We, humans, are visual creatures. We might read or listen about the past, but looking at photographs is somehow even more pleasing. Since time traveling is not a thing (and probably will never be), what's a better way to visit the places and times we didn't have a chance to be a part of than through vintage photographs?
Pages like Flashbak give us an opportunity to get a glimpse of life before our time by keeping the spirit of old photography alive. They scour the archives to find the coolest photos of famous people and city life in the 20th century, so, here we present to you the most interesting ones!
Bored Panda reached out to the creator of Flashbak, journalist and editor Paul Sorene, and he kindly agreed to tell us more about the project. Check out the story of how Flashbak came to be and how you can contribute to it below!
#42 Trying To Hear The Whispers Up In London’s St Pauls Cathedral In 1950
The Whispering Gallery was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the renowned architect who was also responsible for the construction of St. Paul’s Cathedral itself. It is located 30 meters above the floor of the cathedral and is accessible via a staircase of 259 steps. The gallery gets its name from the way sound travels along its curved surface, allowing whispers to be heard from one side of the dome to the other
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56points
#44 H.r. Giger And Debbie Harry With The Harkonnen Chair He Built For Ridley Scott’s Dune Project - 1980
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55points
#45 Marlon Brando Photographed By Cecil Beaton For Vogue In 1947
He was 23 at the time and not yet appeared in films.
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53points
#46 Before Housing The West Lawn Branch Of The Chicago Public Library, 6356 S. Kedzie Was Home To The Midget Club (1948 – 1982)
The bar was run by a husband and wife team – Chicago native Parnell St. Aubin (December 19, 1922 – December 4, 1987) and Mary Ellen Burbach (born September 21, 1920).
Both had showbiz pedigree. He’d played a Munchkin soldier in The Wizard of Oz. She was a former Mae West impersonator with the vaudeville troupes Rose’s Parisian Midget Follies. Mary also performed with (and see if you spot a theme): Fred Roper & His Wonderful Midgets, Henry & Dolly Kramer Midget Troupe, and Nate Eagle’s Hollywood Midgets.Was
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52points
Vintage photography allows us to travel through time and explore moments we never experienced firsthand. This sentiment is echoed in the striking imagery captured during a journey through London's empty streets. The art of capturing moments, whether past or present, creates a visual narrative that transcends time.
For a beautiful example of this, explore the captured essence of a city's stillness during a holiday morning.
