Thousand-Yard Smile
This shot from WWI may look normal until you see the soldier on the left. He's smiling with a creepy smile, almost like he's staring past the cameraman (and at you). This look is evidence of shell shock.
Shellshock is a state of severe shock caused by exposure to active warfare, especially while under bombardment. It's quite clear that these soldiers went through a lot during their time on the front lines.
Russian Space Shuttle
Back before anyone got to space, it was the Russians vs. the USA. This is a picture of the first Russian space shuttle, Buran. Compared to today's space shuttles, it looks more like a Lego toy.
Designed to rival America's Space Shuttle, Buran successfully completed an unmanned flight in 1988 This rivalry fueled innovations and heightened national pride, as both nations sought to demonstrate their superiority in space exploration.
Brigitte Bardot
Hollywood wastes no time when it comes to the objectification of women. Here, Brigitte Bardot was just 18 years old when this photo was taken at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953. The French actress would go from being sexualized as a teenager until well into her adulthood.
Bardot's first exposure as a symbol was her appearance on the cover of Elle. Her first film role was in the comedy Crazy for Love, a small role that paid her less than $6K. For the Italian film Mio figlio Nerone, she was asked to dye her hair blond, a look that would become her signature look for the rest of her career.
Jungle Jim's Chevy Vega
Behind every photo, there's a story and this photo has a ton of story, all leading up to drag racer Jungle Jim's untimely death in 1977 when his Chevy Corvette collided with a bus. He was just 31 years old when he died. Depicted in this photo is his Chevy Vega along with Jungle Pam.
Jungle Pam was Jungle Jim's sidekick, born as Pamela Hardy. He spotted her in 1972 while driving his Corvette. She was used basically as an object to get fans' attention on the track. She was usually featured braless and dressed in a manner that made her mere eye candy for racing fans. However, she did have her track responsibilities as well, packing parachutes and checking Jungle Jim's car fluids.
Children 4 Sale
This is Lucille Chalifoux hiding her face in shame. In 1948, the Chalifoux family faced being evicted from their apartment because Lucille's husband was unemployed. Their children were six, five, four, and two. Lucille was also pregnant with another child, who was sold soon after.
Two of the children were purchased for $2. The two middle children, Rae and Milton, were abused by their "adoptive" family. It was so bad Milton was sent to a mental hospital while Rae completely disappeared.
Child Labor at a Coal Mine
What year do you think this photo represents? The 1800s? Nope. This was in Pennsylvania in January of 1911. As early as the 1900s, America used child labor for a variety of things. These children worked in a coal mine just to earn a few little coins for their families.
Every year, thousands of children died while working in farming, coal mining, chimney sweeps, and other jobs. That's almost like having 9/11 happen every single year. Child labor continued until 1938 when the first Labor Laws were put in place.
The Hindenburg Disaster
The Hindenburg disaster occurred on May 6, 1937, when the German airship caught fire while attempting to land in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The tragedy claimed 36 lives, marking the end of the airship era in commercial aviation.
The disaster was attributed to a combination of flammable hydrogen gas and static electricity. Eyewitnesses captured the horrifying scene on film, which forever etched the event into public memory. This incident ultimately shifted perceptions of air travel and led to the decline of rigid airships.
Mental Institution in England 1896
Mental institutions were pretty awful back in the day. It wasn't hard for some people to be thrown in one, only to be forgotten. "Out of sight, out of mind." Those who had epilepsy and autism were frequently admitted.
The Bethlem Royal Hospital was one of those awful institutions. It became notorious for the inhumane treatment of the patients who resided there. Conditions were so awful that the hospital inspired the 1946 horror film Bedlam.
Family Wearing Gas Masks in 1938
When people say, "things are the worst they've ever been," it's easy to believe until you see something like this. This family is walking a baby in a gas-proof carriage while wearing gas masks. Why? World War II was quickly on its way.
The government saw WWII brewing and wanted its civilians to be safe. They handed out gas masks to everyone. It's a good thing, too. London was bombed in the Blitz from September 1940 to May 1941. What a terrifying time in history.
Abandoned Diner in 1933
Oh, how times have changed! Sure, they have diners that mimic, but it isn't exactly the same. This one shows the perfect snapshot of a diner in the '30s. The person who discovered this stated that it was somewhere in Rhode Island.
Sadly, we have no idea why the place was abandoned. Dusty tables, dirty floors from not being cleaned, and prices still on the board—it looks like they bailed pretty quickly.
The Exorcism of Annelise Michel
Annelise Michel was brought up by a strict Roman Catholic family. Her classmates described her as "withdrawn and very religious." After a series of seizures, her family came to the decision that a demon possessed her.
Skip ahead to 1976, and Annelise had undergone 67 Catholic exorcisms in one year, which left her beaten, bruised, and extremely malnourished, leaving the poor girl dead at the age of 23. Pictured is Bishop Joseph Stangl, who approved the exorcisms of Annelise. Annelise's parents and the priest were convicted of negligent homicide.
