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- Alas, hidden from view
- Exclusive pump
- Details, Details
- What's that building to the left of the tower?
- Coal Barges
- Bromo-Seltzer
- Inner harbor
- The Basin
- What a headache!
- Giant stepladder?
- Baldwin 62303
- Baldwin VO-1000
- Cold
- No expense spared
- Tough Guys
- Lost in Toyland
- And without gloves
- If I were a blindfolded time traveler
- Smoke Consumer Also Cooks
- Oh that stove!
- Possibly still there?
- What?!?
- $100 Reward
- Freeze Frame
- Texas Flyer wanted
- Just a Year Too Soon
- WWII -- Replacing men with women at the railroad crossing.
- Yes, Icing
- You kids drive me nuts!
- NOT An Easy Job
Photos submitted by Shorpy members!
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Second City Riviera: 1942
July 1942. "Chicago, Illinois. Lake Michigan beach." Medium format acetate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the U.S. Foreign Information Service. View full size.
As one who wore that uniform
Another vote for the Navy White enlisted uniform with the flap "Flapping in the Breeze" and the black neckerchief showing.
I believe that is correct.
The black at the neck would be his neckerchief and I think back then the rating or "rank" insignia was on the right sleeve, not the left, which is not visible in the photo.
Re: What's Up?
Regarding RG62's question about the guy in white, I believe he is a sailor in a US Navy white service undress uniform with the collar/tar flap on the back of his jumper blown up on his head.
More room for the beach towel
The population of Chicago in 1940 was 3,396,808, the second largest city in the US.
Today, its around 2,608,425. Down about 23% in 80 years.
On The Home Front
With the United States' entry into WWII just seven months prior, it's hard not to notice most of these beachgoers are women and children.
Mr. Hazmat suit.
He looks like a sailor. Summer whites. The back flap is blowing up in the wind. You can see the back of his neckerchief behind his neck.
Sailor in the Wind
Looks like the guy in all white is a sailor in his crackerjacks and the wind has blown his tar flap over his head.
What's Up
with the guy in white? Is that an early version of a hazmat suit?
[Beachside beekeeper. - Dave]
+75
Below is a very similar perspective from June of 2017 (it's the matched perspective from one of the several other shots Rothstein took of the beach that day).
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