History is filled with moments that need to be better appreciated to fully realize their true value. These are the incredible scenes that could once only be appreciated in black and white. But with today’s digital editing technology, we can turn monochrome visions into completely vibrant ones. This is a genius development in the way that we investigate history, bringing all manner of new details to light. Some of which may not be appreciated by sensitive viewers, and so viewer discretion is advised!
The Sultry Myth Of Mata Hari
Whether you see her as a spy or more of a prostitute, Mat Hari led a completely wild and exotic life that was like something out of an adult adventure story. She had a restless spirit that could only be satisfied by the most daring adventures – which sadly often led her into tragedy and ultimately death. But Mata Hari should best be remembered for her phenomenal ability to endure any difficulty (or life threat). She always thought positively and used her sharp mind to overcome many obstacles. The choreographer and director of the National Ballet, Ted Brandsen, regards her as a driven and naturally dynamic individual who continued reinventing herself.
The Sultry Myth Of Mata Hari
The Black Tuesday Stock Market Crash
Few days in American history are thought to be as traumatic as Black Tuesday, where the nation’s economy virtually collapsed. This was thanks to unsustainable Wall Street practices, where its traders could have simply set billions of investor dollars ablaze with their insane practices. In just one day, on October 29, 1929, these investors exchanged just under 16 million shares. This concluded almost a week of financial chaos where investment bankers attempted to restabilize the market through the purchasing of enormous swathes of stock. This was the breaking point for prices. This was the birth of the Great Depression.
The Black Tuesday Stock Market Crash
The Glaring Hollywood Actress
Hollywood is filled with insincere friendships, and we have glamor photographers to thank for revealing the true nature of their frosty relationships. When Sophia Loren had Jayne Mansfield’s heaving chest virtually shoved in her face, she did her best to keep it in check. But it was clear that this hilarious moment at a Paramount event, arranged in Loren’s honor after she arrived in America. Clearly, Loren did not appreciate Mansfield stealing the spotlight of her 1957 Beverly Hills bash. Many speculated that Mansfield was pulling off an early version of what we call today a publicity stunt and Loren was caught in the crossfire. Loren would later comment that she found it difficult to not stare at the busty blonde bombshell.
The Glaring Hollywood Actress
Striding Through The Gates Of Hell
D-Day was a decisive event in World War II that marked the beginning of the end for the Axis forces. Here we see American, Canadian, and British soldiers frantically wading toward the sands of Normandy while being peppered by German machineguns. Tom Jensen, a veteran of the 626th Engineer Light Equipment Company, informed the Chicago Tribune that these men were completely oblivious of where they were going until they actually got there. There were even those who believed that they were being shipped off to Japan. These mostly young men would have been sitting in math class or working summer jobs only months prior to their enlistments.
Striding Through The Gates Of Hell
The Pink Sensation Of Marilyn Monroe
Isn’t it amazing how much more detail you can see when a black and white picture is transformed with color? This 1952 snap taken by Harold Lloyd brought a steamy boudoir delight to Life Magazine subscribers. This would mark the beginning of a short but iconic working relationship. They would collaborate one more time, at Lloyd’s Greenacres home, this time for a swimsuit special. Monroe was grateful to spend the day at Lloyd’s lofty estate, where she could finally enjoy some privacy. Lloyd’s daughter had glowing praise for Monroe, saying “She was my age, or maybe a year or two younger, but we came from very different worlds. She sat down to put on her makeup, and we just started chatting about our lives. She insisted on seeing the baby and talked about how she dreamed of having a child of her own one day.”
The Pink Sensation Of Marilyn Monroe
The Child Soldiers Of Nazi Germany
As Hitler found himself steadily encircled by Allied forces, with his own crumbling with every consecutive defeat, he began resorting to desperate tactics, such as conscripting teenagers and even children. Here we have a heartbreaking photograph of Hans-Georg Henke, who was only 16 when he was given a gun and a uniform. He reported that his parents lost their lives the previous year, inspiring him to sign up with the Luftwaffe to make ends meet for his remaining family members. This picture was taken by John Florea on April 3, 1945, after he was detained by the US 9th Army.
The Child Soldiers Of Nazi Germany
Three Different Sizes Playing Poker
Here we have, from left to right, the shortest, tallest, and fattest men of their time – 1913. We love to see the celebration of human achievements, but we wonder if this snap would not be considered as body shaming by today’s standards. It could not have been easy sticking out like this a century ago, before people had any notion of social justice. Still, these fellas seem to be having a fantastic time playing cards, drinking beer, and smoking cigars.
