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Pie Eaters: 1921
... July 31, 1921. Washington, D.C. "Pie eating contest at Tidal Basin bathing beach." In the back row: the blurry but unmistakable facial ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/06/2018 - 10:19pm -

July 31, 1921. Washington, D.C. "Pie eating contest at Tidal Basin bathing beach." In the back row: the blurry but unmistakable facial contours of Iola Swinnerton. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Who won?No prizes for guessing! Hazppy to be a Modern ManThe girl in the front / left has hairy legs. Once again, Shorpy has made me appreciate living in twenty first century North America. I wonder what people of the future will be disgusted by when they look at our photos? [I wonder what people of the future will think will they look at these comments. - Dave] Sheer enjoyment and delightQuite apart from the fact that there are several beautiful girls in this picture, it is a joy for several other reasons. One cannot help but wonder whether the contestants ever considered whether their children and their children's children would be able to enjoy themselves in such simple and unaffected manner. In many ways, how lucky they were to live at a time when life was very much more simple, the war was behind them, everything appeared rosy, and the future was their own. There are times I would happily trade this supposedly civilised and advanced age for theirs. As for the identity of the victor; I imagine the young boy felt very much a winner here! How lucky; a clutch of beautiful girls, and as much pie as he could eat. Who Won??Do educated guesses count? I'm thinking the winner was the woman with pie smeared all over her face. The other ladies are eating their pie rather daintily. I'm rather infatuatedwith the three women in the center: the splendid coif of the lady on the left, the laugh of the woman in the middle, and the delicate fingers balancing pie on the woman on the right. Also, how could anyone find the thin fuzz, barely visible, on that woman's legs disgusting? If certain modern men knew the time us modern women felt obligated to spend on our grooming, they might be more sympathetic and less hazppy. Krazy KatThis was apparently taken the same time as this one https://www.shorpy.com/node/666 because Iola is holding Krazy Kat. I think the girl on her left is the one sitting to her right in that picture, too. [This picture is dated July 31; the other is dated June 25. - Dave] Aside from that, this is one amazing photo of a wonderful day and a time when people knew how to take joy in simple things. The expression on the middle girl eating pie is priceless! I would bet that crust was made with lard, which is the best kind. P.S. I didn't notice the date, except for the year. Now, I wonder why she was carrying a stuffed toy to the beach, twice (or more, probably). Interesting! At any rate, they sure had a lot of fun at the Potomac bathing beach! Simple happinessReading the comments by reader who mourn the loss of simpler pleasures with simpler times makes me wonder how long those times actually lasted. How long have pie-eating contests taken place? Pies have existed for centuries. There are notes of pie-eating contests occurring at county fairs in the 19th Century. Were they an imported idea from fairs in the Old Country? Our pleasures have changed as technology has changed, The advent of electricity in homes certainly has changed the sorts of activities that we engage in for pleasure. I, for one, would make the trade of perusing Shorpy at my desk in an air-conditioned room in my home on a 100-degree late Spring day to participating in a pie-eating contests on a similar June day 90 years ago. Not that the pies don't look delicious. Hard to tellwhere the smudges end and the pie filling begins Not pizzahttp://www.snopes.com/photos/people/pizzawomen.asp (The Gallery, D.C., Iola S., Natl Photo, Swimming)
Scouting Outing: 1937
... of the Washington Monument and camps were spread over the Tidal Basin area and the nearby shores of the Potomac. 25,000 Scouts attended. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 4:34pm -

May 1937. "Boy Scout Jamboree. Boy Scouts sightseeing on Capitol Transit buses." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Lots of photographersWow, single digit troop numbers is something you do not see every day. And if you look at the short Scout in the middle of the street, he is carrying what seems to be a Brownie #2 box camera. The 2 Scouts behind him also have more recent cameras in hand, the first one appears to be a Brownie Chiquita (smaller and made of bakelite), and the second has a fancy folding bellows camera. The Scout on the far right is also carrying a Brownie box camera. Long BridgeIf I'm not mistaken, this picture is taken on DC side of the 14th Street Bridge, with the old Long Bridge in the background. The original Long Bridge was built in 1809. A more recent truss bridge was built on the same site for the railroads in 1903.In 1943, a replacement to the railroad bridge (keeping the old 1903 draw span) was opened.This still stands today. The Old Scoutmasterobserves that no one has a canteen. Must be plenty of water available on that sightseeing trip. The 1937 US national jamboree was the first to be held; the first scheduled was for 1935 but it was cancelled due to polio concerns. The jamboree headquarters was at the foot of the Washington Monument and camps were spread over the Tidal Basin area and the nearby shores of the Potomac. 25,000 Scouts attended. RebelsI see that some of the more rebelious scouts would roll their socks down or even roll their shorts up! Non-conformists, obviously. Gulls and boysIf you look down the line of buses, over the sixth and seventh buses, you can see the formation of a flock of sculpted seagulls that composes the top of the Navy-Marine Memorial, which was dedicated in 1934. It is in Virginia on the George Washington Parkway, in what we now call Lady Bird Johnson Park. It is a really cool monument, one of my favorites. RE: Long BridgeThis cannot be on the D.C. side, but still could be the Long Bridge. If that is in fact the Navy-Marine Memorial behind the bus, this has to be the Virginia side along what is now the GW Parkway. The memorial is only about 30 yards off the river on the Virginia side. 1937 World Jamboreea few months later, in summer time the 5th World Jamboree was held in the Netherlands. By Redraw of logo of 5th World Scout Jamboree, Public Domain, Link In the Wikipedia article you may find a link to a b/w silent movie of the event, you may attend the five o'clock tea of the U.S. delegation at 5:18.On YouTube you may also find a Color movie. This Jamboree is remembered more particularly as the last Jamboree B-P. was able to attend before his death in January 1941. Queen Wilhelmina opened the Jamboree and in front of her were assembled 27,000 Scouts from 51 countries - including 8,000 from the British Commonwealth. B-P. was 81 when he attended the Jamboree and in his message to Scouts of the world, he said: I ... am nearing the end of my life. Most of you are at the beginning, and I want your lives to be happy and successful. You can make them so by doing your best to carry out the Scout Law all your days, whatever your station and wherever you are ... Now goodbye. God bless you all! God bless you! It was as though he knew he would not be able to attend another Jamboree and was giving his blessing to the Scouts of all nations. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Boy Scouts, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Tidalists: 1922
... D.C. "Florence Skadding and Mark Coles." At the Tidal Basin bathing pavilion. National Photo glass negative. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 4:44pm -

August 15, 1922. Washington, D.C. "Florence Skadding and Mark Coles." At the Tidal Basin bathing pavilion. National Photo glass negative. View full size. First place Goes to Mark in the most-revealing-swimsuit competition. But what was HER trophy for? Throw the man a towel! From the looks of it, the water must not have been very cold. NBCMark looks like an ancestral David Gregory. Re: Her TrophiesMy goodness, how did Hipster remember Miss Skadding from three months ago? Good memory. CoolWhere can I get a sweet outfit like that? Honestly, that swimsuit is more revealing than today's Speedos. Maj. Werts Too Washington Post, Aug 16, 1922 District Swim Titles to Cole and Miss Skadding The championship swimming series was brought to a close at the Tidal basin bathing beach yesterday with the crowning of Miss Florence Skadding and Mark Coles as the champions of the respective classes. These two winners were presented with beautiful loving cups as a token of their accomplishments. The presentation was made by Maj. W.C. Werts, officer in charge of the public buildings and grounds. ... Her trophiesIf I recall, Ms. Skadding possesses, ahem, Great Big Tracts of Land. https://www.shorpy.com/node/6723 MelanomaniaThat Mark Coles tan would make George Hamilton and Zonker Harris proud. (The Gallery, D.C., Sports, Swimming)
Bathing Beach Parade: 1919
... Washington, D.C. July 26, 1919. "Bathing beach parade at Tidal Basin." Another glimpse of the swimsuit pageant chronicled in the comments ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/13/2011 - 11:49am -

