Pedestrians Watching Traffic Signal Activation on 7th Ave. in Manhattan on April 20, 1955

In 1955, New York City’s then Department of Traffic introduces the first eight neon pedestrian signals from Winko-Matic. These were installed at W. 34th St. and 7th Av. in Manhattan. 300 others would be installed throughout the borough. In this photograph, traffic commissioner T.T. Wiley turns on the signals for the first time, while a group of people behind him watch on April 20, 1955.

On the streets of New York City, from the 1950s until the early 2000s, several kinds of worded pedestrian signals existed. The different characteristics and configurations are interesting to observe. This timeline will provide a general background behind all of the variations of the “DONT WALK” and “WALK” (including “WAIT” and “WALK”) pedestrian signals in the city.

Beginning in February of 1952, then New York City traffic commissioner T.T. Wiley installed a handful of the first worded pedestrian signals in New York City. Manufactured by the Crouse-Hinds company, the neon pedestrian signals were located near and at Times Square in Manhattan for quite a short period of time. They were horizontal in appearance, and red and green signal indications were in use.

Interestingly enough, they operated with vehicular two-section (red and green) traffic signals at the time, and, because only “DONT” and “WALK” were present, a “DONT WALK” signal indication appeared as red and green, while an ordinary “WALK” signal indication appeared as only green, of course. The way each pedestrian signal was mounted is interesting to observe, too, since an early form of a guy wire set-up was in use. The set-up itself was used to suspend an early two-section traffic signal years earlier as well.

While the pedestrian signal seemed beneficial to some, it had a disadvantage, in which caused confusion amongst countless pedestrians. Due to the illumination of a red “DONT” and green “WALK” at the same time, some pedestrians found this rather puzzling and were not sure how to approach it. T.T. Wiley heavily criticized this, and, as a result, he discontinued the installment of future pedestrian signals and wanted the ones already in service to be removed, in which happened around 1954.

As in 1955, the bulky neon pedestrian signal from Winko-Matic made its debut on the streets of Manhattan. Aside from its appearance, the pedestrian signal was quite heavy as far as weight is concerned, but was apparently manufactured to last, since many remained in useful service throughout most of the boroughs of New York City in the early 1980s. Red and green signal indications were in use for “DONT WALK” and “WALK,” and the housing was originally painted dark olive green. At least two kinds of this neon pedestrian signal were in existence. The first version had four ventilation strips on the back of the housing, while the second kind only had two in use.

New York City installed this pedestrian signal from the time of its introduction to the early 1970s. They were typically installed at either newly constructed or upgraded signalized intersections.

Fabulous Photos of Carole Mathews in the 1940s and ’50s

Born 1920 as Jean Deifel in Montgomery, Illinois, American actress Carole Mathews was named “Miss Chicago” in 1938 and in doing so, qualified for a trip to California and a screen test. While in California, she auditioned for the Earl Carroll Follies and won a role in the show for 1939.

Mathews attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music and Drama, where she studied ballet, voice, and drama. She also hosted a WGN radio program, Breakfast Time with Carole Mathews. Soon she was engaged in modeling.

Mathews appeared on Broadway as Karen Jackson in With a Silk Thread (1950). She appeared on various television series, including ABC Stage 67 in 1967, Police Woman in 1977, and General Hospital for four episodes in 1983. She appeared in the TV Hallmark Hall of Fame movie “Fame” in 1978.

Mathews died in 2014 at the age of 94. Take a look at these fabulous photos to see portraits of young Carole Mathews in the 1940s and 1950s.

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Rare Photographs of Hamburg, Germany in the 1920s

The 1920s were a vibrant time for Hamburg, Germany. It was a period of economic growth, cultural innovation, and social change. The city was a bustling hub of trade, with its port being one of the busiest in Europe. Hamburg also had a thriving nightlife scene, with jazz clubs, cabarets, and theaters attracting both locals and tourists. However, it was also a time of political unrest, with the rise of the Nazi Party casting a shadow over the city’s cultural and social landscape. Overall, the 1920s marked a dynamic and influential period in Hamburg’s history.

