Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943

Denver Post ^ | 7/26/10 | PLOG

[Java4Jay]

ping

[JoeProBono]

(just got out of the hospital, didn't think I was going to make it)

[Huck]

Brimmed beanies made quite a comeback as well.

[oldtimer2]

if you are interested in old photos check out the web site Shorpy, The photos are mainly from 1850 to 1950. They are from the Library of Congress. This is the best site on the web. (outside of Free Republic)

Shorpy

[johngrace]

Truly Stunning Photos. I love History and Photos.

[johngrace]

There’s more history in those photos. Then if someone tried to talk about it.

[oldtimer2]

I have been visiting Shorpy every few days for about a year and they just blow me away. If you go back to phptos posted previously and spend 1/2 a day before you realize it.

I especially love the remarks posted. Just like FR the people on Shorpy are very smart and very well informed.

[stormer]

Greenskin - it’s the antioxidation coat on the aircraft. I live fairly near a Boeing facility and it common to see airliners during flight test prior to painting.

[stormer]

The second photo is by Dorothea Lange and is titled Migrant Mother. The woman was working the pea harvest and is named Florence Thompson. The photo was taken in Nipomo, California in 1936.

[Yardstick]

Man what beautiful pics. Amazing to see life back then in color.

[SaraJohnson]

Yes! And the dad in the family photo looks like Mel Gibson to me.

[Teflonic]

Thanks for the link, Shorpy has lots of great stuff to look over.

[Liberty Valance]

These are amazing images. Thank you for posting this thread.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Seems almost too banal to say it but one thing that changes over time is clothes. Not just clothing *styles* as these can be cyclical. But the cloth and materials that clothing is made out of. What we have now is warmer (or cooler), lighter, stronger, more durable etc. etc. It’s one reason why pictures from 30, 40, or 50 or more years ago do look different (even if they’re in color).

This really hit me when watching a “making of” segment for a movie that was based in the WWI era. The costume designer said it was important to get the clothing “right”. One reason obviously is to get the visual look of the movie right. But another (less obvious) reason, is that the clothing of the era was more constraining, harder to move around in. When the actors are dressed in these clothes, their physical movements, and very possibly their inner state is going to subtly change. The costume designer thought that basically by getting the costumes “right” she could help the director get better performances out of the actors.

People from all those years ago would probably be amazed at the water repellent, breathable, stretchable, wickable, insulating fabrics that we take for granted now. (Most made with petroleum products I would guess).

[thesearethetimes...]

Thank you so much. Life was clearly hard, but it made for such strong people. Something we have lost I am afraid.

God bless,
Tatt

[johngrace]

I went to barnes and noble’s a couple of years ago. They had 2 large coffee pictorial table books on the Civil War and World war 2 on sale for 5.99 each. Usually a 45 dollar per book. I bought them. What a treasure! 1000’s pictures! Truly amazing photos.