July 31, 2011

On the Move

Like these two women, I've been on the road and now I'm home again.

La Baule, France
1939

July 20, 2011

On Vacation

Hey, y'all. Like this strange, baby-lifting fellow, I'll be on vacation for the next little while. I'll be back on the pictures when I come home again, so don't forget about me!

Seriously, though, what is that guy doing with that baby?

1970

July 14, 2011

Bold as Brass

I'm half convinced I'd already posted this one. I mean, why wouldn't I? Naked hippie band. I think the guy on our left is marching to a different drum, though.

Chicago

Pet Show

Okay, cat on the right, cat on the left - what does the boy in the middle have?

Gatlinburg, Tennessee
1925

Team

I choose to think that this is a family of acrobats on summer vacation.

New Jersey
1930

July 13, 2011

excuses, excuses

I love the double image here, the matched posture.

"You Meet the Nicest People on Vacations"
1945

July 12, 2011

Hall of Ocean Life

I am your God now.

New York, New York
1969, photographer Arthur Singer

8 feet over, 30 feet down

Two things. 1. How did this happen? What's behind the building to the left? 2. I love the care that was taken when drawing the arrows. I bet this looked great in court.

San Francisco, CA
1956

The Lady's Hand

She's huge, as is the promise she makes on our behalf. As a nation, we fail to live up to that promise pretty much daily. But I can't help but feel proud when I see her, even piecemeal, even barely made. For all the racism, all the colonization, all the broken treaties and broken people, there is a flame to be cherished and fed. Not with the blood of another country's civilians. Not with the bones of the working class. No, that flame is the burning hope of millions of people, the hope of a better future, of happy families, of being able to square your shoulders and look anyone in the eye and say, "I'll work with you and you work with me, and together we'll get this done." Maybe those in Washington should take a field trip up to NYC and stand at Lady Liberty's feet. Take a good look at those broken chains, guys, and think of the labor it took to raise that torch. The Chinatown bus is only $35 - I'll buy the first ticket.

Philadelphia, PA
1876

invisible PLAGUE GERMS

I can picture someone designing this flier. "What's scary? Bombs. No, that's not enough. INVISIBLE PLAGUE GERMS!" Look, I've been bombed in Tallahassee plenty of times - it's not that bad.

Tallahassee, Florida
1954

July 8, 2011

Laughstronauts

Back in 1985, when I was 9 and Hurricane Kate shut down all the schools, my Aunt Lynn took my sister and I down to watch the shuttle blast off. It was the Atlantis, and there people right here rode it into space. I wonder if they laugh a lot in space. I wonder if it blew their mind every time they lifted off.

STS-61-B Crew
1985

July 5, 2011

Come See Us at Seaworld

There's nothing about this that isn't completely awesome. I saw some pretty great waterski shows as a kid (usually at Cypress Gardens) but nothing with actual superheroes. My loss.

Completely awesome update: check out the Noblemania blog for TONS of further info and photos about this ski show (and other cool stuff). 

Sea World, Orlando, Florida
mid 1970s

Swimming Lesson

This seems lazy to me. Then again, the method I know best for teaching a kid to swim involves getting her to let go of something stable and doggie paddle toward you, while you back up slowly to make them swim further than they thought they had to. Now that I think about it, our method seems sort of mean.

England
from The Hulton Collection

La Femme Amphibie

There is something about old illustrations of crocs and gators that I really love. They look so very lizardy - almost like dragons - in our imaginations. They're much bulkier in real life, though every bit as interesting.

French Circus Poster
late 1800s/early 1900s

Seattle Tubing Society

That is what a good time should look like. A few drinks, nice hats, plenty of water. Maybe this is the year I actually go tubing.

Seattle, Washington
1953, photographer Burt Glinn

July 3, 2011

Les Fumeuses de Pipes

I can't help but assume we're looking at the employees of a brothel, and possibly a few of their daughters. Them again, I just watched Pretty Baby, so that could be influencing my understanding of this photo.

no information available
found at AAnonymes

July 2, 2011

Valeriy V. Polyakov

When you live in space, this is what your house looks like.

Mir Space Station
1994