29 Historical Photos That Need a Bit of Explanation

Nathan Johnson Published 07/13/2023 in wtf

Times are always changing, but in a lot of ways they stay the same. One example of this is how history is full of strange sights, bizarre events, and crazy moments, much like our present-day lives.

So we've collected some of the weirdest photos from way back when that we'd bet a dollar you probably haven't seen before.

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1.
Back In 1956, Magician Robert Harbin Demonstrated One Of His Levitation Tricks On A Few Beachgoers. These Women Looked Pretty Impressed And At Ease, Especially The Woman ‘Levitating’ Over Rocks.
2.
A Young Woman Sand Surfing Near Seaside, Oregon [1941].
3.
Air Conditioned Luxury Lawn Mower In The 1950’s.
4.
The Motormat Drive-In,i nvented By Kenneth C. Purdy ,where The Food Tray Was Sent Out On Rails (1948) Los Angeles.
5.
Philippe Halsman, The Versatile Jean Cocteau, 1949.
6.
A British Chamberpot With A Built-In Small Bust Of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ca.1803-05.
7.
Freckle Removal. A Complicated Apparatus Is Employed. Eyes Are Covered With A Special, Air-Tight Piece, And The Nostrils Filled In. Breathing Is Done Through A Special Tube. Sensitive Parts Of The Face Must Be Treated Separately, 1930.
8.
Late Victorian Mountaineers, Including A Fully Dressed And Corseted Lady, Cross A Crevasse In The Alps (1900).
9.
The Unbroken Seal On King Tutankhamun’s Tomb, Which Stayed 3,245 Years Untouched Until The Excavation In 1922.
10.
From Circa 1975, An Ad For Men’s Business Attire.
11.
A Couple Gets Into Their Bmw Isetta, Through The Front Door, 1950.
12.
A Disguised Secret Witness Testifies In A Courtroom On A Drug Case. Washington, 30 April 1952.
13.
1939 Schlörwagen… Built By German Engineer Hans Schlör Von Westhofen Dirmstein To Resemble The Shape Of An Airplane Wing. This Car Was More Aerodynamicaly Efficient Than Most 21th Century Cars.
14.
Beauty Treatment For Women: 1941 The Glamour Bonnet Went Over A Woman’s Head, And The Attached Hose Was Supposed To Create Low Atmospheric Pressure Like A Vacuum To Improve Skin Complexion.
15.
Ge Walking Truck, 1969.
16.
Pablo Picasso As Popeye. 1957. Photo By André Villers.
17.
The Timberline Lodge Ski Resort, Which Is Located In Oregon (USA), Could Be Reached Along The Mountain Road By Your Own Car, By Bus, As Well As By An Unusual Bus.
18.
17-Year-Old Bianca Passarge From Hamburg Dances On Wine Bottles In A Cat Costume, 1958.
19.
A Test Audience Reacting To The Chest Burster Scene In Alien, 1979.
20.
Giant Studebaker. World’s Largest Vehicle Under Construction. Chicago, 1934.
21.
These Weird Trousers Were The Mad Rage In The 1920’s.
22.
Cellophane Ad Poster 1950s.
23.
To Promote His Movie ‘Frenzy’ Alfred Hitchcock Announced He Was Returning Home To London From Hollywood… By Floating A Lifelike Mannequin Of Himself In The Thames River 1972.
24.
Department Store Wax Mannequins Melting During A Heatwave In 1929.
25.
Luna Park, Melbourne. The Place Was (And Is) Amazing.
26.
Gas Mask For Babies, England, 1938.
27.
A Security Guard Walking Down Us Highway 101 Where There Are Towering Stacks Of Hollow Iron Floats From Which The Iron Antisubmarine Nets Were Suspended To Protect The Us Ports During The Last War, By Hank Walker, 1953,
28.
Walking On Stilts Is Already Impressive Enough, But This Man Pushed It One Step Further And Skated On Stilts! Fritz Dietl, Who Was Better Known As The Stilt-Man, Was Photographed Practicing His Skills With Four-Year-Old Pat Kemp At The Empire Pool In Wembley. 1937.
29.
Ford Unsuccessfully Tried To Reinvent The (Steering) Wheel.
30.
Ice Cube Face Mask By Max Factor, 1947.

