Yesteryear

Working Women on a Lunch Break Skipping in the Street of London, 1953

by editor@creativeunderworld.com | Yesteryear | 0 Comments

This 1953 photograph captures a lively and spontaneous moment of post-war London life, showing women on a lunch break skipping in the street. Their carefree movement contrasts with the city’s more structured and bustling environment, offering a glimpse of joy amid the daily grind. Such scenes reflect the resilience and spirit of everyday people during a period of recovery and renewal after the hardships of World War II.

At the time, Britain was still in the post-war recovery period, and scenes like this reflected both the resilience and camaraderie of everyday people. Many women in industrial and service jobs would gather outside factories, offices, or shops during breaks, and skipping was a popular street pastime—something inexpensive, communal, and full of energy.

The mix of aprons, dresses, and work attire suggests these women were likely from nearby workplaces, possibly factories, laundries, or markets. The man in the background turning one end of the rope adds to the lighthearted, almost childlike atmosphere, breaking from the daily grind.

Images like this have become emblematic of mid-20th-century British street life—where community spirit often spilled onto the pavements.

Stunning Fashion Portraits of Moyra Swan From the Late 1960s

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Moyra Swan was a British fashion model who was prominent in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She was known for her elegant and graceful style, often described as having a “swan-like” neck, which may have contributed to her name. Although not as well-known as some of her contemporaries like Twiggy or Jean Shrimpton, Swan was a regular feature in major fashion magazines like Vogue.

Swan’s career flourished during a period of significant cultural change, and her work reflected the trends of the time, from the mod fashions of the mid-1960s to the more bohemian, hippie styles of the late ’60s and early ’70s. She collaborated with renowned photographers such as Irving Penn and Bert Stern, and her images appeared in editorials and advertisements for high-end fashion houses.

Take a look at these stunning photos to see portraits of Moyra Swan in the late 1960s.

Moyra Swan, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, October 1968

Moyra Swan in a capecoat and dirndl skirt that reverse from crisp-patterned piqué to navy jersey by Rudi Gernreich, tights and Mary Jane shoes by Capezio, photo by James Moore, Harper’s Bazaar, March 1968

Moyra Swan in a plum velvet dinner suit with small matador jacket embroidered with black scrolls by Susan Small, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue UK, 1968

Moyra Swan in dress of ink-flowers on ribbed cotton dress framed by velvet and copper and tied at the waist with an enormous satin bow by Burke-Amey, photo by James Moore, Harper’s Bazaar, March 1968

Moyra Swan in emerald chiffon dress animal-striped in gems worn over straight black crepe trousers by Jean Muir, bracelet and rings by Ken Lane, photo by David Bailey, Vogue UK, 1968

The Wreck of School Ship HMS Conway in the Menai Strait, Wales in 1953

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HMS Conway was originally HMS Nile, a 3-deck, 92-gun second-rate ship of the line, launched in 1839. After a career with the Royal Navy, she was acquired in 1876 to serve as a training ship for future officers of the British Merchant Navy. The school, also named HMS Conway, had been in operation since 1859. The ship was moved to the Menai Strait in Wales in 1941 to avoid the Blitz.

In April 1953, the ship was due for a refit in Birkenhead. On April 14, while being towed from her mooring at Plas Newydd, she ran into trouble in the treacherous waters of the Menai Strait, specifically in a section known as “the Swellies.”

The grounding was a result of a combination of factors. The local pilots had recommended using three tugs for the tow, but the management committee of the school decided to use only two. As the ship approached the Menai Suspension Bridge, an unexpectedly strong current and ebb tide caught her. The tugs were unable to make headway, and the ship was pushed onto a rocky reef known as “the Platters.”

As the tide went out, the ship’s stern was left unsupported, causing her to “break her back” and her seams to open. It was soon declared a total constructive loss. The wreck remained on the rocks until 1956, when efforts to dismantle her began. However, during this process, the hulk caught fire and was largely destroyed.

Cadet John Ellis, one of the cadets who helped recalled: “For two more days we continued salvaging what we could from the ship. We rotated our tasks from moving things from the ship to the boats, manning the boats, loading the trucks at Menai Pier and discharging the trucks at Plas Newydd.”

Another cadet recalled the huge effort that went into recovering every cadet’s sea chest: “We had salvaged the cadets sea chests from the ship and turned everything out on the dock and hosed them down. At that time Skinner became known as ‘Winkle’ from his saying, ‘You’ve gotta get all them winkles out of the corners.’”

