Yankees Catcher Bill Dickey -1938

Bill Dickey Is Ready For World Series

These two news press photographs of the Yankees star catcher Bill Dickey were released one day apart in late September 1938. The photos were almost certainly taken the same day.

The stadium appears to be Chicago’s Comiskey Park where the Yankees played the White Sox the previous week, September 20-22.

The first news Continue reading

Classic Hollywood #184 – Brian Aherne & Wife Eleanor

Brian Aherne Dancing With His Wife Eleanor Labrot 1948

While standing next to Brian Aherne at a party one day, Gary Cooper said quietly out of the side of his mouth, “How tall are you?”

“Six foot two and a half,” Aherne answered.

“Me too,” said Cooper. “Never admit to six foot three!”

A few years later at a party in Washington D.C., General George C. Marshall asked the identical question in the identical way.

“I used Gary’s line to reply six two and a half, never admit to six foot three,” Aherne said. And the General replied, “Me too!”

The point is Continue reading

Clint Eastwood Singing On His 1962 Album

Go Ahead… Make My Song,

Clint Eastwood 1960s Crooner

When you say the name Clint Eastwood, the first thing that comes to your mind is usually not “singer.”

The actor, director and producer turned 95 on May 31, 2025. Eastwood has not appeared in a film since 2021’s Cry Macho, but he did direct Juror #2 in 2024. Next up for producer Eastwood, is a remake of The Gauntlet starring Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johansson, currently in pre-production.

Though Clint Eastwood has sung in many movies, few people associate, Eastwood, “The Man With No Name” and “Dirty Harry” as a vocalist.

But back when Eastwood Continue reading

Old New York In Photos #186 – 3rd Avenue & 86th Street 1920

Looking West From The Corner Of Third Avenue & 86th Street – March 1, 1920

This photograph was taken by the Department of Bridges official photographer,  Eugene de Salignac.

For over three decades until 1934, de Salignac took thousands of photographs for his job with the city. Many show an artistic eye and were compiled in New York Rises: Photographs by Eugene de Salignac (2007) Aperture. Continue reading

Old New York In Photos #185 – Ninth Avenue 23rd Street 1930

The Ninth Avenue El From 23rd Street – May 31, 1930

With London Terrace Apartments About To Begin Construction

This photograph by Percy Loomis Sperr shows the Ninth Avenue El looking north from the west side of 23rd Street.

We can see the entire corner from 23rd to 24th Street has been cleared in preparation for the construction of the London Terrace apartment complex. London Terrace has 14 buildings stretching from Ninth to Tenth Avenues. Continue reading

See What Products Were Produced In Major Cities Of The United States In 1939

The United States Once Produced A Wide Array Of Goods And Products

Here’s What The Big Industrial Cities Used To Make

Parke, Davis and Company, manufacturing chemists, Detroit, Michigan. Packaging of pills and tablets on a conveyor belt May 1943 photo Arthur Siegel

The controversy over tariffs to correct a trade imbalance has its proponents and its critics. One of the goals for the United States is to be more self-reliant by bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States. Continue reading

6-Year-Old Snake Charmer – 1949

Parisian Judge Orders 6-Year-Old To Stop Snake Charming

JUST CHARMER NOW, NO SNAKE
Paris, France – She was “Nita”a snake charmer in a traveling circus, who thrilled the audience with her five foot rose python snake form Brazil. But she was also Nicole Vaissiere, six-year-old. So she’s been taken out of her animal trainer step-father’s side show by a court order. Nicole’s on her way to school where the three R’s aren’t all in the word wriggle. Credit: Acme photo by New York staff correspondent David S. Boyer 12/29/1949

And what else? That’s our usual question to a news story like this.

Checking the news outlets of the time did not yield much more information. United Press International did report some additional facts. Nicole’s snake act Continue reading