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50 Interesting Photos From The Past That Might Change Your Perspective On Things, As Shared On “Vintage Daily” (New Pics)
There's a finite number of photos from the days gone by, so with so many social media projects dedicated to them, you'd think we would have seen it all by now. Or at least the vast majority. Especially when it comes to celebrities.
As we showed in one of our publications, the Instagram account Vintage Daily keeps unearthing rarely seen pictures from the last century with no problem. In fact, they provide such a steady stream of content that now, only 5 months after our piece, there's enough material for an update.
So that's exactly what we did. Continue scrolling to check out what the self-proclaimed Lover of The Past who runs the account has been posting on it recently.
More info: Instagram
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#1
An Indian Woman, A Japanese Woman, And A Syrian Woman, All Training To Be Doctors At Women’s Medical College Of Philadelphia
RELATED:
#2
A French Soldier Feeding His Kitten, Indochina 1956
"I think photography can be an essential and powerful tool for understanding history, but I think it is also necessary to view all photographs with a critical eye," professor, writer, and amateur homesteader Joshua Wilkey told Bored Panda, commenting on one of our earlier publications.
"While we might be accustomed to skepticism of photos in the age of Photoshop, photo editing isn't the only thing that should give us pause."
#3
A Group Of Five Trans Women In Paris, 1959 - Miriam, Nana, Jacky, Gine And Sabrina. Photo By Christer Strömholm
#4
3 Year Old Kisses A Puppy, 1950
wifeofweasley 2 years ago
puppys have always been loved - look at his smoochie little face so adorable <3
#5
Diana Ross Finishing A Rib, 1980s
Dr. Darren R. Reid, who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Dundee and is now a lecturer at Coventry University, agrees.
He explained to us that images are an incredibly important part of how we understand the past. "They give us a distinct look into how people and societies viewed themselves and each other," Reid said.
#6
A Veterinarian, Inspecting An Early Prototype Of The Internet In The 1950's
#7
Fan Takes Selfie With Elvis Presley. 1960s
#8
1950s Teenagers Going On A Date
#9
View Of The Pyramids During A Solar Eclipse, August 30, 1905. Photo: Gabriel Lekegian
"In the medieval period, for example, Jesus and the saints were often depicted as physically larger than ordinary people — not because they were believed to be taller, but because they occupied a higher status in the minds of the artists who produced these images, and the audiences who consumed them. In later centuries, Europeans (and their descendants) looked to the classical world for inspiration, spending huge amounts of time (and money) on images that were both increasingly realistic and idealized," Reid said.
#10
A California Teacher Teaching The Physics Of Surfing, 1970
#11
Norman Parkinson Photograph Of Two People Running Up A Street In New York City In 1960
#12
A Secret Love: To Buzz, L'il Always Remember The Times We Spent Together. All My Love, Your Tommy 26 March 1949
#13
David Bowie, Paris, June 1977. Photo By Christian Simonpiétri
"Native Americans and American colonizers were frequently depicted in classical poses — all deliberate choices that show us how many people perceived the invasion of the Americas and the genocides that occurred there," Reid continued.
"They also include important details (such as items of clothing, hairstyles, etc.) that help us to picture the past. For modern people, this means we can more accurately imagine, and perhaps, empathize with the very different folks who came before us."
#14
Audrey Hepburn, Paris, 1956
#15
Summer Solstice Celebration, Stockholm, Sweden, 1970
Susie Elle 2 years ago
The right half of my brain: Oh how lovely what a nice snapshot of culture - The left half of my brain: MIDSOMMAR
#16
Winona Ryder The Night She Met Johnny Depp
#17
Newlyweds Ride A Train Headed To Tokyo, Japan, 1964. Photo By Bill Ray
Misty-Dawn Amayi 2 years ago
Japanese so rarely show PDA, even during their weddings, so this is a much more rare photo than most would imagine.
Talking about photographs, in particular, Joshua Wilkey provided a few very helpful questions we can ask ourselves when analyzing them:
Is the photo lacking context? Or what is happening outside of the frame? "There's always the chance that the viewer is seeing an intentionally skewed perspective," Wilkey highlighted. "A picture might be worth a thousand words, but sometimes it takes a thousand words to explain the context of a single photo. Some pictures are downright strange without context."
