Kaufman’s Brooklyn: Three photos of ‘A medley of bridges’

July 17, 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:

I’ve called this week’s display “A medley of bridges.” Bridges hold an important place in the progression of New York City’s infrastructural history, with the island of Manhattan located at the center of the growing city. Six major bridges now encircle Manhattan. Several smaller ones span the Harlem River, connecting Manhattan to the Bronx.

The first bridge that connected surrounding areas to Manhattan was the Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883. Three more went up from 1903 to 1909, and the last two were built in the 1930s. Three of the six connect Manhattan with Brooklyn, providing both travel convenience and beauty. They are also the only New York bridges that ever provided rail transit. (There are also four tunnels, one linking Manhattan with Brooklyn, one with Queens and two with New Jersey.)

Today’s photos:

To close the week, I have a couple more of Brooklyn’s most famous landmark. Then, if you’ll allow me, a trip into Queens for one of my favorite bridge pictures of all.

Irresistible photo op, again, undated

Bringing back the same scene from one of Monday’s pictures, here’s another woman with the beautiful backdrop behind her. Can’t miss.

It even makes a tugboat look good, undated

Nothing more to say.

Eerie and beautiful, January 30, 1936

No matter how many times I look at this, it always grabs me. This shows the Triborough Bridge, as it approaches but hasn’t yet reached its destination on Astoria Boulevard in Queens (which has since evolved into the Grand Central Parkway). With work apparently halted for the winter, there’s no evidence of the material or process that will complete the work. There’s also no visible means of support. The bridge to nowhere, suspended in mid-air. The few locals seem unperturbed.

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 collection 11: Photos of ‘A medley of bridges’