Washington, D.C. July 26, 1919. "Bathing beach parade at Tidal Basin." Another glimpse of the swimsuit pageant chronicled in the comments under this post. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Do-RagI wonder if the guy on the left was ahead of his time or just wearing the head gear appropriate for the time. Anyway, the young man immediately to his right seems to be amused by something about him. No Weiners.Refreshing to see that other shots from around DC are making it on to the web. No Comments After 24+ Hours?It's my guess that some Shorpy commenters are reluctant to bring up this photo's most obvious subject. Wrong decadeIf this shot had been taken 50 years later, I'd swear the beauties on the left had been smoking a little smoke. Those to the right look pretty jolly, too. Loveis in the air. Behind the beauty on the rightThe results of this pageant are being texted to the society column editor at The Washington Post. One surprise winner: The Amish lass (such a plain outfit she's sporting), second left. Swimming cap, not a "Do-Rag"The man is wearing a swimming cap. Quite common for swimmers in that era, even at the beach. Where they first met.My great aunt and uncle met one another at this beach in 1919. The Jefferson Memorial stands there now. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Pretty Girls, Swimming)
Lollipop Orphans: 1924
August 21, 1924. "Orphans at Tidal Basin -- Sgt. Jasper Post #13, American Legion." National Photo Company ... orphan asylum an afternoon of romping in the water at the Tidal basin bathing beach. Robert H. Hetzer and Thomas J. Falley, of the post, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2012 - 2:43pm -

August 21, 1924. "Orphans at Tidal Basin -- Sgt. Jasper Post #13, American Legion." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. A great combinationSand and sticky lollipops! TreatsI guess the Legionnaires did a good job of entertaining. The girls appear to be genuinely happy. Hurrah for Hetzer & FalleyWashington Post, Aug 22, 1924 Jasper Post Takes Orphans on Outing Sergeant Jasper Post, No. 13, American Legion yesterday inaugurated a program of child welfare work by giving 29 little girls from the Washington City orphan asylum an afternoon of romping in the water at the Tidal basin bathing beach. Robert H. Hetzer and Thomas J. Falley, of the post, conducted the outing, leading the kiddies in water sports and teaching them something about swimming. The post furnished lollypops, ice cream cones and transportation for the youngsters. Gordon Leach, concessionaire of the beach furnished bathing suits. I think the name of the second gentleman in the article is misspelled. Thomas J. Frailey served as commander of the Sgt. Jasper Post and is cited in other Washington Post articles regarding orphan outings sponsored by the American Legion A fun time was had by allThis picture really screws with my emotions. On one hand I think "how sad that they're all orphaned". On the other hand, have you ever seen a happier group of kids? Hooray!Raise your hand if your parents are dead! (The Gallery, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo, Swimming)
Old Money: 1915
... House. Responsible for the cherry trees along the Tidal Basin AND appointing the first female money mutilator! The only President ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 1:27pm -

Washington circa 1915. "Miss Louise Lester, in charge of mutilation of old money at Treasury Dept." View full size. National Photo Company glass negative. $5 million per dayThe following is from a caption for a similar photo of the same apparatus. Miss Lester was one of a committee of three which supervised the daily destruction at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Washington Post Jun 2 1912 U.S. Officials Destroy $5,000,000 Daily in Worn out Currency The money at the rate of nearly $5,000,000 is thrown into the receptacle at the bottom of the picture. Under this is the machine that cuts up the old bills into tiny bits. Later the mass is mixed with a solution that takes out all coloring matter, and the pulp is then sold to manufacturers of cardboard and paper pulp novelties. The woman in the picture is Miss Louise Lester, the only one of her sex to ever serve on this committee. She was recently appointed by President Taft from Maryland. Messy JobHow did she stay so neat and clean in such a messy environment? Wish I knew more about the process such as what the wash tub was for and why the use of water. Filthy LucreInteresting occupation! I wonder what exactly the process would be for money "mutilation." And I wonder if Miss Louise ever dipped into that big bin of moolah! WheeAnd Miss Louise looks thrilled to be doing her job!! Mutilation?!Oh man, I guess I would have the same expression if I was in charge of "mutilation of old money"!! That place looks like a bomb shelter. [I think the technical term was maceration, although "mutilation" seems to be what's written on the negative label. Someone at the LOC transcribed it as "metalation." Tomayto, tomahto. - Dave] FinallySomeone with a messier desk than mine! Louise Lester's Later Life of LeisureLarcenous Louise Lester later loaned her bother Larry a half-million dollars, leaving a little left for her lonely lesbian lover, Lottie. Louise and Larry learned of a leaky log house in a lower latitude and linked up there to live a life of leisure studying literature and laughingly learning to play the lyre. Lottie was left behind, later to have a lobotomy. [And after they died, they both went straight to ... - Dave] Ahem....From the looks of it, "Old Money" had to endure a great deal of torture before it was ultimately mutilated into submission! - Kathleen OMG, She's a ...Serial Killer! As in mutilator of serially numbered currency! Get it?? Yes? Taft ROCKED the White House. Responsible for the cherry trees along the Tidal Basin AND appointing the first female money mutilator! The only President to also have served as Chief Justice. A faithful husband and doting father. Roosevelt's troubleshooter who helped supervise the Panama Canal construction. And a merry 350 pounds, with an infectious chuckle! His biographer described Taft's famous laugh this way: “It was by all odds the most infectious chuckle in the history of politics. It started with a silent trembling of Taft's ample stomach. The next sign was a pause in the reading of his speech, and the spread of a slow grin across his face. Then came a kind of gulp which seemed to escape without his being aware that the climax was near. Laughter followed hard on the chuckle itself, and the audience invariably joined in.” Next time I visit Arlington National Cemetery, I'll pay my respects to jolly Mr. Taft! Community ChestI wonder what filled Miss Lester's blouse on the way to work. An off dayThe photo must have been taken on an off day. Miss. Lester said in an interview that "While my work is somewhat 'messy' it is interesting and does not grow monotonous. It's really fun!" http://fultonhistory.com/Process%20small/Newspapers/Oswego%20Palladium/O... Yikes.No, no. No. Nothing in this room says, "fun." Fun and this room, not in the same world. I've really never seen a more depressing situation. Even macerating old money could be done in a far less depressing room. Yikes. (The Gallery, Curiosities, D.C., Natl Photo)
Frolic on the Potomac: 1924
July 10, 1924. "Pushball at Tidal Basin." National Photo Co. View full size. So many details! There ... I'm pretty juvenile To me, "Pushball at Tidal Basin" sounds like a euphemism, for, you know, something else. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2012 - 3:06pm -

July 10, 1924. "Pushball at Tidal Basin." National Photo Co. View full size. So many details!There are so many interesting details in these photos that it's always a treat examining them! For example, there's a shower right in the middle of the river, to the left of the image. Like someone pointed out in another picture, the swimming suits look like they were made of some sort of natural fiber (wool), since they do have a tendency to climb and stick when wet. And this jolly scene takes place in a makeshift playpen of sorts, made with what look like stakes in the shallow part of the river. How different of today's hectic world! I'm curious; in the background you can see a building. Is it the Lincoln memorial? GirlsIs it not ineffably sad that so few girls are part of the frolic? One girl is separated from the fun, metaphorically enjoying the roughhousing joy--but from a distance. I'm pretty juvenileTo me, "Pushball at Tidal Basin" sounds like a euphemism, for, you know, something else. Sanctioned PushballNotice the two officials. "OK, you hooligans. Take it easy or someone might lose an eye." Pushball reincarnatedPushball never quite caught on, but no one has commented that it was reincarnated, in a version that was both anarchistic and socially responsible, as Earthball. Of course, Earthball didn't catch on either. The BackgroundI live quite near Washington DC. That's absolutely the Lincoln Memorial in the background! As viewed from?I'm guessing this is close to the site where construction began 15 years later on the Jefferson Memorial. ShowerHow in the heck does that shower work? Must be some sort of foot pump to operate it...? [They work the same way the shower in your house works. - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports, Swimming)
Adult Swim: 1942
... may have been a WPA project. People could swim in the Tidal Basin until the late 1920s. Top of Washington Monument The top of the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/21/2013 - 6:02pm -

