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25 Vintage Photos Showing Life in America From Between the 1940s and 1960s

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Introduced in 1935 as the first modern color film, Kodachrome was used extensively after World War II by amateur photographers equipped with the new high-quality and low cost 35mm cameras. Americans in Kodachrome 1945-1965 is an unprecedented portrayal of the daily life of the people during these formative years of modern American culture. It is comprised of ninety-five exceptional color photographs made by over ninety unknown American photographers.

These photographs were chosen from many thousands of slides in hundreds of collections. Like folk art in other mediums, this work is characterized by its frankness, honesty, and vigor. Made as memoirs of family and friends, the photographs reveal a free-spirited, intuitive approach, and possess a clarity and unpretentiousness characteristic of this unheralded photographic folk art.

**Cowboy Kid, St. Cloud, Minnesota, 1955**

The Brave US Coast Guard Cutter Crew Who Battled U-Boats In WWI – An Amazing Tale of Heroism

The Navy Cross is awarded for valor and heroism while in service with the United States Naval Forces. Since its creation in 1919, there have been over 6,900 recipients to date. On this list of honor, however, only 55 of these recipients have been in the Unites States Coast Guard. 18 of these were awarded for a single action. In September 1918 men from the USS (Formerly USCGC) Seneca risked their lives to save the steamer, Wellington.

United States Revenue Cutter Seneca was first launched in 1908. She was a derelict destroyer. At the time, derelict ships and wrecks were a constant hazard to navigation. The United States was the first nation to produce specialized ships for their removal or destruction. Over her first nine years of service, she patrolled the coast for wrecks. She assisted in rescue operations. She was even a part of the International Ice Patrol, which reported or removed icebergs that drifted into shipping lanes. But when the United States declared war on Germany on 6th April 1917, she was transferred to the Navy.

This opened a new chapter in her career. She was now tasked with protecting convoys in a dangerous war zone. Germany had begun to openly use unrestricted submarine warfare, turning every inch of the Atlantic ocean into a battlefield. Convoys that brought troops, supplies or food to the embattled European Allies were targeted by U-Boats, that silently stalked just below the surface.

By September 1918, Seneca had already completed 25 convoys. Her crew were well seasoned, salty and trusted both their officers and their ship. They had also conducted numerous rescue operations, saving sailors from both the sea and sunken German submarines. These skills would serve them well on their fateful 26th convoy.

**US Revenue Cutter Seneca in 1914. She had a long career, serving into the 1930s. She helped protect over 30 convoys during the 1st World War, engaging submarines numerous times.**

Convoy OM-99 (outbound from Milford Haven) set out towards Gibraltar on September 16th, 1918. It was routine, the 21 ships steaming steadily, with Seneca keeping an eye on her charges from a safe distance. The crew were continually scanning the surface for a periscope or the tell-tale wake of a torpedo. Although almost every sailor there had done this time and again, nerves were high. They knew that every moment they spent in the open water was another chance for a German to find their position and attack.

**The view from a convoy during WW1. These groups of ships were an essential source of food, ammunition, and equipment for the Allied troops fighting across Europe.**

Suddenly their tense silence was broken as a massive explosion rocked the SS Wellington, an English steamer carrying much-needed coal. At 11.30 on September 16th, Seneca set engines full ahead and sped her way through the Atlantic water towards the injured ship. The crew spotted the telltale sign of a submarine and opened up with Seneca’s 3”/50 cannons, lobbing shell after shell at this hidden attacker. As the cutter released a string of depth charges, the sub dove down deep, hiding well below the surface until the convoy had passed.

Even as the threat disappeared, Seneca’s work was just beginning. Coast Guardsmen, even while in Naval service, are lifesavers. Now that the immediate danger was gone, they had to save the distressed seamen onboard Wellington.

**The Turret Chief, a ship very similar in design to the SS Wellington, including her “turret” style hull with a raised central section.**

Pulling alongside Wellington, Seneca’s officers assessed the situation. The Wellington’s Master felt his ship could be saved. She was taking on water, but with plugging, patching, and a lot of bravery she could be kept afloat. Unfortunately, his crew disagreed, and many of them left the ship, fleeing to others in the convoy, or to the Seneca.

