December 9, 2014 at 12:38 pm

Before Filmmaking, Stanley Kubrick was a Photojournalist. This is 1949 Chicago

by twistedsifter

 

Before he became one of America’s most celebrated filmmakers, Stanley Kubrick was a photojournalist for Look magazine from 1940 – 1950. The decade was widely considered to be formative for Kubrick’s iconic filmmaking style and narrative.

After selling one of his photographs to Look of a broken-hearted news vendor reacting to the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Kubrick joined Look, becoming the youngest staff photographer in the magazine’s history.

In the amazing series of photos below we get a glimpse into life in Chicago in 1949 (with the exception of photo #25 taken in 1947). The images were made available through the Library of Congress‘ LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection.

 

 

1.

People arriving at a Chicago theater for show starring, in person, Jack Carson, Marion Hutton, and Robert Alda

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (1)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

2.

Woman model, standing in an office, smoking while modeling undergarments

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (2)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

3.

Woman seated in chair while another woman models a dress

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (3)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

4.

Gorgeous George, full-length portrait, standing in wrestling ring, facing left

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (9)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

5.

Several women at ringside, standing and reaching as if to catch something thrown by wrestler Gorgeous George who, though not visible in this image, was standing in the ring

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (10)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

6.

Two men wrestling with a referee nearby

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (12)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

7.

Spectators watching wrestling match in Chicago

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (15)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

8.

Gorgeous George and another man wrestling in Chicago

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (17)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

9.

Spectators at wrestling match in Chicago

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (16)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

10.

Young girl seated at desk in classroom in Chicago, Illinois

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (6)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

11.

Children seated around a table in an apartment, eating

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (4)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

12.

Butcher holding slab of beef in a meat locker

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (5)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

13.

Steel worker in mill as molten steel spills from vat, in Chicago, Illinois

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (7)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

14.

Overhead view of the “L” elevated railway in Chicago, Illinois

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (8)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

15.

Men, probably commuters, walking along a platform next to a train

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (13)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

16.

View from above of automobile and pedestrians on street below the “L” elevated railway in Chicago, Illinois

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (20)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

17.

Men working the floor at the Chicago Board of Trade

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (23)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

18.

Commodities traders on the floor of Chicago Board of Trade

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (22)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

19.

Men working the floor at the Chicago Board of Trade

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (21)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

20.

Commodities traders on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (24)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

21.

Men working the floor at the Chicago Board of Trade

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (25)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

22.

Steel worker standing in mill with smelter in the background, in Chicago, Illinois

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (19)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

23.

Young girl, half-length portrait, standing against wall displaying art work, in classroom in Chicago, Illinois

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (18)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

24.

Woman and several children sitting on a bed in an apartment

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (11)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

25.

Bodybuilder Gene Jantzen with wife Pat, and eleven-month-old son Kent [1947]

stanley kubrick photos of chicago 1949 look magazine (14)

Stanley Kubrick, photographer, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection,
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

 

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