Yesteryear

Tourists Take Tea Atop the Great Pyramid, 1938

by editor@creativeunderworld.com | Yesteryear | 0 Comments

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before stringent protective measures were implemented by the Egyptian government, it was common—and often expected—for visitors to climb the Great Pyramid of Giza. Tourists, who were primarily wealthy and aristocratic, were often assisted by local guides who made the ascent easier.

The specific photo shows a group, including what appear to be wealthy Western tourists and their Egyptian guide/attendant, enjoying a relaxed moment at the pyramid’s flat summit. The man on the right is sunbathing, while the others are gathered around a small table for tea. This practice highlights the casual, almost picnic-like way some tourists treated the monument, viewing it as a sightseeing challenge rather than a strictly protected archaeological monument.

This kind of activity is strictly forbidden today. The practice of climbing the pyramids was eventually banned because of safety concerns, damage to the ancient stones, and to preserve the sacred nature of the site.

Amazing Vintage Photographs of People Making Apple Butter in the United States From the Early 20th Century

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Apple butter is a concentrated form of apple sauce. It’s made by slow cooking peeled and cored apples with cider until they caramelize. Tart apple varieties usually require a little sweetening, like sorghum or molasses.

Apple butter’s roots can be traced to the Middle Ages in monasteries in modern-day Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. With large orchards, monks needed a way to preserve their abundant apple harvest, and simmering the fruit down into a thick spread was a perfect solution. The name “butter” comes not from dairy, but from the spread’s soft, thick, butter-like consistency.

German immigrants, including the Pennsylvania Dutch, brought their tradition of making apple butter to America in the 17th century. This was a practical way to preserve fruit in a time before refrigeration.

Making apple butter was a laborious task that became a community or family-wide social event, especially in the American South and Appalachia. Families would gather in the fall to prepare large quantities in copper kettles over open fires.

The work was so demanding that it became a social event called an “apple butter frolic.” The apple mixture is boiled in a large kettle over an open fire and family members take turns constantly stirring the mix with long handled wooden paddles. The deep brown buttery textured sauce is usually flavored with cinnamon, cloves, or other spices. Four or five bushels of apples yield a gallon of apple butter, which is sealed into jars. When it’s time to eat, it’s spread on buttered toast, added to baked goods, and used as a side dish or topping.

Despite the advent of modern conveniences, many families, particularly in Appalachia, still continue the traditional, outdoor method of making apple butter as a way to preserve cultural heritage and foster community.

Thanksgiving 2025: Turkey Prices Surge But Shoppers Can Still Save

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Thanksgiving 2025 is shaping up to be more expensive for many households, thanks to rising turkey prices. According to a recent USDA report, wholesale frozen turkey prices are expected to hit $1.32 per pound this year—a 40% increase from 2024’s average of 94 cents. The surge comes after several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza […]

The post Thanksgiving 2025: Turkey Prices Surge But Shoppers Can Still Save appeared first on DoYouRemember? – The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Ruth A

Sandy Dennis: The Unconventional Star of 1960s American Cinema

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Sandy Dennis was an American actress celebrated for her distinctive style, emotional intensity, and quietly unconventional charm. Born in 1937 in Hastings, Nebraska, she rose to prominence in the 1960s with a series of powerful performances that made her one of the most original talents of her generation.

Her breakthrough came with Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), where she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the nervous but endearing Honey. Dennis went on to star in acclaimed films such as The Fox (1967), Sweet November (1968), and The Out-of-Towners (1970), often playing complex, sensitive women whose inner lives defied Hollywood convention.

Known for her naturalism and subtle unpredictability, Dennis brought a unique authenticity to every role — a quality that set her apart in an era dominated by glamour and polish. She continued to work in film, television, and theater until her death in 1992, leaving behind a legacy defined by honesty, artistry, and quiet brilliance.

Take a look at these vintage photos to see portraits of a young Sandy Dennis in the 1960s and ’70s.

Mathias Rust, a West German Teenager Who Landed His Cessna in Moscow’s Red Square in 1987

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On May 28, 1987, 19-year-old West German amateur pilot Mathias Rust flew a Cessna 172 from Helsinki, Finland, and landed on a bridge near Red Square in Moscow. He bypassed Soviet air defenses, landing in the heart of the Soviet capital to deliver a message of peace, and was subsequently arrested. The incident was a massive embarrassment for the Soviet military and led to the dismissal of hundreds of officers, including the Minister of Defense.

West German teenager Mathias Rust standing next to his Cessna 172 airplane after landing in Red Square, Moscow, Soviet Union, on May 28, 1987.

Rust, with only about 50 hours of flying experience, flew his small plane from Helsinki, navigating through a massive gap in Soviet air defenses. His flight path was tracked, but military officials did not authorize an attack, fearing a potential incident with a civilian aircraft or a potential public relations disaster.

He landed on the Bolshoy Bridge, next to Red Square, rather than on the square itself because it was too crowded. He then taxied his plane to a stop on the square.

