Big Mike, I remember the safety ropes at beaches in the New York/New Jersey area in the 50's when I was growing up. I don't recall which beaches had them, but we spent a lot of time at Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Orchard Beach and others. I believe the ropes were pretty common back then.

Yes, but the smile on her face is priceless!

Through the 50s into the 60s my family drove to Asbury Park all the time. I remember the long ropes swinging back in forth in the surf. More dangerous than the waves, I thought. Back then Asbury Park was the place to be--in my early teens to swim, later, when I got my drivers license, to go to Springsteen's Stone Pony.

I notice a number of very young kids wandering around without a helicopter parent. Amazing that anyone lived to adulthood without them.

Big Mike, I seem to remember seeing tide-safety ropes near the pier growing up in Fernandina Beach, on Amelia Island, Florida. That would be from 1952 to perhaps 1964, when our beach house was destroyed by Hurricane Dora. We also had stone or cement-block jetties going out into the water; think those were to build up sand for the beach.

There were always strong rip tides along the Atlantic side of the island, and there were usually four or five tourists who were killed that way each year.

Tragically, those who were supposed to know said that if one refused to struggle against a rip tide, and just floated with it on one's back, the tide would eventually deposit you on the beach in a different location. Cannot vouch for that!

But you could stand ankle-deep in the surf and feel the undertow pulling the sand from below your feet.

Have any of you actually seen what I call these "tide safety ropes" IN YOUR LIFETIME. Where? They often appear in these older Shorpy beach scenes.

"Come on - you throw like a girl!"

As opposed to some of the photos from this era and locale, these folks look like they are genuinely having fun. I see only a few people who are dressed up in their white shirts and long dresses. Most are enjoying the beach!