The Passion of Former Days

The West End is Awakening

2012-03-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

London Transport suggests we visit the West End, London's entertainment district, for theatres, cinemas, and general going out. 1920s and 30s [except one].

Poster by Ernest Michael Dinkel, 1931. Source

Poster by Harold Sandys Williamson, 1939. Source

Poster by Harold Sandys Williamson. Source

Poster by Stanislaus S. Longley, 1933. Source

Poster by Mary Adshead, 1937. Source

Poster by Victor Hembrow, 1926. Source

Poster by Dora M. Batty, 1925. Source

Poster by Doris Zinkeisen, 1939. Source

Poster by John Farleigh, 1923. Source

Poster by Charles Pears, 1930. Source

Poster by Charles Atkinson, 1933. Source

Poster by Margaret Calkin James, 1929. Source

Poster by Marc Fernand Severin, 1938. Source

Poster by Dora M. Batty, 1925. Source

Poster by Tom Eckersley and Eric Lombers, 1935. Source

Poster by Alma Faulkner, 1925. Source

Poster by Verney L. Danvers, 1926. Source

Poster by Charles Pears, 1930. Source

Poster by Molly Moss, 1950. Source

Crystal Palace

2012-03-12T09:15:00.000-06:00

The Crystal Palace was originally erected in Hyde Park, central London, for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Afterwards, it was taken apart and re-constructed in a slightly new form in south London, where it stood until burning down in the 1930s. These photographs come from that reconstruction. By Philip Henry Delamotte, 1854.

Source

The Crystal Palace in its new grounds. Source

Source

The reconstruction site. Source

Source

Workers taking a dinner [lunch] break. Source

An artisan painting one of the statues in the Egyptian Court. Source

Statues in state in the Egyptian Court. Source

Source

The Great Nave. Source

Queen Victoria at the re-opening ceremonies, 1854. Source

The Italian Front

2012-03-11T09:15:00.001-06:00

Photographer Margaret Bourke-White was the first female war correspondent, fixed at the front line through most of WWII. These photographs come from her time with the U. S. army in Italy, 1944. The photographs are uncaptioned, but telling nonetheless.

Source

It's War

2012-03-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

Men and women read news of the outbreak of the Korean War, Hollywood, 1950.

Source

(a flipped negative). Source

Source

Scotland Yard

2012-03-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

The people, places, and experiences of Scotland Yard-- London's police service-- in 1967.

A policeman uses a two-way radio. Source

A Scotland Yard squad car patrols central London. Source

A policeman handling a dispute. Source

A policeman in front of Scotland Yard. Source

Scotland Yard policemen patrol Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park. Source

Constable Jock Davidson trains police dog Pitch at Scotland Yard. Source

Pitch demonstrates his ability to sniff out marijuana. Source

A portrait of Pitch. Source

A breathalyzer demonstration at Scotland Yard. Source

A TV official describes Scotland Yard operations. Source

The Scotland Yard science lab. Source

A science lab thingy. Source

Criminal records at Scotland Yard. Source

Mounted police in Hyde Park. Source

A nighttime river patrol on the Thames. Source

Parachute Training

2012-03-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Belgian and British paratroopers train. England, 1942, unless otherwise noted.

Trainees drop through this apparatus on command, to learn how to fall in an erect position. Source

A different version of jumping practice, this time in Egypt. Source

Jump exercises [I think the lines on this and a few other photographs are the photographer's marks on where to crop]. Source

Equipment isn't even needed. Source

Source

A paratroop recruit jumps from a parachute tower. Source

Landing practice. Source

WAAF members who pack parachutes. Between them, these seven women have packed over 50,000 parachutes. 1944. Source

Trainees head off for the first practice jump, Egypt. Source

People of the 1840s

2012-03-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

Amazing portraits from the photographic team of David Octavious Hill and Robert Adamson, working in Edinburgh in the 1840s. Adamson set up the first photographic studio in Scotland in 1843, using the calotype process [as opposed to daguerreotype, the other main process of early photography]; Hill was a painter. Their experimentation and creativity led to some of the most striking photographs of the era, before coming to a sad end when Adamson died suddenly aged 27. [source]

Photographs from 1843-1847.