July 1942. "Sunbathers on the grass next to the municipal swimming pool on Sunday." The pasty white underbelly of wartime Washington. Medium format negative by Marjory Collins for the Office of War Information. View full size. Men's swimwearThrough the mid-1930s, tank tops seemed to be standard swimwear for me. By the early 1940s, nearly everyone wore trunks. Am I correct in thinking that the change happened very quickly? What caused the change in fashion? Pasty WhiteIn the 1960s I had the honour to serve in the US Navy at a sub base in Holy Loch, Scotland. After having been there for 18 months, my ship the USS Simon Lake was relieved by another, the USS Canopus. I transferred to the Canopus for another tour. Some of my new shipmates asked me how come I was sooo white. I pointed out that there was little sunshine in Scotland, and shortly they would be just as pasty, too. Long story short, a nice tan was not a very important thing in 1942, unless you were Cary Grant. More Men's Swimwear10 and 15 years later, in the mid 1950s, when I was old enough to remember swimming pools, these lads, grown up and now fathers, were still wearing those Superman trunks. We kids, however, were stuck with little children's boxers. Those were Philadelphia and South Jersey memories. A New York City friend says that up there, male swimmers went directly from old fashioned suits to boxers. An urban legend is that a wartime shortage of cloth brought the end of coverup suits and also the arrival of bikinis. Casual, almost indifferentWhat strikes me about this photo is the casual atmosphere of the scene. One might not realize a war was underway - the previous month, the US Navy had fought the critical battle of Midway. The soldiers depicted in this photo have the casual, even sloppy appearance (headgear at improper angles; collars loosened, etc) of clerks assigned to DC area offices. If they had been recent trainees, one would hope that the spit and polish regime was still present. Photo might be captioned: "At ease on the homefront". I'm Not a Big FanI'm just a little one with an oscillating gear drive, silhouetted inside the little window of the frame shack. Pool Pass?Are the GIs just taking an opportunity to wander by the pool, sightseeing, or has the USO or other agency arranged for pool passes? If anyone knows which way the entrance is from this shot, maybe it would help figure that out. Since it's early in the war, the U-boats are working right off the coast and probably more than one GI is thinking, "Hmmm, maybe I ought to work on my backstroke?" These guys knew they most likely weren't flying anywhere to fight, unless it was in a warplane going overseas, too. The pasty white underbelly of wartime WashingtonImagine where all those guys in Army uniforms were eventually to go. They look so young. But then I was 18 years + 3 months when my turn came. LeanWe were certainly a trimmer nation. Men's SwimwearSewickley, I made the same comment several weeks ago when there were swim pictures from 1939 and then right after the war. In the pre-war pictures all the men had swimsuits with tops and after only bottoms. I guessed that perhaps it was because GI's bathed in just their shorts and when they came back it just carried over. However it appears the change was even quicker (as you commented) as this picture in 1942 shows only one male with a swim top. I am like you curious as to what caused the change. Perhaps we have someone from the fashion industry that could answer this question. [Googling {men's swimwear history} gets you off to a good start. - tterrace] Pasty White IndeedAnd the brothers and sisters would be swimming ... where, exactly? Not to be more than usually preachy, but this shot is a pretty good indication that such places in our nation's capital were still segregated back then (like military units, housing areas, and almost every other public facility). It is fitting for Americans of all races to remember that the good old days were replete with bad features and that, as a people, we have indeed come a long way since then. Back of the subBuilding in the background is now the U.S. Park Police Central Substation. July in DCJuly in the District of Columbia can be blisteringly hot. It can easily reach 100 degrees that time of year. I'm amazed that the guys in uniform don't look a lot sloppier. SW DCIf you look a little to the right of the lamppost you will see the USDA building, which runs along C Street SW from 12th to 14th Streets. The pool must have been near where 12th Street merges into Maine Avenue. The lanes of I-395 run through the location today. SwimmingI think this is the building. There is a pool here too. LocationEast Potomac Pool on Hain's Point is probably where photo was taken. Same location as ball game with UFO in background, boy and girl with bikes lying on grass and two girl swimmers. East Potomac ParkYes, thank you, you're right. My range estimate was way off. It's across the channel in East Potomac Park. The pool may have been a WPA project. People could swim in the Tidal Basin until the late 1920s. Top of Washington MonumentThe top of the Washington Monument can be seen in the background. Here's a 1934 photo of the top: (The Gallery, D.C., Marjory Collins, Swimming)
Over the Boardwalk: 1984
... 1905 Manhattan street or at the 1922 Washington DC tidal basin. No one is alive to give a first-hand account. I like the 1941 Virginia ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 02/17/2021 - 3:40pm -

Atlantic City isn't the only place with a Boardwalk, ya know. Out here in California we've had the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk since 1907. Its Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster is a National Historic Landmark. In another kind of history, back in 2008 its late, lamented Fun House was the location in one of my very earliest Shorpy photo submissions. I took my 1984 shot on 35mm Kodacolor VR 100 with my Konica Autoreflex T. View full size. Who Wears Short Shorts?Surprisingly it doesn't look all that much different than a similar scene today, except for the length of the men's shorts! They're showing a lot of legUsually you can judge the approximate year of a picture by female hairstyles and attire. But here it's the males that date this photo to the 1980s. More legShorts were shorter back then. Under the PavementIt's "down by the sea" alright, but a "boardwalk"? Where's the "boards"? Looks like pavement. I know, I know: "Boards?!? We don't need no stinkin' boards!!!" Konica: Built Like a TankIn 1972 my six year old Hanimex rangefinder camera was stolen. Actually, I left it in a phone booth (remember those?) for a few minutes and when I returned it was gone. I purchased a Konica Autoreflex T as a replacement, and took many thousands of photos over a forty year period. It was very reliable, and was rebuilt twice. I used mostly Kodachrome 25 and 64 colour slide film, but also Agfa, Kodak and Ilford black and white. I went digital in 2010, and this photo of my Konica was taken with a Canon ELPH 360HS, my third digital camera. I did my own darkroom work for many years, but I enjoy the ability to edit photos on my computer without the use of chemicals. A scan of a Kodachrome slide produces a richer photo than a digital image. My father's Kodachromes from 1954 have held up very well. The Konica weighs just over 2 pounds, while the Canon is just under 8 ounces. Nice JobOn reproducing a 1984 Kodacolor Mr. Terrace. Did you use the negative or print? [This is a scan of the negative. -tterrace] Medical emergency or fight?I wonder what is going on to the left of the red and green building in the middle of the picture? It appears to be two or three people on the ground in a pile. A few people around them seem interested but not the masses. [Good question. -tterrace] Where are the boards?I'm kidding, and it's a terrific picture! We have beach-side promenades made out of concrete or brick in NJ, like in Cape May or Bradley Beach, but Atlantic City and many other Jersey Shore towns still have the old wooden boards, like Atlantic City, Asbury Park. Some towns have begun replacing the wooden boards with trex composite planks, which last longer and warp less, but something's lost when you "upgrade" that way, and it doesn't sound or feel the same when you're walking or riding along. SocksThe men's shorts were short but the other 80's giveaway is the length of the socks, especially the ones with the 3 colored stripes at the top. A different era.A couple of guys have picked out something nice at that “Women” shop. Man, to have lived in a time like that. Man, to have livedThere are many Shorpy commenters who wonder what it would be like to be on a particular 1905 Manhattan street or at the 1922 Washington DC tidal basin. No one is alive to give a first-hand account. I like the 1941 Virginia crowded-bed photos that prompt personal memories from some commenters. But for Winstrol to say, “Man, to have lived in a time like that” about a scene from 1984, that makes me say, Hey! – I was 27 back then. (And I’m only 63 now.) So it’s not like that’s ancient history, you young person. We pre-oldsters remember the times of tall socks and short shorts and bad music and ridiculous hair. I think there was a hole in the ozone layer but global warming wasn’t a thing yet. Reagan was in his first term and Russians were bad commies. Cars were unremarkable. Living in the eighties was easy because although I was just a kid in the sixties, I knew I owed an eternal debt to all those hippies and freaks and protesters who did the heavy lifting that handed me sex & drugs & rock ‘n’ roll on a platter. Eye-catchingThe girl in the foreground with the white tank top and purple shorts, and the one just to the left of her in the blue top and a couple of steps behind her. The prevailing female hairstyle seems to be mostly shoulder length perms. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
Best Swimsuit: 1922
... 17, 1922. "Washington Ad Club bathing costume contest at Tidal Basin." Miss Anna Niebel, "former Follies girl who lives at 1370 Harvard street ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/06/2018 - 10:18pm -

