MAY CONTAIN NUTS
HOME
Home

Search Shorpy

SEARCH TIP: Click the tags above a photo to find more of same:
Mandatory field.

Search results -- 30 results per page

John Bachman: 1911
... aged 12, as a pupil at St. John's Home, St Mark's Avenue, Brooklyn Ward 24, Kings County, New York. It is presumably the same boy, as ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/24/2008 - 10:52pm -

August 1911. New Bedford, Massachusetts. "John Bachman, 22 Nelson Street, Ward 6. Works in drawing-in room at Acushnet Mill. 14 years old." Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size. John BachmanBorn in New Bedford May 31, 1897, according to his WWI draft card. Father Robert Bachman, born in Riechenbach, Germany. John BachmanThe 1910 US Federal Census shows a John Bachman, aged 12, as a pupil at St. John's Home, St Mark's Avenue, Brooklyn Ward 24, Kings County, New York. It is presumably the same boy, as his father is shown as being born in Germany, mother in New York. (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine)
Mickey Rooney: 1936
... We'll not see his like again. A grand run for a kid from Brooklyn. A real gentleman I had the pleasure of meeting Mickey Rooney ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/07/2014 - 11:46am -

1936. "Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy in the film Riffraff." The former child star and Hollywood icon died yesterday at age 93, rolling credits on a career that spanned two centuries. MGM publicity photo. View full size. AmazingActive in his profession for about 91 years of the 93 years. We'll not see his like again. A grand run for a kid from Brooklyn. A real gentlemanI had the pleasure of meeting Mickey Rooney twice. A great talent and a great loss. Say, Kid!Where can I buy a hat like that? Legend among legends Even Mickey's contemporary child stars, like Freddie Bartholomew and Jackie Cooper were amazed by what he could do! I'm sure he is up there celebrating, with "Baby" Judy Garland, today! The Big WheelI was about 10 when I first saw Rooney in “The Big Wheel.” Naturally I thought the film was representative of racing reality. Now possessing the wisdom of an ancient sage, I understand the story line was a bit of a stretch. Nevertheless, the film is still entertaining, and the vintage racing clips (JC Agajanian cars, Indy footage, etc.) are of particular interest. “Requiem for a Heavyweight” has to qualify as a great film for anyone who pays attention to this stuff, and it’s arguably Rooney’s finest film moment. Hey, I've got an idea!Let's put on a show about the life of Mickey Rooney. (The Gallery, Movies)
Cucina Montefiori: 1938
... is just like the one my relatives (the Kramdens) had in Brooklyn in the 1950s. Mussolini's anti-Jewish laws On September 1, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/08/2018 - 2:21pm -

1938. "New York, New York. John Montefiori's sister-in-law in her kitchen at 340 East 63rd Street. Mr. Montefiori, tenant and janitor of the building, works in a sculpture factory that turns out the little white horses for White Horse Whisky, etc." Medium format acetate negative by Sheldon Dick. View full size. Yesterday's HeadlinesI realize this is a year before WW2 broke out, but I found the partial headline curious. "(Because?) of Jews in ... " I couldn't make out the last word. Anyone have better eyes than me? I'm sure it has something to do with the plight of the Jewish people in Europe and the horrible future that awaits them. [Last words of the headline are "Jews in Italy." - Dave] Time marches onInteresting use for an old wood-burning stove. [Coal stove! - Dave] Keep the RoyalMrs. M and her sister probably insisted to Mr. M to keep the old stove right where it is. Having a nice steady 400 pound counter with, once the inside of that stove is clean and sparkly, a nice storage underneath. People of that era made do very nicely with what was at hand. Mamma Mia!I'll bet Mamma Montefiori turned out wonderful Italian home cooking from that rudimentary kitchen--I know my grandmother did. On another note, that kitchen is just like the one my relatives (the Kramdens) had in Brooklyn in the 1950s. Mussolini's anti-Jewish lawsOn September 1, 1938 Mussolini's Fascist regime implemented its first anti-Jewish law; thence forward, all Jews who had settled in Italy since 1919 were subject to expulsion. This law immediately affected at least 15,000 people, many of whom were German or Austrian refugees escaping Hitler. A subsequent November 10, 1938 decree prohibited the employment of Jews, and prohibited Jews from owning businesses or real estate of more than a certain size, leading to the expropriation of 70% of Jewish owned property. Perhaps one of these catastrophic events is what the headline is referring to, dating this photo to sometime in the fall of 1938(?). [The date on the newspaper is July. - Dave] Papal responseOn July 14 the Italian fascist government published the Manifesto della razza (Manifesto of Race). which stated that Italians were of "Aryan race," preparing the way for the enactment of the Racial Laws later that year. The next day Pope Pius XII responded to this, as reported in the New York Evening Star on July 17. Apologies it was the Washington DC Evening Star (The Gallery, Kitchens etc., NYC, Sheldon Dick)
The Vestal: 1908
... bottle and christening the fleet collier Vestal at Brooklyn Navy Yard. May 19, 1908. View full size. George Grantham Bain ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/10/2007 - 5:03pm -