#18
Albert Einstein Before His Famous Photo With His Tongue Out
#19
Audrey With Her Hair Down
#20
A Gay Couple And A Lesbian Couple Outside The Bank, Idaho, United States, 1941. Photo By Russell Lee
iblewsheep 2 years ago
i think the way they have their hands intertwined along with the spooning kind of leads me away from that wrestling notion, but i might be wrong.
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Suutashi 2 years ago
I would look at the body language of the other guy more closely. His fingers are still straight so he really isn't engaging in the hand handing. Plus he looks to me like he is grimacing and otherwise uncomfortable with the open display of affection. It could be just two straight guys messing around or a gay couple in a time where acting in such a manner in public would have been extremely risky.
Powerful Katrinka 2 years ago
Look at the body posture of the guy in back. He's totally relaxed, leaning against the wall, with one foot up, and nuzzling the neck of the guy in front. That doesn't look anything like wrestling. It does look like deep, deep affection and attraction.
Jonnie McKinnon 2 years ago
Yeah really looks like wrestling… what’s the interlocked fingers move called? 🙄
TheEndIsNigh🇨🇦and🇬🇧in🇺🇲 2 years ago
You can't really make that assumption though. As an example, my brother & I are like best friends. On one family vacation, he & I were walking ahead of the rest of the family and we were holding hands. No big deal🤷♀️ but there was an older lady that stopped us and said "What a beautiful couple you two make, and so happy too!" Of course we laughed and I explained that he is my brother but that we get along very well." All that to say that you can't just make an assumption based on context and then be annoyed when someone else's assumption based on context differs from yours. I mean it is Mormon Idaho, for all we know, they could all be siblings. Also, why can't 2 straight males hold hands?
Mary Rogers 2 years ago (edited)
And notice that the figures of the man being held are straight, not grasping back.And he also looks to possibly be uncomfortable in that position.
Stephanie A Mutti 2 years ago
Yeah, I think this needs more explaining to convince me it's not something else either way.
Jonnie McKinnon 2 years ago
Why do you need to be convinced that gays exist? Very very peculiar thing to say
Brian Michael 2 years ago
I think they are saying that just bc two men are engaging physically or playfully doesn't automatically mean they are gay. I am not saying anything is wrong with people being gay but I am frustrated that when any people of the same sex engage physically or playfully in todays society it's immediately labeled as gay or love in that way. Why can't we just enjoy human interacting with each other in a non-violent happy way before immediately bringing in attraction and sex?
Jonnie McKinnon 2 years ago
The point is, everyone’s rushing to comment “THEY ARENT GAY THEY CANT BE GAY LOOK AT THE FINGERS THEY ARE STRAIGHT THEY CANT BE GAY” and I’ve yet to see that reaction on any photograph of a heteronormative interaction.
Jamyi Lee 2 years ago
They were friends. Pals. Two fellas being dudes. Or???!!! They were roommates 😏
Lady of the Mountains 2 years ago
Maybe. I think the guys are probably gay, but the girls arent as obvious. I wonder if this was posted by someone involved in the situation who knew more information then what we can understand from the picture
I_Kid_U_Not 2 years ago
With their fingers intertwined and his bum so snuggled into the other guy's front? Ha! Sure...just wrestling *wink*
Asteríx Viking 2 years ago (edited)
They know who the photographer was. But nothing more. But there is this article, have only read a bit, dont know so much about this site: http://irreverentpsychologist.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-curious-case-of-two-men-embracing.html
Jaelin Kole 2 years ago
Yeah... Guys always wrestle in a spoon position with interlocked fingers...
Karyn Stouffer 2 years ago
Okay, Negative Nellie, look at the photo. They young men are leaning against the wall. They are embracing, spoon style. Not wrestling.