June 17, 1922. "Washington Ad Club bathing costume contest at Tidal Basin." Miss Anna Niebel, "former Follies girl who lives at 1370 Harvard street northwest," took first place. At right, the unmistakable if blurry figure of Iola Swinnerton, First Lady of Shorpy, who came in second. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. That would be Congressman HerrickAnna Niebel hadn't just sued any ordinary person. In 1921 she was at the center of a Washington political scandal involving first-term, only-term, Oklahoma Congressman Manuel Herrick. The caption beneath the front-page, first-column picture of Miss Niebel in the Nov. 24, 1921 edition of the Millersburg (IN) Grit explains, "she was an entrant in Herrick's 'beauty contest,' and says he led her to believe that he would marry her." Herrick was a real piece of work. Two months after Ms. Niebel won the June 1922 version of her multiple Tidal Basin Beauty Contest trophies, Rep. Herrick was defeated in the GOP primary, prompting him to complain that he lost because of "the indifference and gross ignorance of many people who did not take the trouble to inform themselves of the fact that he was doing the work of five congressmen." Then the following year, the Washington Post reported that he was suing a different woman - his secretary - for breach of promise because she allegedly "used all of the arts and wiles of an adventuress before jilting him." He also accused the secretary of promising him that she would not spend her time petting dogs after marriage but would rear children. (Those claims were thrown out.) If that were not enough, he was picked up for disorderly conduct after a young lady complained that he was annoying her. (He pled guilty.) Unfortunate Sad that Miss Iola Swinnerton probably died before she could reap the fortunes that being First Lady of Shorpy would surely bring. Thankfully we have the photographic proof of her beauty and style to soothe our broken hearts. TimelessDrop the silly cap and the old-fashioned swimsuit (well, not literally "drop", or this would be some other kind of site), and this young lady would be an eyeful today. Iola of the one swimsuitI'm so excited to see a new picture from the Potomac bathing suit contests! It's always nice to see Iola, even blurry, although I STILL hate that bathing suit! It doesn't appear to be the most updated fashion, either. Anna's costume is an example of that; no stockings, more thigh uncovered, plunging neckline, etc. As for Anna, I see mention of Anna Elizabeth Niebel having sued a Mr. Herrick for $50,000, in 1925, for breach of promise. I assume that was for breaking off an engagement, but can't find any more details about it! (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Iola S., Pretty Girls, Swimming)
Signs of Spring: 1926
... enjoys nature, cherry blossoms and walks along (or in) the Tidal Basin. 5x7 inch glass negative. View full size. Ladylike scene These ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/21/2016 - 11:05pm -

April 1926. "Polly Freling" is all it says here. Polly enjoys nature, cherry blossoms and walks along (or in) the Tidal Basin. 5x7 inch glass negative. View full size. Ladylike sceneThese genteel women have the cherry blossoms all to themselves, in contrast to nowadays; now there are thousands of people walking around the Tidal Basin at this time of year. Polly's AgeAccording to the ship's manifest, our Polly was born 19 July 1907 in the District of Columbia. She was just shy of her 18th birthday in this photo. She sailed on a two week cruise aboard The Statendam from New York, New York Via West Indies between 22 February 1938 and 4 March 1938. Polly is also listed in the 1935 Washington, DC city with Clerk as occupation. Frolicking aroundon a sunny spring morning, Polly Freling (cute name) seizes the moment of happiness! Candidate for colorizationThis would be so great in color, though I'm sure it would be very hard. Sic transit Polly mundiPolly's clerical employment was with the National Recovery Administration, which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1935. She apparently knew how to throw a party, though, per this Aug. 21, 1935 "Federal Diary" item in the Washington Post. (The Gallery, D.C., Landscapes, Natl Photo)
Galaxy of Beauty: 1919
... July 26, 1919. Washington, D.C. "Bathing beach parade at Tidal Basin." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/13/2017 - 10:44am -

July 26, 1919. Washington, D.C. "Bathing beach parade at Tidal Basin." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. GALAXY OF BEAUTY PARADES AT BEACH Comely Damsels in Scant Attire Win Prizes for Their Appearance.         JULY 27 -- While more than 5,000 persons clambered to each other's shoulders and to roofs of nearby buildings to view the Annette Kellermanns at the first annual beach parade at the Tidal Basin yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Audrey O'Connor, 620 Maryland avenue southwest, was proclaimed by the judges as Washington's most beautiful girl in a bathing suit. Mrs. O'Connor wore a blue and orange jumper, blue cap and orange tights. Miss Dot Buckley, 1250 Tenth street northwest, received honorable mention in the contest. Her suit was a creation in red, white and blue.         First prize in the costume contest was awarded Mrs. Grace Fleishman, 5 Iowa circle, who wore a white silk suit with black and white border and a white silk hat. Miss Muriel Gibbs, costumed as Miss Liberty in stars and stripes, received honorable mention. Silver loving cups were awarded to the winners of both the beauty and the costume contests.         Following the parade of the score or more of beauties between cheering crowds of bathing beach fans, the former faced half a dozen movie machines and a battery of press cameras. Later one of the winners obligingly did a modified "shimmy dance" for the movie men. "Comely Damsels"I guess they've already left to collect their prizes? Guys haven't changed much"Bro" culture isn't anything new, apparently. If those dudes in the crowd were wearing backwards baseball caps they wouldn't look out of place at any college party or festival. Name and addressBack then you printed the name and address automatically. The equivalent today would be to print the cell# and email address of Miss America! But I imagine they had a much tighter leash on the crackpots and loony toon stalkers. These women lived with their parents who would greet any unsuitable man with sharp words and the door slamming in their face. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Pretty Girls, Swimming)
Both Sides Then: 1920
Washington, D.C., 1920. "Tidal Basin bathing beach -- Tom Miller, 1912 Irving Street N.E." National Photo ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/14/2016 - 1:55pm -