Miss Goodrich breaking bottle and christening the fleet collier Vestal at Brooklyn Navy Yard. May 19, 1908. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection. big boatwhat a fantastic photo, I wonder who the gentleman with his top hat off is? Wow!That was my grandpa's ship in WWII! How cool is that! The Vestal is a historic ship in her own right......as she was moored outboard of USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. It has always amazed me that the ship did not sink when the Arizona's ammunition magazines exploded, destroying the front half of the battleship but somehow sparing the Vestal moored right next to her. Vestal was damaged by the explosion, along with two other bomb hits, but survived and served throughout the war. For more info: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-v/ar4.htm Lynn Ritger Newport News, VA What an excellent second toWhat an excellent second to snap the picture. I love the debris around Miss Goodrich. Very cool. (Boats & Bridges, G.G. Bain, Industry & Public Works)
Vanishing Point: 1921
... Majesty I have always been exposed to trains. Born in Brooklyn, under the EL, raised in Queens, home of the LIRR, and now living a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/04/2011 - 1:06am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Union Station tracks." Receding in a haze of soot, steam and mildew. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. The Pennsy E6looks very archaic for an engine running in 1921. It still has a box headlight and tailrods - which means its not yet superheated, so its an E6, not an E6s Unit number5218 or 5318 - On whose roster? Anyone? The locomotiveIt's a Pennsylvania Railroad class E6s 4-4-2 Atlantic. Their Majesty I have always been exposed to trains. Born in Brooklyn, under the EL, raised in Queens, home of the LIRR, and now living a mile from the GE Alco plant, where more coal and diesel locos were built than anywhere else. Pictures cannot convey the awe experience savored at the side of one of the industrial age's most perfect mobile power houses'. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Railroads)
Higher Powers: 1912
... caught by the woman in black. In Spired Until the Brooklyn Bridge was built, the spire of Trinity Church was the tallest building ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/16/2019 - 8:53pm -

New York circa 1912. "Broadway and Trinity Church." In the distance, the Singer and Woolworth buildings, the latter under construction. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Oh to be a milliner in 1912I walked in that exact spot 99 years later, in the spring of 2011, taking pictures of, among other things, the Trinity Church graveyard. There were similar throngs of people but, whereas in 1912 most people were normal weight and possessed of significant sartorial savvy (including being elegantly hatted), in 2011 most people (excluding, for the most part, denizens of Wall Street) were overweight, dressed like slobs, and, if any hats were worn, they were baseball caps. I much prefer the street vibe of 1912. The attention to detail was astoundingFrom fashion to construction. Tops! Spot the person without a hat. (Tip -- there isn't one!) Amazing that among all these folks, I could not find a single one not wearing a hat. How times have changed. Oh, and as to the lovely and shapely lady in black, walking away from us in the lower right, I can only wish I'd been the gent walking behind her. Ah! the soaring vertical lines!This photograph so captures the power of the early 20th city, as well as being a wonderful example of the importance of camera placement and capturing a scene in its authentic geometrical glory. Nothing here of the depressing wide angle distortion and toppling buildings characteristic of google streetview/cell phone camera culture. Lovely and shapely Lady in BlackNice to see that I’m not the only one whose eye was caught by the woman in black. In SpiredUntil the Brooklyn Bridge was built, the spire of Trinity Church was the tallest building in NYC. On Sundays after services it used to be a thing to climb the stone staircase and peer out the small ports in the spire. I had an opportunity to climb it in January 2005. Fascinating clockworks, but the spire was cold and dirty, with more than a few dead pigeons. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
Cod and Man: 1905
... he'd like to be served on a rare visit to our Bayridge Brooklyn apartment for dinner, replied Pluke Fisk (plooka fisk) - a thick soup ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/06/2019 - 12:33pm -

Gloucester, Massachusetts, circa 1905. "Cod -- weighing the catch." 5x7 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. They don't play drumsFish heads, fish heads roly, poly fish heads fish heads, fish heads eat 'em up, yum! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKDtUzRIG6I Smell? What smell? A mystery solvedFinally, we see the formative experience that inspired Mr. Dylan to write the classic "With Cod on Their Side." IF ALL THOSE DIGUSTING COD FISH HEADS ON THE GROUNDWere wasted like that, as a child I would have cheered. My grandfather, when asked by my mother what Norwegian dish he'd like to be served on a rare visit to our Bayridge Brooklyn apartment for dinner, replied Pluke Fisk (plooka fisk) - a thick soup made with boiled cod heads ( eyes included ) among many other tasty ingredients which varied from village to village in the old country. When this otherwise very dignified, classy 19th century gentleman with a Van Dyke beard noticed my 7 year old incredulous gaping expression as he sucked at boiled cheek and fish neck morsels - he attempted to coax me into trying a taste by telling me that fish were an ideal brain food and would make me grow up to be very smart. Every one at the table gasped as I replied in childish logic that the fish couldn't be so smart if they all allowed themselves to be caught and eaten. I was whisked away from the table as my mother laid down the law that my dad's father was not to be spoken to in such a disrespectful way and in future not to speak when adults were at the table. I gratefully went to bed without any supper - - - No debate hereThe eyes have it. Looking for work?Please talk the head man. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC)
East Sixty-Second: 1938
... Au contraire, Fathead. Of my last five apartments in Brooklyn all had laundry poles in the backyards; two were still being used for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/06/2018 - 9:39am -

