You’ve seen the V-J Day celebration photos of Times Square from August 14, 1945, the streets filled with relief, joy and revelry. And kissing, lots and lots of kissing, possibly the greatest kiss ever photographed.
But photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt was hopping all over midtown that day, documenting kisses. In fact, Eisenstaedt himself got into the act that very day, having himself photographed smooching an unidentified female reporter. (William C. Shrout was behind the camera here.) Please note the reactions of the two older ladies behind him. Click into photo for a closer view. (Courtesy Life Google Images)
Staten Island’s Sleepy Cemetery: While wandering down Old Mill Road, Forgotten New York stops at a haunting church cemetery with the oldest grave sites on the island. [Forgotten New York]
All You Can Eat Sirloin Steak! And other delights from a Greenwich Village community guide from 1959. [Off The Grid]
Beauty In Beer: The New-York Historical Society displays a gown from Hillie Merritt, the winner of Miss Rheingold 1956. [Behind The Scenes Blog]
Sweet Story: Remembering the 1916 candy store Philip’s of Coney Island — and now, on Staten Island. [Brooklynology]
A Disturbing Record: On August 12, 1912, Sing Sing Prison inspired the following headline from the New York Evening World: ‘Seven Die In Chair Within One Hour, Beating Record’. [Library of Congress]
Not Very Sporting: What the sites selected for the proposed 2012 New York City Olympics look like today. [New York Times]