Three Different Sizes Playing Poker
Jungle Pam – The Pit Racing Legend
Many things attracted drag racing fans. The dizzying speeds, the lethal accidents, and Jungle Pam. This curvaceous and enthusiastic bombshell basically saved the drag racing game when her alluringly sporty good looks established a proper audience. She was only 18 when she encountered Jungle Jim, a drag racer who would inspire her to leave college behind in pursuit of a career in drag racing. Jim warmly welcomed her into the fold, and was impressed with Pam’s diligence in the pit. Sadly, much of Jungle Pam’s competency is overlooked, for a couple of reasons…
Jungle Pam
Securing The Mona Lisa From The Bombs Of World War II
While you might think that putting a painting’s security over human lives is inhumane, the Mona Lisa is something of a cultural relic for France. The nation’s National Museums director, Jacques Jaujard, did everything in his power to stop the Germans from seizing the legendary painting during World War II. On the day of 25 August, 1939, Jaujard realized that war was coming to Europe. He decided to secret the Mona Lisa under the pretenses of Louvre repairs, placing it and other invaluable works of art into wooden boxes. He then had the cases stashed away in the Loire Valley, far away from the destruction of World War II.
Securing The Mona Lisa From The Bombs Of World War II
Carl Akeley’s Battle With A Leopard
Carl Akeley was basically the real-life version of the Van Pelt hunter character from Jumanji. He was an intrepid hunter and taxidermist, but unlike many of his counterparts, he was not satisfied with birds and foxes. Akeley lived in Africa for many years, battling some of the most dangerous animals, such as this poor leopard that nearly managed to take Akeley’s arm to the grave in 1896. Ironically, Akeley simply wanted to hunt a few ostriches when the big cat took umbrage with his trespassing.
Carl Akeleys Battle With A Leopard
The Height Of Brigitte Bardot’s Career
There are a few women in the world who have held the title of ‘most beautiful,’ with Brigitte Bardot being one of them. She was an enchanting thespian that entranced anyone who watched her act or met her in real life. Between the 50s and 60s, she was one of the most famous individuals in the world. With such fame comes a heavy cost, however, and Bardot resented that she could not enjoy ordinary moments in public without being hounded by people.
The Height Of Brigitte Bardots Career
Jack Kelsey Of Arsenal Peers Through The Fog
Can you imagine being a goalie in these conditions? This is what Arsenal’s Jack Kelsey had to manage in 1954, almost blindly with so much fog. There is a misconception that this picture was taken in 1937 on Christmas Day. The tale goes as follows: Stamford Ridge and Chelsea were competing during particularly foggy weather. One minute past the one-hour point, the referee decided to end the match, leaving the Stamford Bridge goalie obliviously stranded. Kelsey was content knowing that Chelsea had been herded into their own goalpost by his superior strikers, as he hopped about trying to warm up. It seemed like hours passed when a policeman formed through the thick fog, whose jaw dropped when he spotted Kelsey. It was then that the officer informed the goalie that the match had ended fifteen minutes ago, and that everyone had left. After he managed to stumble his way back to the changerooms, Kelsey was met with raucous laughter from his teammates.
Jack Kelsey Of Arsenal Peers Through The Fog
The Knee-High Heroine, Ruby Bridges, And Her Bodyguards
The civil rights movement had plenty of heroes, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Ruby Bridges, the little girl who would become the initial black student to enroll within a Southern elementary school. The danger was considerable, given the political climate of the time, and Bridges required a team of federal marshals to walk her to school and back. Despite her home being a short walk away from Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, this was an extremely stressful time for the little girl. Not only did she have to endure racist taunts, but she was also alone much of the time, with her fellow students’ parents refusing to allow them to share a classroom with a black girl. Bridges would go on to begin the Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999, which works to reform racist attitudes in schools.
The Knee High Heroine Ruby Bridges And Her Bodyguards
A Near-Death Experience And The Kiss Of Life
You might have thought that this was a particularly romantic scene when you first looked at this picture, but it is quite the opposite. In 1967, Rocco Morabito took this photograph of Randall G. Champion being resuscitated by J.D. Thompson, a coworker. Champion was fatally electrocuted while working on a low-voltage line, losing consciousness immediately. Thompson happened to drive past the scene, immediately rushing to see what was happening. Thompson’s attention was caught by the sound of yelling, and he turned his head to see Champion dangling from the pole. He had no idea what aid he could bring, other than capturing the scene, but he did have the good sense to summon an ambulance. When he came back to the scene, he saw the kiss of life being administered. Thankfully, Champion lived thanks to his colleague’s efforts.
A Near Death Experience And The Kiss Of Life
Life In The Trenches Of World War I
Even those with the smallest understanding of World War I know that the soldiers involved spent much of the event in trenches. This was something that the American Civil War troops utilized too, burrowing themselves into the ground to better resist the incoming enemy waves. Northern France and Belgium became the sites for intricate trench networks where countless men would wallow in and die for months. While these tunnel-like formations had been built for defensive purposes, they were incredibly dangerous places where the lion’s share of this war’s casualties were suffered.
