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Class Clowns: 1920
June 3, 1920. New York. "Columbia University Class of 1909." Congrats to all you grads out there! 5x7 glass negative, Bain News Service. View full size.
Location
I recognize the balustrade that skirts the main campus, but having a hard time placing this exact building/location despite my Zaprudering. Any sharp-eyed Shorpies know which this is?
Back to the future
I thought the hula-hoop was invented in the 1950's. Shorpy corrects again.
[Those are rolling hoops. -tterrace]
Re: Senior Class
I had the same initial reaction that the clowns looked awfully old for 21-22 year-olds, However, the photo was taken in 1920, 11 years post-graduation of the class of 1909.
Where's the telephone booth
Might be a tight fit.
Varsity clowns
Being university types, they lack the terrifying edge of true clowns.
Senior Class
Unless we're mistakenly seeing the Clown College Faculty... why does the class of '09 look like a pack of 40-year-olds? Can't really claim this is youthful hijinks...
Shorpy never ceases to amaze!
If somebody had described this photo to me, I would have said ”No way”!
What's your major?
I had no idea that Columbia was a clown college. We do learn something new every day.
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