On board Seneca 1st Lieutenant, Fletcher W. Brown wanted to give the wounded ship a fighting chance and requested his Captain’s permission to organize a boarding party. The Captain agreed. Nearly every member of the Seneca’s crew volunteered to go, but only 19 were selected. They set out in small boats to rescue the stricken ship.

Joining the 11 remaining Wellington crew members, and her Master, the Seneca’s men arrived on board. They immediately set to work. The Wellington’s Master would take charge of navigation and bringing the ship to the nearest port, Brest, on the French coast. Lieutenant Brown handled the rescue and defense of the ship. The Seneca pulled away, at 12.35 to rejoin the convoy, leaving the Wellington alone in sub-infested waters. USS Warrington was dispatched to assist the lone vessel, but was hours away. For the time being Lieutenant Brown had to organize gun crews, dispense ammunition, and keep a sharp lookout for submarines all while ensuring that the pumps and hole patching continued.

**U-118, the U-Boat which sank the Wellington was later beached in 1918. Here it is shown on a beach in southern England.**

By 12.50 the Wellington began creeping forward again, her engines struggling. Her hold had over 3 feet of water on its deck. Over the next hour they increased their speed to 7.5 knots, a little over 8.5 miles per hour. This progress was remarkable considering the ship’s state. The atmosphere onboard must have buzzed with tension. They were alone, moving slowly, in sub-infested waters. The U-Boat which inflicted the first damage could very well be just below the surface, waiting for its chance to strike again.

Brown knew their situation, at best, was dangerous. He ordered the men to construct lifeboats, in case they should begin to sink. They kept moving forward, but as the day darkened, so too did the weather. The seas grew unsteady; waves came up from the depths in ever increasing size. The ship began to roll, plunging her bow into each oncoming torrent of water. Each time the bow came down, it forced more and more water into her hold.

Brown acted quickly. He attempted to turn the ship and head to France stern first, to prevent any further water from getting onboard. But it was too late. The bow had already become too cumbersome to maneuver, and the ship wouldn’t turn. Brown then ordered all crew to the main deck, except the radio operator and three men on the pumps.

Brown instructed them to begin loading the lifeboat. He and the four remaining men on board would stay until the very last moment. The evacuation went smoothly at first. They began loading into the lifeboat, but one of the Wellington crewmen lost his nerve. He was worried about the boat being smashed against the side of the ship in high seas. He cut the line connecting the two ships and sent himself, and seven other men, adrift in the small lifeboat. They attempted to row back to the steamer but they were not used to rowing, especially not in such conditions. They were forced away by the high seas and strong wind.

Brown was now left on board a sinking ship, with no lifeboats, and 23 men who needed saving. He ordered that they finish constructing the jury-rigged lifeboats which they had started earlier that day.

Winslow Homer’s painting “The Signal of Distress” is a good demonstration of launching a lifeboat in rough seas. Even without a sinking ship it can be a dangerous operation, and the thought of being smashed against the hull terrified one English sailor from the Wellington.

Throughout the entire episode the radio operator had been in contact with USS Warrington, which was steaming to their aid. They couldn’t wait any longer; the Wellington began to list, and Brown knew it was now or never. Brown fired flare rockets, in a last ditch attempt to alert the Warrington to their position. As the men were rushing into their hastily made lifeboats, a flare was seen in response! The Warrington was headed towards them.

Brown jumped in the water, searching for anything floating to grab onto. He swam about, ensuring that his men were alive, uninjured, and able to stay afloat. They awaited rescue in the freezing Atlantic water. The Wellington eventually went under, after listing heavily and her boilers exploding. Finally, the Warrington arrived and pulled what men they could find from the ocean.

In all 11 members of Seneca’s boarding party perished, along with 5 members of Wellington’s crew. For their bravery, sacrifice, and dedication to the safety of others, the boarding party members were all awarded the Navy Cross. Acting Machinist William L. Boyce received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for staying in the engine room until the very end, ensuring that the crew had time to get off the sinking ship.