Daddy and Daughter
This photo can't help but weird us out. Here a grown teenage Ivanka Trump sits practically dancing in Donald Trump's lap at a Beach Boys concert in Palm Beach, Florida. It's creepy enough on its own but even stranger when you consider Trump's comments during his presidential campaign.
On the talk show The View, Trump remarked, "Ivanka posing for Playboy would be really disappointing… not really. But it would depend on what was inside the magazine…I don’t think Ivanka would [do a photoshoot] inside the magazine, although she does have a very nice figure. I’ve said that if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her."
Blitzmädels an die Front, 1958
The film Blitzmädels an die Front is a fictional account of women serving alongside the Luftwaffe, based on the real-life women called the Blitzmädels. Having allowed women to enlist in the German army, these women were pioneers for equality.
The film does an excellent job of exploring the prevalent misogyny during WWII by the enlisted German men. The women are continuously harassed and assaulted. As if the horrors of war were not enough, the added trauma of everything else that goes along with being a woman in the war undoubtedly made it even worse.
John Lennon and Mark David Chapman
We've all seen a million images (and videos) of John Lennon, but you can see Mark David Chapman if you look closely at this one. Lennon is signing a copy of Double Fantasy, just six hours before Chapman would murder Lennon in front of his New York residence.
Chapman was furious with Lennon as he (and the Beatles) was publicized as "more popular than Jesus." He considered it to be blasphemous. After committing the murder, Chapman didn't run. Instead, he sat down and read The Catcher and the Rye. He remained there until NYPD officers arrived.
The Paper Published After Monroe's Death
No one expected to wake up on August 4 (1962) to see that Marylin Monroe had passed away. She died at her Los Angeles home of a barbiturate overdose. In fact, they found a phone in her hand and a bottle of pills lying right next to her. Was this a purposeful suicide?
The last thing she ever said was, "Say goodbye to Pat (Lawford's wife), say goodbye to Jack (President Kennedy), and say goodbye to yourself, because you're a nice guy," according to Lawford. Some believe that she was going to leave President Kennedy, and he had her killed.
Halloween 1900s
Halloween isn't what it used to be. Now, it's more-or-less about dressing up in skimpy outfits or children buying a costume that's far too expensive for what you get. Back in the 1900s…well, it was a lot different.
It was pretty terrifying. Could you imagine these guys knocking on your door in the middle of the night? Yeah, no. These costumes are definitely not acceptable these days.
Giant Busts of 43 Presidents
Somewhere in the middle of Virginia, there are 43 busts of past presidents, all standing in a row, facing the same direction. Each one is around 20 feet tall and weigh as much as 22,000 pounds, so it's not like someone can swipe them (even if they wanted to).
It's definitely a sight to behold, though. The statues have become worn with time. They were once on display at Presidents Park near Williamsburg, but it shut down in 2010. It's incredible how fast the busts have broken down. Now, nature has decided to reclaim some of them for its own.
Soldiers in Gas Masks
Gas masks became a grim necessity during WWI, as chemical warfare introduced a new layer of terror. Poisonous gases like chlorine and mustard gas were deployed to inflict suffering and chaos, rendering traditional combat strategies obsolete.
This photograph of soldiers in 1915, clad in gas masks, exudes an eerie quality. Their obscured faces create an unsettling atmosphere, transforming these young men into the stuff of nightmares. The masks, with their dark lenses and rigid designs, evoke a haunting reminder of the horrors they faced on the battlefield.
Soldiers Watching Video
These are German prisoners of war that were captured during WWII. The war was terrible for everyone, but the worst part of it was certainly the concentration camps.
This is what the American soldiers showed the Germans. They're being shown a video of what happened in the concentration camps, showing them what they were fighting for. It clearly got the message across – loud and clear.
Action Park's Cannon Ball Loop
Action Park was America's most dangerous amusement park. Six people died at the park, with thousands more being injured. Guests today will state going to the park was like a "rite of passage." This was the Cannon Ball Loop, a ride that clearly wasn't designed by any kind of engineer.
People would go so fast down the loop that they'd end up with gashes in their faces. In 2020, the fantastic documentary Class Action Park was released on HBO Max. It covers the bizarre history of the “no rules” park and the injuries people sustain there regularly.
Mayor William J. Gaynor of New York
Before Mayor Gaynor had a chance to get started, he was shot by James J. Gallagher. The man was an angry New York dock Night Watchman who had recently been discharged.
The bullet hit Gaynor in the neck. This photo is highly praised, as it captures moments after the attempted assassination. Mayor Gaynor recovered and lived for another three years with a bullet in his neck.
Countess Elizabeth Bathory
Dracula always seemed like a pretty scary story…at least until you hear about Countess Elizabeth Bathory. Back in the 1500s, it was believed that epilepsy – referred to as the falling sickness – could be cured by rubbing the blood of a non-sufferer on your lips.
Bathory took this idea and expanded on it. She thought torturing and bathing in the blood of women would help her epilepsy. Spoiler alert: it did not. Everything was fine until she started preying on royal children. Then, the parents had had enough and arrested her.
