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
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
2.
Woman model, standing in an office, smoking while modeling undergarments
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
3.
Woman seated in chair while another woman models a dress
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
4.
Gorgeous George, full-length portrait, standing in wrestling ring, facing left
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
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
6.
Two men wrestling with a referee nearby
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
7.
Spectators watching wrestling match in Chicago
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
8.
Gorgeous George and another man wrestling in Chicago
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
9.
Spectators at wrestling match in Chicago
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
10.
Young girl seated at desk in classroom in Chicago, Illinois
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
11.
Children seated around a table in an apartment, eating
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
12.
Butcher holding slab of beef in a meat locker
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
13.
Steel worker in mill as molten steel spills from vat, in Chicago, Illinois
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
14.
Overhead view of the “L” elevated railway in Chicago, Illinois
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
15.
Men, probably commuters, walking along a platform next to a train
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
16.
View from above of automobile and pedestrians on street below the “L” elevated railway in Chicago, Illinois
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
17.
Men working the floor at the Chicago Board of Trade
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
18.
Commodities traders on the floor of Chicago Board of Trade
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
19.
Men working the floor at the Chicago Board of Trade
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
20.
Commodities traders on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
21.
Men working the floor at the Chicago Board of Trade
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
22.
Steel worker standing in mill with smelter in the background, in Chicago, Illinois
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
23.
Young girl, half-length portrait, standing against wall displaying art work, in classroom in Chicago, Illinois
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
24.
Woman and several children sitting on a bed in an apartment
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
25.
Bodybuilder Gene Jantzen with wife Pat, and eleven-month-old son Kent [1947]
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
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