Image: An Arado Ar 196 in flight during the Second World War. #AradoAr196 https://amzn.to/44Lzrpz This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Section I — Opening Throughout the world’s vast ocean expanses and contested spaces that existed during World War II, where the world’sContinue reading “Eyes of the Fleet: The Arado Ar 196 and the Kriegsmarine’s Aerial Reach”
Category Archives: Yesterday Today
Haunting Mugshots: Criminal Faces of the 1900s
The early 20th century was a pivotal moment in the history of criminal justice, marked by the widespread adoption of “scientific” methods of identification and documentation. At the heart of this revolution was the mugshot. Far from being mere photographs, these stark, standardized portraits were the culmination of a movement to professionalize policing and createContinue reading “Haunting Mugshots: Criminal Faces of the 1900s”
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Mordecai Brown of the Chicago Cubs, 1903. Mordecai Brown, nicknamed “Three Finger” due to a childhood farm injury, was a dominant pitcher in the early 1900s. He was a key player for the Chicago Cubs, leading their pitching staff to two World Series championships in 1907 and 1908. Brown was known for his low earned-runContinue reading “Tuesday, December 23, 2025”
Deck the Halls: Inside the Christmas Traditions of the ’50s and ’60s
Christmas in mid‑century America occupies a special place in the cultural imagination. The post‑war years — roughly 1946 to 1964 — were marked by prosperity, optimism, and a booming population. Families were settling into new suburban homes, televisions were becoming household staples, and American manufacturing was at its peak. Against this backdrop, America’s newfound ChristmasContinue reading “Deck the Halls: Inside the Christmas Traditions of the ’50s and ’60s”
Glamour and Glitter: Women Beside Their Christmas Trees, 1950s–1960s
Tinsel & Stardust: Vintage Hollywood Christmas
Hollywood has always known how to sparkle — and Christmas was the perfect excuse. Long before Instagram filters and influencer feeds, the stars of the silver screen celebrated the holidays with dazzling charm. These vintage photographs transport us back to a time when Christmas trees glittered under studio lights, ornaments gleamed like jewels, and Hollywood’sContinue reading “Tinsel & Stardust: Vintage Hollywood Christmas”
Forgotten Elegance: 40 Rare Photos of 1930s Women
Step back into a decade defined by resilience and refinement, where elegance was not just a style but a way of life. These rare photographs of women from the 1930s give us a glimpse of a world caught between tradition and modernity—moments of quiet grace, bold fashion, and unspoken strength which are preserved in silverContinue reading “Forgotten Elegance: 40 Rare Photos of 1930s Women”
Memories #1
Elizabeth Montgomery: A Life of Magic, Grit, and Grace
Elizabeth Montgomery’s only talent was not just twitching her nose and making magic happen on our televisions every week—she enchanted millions of people with her charm, skill, and amazing spirit in everything she undertook. Most popularly known for her iconic role as Samantha Stephens on the immensely popular television sitcom Bewitched, Montgomery’s life was aContinue reading “Elizabeth Montgomery: A Life of Magic, Grit, and Grace”
Anne Francis in the 1950s: Glamour, Grit, and the Rise of a Hollywood Icon
A Photographic Essay The 1950s were a transformative decade for American cinema, marked by the rise of television, the golden age of science fiction, and a shifting cultural landscape that began to challenge traditional gender roles. Amid this dynamic era, Anne Francis emerged as a captivating figure—an actress whose beauty was undeniable, but whose talentContinue reading “Anne Francis in the 1950s: Glamour, Grit, and the Rise of a Hollywood Icon”
