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Washington, D.C. July 26, 1919. "Bathing beach parade at Tidal Basin." Another glimpse of the swimsuit pageant chronicled in the comments under this post. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
My great aunt and uncle met one another at this beach in 1919. The Jefferson Memorial stands there now.
The man is wearing a swimming cap. Quite common for swimmers in that era, even at the beach.
The results of this pageant are being texted to the society column editor at The Washington Post. One surprise winner: The Amish lass (such a plain outfit she's sporting), second left.
If this shot had been taken 50 years later, I'd swear the beauties on the left had been smoking a little smoke. Those to the right look pretty jolly, too.
It's my guess that some Shorpy commenters are reluctant to bring up this photo's most obvious subject.
Refreshing to see that other shots from around DC are making it on to the web.
I wonder if the guy on the left was ahead of his time or just wearing the head gear appropriate for the time. Anyway, the young man immediately to his right seems to be amused by something about him.
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