Life In The Trenches Of World War I
The 1956 Production Of Giant With Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor’s life was filled with incredible moments. It was only in the 50s that she was discovered, however, even though she began acting in 1941. The film Giant would be her big break, where she co-starred with James Dean and Rock Hudson. While Taylor could not bring herself to watch her completed films, she would think fondly of the experiences. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Giant. I don’t look at old movies of myself. I don’t even look at new ones of myself. But I loved Jimmy and I loved Rock. And I was the last person Jimmy was with before he drove to his death…But that was a private, personal moment,” Taylor recounted.
The 1956 Production Of Giant With Elizabeth Taylor
Fishing In Hawaii During 1948
This is one of the more fantastical photographs that is well-deserving of colorization. While you might not think that many people would fish at night, Hawaiians have been doing it for centuries. Back in the day, this anglerfish-like torch was the preferred way to light the way and lure fish, with the spear being the weapon of choice. These hunting tools would be made from sturdy wood like kauila, uhiuhi, koai’e, and o’a. They generally measure around the height of a fully-grown man, around seven feet. The torches were created with coconut leaves.
Fishing In Hawaii During 1948
The Scientist And The Comedian Attend The City Lights Premiere
Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin might not have been the first historical friendship that came to mind, but they were good friends! Einstein was a creative individual with a bright sense of humor who was something of an artist. Carl Laemmle, the Universal Studios director, brought the two giants together. They would end up attending the City Lights premiere arm in arm in 1931. Incredibly, Einstein was jealous of how amazingly Chaplin could express himself in complete silence. To that, Chaplin said that Einstein was more deserving of his status, seeing as everyone looked up to him without making any sense of his work.
The Scientist And The Comedian Attend The City Lights Premiere
Adolf Hitler’s Unusual Guests: The Easy Company Paratroopers
In a rarely idyllic and enjoyable scene for World War II, three members of the elite Easy Company reclining during 1945 at one of Adolf Hitler’s many properties. This picturesque property is situated in Obersalzberg, close to Berchtesgaden, Bavaria. You might remember a scene in the miniseries Band of Brothers that recreated this humorous display. But it was also an explosive one as April 25th of the same year saw the are being bombed extensively. SS troops would later raze the property on May 5, moments prior to the arrival of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division and the French 2nd Armored Division’s arrival thanks to the discovery of hidden tunnels. Either way, these American fellows made the most out of this victory!
Adolf Hitlers Unusual Guests
The Woman Behind Gone With the Wind’s Scarlett O’Hara: Vivien Leigh
Gone With the Wind is one of the most iconic (if not controversial) films in cinema, and Vivien Leigh was one half of its sweeping and epic romance. You might be amused to learn, however, that Leigh was not even American in real life, but a Brit! Her arrival to Los Angeles for the beginning of the film’s production soon turned into a prolonged series of hysterics, with Leigh being prone to throwing tantrums. Along with Laurence Olivier, her partner at the time, Leigh was convinced that this film would fail. Olivier would ironically lecture her on how important it was that she save her career following the predicted tanking of Gone With the Wind by delivering the performances of a lifetime in subsequent roles.
The Women Who Worked At The Aircraft Plants
The Man Behind The Legend – Lawrence Of Arabia
World War I is filled with many epic tales, but few top that of Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence’s, also known as Lawrence of Arabia. Lawrence was a bomb expert that cooperated with rebel Arab factions to obliterate the Ottoman Empire’s civil and industrial structures. Lawrence reported the demolishing of 79 railway bridges, leading to each one needing to be painstakingly rebuilt. Railways would be so terrible sabotaged by the colonel that their obliterated remains can still be visited today, their removal being considered a waste of time by the Turkish authorities.
The Man Behind The Legend
Big Cat, Small Man
At 30 inches, Henry Behrens was the tiniest human being on Earth during his time. His weight came in at around 32 pounds. He would spend much of his novel career as part of Burton Lester’s assortment of exceptionally minuscule individuals, roaming around the globe performing shows. Behrens did not resent being made into a spectacle, and admittedly loved the time that he spent with the troupe. Here he is seen waltzing with his relatively enormous pet cat in 1956.
Big Cat Small Man
The Forced Imprisonment Of Japanese-Americans Into Internment Camps
Japanese-Americans found themselves at the mercy of the American army following the Pearl Harbor attack. They were rounded up and placed in ‘internment camps,’ which in reality were political jails. These civilians had no idea that Pearl Harbor was even on the cards prior to its execution, and were as much of a threat to national security as white Americans. Death Valley was where the majority of these condemned masses were herded in, and Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga described the experience as follows. Their ‘apartments’ consisted of metal military beds, complete with a potbellied stove within each one. Beyond that, there was no furniture, with bare windows. These poor people lived in complete squalor, but spirits were evidently high among some, given the cheer of these Japanese-American students.