Sir John Steell, sculptor. Source

Charlotte Lockhart, granddaughter of Sir Walter Scott. Source

James Drummond, painter and curator of the National Gallery of Scotland. Source

George Coombe, phrenologist. Source

Lady Elizabeth Eastlake, writer. Source

Isabella Burns, youngest sister of Robert Burns. Source

Mr. Laing (or Laine). Source

James Nasmyth, inventor of the steam hammer. Source

Mohun Lal. Source

Harriet Farnie, Miss Farnie, and sleeping puppy Brownie. Source

Sir George Harvey, painter. Source

Sandy (or James) Linton with his boat and children. Source

George Troup and William Gibson. Source

Thomas Duncan, artist. Source

Hugh Miller, geologist and author. Source

Willie Liston, fisherman. Source

Sophia Finlay and Harriet Farnie. Source

James Ballantine, Dr. George Bell and photographer David Octavius Hill have a drink and a laugh. Source

Anne Chalmers. Source

Finlay, deerstalker. Source

Alexander Rutherford, William Ramsay, and John Liston. Source

A Newhaven [ship's] pilot. Source

Photographer David Octavius Hill with his daughter Charlotte. Source

Spring Calling, London Listening

2012-03-06T09:15:00.001-07:00

Wonderful London Transport posters that can't but cheer you up, whether it's spring or you just wish it was (or you're in the Southern Hemisphere and it's late summer!).

Poster by Hawley Morgan, 1916. Source

Poster by Alma Faulkner, 1928. Source

Poster by Ugo Mochi, 1923. Source

Poster by Dora M. Batty, 1933. Source

Poster by Herry Perry, 1935. Source

Poster by A. A. Moore, 1926. Source

Poster by Gwynedd M. Hudson, 1929. Source

Poster by F. Gregory Brown, 1940. Source

Poster by Albert E. Fruin, 1920. Source

Poster by D. Mullock, 1929. Source

Poster by Albert E. Fruin, 1922. Source

Poster by Edward McKnight Kauffer, 1936. Source

Poster by Edward McKnight Kauffer, 1937. Source

Poster by Charles Paine, 1928. Source

Poster by Dora M. Batty, 1927. Source

Poster by Anna Katrina Zinkeisen, 1934. Source

Poster by Edward McKnight Kauffer, 1922. Source

Poster by Freda Lingstrom, 1924. Source

Poster by James Henry Dowd, 1925. Source

Poster by Frank Newbould, 1921. Source

Poster by Dora M. Batty, 1930. Source

Poster by Walter E. Spradbery, 1936. Source

Poster by Thomas Derrick, 1927. Source

Poster by Frank Newbould, 1922. Source

Poster by Aldo Cosomati, 1928. Source

Poster by Alma Faulkner, 1928. Source

Posters by Keith Henderson, 1935. Source

Regards to Broadway

2012-03-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

Out and about on Broadway, NYC, 1944. Photographs by Peter Stackpole.

Source

A billboard that blows smoke rings. Source

Source

Cat Testing

2012-03-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Ah, yes, the random things you find browsing the LIFE archives. What on earth was going on in these photo was a mystery to me until I discovered you can get the entire LIFE archive on Google Books, which is amazing. I still don't quite know what's going on, but I have a slight bit of context!

Interestingly, these are from the December 1, 1941 issue; fascinating and somewhat unnerving to read in light of what was about to happen.

