Sands of Glen Echo: 1943

My mom is Claire -- the one closest to the camera with the white swimming cap. I'll ask her whether the third woman, the one with sand on her back, was with them.

And if you happen to run across any Esther Bubley photos of a wedding, please let me know. Esther took photos of my mom's wedding--it was either 1947 or 1948--but never was able to find them, or at least never made any prints (that my mom is aware of). So, the wedding remains photo-less.

[The archive of Esther's 2,100 photos taken for the government is here. - Dave]

Sad to see so many people waiting to use that solitary beach chair. I sure hope the guy with ankle grabbed didn't forget his swim trunks again.

Wow! Esther Bubley was my aunt, so I've seen a lot of her photos. I have some of hers--that she printed--in my home. And when I was maybe 6 years old, she took a series of me and my sister.

But I'd never seen this one, or any that she'd taken at Glen Echo. Interestingly, another sister--Anita--would move close to Glen Echo (in Bannockburn, just across the road) about 10 years later. Anita died a few years ago, but her husband, Harry, still lives there. And I have some nice memories of Glen Echo from when I was a kid, back around 1960.

Thanks for the memories.

[You're welcome! Which one is your mom? - Dave]

Claire and Enid.

Foy
Las Vegas

"Sandy" is going to have one goofy looking sunburn when the day is done. Rookie mistake.

This is such an eloquent picture of everyday people. Unobtrusive, not calling attention to itself, just capturing a moment in a way that presents it most beautifully.

I also love the picture of the two kids watching the parade. I'm sure they and their parents treasured this photograph! It's so real, authentic, representative, unposed, and funny, all at the same time.

Here we see indisputable proof of the efficacy of the beach towel.

For the classic Bikini.

In the background, I notice that the topless male bathing suit is making its historical appearance. Shudder! (At least in most cases.)

I've always loved those two-piece swimsuits in cheerful prints that were so popular during the war! A good deal more flattering to most women's bodies than the totally unforgiving bikini