Rust stated his mission was to build an “imaginary bridge” for peace between East and West and to deliver a message to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The stunt was inspired by the failed Reykjavik disarmament summit in 1986.

“I got my private pilot’s license in autumn 1986,” Rust told The Guardian. “I was 19 and very political. I was interested in relations between East and West, particularly the Reykjavik meeting between Gorbachev and Reagan. I realized that the aircraft was the key to peace. I could use it to build an imaginary bridge between East and West. I didn’t tell anybody about my plan because I was convinced my family or friends would stop me. I didn’t think much about what would happen afterwards. My main focus was on my mission to get there and land. I believed that something would work out.”

“My plan was to land in Red Square, but there were too many people and I thought I’d cause casualties,” he added. “I had thought about landing in the Kremlin, but there wasn’t enough space. I wanted to choose somewhere public, because I was scared of the KGB. I approached Red Square three times, trying to find somewhere to land, before discovering a wide bridge nearby. I landed there and taxied into Red Square. As it turned out, the day I chose – May 28 – was the holiday of the border patrol. I suspect that’s how I got away with it.”

Rust was arrested, and the Soviet Union’s Supreme Court sentenced him to four years in a labor camp for violating border crossing and air traffic regulations. He served 14 months before being released and returned to West Germany.

“My landing caused plenty of confusion,” he said. “People came up and surrounded the plane and soon the police arrived to take me away. The defense and air defense ministers were both replaced and more than 2,000 officers lost their jobs. I was sentenced to four years in a labour camp, but spent my time in the interrogation prison because the KGB couldn’t guarantee my safety.”

The incident exposed significant weaknesses in the Soviet air defense system, leading to the dismissal of numerous high-ranking military officials.

Mathias Rust next to the plane in the aero club, 1985-1986.

Rust’s rented Reims Cessna F172P (serial #F17202087), registered D-ECJB, was sold to Japan where it was exhibited for several years. In 2008 it was returned to Germany and was placed in the German Museum of Technology in Berlin.

Because Rust’s flight seemed harmful to the authority of the Soviet regime, it was the source of numerous jokes and legends. For a while after the incident, Red Square was referred to jokingly by some Muscovites as Sheremetyevo-3 (Sheremetyevo-1 and -2 being the two terminals at Moscow’s international airport). At the end of 1987, the police radio code used by law enforcement officers in Moscow was allegedly updated to include a code for an aircraft landing.

Scientific American: A Legacy of Curiosity and Discovery

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Scientific American is one of the world’s most respected and long-running science publications, first established in 1845 in New York City. Over its long history, the magazine has served as a bridge between the world of scientific discovery and the general public, presenting complex ideas in a clear, accessible, and engaging way.

From early articles on the telegraph and steam power to groundbreaking reports on space exploration, genetics, and artificial intelligence, Scientific American has chronicled nearly two centuries of human progress. Its contributors have included many of the greatest scientific minds — among them Albert Einstein, who published an article on relativity in its pages in 1950.

Blending rigorous reporting with thoughtful commentary, the magazine continues to explore how science shapes society, technology, and our understanding of the universe. Today, Scientific American remains a trusted source for readers who seek not just information, but insight — a publication where curiosity and discovery never cease.

Here’s a beautiful collection of Scientific American magazine covers from the 1920s — a visual record of how the world once imagined the future.

Scientific American cover, April 3, 1920

Scientific American cover, January 10, 1920

Scientific American cover, July 24, 1920

Scientific American cover, May 1, 1920

Scientific American cover, November 13, 1920

Harry Delf Posing Outside a Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, ca. 1915

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Four photographs of actor and comedian Harry Delf, aged about twenty-three, wearing a bellhop costume for a vaudeville routine, posing outside a theatre in Detroit, Michigan, ca. 1915.

Harry Delf (28 August 28 1892, New York City – 7 February 1964, New York City), American comedian and actor who performed in vaudeville and on Broadway. He was also a playwright, theatrical producer, screen writer and director of short films, and lyricist/composer for stage musicals. He is best remembered as the author of the 1925 play The Family Upstairs which was twice staged on Broadway and adapted into a film three times.

Educated at Columbia University, he began his career as a comedian in vaudeville, specializing in Jewish humor – it is said that he taught Fanny Brice how to speak with a Yiddish accent – and he performed on all of the major vaudeville circuits during his career. He also appeared on Broadway, sometimes in plays and musicals that he had, himself, written.

In addition, he wrote sketches for prominent revues and, beginning in the late 1920s, he wrote and directed several short films. For a time dean of the New York Friars Club, in 1957 he was instrumental in helping the organization to acquire their permanent headquarters, the historic Martin Erdmann House (sold in 2024).