1.
Back In 1956, Magician Robert Harbin Demonstrated One Of His Levitation Tricks On A Few Beachgoers. These Women Looked Pretty Impressed And At Ease, Especially The Woman ‘Levitating’ Over Rocks.
2.
A Young Woman Sand Surfing Near Seaside, Oregon [1941].
3.
Air Conditioned Luxury Lawn Mower In The 1950’s.
4.
The Motormat Drive-In,i nvented By Kenneth C. Purdy ,where The Food Tray Was Sent Out On Rails (1948) Los Angeles.
5.
Philippe Halsman, The Versatile Jean Cocteau, 1949.
6.
A British Chamberpot With A Built-In Small Bust Of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ca.1803-05.
7.
Freckle Removal. A Complicated Apparatus Is Employed. Eyes Are Covered With A Special, Air-Tight Piece, And The Nostrils Filled In. Breathing Is Done Through A Special Tube. Sensitive Parts Of The Face Must Be Treated Separately, 1930.
8.
Late Victorian Mountaineers, Including A Fully Dressed And Corseted Lady, Cross A Crevasse In The Alps (1900).
9.
The Unbroken Seal On King Tutankhamun’s Tomb, Which Stayed 3,245 Years Untouched Until The Excavation In 1922.
10.
From Circa 1975, An Ad For Men’s Business Attire.
11.
A Couple Gets Into Their Bmw Isetta, Through The Front Door, 1950.
12.
A Disguised Secret Witness Testifies In A Courtroom On A Drug Case. Washington, 30 April 1952.
13.
1939 Schlörwagen… Built By German Engineer Hans Schlör Von Westhofen Dirmstein To Resemble The Shape Of An Airplane Wing. This Car Was More Aerodynamicaly Efficient Than Most 21th Century Cars.
14.
Beauty Treatment For Women: 1941 The Glamour Bonnet Went Over A Woman’s Head, And The Attached Hose Was Supposed To Create Low Atmospheric Pressure Like A Vacuum To Improve Skin Complexion.
15.
Ge Walking Truck, 1969.
16.
Pablo Picasso As Popeye. 1957. Photo By André Villers.
17.
The Timberline Lodge Ski Resort, Which Is Located In Oregon (USA), Could Be Reached Along The Mountain Road By Your Own Car, By Bus, As Well As By An Unusual Bus.
18.
17-Year-Old Bianca Passarge From Hamburg Dances On Wine Bottles In A Cat Costume, 1958.
19.
A Test Audience Reacting To The Chest Burster Scene In Alien, 1979.
20.
Giant Studebaker. World’s Largest Vehicle Under Construction. Chicago, 1934.
21.
These Weird Trousers Were The Mad Rage In The 1920’s.
22.
Cellophane Ad Poster 1950s.
23.
To Promote His Movie ‘Frenzy’ Alfred Hitchcock Announced He Was Returning Home To London From Hollywood… By Floating A Lifelike Mannequin Of Himself In The Thames River 1972.
24.
Department Store Wax Mannequins Melting During A Heatwave In 1929.
25.
Luna Park, Melbourne. The Place Was (And Is) Amazing.
26.
Gas Mask For Babies, England, 1938.
27.
A Security Guard Walking Down Us Highway 101 Where There Are Towering Stacks Of Hollow Iron Floats From Which The Iron Antisubmarine Nets Were Suspended To Protect The Us Ports During The Last War, By Hank Walker, 1953,
28.
Walking On Stilts Is Already Impressive Enough, But This Man Pushed It One Step Further And Skated On Stilts! Fritz Dietl, Who Was Better Known As The Stilt-Man, Was Photographed Practicing His Skills With Four-Year-Old Pat Kemp At The Empire Pool In Wembley. 1937.
29.
Ford Unsuccessfully Tried To Reinvent The (Steering) Wheel.
30.
Ice Cube Face Mask By Max Factor, 1947.