Cats run into the testing room. Source

In this experiment, the cats undo their cages (with food as a motivator) and the scientists observes how the interact when they come out. Source

Sometimes they share the food; these ones aren't gonna! Source

In this one, the cats have to work together to pull the strings and get the food. Source

Source

Cat close-up. Source

Cage undoing. Source

Anything for food. Source

Then of course there's the classic, put a kitten in a maze test. Source

Source

Worthwhile research indeed! Source

War Fair

2012-03-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

A fair in 1943 London, set up in Russell Squre as a part of the Holidays at Home Campaign. All the classics, like raffles, ice cream substitute and hammer-the-nail-into-Hitler's-coffin!

The attractions at the fair. Source

A WAAF woman plays a penny rolling game. Source

Adults and children enjoy a horse racing game. Source

A civilian, soldier, and airman watch the festivities. Source

A little boy and his mother play a game of magnetic fishing. Source

A Dutch sailor buys a raffle ticket from Red Cross cadets. The prize is that model battleship. Source

A little girl tastes her chocolate substitute ice cream cone. Source

Source

For a Red Cross donation, people can take a ride around the square in a horse-drawn carriage. Source

Civilians watch a roulette-type game. Source

A woman takes aim in a shooting game. Source

A little girl eats a piece of cake and regards the photographer. Source

Actor Derek de Marnay leads an auction for a small green banana-- an extreme rarity in wartime England. Source

More of the auction. The banana ended up selling for 5 pounds! Source

RAF men play a game. Original caption:"The Royal Air Force is always on the target - even at a fair"! Source

Two nurses play a shooting game. Source

A Red Cross woman supervises a boy attempting to drive a nail into Hitler's coffin [you thought I was making that up?] Source

Winter in Minnesota

2012-03-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

These pictures make me cold just looking at them. Northwest Angle, Minnesota, 1950.

Walking home from a school in a blizzard. Source

A cold horse. Source

A man hauls firewood towards his house. Source

A hay mower buried in the snow. Source

A sleigh cuts across a frozen lake. Source

A horse forages for grass beneath the snow. Source

Carrying frozen laundry into the house, where apparently they'll dry fast. Source

A man in his wind sled out hunting for timber wolves. Source

Men cutting ice blocks from a frozen lake. Source

A dog swims through the snow. Source

A man pours boiling water into a pump to unfreeze it. Source

Newlyweds in the snow in front of their house. Source

Blowing snow and low sun. Source

Kids nibble at the snow up to their chins. Source

A 12 year old boy dressed for the cold. Source

A boy rides a cow towards a watering hole in the ice. Source

A lighthouse in a frozen lake. Source

More Faces of World War One

2012-03-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

Definitely time for another one of these. (More)

James Nash (2nd Lieutenant). Source

George Alfred Batson (2nd Corporal, Royal Engineers. Killed in 1915). Source

Kenneth George Haslam Ford (Lieutenant, Cheshire Regiment. Killed in 1915, age 20). Source

Harold Jordan (Stoker Petty Officer). Source

Oliver Curtis New (Lance Corporal, Machine Gun Corps. Killed 1918, age 24) Source

J. A. Naylor (Captain, London Rifle Brigade). Source

Clive Townsend Thompson (driver, Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Imperial Force. Killed at Passchendaele, 1917). Source

E. St. V. Nepean, (Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery). Source

An unnamed man of the Royal Flying Corps. Source

John Edward Newton (Private, Northumberland Fusiliers. Killed 1917). Source

R. C. Thompson (Lieutenant, ANZAC). Source

W. Neill (Private, Northumberland Fusiliers) Source

R. R. Wood (Lieutenant). Source

Stewart Hugh Joseph (Major, Royal Engineers. Killed in Flanders, 1917). Source

James Hope Nelson (2nd Lieutenant, Reserve Cavalry). Source

J. A. Jordan (Private, Worcestershire Regiment). Source

George Tinsley Thompson (Sergeant, New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade. Killed at Gallipoli, 1915, age 24). Source

K. F. Nichol (2nd Lieutenent, RFC/RAF). Source

On Air

2012-02-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Ah, the days of radio.