1938. "New York, New York. East 62nd Street." Where this two-masted schooner sets sail every washday. Acetate negative by Sheldon Dick. View full size. Laundry polesSomething you won't see on the city landscape any longer. Growing up in the Bronx seeing our laundry flapping in the breeze out our kitchen window was a usual sight. Now we have specially scented fabric softener to imitate the fresh clean scent. That ship has sailedBut the building on the left remains intact. I can see Mexico-- on the other side of that wall! Almost new, and very shiny...1938 Chevrolet Standard sedan at the curb. Re: Laundry PolesAu contraire, Fathead. Of my last five apartments in Brooklyn all had laundry poles in the backyards; two were still being used for their intended purpose. Most you see are just rusty reminders of by-gone years. But you have to actually look: like telephone poles and electric lines, they are so prevalent you no longer even see them. “Lines up! Lines up!"My late father (1912-2009) stated that years ago there were street vendors who specialized in replacing broken laundry lines. They were wiry-looking fellows who would climb the pole for a fee. They would walk down the streets crying “Lines up! Lines up!” while also keeping an eye out for apartments that needed their services. (The Gallery, NYC, Sheldon Dick)
Newspaper Row: 1905
... in 1955 for the expanded car ramp entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. The Tribune Building was torn down in 1966 to build One ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/22/2019 - 7:41pm -

New York circa 1905. "Newspaper Row -- City Hall Park." Headliners include the Tribune, Times and domed New York World (Pulitzer) buildings. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. DetailOf the architectural variety. Something I miss in today's metal and glass facades. There's plenty to interest the eye in those buildings. I'm not an architect, but I prefer the older buildings. Here in Boston, there are still a few by H H Richardson and his disciples. For what it's worth, I like the Tribune building the best. I would have loved to explore its upper floors and climb the tower. And What Happened to Those Buildings?The World Building was demolished in 1955 for the expanded car ramp entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. The Tribune Building was torn down in 1966 to build One Pace Plaza, the central building of the Pace University campus, as part of the urban renewal project that included the World Trade Center. After the New York Times relocated to Times Square in 1905, the former Times Building was renamed 41 Park Row and enlarged. Architect Robert Maynicke designed the alteration, which included the removal of the original mansard roof and the inclusion of two additional stories. Today, Pace University occupies the building. Multi-StoriedWhen this photo was taken, the New York Tribune Building (at center) had just been "supersized" to the height shown here; before 1903 it was merely 10 floors tall. It was more than doubled in height in 1903-1905, reusing architectural elements of the original structure -- like the entire tower. At the extreme right, the red-brick Potter Building of 1883-1886 still stands after being converted from offices to apartments. And I Raise Your BidSpeaking of enlarging the New York Tribune Building -- am I correct that in this 1905 photograph the World [Pultizer] Building is being enlarged? To me it looks as if the building is being nearly doubled in size on the back side. I cannot find a reference to a later addition … as if it matters now. But it makes me think that in 1905 there was competition afoot. LookoutsIt appears there are people at the top of the dome. If so, I'd imagine the view was worth the climb. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
Testing the Hoses: 1913
... Frederick Gooderson, wife of Deputy Chief Gooderson, of Brooklyn. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, G.G. Bain, NYC) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 12:01pm -

"Motor Fire Engine." Testing the FDNY hoses somewhere along the waterfront in 1913. View full size | Zoom in. George Grantham Bain Collection. Phineas Jones & CompanyYou can see Phineas Jones & Company they made wheels for carriages Knox Piston PumperThis fire truck is a circa 1913 Knox Pison Pumper. It resembles some Seagrave and Webb models. The vehicle was made in Springfield, Massachusetts. Knox cars were made from 1900 - 1914, and trucks and tractors - were made from 1900 - 1924. Note the lack of a muffler on the end of the exhaust manifold/exhaust pipe. The production of 'buckboard' type fire engines was coming to an end by this time. The license plate looks like it shows 1912 for the year. I. A. F. E.The New York Times of September 4, 1913 describes the scene in the photograph, and part of the article is shown below. The location was Pier 94 at 12th Avenue and 54th Street. The International Association of Fire Engineers was established in 1873, and the organization is now the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Note that there is a discrepancy in the amount pumped during the test (6 million vs 8 million gallons). Originally established in 1855 at Newark, New Jersey, the wheel maker Phineas Jones & Co. was located at 655 W. 55th. In 1915 they opened a Los Angeles branch. The building to the right, with the letter "T" near the top was T. G. Patterson, Inc., which was at 637 W. 55th. They made boxes, molding, and other wood products. These two neighboring companies helped each other advertise. Just out of view, at the top of the Jones building Patterson had a sign on each side, and the chimney of the Patterson building was painted with the word "JONES." Photos of these signs are below. PUMPING CASCADES FOR THE FIRE CHIEFS Motor Apparatuses Draw 6,000,000 Gallons from the Hudson, Demonstrating Efficiency. The world's Fire Chiefs who are here attending the forty-first annual convention and fire exposition of the International Association of Fire Engineers, spent the whole of yesterday making observations at a capacity test of motor fire pumps on the pier at Fifty-fourth Street and North River. To the thousands of residents who went to De Witt Clinton Park, overlooking the pier, the test must have appeared like an attempt to pump the Hudson River dry. For the benefit of the visiting Fire Chiefs, many of whom are accompanied by their Fire Commissioners and Mayors, contemplating the installation of motor fire apparatus, eleven big motor fire engines were drawn up along either side of the wharf, their suction pipes extending down into the river and their hose nozzles pointed out over the dock. The full capacity test was begun at 6 o'clock in the morning. Each engine was required to run at full capacity for six hours at not less than 120 pounds pressure, pumping through three lines of hose, drawn into one nozzle. At the end of the first hour a reading of all the meters showed that a total of nearly 700,000 gallons of water had been pumped up by the eleven motor engines. When the tests were finished nearly 8,000,000 gallons of water had been pumped. Either side of the pier throughout the day presented the appearance of a cataract, and thousands of persons thronged the river front to witness the spectacle. The roar of the racing pumps could be heard several blocks away. At first test readings were taken every minute, and later readings were taken every five minutes. On a large blackboard, extending almost the length of a block in front of the pier, were marked hourly the results. Hundreds of the Fire Chiefs were on hand when the test began. They had score books in which they kept the hourly results. Most of them stayed at the pier until the test was finished, and went away expressing their belief that the efficiency of the motor fire engine had been proved. While the Fire Chiefs were at the tests their wives and daughters were being entertained at luncheon at the Hotel Plaza by the Ladies' Committee, of which Mrs. John Kenlon, wife of Chief Kenlon, is Chairman. After luncheon an address was made by Mrs. Frederick Gooderson, wife of Deputy Chief Gooderson, of Brooklyn. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, G.G. Bain, NYC)
Bon Appetit: 1908
June 1908. Brooklyn, New York. "Mess kitchen, Fort Hamilton." Who wants some Bucket 13? ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/02/2012 - 10:00am -

