1940s
The Latest
Mornings at the Harvard Club, New York c. 1940 (via)
waaatt? O_O I could not chill with a rhinoceros head on my wall like that
(via lostsplendor)
Marie-Louise Taos Amrouche was an Algerian artist and writer who was born into a family of Roman Catholic converts in 1913. She translated many folk tales to French and sang in Kabyle.
Her first album Chants berbères de Kabylie (1939) was widely successful as were her novels, Jacinthe Noir (1947) and La Grain Magique (1966). She passed in away 1976.
Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, and Joseph Cotten in the 1944 mystery-thriller melodrama Gaslight.
“Magtanim Hindi Biro” is a popular Tagalog Folk Song. Presented here is the interpretation of Katy de la Cruz with a mix of English and Tagalog lyrics. Audio from a vintage 78 RPM shellac phonograph record publish by RCA Victor (USA). Recorded initially for Filipinos in the United States, it carried the English title “Planting Rice”. This is Katy de la Cruz’s first known recording, later to be recognized as “The Queen of Filipino Jazz” and as “The Queen of Bodabil.”
Japanese-Americans waiting to be shipped to an internment camp, 1942.
Although stripped of basic human rights, they bravely remained loyal to America throughout the war and proved they were true Americans, both in the camps and as members of the US Army (442nd Reg. Combat Team). My hat’s off to these families.
Stjepan Filipović, a Croatian Partisan who fought against Axis forces during WWII, moments before his own execution.
Moments before dying, he threw his arms into the air and yelled, ”Death to fascism, freedom to the people!”
Valjevo, Yugoslavia - May 22, 1942.
Meeting of Commanders from the Soviet Union, France, USA and UK after Berlin is captured and World War II is ended. Brandenburg Gate, Berlin 1945.
(via firebombing)
A compelling photograph (above) of Jawharlal Nehru inspecting the Kashmir women’s militia - the women’s self-defence corps - in Srinagar. I am not sure of the date - almost certainly the end of 1947 or early in 1948.
Begum Zainab, the leader of the militia, is escorting Nehru. In the background is a Srinagar landmark the Takht-e-Suleiman or Shankacharya Hill. Krishna Misri tells me that the woman one from the far left, with the patterned top, is Sajda Begum. The women’s militia drilled and was trained in how to fire a rifle and throw a grenade. Its main intention was to allow young women to protect themselves and their households should Srinagar be overrun. The tribal army got to the outskirts of the city but not further.
The women’s militia did not see active service, though many of its members were involved in relief work for the refugees resulting from the invasion. This photograph was taken by the master photographer Ram Chand Mehta. His business, Mahatta, is still going on the Bund at Srinagar - when I was last there I popped in to say hello to the current proprietor, Ram Chand Mehta’s son. I am posting this photo with the permission of Hemant Mehta, Ram Chand Mehta’s grandson. The rights rest with Hemant’s picture agency, India Picture.
Signed postcard of great American jazz and classical pianist and singer Hazel Dorothy Scott (June 11, 1920 – October 2, 1981).