Washington, D.C., 1920. "Tidal Basin bathing beach -- Tom Miller, 1912 Irving Street N.E." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. No More Clowning AroundSadly, through a series of unfortunate mishaps, clowns have gone completely out of favour And the large gathering of happy spectators, through no intent nor fault of their own, accept it as completely normal that they are living in 1920. And they imagine at this precise moment in time, as we all do in carefree moments, that their lives will go on forever. Gentlemen, start your enginesI wonder if RuPaul's great-uncle was there somewhere! I'm ConfusedAt first I thought it was a beauty contest, but what's up with the two jokers waiting in the background? Love!This picture is fantastic. Long-lost sisterIt's Mary Poppins evil twin. TWO GUYSThe two guys standing over on the right side of the photo are an interesting pair. The one seems to be dressed as a hobo clown. Not so sure what the other guy is supposed to be. Showtime!The audience is applauding and the young lady has struck a pose suggesting the end of an act. And she looks like Bette Davis! Good times. The title should be "Windsong"Like a fever dream from "Eraserhead," that creepy shot will stay on my mind. No matter how hard I try not to think about it. Just gotta askIs that young lady a guy?? [Could there be a clue in the caption? Or the title? Or the photo? - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Swimming)
Juvie: 1922
... Triangle was displacing Ohio Avenue, development of the tidal basin/Potomac Park area created an opportunity for it to reappear in a much ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 9:44pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "House of Detention, Ohio Avenue N.W." Equipped with a nice playground. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Where Ohio reappearedAs construction of the Federal Triangle was displacing Ohio Avenue, development of the tidal basin/Potomac Park area created an opportunity for it to reappear in a much more casual setting, as Ohio Drive. The Buckeye State fared much better than the Hawkeye State, however. At the peak of Iowa's political power in Washington (with a native in the White House and eleven members in the U.S. House), Iowa Circle became Logan Circle. Iowa's place of honor is relegated to a short, irregular route through Sixteenth Street Heights. Go a bit too FarAnd here's your home away from home! Where did you go, Ohio?"In the 19th century, an Ohio Avenue did exist just south of and parallel to Pennsylvania Avenue. The avenue was obliterated in the early 20th century by the Federal Triangle complex proposed by the 1902 Senate Park Commission Plan. The United States Department of Commerce and the Internal Revenue Service currently sit on the path of the old Ohio Avenue." Both DC and Maryland TagsNote that the cars carried both DC and Maryland tags. There was not reciprocity between DC and Maryland at the time. My parents had stories of swapping tags at the DC line. Or elseSo that's the place where my mom was going to send me if I didn't straighten up my act. Although back then they called it reform school. The bars on the windows lend a nice homey touch. BTW, I was pretty sure she wouldn't do it -- but not sure enough to call her bluff. What is this House of Detention? Readers might ask: "What is this House of Detention, who is detained there, exactly where is it, and when was it opened?" Well, let's ask Mrs. W. C. Van Winkle ... HOUSE OF DETENTION. STATEMENT OF MRS. W. C. VAN WINKLE, DIRECTOR OF HOUSE OF DETENTION AND DIRECTOR OF WOMEN'S BUREAU, POLICE DEPARTMENT. Mr. DAVIS. We started this morning to go over the estimates for the House of Detention; and there are quite a few things here that even the commissioners, I am sorry to say, did not fully understand: and the suggestion was made that you come before the committee and fully inform us on certain matters. Will you give us a short description of the activities of the House of Detention, what part you play in them, etc. ? Mrs. VAN WINKLE. You know what the building is used for, do you not? Mr. DAVIS. I think I do; but perhaps you had better put it in the record. You know there are 435 Members of the House, and they do not know all that is to be known about these, things. Airs. VAN WINKLE. The House of Detention is a shelter for all juvenile delinquents. A delinquent in the District is a child under 17. That means that both boys and girls are sheltered there. All female offenders over 17; all stranded women and girls; all fugitives from institutions and from parents. Mr. DAVIS. Regardless of age? Mrs. VAN WINKLE. No, not of male prisoners over 17; but regardless of age of fugitives from institutions if they are females: and also little children who are fugitives from home. All the wards of the Board of Children's Guardians who are awaiting a home, or pending trial in the juvenile Court, and such cases as the judge of the Juvenile court determines must wait with us, even after trial in court, until sentence and final disposition. Mr. DAVIS. You are connected with the House of Detention in what way ? Mrs. VAN WINKLE. We formerly had policemen detailed to the house. When we moved into the new house at Fifteenth Street and Ohio Avenue on September 1, 1920, the chief of police detailed me as director of the House of Detention. He made me directly responsible for the care of the children in that house and for the discipline and direction of the employees. Mr. DAVIS. Do you have to do with the female policemen? Mrs. VAN WINKLE. I am Director of the Women's Bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department. Soap Box Derby on steroidsCan any Shorpsters identify the vehicle sitting at the left rear corner of Juvie Hall? Also, the awnings on the windows are a nice, homey touch on a pretty grim place. Emergency HospitalDoes anyone know if this building was previously used as the Emergency Hospital, which was described as standing at 15th and Ohio Avenue? Mystery CarThe car at the left corner is a Ford Model T speedster. Looks to be home-built. Cars like this were common in the 20s and 30s. Usually built by young men, they were considered quite rakish. Any and all help wanted.Folks, I am a novice historian of the Washington D.C. metropolitan Police. I would be very grateful for any information that could be forwarded to me. My site is; http://www.dcmetropolicecollector.com My e-mail address is guinness0298@yahoo.com Be Safe, Chuck (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Women of Color: 1924
A color version of this 1924 photo of Tidal Basin swimmers. View full size. True Colors? One can't wondering how ... 
 
Posted by Fredric Falcon - 10/28/2010 - 11:24pm -

A color version of this 1924 photo of Tidal Basin swimmers. View full size. True Colors?One can't wondering how accurate the colorization is. We who haunt the Shorpy site are so used to viewing black-and-white photos that if we could travel back to the 1920s or earlier, we might be shocked by the vividness of people's dress, signs, etc. Still, we should not be - no doubt the people of that time did not live in a world of varying gray tones any more than we do. Colorization is usually guessworkI know what you mean about the accuracy of the colors. Unless the colorizer takes the time to do a lot of research on the colors of clothes, signs, and so on, colorization is all guesswork. On the woman with the yellow trim on her swimsuit, I remember that I chose those colors because the style of the suit looked rather goofy and I couldn't picture the colors being anything but kind of weird, too, and faded. Considering the way people laundered clothes in those days, I believe most colors faded after a few washings, so I try to mute them when colorizing a picture. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Colorized Photos)
The New Look: 1949
... on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial against backdrop of Tidal Basin and Washington Monument." Photo by Toni Frissell, of "Floating Lady" ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/23/2013 - 3:25pm -

June 1949. "Fashion model posing in evening gown on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial against backdrop of Tidal Basin and Washington Monument." Photo by Toni Frissell, of "Floating Lady" fame. View full size. Red carpet lookSubtract the gloves, and that dress could be worn on the red carpet by a Hollywood actress for a modern-day awards show. The look is just as beautiful now as it was 64 years ago. P.S. to Mr Mel: Neck too long? No problem! Nowadays, the Photoshop team at Vogue will take care of that long neck before the issue goes to print! Nobody's PerfectHer neck is too long. You can't be too rich.Or have a neck too long. SensuousHer neck is too long for, ummm, what? Even the obelisk becomes suggestive. Beautiful. She isperfect. Absolutely the New Look!Everything about this very graceful photo says current day America! Clothing style and upswept hair are all back. The plunging neckline must have been a rarity back then, yet we see that everywhere now. This beautiful young model must now be an octogenarian -- how fast time goes! With apologies to MaeIs that a monument on the horizon? Or is Washington just glad to see her? No complaint on her figureShe looks like the prototype for Audrey Hepburn, one of the most glamorous people ever to be seen on the big screen. Check out my color version.Here it is! (The Gallery, D.C., Pretty Girls, Toni Frissell)
Bumper to Bumper: 1920
... Photo taken in Potomac Park looking back toward the Tidal Basin with the old 14th Street Bridge in the background? Metz Drive ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/25/2012 - 11:55am -