June 1908. Brooklyn, New York. "Mess kitchen, Fort Hamilton." Who wants some Bucket 13? Bain News Service glass negative. View full size. Just DesertsAn old Army tradition, put the screwups in the kitchen. E. Coli Anyone?Evidently three military KPs and two civilian cooks, about to debut as a percussion ensemble. The unfinished siding and rough floor provide lots of great surfaces for harboring the various microbes that have traditionally plagued armies. Ah, to be young, sick, and living in B'ooklyn! Guess what's on the menuDo I hear Banjos? 13th InfantryThere is a short film clip listed on Internet Movie Database, imdb.com made in 1897 of "13th Infantry, U.S. Army, in Heavy Marching Order, Double-Time, Governors Island". Presumably the same outfit at nearby Fort Hamilton. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Kitchens etc.)
Watchers: 1938
... as a prototype for an important New York structure. The Brooklyn Bridge (1883) was built after John A. Roebling designed and built a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/16/2016 - 6:27pm -

October 1938. Cincinnati, Ohio. "Watching the sesquicentennial parade go by." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. Local KnowledgeBeing an architect in Cincinnati, I have some info on the buildings in the picture: The farthest in the background is the Carew Tower (still standing, started in 1928, completed in 1931), which was designed by the same architects as the Empire State Building, built by the same contractor, and also served as the prototype for the ESB. The people are lined up north-south, facing south on Walnut Street. The parade is most likely on Fifth Street, which the people are facing. The building the people are lined up against is the Potter Stewart United States Courthouse (still standing, completed 1939?). I don't know the building on the left, which had been demolished prior to my moving to town. There was a classic movie palace called the Albee Theater (demolished) between the mystery building and the Carew Tower which is not visible. BTW - Carew Tower is not the first structure in Cincinnati that served as a prototype for an important New York structure. The Brooklyn Bridge (1883) was built after John A. Roebling designed and built a suspension bridge first in Cincinnati in 1866 (still in use). Hope this is useful. (The Gallery, Cincinnati Photos, John Vachon)
Charna Sidelle Shear at 3½: 1928
This photograph of my mother was taken in 1928 in Brooklyn, New York in an alley off of East 3rd Street. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by JESilverstein - 09/19/2011 - 11:04pm -

This photograph of my mother was taken in 1928 in Brooklyn, New York in an alley off of East 3rd Street. View full size. Oh, My!What a sweetie pie. This little girl is the prettiest child I've ever seen. 10/10That is a remarkably great photo. The dramatic shadow, the dark alley outlining the sunlit subject, the short depth of field. Either a lucky snapshot or a carefully posed masterpiece. On top of that, we have a cute model with her eye set straight on the viewer. Super! Lovely!An absolutely beautiful child. I love the fact that she's placed her little hands in some very little pockets. Charming!I misread that as charming Sidelle Shear, and she is charming! Beautiful Pic!She must've grown up to be a model or a movie star or something. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Fulton Street: 1943
... a war on..... Ah, the smell.. I was born in Brooklyn in 47, and on occasion, my dad would take me to the Fulton Fish ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 8:33pm -

June 1943. Vendor at the Fulton Fish Market in New York City. View full size. Photograph by the legendary Gordon Parks, back when he was just starting out. Fulton Fish Market.....What a great shot, hard to believe there's a war on..... Ah, the smell.. I was born in Brooklyn in 47, and on occasion, my dad would take me to the Fulton Fish market. To buy fresh seafood, no doubt, but all I can remember is the God awful stink. I suppose, now I would relish the chance to purchase such fresh produce, but then, it just smelled like poop to me. (The Gallery, Gordon Parks, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Bright Star of Flatbush: 1948
March 22, 1948. "Brooklyn Terminal Market, Flatbush. Manson Clay Products, client." Who must be ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/19/2014 - 8:42pm -