The Forced Imprisonment Of Japanese Americans Into Internment Camps
The Emergency President’s Unceremonious Inauguration – Lyndon B. Johnson Inside Air Force One
Shortly following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, America was free of leadership for only one and a half hours. While its population reeled from the terror and tragedy of losing their beloved president, the vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, made his presidential oaths at Dallas’s Love Field, inside a parked Air Force One. He is flanked by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and his wife, Lady Bird Johnson who replaced Jaqueline’s place. All in attendance were incredibly tense, still reeling from the shock of Kennedy’s assassination.
The Emergency Presidents Unceremonious Inauguration
The Ceremonial Samurai Gear Of A Japanese Military Leader
Felice Beato not only photographed this imposing scene in 1863, but unlike most of the photographs in this list, he also went to great lengths to add lifelike colors himself. Beato was fascinated with a variety of cultures and their ceremonious outfits, taking enormous portraits of lauded individuals. He would include a vignette to his photographs to make them appear more like paintings. Here we have a Japanese military general called Koboto Santaro in full samurai gear.
The Ceremonial Samurai Gear Of A Japanese Military Leader
Sally Field On Set At The Production Of Gidget
The film Gidget was where the beautiful 18-year-old Sally Field’s breakthrough role where she played a ditzy and trouble-attracting surfer girl. Field would later speak on how she was discovered, having been approached by an agent who spotted her among a workshop’s participants. When asked if she was attached to an agent, Field said no, but this did not deter her from trying out for the role. She entered a space brimming with Hollywood-appropriate beauties. While they provided their own studio headshots, all that Sally had were polaroid snaps of herself. Amusingly, Sally did not even know which camera to look at during her tryout. Thankfully, that was exactly what the director was looking for!
Sally Field On Set At The Production Of Gidget
The Soviet Liberation Of Auschwitz-Birkenau
The Red Army finally breached Auschwitz at the beginning of 1945 on January 27. There they discovered a warehouse hoarding the prisoners’ valuables. Among the piles of possessions, they unearthed shoes, crockery, spectacles, and prosthetic limbs. The site was initially presumed to be desolate, until masses of famished and ill victims were found wasting away that the fleeing guards had left to their fates. Georgii Elisavetskii was one Russian veteran who encountered this desperate lot, who ran towards the soldiers hysterically, virtually worshipping those liberating them from hell on Earth.
The Soviet Liberation Of Auschwitz Birkenau
Thomas Cave Of Oregon Was Tattooed With His Social Security Number
During the Great Depression’s peak, people like Thomas and Annie Cave were forced to work like slaves all year round just to make $550, an amount which, with today’s inflation, equals $10,000. The couple managed to rent a small apartment for a monthly rent of $12, which would become a comparable luxury when their jobs ended. 1937 saw the commencement of The Social Security Act, and four months later Thomas would get this unusual tattoo, one that he had done to ensure that he always had it literally on hand. Before you think that this was common practice, know that Thomas was alone in his thinking!
Thomas Cave Of Oregon Was Tattooed With His Social Security Number
Sophia Loren Outshines The Competition
Quo Vadis, released in 1951, was Sophia Loren’s theatrical debut, where she was only 17 years old. This marked the beginning of a lifetime of fame and fortune in Hollywood. In later years, Loren was questioned if she had any regrets. Loren’s answer was rather mysterious. She admitted that there were plenty of decisions that she might have been critical of, had she not been more focused on celebrating her achievements. This was her way of appreciating her victories without becoming distracted by failures.
Sophia Loren Outshines The Competition
The Veteran’s Homecoming Welcome
Ernst Haas was the kind of photojournalist who introduced so many artistic elements into his work that he bordered on becoming an artist. His coverage of World War II veterans flooding back into their long-departed homes was called “Homecoming,” a highly sensitive photo essay detailing the emotional turbulence of families searching for their loved ones among the returning veterans. This series propelled Haas to fame and he was swamped with all manner of lucrative employment offers, all of which he turned down in favor of keeping his creative and professional freedom.
The Veterans Homecoming Welcome
Jackie Bouvier And John F. Kennedy Celebrate Their Engagement
This happy scene took place at a Cape Cod property belonging to JFK’s family, the beautiful setting where John F. Kennedy and Jackie Bouvier celebrated their engagement while a reporter documented the whole thing. Life Magazine later published these photos in an issue that enjoyed exclusive rights to their release. Sometime after John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Jackie would sentimentally look through these photographs and comment that their life together was like a fairytale, and that she should have known that it would all be too good to be true.
Jackie Bouvier And John F Kennedy Celebrate Their Engagement
Children Listening To A Civil War Veteran Speak
The Civil War might seem like it happened centuries ago for us (and it did), but during the time that this photograph from the early 20th century was taken, there were a fair amount of veterans still alive. Here we have a picture of an incredibly old Union veteran holding court with a group of enthralled kids. Men like this wizened figure would have been conscripted into this bloody conflict and forced to fight their countrymen. While some of them would return to normal life, many were left destitute, especially if they fought for the Confederates.