Back In 1956, Magician Robert Harbin Demonstrated One Of His Levitation Tricks On A Few Beachgoers. These Women Looked Pretty Impressed And At Ease, Especially The Woman ‘Levitating’ Over Rocks.

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29 Historical Photos That Need a Bit of Explanation

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NEXT GALLERY 17 Vintage Photos that Show New York & Chicago in the 70s and 80s

1. Back In 1956, Magician Robert Harbin Demonstrated One Of His Levitation Tricks On A Few Beachgoers. These Women Looked Pretty Impressed And At Ease, Especially The Woman ‘Levitating’ Over Rocks.

2. A Young Woman Sand Surfing Near Seaside, Oregon [1941].

3. Air Conditioned Luxury Lawn Mower In The 1950’s.

4. The Motormat Drive-In,i nvented By Kenneth C. Purdy ,where The Food Tray Was Sent Out On Rails (1948) Los Angeles.

5. Philippe Halsman, The Versatile Jean Cocteau, 1949.

6. A British Chamberpot With A Built-In Small Bust Of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ca.1803-05.

7. Freckle Removal. A Complicated Apparatus Is Employed. Eyes Are Covered With A Special, Air-Tight Piece, And The Nostrils Filled In. Breathing Is Done Through A Special Tube. Sensitive Parts Of The Face Must Be Treated Separately, 1930.

8. Late Victorian Mountaineers, Including A Fully Dressed And Corseted Lady, Cross A Crevasse In The Alps (1900).

9. The Unbroken Seal On King Tutankhamun’s Tomb, Which Stayed 3,245 Years Untouched Until The Excavation In 1922.

10. From Circa 1975, An Ad For Men’s Business Attire.

11. A Couple Gets Into Their Bmw Isetta, Through The Front Door, 1950.

12. A Disguised Secret Witness Testifies In A Courtroom On A Drug Case. Washington, 30 April 1952.

13. 1939 Schlörwagen… Built By German Engineer Hans Schlör Von Westhofen Dirmstein To Resemble The Shape Of An Airplane Wing. This Car Was More Aerodynamicaly Efficient Than Most 21th Century Cars.

14. Beauty Treatment For Women: 1941 The Glamour Bonnet Went Over A Woman’s Head, And The Attached Hose Was Supposed To Create Low Atmospheric Pressure Like A Vacuum To Improve Skin Complexion.

15. Ge Walking Truck, 1969.

16. Pablo Picasso As Popeye. 1957. Photo By André Villers.

17. The Timberline Lodge Ski Resort, Which Is Located In Oregon (USA), Could Be Reached Along The Mountain Road By Your Own Car, By Bus, As Well As By An Unusual Bus.

18. 17-Year-Old Bianca Passarge From Hamburg Dances On Wine Bottles In A Cat Costume, 1958.

19. A Test Audience Reacting To The Chest Burster Scene In Alien, 1979.

20. Giant Studebaker. World’s Largest Vehicle Under Construction. Chicago, 1934.

21. These Weird Trousers Were The Mad Rage In The 1920’s.

22. Cellophane Ad Poster 1950s.

23. To Promote His Movie ‘Frenzy’ Alfred Hitchcock Announced He Was Returning Home To London From Hollywood… By Floating A Lifelike Mannequin Of Himself In The Thames River 1972.

24. Department Store Wax Mannequins Melting During A Heatwave In 1929.

25. Luna Park, Melbourne. The Place Was (And Is) Amazing.

26. Gas Mask For Babies, England, 1938.

27. A Security Guard Walking Down Us Highway 101 Where There Are Towering Stacks Of Hollow Iron Floats From Which The Iron Antisubmarine Nets Were Suspended To Protect The Us Ports During The Last War, By Hank Walker, 1953,

28. Walking On Stilts Is Already Impressive Enough, But This Man Pushed It One Step Further And Skated On Stilts! Fritz Dietl, Who Was Better Known As The Stilt-Man, Was Photographed Practicing His Skills With Four-Year-Old Pat Kemp At The Empire Pool In Wembley. 1937.

