Houston Rodeo

Action shot!

Houston, TX - Texas State Archives

Cracked

There's nothing playful about this. It's serious business.

CAMARA DEMOCRATICA

Snowshoes

He has dressed himself impeccably to go fuck someone up.

East of the Sun and West of the Moon - 1914 - Kay Nielson - 50 Watt

The Plunge

I want to try out the long slide.

Santa Cruz - 1908 - @ American Memory

Running a Race

In their stocking feet and determined to win. And that guy on the left looks a little chuckly for someone who gets to run in shorts.

Toronto Island, Ontario, Canada - 1907 - @ City of Toronto Archives

a man doing a flip

Come on back to the alley, I've got something to show you. 

Illinois - 1900 - Charles Irish - @ Rock Island County Historical Society

The Prize

I bet this was a formative moment in that kid's life. Look at the faces of the boys behind him.

Madison, Wisconsin

1957

from Wisconsin Historical Society

Suspension

Jesus, what a jump. 

Carson, WA 

from craftcoer

Game of Arrows

See that figure on the left? Dollars to doughnuts that's some kid they had retrieving the arrows.

1910, photographer Richard Throssel

from Museum of Photographic Arts Collections

Banzai

At no point in my life have I been able to do this. At no point in my life did I not sort of wish I could.

Anaheim Convention Center

1977

from Synthetrix: Photos of the Forgotten

muscle mama

Anything can be a bonding experience.

no information available

from The Invisible Edge

sport

Okay, so, what? Someone took a photo of two dudes in their skimpies and cut them out and put them in a field to do a little bowling? Do you suppose this was advertising or a fetish?

1909

from the NYPL Picture Collection

Never a dull match with a Dusek

“In Boston, Rudy watched Brother Ernie wrestle an Irishman named Dan O’Mahoney. When O’Mahoney got the decision, Rudy jumped into the ring, tried to assault the referee, started a free-for-all among the seconds. In Camden, N. J., a few nights after the bout in Boston, Ernie wrestled Gino Garibaldi. A spectator in the balcony hurled down a chair which hit Ernie on the head. He was hospitalized.”

And yet they look so relaxed.

The Dusek Riot Squad, aka The Nebraska Riot Squad, aka The Dirty Duseks

early 50s, photographer Irving Penn

from The Heavy Light

Play With a Purpose

We did this sometimes, but without the wheel. Looks like fun.

"The Country Gentleman"

1932

from katieinthecupboard's flickr stream

Skateopia

I remember first reading about this place in the pages of Big brother Skateboard Magazine more than 10 years ago. It's a big skateboarder/artist/punk/bluegrass colony out in the boondocks. Lots of naked skating and blowing shit up for the fun of it. Looks like a hell of a time, but I sort of feel like everyone there is going to suddenly grow donkey ears and start braying.

Somewhere in Ohio

2009, photographer Morgan Ashcom

from his site

led there by uncertain times

Joan R. Kammer: Champion, Marksman, Marine.

I like her. She looks like she's got spunk.

12th Naval District

1954

from Jackson Library, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Cereal and Archery

She'd shoot you soon as look at you.

The Sunny Side of Life booklet from Kellogg

1934

from mcudeque's flickr stream

Peggy Bacon in mid-air backflip

Haven't I posted this before? I can't believe I haven't, because it's awesome. She's springy!

Bondi Beach, Sydney

1937, photographer Ted Hood

from State Library of New South Wales

Hero Man

Okay, what do you think? Costume party? An attempt at superheroism? Or is he going out to fight a buddy, who is similarly decked out down the street?

Russia

1958

from Verna Troitsyna's flickr stream

The Flying Scot

You know, I think we'd all be a lot better off if adults just went to summer camp. I think it would cut back on war. I mean, which one does this actually look like?

The Netherlands

1914

from Nationaal Archief