Children Listening To A Civil War Veteran Speak
An Unusual Member Of The 4th Queen’s Hussar’s Cavalry – Cornet Winston Churchill
You will struggle to find a Brit more patriotic than Winston Churchill. He served in various wars, including the Anglo-Boer War, and was a member of the 4th Queen’s Hussar’s Cavalry during his youth. The young lad spent seven months during summer being prepared for war, with the remainder of his time being spent on a prolonged holiday. He decided that 1895 was the year where he would begin his odyssey for Cuba. Following that expedition, he arrived in India to rejoin his unit. Here we have a 21-year-old captured in 1895.
An Unusual Member Of The 4th Queens Hussars Cavalry
Up Close And Personal With Albert Einstein
Many people believed that Albert Einstein was an unapproachable genius who would only hold court with the most superior intellectuals of his time. This was not so, as he far more down to earth than many would have suspected. Einstein considered himself to be an artist, wielding inspiration and creativity to form his theories. He admitted that he was liable to be incorrect from time to time when he was struck with an epiphany. Incredibly, he believed that creativity was superior to knowledge, and more vital.
Up Close And Personal With Albert Einstein
The Willingness To Hitchhike In The 60s And 70s
While many people would shrink from the thought of hitchhiking in today’s world (and for good reason), people were far more naïve during the 60s and 70s, when people were far more trusting of their fellow man. Many young women, like the one in the picture below trying to make her way to Woodstock, would have met terrible fates when serial killers would happily let them into their vehicles. One of our greatest developments since this time as a people is that we will be far less likely to put our lives in the hands of strangers!
The Willingness To Hitchhike In The 60s And 70s
Meteorologist Charles Wright And Geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor Inspect An Iceberg
The beginning of the 20th century saw an increased explorer obsession with the Arctic as various crews prepared themselves to race for the South Pole – an uncharted part of the world! The Terra Nova Expedition was launched in 1911 by Robert Falcon Scott of England with the South Pole as his destination. This would become a fierce voyage that would only end on January 16, 1912, when the crew jubilantly disembarked onto the frosty wastes. But their joy was snuffed out when they spotted a flag that had been planted by Norwegian Roald Amundsen a month before.
Meteorologist Charles Wright And Geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor Inspect An Iceberg
The 27-Year-Old Charlie Chaplin
Amazingly, Charlie Chaplin out of makeup looked a lot like one of his characters. Off-screen, Chaplin looked rather tired and disheveled in this picture. Perhaps he was just stepping off a long day of production. Chaplin was raised in a difficult home by an unsuccessful home where money was extremely scarce. He decided that the theatre would be his salvation and he departed from London to the United States where he quickly struck fame. He received inspiration for his character, the Tramp, from his recollections of his father. He described how “It was just released whole from somewhere deep within my father, it was really my father’s alter ego, the little boy who never grew up: ragged, cold, hungry, but still thumbing his nose at the world.”
The 27 Year Old Charlie Chaplin
The French Pooch Who Visited A Trench Filled With Seaforth Highlanders
The Central Powers waged a prolonged and horrifying conflict in Europe during World War I. This was the first time that this many nations became involved in a war, with people being sent to fight from all corners of the planet. The majority of these soldiers would have no idea what kind of hell they were being deployed to. The Scottish Seaforth Highlanders were one unit that entered the bitter trenches to give Germany a good fight. This was a collection of Scottish counties’ populations with the joining of the 72nd and 78th Highlanders. Their first deployment was to India, but they would soon join their European counterparts in the 1914 Battle of Givenchy in France.
The French Pooch Who Visited A Trench Filled With Seaforth Highlanders
Salvador Dali Sails For New York City Aboard The S.S. Normandie
Salvador Dali was an exceptionally eccentric character who transcended any of society’s rules or expectations. Every one of his art projects, from paintings, to sculptures, and performances, would simultaneously shock and entrance viewers. Dali enjoyed a host of worldly inspirations but few left their mark on him like New York City. The pictured journey shows a rather tired-looking Dali who was accompanied by his wife aboard the Camplain which they hopped onto in France. They could only afford one of the worst rooms that was snugly positioned by the machine rooms.
Salvador Dali Sails For New York City Aboard The SS Normandie
The Women Who Worked At The Aircraft Plants – Eunice Hancock
The later part of World War II saw a large portion of American men being enlisted to take the fight against the Axis powers. There was then a void in employment that women had to fill, specifically within the industry, transportation, and other services. Nearly 2 million ladies filled out the desperately needed positions within factories that pumped out planes, tanks, weapons, and trucks. There was then a 10% increase in the total number of women in employment. Without them, the war effort would have been able to progress for America.