Abandoned Hospital's Basement
Abandoned hospitals are scary enough, and the last thing most people would want to do is go into the basement. Typically, the basement is used as a morgue (and is usually the most haunted location of any medical facility).
This one still contains an examination table and a lamp, just in case you need a quick check-up. Someone forgot to clean up before the place shut down! Actually, we're finding out that this isn't that rare of an occurrence…
Black Cat Cigarettes
At the time, this wasn't supposed to be creepy – at least, that's what I can assume. Looking back, it's pretty terrifying. First of all, it seems like a bunch of furries in a gang. Second of all, they're advertising cigarettes.
The photo was snapped in 1915. It was 25 years after that doctors discovered that cigarettes caused cancer. Considering they're advertising the cancer-sticks, hopefully, these cats have a few more lives left.
President Bush in 2001
This photograph of President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001, captures a moment of profound shock and composure. Seated in a classroom, he was reading to children when an aide whispered the devastating news about the Twin Towers.
The image embodies a pivotal moment in history, reflecting not only his role as a leader but also the collective anxiety of a nation. As the events of that day unfolded, the photograph would become symbolic of resilience and the unexpected challenges faced in times of crisis.
William Hope
This photograph was taken in the 1920s by a man named William Hope. The picture is pretty spooky, right? We hate to tell you that the "ghostly" image was superimposed (the 1920s version of photoshop).
William Hope was a "spirit photographer" who claimed he could capture images of people with their dead relatives. Here, a man is pictured with the "spirit' of his deceased wife.
The Feral Child
What happens when a child isn't given a chance to live and learn? Genie. Genie is the name given to a feral child who was abused, neglected, and socially isolated. It wasn't until she was nearly 14 years old (1970) that authorities rescued her.
Genie didn't know how to speak or understand people. Psychologists stepped in to teach her, but she was unable to learn a first language. By 1978, Genie's mother refused to let anyone do any more studies. Not much more is known about Genie from this point on.
Relatives Wait for Titanic Survivors
On April 19th, the 700+ survivors of the Titanic were immediately taken to New York City via the Carpathia, but those from Southampton didn’t arrive home until April 29th.
This photograph captures a scene at the Southampton, England, railway platform, where anxious relatives await the arrival of Titanic survivors. The picture is filled with chaos as families attempt to find their loved ones.
Death Book
In 1828, serial killers William Burke and William Hare committed 16 murders in order to provide bodies for dissection. Burke was hanged for his crimes in front of a crowd of nearly 25,000.
After his hanging, a death mask of Burke’s head was taken. He was given the same fate as his victims and was publicly dissected in front of hundreds of onlookers. The craziest part– a pocketbook was made out of his skin.
Outdoor Barber Shop
By now, we've all heard about the 1920s Spanish Flu pandemic (which, by the way, didn't even start in Spain). This disease wiped out 50 million people worldwide, with almost 700,000 from the United States alone. Basically, it mirrors what's going on in this day and age.
This image shows a group of men wearing masks at an open-air barber shop. It just goes to show how history repeats itself.
The Tsar Family
Tsar Nicholas II was the last emperor of Russia, ruling from 1894 until his abdication in 1917. His reign was marked by political strife, economic hardship, and social unrest, ultimately leading to his family's imprisonment by the Bolsheviks, who viewed them as symbols of the fallen monarchy.
The photograph captures a moment of tranquility before tragedy. Nicholas and his children, seemingly serene on the rooftop in Tobolsk, faced imminent execution in Yekaterinburg. The family would die at the hands of the Bolsheviks, marking the end of the Romanov dynasty.
Pearl Harbor
The photograph depicts the chaos of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when Japan launched a surprise military strike against the United States. The attack targeted the U.S. Pacific Fleet, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life and ultimately drawing the U.S. into World War II. The day marked a profound shift in global conflict.
From the perspective of a Japanese plane, the image captures a unique vantage point of this tragic event. This aerial perspective from the enemy contrasts sharply with the experiences of the victims on the ground.
The Challenger Explosion
The Challenger was NASA's Space Shuttle orbiter that tragically exploded shortly after liftoff on January 28, 1986. Just 73 seconds into its flight, a failure in an O-ring seal caused a catastrophic explosion, killing all seven crew members aboard, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, who was set to be the first civilian in space.
The photograph captures the stunned expressions of onlookers as they witness the horrific event unfold. Faces reflect shock and disbelief, with some covering their mouths in horror. The realization that the crew was lost instantly creates an overwhelming atmosphere of grief.
Tea Time on the Titanic
This picture captures a serene teatime on the Titanic, with people enjoying their afternoon while a band plays in the background. The eight talented musicians, led by Wallace Hartley, helped create an atmosphere of luxury for the ship’s wealthy first-class passengers.
As the Titanic went down, the band continued to play, offering comfort to terrified passengers. One survivor stated: “Many brave things were done that night, but none were more brave than those done by men playing minute after minute as the ship settled quietly lower and lower in the sea.” Tragically, none of the band members survived.