Yes, Eve, scanning costs hundreds of dollars but I am such a sweet and kind person that I was going to do it anyway …
Seriously, scanning doesn’t cost me anything. I’d be happy to put the picture up somewhere but I don’t know where the “where” would be. I don’t have a Web site, so if someone tells how to put it somewhere that people can link to, I’ll be happy to do it.
I just noticed tomndebb’s link and checked the picture, but that’s a bad scan job or something, in my opinion. It’s practically unrecognizable. I don’t remember it being so dark. In my copy, her face is much clearer and you can see how pretty and peaceful she looks, even lying dead on top of a crumpled car.
Well, heck, y’all found that one so smoothly, maybe you can help me with this one:
a photograph published in either Time or Life, I forget which, showing an accordion player named George Washington Graham as he watches the coffin of Franklin Roosevelt pass by.
My memory’s sketchy on the details, but I’ve heard it mentioned as one of the best photographs ever. I’d kinda like to see it.
The most interesting thing is that her left stocking came open near the ankle, exposing her foot, but her right stocking is fine. Looks like she didn’t even pop a garter!
I picked up a handful of old Life magazines from the fifties and early sixties at a yard sale recently for 25 cents each. My favourite picture in them was of Barbra Streisand sitting in the front row of a fashion show audience wearing a suit she “designed herself”. It was completely made from real leopard skin, right down to the cute little hat. My, my, how times change.
I bought that issue of “Life,” framed the photo and put it up at my desk. Looks great.
Then, today at lunchtime, I went to the library’s microfilm room and looked up the NY “Times” and “Post” from May 2, 1947, and found two surprisingly small articles about her—nowadays, she’d make the front page! I guess girls were jumping off buildings left and right back then.
I was right, she jumped toward 33rd Street, not Fifth Avenue. Her age was given as anything from 20–25. But what depressed me is that her note said that she “didn’t want anyone to see any part of her,” and to be cremated and have no memorial, so she would be completely forgotten.
I’m a HUGE fan of the power of the image, Eve. Aside from my profession, I just cannot get enough of photographs.She’s not forgotten. Something cool hit you initially, and now it’s moved beyond that. Betcha always have that photo in a place where you can see it at least once a day.
You have memorialized her, half a century later. I have a lot of respect for that.
The drama in photographs like these for me (a book of crimescene photographer WeeGee’s photos is on my coffeetable) is always the story behind that instant in time. What had gone so terribly wrong in this woman’s life? Spurned lover? Just too much of everything going wrong at once? One of the most moving is the shot of the frantic woman shown running along the beach with that terrified look in her eyes - Where is my little child? Sadly, the child had wandered away from her during a beach picnic and was found drowned. Having a 2 year old daughter really makes that one hit home.
Interestingly enough, in the very first issue of Life there was a photo of a child being born. The title, “Life begins.” In the last issue of the rejuevenated “Life” was a picture of the same person, who had just recently died, at their funeral. The title “Life ends.”
I remember first seeing this photograph when I was in my middle teens and was fascinated by the artistry of the photograph. Terribly powerful, yet graceful and peaceful. A beautiful young lady sprawled on top of a mass of crumpled steel. After all these years, I had somewhat forgotten… at the conscious level. Your query brought the image back at the forefront in all its vividness.
Having just read the caption of the photograph contained in the link I now know the story behind that instant in time. Poor woman, to feel so desparate.
Geepers! Even good looking gals who’ve been dead over 50 years get preferential treatment! And I thought never having to buy their own drinks was extreme. But seriously, I’ve noticed that, in the mass media at least, we seem to mourn photogenic people more than others. So all you girls be sure and have your high school photo taken at Glamor Shots. When they show it on the 11:00 news all the lonely men who’re watching will regret their lost opportunity all the more. “It’s too late / to fall in love / with Sharon Tate.”
I have a lot of respect for your words here, Ike. And so I DID go and re-read her post. Yes, the sad woman wanted complete anonymity and having her framed death photo doesn’t give her that.
Perhaps I was projecting a bit here. Eve, if you feel as though you've made a gesture against her wishes, then you may very well always feel badly for having found and framed this.
My apologies, I think that Ike’s right, I truly did misunderstand. Sorry, Eve.