Washington, D.C., 1920. "Lanza Motors Co. -- Greenwich Village Girls -- Metz Master Six." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. He looks rakish and obviously is enjoying the ladies in his automobile, on the far left of the screen. This is our idea of what parking will be like in the future. You're Under ArrestOK listen up, the driver of the second car from the left, DC Plate D-3-995, step out of the vehicle and put your hands up. The charge, driving without a hat. Don't tread on meOr it should be, no tread on me (the tires that is). They all can't be bald, can they? Tread cost extraThe era was coming to a close but tread on your tires was still a premium feature. Black coloring cost more too but it got popular fast when people realized it made the tires wear longer. Time travelerin the second car from the left. Mr Sunglasses looks out of place, making sure he's seen above windshield. Rare to see someone wearing them in 1920. ["Sunglasses" as a retail marketing term didn't become common until after the late 1920s, but tinted spectacles, serving the same purpose, have been around much longer. They were common enough in 1920 to be sold at a military PX as shown in this Shorpy photo] Metz DriveMetz cars had a unique continuously variable transmission (now called CVT) that became known as Metz Drive. Some of today's new garden tractors employ a version of the Metz Drive system. Dealer PlatesI assume the "D" on 3 of the license plates stands for "Dealer"? I guess the rakish guy on the left had already purchased his car. Photo taken in Potomac Park looking back toward the Tidal Basin with the old 14th Street Bridge in the background? Metz DriveFar from being unique, the right angle friction drive is an age old variation on a windmill transmission. Many cars besides Metz used this super cheap method back in the day when they couldn't be bothered or hadn't the funds to design a proper gearbox. Merely access Friction Drive on Wikipedia for details. The system was present on my 1960 Lawnboy garden tractor, when as a child living in the country who desperately wanted a new-fangled go-kart, settled for the far more practical tractor and its 4 mph top speed for my forays into the woods. It worked well with 2.5 horsepower most of the time, and had for all that an amazing gearbox driven off the friction wheel. Kind of half-baked. Nevertheless, despite the fine engineering and great engine that Outboard Marine lavished on Lawnboys back then, the limitations of friction drive meant I was constantly replacing the friction element, and that cut into my allowance in the worst way. The tractor itself was bought from funds relatives had apparently given me as a first-born, not by my parents! Still, it was stuff like that and my need to understand things in detail which led to a mechanical engineering degree and career. I never was tempted to employ Friction Drive again, though! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Jammin': 1919
1919. Washington, D.C. "Beauty contests at Tidal Basin." Stand back, fellows, and give the ladies some room! Harris & Ewing ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 9:09pm -

1919. Washington, D.C. "Beauty contests at Tidal Basin." Stand back, fellows, and give the ladies some room! Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. 1, 2, 3I look at this photo and think immediately of three things: hot chicks, tuberculosis and polio. Thankfully, in that order. NewsreelsInstead of local TV coverage of a later era, it looks like four Biograph movie cameras there on the left. Film at eleven, at the Orpheum. Looks familiarSaw this scene on "MTV Beach Party" a few weeks ago. The bathing costumes were different, of course. Autre temps, autre mores Where are the tattoos?Apparently in that age, ink belonged in the pen, in the inkwell or on paper. Large format snapshotsApart from the several movie cameras in evidence, there is one (that I can see) collapsible-bellows camera. It is being carried by the man facing us, with what appears to be 'US' embroidered on the front of his swimwear. My mother owned a similar type of camera back in the 1930's/1940's, which gave sterling service well into the late 1950's, until the corners on the bellows started to fray and let the light in. IncredibleThis picture has every face and darn near the poses of Rennaisance Art! Ah, the beauty of Humanity. And Photography. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Swimming)
Rites of Spring: 1927
... D.C., circa 1927. "Cherry blossoms -- dancers at Tidal Basin." Ethereally moldy. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/06/2013 - 7:48pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1927. "Cherry blossoms -- dancers at Tidal Basin." Ethereally moldy. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Whoops, dammitNote to self: Store the cases for the camera gear behind the camera, not in the scene. Next time. Looks surrealI love the effect the mold gives the image. Makes it look almost like a high key image. Such a contrast to the way the girls are dressed compared to the rather stuffy looking onlookers. SpectacularSometimes a Shorpy photo just stands out as something special. For me, this is one of those photos. Scarf dancingThere was quite a bit of this terpsichore going on throughout the 20's and even earlier. The chief ingredient was at least one or more fetching young persons scantily clad in diaphanous, scarf-like garments such as could be imagined to invoke classic Greece. The presentations differed very little in terms of dance style, the main distinction between various groups being the amount of undergarments worn. It was all about beauty and freedom and liberation, and I congratulate them all for their efforts. The founder of the style was of course Isadora Duncan, who met an ignominious end in the year of this photo when one of her famous flowing scarves became entangled both around her neck and the wheel of an automobile. A Murder of Crowsdescribes the non-diaphanously black-clothed onlookers, who have gathered to observe what must have been a spontaneous (and oh-so-titillating) photo shoot. Love the dancer's street shoes strewn almost carelessly on the slope nearby, contrasting with the bags set down neatly in a row. Pretty cool. [The somber onlookers strike me as Goreyesque. -Dave] Cool dancersJudging by the attire on the onlookers, this must have been a very chilly day to be dressed as lightly as the lovely dancers are! It looks like they had just barely removed their outerwear and kicked their shoes off before assuming that pose! Movement 101Sorry, but all that comes to my mind when I see such stilted, soporific scenes is Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn and company busting their studiously aesthetic moves in "The Music Man." (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Pretty Girls)
Strike Up the Band: 1925
... end of the Highway bridge, will be opened today. With the Tidal basin closed, the bathing at the beach will be one of the leading attractions, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 10:46am -

"Arlington Beach." Circa 1925, the dance pavilion at the amusement park across the Potomac from Washington. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Replacing bulbsAn interesting structure for sure, requiring a lot of skilled labor to piece together all those angle joints. It appears this was lit with a series of small bulbs running up the underside of each truss. Probably gave a nice atmosphere but I wonder how they got up there to replace them which must have had to be done often. Does this structure still exist? [Torn down in 1929. - Dave] Disco Ball!And here I thought Disco balls dated from the Disco era. I wonder if that ball actually managed to survive into the Disco era, somehow. In case anybody wants one...those mirrored balls are still available for $34.99 at the party store. And I thought that we psychedelic hippies invented them. Dance pavilionsWhat memories. I think there were dance pavilions up to WW2. We would drive out from Detroit to Walled Lake with its dance pavilion and really enjoy the dancing. This was the summer of '41 before Pearl Harbor and it has not been the same since. Lions and Rotarians, and Shriners, oh my!I like the banners of all the lodges surrounding the ceiling. I can't imagine..the carpentry/framing skills required to build something like this.With all the odd angles and radial trusses,must of been quite a challenge, even for true craftsmen. Room for 1,000 Washington Post, May 23, 1925 Arlington Beach, Many Attractions Added, Opens Today Bathing Facilities Enlarged; Dance Pavilion to Accommodate 1,000 With many added attractions, Arlington beach, Washington's only bathing beach, located at the south end of the Highway bridge, will be opened today. With the Tidal basin closed, the bathing at the beach will be one of the leading attractions, and realizing this the management has announced that 2,500 new bathing suits, 4,000 new steel lockers and several shower baths have been added. The beach this year will be operated under the management of Jesse Thomas and Lloyd Schafffer. Mr. Thomas said no expense has been spared to make the park one of the leading amusement places of Washington this year. The leading Washington orchestra will furnish music for dancing in the pavilion, which will accommodate more than 1,000 persons. While the roller coaster will not be ready for the opening, work is being rushed, and it will be completed in a few days. Mr. Thomas said that the management this year will specialize in making Arlington beach a family resort and a place for all-day outings for clubs, schools, lodges and church societies. Ample room has been provided for parking. Thanks again, Shorpy!Once again, you have revealed a gem from the past. I marvel at all the man hours and wood that went into the construction of this big ol' barn. I can't help but wonder how the music sounded as it bounced off this cavernous structure with dancers on deck. I believe Brunelleschi himself would appreciate this dome. Breaker, breaker, for a Walled LakerAh, yes, good old Walled Lake: See it larger here. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports)
Texas Tourists: 1920
... has been the mecca for the tin-can tourist. Where the tidal basin basks at night under the hush of the star-flecked sky, where the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/22/2013 - 9:10am -

Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1920. "Dr. A.A. Foster and family of Dallas, Texas." A second look at the auto-tourists seen here yesterday, and their modified Model T Ford. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Not Just a CageThe cage walls are bed springs. I'd bet they either fold down for sleeping or detach to be set up as cots. Cheap But Seldom CheerfulThe best feature of a Model T (aside from the admittedly low purchase price) was that almost anything one did to change it resulted in something better than that with which one started. Tin-Can Tourists Washington Post, August 21, 1921. Washington Is the Mecca of Open Air Auto Tourist Washington this season has been the mecca for the tin-can tourist. Where the tidal basin basks at night under the hush of the star-flecked sky, where the moonlight falls in soft spray on the banks of the Potomac, just east of the railroad bridge, the officials have designated a spot where the tin-can tourist may make his bed. There he is cushioned on tufted lawn far away from the hue and cry of the city, out of the canopy of heaven, but near enough at all times to be within reach of things that civilization demands. … The main attraction to touring in this fashion, all the tourists agree, is that it gives opportunity to study the country, its peoples and their ways. … All agree that the West is where they find the greatest hospitality. The East is not yet ready for the open-air tourist. For the most part, the tourists run well into age. That is, some of them are nearing the 80-year-old mark. Occasionally there are middle-aged couples, who have with them their children, and once in a while there is a young couple on their honeymoon. … MomShe still looks just as thrilled. [Waiting for someone to invent Four-Zone Climate Control. - Dave] Axe mountI just wanted to point out the slick axe mount on the side of the car. Perfect for clearing the road of fallen trees I suppose. Kid cage!"Throw the kids in the cage, Maw, it's time to shove off!" Noting safer for the lil ones than a wire mesh matress-padded compartment for travel. "With roll-down curtains, in case there's a change in the weather." Pop Up CamperVery practical bed arrangement. The beds fold up to keep the kids on board during travel and fold down outside the camper to make beds at night. Similar to a modern day tent camper. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Dogs, Harris + Ewing, Kids)
Role Model: 1924
... 7, 1924. "Warren Kealoha, Hawaiian Olympic swimmer, at Tidal Basin." Warren, closest to the camera, won the gold in the men's 100-meter ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2012 - 3:05pm -

August 7, 1924. "Warren Kealoha, Hawaiian Olympic swimmer, at Tidal Basin." Warren, closest to the camera, won the gold in the men's 100-meter backstroke in 1920 and 1924. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Kealoha Obit Washington Post, Sep 10, 1972 Olympic Champion Warren Kealoha Dies HONOLULU, Sep 9 (AP)--Warren D. Kealoha, 69, winner of gold medals in the 100-meter backstroke swimming event at the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, died Friday. Mr. Kealoha, then 16, introduced the alternating arms stroke in setting a world's record 1:14.8 in the backstroke event as the "baby" of the U.S. Olympic team in 1920 at Antwerp Belgium. Yell Them To SafetyI guess that lifeguard with the blow horn would have to undo his bow tie if he ever had to actually dive into the water to save someone. I think he would rather just yell them to safety. Help, HelpFunny seeing that hand sticking up out of water at the left. Warren KealohaWarren Kealoha retired from competition and became a successful rancher. About those days: "It wasn't easy for Hawaiians to get to the Olympics back in those days," Warren says, "or I might have had a chance at my third Olympics in 1928." Warren Kealoha had more trouble getting to his races than winning them. "We had to break a world record before they could afford to send us to the Mainland," he says, "then when we arrived by boat and out of shape, we had to beat all comers on the West coast, again in Chicago, and again in New York before we finally made the Olympic team." Some web pages indicate he swam against contemporary Johnny Weissmuller but the facts seems mixed. Washington Monument FallingDoesn't it look like the Washington Monument is leaning? [OMG. Not only that, but the entire horizon is tilting to the right! - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports, Swimming)
Four Bathing Beauties (Colorized)
... Kellermanns at the first annual beach parade at the Tidal basin yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Audrey O'Connor, 620 Maryland Avenue southwest, ... 
 
Posted by UK George - 06/30/2011 - 7:49am -

Colorized version of Bathing Beach Parade, 1919. View full size. LibertyI'm pretty sure that Gibbs as Liberty is the first from the left - the headwear I think is a representation of the statue's. Not sure what the two on the far left have come as :) Patriotic FootwearLove the Shoes & Socks! In the photo (left-to-right): Dot Buckley, Audrey O'Connor (holding silver loving cup for "Washington's most beautiful girl in a bathing suit"), Muriel Gibbs, and Grace Fleishman (holding silver loving cup for "First prize in the costume contest"). Or perhaps the order is Gibbs, O'Connor, Buckley and Fleishman. The press description of the girls outfits is below. What do you think? Washington Post, Jul 27, 1919. Galaxy of Beauty Parades at the Beach. Comely Damsels in Scant Attire Win Prizes for Their Appearance. While more than 5,000 persons clambered to each other's shoulders and to the roofs of nearby buildings to view the Annette Kellermanns at the first annual beach parade at the Tidal basin yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Audrey O'Connor, 620 Maryland Avenue southwest, was proclaimed by the judges as Washington's most beautiful girl in a bathing suit. Mrs. O'Conner wore a blue and orange jumper, blue cap and orange tights. Miss Dot Buckley, 1250 Tenth street northwest, received honorable mention in the contest. her suit was a creation in red, white and blue. First prize in the costume contest was awarded to Mrs. Grace Fleishman, 5 Iowa circle, who wore a white silk suit, with black and white border and a white silk hat. Miss Muriel Gibbs, costumed as Miss Liberty in stars and stripes, received honorable mention. Silver loving cups were awarded to the winners of both the beauty and costume contests. Following the parade of the score or more of the beauties between the cheering crowds of bathing beach fans, the former faced half a dozen movie machines and a battery of press cameras. Later one of the winners obligingly did a modified "shimmy dance" for the movie men. Outstanding!This is really outstanding. I'm usually not one for colorizing (because of the skin tones) but this is really exceptional. Skin tones look beautiful, hair has highlights and the colors are vibrant! Outstanding work! Bravo! Audrey O'ConnorWhile colorized version is nicely done, Audrey's loving cup is actually copper, not silver. Audrey is my paternal grandmother. (Colorized Photos)
Made It Myself: 1922
... "Washington Advertising Club bathing costume contest at Tidal Basin." Our second look at the stylish entry of Miss Anna Niebel, the "former ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/29/2014 - 9:17pm -