 

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Pablo Manzoni: One of Fashion’s First Superstar Makeup Artists

Born 1939 as Count Paolo Michaelangelo Zappi-Manzoni di Giovecca in Bologna, Italian make-up artist Pablo Manzoni persuaded the Elizabeth Arden salon in Rome to employ him at the age of 17, despite his lack of experience. Whilst there, he worked with clients such as Sophia Loren, for whom he used his trademark eyebrow-bleaching technique to enhance her eyes. Another early Manzoni trademark was the use of false eyelashes.

Classic beauties were made up by Pablo Manzoni in the 1960s

In 1965, his eye-makeup techniques were so influential that he was awarded the Coty Award in recognition for launching a worldwide style. As a leader in the field of fashionable, elaborate eye-makeup, Pablo was extremely popular with fashion editors and society women during the 1960s. Manzoni stated in 1966 that the jewel-studded or flower-decorated eyes he created for the fashion press were intended to inspire the reader, rather than to be exactly copied. Despite this, he had clients asking him to reproduce the designs for actual wear. In 2011, Manzoni expanded on this, explaining that the “festive eyes” he created for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar were intended for shock value and publicity purposes, but that when at work he created subtle make-up for clients.

In 1979, Manzoni left Elizabeth Arden to embark upon a solo career, for which he reclaimed his surname. By 1985, as well as dealing with private clients, Manzoni was working as a make-up consultant for Neiman Marcus. In 1990, he was Creative Director for the La Prairie cosmetics line.

Manzoni died from complications from back surgery in 2022, at the age of 82. These stunning photos captured portraits of classic beauties who were made up by Pablo Manzoni in the 1960s.

Benedetta Barzini in a pumpkin cashmere sweater, long with big cowl collar by Braemar, earrings by Kramer, coiffure by Kenneth, make-up by Pablo of Elizabeth Arden, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, August 1, 1964

Benedetta Barzini wearing Lace-Shadowed Eye, with Brussels lace, by Pablo for Elizabeth Arden, and cap by Halston, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, 1964

Jean Shrimpton's astonishing eyes were done with the longest eyelashes yet by Pablo of Elizabeth Arden, photo by Melvin Sokolsky, Harper's Bazaar, July 1964

Jennifer O'Neill is wearing a sea-blue veil and cap glistening with sequins and beads by Lilly Daché, gem-laden eye make-up by Pablo of Elizabeth Arden, photo by James Moore, Harper's Bazaar, December 1964

Tilly Tizzani holding an enamel-spotted gold tiger with emerald eyes and black and white enameled tiger with diamonds and emerald eyes, make-up by Pablo of Elizabeth Arden Salon-Rome, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, March 15, 1964

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30 Vintage Photos of Jayne Mansfield in the 1960s

One of the leading sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960s, film actress Jayne Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the only child of Vera J. (nee Palmer; later Peers) and Herbert W. Palmer. Her parents were well-to-do, with her father a successful attorney in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where she spent a portion of her childhood. Her parents were both born with the same surname, and her ancestry was seven eighths English and Cornish and one eighth German. She was reportedly a talented pianist and played the violin when she was young.

Tragedy struck when Jayne was three, when her father suddenly died of a heart attack. Three years later, her mother remarried and she and her mother moved to Dallas, Texas, buying a small home where she had violin concerts in the driveway of their home. Her IQ was reportedly 163, and she attended the University of Dallas and participated in little-theater productions. In 1949, at the age of 16, she married a man five years her senior named Paul Mansfield. In November 1950, when Jayne was seventeen, their daughter, Jayne Marie Mansfield was born. The union ended in divorce but she kept the surname Mansfield as a good surname for an actress.