March 22, 1948. "Brooklyn Terminal Market, Flatbush. Manson Clay Products, client." Who must be very proud. Gottscho-Schleisner photo. View full size. NazSgt...we are alumni of the same school!!! My dad attempted to teach my mother how to drive in the vacant lanes east of the market where the farmers would pull up their trucks. That was her one and only lesson as she almost lost control of the car. She gave up the idea of driving. The market was always a good place to shop for certain items. I remember it getting very crowded in the spring with homeowners picking up their gardening supplies. Driving Sgt McG's dadA few blocks from my high school (see John 1:46 for further). The markets were closed by two or three in the afternoon, a perfect place for my dad to teach me the fine art of driving a standard shift. Also where he picked up his fifty pound bags of potatoes, a staple for our family. There were still small farms in the area when I was a yute, long gone now. That '42 BuickIs long in the teeth! I expect the war years have taken quite a toll on it! Ain't FlatbushI was in my nappies in Flatbush in 1948 but the market is in Canarsie on Foster Avenue between E. 83rd and E. 87th Streets. [Bright Star was on Center Market Street north of Foster, where East Flatbush and Canarsie come together. Neighborhood boundaries are subjective. To the photographers in 1948, this was Flatbush. - Dave] East Flatbush ain't Flatbush neither. I know my neighborhood geographicals outta Holy Cross. Sister Mary Jean learned me. Still quite busyView Larger Map (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC, Stores & Markets)
The Goblins Next Door: 1911
... children on Thanksgiving in the book "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." When did dressing up make the jump to Halloween? Was it a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 9:28pm -

November 1911. "Thanksgiving maskers." A door-to-door ritual for kids in costume back when Thanksgiving was a kind of proto-Halloween. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. Ragamuffin DayMy mother grew up in the 1930s in northern New Jersey. They had "Ragamuffin Day" the night before Thanksgiving. The preferred treats were nuts and apples. When did costumes switch holidays?I remember reading about costumed children on Thanksgiving in the book "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." When did dressing up make the jump to Halloween? Was it a gradual transition? Was this also a regional difference in the US? Trick or Turkey?SNL had a skit last week incorporating this concept. Is there really some historic basis for it? (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Kids, Thanksgiving)
Radio City Music Hall: 1932
... I loved taking the subway ride into Manhatten from Brooklyn. We always had lunch at a Horn & Hardart Automat. Thanks for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/13/2018 - 10:12pm -

December 9, 1932. "International Music Hall, Radio City, New York. Foyer from balcony." Large-format acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. When I was youngWhat a wonderful, memory-laden photo. When I was growing up my grandmother would take me to Radio City Music Hall for movies and the stage Show (The Rockettes!) every summer and every Christmas. I loved taking the subway ride into Manhatten from Brooklyn. We always had lunch at a Horn & Hardart Automat. Thanks for bringing back some fun memories. Deco à la DeskeyThe chandeliers are the work of by Donald Deskey, a renowned Art Deco designer. He attended the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Moderne in Paris in 1925, from which the name "Art Deco" was derived. It also birthed the Moderne design movement in America and around the world. Oh, and he also designed the Crest toothpaste tube. Basically unchangedThe great thing is that this picture could be taken today with virtually nothing noticeable changed. +85From this past November. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
On the Waterfront: 1900
... Building near the left of the photo, and the fact that the Brooklyn Bridge is out of view on the right, I would place this near the East ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/01/2014 - 8:19am -

New York City circa 1900. "Shipping at East River docks." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Earl of DunmoreThis appears to be another view of the Earl of Dunmore, previously seen at Nautical New York: 1900: the paint and portholes match. Does anyone know where this pier was on the Manhattan waterfront? H.B. Moore Jr.The tugboat H.B. Moore Jr. was part of the "Dalzell Fleet." She struck the ferry steamer "Wyoming" in 1909, with minor damage to the tug and none to the ferry. I guess New York harbor traffic was as bad as land traffic is now. LocationBased on the position of the towers on the then brand-new Park Row Building near the left of the photo, and the fact that the Brooklyn Bridge is out of view on the right, I would place this near the East River end of Maiden Lane or Wall Street. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, NYC)
Downtown: 1962
... pictured or built yet). You can barely make out the Brooklyn Bridge at the very bottom of the photo. Power Station ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/16/2017 - 8:56am -

