Rare And Captivating Historic Photos They Didn’t Show Us in Class

CR Staff - JA - May 17, 2023

L. A. Women in the Early 60s

This photograph show the city at an intermediate point – when Los Angeles was not as modernized as it is today but still possessing a charm and elegance. It shows women going shopping in the city in the early 1960s. It was originally taken in black and white but was later colorized, and that’s probably the most striking thing about the image. The attire worn by the women in the photograph could effortlessly blend in with contemporary fashion trends, highlighting the cyclical nature of fashion.

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Besides the clothing, the whole vibe still screams Los Angeles, and it’s kind of crazy how the city still resembles its and Hollywood’s so-called golden age. The only things that look out of place are the cars.

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Los Angeles – 100 Years in the Making

It’s remarkable how some cities seem to develop rapidly overnight, and Los Angeles is a perfect example of this. The first photo was taken in 1901, and it only shows a few houses and what might be a general store of some kind. Fast forward to 2001, a century later, and the whole region had undergone a complete transformation. There are skyscrapers, residential buildings, and offices all packed tightly together.

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The area had a pleasant appearance back in 1901, and it’s probable that current residents wish for the city to revert to the early 20th-century traffic levels, but that’s improbable to happen anytime soon.

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A Divorce Court in 1948

We seldom ponder on how divorces were handled before equal rights became enforced in the U.S. This picture from a divorce court in 1948 offers a rare glimpse inside the courthouse during those times. We aren’t sure what this guy did to warrant getting a divorce, but the look on the woman’s face says that she probably didn’t accept his apology. Given the difficulty of obtaining a divorce during that time, it’s likely that the cause for such a decision was significant.

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You can almost feel the tension in the room, even though the photo is black and white. We’re also curious about what the photographer was doing to capture this photo at precisely the right moment.

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The ‘Friends’ Cast Before They Were Famous

You might know this cast of characters before we even mention some of their names. Indeed, all of them appeared in the popular sitcom Friends during the 1990s. These photographs show them during their high school days, and remarkably, they didn’t appear to change much from then until their time on the show. Some still look the same today, despite more than 20 years passing since then.

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David Schwimmer, who portrayed Ross on the show, certainly made some changes to his hair since this photo was taken, but he and the rest of the cast members still look strikingly similar, only younger.

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A Llama in 1957 New York City

This photograph, taken from a Life magazine feature on famous animals in New York, is titled “A Llama in Times Square.” The photo was taken in 1957, but it just seems so out of place because you’re not likely to spot a llama in Times Square even today. Magnum Photos reports that Linda the Llama was photographed in Times Square while on her way back from the studio.

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The series also features several other high-earning animals. We love seeing these quirky images from the past. Photos like these make us wish that Life was still around and printing.

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Departing Penn Station to Fight in WWII

This rare photo shows a soldier saying goodbye to a wife or girlfriend at Penn Station in 1944. As World War II was nearing its end, neither of these two individuals knew if they would ever have the chance to see each other again. Today, the station is only a fraction of its former size, but it has certainly witnessed some historical moments. It’s difficult to imagine what the world must have been like during another world war.

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Fortunately, we don’t have to experience it firsthand. We also have memorable photos like this to remind us what these people must’ve felt like and help us better understand this time in history.

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The 60s, But in Rome

After seeing these photos, one might prefer to spend some time in Italy during the 1960s, despite the reputation of the era being wild in the U.S. There’s literally a guy taking a photo from the passenger seat of a car while the car is up on two wheels. What events were unfolding in Rome during this era? Whatever it was, it would be great to experience it once again.

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Everything about these shots is great. The individual dressed up in costume and skateboarding bears a striking resemblance to Hugh Jackman, while the couple riding the moped possesses a sense of style that surpasses that of most modern-day riders.

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Early 1900s New York City

Speaking of historical city photos, this image captures New York City in the early 1900s. The first thing that strikes you are how out of place the people look when compared to the buildings, but that’s probably just because the buildings are still around while the style has changed quite a bit since then. Most of the people in the photo appear to be dressed in formal attire, but there is a man on the left side of the frame wearing overalls.

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It’s also notable how immense the city looks, even 100 years ago. Life seems just as frenzied and bustling back then as it is today.

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San Francisco in 1964

This photo of San Francisco in 1964 is a bit mind-boggling. This photo truly captures the steep inclines of the city, taking it to a whole other level. In fact, some people have compared it to scenes from the movie Inception, where cityscapes bend and twist in impossible ways. However, this photo is very much the real deal, and it shows a pretty famous street in the city.

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Although you can still ride a trolley down the street today, walking down it is not recommended unless you are accustomed to steep treks. You also probably shouldn’t drive a manual up this street.

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The Twin Towers in 1979

This photograph captures the New York skyline in the 1970s, giving us a glimpse of what the city looked like before the tragic events that led to the fall of the Twin Towers. The towers are domineering and huge compared to the surrounding buildings. There is also quite a bit of smog obscuring the city. This indicates the relatively lenient regulations on pollution during that time period, but the smog does contribute to the eerie atmosphere of the photo.

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Today, the city looks much different, and not just because the towers are no longer there but because everything else is also built up and pretty tall in comparison to the two towers.

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Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire in 1989

It’s worth noting that the two kids seen bowling in this photo are no ordinary children – they happen to be a young Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. They were both trying to make as child actors in the 1980s in Los Angeles, and it would turn out that they both would. It’s unlikely that anyone could have predicted the immense success that both Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire would achieve decades after this photo was taken.

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Their appearance also hasn’t changed much over the years, despite this photo being taken in the 1980s. It’s actually kind of hard to imagine that the two are that old.

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Brenda Spencer in 1979

This rare photo shows Brenda Spencer being escorted by police. In 1979, she was arrested for shooting at children and adults in the schoolyard across the street from her home. She injured eight kids and killed two adults as they were trying to shield the children. She was later sentenced to life in prison and remained there to this day. Before the 1970s, school shootings were relatively uncommon, unlike today where they unfortunately occur frequently in the US.

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While Spencer was still hiding out in her house after the shooting, a reporter had managed to find her number and ask her why she did it. When asked why she did it, her infamous reply was, “I don’t like Mondays.” The line became the inspiration for a popular song.

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