Tag Archives: Independence Day

Independence Days Of The Past

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

Though it was celebrated long before that, the 4th of July has been an official holiday since 1941.  In honor of the Fourth’s long history, here are some vintage photographs from Independence Days of the past.  As you can see, you don’t always need fireworks to celebrate America’s birthday:

1920s

1923

1925

1939

1942

1956

1960s

1969

1970s

1976

1987

1996

I hope everyone has a good 4th of July!  Usually, I celebrate Independence Day by taking a lot of blurry photographs of the fireworks exploding in the sky above me and then posting them to twitter.  I won’t be doing that this year but I’ll still find a way to celebrate everything that’s good about my home country.

Celebrate the 4th of July With These Vintage Firework Ads!

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

It’s just not the 4th of July without fireworks so, here to help you get in the mood today, are some vintage, 20th century firework advertisements!  I think most of these are from the 50s and the 60s.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

New York 4th of July Parade, 1911

And, for those celebrating, please remember this safety tip: lay on ground, light fuse, get away!

Happy Independence Day!

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hi, everyone!

So, usually, whenever a holiday rolls around, Doc, the ennui-afflicted TSL Cat, writes a celebratory post.  Every year, I get people asking me how Doc, with his big paws and his lack of a formal education, can handle typing out a 500-word post.  And every year, I say the same thing: “Doc can do anything he puts his mind to!”

That said, I wanted to write today’s holiday post because I do have a very important message that I want to share with anyone who might be reading this.  I share this every year but, judging by the thunderous explosions and crackling bangs that kept me away last night, it needs to be said again.

First off, it’s great that you have fireworks but you know what?  You don’t need to shoot them off in your back yard!  GET OUT OF THE SUBURBS IF YOU’RE GOING TO SHOOT THOSE THINGS OFF!  Go out to the country and drink your beer and blow your hands off out there.  A few years ago, we actually had some drunken idiots who tried to shoot off fireworks in the middle of the street and it’s the closest I’ve ever come to calling the police on anyone.

Seriously, fireworks are fun and America’s great.  But neither one of those is an excuse for being a dick.

Secondly, remember that most animals aren’t going to be aware that today is Independence Day.  What we think of as being a celebration is going to sound like the end of the world to them.  Take care of your pets and make sure they’re safely inside tonight.  Doc’s probably going to spend tonight under my bed, as he often seems to do during the noisy holidays.  Fortunately, after about an hour, he forgets why he’s hiding and instead concentrates on trying to play tag whenever he sees my ankles.

Finally, the sounds of this holiday can bring back terrible memories for some people.  Please keep our veterans in mind before you try to make your neighborhood sound like a war zone.

So, I guess my 4th of July message is this: Be kind.  Be considerate.  Let’s be the best that we can be.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Get Ready For The 4th of July With These Vintage Postcards!

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

The 4th of July is only a few days away so to help you get in the mood, here are some vintage independence day postcards!  Some of these postcards are dated and some of them aren’t but they’re all from the early 20th century and they show that, even a century ago, people enjoyed fireworks on Independence Day.

Check out these patriot postcards:

1906

1908

1913

1913

1914

Get Ready For Independence Day With The Adventures Of Operator #5

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

by John Newton Howitt

With Independence Day approaching, it’s time to honor Jimmy Christopher.  Jimmy was an agent for United States Intelligence, cod-named Operator #5.  From 1934 to 1939, Jimmy kept America safe from its enemies as the star of the 10-cent pulp magazine, Secret Service Operator #5.  Today, Secret Service Operator #5 is best-remembered for two things: a 13 issue arc in which Jimmy became a freedom fighter after America was conquered by the Purple Empire (a thinly-veiled stand-in for Nazi Germany) and a series of exciting, patriotic covers.

Unless otherwise noted, the covers below are all credited to John Newton Howitt:

by Rafael De Soto

Unknown Artist

Unknown Artist

The American Photography of Carol M. Highsmith

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

Ever since the 1980s, Carol M. Highsmith has been exploring America and taking photographs of what she finds.  Starting in 2009, Highsmith has been donating her life’s work of more than 100,000 images to the Library of Congress.  Highsmith’s photographs emphasizes the corners and parts of America that are in danger of disappearing in the face of progress and development.  By donating them royalty-free, Highsmith has provided people everywhere with the chance to see parts of America that they might not otherwise have the chance to experience.  As a photographer, she’s been a huge influence on my own work.

I first wrote about Carol Highsmith and her work in 2012.  This year, for the 4th of July, I’m going to share more of Highsmith’s American photography.  The first 10 pictures below were taken in Texas.  The rest were taken elsewhere.

Oregon

Arizona

Missouri

Wyoming

Wyoming

 

Happy Independence Day From The Shattered Lens!

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hi everyone!  Lisa here!

Usually, whenever a holiday rolls around, the TSL’s mascot — Doc the Ennui Kitty — will post something wishing all of you a safe and happy holiday.  Some people have pointed out that not only are we one of the few sites to feature a cat as a contributor but also that most cats aren’t capable of writing complete sentences.  I’m not sure what they’re trying to imply.  Doc’s a very smart cat.

Anyway, for this holiday, I’m handling the honors because I actually do have something serious to talk about.  I love fireworks.  My entire family loves fireworks.  Up until I turned ten, I always used to enjoy summer trips through the Southwest, during which my father would pick up the latest in illegal fireworks.  It was fun and it taught me a very important lesson (as my father put it, “Nobody tells a Bowman what to do!  Nobody!”)  On July 3rd, the Mayor of Los Angeles attempted to illustrate the importance of firework safety by posting a video of a watermelon getting blown to bits by a firework that he claimed was the size of a stick of gum.  I watched that video at work and I literally yelled out, “That is so fucking awesome!!!!”

That said, if you’re planning on shooting off fireworks or firecrackers tonight, be smart.  Four years ago, some people who lived across the street from us decided to get drunk and shoot off fireworks in the middle of the street.  This was on a residential block and they came close to setting my neighbor’s front yard on fire.  Someone called the cops on them.  It wasn’t me because I don’t believe in snitching.  Me, I was just planning on slashing their tires after they all went to sleep.

Also, animals do not like fireworks.  Keep that in mind.  For a cat or a dog who has no idea that it’s Independence Day, fireworks are terrifying.  If you own pets, keep them inside.  If you’re driving home, keep an eye on the road for any of our furry friends who might, at that moment, be out of their mind with fear.

Also, keep your neighbors in mind.  One person’s fun can be another person’s trigger.  During Independence Day, we always talk about how much we love our veterans.  Prove it by considering what they’ve gone through before you set off those firecrackers at 3 in the morning.

I guess what I’m saying is the best way to celebrate the 4th is by not being a jerk.

Thank you and, from me, Doc, and everyone else here at the Shattered Lens: happy holidays!