Cadet Rob Cammack recalled the disorienting effect of working in the ship as she lay angled into the water: “Although I was not on the ship at the moment of the disaster I traveled north the following day to help with the salvage of personal effects etc. I have to admit that, as we were scrambling about on the orlop deck fishing out sea chests, I just had to sit down on one of them and cry my eyes out. I was not the only one either. A strange thing was that, after being below for some time, coming up on deck one would feel that the whole horizon was tilted over at an angle. It took quite a while for this to wear off.”

The loss of HMS Conway was a sad end for a vessel that had served as a training ground for thousands of sailors, but the school itself continued as a shore-based establishment at Plas Newydd until 1974.

33 Amazing Photos of Teenage River Phoenix Posing With His Guitars From the 1980s

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“My music is a hobby because I’m not making any money out of it. But I put as much conviction into that as I do my acting. I’ve found that music is in my wrists, in my fingers, in my soul. I seem to feel very strongly about myself as a composer, more so than as a musical performer. I’m not really into live stuff. I’m not a front man.”

River Phoenix (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993), best known for his acting, was also a dedicated musician and considered music to be his true passion. He was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who began teaching himself to play guitar at age five.

Phoenix was the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative folk/rock band Aleka’s Attic, which he formed with his sister, Rain Phoenix, and other friends. The band’s name was inspired by a fictional poet-philosopher named Aleka who gathered friends in his attic to share his ideas through music.

The band’s music was described as “progressive, ethereal folk-rock.” While the band never released a full-length studio album during River’s lifetime, they did have some songs released on various compilation and benefit albums.

Phoenix’s musical talents were showcased in the film The Thing Called Love (1993), where he played an aspiring country singer and performed his own vocals.

He was a friend of the members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and was even at the Viper Room to potentially perform with them on the night he died. The Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Transcending” was written in tribute to him, and Flea was a guest musician on one of Aleka’s Attic’s released songs.

Following his death, several artists dedicated songs or albums to River Phoenix, including R.E.M. (who dedicated their album Monster to him), Milton Nascimento, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Jantzen Ads Illustrated by Pete Hawley in the 1950s

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Pete Hawley (1916–1996) was a prominent American illustrator whose work was a staple of mid-20th-century pop culture. He was best known for his distinctive and instantly recognizable style, which often featured a bold, energetic, and playful aesthetic.

Hawley’s career spanned several decades and a variety of mediums. He created illustrations for a wide range of clients, including magazine covers, movie posters, album covers, and greeting cards. His commercial work was particularly prolific, with long-standing accounts for major companies like Jantzen (for which he created iconic swimsuit ads), Bell Telephone, Coca-Cola, and American Greeting Cards.

A key element of Hawley’s style was his ability to capture both sophisticated, “sexy” figures and adorable, charming children. He had a knack for creating compositions with bold lines and vibrant colors that exuded a sense of innocence and joy. Below is a collection of Jantzen advertisements from the 1950s, illustrated by Pete Hawley.

Jantzen ad illustrated by Pete Hawley, 1950

Jantzen ad illustrated by Pete Hawley, 1951

Vera Miles: One of Alfred Hitchcock’s Favorite Leading Ladies

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Retired American actress Miles began her career in the early 1950s after being crowned Miss Kansas. She quickly landed small television and film roles before gaining wider recognition. She is perhaps best known for her role as Lila Crane in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, Psycho (1960), a role she reprised in the 1983 sequel, Psycho II.

Miles’ connection with Hitchcock was significant, and he initially intended for her to be his next star, casting her in The Wrong Man (1956). However, she had to drop out of the lead role in Vertigo (1958) due to pregnancy, which reportedly strained their professional relationship.

Miles also had a notable career in Westerns, appearing in several films directed by John Ford, including the highly acclaimed The Searchers (1956) alongside John Wayne, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). Her career spanned over four decades, with her appearing in numerous films and television series, including The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive, and Murder, She Wrote.

Miles retired from acting in 1995. Take a look at these vintage photos to see portraits of a young Vera Miles in the 1950s.

20 Photos of a Young Keith Moon of The Who in the 1960s

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Keith John Moon (August 23, 1946 – September 7, 1978) was an English musician who was the drummer for the Who. Regarded as one of the greatest drummers in the history of rock music, he was noted for his unique style of playing and his eccentric, often self-destructive behavior.

Moon grew up in Wembley and took up the drums during the early 1960s. After playing with a local band, the Beachcombers, he joined the Who in 1964 before they recorded their first single. Moon was recognized for his drumming style, which emphasized tom-toms, cymbal crashes, and drum fills. Throughout his tenure with the Who, his drum kit steadily grew in size, and (along with Ginger Baker) he has been credited as one of the earliest rock drummers to regularly employ double bass drums in his setup.

Moon occasionally collaborated with other musicians and later appeared in films, but considered playing in the Who his primary occupation, and remained a member of the band until his death.