March 2, 1962. "New York City views. Downtown Manhattan skyline from the Al Smith houses." 4x5 acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. Edison PowerThat tall smokestack would be the Edison Power station on Fulton Street. Long gone, but a plaque marks the spot. The Singer building still stands on the far right - it will be there for another six years. Once the tallest in the world. Just out of frame on the left is the Fulton Fish Market and assorted fish related business - trawlers still land along the shore - This area was eyed to be the location of the proposed World Trade Center, but was rejected as being too swampy - and it headed to the West Side. My homeThe buildings on the lower right - the blocks defined by Fulton, Pearl, Frankfort, and Gold Streets - are now a superblock containing Southbridge Towers, built in the early 70s, which was until recently a Mitchell-Lama affordable housing complex. Hanging in my apartment: two ancient street signs from before the streets around there were demapped. Jacob and Ferry Streets, and Pearl and Hague Streets (which was where now stands the Verizon Building, not pictured or built yet). You can barely make out the Brooklyn Bridge at the very bottom of the photo. Power StationThat tall stack on the left belongs to the Edison Power station on Fulton St. Building long gone but the station is commemorated by a plaque. NY SteamThe smokestack at left is on the New York Steam Company plant on the west corner of Water St and Burling Slip/John St. The original Edison plant was on the west side of Pearl St, a block away. In the lower left corner, Pearl St has recently been cut through to a widened Water St. The bus is pointed at old Pearl St. Just coming into view left of center: must be 60 Broad St under construction. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
Learning Curve: 1941
January 21, 1941. "Brooklyn Public Library, Prospect Park Plaza. Balcony curve. Githens & ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/05/2012 - 7:07pm -

January 21, 1941. "Brooklyn Public Library, Prospect Park Plaza. Balcony curve. Githens & Keally, architect." Gottscho-Schleisner photo. View full size. Lots of unused spaceI know that many great buildings have large spatial volumes, but for a library, there sure is a lot of open space where you would expect either sitting areas, magazine areas, book shelves, more card catalogs, etc. And to think, the area where the card catalog is here would easily hold the entire contents of the library, in electronic form today, including racks to put electronic book readers and places to sit. Beautifully SparseAs they say, "Less is more." I just love how bare the library lobby is. Furthermore, look at the librarians' desk. No phone, no computer, no clutter! Amazing!!! It's still a wonderful buildingThis part of the inner lobby is now the checkout desk, and the section of the card catalogue (long gone--the BPL now has a nifty, customer-friendly computer system) shown here has been replaced by a nice cafe. The building is still breathtaking, a joy to walk into. (The Gallery, Education, Schools, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
X-Man: 1909
February 12, 1909. "James Clarke, winner of Brooklyn Marathon, with others." View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/19/2012 - 3:29pm -

February 12, 1909. "James Clarke, winner of Brooklyn Marathon, with others." View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. Strange CharactersThe four guys on the left look like characters in a silent film comedy. Guy with the thick eyebrows looks like a Marx brother, third guy looks like he's just seriously posing for the photo, second and fourth guys look like they're mocking third guy's pose. Mister X has rather nice calves, but they look so silly under those socks and suspenders. ["Garters." - Dave] A Debt of GratitudeThis photo points out to us the debt of gratitude we owe to whoever it was who invented elastic and to the person who had the bright idea to incorporate it into socks. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, NYC, Sports)
Higher Lower Manhattan: 1912
... in the haze further right is the Williamsburg Bridge to Brooklyn. Also still standing. Where is everyone? So many rooftops in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/04/2017 - 1:19pm -

New York circa 1912. "Big buildings of Lower Manhattan." Notable skyscrapers (in a scene last glimpsed here) include the Woolworth tower (under construction), the Singer Building and the Bankers Trust pyramid. View full size. 1912 -> 1917 image flipImage flip between 1912 and 1917, perspective adjusted to align. Things change mighty fast around Gotham. Click for large version In the HazeThe white building nearing completion in the haze to the right of the Singer Bldg. is the NYC Municipal Bldg. It was built to house NYC government offices because City Hall had reached capacity. Both are still standing. The suspension bridge tower in the haze further right is the Williamsburg Bridge to Brooklyn. Also still standing. Where is everyone?So many rooftops in the image and yet only two people visible on them. It can't be that cold out based on all of the laundry out to dry. And all the empty flag poles! Since this is 1912, perhaps people hadn't had a chance yet to procure the new 48 star flags. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC, Railroads)
War Bonds: 1918
... the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Co. in Brooklyn, N.Y. The machine blows air over cold coils ... [The ducts are ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/05/2020 - 9:49am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1918. "Liberty Loan bonds -- Bureau of Engraving and Printing." Financing the war effort. 8x10 inch glass negative, Harris & Ewing Collection. View full size. Fan of fansI can never identify the cars, but being a fan geek I can tell you that these fans are made by a company named Robbins and Myers. (I knew you cared.) But I also need to admit that I've never seen the bottom third of a fan's cage covered the way some of these are, so I am unsure of the purpose and hoping someone here can educate us. Maybe it is intended to obstruct the lower portion of the fan's output, perhaps to minimize disruption of lighter items on the work surfaces, but that wouldn't really work because the output from these fans is not laminar. It would reduce overall air flow, but that's what the variable speed switch is for. Another guess is to catch dripping lubricant but I doubt that too because on these fans it would come from the front bearing and drip off the motor housing, or run down the base. While we're at it, I also do not know what the wire-like thing is running from the fan on the right to the column on which it is mounted. Geez, and prior to viewing this image, I thought I knew pretty much everything there is to know about antique electric fans! Fan of Fan of FansShorpy doesn't have a "like" button [Actually we do, under each photo, although not for comments - Dave] so I am posting here that I appreciate kines' comment "Fan of Fans." Such enthusiasm! And such sadness upon recognition of not quite knowing everything! "Ask and answered, Your Honor!" (I had much the same question but much less of the knowledge.) Ductwork at ceiling Must be an early A/C unit. In 1902 Carrier invents the the first modern AC for the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Co. in Brooklyn, N.Y. The machine blows air over cold coils ... [The ducts are part of the building's heating system, which used a combination of steam radiators and forced-air ventilation. - Dave] Any electrician know what the round unit is that is above each of what I assume is a fluorescent light. [Those are mercury-discharge lamps. The cylinders house the ballasts. - Dave] Division of LaborGirls to the left of me, Girls to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle with you. And now I am doomed to hear that tune for the rest of the day! (The Gallery, D.C., Factories, Harris + Ewing, WWI)
Me and Ramblin' Jack Elliott: 1966
... Elliot Adnopoz, in his 1949 Midwood High School Yearbook, Brooklyn. His address would have put him in the Erasmus Hall HS district, but ... 
 