Amy Stone-Chandler 2 years ago
The way that boy looks behind the other? Yeah that isn't wrestling my friend lol
TheEndIsNigh🇨🇦and🇬🇧in🇺🇲 2 years ago
I tried to do some research on this photo since it is so open to speculation. Most accredited websites say this is just a picture of 2 boys trying to impress 2 girls. While some other random sites speculate that because of the way the 2 boys' hands are interlocked, it may have been something more. One of the historical photo archives said in its description that it wasn't uncommon for guys or girls of that Era, who were close friends, to show affection & the boys were simply "rough housing" to impress the girls. I couldn't find anything official from the photographer, Russell Lee, as he died in the '80s. There are many countries where it is common for hetero men to hold hands, so I'm just going to take this as a nice picture of 2 guys & 2 girls hanging out. Orientation not important.
ChickyChicky 2 years ago
Thanks. No one really knows what's going on in this picture, except the four of them. It's hard to believe that they really could have been showing romantic affection in the light of day on a main street in a tiny Idaho town, especially with a photographer around. The dominant Mormon culture of Idaho would not have even remotely been okay with it. But, we don't know, so it's possible they were lovers.
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Bryn 2 years ago
The reason for that is that unless they themselves provide proof, historians don't assign labels.
Load More Replies... Fair Sparrow 2 years ago (edited)
But "roommates" is a label. It really sounds as unless couple wouldn't be caught on camera f*****g historians wouldn't admitt that's most logical and obvious explanation is they're being gay. But actually, "it was common for two people of the same sex to hold hands, kiss each other and share bed platonically in xxxx". Yeah, sure.
2WheelTravlr 2 years ago
This was taken by Lee Russell, a photographer for the Farm Security Administration during the war. The photo is captioned "Boys and Girls". These are not gay couples, they're just kids messing around on main street in a very small ranch town in Idaho. Our current viewpoint messes with our perspectives, it's easy to forget how much the world has changed in 80 years. Even a hetero couple snuggling like this would not have been appropriate in this situation at that time. It's just boys roughhousing.
Esme love and squalor 2 years ago
Just seems that in 1941 it would be incredibly risky showing such relaxed, casual and intimate affection as a gay person in the day time in a street corner outside of a bank. And with the poor job of verifying/sourcing that BP does, I wonder about the title of this one, given the context.
Appalachian Panda 2 years ago
It was a lot more socially acceptable for friends of the same gender to show physical affection for each other back then, before the anti-gay panic of later decades had a chance to set in. Look at all those photos of military guys enjoying R&R during World War II.
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MygrandsonscallmeNia 2 years ago
This would Not have happened in public back then. If they were to get caught, they would have been killed! The boys were just wrestling around trying to impress the girls. People were just extremely homophobic back then, it was just unheard of! People started coming out in the 60's, and the 70's, but it was still sketchy to do so..
2WheelTravlr 2 years ago
I completely agree, especially since this was Caldwell Idaho, farm and ranch country. Not the kind of thing kids did in the middle of town in that era.
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Colin Timp 2 years ago
I'd be willing to bet that the two girls acted as "beards" for the boys and vice-versa.
Mary Rogers 2 years ago (edited)
Really, we are just looking at a split second in time, so it is impossible to tell if we are looking at an embrace or just joking around. Did they stay in that position? We don't know, but that would be an embrace. But I am skeptical considering that this was taken in the 1940's as such behavior was NOT acceptable back then in public and would have probably led to violence against these guys. After all, this was considered far worse than interracial dating and you know what happened to people who did that back then.
Carol Sundahl 2 years ago
As a 77 year old lesbian, I can understand someone's need to label these kids as gay. We are so short on historic images that anything will do. But this isn't homosexual. It makes me sad.
Lynda Nesbitt 2 years ago
Gay and lesbian or not-the girls are wearing that eternal feminine expression that says "ok, guys...whatever."
Elizabeth 2 years ago
Thanks to those who have posted the background info of the picture....I have to say that even though we want this to be a photo of gay kids, it is unlikely. Sadder still it shows us how kids in the 1930's- 1940's were way more comfortable with physical warmth and expression without being self-conscious about being "gay" or "straight" or whatever. Who cares about your label - human warmth is precious regardless. Yay them.