In addition to his talent as a drummer, Moon developed a reputation for smashing his kit on stage and destroying hotel rooms on tour. He was fascinated with blowing up toilets with cherry bombs or dynamite, and destroying television sets. Moon also enjoyed touring and socializing, and became bored and restless when the Who were inactive. His 21st birthday party in Flint, Michigan, has been cited as a notorious example of decadent behavior by rock groups. Here’s a selection of 20 photos of a young Keith Moon during the 1960s:

Fabulous Portraits of Ava Gardner From “The Barefoot Contessa” (1954)

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The Barefoot Contessa is a classic 1954 drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The movie stars Ava Gardner as María Vargas, a Spanish dancer who rises from obscurity to international stardom, and Humphrey Bogart as Harry Dawes, a cynical Hollywood director who becomes her confidant and mentor.

The film is a glamorous yet tragic tale about fame, wealth, and disillusionment. It explores how María’s natural beauty and talent bring her success, but also how the pressures of high society, personal ambition, and troubled relationships ultimately shape her destiny.

Renowned for its lush cinematography, elegant costumes, and Gardner’s magnetic screen presence, The Barefoot Contessa has long been regarded as one of the defining films of her career. It remains a fascinating portrait of Hollywood’s Golden Age, mixing drama, romance, and a critique of celebrity culture.

Take a look at these fabulous photos to see portraits of Ava Gardner during the filming of The Barefoot Contessa in 1954.

Promotional Images of Tori Amos for the “Y Kant Tori Read” Album in 1988

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Y Kant Tori Read is the debut and only studio album by American rock band of the same name, fronted by then-unknown singer and songwriter Tori Amos. It was released in 1988 by Atlantic Records. The promo images for the album were shot by rock photographer Aaron Rapoport. The shoot defined the album’s glam-metal/pirate aesthetic—big hair, corset, elbow-length gloves, and the iconic sword across the shoulders seen on the cover.

The cover art for the album Y Kant Tori Read by Y Kant Tori Read.

The band consisted of Amos, singer-pianist Kim Bullard, drummer Matt Sorum who later joined Guns N’ Roses, as well as long-time Amos collaborator guitarist Steve Caton. Due to the title, some critics believed the album was a solo project by a woman named “Tori Read.” This was compounded by the fact that Amos is billed simply as “Tori” in the liner notes.

Amos chose producer Joe Chiccarelli, having admired his work on other albums. According to Chiccarelli in an interview with HitQuarters: “[Tori Amos] had a very strong vision of what she wanted to do on her first album. And despite the lack of success of that album, it was an interesting process because she was very vocal and very passionate about how she wanted it to sound and what her influences were and the emotions she was trying to convey.”

Although Chiccarelli stated that Amos was very happy with the album at the time, Amos has since criticized it, once remarking: “The only good thing about that album is my ankle high boots.”

The eponymous studio album was released in 1988 to poor sales and the band broke up shortly after. Its lack of success and subsequent deletion has made it one of the most sought-after Tori Amos collectibles, fetching upwards of $1,000 in compact disc format in original longbox. At the height of Amos’ career, vinyl copies would often sell for between $300–500 but, due to the decline of music collectibles and the heavy bootlegging of the album, they now frequently sell for between $50–80.

In 2017, Amos said she had made peace with the album, and was considering reissuing it in the future. An entirely remastered edition of the album was discreetly released on all digital and streaming services for the first time on September 1, 2017, with no official announcement or promotion. This was followed by a limited physical re-release of the remastered album on CD and transparent orange vinyl by Rhino Records as part of International Record Store Day’s Black Friday exclusive releases on November 24, 2017. This also resulted in a one-week UK chart entry, at #6, on 06 Dec 2017.

Beautiful 19th-Century Dutch Cityscapes by Johannes Franciscus Spohler

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Johannes Franciscus Spohler (1853–1894) was a Dutch painter of the Romantic school, specializing in detailed cityscapes and landscapes. He came from a family of artists; his father, Jan Jacob Spohler, and his brother, Jan Jacob Coenraad Spohler, were also painters, though they focused more on winter and summer landscapes. Johannes, however, found his niche in depicting urban scenes.

Spohler’s works are known for their topographical accuracy and a delicate palette, with a particular emphasis on capturing the effects of light. He was heavily influenced by the work of Cornelis Springer, a renowned cityscape painter. His paintings often feature bustling Dutch streets, canals, and historical buildings, sometimes on a small scale, painted on wood panels. His work provides a valuable glimpse into 19th-century life in cities like Amsterdam.

Here is a collection of beautiful paintings by Johannes Franciscus Spohler, showcasing street scenes in the Netherlands from the 19th century.

Amsterdam Herengracht