It’s been 70 years since an Indiana photographer visited New York City and returned home with an amazing collection of holiday snaps.
But Charles Weever Cushman’s pictures are even more impressive today, as they were taken on pricey colour Kodachrome and look far more recent than they actually are.
He went around the city taking photos of architecture such as the Brooklyn Bridge and other parts of the Manhattan skyline - and it’s hard to believe they were taken while World War Two was going on.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
The sharpness and color in those old photos is amazing. I just thought there was a lot of haze in the air, but I see that on some days the air was clear.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
quaddriver wrote:got news for you, McSorelys ale house is still there, and one of the waiters apparently so as well
I'd never have guessed that...
..oh hang on....
...the next image down on the page I linked to....
Compared: McSorley's Old Ale House in the East Village today, hardly changed from the above photo
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
I gather that there were more options for transients in those days, mainly YMCA's and boarding houses. Also, it was a lot more common for a family to take in boarders and to rent individual bedrooms for the additional cash it brought. In the house where I grew up, my grandmother rented a bedroom to Jennie Beckman. I was a young at the time, but I'm sure she was thrilled when me and my three brothers moved into the room next to hers.