Posted by Rip Tragle - 02/29/2020 - 9:08pm -

I had been hanging out at the folk clubs in Greenwich Village many years before this was taken. In the photograph I was fresh in from Santa Cruz, CA, and had my "Psychedelic" '47 Ambulance parked on MacDougal Street about in front of the long gone but not forgotten Gaslight Cafe. Note the upper cockpit and windscreens where you could sit high (no pun) and watch the world go by. The rotating radar antenna is fully operational. Bought at a city auction in Santa Cruz. I was three miles away from Ken Kesey's place in Soquel -- and now you know where the color scheme came from. View full size. Kid CharlemagneCool! Nice CarLooks like a photo you might find on the back of an old Dylan album. Ramblin Jack in his 1949 Midwood High School YearbookRamblin Jack, nee Elliot Adnopoz, in his 1949 Midwood High School Yearbook, Brooklyn. His address would have put him in the Erasmus Hall HS district, but for some reason, he went to Midwood. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Battling Mantell: 1911
... The 1930 U.S. Federal Census shows him at 246 Keap Street, Brooklyn, NY. It lists his profession as a Pugalist, Professional, and it also ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2012 - 3:45pm -

The boxer Battling Mantell in November 1911. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection. So who can tell us about old Bat? He served in World War I. Battling Mantell's record -- 20 fights, just one victoryHe went on to become a referee. http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=185088 [I think that's an incomplete record. - Dave] What a JockAs an athletic supporter, I wonder where's his punching bag and medicine balls. Benjamin Baer MantellThis appears to be Benjamin Baer Mantell. Searching through Veterans Records on Ancestry.com I found Benjamin B. Mantell at the Soldier's Home in Virginia in 1931 - 1932. It says that he was a Physical Instructor for his occupation, so this seemed like a good place to continue the search. It says he was 5' 4 1/2" tall with brown hair and eyes and was of the Hebrew faith. He enlisted on February 14, 1914 as a Private in Company C, 15th U.S. Cavalry and was discharged on June 4, 1920. The cause of his admission to the home says, "Mental Questionable," and what looks like, "Cebro Spinal Cervrio" (probably cerebro-spinal in current language). Searching further records I found he was born on November 25, 1890 and died on November 2, 1959. He was buried in Long Island National Cemetery, Section V, Site 6732. He appears to never have been married. The 1930 U.S. Federal Census shows him at 246 Keap Street, Brooklyn, NY. It lists his profession as a Pugalist, Professional, and it also shows him as a WWI Veteran. His father was Russian and his mother Austrian, but I have not been able to find their names. His grandmother was Rebeca (Bessie) Mantell an aunt was Fannie Loefkowitz. The boxing site below lists three Battling Mantells. It seems very unlikely that you would have three professional boxers all using the same name. Looking at the fight dates, only two of the fights are on consecutive dates so conceivably this is all one person fighting in two primary locations (usually New York and Pennsylvania). All of the fights are before he enlisted with the exception of three: one on the day he enlisted; one on May 11, 1914; and one on May 27, 1915. He could have been in the fight on May 11, 1914 prior to leaving for his enlistment, and he could have been in the fight on May 27, 1915 while on leave. The Stars and Stripes, France, for Friday, May 10, 1918 states, "Before the main bout, Battling Mantell, New York lightweight now a cavalryman, was introduced." Note it does not say that he fought anyone that night. With a middle name like "Baer" I'm surprised he didn't have a different fighting name. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain)
Lux Nocturna: 1933
... January 6, 1933. "Manhattan from St. George Hotel in Brooklyn to financial district, night view." 5x7 acetate negative by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/19/2016 - 1:33pm -

January 6, 1933. "Manhattan from St. George Hotel in Brooklyn to financial district, night view." 5x7 acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. A Gershwin momentI'm sure this is what he had in mind when he wrote Rhapsody in Blue (or, if not, it's what he SHOULD've had in mind). World-famous indoor swimming poolI stayed in the St. George several times as an Army brat going and coming from Germany. The military had a contract to provide lodging for in-transit military families. The one thing I remember most is the huge basement swimming pool at the St. George. As I recall, that was quite a calling card back in the '50s. I remember it being very dark and reeking of chlorine. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
Nash Flier: 1919
... 100 cities. The largest of these parades was the one in Brooklyn, New York where 3,051 trucks participated. The slogan was adopted in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/02/2015 - 12:23pm -

