Bondi Jitterbug

November 27, 2008 8:45 PM

1930's Bondi Beach fun "Bondi resident George Caddy was best known for his success as a jitterbug dancer. But it's these posthumously discovered photographs of 1930s 'Beachobatics' that's got Alan Davies from the State Library of NSW jumping for joy."

So much vintage elegance. For some reason the beach seems more fun back then. The swimwear was certainly better.

posted by lottie (13 comments total)

What a totally awesome collection of images. Beachobatics just HAS to make a comeback!!
posted by gomichild at 8:52 PM on November 27, 2008

These images are great!
posted by milestogo at 9:04 PM on November 27, 2008

Build muscles fast (GetAFreeMonkey)
posted by stbalbach at 9:13 PM on November 27, 2008

I love the seemingly innocent enthusiasm embodied by beachobatic and indeed, the amature photographer capturing the scene. In some ways I wish society was still more like this. A few years ago the nephew of Max Dupain (a contemporary of George Caddy who also worked on Bondi - he's referenced in the audio) was questioned by police when attempted to take similar pictures. That aside, I love that these gorgeous pictures, which have languished in a shoe box all these years, have been rediscovered and put on display.
posted by adamt at 9:23 PM on November 27, 2008

Bah, it was Max Dupain's son, I don't know where I got nephew from.
posted by adamt at 9:28 PM on November 27, 2008

Wow, that would take amazing strength and balance. Great find!
posted by aeschenkarnos at 9:49 PM on November 27, 2008

I love the photos but also the simplicity of the narrated slide show. Wonderful post.
posted by LarryC at 11:08 PM on November 27, 2008

Grand discovery - love the Beachobatics, jitterbugging, and George Caddy.
posted by batmonkey at 11:14 PM on November 27, 2008

Reminds me a little of Peter Gowland's old photos from Mailbu and Muscle Beach.
posted by jfrancis at 11:34 PM on November 27, 2008

It's also nice to see unjuiced musculature.
posted by srboisvert at 2:56 AM on November 28, 2008

Wow, I was all ready to look at these images and be all, "Meh; archival wank wank, etc." but these are really lovely pictures. The turn-of-the-century rise in body-cultivation practices / athleticism is really interesting when you consider what had been going on in the Western world. Neat stuff.
posted by LMGM at 4:21 AM on November 28, 2008

Fan. Tastic.

Thanks, lottie.
posted by sixswitch at 5:15 AM on November 28, 2008

For a moment, I was very excited that there existed a State Library of NSFW.
posted by Kabanos at 8:36 AM on November 28, 2008 [3 favorites]