The Women Who Worked At The Aircraft Plants
Gary Cooper’s Presents Sent To Pablo Picasso – 1958
Pablo Picasso was primarily an artist, but he was also something of a social butterfly, maintaining a lofty friend group made up of international icons. He would happily welcome all manner of equally famous and colorful icons like Andre Salmon and Gertrude Stein, both Parisians for some time. Gary Cooper was another cozy chum of Picasso’s, who once gifted him a cowboy hat and revolver. Their relationship was so close that Cooper’s family were jollily hosted in Picasso’s Vallauris ceramics workshop in the ‘50s.
Gary Coopers Presents Sent To Pablo Picasso
The HMS Rodney’s Own Popeye
You might be wondering if this stoker aboard the HMS Rodney was the inspiration for Popeye the Sailor Man, or if it is the other way round! The latter is correct, as Popeye’s creator, E. C. Segar, was inspired by a gentleman in his hometown. Amazingly, the navy serviceman pictured went by the nickname Popeye! There is no correlation, sadly, as the HMS Rodney sailed for England’s navy whereas Segar was American. Still, it is a hilarious coincidence!
The HMS Rodneys Own Popeye
The Border Pass Agreement And Its May Heartfelt Reunions
The Berlin Wall was one of many physical divisions erected during the Cold War which split Berlin into two sides in 1961. It was only in 1963 that the border pass agreement was instated which permitted individuals to move from West Berlin to the Soviet-run East Berlin. While this did not by any means rectify the segregation in Germany, it did seem like a semblance of hope for a free future was there. It was only 25 years later that the enormous barrier would finally crumble.
The Border Pass Agreement And Its May Heartfelt Reunions
The French Firing Squad Is Blown One Last Kiss By Mata Hari
We just had to mention Mata Hari once more. This was an alluring dancer who would eventually be inducted into an elite spy network during World War I. It is no mystery that she used her sensual charms to draw vital information out of people. Her spy skills were largely built on her natural talents for temptation and duplicity, as well as impersonation. In her early days as a spy, she took on the identity of Lady MacLeod, an English lord’s daughter, who strangely danced exotically. While she did enjoy much success as a spy, her days were severely numbered, and she would soon be detained by the French. They would then stand her against a wall on 15 October, 1917 in front of a firing squad. She then supposedly blew the soldiers one last kiss whilst blindfolded just before being shot.
The French Firing Squad Is Blown One Last Kiss By Mata Hari
Warsaw’s Obliteration Is Disguised By Backdrops
World War II brought much of Europe into devastation, with Poland being one of the worst destroyed nations of the grand conflict. This was a country brimming with historical buildings, many of which were reduced to rubble. The survivors then did their best to return to normal life, something that would prove incredibly challenging. Photographers then became dedicated to raising people’s morale by inserting them into beautiful landscapes through the use of painted backdrops. A pretty illusion, one which contrasted wildly with the true ruins around.
Warsaws Obliteration Is Disguised By Backdrops
The Tricolor Flag Back Where It Belongs
Paris would become the indignant host to the Nazis for four years. Finally, on 25 August 1944, the Americans virtually waltzed through the destroyed Nazi forces in France, with the Germans fleeing from the French 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. Hitler supposedly informed General Dietrich von Choltitz that Paris was to be razed completely and that the Eiffel Tower should be flattened. Rather than go through with this obliteration, the general simply surrendered. Two days later, a glorious liberation parade ran throughout the Champs-Elysees in triumph.
The Tricolor Flag Back Where It Belongs
Headed For D-Day – The 1st Infantry Division Depart England
From June 1944 to August 1944, The Battle of Normandy would rage onwards as one of World War II’s most brutal campaigns in Western Europe. The motley crew of British, American, and Canadian troops that would make up the bulk of the Allies’ fighting forces could never have predicted what kind of explosive hell they were headed for. The campaign ran a day late, beginning June 6, due to poor weather conditions. Dwight Eisenhower would address the millions of young men, saying, “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.”
Headed For D Day
The Crow Fair Rodeo Being Watched By Crow Native Americans
1904 was the first year that the Crow Fair commenced. This was a significant reunion of various Native American groups, specifically from the Crow Nation, situated in the Great Plains. It saw many thousands of folks crowding in for celebration and festivity. The Crow Fair runs near Billings, Montana, generally in late August. Basically, this is a county fair with a Native American flavor, and you can bet that rodeos would be held every day of the event. Here, young and veteran cowboys would compete against each other to subdue wild and thrashing horses and bulls
The Crow Fair Rodeo Being Watched By Crow Native Americans
From Missouri To California – Drought Refugees Await Their Orange-Picking Jobs
Can you imagine feeling like an intruder in your own country? That was the lot of many Missouri-born families who were forced to flee for the Pacific Coast when their livelihoods were erased during the Dust Bowl. Such industrious people were regarded as freeloaders and received frosty receptions from Californian locals. This was just one of many scenes depicted in the Great Depression, where most Americans had to do what they could to survive. You were considered fortunate if you could get a job working in the fields for minimal salaries.
