Comments on: Bondi Jitterbug

Bondi Jitterbug

lottie — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:45:57 -0800

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.

By: gomichild

gomichild — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:52:35 -0800

What a totally awesome collection of images. Beachobatics just HAS to make a comeback!!

By: milestogo

milestogo — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:04:13 -0800

These images are great!

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:13:04 -0800

Build muscles fast (GetAFreeMonkey)

By: adamt

adamt — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:23:50 -0800

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.

By: adamt

adamt — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:28:56 -0800

Bah, it was Max Dupain's son, I don't know where I got nephew from.

By: aeschenkarnos

aeschenkarnos — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:49:10 -0800

Wow, that would take amazing strength and balance. Great find!

By: LarryC

LarryC — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:08:58 -0800

I love the photos but also the simplicity of the narrated slide show. Wonderful post.

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:14:40 -0800

Grand discovery - love the Beachobatics, jitterbugging, and George Caddy.

By: jfrancis

jfrancis — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:34:27 -0800

Reminds me a little of Peter Gowland's old photos from Mailbu and Muscle Beach.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:56:09 -0800

It's also nice to see unjuiced musculature.

By: LMGM

LMGM — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:21:12 -0800

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.

By: sixswitch

sixswitch — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:15:25 -0800

Fan. Tastic. Thanks, lottie.

By: Kabanos

Kabanos — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:36:30 -0800

For a moment, I was very excited that there existed a State Library of NSFW.