The attempted Wellington rescue stands as a testament, not only to the Coast Guard’s constant dedication to saving ships in distress but as an example of the comradery of all sailors, who worked to save both their ship and each other.

20 Vintage Photos of Beautiful American Actresses From Between the 1920s and 1940s

They are not only so beautiful, but also very talented! Here is a small collection of vintage portrait pictures of beautiful American actresses from 1920s to 1940s.

41 Photos of Al Pacino During the 1970s

Here’s a gallery of 41 fascinating black and white portrait photos of a young Al Pacino, a name which has long been associated with cold-blooded murder and villainous roles in some of the most historic movies of Hollywood, is an epoch-making star who took acting to a whole new level.

He is often been counted among one of the most legendary villains of Hollywood, known for his extremely riveting portrayals of antagonists. But then, playing negative roles are not his only forte as his acting abilities know no boundaries. He is a resourceful actor who fits into the shoes of any character he is assigned to play. Be it a romantic or a comic role, he does it all with finesse. A brilliant actor with a unique style, Pacino, has set landmarks with almost every film he has worked in.

“It started when I was very young. I mean, really young,” he said. “I wasn’t let out much. I was kept in. And while I was home I found myself repeating the roles from the movies I saw with my mother. Sometimes she’d take me to the movies when she came home from work. That was our date.”

Charming and appealing, young Pacino was not one of those actors, who believed good-looks were only associated with protagonists. He chose to play characters, who were handsome, attractive and charismatic, but evil. He belongs to the generation of actors who challenged the conventions and changed the face of modern day cinema through their sheer brilliance and hard work.

67 Amazing Photos of Afghanistan during the 1960s before the Taliban

When you think of Afghanistan, you probably don’t think of short skirts, nice cars and liberal lifestyles, but just as Iran looked very different in the 1970s, these fascinating pictures show that Afghanistan in the 1960s was a very different country than the one that exists today.

The pictures were taken by American university professor Dr. Bill Podlich, who in 1967 took a two-year leave of absence to work for UNESCO in Afghanistan. He served as the Expert of Principles of Education at the Higher Teachers College in Kabul, and during this time he took many photographs of life as it was back then. The Soviets invaded only a decade later and Afghanistan was pulled into war, and following Taliban rule and the US invasion in 2001, the country now bears little resemblance to the peaceful and prosperous nation that you can see in these pictures.

55 Stunning Color Photos of Raquel Welch from the 1960s

Raquel Welch (born Jo Raquel Tejada; September 5, 1940) is an American actress.

She first won attention for her role in Fantastic Voyage (1966), after which she won a contract with 20th Century Fox. They lent her contract to the British studio Hammer Film Productions, for whom she made One Million Years B.C. (1966). Although she had only three lines of dialogue in the film, images of her in the doe-skin bikini became best-selling posters that turned her into an international sex symbol. She later starred in Bedazzled (1967), Bandolero! (1968), 100 Rifles (1969), Myra Breckinridge (1970) and Hannie Caulder (1971). She made several television variety specials.

Through her portrayal of strong female characters, which helped in her breaking the mold of the traditional sex symbol, Welch developed a unique film persona that made her an icon of the 1960s and 1970s. Her rise to stardom in the mid 1960s was partly credited with ending Hollywood’s vigorous promotion of the blonde bombshell. She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical or Comedy in 1974 for her performance in The Three Musketeers. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in Television Film for her performance in the film Right to Die (1987). In 1995, Welch was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the “100 Sexiest Stars in Film History”. Playboy ranked Welch No. 3 on their “100 Sexiest Stars of the Twentieth Century” list. In 2011, Men’s Health ranked her No. 2 in its “Hottest Women of All Time” list.