Al Jolson being Al Jolson on a CBS radio broadcast, 1943. Source

Comedian Jack Benny plays his violin into the microphone on his radio show, 1944. Source

Bing Crosby does his radio show, avec pipe. Source

President Roosevelt talks about neutrality in a radio broadcast, 1939. Source

Dinah Shore and her dog take part in a radio show, 1942. Source

This one comes just with the caption "Radio". Helpful, eh? Source

Jack Benny and Jascha Heiftetz play in a broadcast for overseas troops, 1942. Source

The first, illegal broadcast of Radio Wales by Plaid Cymru, North Wales, 1959. Source

Mary Maguire being interviewed on the radio in Brisbane, Australia, 1936. Source

Recording a radio play in the Netherlands, 1949. Source

A horse in a Houston radio station, undated. Source

Flo Thompson reads fairy tales to children in a radio station studio, 1942. Source

Roving radio interviews, undated. Source

A radio play recording in Detroit, 1937. Source

Three teenage girls sing into a radio microphone, Augusta, Georgia, 1942. Source

Actress Gertrude Lawrence and her sound effects guy on stage at her radio show, 1943. Source

Larry Raine, a radio singer, undated (40s/50s). Source

Actress and singer Ethel Walters in a broadcast for men overseas, 1942. Source

Harvey Hudson (I don't know which one he is, though!) and another man, Richmond, Virginia, 1949. Source

A conductor leads his orchestra during a Sunday evening radio program, Detriot, 1945. Source

General Douglas MacArthur gives a speech after arriving back in the US, San Francisco, 1951. Source

Comedian Jack Benny and his wife Mary Livingston perform on his radio show, 1947. Source

A local radio station broadcasts Reverend Hamilton West's sermon on a Sunday in Augusta, Georgia, 1942. Source

Radio comedian Fred Allen parodies some television acts (somehow), 1949. Source

Teenagers at the radio station listening to a show, Boston, 1955. Source

Bull bellowing into the microphone during an interview with a local farmer near Augusta, Georgia, 1942. Source

Three brothers play music for a radio station in Augusta, Georgia, 1942. Source

A fantastic shot of a radio transmitting tower, 1935, by Margaret Bourke-White. Source

Swingtime!

2012-02-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

A swinging party in New York city, with Benny Goodman and his orchestra! 1937.

Music:

DRUMS! [drummer Gene Krupka] Source

VIBRAPHONE! Source

BENNY GOODMAN! Source

Dance! Source

Source

DANCE! Source

JAZZ! YEAH! [drummer --- getting into it] Source

Teenage Girls of the 1940s

2012-02-27T17:15:00.001-07:00

We had a glimpse of teenage boys in the 1940s; don't worry, there were girls too!

St. Louis, Missouri, 1944. By Nina Leen.

Teenage girls in blue jeans drink Coke and hang out. Source

Homework while listening to the radio. Source

The standard outfit for school, a skirt and sweater. Source

The usual after-school outfit, men's jeans and shirt (and cigarette!). Source

A girl getting these clothes from her brother. Source

Man's pajamas and hair rags. Source

Two girls have a sleepover. Source

Teenagers listen to records at the record store. Source

Socializing. Source

Homework on the bed to a stuffed animal audience. Source

A girl reading to the boys she's babysitting. Source

Bed-making. Source

Source

A girl showing off a sweater that is far too tight for polite company. Source

Using nail polish to hold up socks, apparently. Source

Talking on the phone. Source

Still talking. Source

Are you still talking?? Source

Give me the phone! Source

Aghghhh! Phone wars! Source

Cruising with the boys. Source

Of course, even back then teens had to get old, crappy cars. Source

At the movie with a boy. Source

Hooray for Hollywood Writers

2012-02-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Oscars day! Old Hollywood glamour is all very well and wonderful, of course-- but what about the behind the scenes folk? A moment to appreciate a few (colourful) Hollywood writers of old!

