show up to many ball games as a spectator. He grew disillusioned with not being given the chance to get a management job in the game he loved and tended to avoid baseball parks. Of course it was always hard for Babe to go out in public without being besieged by autograph seekers. But he signed for everyone. That was the Babe. Continue reading
Old New York in Photos #11 – Broadway & The Post Office 1898
Broadway Street Scene Looking North From Fulton Street, 1898
A scene of New York life, just before the turn of the century. Two things to note:
1) Everyone wears a hat. Continue reading
Classic Hollywood #8 – Marilyn Monroe & Edward R. Murrow
Marilyn Monroe and Edward R. Murrow, April 1, 1955
The caption for this press photo is:
News Commentator Edward R. Murrow holds a match to the cigarette Marilyn Monroe extends to her puckered lips, during discussions at the Ambassador Hotel in New York regarding the luscious actress’ forthcoming appearance on Murrow’s “Person To Person” television show. Scheduled for April 8th, the TV show will be the second one Miss Monroe has ever done.
Old New York in Photos #10 – Rapid Transit 1905
Crosstown Rapid Transit, 1905, New York City
It probably made the crosstown trip faster than we currently do.
I like the sign in the background – Milk, Cider, Cream Soda, Buttermilk, Lemonade 3¢.
And I love old handwriting:
Tuesday A.M. Dear Mamma, What do you think of this for rapid N.Y. Please send my letters to Aunt Emma’s. Came Monday, will write to-day Love, Evan(?)
According to Appleton’s Dictionary of New York in 1905, there were 7-8 mail deliveries per day and the postal service made a profit. Continue reading
Vintage Photos – Stealing Home
Or Jackie Robinson Makes Stealing Home Look Easy
One of the most famous film highlights of a baseball game is from September 28, Game 1 of the 1955 World Series where the Brooklyn Dodgers star Jackie Robinson stole home against the New York Yankees. The photograph above captures the bang-bang action. The play was incredibly close and you could look at the film 100 times and still not be sure of the outcome. Robinson was called safe by umpire Bill Summers. To this day, Yankees catcher Yogi Berra vehemently Continue reading
Classic Hollywood #7
Fred Allen, Mary Martin and Jack Benny – 1940
I believe Jack Benny was one of the funniest comedians of all time. Benny could elicit more laughs with a look, gesture or single utterance than other comedians could with an entire monologue. He became a star in vaudeville and was one of the few entertainers who made the transition to radio, film and eventually television successfully. Although Jack Benny has been dead for over 37 years, he is still fondly remembered by millions of fans.
Radio comedian Fred Allen is almost completely forgotten today. His sharp, acerbic wit Continue reading
New York City, Traffic Enforcement Agents And Some Rain
In Honor of Labor Day – A Photographic Essay in Hard Work
Date – July 2011
Time – Morning Rush Hour
Weather – On and Off Light Drizzle
Lots of traffic coming off the FDR Drive and many vehicles moving northbound on York Avenue. The NYC traffic enforcement agents are usually directing traffic here.
61st Street and York Avenue
Yet on that same corner – 61st Street and York Ave. It’s dry under here.
Shooting the breeze.
One block away on 61st Street and First Ave.
and finally – 60th Street and First Avenue…under the Queensboro Bridge.
‘Nuff said.
Happy Labor Day.
Old New York in Photos #9 – Coney Island Ring The Bell
Hit Bell, Win Prize
Coney Island July 5, 1946.
Before the mall-ification of New York, Coney Island had lots of things to do besides the rides. One was this common amusement which was found at lots of carnivals and amusement parks. To test your strength you would swing a large mallet, hitting a levered board with a weight attached to a pole. Hitting it as hard as you could would drive the weight up the pole. If you hit it hard enough, the weight would go the top, anywhere from 10-15 feet from the ground and strike a bell. Doing so would entitle you to a prize.
It was a great way to impress a date, Continue reading
Lou Gehrig Beats The Throw Home
Solving A Photographic Mystery
People have asked where we get the photos for this web site. Mostly the online resources at various libraries and eBay have been used. Sometimes they are part of the contributors photo collections.
This phenomenal photo of Lou Gehrig sliding into home plate is one of millions of photographs available at the Library of Congress web site. In the old days the photographers were allowed to be on the field during baseball games. There were no Continue reading