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THE INNER CITY

The scenes of poverty presented here could have come from any number of cities in the United States. One might suspect Baltimore, St. Louis, Detroit, Philadelphia or Los Angeles at first glance, but the locale for this essay was Norfolk, Virginia. It would be easy to say that the situation in the inner cities has improved, but the truth of the matter is that the conditions causing this poverty remain mostly unchanged throughout the decades before and after these images were taken. This “Inner City” essay is now included in our Americana collection.

ADIEU, L’ANCIEN RÉGIME

On a street in West Berlin c.1953. This man’s expression says it all as a new order replaces a tumultuous recent past.

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

Beware of False Prophets. Those who would seek to offer a twisted view of the truth through their own media group should be treated with extreme vetting. If you prefer to see the world in virtual terms watch the film “Tomorrow Never Dies” and see what happens to Elliot Carver and the Carver Media Group Network. For those of us who remember reality this photo of the main gate and selection ramp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim, Poland in 1979 is a constant reminder of barbarism carried to the extreme. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

See the movie starring Denzel Washington. New Orleans, c.1950

Déjà Vu: The Canal Street Ferry

If you enjoy watching science fiction films as I do, and you enjoy watching Denzel Washington acting as I do, you should catch the film “Déjà Vu” (2006). I have seen the movie countless times for these two reasons even though the film gets a bit carried away at the end. If you buy into the plot stay with it until the end. If you are unfamiliar with the film you can get all the background here.

When we became aware of this photo there was no question that we had to acquire it. Art does truly imitate life. Pictured here is the Canal Street Ferry “Westside” in New Orleans as it is loading for a trip across the Mississippi River to Algiers c.1950. The ferry service plays a critical part in the film. In fact, if you have seen or intend to watch this film viewing this photo is a must.

Featuring the Starr Hotel located at 617 W. Madison St. (1956).

SKID ROW

The street scene on skid row featuring the Starr Hotel at 617 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois (1956). One photo from a small collection of down and out men in front of several flop houses. Note the Freemont Hotel.

Assessment is Jimmy DeShong (No. 16) New York Yankees c.1934

THE BASEBALL PLAYER

Time for DPI to make our contribution to the national pastime. There was a time when baseball was pure before the DH and much of the hype surrounding the sport today. Still, some things never change such as the All Star Game. With respect to the game that we love we present “The Baseball Player“; U. S. c.1934.

THE BIG SHOT

Our assessment is that the gentleman whom we call “The Big Shot” in this photo is not HIM. Wishing that it was HIM doesn’t make it so. It would be a very significant photo if it was HIM. We assess that the photo was taken around 1921. The car appears to be a Cadillac. We further assess that the location is probably San Francisco. Any help in identifying the individual whom we call “The Big Shot” would be greatly appreciated.

A homeless Muslim man begs on the streets of Paris c.1950.

THE NO-GO ZONES

A “no-go” zone is defined as an area within a city where law enforcement authorities fear to tread creating an enclave which differs from the general society as a whole. This might include an enclave in which crime cannot be controlled. In the current conversation we a referring to sections of European cities which house large immigrant populations, predominantly Muslim, who have failed to assimilate into the host country’s society. This is not all that unusual as immigrant populations tend to isolate themselves in the first generation only to assimilate more easily in future generations.

ROLLIN’ ON THE RIVER

Big wheel keep on turning. Well, you know the rest of the song. This is a photo taken in 1935 of the sternwheel steamship “Columbia” on the Mississippi River at New Orleans.

“THIS IS MY RIFLE. THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT, BUT THIS ONE IS MINE.”

The quote is from the Rifleman’s Creed. We present this recent addition to our Military collection as we remember the the sacrifices made on D-Day, 73 years ago this Tuesday June 6.