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Most of the photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs, 20 to 200 megabytes in size) from the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) Many were digitized by LOC contractors using a Sinar studio back. They are adjusted by your webmaster for contrast and color in Photoshop before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here.
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Nuisances Prohibited: 1903
Submitted by Dave on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 10:48pm.
Long Island circa 1903. "The Bowery -- Rockaway, New York." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
Rockaway Playland
Submitted by LouK on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 8:44am.
As a kid in the fifties, my parents would drive over there. Then it was fairly large and competed with Rye Playland, Conney Island, and Palisades Park.
Learn New Words
Submitted by cat lincoln on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 4:42am.
The device with the wires looks very like an induction coil, much loved by quack doctors and malevolent small boys, with some kind of meter behind to add to the effect. Hold the handles, press the button - and impress your companions with your new vocabulary.
Where in Rockaway
Submitted by MEGGAHURTZ on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 9:14pm.
I Lived in Far Rockaway from 1964 till 1969, does any one have any idea where this area was, there was nothing left of it even in 1964. There was a small amusement park on Beach 90th street with a Roller Coaster called the Atom Smasher. The amusement park was thrown down for housing in the 90's I believe.
Spinoff jobs
Submitted by Hawk777 on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 4:56pm.
Back in the day there were people whose jobs it was to operate elevators, and yes, to operate weight scales once you stepped on them!
He's Gone Electric?
Submitted by perpster on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 2:33pm.
What are the wires on the white stand in the right foreground. Can't tell if the gent staffing it is speaking into a device or holding a drink. The sign below says "Press the button . . . [blocked view]". Maybe that's what it is, but what is it?
[Looks like it probably says, "Press the button have your fortune told." - tterrace]
A nuisance, who me?
Submitted by z396z28 on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 10:20am.
Google "COMMIT NO NUISANCE." This was an expression from the olden days. A common sight back then to see it posted on walls, poles, bill boards, etc.
Danger above
Submitted by akld_guy on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 2:57am.
That ladder (if that's what it is) on the roof of the verandah at right looks a bit dangerous if it decided to slide off.
I wish I were BIG
Submitted by gen81465 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 11:29pm.
I wonder if the boys on the left realize the danger they may be in; that machine they are hanging around could be the Zoltan machine that turned David Moscow into Tom Hanks.
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Shorpy.com | History in HD is a vintage photo blog featuring thousands of high-definition images from the 1850s to 1950s. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago.
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Today's Top 5