From Missouri To California
Breda Welcomes Dutch Resistance Fighters Following The Liberation of The Netherlands
Few Europeans could believe their eyes when they saw how Germany had begun waging war against most of Europe, sparking the commencement of World War II. With their Blitzkrieg tactics, the Nazis managed to swamp Europe in no time at all. With so many European countries’ governments and militaries destroyed or captured, it fell on the shoulders of ordinary people to become resistance fighters. These brave individuals would provide invaluable roles as saboteurs, spies, and intelligence agents. Here we have a couple of these brave individuals joyfully reunited following the 1944 liberation of Breda.
Breda Welcomes Dutch Resistance Fighters Following The Liberation Of The Netherlands
Jacqueline Bouvier And John F. Kennedy Get Married
Knowing how dazzlingly fancy Jacqueline Bouvier was, the world was assured that her wedding with John F. Kennedy would be nothing short of glamorous. This was the most idolized couple in America, and the two would tie the knot on September 12, 1954, in Rhode Island. This was a massive media event that was almost like a Royal Wedding for Americans. The grand ceremony was held in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, where throngs of devoted fans eagerly awaited their chance to show their praise and celebration. The couple was blessed by Pope Pius XII and Archbishop of Boston, Richard Cushing, who would carry out their nuptials.
Jacqueline Bouvier And John F Kennedy Get Married
The 1882 Portrait Of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was one of the 19th century’s most celebrated authors and poets, with novels like The Portrait of Dorian Gray being regarded as one of literature’s greatest works. Eventually, Wilde would travel around America, giving 150 lectures to hundreds of thousands of people. Wilde may have been high-born and dandy, but he loved to spend time with all manner of people, including the silver miners of Colorado. He spent a night supping with them, and greatly admired their noble and graceful figures and personalities.
The 1882 Portrait Of Oscar Wilde
The Romanian Royalty Visit Dover, England – Queen Marie And King Ferdinand
The future queen of Romania, Marie, was born in 1875 in Edinburgh. Twenty-two years later, she would be betrothed to Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania. It was thanks to her influence that her royal husband decided to side with England during World War I. Following more than twenty years spent in Eastern Europe, the two embarked on a diplomatic tour of Western Europe in 1924. They would visit Switzerland, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom. King George V would happily welcome them into his home, due to the diplomatic significance of their visit, and because Queen Marie was a beloved cousin of his.
The Romanian Royalty Visit Dover England
The Peaceful Strategies Of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was the charismatic and stoic head of the Civil Rights Movement during the 50s and 60s. His impassioned rhetoric aimed to abolish segregation in America. It was during a conversation with Robert Penn Warren, held six months following the March on Washington, that King would detail his ethos, “I think [violence and hatred] will end up creating many more social problems than they solve, and I’m thinking of a very strong love. I’m not, I’m thinking, I’m thinking of love in action and not something where you say, ‘Love your enemies,’ and just leave it at that, but you love your enemies to the point that you’re willing to sit-in at a lunch counter in order to help them find themselves. You’re willing to go to jail.”
The Peaceful Strategies Of Martin Luther King Jr
The Kennedy Brothers Attend The Democratic National Convention
1960 was the year where one of the most important Democrat National Conventions was held in July of that year. John F. Kennedy was a senator then, who won the Democratic nomination largely thanks to the fantastic campaign that his brother Robert managed. It was also his passionate personality and oratory that brought him to this leadership. In this photograph we see John talking to his brother Robert about who he intended to make Vice President. They were seated in John’s hotel room, speaking softly about how Walter Reuther would not be the Vice President. John Loengard, the photographer at the scene, described how Robert would later storm out in a rage, swearing about how much he despised Lyndon Johnson.
The Kennedy Brothers Attend The Democratic National Convention
The Wartime Princess Elizabeth Does Her Duty
England was a very different place during World War II where almost everyone banded together to do their patriotic duty, including Princess Elizabeth. She had to bend her King father’s ear to allow her to serve, and when she turned 18, she was permitted to begin her training as a mechanic and truck driver. She would sign on with the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service. We wonder if Queen Elizabeth II fondly thinks back on this time, today?
The Wartime Princess Elizabeth Does Her Duty
Martin Luther King Jr. And Rosa Parks Talking In Montgomery, Alabama
You probably know Rosa Park’s most famous moment well. It was on December 1, 1955, that the Alabama seamstress hopped onto a bus. Rather than filing into the rear of the seating area, Rosa boldly remained in the front, a gesture which she was arrested for. This was a moment that would spark a widespread bus boycott that would last for 13 months. It would be a protest of unprecedented proportions for the time and light a flame for the Civil Rights Movement. Rosa’s bravery would also bolster Martin Luther King Jr.’s popularity.