Jane Dorothy Warner 2 years ago
I Googled this pic, and, while some sources do say the boys are together, I can't find anything that says the girls are.
Jennifer Brown 2 years ago
Seeing as it's Idaho they probably had to pretend they were with the opposite sex for fear of being attacked by neo nazis
Poly Amorous 2 years ago
No. It's just that gay is a blanket term and lesbian is for women who love women
Amy Stone-Chandler 2 years ago
1941? Don't know if they are out and proud...in Idaho of all places in 1941. Could be a spot in town that the public couldn't see them? I think this is on a Sunday when every store was closed. What teens were actually out in 1941 in Caldwell Idaho?
peter harris 2 years ago
This is what I see: a young lady in the left foreground with a handsome, open face of the American plains. Her pose, with right thumbnail to front teeth is thoughtful, neutral and not really impressed. Her clothes are casual, the striped shirt and plaid skirt are not striving for a fashion statement. Her right sleeve is rolled to her upper arm like the guys. What catches my attention is, if you look closely, it seems a strand of the dark haired girl's hair is threaded through her left forefinger and left middle finger. The dark haired friend has a handsome face with a neutral expression. Interestingly, to me, she carries in her right arm and hand a book and a box camera she is not using to record the scene. The 'gals', also, seem to be as tall or taller than the guys. There is space between the two parties. The guys are locked in a hand and body hold. The one on the left (being held from behind) wears a hat with the bill turned up and his belt buckled on the side both out of fashion
Jonnie McKinnon 2 years ago
everything’s gay! Everything! Especially the one reference to gays that has been made on this website in days! Everything!!
#21
Prince Charles And Princess Diana On Vacation In Bahamas, 1982
Is the photo representative? In other words, can the photo indicate something bigger than itself? "For example, the internet has, for years, made fun of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un for marveling at seemingly cool but likely fake things like modern and well-stocked grocery stores. These photos are meant to be representative images portraying for Kim's people and for foreigners that North Korea is a modern and well-nourished society. The reality is a bit different."
#22
A Young Boy That Had Just Stolen His Father's Car And Crashed It, Takes One Last Puff On His Cigarette Before Facing The Consequences. 1974
#23
"Being Deeply Loved By Someone Gives You Strength, While Loving Someone Deeply Gives You Courage"
#24
San Francisco's Lombard Street In 1975
Paul Macdonell 2 years ago
Doesn't the yellow Pacer look like it's going the wrong way on this one way road?
#25
A Girl With A Massive Bush
As the historian said, these concepts can apply to virtually any photograph, but they become crucial when we're viewing a particular one as evidence. "They are important for historical photographs because of the power and usefulness of photography in political propaganda. North Korea is a great example of a regime that uses photography for propaganda, and the Soviet Union and the US were great examples too, particularly during the Cold War and the Space Race."
#26
James Dean Signing Autographs In His Car, 1950's
#27
Burlesque Dancer Miss Zorita Walking Her Snake, 1940s
#28
Thames Swan Shares A Treat, 1958
#29
Jumping The Puddle, Berlin, 1930. Photo By Friedrich Seidenstücker
#30
Young Couples At A Formal Dance Dreamily Sway On The Crowded Floor Of Dim, Chandelier-Lit Ballroom, 1940s. Photo By Nina Leen
AppletreeChild 2 years ago
Love that. I just wish there were more formal events like that nowadays. Not just for the upper crust but for everyone.
#31
An Exhausted Young Couple During An All-Night Jazz Session At The Royal Albert Hall In London, 1957. Photo By Erich Auerbach
#33
Marilyn Monroe, Startled By A Firecracker, Opens The Time-Life Building In New York, 1957
#34
New York City Ballet, 1940. Photo By Larry Colwell
#35
Bonnie And Clyde's Last Kiss A Few Hours Before They Were Killed, May 23, 1934
#36
Evolution Of The Donut Hole
#37
"Females At The First Chippendales Club, Los Angeles, 1979"
#38
Sharon Tate Wearing A Pink Top And Headband, 1968
#39
Love In Time Of War, 1944
#40
On The Observation Deck Of The Empire State Building, New York, Mid-1940's
#41
Couple On Beach, Coney Island, 1947. Photo By Ruth Orkin
#42
Woodstock '69
#43
A Young Man Helping His Date Into Her Skating Kit, Tokyo, 1959. Photograph By John Dominis
Daycare Attendant Sun 2 years ago
"Concept of Love" blares loudly over the speakers as she skates past him for the 42nd time.