(via Gods and Foolish Grandeur)

45 Amazing Behind the Scenes Photos of Tim Curry Becoming Pennywise for the ABC Miniseries “It” (1990)

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It (also known as Stephen King’s IT) is a 1990 ABC two-part psychological horror drama miniseries directed by Tommy Lee Wallace and adapted by Lawrence D. Cohen from Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name. The story revolves around a predatory monster that can transform itself into its prey’s worst fears to devour them, allowing it to exploit the phobias of its victims. It mostly takes the humanoid form of Pennywise, an Eldritch clown. The protagonists are The Lucky Seven, or The Losers Club, a group of outcast kids who discover Pennywise and vow to kill him by any means necessary. The series takes place over two different time periods, the first when the Losers first confront Pennywise as children in 1960, and the second when they return as adults in 1990 to defeat him a second time after he resurfaces.

Behind the scenes of Curry’s iconic performance as Pennywise in It was a mix of terrifying intensity and on-set conviviality. The actor’s powerful portrayal and the minimalist makeup made for a genuinely frightening monster, both on and off-screen.

Curry initially refused the role due to his previous negative experience with heavy prosthetics as the Lord of Darkness in the film Legend. Wallace negotiated a compromise with a less cumbersome makeup design, ultimately proving that Curry’s performance was the true source of horror.

The child actors of the Losers’ Club, including Seth Green and Brandon Crane, have confirmed that Curry was so convincing that they largely avoided him on set. To help elicit authentic fear, Curry reportedly stayed in character between takes, chain-smoking and showing his yellowed teeth if the children came too close. He developed a new voice for the character, giving Pennywise a “Brooklyn accent” reminiscent of an “old-time Catskills comic.” This added a unique layer of unsettling playfulness to the monstrous clown.

The makeup designed by Bart Mixon prioritized Curry’s facial expressions over heavy prosthetics, using only a few pieces to shape his brow, nose, cheeks, and chin. Despite the lighter prosthetics, the makeup was not quick to apply. Curry’s transformation required about three hours of application each day, which proved to be a difficult process for the actor. The yellowed, unsettling teeth were custom-made from polymorph plastic, which was shaped directly onto the actor’s teeth.

Director Tommy Lee Wallace described Curry as a professional who was always prepared and easy to work with. Wallace believed his role was simply to “give Tim the stage and not get in his way too much.”

In contrast to his terrifying on-screen persona, Curry was known to be warm and humorous with the cast and crew. During long theater scenes, he once entertained child extras by leading them in sing-alongs, most of whom had no idea who he was.

Jean Newington: An Elegant Face of Late 1950s Haute Couture

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Jean Newington emerged in the late 1950s as one of the elegant faces of high-fashion photography, particularly in Paris and London. She is credited in vintage fashion archives and online image boards as the model in numerous couture editorials.

Her presence in images from L’Officiel and other couture publications of 1958-59 marks her out as part of the transitional world of late-1950s fashion — where formal elegance meets emerging modern style. Her portraits convey a quiet sophistication, perfectly in tune with the graceful lines and tailored silhouettes of the era.

Through these vintage photos, Jean Newington continues to embody the quiet sophistication and effortless beauty of 1950s couture.

Jean Newington in blue wool blouson dress, buttoned throughout bodice and skirt, by Jean Patou, handbag by Lucienne Offenthal, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1959

Jean Newington in roomy red wool coat with ocelot collar by Manguin, ocelot fur hat by Marie Christiane, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1959

Jean Newington in beautiful printed silk cocktail dress in shades of blue and purple by Lucile Manguin, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1959

Jean Newignton in wool suit with elongated jacket and mink collar by Maggy Rouff, mink hat by Jean Barthet, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1959

Jean Newington in blue and green print taffeta evening gown with blue taffeta circular stole, by Grès, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1959

35 Glamorous Fashion Portraits of Anne Campion in the Early 1950s

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Born 1929 in Brussels, Belgian actress Anne Campion is known for several film roles during the post-World War II period, appearing in Les Maudits (1947), Femmes de Paris (1953), Agence matrimoniale (1952), among others.

Campion was also a fashion model active in the early 1950s, regularly appeared in haute-couture photographs and magazine spreads, modeling work by designers such as Givenchy, Balmain, Jean Dessès, and Jacques Griffe. Many of these images were made by noted fashion photographers of the period (for example, Philippe Pottier and Seeberger) and were published in outlets like L’Officiel.

These portraits showcase Anne Campion’s elegance and poise, capturing the essence of early 1950s haute couture.

Anne Campion in bright green wool dress with fitted bodice and wide pleated skirt, by Jacques Fath, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1951

Anne Campion in elegant brown and white check suit covered with short jacket lined in velvet by Jeanne Lafaurie, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1951

Anne Campion in wool suit with large sheared beaver collar which gives it a bolero effect by Jacques Heim, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1951

Anne Campion in a beautiful evening dress in emerald green velvet with a beaded bodice by Christian Dior, photo by Seeberger, Vogue, Paris, October 1951

Anne Campion in Balenciaga’s flamenco inspired evening gown of black velvet and white tulle, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1951