25 Amazing Photos Showing Life at the Powder Ridge Rock Festival, 1970

“Woodstock was a pale pot scene. This is a heavy hallucinogens scene.”
The Powder Ridge Rock Festival was scheduled to be held July 31, August 1 and August 2, 1970 at Powder Ridge Ski Area in Middlefield, Connecticut. A legal injunction forced the event to be canceled, keeping the musicians away; but a crowd of 30,000 attendees arrived anyway, to find no food, no entertainment, no adequate plumbing, and at least seventy drug dealers.

William Manchester wrote: “Powder Ridge was an accident waiting to happen, and it happened.” Volunteer doctor William Abruzzi declared a drug “crisis” on 1 August and said “Woodstock was a pale pot scene. This is a heavy hallucinogens scene.”

Drugs were openly sold and commonly consumed at the festival. Rock doctor William Abruzzi (also at Woodstock) was there to treat bad LSD trips, and said there were more bad trips at Powder Ridge per capita than at any other music festival he’d ever worked. He attributed some of the problems to the barrels of “electric water” that were available for free public consumption; people were invited to drop donations of drugs into these barrels, creating drug cocktails of unknown strength and composition.

Although the promoters of the festival announced plans to reschedule the event for another location, no such plans ever came through, and no refunds were ever issued to the ticket buyers.

40 Amazing Vintage Photos of Beautiful Young Women Taken During the 1920s

40 Interesting Photos of Rome During the Early 1960s

Rome became first one of the major centres of the Italian Renaissance, and then the birthplace of both the Baroque style and Neoclassicism. Famous artists, painters, sculptors and architects made Rome the centre of their activity, creating masterpieces throughout the city.

In 1871, Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, which in 1946 became the Italian Republic. It is a special comune, and serves as the capital of the Lazio region, and the country’s most populated comune.

Located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of the Tiber, Rome is the fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. It is the centre of the Metropolitan City of Rome.

The Vatican City is an independent country inside the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states.

Rome has the status of a global city, and is also an important fashion and design centre thanks to renowned international brands centered in the city.

Turned back over 60 years ago to see what Rome looked like around 1960 and 1963 through these fascinating photographs.

30 Amazing Photos Of Prisoners Of War Throughout History

As seen from these POW images, not all of war’s worst victims die on the battlefield.

When Everett Alvarez Jr. signed up for the U.S. Air Force in 1960, he didn’t imagine that he would become the first and nearly longest-held American prisoner of war in Vietnam; he just wanted to fly.

Alvarez, the son of two poor Mexican immigrants, had just graduated as an engineer from Santa Clara University and hoped his service in the Air Force could be a stepping stone to becoming an astronaut.

Those dreams changed when his plane was shot by an anti-aircraft gun while flying on a bombing run on Hanoi, forcing him to eject from his plane. Alvarez was quickly captured by the North Vietnamese forces and brought to the infamous H?a Lò Prison, sarcastically referred to as the “Hanoi Hilton” by its prisoners.

In H?a Lò Prison, Alvarez was beaten and tortured. He was fed feathered blackbirds and fed almost nothing for months. He was interrogated constantly, though he refused to give up any information. At one point, he had his wrists cut and was beaten so badly that, even after multiple surgeries back home, his hands still shake.

After nearly nine years in prison, Alvarez was finally released at the end of the war and now lives in Virginia, where he runs a multimillion-dollar IT consulting firm. However, his scars remain.

From Vietnam to World War II and back through history, prisoners of war have existed for as long as war itself. Since the time of humankind’s first armed conflicts, there have been numerous incentives to capture rather than immediately kill enemy forces. For one, it gives an army the ability to trade captive soldiers for prisoners taken by the other side. In addition, prisoners of war were also often used for their labor, sold into slavery, or killed in ritual sacrifice.

In modern times, prisoners of war are rarely sacrificed or sold to slavers, but that doesn’t mean that conditions have uniformly become better. While the severity of the horrors at prison camps are dependent on the army in question, as well as the conflict they are engaged in, being a prisoner of war, even in modern times, can be accompanied by such horrors as starvation, torture, and death.

The images below reveal how the experience of prisoners of war has changed over time, and how it has, tragically, remained the same.