June 17, 1922. "Washington Advertising Club bathing costume contest at Tidal Basin." Our second look at the stylish entry of Miss Anna Niebel, the "former Follies girl" who took first place. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. The Winning SwimsuitI think this suit won because it covers everything yet conceals nothing. NiceShoes Young and SmylieOur award-winning seamstress looks like she fell into a barrel of licorice sticks. Someone's missingOdd to see a swimsuit photo without Shorpy pinup favorite Miss Iola Swinnerton being represented. Twenty-Four Years...from here to the first Bikini. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Pretty Girls, Swimming)
Political Animal: 1924
... Location That Arlington Beach sure looks like the Tidal Basin beach. Note the faint Washington Monument and Old Post Office Building ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2012 - 9:45am -

July 30, 1924. "Hazel Watson, Eleanor Howell and Marjie Peacock at Arlington Beach." View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. Reminds meof my ex and how she'd waste the entire day at the beach. [Sitting around on her you know what? - Dave] Niceshoes. Nice legsNice legs, too. No, not the burro's. The ladies' legs. It would've been nice if the photographer had recorded more of what his subjects were up to on all of these photos. It's nice to see he included the names of these ladies. I can almost imagine these three friends just took off to the beach on a lark? Left work early for the beach? But who knows, more of the truth is lost to the ages. LocationThat Arlington Beach sure looks like the Tidal Basin beach. Note the faint Washington Monument and Old Post Office Building on the horizon at left. (The Gallery, D.C., Horses, Natl Photo)
Warren Kealoha: 1924
... 7, 1924. "Warren Kealoha, Hawaiian Olympic swimmer, at Tidal Basin bathing pavilion." National Photo Company glass negative. View full ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2012 - 12:04pm -

August 7, 1924. "Warren Kealoha, Hawaiian Olympic swimmer, at Tidal Basin bathing pavilion." National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. "Suits Rented""Just wait a few minutes, Sir. I'm sure one in your size will come in." The Pause That RefreshesWarren's friend must not be Hawaiian. He cannot seem to stand the heat. He is struggling to hold up that fencepost. I'll bet he could use one of those sodas being delivered in the rear. Warren KealohaWarren won the 1920 Olympic Gold Medal in the 100m Backstroke in Antwerp and repeated in 1924 in Paris. The 1920 team also included his brother Pua Kealoha and the legendary Duke Kahanamoku who defended the 100m Freestyle title he won at the previous Olympics... in 1912. The 1924 team also featured Duke Kahanamoku, his younger brother Samuel and a haole named Johnny Weismuller who beat Duke in the 100m and won two other gold medals. 1920, 2008At the 1920 Olympics Warren Kealoha swam the 100-meter backstroke with a finishing time of 1:15:20 to win the Gold Medal. At the 2008 Olympics Aaron Peirsol swam the 100m backstroke with a finishing time of 0:52:54 to win the Gold Medal. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports)
Thoroughly Modern: 1922
July 1922. Washington, D.C. "Snapped at the Tidal Basin: Mildred Kapleck with her pet opossum, the latest novelty introduced at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/18/2016 - 6:18pm -

July 1922. Washington, D.C. "Snapped at the Tidal Basin: Mildred Kapleck with her pet opossum, the latest novelty introduced at the bathing beach." Harris & Ewing glass negative for The Washington Post. View full size. Changing room basket tag?Our town pool, as late as the 70's, still used those round disc tags; the tag had the number of the basket in which you left your street clothes. However, instead of wearing them around the neck, ours had short elasticized cords so you could wear it on a wrist or ankle. Where's his sun glasses?Fairly certain possums are nocturnal and being in the sun is probably why he looks so miserable. In rural Louisiana some kids (pre-1970) would keep the young ones as pets until they grew their big, sharp front teeth, then out the door back to Mother Nature. So beautifulI love the simple beauty of the girl in the photo. Not trying to be, but is just so lovely just sitting there. Great photo. (The Gallery, Animals, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Swimming)
H.E.F. and A.W.L.: 1914
... Leonard was one of its photographers. They're at the Tidal Basin on the Inlet Bridge, with the Washington Monument in back. National Photo ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/07/2012 - 9:08pm -

Washington circa 1914. "H.E.F. & A.W.L. in Detroiter." Herbert E. French, driving, was the owner of National Photo Company; "Artie" Leonard was one of its photographers. They're at the Tidal Basin on the Inlet Bridge, with the Washington Monument in back. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Possibly A. W. Leonard...Was looking through the LOC holdings of National Photo Company and found a photo of A.W. Leonard - he's probably this person. [Indeed. It is National Photo photographer A.W. "Artie" Leonard. I'll add that information to the caption. Thank you, Bob Dole! - Dave] Car IDI'm curious about the make of car. How 'bout a close shot of the rear hubcap?? [As it says in the caption, the car is a Detroiter. - Dave] Briggs-DetroiterThere is very little info out there on these. The Detroiter seems to have been an "assembled" car with some tenuous connection to the wreckage of the United States Motor Company. De-lightedThis photo confirms my suspicion that there were once lights on the Inlet Bridge. Just metal caps there today. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Queen Anna: 1922
... of the judges." June 17, 1922. "Winning costume at Tidal Basin bathing beach style contest ." Harris & Ewing Collection glass ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/02/2018 - 3:36pm -

      "Miss Anna Niebel, former Follies girl who lives at 1370 Harvard Street northwest, won first prize by unanimous vote of the judges." June 17, 1922. "Winning costume at Tidal Basin bathing beach style contest." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Different times, different moralsWow, can you imagine posting the home address of a beauty contest winner today? There would be heck to pay! Beautiful Girls Are Like OpiumThe title of one of the songs from her only credit at the Internet Broadway Database: "The Midnight Rounders of 1921." Other forgotten tunes from the show include "Sprinkle Me with Diamonds," "Would You Like to Sleep Upon My Pillow?" and "Snap a Wishbone with Me." PrincessIf Anna is queen, does that make second-prize-winning Iola the princess? Not a bad title, really. The queen is generally stately, responsible, solemn. The princess is adventurous, risk-taking, hot. Snail MailPrinting someone's home address was the equivalent of posting their Instagram account or email address. It was probably the only way to contact them. I suspect the ladies surrendered their addresses in the hopes of fan mail and maybe job offers. [Actually this was standard practice for just about anyone who was the subject of a newspaper article -- addresses were given for obituaries, weddings, car accidents, robberies, graduations, etc. The quote is from an item in the Washington Post. - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Pretty Girls, Swimming)
Potomac Park: 1908
... Potomac Park." The Washington Monument flanked by the Tidal Basin and Old Post Office. View full size. Is it true the monument ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/07/2019 - 1:35pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1908. "The Boulevard, Potomac Park." The Washington Monument flanked by the Tidal Basin and Old Post Office. View full size. Is it truethe monument is 555 feet 5.5 inches tall? Two-toned towerIf you look at the enlarged picture of the Washington Monument, you can see the point at which construction stopped and resumed about a third of the way up. Construction of the monument began in 1848, and was halted from 1854 to 1877 due to a lack of funds, a struggle for control over the Washington National Monument Society, and the intervention of the American Civil War. When construction resumed, they could no longer get stone from the original quarry and that's why there is a slight difference in color between the two sections. When the monument was capped, they used a very rare and expensive metal for the time: aluminum. As this incredible picture I saved from this very website clearly shows: Times have surely changedThe old Post Office, now a Trump hotel. And just south of the monumentunder a manhole cover, is a 12 foot high version of it, used as a survey marker. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/washington-mini-monument 6,665⅛ inchesWhen finished, the monument topped out at 555 feet 5⅛ inches. At the time it was the tallest building in the world. It is now nearly a foot shorter than that. One of the myths in Washington is that there is a law that no building in the city can be taller than the Washington Monument. There is a height restriction law, but it has nothing to do with the monument. Another myth, which I've spent 25 years telling tourists while working at the U.S. Capitol, is that the color change in the monument was caused by the "great flood of 1856." (The Gallery, D.C., DPC)
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