#44
Surrounded By Others, A Couple Enjoys Some Privacy As They Embrace In A Hole In The Sand On A Beach In Santa Monica, California, July 4, 1950 (Photo By Ralph Crane)
#45
A Man Stops To Watch A Woman Tie Her Sandals In Portofino Marina, August 1977. Photo By Slim Aarons
#46
A Couple Drinking Water From Fountain. Michigan, 1940s
#47
"Sausages And Women. If You Want To Enjoy The Experience, Never Watch The Preparation Of Either." Oscar Wilde
#48
John & Yoko Waiting For The Maid To Make The Bed So They Can Continue Protesting The System
#49
A Couple Making A Point About Smog And The Environment, 1970. Photo By H. Armstrong
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Air Conditioner 2 years ago
Yeah, I just want somebody to love me like that
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Never Jeleniewicz 2 years ago
It really amuses me how people in the comments don't doubt the fact that a man and a woman are a couple, but need "proof" that a gay couple is.
Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦 2 years ago
Does anyone think that some of the years from the photos aren't vintage? The 1980s, for one
Poultry Geist 2 years ago
You might want to sit down for this but … I think 80’s are vintage! Really it doesn’t matter what I think all that matters is the people born after 1997 think 80’s are vintage
Raena Celis 2 years ago
All the photos were uplifting, then I got to the photo of the Filipino baby tired up at a human zoo, and I was instantly reminded that humans can be cruel and disgusting beings because of how we treated our fellow men.
Anthony Jordan 2 years ago
#4 is at least 1992. That's a post-'91 Buick Skylark behind her. (Though she looks to be time trekking from the 1970s here.)
Bob D. Lin Quint 2 years ago
This didn't change my perspective on anything. It was just couples and other sappy garbage but ✨black and white✨
KurtCobainofficiallmao 2 years ago
as a black person I didnt find this offensive I have no problem with white people and their defintly were black and poc on this list.
Load More Replies... Joss 2 years ago
I assumed the predominantly white subjects of old photo threads (combined with the way old photos of people of color tend to feel more like they're framed as novelties rather than just people) reflected the culture of the times and places they were taken and what that cultural slice valued taking pictures of. It only just occurred to me that it could be people now being selective about what they think is worth sharing :(
Air Conditioner 2 years ago
Yeah, I just want somebody to love me like that
Load More Replies... Never Jeleniewicz 2 years ago
It really amuses me how people in the comments don't doubt the fact that a man and a woman are a couple, but need "proof" that a gay couple is.
Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦 2 years ago
Does anyone think that some of the years from the photos aren't vintage? The 1980s, for one
Poultry Geist 2 years ago
You might want to sit down for this but … I think 80’s are vintage! Really it doesn’t matter what I think all that matters is the people born after 1997 think 80’s are vintage
Raena Celis 2 years ago
All the photos were uplifting, then I got to the photo of the Filipino baby tired up at a human zoo, and I was instantly reminded that humans can be cruel and disgusting beings because of how we treated our fellow men.
Anthony Jordan 2 years ago
#4 is at least 1992. That's a post-'91 Buick Skylark behind her. (Though she looks to be time trekking from the 1970s here.)
Bob D. Lin Quint 2 years ago
This didn't change my perspective on anything. It was just couples and other sappy garbage but ✨black and white✨
KurtCobainofficiallmao 2 years ago
as a black person I didnt find this offensive I have no problem with white people and their defintly were black and poc on this list.
Load More Replies... Joss 2 years ago
I assumed the predominantly white subjects of old photo threads (combined with the way old photos of people of color tend to feel more like they're framed as novelties rather than just people) reflected the culture of the times and places they were taken and what that cultural slice valued taking pictures of. It only just occurred to me that it could be people now being selective about what they think is worth sharing :(
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