All Hollywood, 1937.

Gene Fowler, with pipe and parrot, at work on a screenplay. Source

Ring Lardner Jr. staring into space. Source

Writers Jerry Wald, Maurice Leo, and Richard Macauley in the midst of writing "Gold Diggers in Paris". Source

Jack Cunningham snapping suspenders. Source

Dorothy Parker sitting beside Edwin Justice Mayer. Source

John L. Mahin with typewriter and chickens. Source

Dashiel Hammett. Source

Robert Hopkins, sitting in his favourite thinking spot. Source

J. P. McEvoy on the phone. Source

Preston Surges, displaying a cut on his arm (why? from what? no idea). Source

Niven Busch, working on a screenplay. Source

Yeah, this is me when I'm working too. Source

The Streets of Sydney, 1888

2012-02-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

Another series of candid snapshots of people out and about... this time in the 19th century [c. 1885-1890, actually; I averaged], and Sydney, Australia! The State Library of New South Wales, from which these are drawn, states these are probably taken with a hidden camera-- even better, eh?

Source

Out walking the pet duck. Source

Taking a ride on the sheep. Source

Source

Stay At Home Holidays

2012-02-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

You remember that "stay-cation" thing? Nothing new-- the British government promoted "stay at home holidays" in World War Two... have a break, have fun, save fuel and money (and don't worry about your gas mask getting lost in transit)!

Here, a few friends demonstrate their holiday at home. From the Imperial War Museum.

First, the guilt trip. Source

Source

Peggy Franks demonstrates the fun you can have, throwing a ball to her friend in the backyard after some sunbathing. Source

Peggy pours tea for her friend Pinkie Barnes as part of their backyard holiday. Source

Swimsuits and a kitty. Source

Pinkie and Peggy go out for some holiday table tennis. Source

The girls go rowing in Hyde Park with some boys (Aircraftman Jimmy Clark and Private Christopher Murray). Source

Another pair of women write holiday postcards from Hyde Park. Source

Our girls and their boyfriends go to see a movie near Marble Arch. Source

A toast to a lovely staycation! Source

Where Little Cable Cars...

2012-02-23T09:15:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to visit San Francisco the other month-- and oh, what a wonderful city! The very best, though, are those cable cars-- worth the hype and more! Everyone should visit the city, and take a ride.

The title, by the way, is a reference to the song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by Tony Bennett: "where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars..."

These photos of cable cars are from 1947; only the people aboard look different today!

Source

Turning the car around at the end of the line. Source

They push it manually while it turns-- even today! Source

Aerial view of the turntable. Source

Source

Soldiers Sleeping

2012-02-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

One of my (and your) favourite posts is soldiers sleeping in World War One; today, more of these touching wartime moments of peace.

Exhausted American Marines sleep in a train after intense fighting in the Vietnam War, 1965. Source

British troops sleep in a trench in Tunisia, c. 1942. Source

A gun crew aboard a battleship catch some sleep while they can, WWII. Source

Soldiers sleep in a crowded bunker [as noted by the caption; it looks more like the back of a truck], Texas, 1941. Source

Two British artillery men sleep on a limber in France, near Ypes, 1917. Source

American soldiers sleep in a dugout during a lull in the fighting, Anzio, Italy, 1944. Source

B-17 bomber crewmen catch some sleep before receiving the day's orders, England, 1942. Source

A British soldier sleeps in a foxhole in Germany, 1945. Source

Finnish soldiers sleep during a break in the Russo-Finnish war, 1940. Source

A British scout car driver sleeps in his vehicle in France, 1940. Source

A Gurkha soldier sleeps in the trenches in Palestine, 1917. Source

A British soldier sleeps in a shallow foxhole in Libya, 1941. Source

Two sleeping Marines share their foxhole with a Okinawan boy, Ryukyu Islands, 1945. Source