Martin Luther King Jr And Rosa Parks Talking In Montgomery Alabama
The Master Of Engineering – Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Here we have Isambard Kingdom Brunel standing by the titanic anchor chain of one of his newly completed ships. He was an engineer who was behind a myriad of phenomenal projects, such as the Great Western Railway. This was an intricate system of bridges, tunnels, and viaducts that snaked across England’s West Midlands. He was an essential part of transatlantic shipping, erecting all manner of bridges and tunnels as well as constructing enormous ships. The first passenger line constructed with an iron-hull, called Great Britain, would arguably be his crowning achievement.
The Master Of Engineering
The Twins Who Survived The Sinking Of The Titanic
On April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic would blindly ram into an iceberg and begin to sink. Plenty of children passengers would lose their parents in the tragedy. The French twins, Edmond and Michel Navratil managed to safely escape the wreck by boarding the final lifeboat to hit the oceans, called the Collapsible D. Their father was informed that he would not be allowed to join them onboard the lifeboat after he valiantly escorted them aboard. The twins would end up safely back with their mother, who had not boarded the ill-fated Titanic. Her late husband had originally intended to secret the children away to America!
The Twins Who Survived The Sinking Of The Titanic
Leo Tolstoy’s Parting Message
Leo Tolstoy is pictured here at his late age. At the time, he was well-aware that he did not have much time left on Earth, and wished to impart the most important wisdom that he had gained during his many years. Love was the most sacred and pertinent thing to the great man, which he wished as many people as possible to hold dearly. Pneumonia took the writer when he was 82 years old. The common folk would swarm his funeral procession, with the police doing their best to hold them back. His parting message detailed how essential love is to a person’s life, and how he realized that this was one thing that mattered the most above all else.
Leo Tolstoys Parting Message
Jesse Owens Takes 1st Place For Long Jump
Nazi Germany hosted the Olympic Games in 1936. The Amateur Athletic Union was hesitant to permit the United States to attend that year’s Olympic Games due to how controversial Germany had become in world politics. Jesse Owens was also implored by the Civil Rights movement not to participate, but his athletic dedications trumped his social ones. The top athlete then had to endure all manner of racist ridicule at the hands of Germans, including Hitler. But they would have little to say when Owens won four gold medals, which no other track and field athlete in America has ever managed to do since.
Jesse Owens Takes 1st Place For Long Jump
Charlie Chaplin And Winston Churchill Were Chums
Another unlikely friend of Charlie Chaplin was Winston Churchill, who greatly admired the comedic actor and performer. Despite their political differences, the two fellows were greatly fond of one another. Incredibly, Churchill would ask Chaplin to visit him in England on two separate events. They would make a lot of time for each other when Churchill arrived in America in 1929. William Randolph Hearst hosted the pair at an event held within the Biltmore Hotel. Following the premiere of Chaplin’s film, City Lights, Chaplin would revisit Great Britain, making a dinner party with Churchill a priority. They passed the time discussing politics and amusing Churchill’s children.
Charlie Chaplin And Winston Churchill Were Chums
Rita Hayworth Cycles Around The Beverly Hills Hotel
The early days of Hollywood set a strict standard for its female actors, which would ensure that they would be cast into various leading films. Carmen Cansino was one woman who changed both her name and appearance to seem more traditionally ‘American’ by having her heir thinned and changing her name to Rita Hayworth. Director George Cukor, who spotted Cansino among the cast of Susan and God, realized that this was an actress that was destined for greatness, even before her physical transformation.
Rita Hayworth Cycles Around The Beverly Hills Hotel
Iran In The 60s – Beach Day
Iran is a completely different place to the one witnessed during the 60s. Ironically, women would be accosted by police if they tried to cover themselves up in accordance with Islamic standards in the way that women do in the country today. This was a country that was steeped in Western cultural influences, with females enjoying clothes like jeans and mini-skirts. They would happily spend days at the beach in swimming costumes, with picnics being an integral part of Iranian culture and social life to this day. As described by Haleh Afshar, a professor of Tehran University, while picnics continue to be an essential part of Iranian life, they are enjoyed in a far more modest way by couples.
Iran In The 60s
Grace Kelly Had Her Chin Shamed For Being ‘Too Wide’
Grace Kelly was something of an overnight success, rising to the top of Hollywood’s elite in no time at all before being crowned as a princess. She was a daughter of a construction business owner and Olympic gold medalist, with her mother being a leading swimmer and model. When Kelly completed high school, she went on to begin her own modeling career. Despite her magnificent looks and brains, Kelly struggled to make it in the industry. Mogambo would be the film that would propel her into stardom with her first major role.
Grace Kelly Had Her Chin Shamed For Being