Kaufman’s Brooklyn: Three photos of ‘Parks and recreation’

July 3, 2020 Phil Kaufman

Photos courtesy of Phil Kaufman

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My father, Irving Kaufman (1910 – 1982), was a professional photographer who started in Brooklyn in the mid 1930s working for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. He captured thousands of images of Brooklyn through the 1950s. I have recently digitized a great many of them. My father’s profile can be found here.

This week’s theme:

This week’s theme continues from last week’s: “Parks and Recreation.” Summer has arrived and with it, even with the limits necessary in our awful situation, we’ll be getting out to use the parks (very broadly defined) available for many forms of recreation. I’ve got lots of pictures for you of what some of that looked like in Brooklyn long ago.

My father didn’t do a great deal of work with recreational spaces. But enough of it came along so that many dozens of interesting shots accumulated. After posting 20 of them last week, I’ve got 20 more lined up for this week. The scenes this time include water ballet, a traveling circus, and Brooklyn’s iconic combination of Coney Island and Steeplechase.

Today’s photos:

We’ll close out the week with attractive and graceful scenes.

All’s well on the water, undated

After that weird houseboat on ice, the unknown stranded sailboat being helped by a crane, and a sixth-generation speedboat, it’s nice to see a simple scene with a couple of dozen small pleasure boats peacefully anchored, waiting for their next outing.

Mother and pup, October 22, 1935

A last look at the most popular attraction. Here the affectionate mother and young one have a surprisingly small audience.

Flying high … and upside down, summer 1940

And a final look at a remarkable picture of remarkable diving. This flying, spinning and twisting feat again shows incredible form caught just right.

An index of Kaufman’s Brooklyn posts may be found here.

Irving Kaufman’s profile may be found here.

I invite you to submit comments, memories, images of Brooklyn, and especially any additional background information you can supply about the photos posted here to [email protected]. I’d also be glad to supply information about buying prints of any of the images seen here. Many of my father’s images are also available for viewing and purchase at http://yourartgallery.com/irvingkaufmanstudios. All prints purchased will be the product of professional scanning and editing.

Weekly collections 9 and 10: Photos of ‘Parks and recreation’