Miami circa 1923
Beans and I are off for a couple of days to a friend’s beach house with some of my girlfriends. As much as I will miss Mr. V, I am so excited to spend some girl time with my sweet, giggling four year old!
I adore old photos and had to share these winsome summer photos of the first quarter of the last century. Someone recently pointed out to me that 1990 was not only over twenty years ago but also in the last century and I almost spit out my drink.
The three gals above were very fashionable (because a lot of ladies still had very long hair at the time) with their bobbed hair and stylish bathing costumes. Apparently they thought nothing of bringing their Boston terrier to the beach in a leather studded halter.
Next time you feel hot at the beach or are bemoaning the weather…just think how some of these folks went swimming in WOOL!
Without further ado…the beach vacation of yesteryear…
Detroit circa 1905
Coney Island circa 1910-1915
Victorian Beach Cottage- Waveland, Mississippi circa 1936
Palm Beach, Florida circa 1905
Beach cottage -Bay St. Louis -Mississippi circa 1901
Officer Norton MEASURING the distance between knee and suit- Tidal Basin circa 1922 (Suits could not be over six inches above the knee)
Vacation Bungalows- Rockaway Queens circa 1910
Atlantic City circa 1910
Atlantic City circa 1905
Palm Beach, Florida circa 1905
Asbury Park circa 1911– (how about the poor guy in the suit with the laced up shoes!)
“Bathing Beach Parade” -Washington D.C. -Tidal Basin circa 1919– (too bad the girl with the stars didn’t win. I kind of adore her boxing shoes)
“Sunday at the edge of the municipal swimming pool”- circa 1942– (even though this photo isn’t as old, I had to include it for so many reasons. I dig the newspaper hat! Really though, we should have a caption contest on this one)
The Jersey Shore circa 1905– (too easy to make a Snooki joke here -especially since the gal looking down has a poof- however, what really strikes me about ALL these photos is…Didn’t ANYONE think to bring a towel, horse blanket, cardboard box… ANYTHING to sit on?)
I hope you are finding some time for some summer fun!
@
All photographs courtesy of Shorpy
Amy these pictures are fantastic if not hard to imagine! Boy we have come a long way……(when you think of what some wear or lack of what they DON’T wear, lol). Fun post. Enjoy your beach time…sounds like a lot of fun!
What a collection of photographs! I love all the funny details you found in each picture. I think I might have to frame Officer Norton measuring the woman’s suit length. She looks like she knows she broke the rules!
The phtos are great — and I note that everything has changed — except for the houses — some things never go out of style.
How fun to see this wonderful collection of vintage photos – hope you and Beans have a fabulous trip…enjoy!
If any of my “mates” stood over me while wearing a speedo, it would seem only fitting to don a newspaper hat as my other chum saluted him.
I would happily swim in all wool, and wish some of these crazy restrictions were still in place! I’m not a prude but OMG the things people wear on a beach are frightening.
The styles may be ancient but it does look like they’re having as much fun as us ohsocontemperary folks