Stokers nap in between watches on a battleship, 1940. Source

RAF airmen sleep in their billet in France, c. 1940. Source

A British sailor sleeps by the ship's wheel, WWII. Source

American soldier sleeps on rocks during the advance towards Rome, 1944. Source

US Marines sleep after a meal, Thailand, 1961. Source

A soldier sleeps on a break from action in the fight for Southern France, 1944. Source

Dogs of New York City

2012-02-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Artists, performers, and other personalities of New York City on the street with their dogs, 1944. From LIFE photographer Nina Leen.

Comedian Jimmy Durante with his Irish setter in Times Square. Source

Actress Ruth Gordon walks her poodle. Source

Gossip columnist (ha!) Ed Sullivan with his black scottie dog. Source

Conductor Arthur Rodzinski watches as his dog leaps into his wife's arms. Source

William F. Schlemmer of Hammacher Schlemmer with his pair of Yorkshire terriers. Source

Author Fannie Hurst with her excited dog, Orphan Annie. Source

Fannie Hurst with her dog. Source

Actress Joan Caulfield looks classy as she walks her Westie (named Witty). Source

Of course, the dog isn't quite so into the classy thing, and jumps into the bushes. Source

Thanks, dog. Source

Actor Frederic March with his cocker spaniel in the rain. Source

Actress Joan Roberts, still in costume, walks her bulldog Goggles during an intermission of "Oklahoma!". Source

When your dog decides to pee on a post while you're in costume and in front of a LIFE photographer, all you can do is laugh. Source

Opera tenor Lauritz Melchior, his wife, and their Great Dane. Source

A boy reads the comic while his dog sits by. Source

Actress Cornelia Otis Skinner with her dogs. Source

Actress Margaret Webster with her two Cairn terriers as they watch a cat in the window. Source

Actor John Boles tries to get his schnauzer puppy to climb over a curb. Source

Artist Earle Winslow, carrying a painting, tries to control his unruly Irish setter. Source

Still trying... Source

Oh, that dog. Source

Music conductor Andre Kostelanetz with his sheepdog Puff and a young sheepdog admirer. Source

Sportscaster Bill Stern reads a paper as his dog sniffs the street. Source

Model Mimi Berry with her cocker spaniel, who very nicely carries a package for her. Source

The Newly Constructed Berlin Wall

2012-02-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

Striking photographs from the first year of the Berlin Wall (1961). By LIFE photographer Paul Schutzer.

A little bird on the barbed wire topping the wall. Source

West Berliners wave to their relatives on the East German side of the wall. Source

An American tank aimed at an East German tank across the Wall. Source

A view through the barbed wire. Source

A West German woman looking across the Wall. Source

West Germans look across the Wall. Source

Children play soccer/football beside the Wall. Source

A West German shows his child the other side of the Wall. Source

A West German girl plays with a ball beside the Wall. Source

And another West German girl regards the Wall outside her home's window. Source

A West German couple looks across the Wall. Source

A West German woman regards the Wall. Source

Peering across the Wall. Source

An East German policeman tries to stop Western photographers by shining mirrors in the the lens. Source

A little boy cleans his shoe against the Wall. Source

Sparrows on the wire. Source

An East German guard throws a West German child's ball back over the wall. Source

Looking through the window across the Wall. Source

A little West Berlin girl tries to open a door that is now part of the Wall. Source

A hand reaching over the glass embedded in the top of the Wall. Source

Snow in Stockholm

2012-02-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

Lovely winter shots from a lovely winter Stockholm (and area), c. 1890.