After some productions there and elsewhere, Jayne decided to go to Hollywood. Her first film was a bit role as a cigarette girl in Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955). Although the roles in the beginning were not much, she was successful in gaining those roles because of her ample physical attributes which placed her in two other films that year, Hell on Frisco Bay (1955) and Illegal (1955). Her breakout role came the next year with a featured part in The Burglar (1957). By the time she portrayed Rita Marlowe in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957) and Playgirl After Dark (1960), Jayne was now known as the poor man’s Marilyn Monroe. She did not get the plum roles that Marilyn got in her productions. Instead, her films were more of a showcase for her body more than anything else. She did have a real talent for acting, but the movie executives insisted she stay in her dumb blonde stereotype roles. By the 1960s, her career had options that grew lower. She made somewhat embarrassing guest appearances like on the popular game show What’s My Line? (1950), she appeared on the show four times in 1956, 1957, 1964, and 1966 and many other 1950s and 1960s game shows. By 1962, she was dropped from 20th Century Fox and the rest of her career had smaller options like being in B movies and low budget movies or performing at food stores or small nightclubs.

While traveling from a nightclub in Biloxi, Mississippi and 30 miles from New Orleans to where she was to be on television the following day, she was killed instantly on Highway 90 in Slidell, Louisiana in a car crash in the early hours of June 29, 1967, when the car in which she was riding slammed into the back of a semi-tractor trailer truck that had stopped due to a truck in front of the tractor trailer that was spraying for bugs. Her car went under the truck at nearly 80 miles per hour. Her boyfriend Samuel Brody and their driver Ronnie Harrison, were also killed. The damage to the car was so bad that the engine was twisted sideways. She was not, however, decapitated, as had long been misreported. She was 34 years old.

Mansfield’s funeral was on July 3, 1967 and hundreds of people lined the main street of Pen Argyl for her funeral, a small private ceremony at Fairview Cemetery in Plainfield (outside Pen Argyl), Pennsylvania (where her father was also buried), attended by her family. The only ex-husband to attend was Mickey Hargitay. Her final film, Single Room Furnished (1966), was released the following year. In 2000, Mansfield’s 97 year old mother, Mrs. Vera Peers, was interred alongside Mansfield.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show Holidaymakers Showing Off Their Dance Moves in Blackpool From the 1950s

As the summer approaches, we’ll all be getting ready for long days in the sun, outdoor events and day trips to our favorite destinations. It’s a known fact that Blackpool will see thousands upon thousands of people visit as it does every year, but these stunning photos show how generations before spent their time in the area.

Whilst nightclubs and bars usually attract groups of punters today, back in the 1950s, dancing didn’t need to take place indoors, as seen in these vintage photos.

From ‘Rock n Roll’ sessions on the pier to couples dancing and showing off their moves, these heartwarming photos are sure to stir some memories and offer a fascinating window into Blackpool’s past.

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Wonderful Photos Capture Street Scenes of England in the 1960s

Life in England during the 1960s was vibrant and dynamic. The era is often associated with cultural revolutions, particularly in music, fashion, and art. The Beatles and other British bands achieved international fame, while London became a center for creative experimentation and the birthplace of the Swinging London scene. Fashion designers like Mary Quant popularized the miniskirt, reflecting the youthful energy of the time.

Socially, the 1960s brought significant changes. Attitudes towards gender roles, sexuality, and race began to shift, with movements for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and civil rights gaining momentum. The contraceptive pill became widely available, leading to changes in sexual behavior and relationships.

Politically, there were challenges to traditional authority and the status quo. Anti-war protests against the Vietnam War were common, and there was growing disillusionment with established political institutions. The Profumo Affair, a scandal involving a government minister, highlighted the tensions between the conservative establishment and the changing social norms.

Economically, England experienced both prosperity and challenges. The economy initially thrived, but by the end of the decade, there were signs of economic decline, including labor unrest and industrial disputes.

Overall, the 1960s in England were a time of rapid change, cultural innovation, and social upheaval, leaving a lasting impact on British society and influencing global trends. These wonderful photos were found by Dave’s Old Slides that captured street scenes of England in the 1960s.

Exeter Cathedral Close, 1960

Trafalgar Square, London, circa early 1960s

The Royal Show, 1963

The Royal Show, 1963

Council houses, Witney, Oxfordshire, 1964

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