Jack Johnson: Boxing History

Jack Johnson was an American boxer in the early 1900's.

A pretty amazing story of how Johnson become the most famous African American on Earth! The above photo was taken from his fight in Cuba vs Jess Willard in 1915. Just lasting the 26 rounds, Johnson won virtually every round up until his knockout and defeat in the 26th. Jess was hailed as the "Great white hope".

Unable to find boxing opponents after beating Jeffries (dubbed the fight of the century and resulting riots across the country) he turned to racing cars.

Ken Burns made a fantastic documentary "Unforgivable blackness. The rise and fall of Jack Johnson" which is well worth a watch. How times have changed? right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-y7bdeRDLI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQqpjYGPUwQ

WW1: Trench digging Training.

When we think of Soldiers training we think of men running their bayonets into dummies and shouting alot. Crucial in WW1 though was trenches! Soldiers would find themselves in them for months on end, both serving as protection and living quarters. Here we see a training camp where the chaps (wot wot) are learning how to build the perfect trench. Not sure its 100% realistic, not as much mud as in the real battlefield trenches and look how clean they all look.

WW1 Propaganda poster: Sportsmen are enlisting!

I have a lot of Propaganda posters on this site, most of them from WW1 and WW2 but today was the first time I have ever seen this one (mild excitement)! It makes sense really, if players from great sporting teams can enlist then the government were keen to tell you about it. 

I have read about whole football teams from the early 1900's just vanishing when all of the brave men enlisted for WW1. No wonder it was around this time that to keep sport going in the country they created lots of women's football teams that sadly disappeared when the War finished.

WW1: Third battle of Ypres

Taking up shells by motor-driven light railway during the phase known as the Battle of Langemarck, near Elverdinghe, 19 August 1917.

This photo gives us today a sense of what happened in the Great War and how different it was from today. Look at the car come train giving the necessary method to transport to take supplies to the front, it cannot be going fast as the man at the back seems to be leaning against it, maybe keeping the shells on or just needing a something to lean on while walking. He must have drawn the short straw as the other soldiers are sat on it.  The background looks rather plush, so it must be a little distance away from the muddy fields, woods, that we associate with Ypres.

Are we downhearted?: 1916

Two disabled soldiers on the grounds of the 4th London General Hospital. Lots to love about this photo, the chair looks like a wooden house chair converted into a wheelchair, well used and comfy. Both of the soldiers look rather happy, pipe in hand the other donning his hat. Happy days indeed.

MGM screen credits: 1928

The beginning of the Hollywood era: the filming of the MGM screen credits, 1928. A really interesting photo of movie history here, we all know the famous lion roar on the credits of so many old movies. Look how deadpan the camera and sound men are, professional to the end.

Reichserntedankfest Nazi rally: 1937

Found this reading one of my favorite forums a few days ago. What gets me is the scale of the rally! How many people were there that day? I think the only thing we have today that can begin to recreate this are the rallies in North Korea. You can find plenty of similar Nazi rally photos from around the same time and equally impressive gatherings.

WW1 Train through Flanders

WW1 and a train carrying British troops through the battlefield in the Flanders region of France. Many a famous battle was fought in this area in WW1. A typical scene of total destruction of buildings, landscape and any life shown here. The train does seem rather basic, standing room only and not cover from the constant rain.

WW1 Celebrations: 100 years on. Scots New Year & the end!

Next year (2014) will be the 100 year anniversary of WW1. I believe alot of events will be taking place across the globe for this particular event. 

The Black Watch (Scottish soldiers) celebrating New Year. Like most things in WW1 we have mud in this photo, lots and lots of it. I am not sure but it looks like a camp of some sort, most probably a little off the front line. They seemed rather happy, maybe there was a ceasefire that day!

1918: Crowds outside Buckingham Palace, London, celebrate the Armistice. The end of the War, huge numbers of people across the country joined parties and gatherings.

U.S. 27th Infantry Division; end of World War I. We can often forget that the War was in fact a global event. American troops here marching through New York to mark the end of the War.

Those were true movie stars: 1930-40s

 

 Carole Lombard was a rather unique movie star, at her peak she was one, if not the highest paid actress around. Earning over $500k a year in the 1930's!  Movie stars in those days really did earn their way, making several movies a year was the norm.

 She died at a young age in a plane crash, helping raise money for the WW2.

Apart from the obvious Gone with the Wind film blockbuster, Vivien was a rather well established actress for a number of years. An English rose, with looks to die for, much to the film makers glee! 

 A colourful life, marriages, breakdowns and an international star all rolled into one.

I do enjoy watching the old movies, the actors in the films seem so integral to them those days. The credits at the start having their names in huge letters, camera panning on their faces for what seems an age.

The Korean War: 1950-53

As North Korea remains in the news it is worth reading up on the history of the conflict between North and South.

 American soldiers made up most of the UN presence in the War against the North. Here we can see them bringing back captured North soldiers.

Lots of amazing photos of the 3 year conflict available online to view. Here was can see a child distressed in the street, who knows the back story? but we can assume it has been effected by the war.

Soldiers taking time out for a Christian temporary place of worship. Looks like a densely populated wood/forest, very hot. Alot of the American troops spent years fighting in such conditions, humid, unknown terrain, a living hell for many.

Easter 1913: New York 5th Ave.

Easter throughout the ages has always been a special time and in New York in the early 20th Century was no different. A classic photo of the day, traffic, shops and lots of people! Nothing changed there then.

I would hazard a guess it would be quicker to walk on 5th ave then to catch a bus or use your own car. We can see the new shops along the street, blended in with the older church. Fashion at the time seemed rather formal to me, hat, suit etc. 

This photo was taken from http://theboweryboys.blogspot.co.uk/ which is a New York themed history blog, one I really enjoyed looking at.

Easter in the Past: Egg roll & Photo shoot

Easter is not all about Eggs! of course sitting in a basket with eggs makes an ideal photo opportunity?! only the 1920's Hollywood right. I don't think it would be such a fun game playing hunt the eggs when they eggs were bigger than the kids.

Again, this family/friends are posing with eggs on show. I am guess they are real ones and they will be used in some game. Hunter/Scavenger, rolling, eating as many as possible?

White House – boy holding hand of small girl during Easter egg roll, 1898. Apparently this has been a tradition since the 1870's where the President would invite lots of people to partake in an egg rolling event. Give me a good old fashioned Egg hunt any day!

WW1 Passchendaele: Stretchers & Bandages

We all know how grim Pashendale was during WW1, mud, total destruction and a cruel life for the soldiers in the trenches. Perish the thought you actually got injured there, because this would be a typical example of the treatment you got! 

Find a small bit of flat terrain to place a solider on. Get various bits of bandages you can find and place on given solider whilst smoking a well earned fag.  Gather a stick and wrap around soldier's broken or damaged leg so it don't move. Dodge incoming fire until you are stretchered off home.

Les Misérables the Movie

Exciting times, a cracking musical gets transformed into a movie with a brilliant cast and with Cameron Mackintosh at the helm this cannot go wrong!

Hugh Jackman is up for a lead actor Oscar nomination for this, it would be great to see him win as his talent and performance deserves it.

It was always going to be difficult making the movie, but it seems to be a hit with both the critics and public. To be honest not much chance of it failing with the A star actors hired for it, Anne Hathaway does particular well especially given the iconic "Dreamed a Dream" song she has sing.

Eddie Redmayne might not be well known across the pond but he is shaping up into a fab actor and not a bad singer. It is worth looking back as some of his previous work, especially the period drama's.