29. Ford Unsuccessfully Tried To Reinvent The (Steering) Wheel.

30. Ice Cube Face Mask By Max Factor, 1947.

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1.
Back In 1956, Magician Robert Harbin Demonstrated One Of His Levitation Tricks On A Few Beachgoers. These Women Looked Pretty Impressed And At Ease, Especially The Woman ‘Levitating’ Over Rocks.

2.
A Young Woman Sand Surfing Near Seaside, Oregon [1941].

3.
Air Conditioned Luxury Lawn Mower In The 1950’s.

4.
The Motormat Drive-In,i nvented By Kenneth C. Purdy ,where The Food Tray Was Sent Out On Rails (1948) Los Angeles.

5.
Philippe Halsman, The Versatile Jean Cocteau, 1949.

6.
A British Chamberpot With A Built-In Small Bust Of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ca.1803-05.

7.
Freckle Removal. A Complicated Apparatus Is Employed. Eyes Are Covered With A Special, Air-Tight Piece, And The Nostrils Filled In. Breathing Is Done Through A Special Tube. Sensitive Parts Of The Face Must Be Treated Separately, 1930.

8.
Late Victorian Mountaineers, Including A Fully Dressed And Corseted Lady, Cross A Crevasse In The Alps (1900).

9.
The Unbroken Seal On King Tutankhamun’s Tomb, Which Stayed 3,245 Years Untouched Until The Excavation In 1922.

10.
From Circa 1975, An Ad For Men’s Business Attire.

11.
A Couple Gets Into Their Bmw Isetta, Through The Front Door, 1950.

12.
A Disguised Secret Witness Testifies In A Courtroom On A Drug Case. Washington, 30 April 1952.

13.
1939 Schlörwagen… Built By German Engineer Hans Schlör Von Westhofen Dirmstein To Resemble The Shape Of An Airplane Wing. This Car Was More Aerodynamicaly Efficient Than Most 21th Century Cars.

14.
Beauty Treatment For Women: 1941 The Glamour Bonnet Went Over A Woman’s Head, And The Attached Hose Was Supposed To Create Low Atmospheric Pressure Like A Vacuum To Improve Skin Complexion.

15.
Ge Walking Truck, 1969.

16.
Pablo Picasso As Popeye. 1957. Photo By André Villers.

17.
The Timberline Lodge Ski Resort, Which Is Located In Oregon (USA), Could Be Reached Along The Mountain Road By Your Own Car, By Bus, As Well As By An Unusual Bus.

18.
17-Year-Old Bianca Passarge From Hamburg Dances On Wine Bottles In A Cat Costume, 1958.

19.
A Test Audience Reacting To The Chest Burster Scene In Alien, 1979.

20.
Giant Studebaker. World’s Largest Vehicle Under Construction. Chicago, 1934.

21.
These Weird Trousers Were The Mad Rage In The 1920’s.

22.
Cellophane Ad Poster 1950s.

23.
To Promote His Movie ‘Frenzy’ Alfred Hitchcock Announced He Was Returning Home To London From Hollywood… By Floating A Lifelike Mannequin Of Himself In The Thames River 1972.

24.
Department Store Wax Mannequins Melting During A Heatwave In 1929.

25.
Luna Park, Melbourne. The Place Was (And Is) Amazing.

26.
Gas Mask For Babies, England, 1938.

27.
A Security Guard Walking Down Us Highway 101 Where There Are Towering Stacks Of Hollow Iron Floats From Which The Iron Antisubmarine Nets Were Suspended To Protect The Us Ports During The Last War, By Hank Walker, 1953,

28.
Walking On Stilts Is Already Impressive Enough, But This Man Pushed It One Step Further And Skated On Stilts! Fritz Dietl, Who Was Better Known As The Stilt-Man, Was Photographed Practicing His Skills With Four-Year-Old Pat Kemp At The Empire Pool In Wembley. 1937.

29.
Ford Unsuccessfully Tried To Reinvent The (Steering) Wheel.

30.
Ice Cube Face Mask By Max Factor, 1947.