Mosebacke and southern Stockholm. Source

Statue at House of Nobility, Gamla Stan, Stockholm. Source

Solna Church, Uppland, Sweden. [all right, not Stockholm, but it fits]. Source

Another of Solna Church, Uppland, Sweden. Source

Trees and statue of Carl Linnaeus in Humlegården park, Stockholm. Source

Winter in Humlegården, Stockholm. Source

Djurgården park, Stockholm. Source

Kungsträdgården, Stockholm. Source

People in snow, Stockholm. Source

Winter woods, in/near Stockholm. Source

Djurgården park, Stockholm. Source

Winter woods in/near Stockholm. Source

Uggleviken Forest at Northern Djurgården, Stockholm. Source

Spring Training

2012-02-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

As I've noted before, baseball isn't quite my thing... but as I've also noted before, I take requests! So, for my dad, and in honour of baseball (already!) starting again... spring training in former days!

Players running during Dodgers spring training, 1948. Source

Red Sox players Bob Porterfield and Mickey Vernon do sprints, 1956. Source

Sliding drill (Dodgers), 1948. Source

Professional Tee-ball! (or, a Dodger practing with a batting tee), 1948. Source

Dodgers buying gloves, 1948. Source

Red Sox player Ted Williams stretching, 1956. Source

More sliding drills! 1948. Source

Red Sox at spring training in Arizona, 1912. Source

Um, some wrestling (Brooklyn Dodgers Peewee Reese and Fred Fitzsimmons), 1942. Source

Practice talking to the young fans (St. Louis Browns) 1952. Source

The Circus baseball move (Brooklyn Dodger Ed Albosta), 1942. Source

And a bit more base sliding (this looks fun). Source

The Washington Senators practice watching from the dugout. Source

Washington Senators, undated (40s/50s). Source

Getting awfully friendly... Source

Bill (Moose) Skowren being silly for the camera, 1961. Source

Practice talking to teammates (Washington Senators), undated. Source

Batting practice during spring training in Havana, Cuba, 1942. Source

Albie Pearson, I think? Source

A fantastic shot of Brooklyn Dodger rookies doing deep knee-bends at spring training camp, 1948. Source

Yogi Berra being silly for the camera, 1961. Source

Yankee Art Schult in the field at spring training, 1953. Source

New York Yankee Mickey Mantle, 1961. Source

Red Sox players Jack Jensen, Ted Williams, and Jim Piersall, 1956. Source

(Rather striking) New York Yankee Jerry Coleman in the locker room at spring training, 1952 (he went to service in Korea later that year). Source

New York Yankee Billy Martin on the spring training field. Source

Millions of Dodger rookies, 1948. Source

Home on Leave

2012-02-17T09:15:00.001-07:00

A series of photographs following a young sailor home on his first leave. Columbus, Montana, 1942. Photos by J. R. Eyerman.

Our sailor packing up on board his ship, with crewmates watching. Source

An enthusiastic welcome home at the airport. Source

Driving with girlfriend and parents, in the days before seatbelts. Source

Our sailor shows off his new muscles to his parents. Source

Joking around on the front porch with adoring sisters. Source

Waking up in his own bed. Source

A visit to the grandparents. Source

Our sailor with his father and grandfather. Source

A luncheon held in his honour by the Columbus Civic Club. Source

Hanging out with friends (on the front porch, of course). Source

Playing in the water with girlfriend and friends. Source

Hanging out at the soda shop. Source

Visiting high school coaches. Source

Walking the dog. [if those place names mean anything to anyone, do let me know, I'd love to know where this is!]. Source

Mailing a letter (why this mailbox, who knows). Source

Helping with some machinery. Source

Hanging out with shaving friends (why not). Source

A bit of fishing (Hemingway's "Big Two-Hearted River", anyone?). Source

Quiet time with the girlfriend and radio. Source

Bugging mom and sis in the kitchen. Source

Buying movie tickets for a Yank in the RAF. Source

Dancing with the girlfriend. Source

And time in a dark car with the girlfriend... (I assume the photographer left for a bit after this ;) ). Source

Goodbyes at the end of leave. (let's hope he came home again). Source