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A NYC police officer hanging over Times Square, 1920 (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 2 years ago by sjmarf@sh.itjust.works to c/historyporn@lemmy.world
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[-] OfficerBribe@lemm.ee 132 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

His name is Charles N. Fitzgerald. Here's additional info about him and the photograph.

Fitzgerald also did things like stand on the upper wing of a biplane as it did a loop-de-loop. He had 18 occupations in 26 years, most of which were dangerous. These included high diver, Texas Ranger, motorcycle racer, and vaudeville strongman.

Here's another article and higher resolution image of that newspaper article.

[-] afk_strats@lemmy.world 27 points 2 years ago

That's awesome. Thanks for posting that vintage article

[-] FarFarAway@startrek.website 17 points 2 years ago

Man, that guy had quite a life! Bet he was a hit at party's.

...Back when you could actually be anything you wanted to be. How romantic!

[-] pwnicholson@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago

...If you were white, male, and probably reasonably affluent.

[-] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 years ago

I mean, he sounds Irish. I don't believe they had the best treatment back then either.

[-] GladiusB@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Not the best, but not the worst either

[-] pwnicholson@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

12 of the first 28 Presidents of the USA (which is the time Fitzgerald was doing his thing) had Irish heritage. 3 of them were first generation Irish (parents born in Ireland). Most of the police force of NYC was stereotyped as being all Irish by this point.

Yes, there were areas and times they were disadvantaged, but don't even compare it to women and non-whites at the time.

[-] GBU_28@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago

Today he'd be a stunt man,, which you can still absolutely do

[-] FarFarAway@startrek.website 1 points 2 years ago

Except the texas ranger part, this is true. Guess you could play one in a movie, but is that the same?

[-] WaxedWookie@lemmy.world 36 points 2 years ago

He's doin' it for the 'gram.

[-] SorteKanin@feddit.dk 32 points 2 years ago

... Why... How... I... What. I need some background. Why in the world would you put yourself in that kind of danger?

[-] Deceptichum@sh.itjust.works 49 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

It’s most likely an optical illusion.

Ex.

[-] IphtashuFitz@lemmy.world 41 points 2 years ago

This is exactly how entertainers like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd did many of their stunts.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/harold-lloyd-about-harold-lloyd/647/

[-] ben16w@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago

The first image is some Instagram photos and the second image is a different person bouldering

[-] Deceptichum@sh.itjust.works 24 points 2 years ago

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/photograph-cliff-hanger-isnt-quite-seems/

There's no set of the hanging effect and the long distance together, but it's a pretty common rock that people take these forced perspective photos on.

[-] Vandals_handle@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

The coastline, buildings and boulder appear to be the same, the images are just reversed.

[-] SorteKanin@feddit.dk 5 points 2 years ago

I sure hope so

[-] Splatterphace@lemm.ee 15 points 2 years ago

It was 1920, they didn't give a shit about danger back then. Those fools ate lead and huffed asbestos 😂

[-] SorteKanin@feddit.dk 20 points 2 years ago

I mean they only did that cause they didn't know how dangerous it was

[-] MNByChoice@midwest.social 16 points 2 years ago

Pretty sure they understood falling off buildings. A lot of construction workers died falling off buildings.

[-] Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 2 years ago

It makes more sense if you say it in a scruffy detective voice

[-] ivanafterall@kbin.social 7 points 2 years ago

This is just how they got to work back then.

[-] PugJesus@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

"Hey, watch this!"

[-] Vigilante@lemmy.today 1 points 2 years ago

Because fun i mean i'd do it .

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 20 points 2 years ago

Good thing that beam is securely tied off with rope...

[-] cybersandwich@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Looks like it could be a bowline. That's fairly secure. He's good!

[-] sagrotan@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago

Pull him up and "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe..."

[-] CharlesReed@kbin.social 9 points 2 years ago

My lack of upper body strength could never.

[-] Anamana@feddit.de 9 points 2 years ago

Why does he look so relaxed jeeez

[-] frankgrimeszz@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago

Handshake of steel. 💪

[-] Naminreb@kbin.social 4 points 2 years ago

Give this man a Go-Pro and a YouTube channel!

[-] RIP_Cheems@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

When did black Friday happen?

[-] ikidd@lemmy.world -4 points 2 years ago

That must be an actor, he's not 100lbs overweight.

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