China in Color Pictures From the 1920s and 1930s

These glass slides were taken by the Russian-born photographer Serge Vargassoff (1906-1965) who established himself as a professional photographer, at the age of 20, in Peking (Beijing), China and became a long-term resident of the city. Later he established a studio 'Serge Vargassoff Photography' at 3A Wyndham Street Hong Kong, as well as working at "Gainsborough Studio, Morning Post Building, Hong Kong". Vargassoff was well known to Hedda Hammer Morrision. Hedda Morrison writes fondly of Vargassoff in her book, A Photographer in Old Peking (1985), "[Serge Vargassoff] was an excellent, though not very businesslike, photographer. We enjoyed a firm friendship and it was he who brought me the news of the Japanese surrender - and a bottle of vodka with which to celebrate the event."

Pavilion

Wulong Ting (Five-Dragon-Pavilion) in Beihai Park

The wall of Tuan Cheng (Circular City) in Beihai Park

The Stone Pailou (Gateway) in Zhongshan Park

A glazed gateway with a pavilion in Beihai Park

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Magnificent Hairdresser's Tools From the 1920s

In the 1920s, the new dryers were often heavy, weighing in at approximately 2 pounds (0.9 kg), and were difficult to use. They also had many instances of overheating and electrocution. Hair dryers were only capable of using 100 watts, which increased the amount of time needed to dry hair (the average dryer today can use up to 2000 watts of heat).

Since the 1920s, development of the hair dryer has mainly focused on improving the wattage and superficial exterior and material changes. In fact, the mechanism of the dryer has not had any significant changes since its inception. One of the more important changes for the hair dryer is to be made of plastic, so that it is more lightweight.

These images from our not-so-dim Seussian/Medusian hair-care past, even though they seem to be instruments for hard-line delivery of intelligence. The hairdresser's tools were simple: pore openers, hair straighteners, hair curlers, heat setting heat setters, and the like.

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Explaining Sex to Your Little Girl on Vinyl, And Here Are 15 Bad Album Covers From the 1970s and 1980s

We’re not sure what makes a good album cover but we definitely know a bad one when we see it...

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Extraordinary Kodachrome Slides of New York City From Between the 1940s and 1960s

It’s rare we can look back at an era of New York City from the mid-20th century and see it through such sharp, colorful images. Thanks to Charles W. Cushman, a tourist here during that time with a knack for photography, it’s possible.

Everything looks like a Hollywood set—colorful, clean, and almost not at all like New York City, in some shots. Perhaps that’s because in an era we have mostly seen documented in black and white, Cushman brought to life in full color.

 

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Fascinating and Forgotten Monuments From Yugoslavia

These structures were commissioned by former Yugoslavian president Josip Broz Tito in the 1960s and '70s to commemorate sites where WWII battles took place, or where concentration camps stood. They were designed by different sculptors and architects, conveying powerful visual impact to show the confidence and strength of the Socialist Republic.

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12 Amazing Color Photographs Captured London After Air Raid Attack, September 1940

The appearance of German bombers in the skies over London during the afternoon of September 7, 1940 heralded a tactical shift in Hitler's attempt to subdue Great Britain.

During the previous two months, the Luftwaffe had targeted RAF airfields and radar stations for destruction in preparation for the German invasion of the island. With invasion plans put on hold and eventually scrapped, Hitler turned his attention to destroying London in an attempt to demoralize the population and force the British to come to terms.

At around 4:00 PM on that September day, 348 German bombers escorted by 617 fighters blasted London until 6:00 PM. Two hours later, guided by the fires set by the first assault, a second group of raiders commenced another attack that lasted until 4:30 the following morning.

This was the beginning of the Blitz - a period of intense bombing of London and other cities that continued until the following May. For the next consecutive 57 days, London was bombed either during the day or night. Fires consumed many portions of the city.

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Funny Photographs of The Beatles Taken by Robert Whitaker in 1964

Robert Whitaker (1939-2011) was a renowned British photographer, best known internationally for his many photographs of The Beatles, taken between 1964 and 1966.

On his arrival in England in August 1964, Whitaker set to work photographing the members of the NEMS stable including Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, Gerry & The Pacemakers and Cilla Black. He also did several photographs of the hugely successful Australian folk-pop group The Seekers, including the cover shots for the LP Seekers Seen in Green (1967.

But it was with The Beatles and especially John Lennon, with whom he became close friends, that Whitaker created his most famous and enduring work. One of his first assignments was photographing The Beatles during their triumphant second American tour, including the historic Shea Stadium concert in New York.

He spent the next two years traveling with the Beatles and shooting them at work, at rest and at play—on their tours, at home, in the recording studio, during private moments, and in formal photo-sessions. His photos from this period include the portraits that were used to form the Klaus Voormann collage-illustration on the cover of the group's landmark 1966 LP Revolver, and a series of group portraits taken while the group was making promotional films for the singles "Rain" and "Paperback Writer" in Chiswick Park, London in 1966, including the famous "Way Out" portrait of George Harrison.

Here, below is a collection of some of funny photographs of The Beatles taken by Robert Whitaker in 1964:

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Wonderful Pictures Give an Extraordinary Glimpse Into Daily Life of the Modern Gypsies in 1986

Unrelated to the Roma, the new gypsies began in 1986 when a group of Post-Punk Anti-Thatcher protesters headed out of London into the English countryside. London based photographer Iain McKell followed these New Age Travelers to the West Country and over the years he watched them become a hybrid tribe-the new gypsies-present-day rural anarchists, living in elaborately decorated horse-drawn caravans. Known as “Horsedrawn,” the new gypsies share a desire for sustainability, a love of self-reliance, and a disdain for the trappings of contemporary life.

For more than a decade McKell has focused his lens on travelers of all ages: parents, children, couples, and loners. With sensitivity and honesty he captures a way of life that seems at once romantic, strange, beautiful, and simple. The result is a deeply insightful portrayal of a culture that eschews the traditional creature comforts of urban life in favor of the simplicity and freedom of the natural world.

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Bikes, Bicycles, Pushbikes

It's as easy as riding a bike. These photographs from the collection of the State Library of New South Wales celebrate the timeless joy of the bicycle.

Man on a penny-farthing bicycle being chased by his sister (Maggie & Bob Spiers) - West Wyalong, NSW, C. 1900

Billie Samuels leaving to ride to Melbourne on a Malvern Star bicycle, 4 July 1934, by Sam Hood

Close-up of Billie Samuels on the Malvern Star bike showing her koala bear mascot before leaving for Melbourne, 4 July 1934, by Sam Hood

Billie Samuels on a Malvern Star cycle leaving for Melbourne from Martin Place, 4 July 1934, by Sam Hood

Waratah Rovers Bicycle Club (WRBC) on tour. Sydney - Campbelltown - Appin - Bulli - South Coast. Photo taken at Picton - Picton, NSW, October 1900

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15 Wonderful Color Portrait Photos of Circus Performers From Between the 1940s and 1950s

A peek into a more innocent – some might say naïve – age, before the days of Women’s Lib and animal rights when the American circus was the grandest show business industry on Earth.

Traveling tens of thousands of miles and playing to audiences tens of thousands strong, these stills capture the behind the scenes lives of the glamorous circus showgirls.

The vintage color photos show us the 1940s and 50s as we’ve rarely seen them before, especially the shot of the lady cuddling the cute pussy between her legs.

showgirl barnum & bailey, 1946

circus showgirl, 1950

aerial ballet showgirl, 1949

king bros circus, 1950

wardrobe wagon, 1959

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