October 1919. "Nash Flier -- California Highway Motor Train in San Francisco." A publicity stunt showcasing the nascent field of long-distance trucking as facilitated by the "giant pneumatic tire." The cargo here being Sperry's Drifted Snow Flour. 6½ x 8½ glass negative from the Wyland Stanley collection. View full size. Nash placeWe're at the Civic Auditorium at Polk and Grove Sts., kitty-corner from City Hall. Though not on the fair grounds, it was built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition and afterward given to the city. It was renamed the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in 1991. "Ship by Truck Week"The California Highway Motor Train event took place during the first "Ship by Truck Week" which took place during the last week of September and first two weeks of September in 1919. Yes, it was more than one week long. The slogan originated with Harvey S. Firestone, president of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio. The governors of 32 states issued official proclamations in honor of the week in their states. There were also truck parades in over 100 cities. The largest of these parades was the one in Brooklyn, New York where 3,051 trucks participated. The slogan was adopted in 1920 by the National Association of Motor Truck Sales Managers. Part of the reason for having such a week was that the railroad industry was giving the trucking industry a hard time about using the public roads - despite the fact that individuals and companies that owned trucks were already paying higher road taxes. A trade ad in the Oakland Tribune on October 12, 1919 (Section O, Page 13) stated the following. "When America went to war the motor truck gave the element of speed so vitally needed. By the thousands these land transports saved time, money, and lives and figured conspicuously in destroying the enemy of humanity. "When the rail systems of America were over-burdened and sought assistance in the expeditious movement of foodstuffs and freight, it was the motor truck that quickly and efficiently answered the call. "Yet a most bitter fight, sponsored by powerful railway interests, is being waged against the existence and growth of transportation of freight and passengers by automobile and motor truck in California. They would deny this superior transportation service the use of the public highway. Railroad attorneys have made it a point to attend Railroad Commission and [San Francisco] Board of Supervisor hearings wherein franchise matters were being discussed to prevent an increase in this means of [truck] transportation. "The public must be awakened to a full realization of the dangerous tactics of the railroads in stifling the greatest advance in transportation methods that recent generations have known." The article below from page 88 of the January 1920 issue of the magazine "Power Wagon" gives further details of the California Highway Motor Train. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, San Francisco, W. Stanley)
Tuskegee Airmen: 1945
... G. Clifton of San Francisco and Richard S. "Rip" Harder of Brooklyn. View full size. Since they're in the Army Air Corps ... 
 
Posted by Don Wagoner - 01/26/2010 - 11:26am -

332nd Fighter Group airmen at a briefing in Ramitelli, Italy. March 1945. Foreground: Emile G. Clifton of San Francisco and Richard S. "Rip" Harder of Brooklyn. View full size. Since they're in the Army Air Corpsor Army Air Forces (I never could remember the date the name changed), the color of their wings should be silver (not gold), both on their chests and their collars. This was true even before the Air Force became a separate branch with blue uniforms, which took place in 1947. (That one I do remember.) (Colorized Photos)
City Hall Park: 1910
... if you stay on the downtown number 6 train past the Brooklyn Bridge terminus, the train uses the abandoned station to turn around ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/07/2019 - 12:07pm -

Manhattan circa 1910. "Park Place (City Hall Park) and New York City Hall." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Note the subway entrancesThis is the location of City Hall Station. A beautifully designed and decorated subway station that used to be part of the 6 (East Side) line. See https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/IRT_East_Side_Line and especially https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Station:_City_Hall_(IRT_East_Side_Line) The two entrance kiosks are no longer present, having been removed and the street penetrations paved over. Shown at the bottom of the photo is a grid of small squares. These are glass bricks, acting as a skylight over the station. A tour is available to members of the New York Transit Museum. The People Ride in a Hole in the GroundTo the left of City Hall can be seen the entrances to the original City Hall subway station , which closed in 1945. I was lucky to join a NY Transit Museum tour of this magnificent space many years ago and highly recommend it. If you can't get tickets for the organized tour (they sell out very quickly), here's a way you can at least get a quick glance: if you stay on the downtown number 6 train past the Brooklyn Bridge terminus, the train uses the abandoned station to turn around and head back uptown. If the lights in the abandoned loop station are on, it's a great view. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
Samuel Hugh Wilson
... within a year after he and his first wife were divorced in Brooklyn. He worked for the U. E. Hungerford Brass and Copper Company in ... was John S. Folk, the Police Superintendent of Brooklyn who died in 1885. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery) ... 
 
Posted by wilso127 - 08/13/2010 - 12:16pm -

My paternal grandfather, Samuel Hugh Wilson (1855-1903), who passed away when my Dad was only 18 months old. He married my paternal grandmother in June 1898 in Newburgh NY, within a year after he and his first wife were divorced in Brooklyn. He worked for the U. E. Hungerford Brass and Copper Company in Manhattan for many years, and his first father-in-law was John S. Folk, the Police Superintendent of Brooklyn who died in 1885. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
« first‹ prev…11 [12]13next ›last »
Syndicate content  Shorpy.com is a vintage photography site featuring thousands of high-definition images. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago. Contact us | Privacy policy | Accessibility Statement | Site © 2024 Shorpy Inc.