I found a great article on wearethemighty.com of the famous ‘Kissing Sailor’ photo.
It was taken just hours before President Truman officially announced America’s victory in the Pacific War which ended WWII in 1945.
The actual title of the photos is ‘V-J Day in Times Square.’
Alfred Eisenstaedt was the photographer.
Below is a picture of Eisenstaedt with his camera. Below that, he’s seen kissing his wife soon after the sailor finished kissing the female nurse.
Apparently, the story goes, that the kissing sailor happened to be on a date in New York City.
When he heard he didn’t have to go back to fight anymore he suddenly decided to celebrate by kissing the closest nurse.
He greatly appreciated the work these ladies did for him and his comrades.
Too bad his date wasn’t a nurse.
According to a 2012 book dedicated to the historical background on this photo —“The Kissing Sailor.” The sailor was George Mendonsa and the nurse was Greta Zimmer Friedman.
Friedman was completely caught be surprise when Mendonsa kissed her.
In fact, she admitted that she didn’t even see him coming and that the two were complete strangers.
Here is a quote from Greta Zimmer Friedman describing the event;
“It wasn’t that much of a kiss, it was more of a jubilant act that he didn’t have to go back. I found out later, he was so happy that he did not have to go back to the Pacific where they already had been through the war.”
Although the photo was a big hit and published in LIFE magazine soon afterward, Friedman, never saw the photo until the 1960s.
Rumor has it, that Mendonsa had been drinking and was likely fairly drunk when the event occurred.
And honestly, I don’t blame him.
Although today, he would get his eyes scratched out if he tried that with a woman in Times Square.
Sadly, both men and women have changed so much in recent years.
Men are not that bold anymore and women not that receptive.
And I totally get that.
As a young woman I had to figure out how to be a woman in this man’s world… and it’s still a man’s world and that won’t change soon, if ever.
Just because men are not as strong as they were in past decades, doesn’t mean men haven’t heavily influenced the behavior of women.
It’s also why I keep publishing The Old Hollywood Newsletter.
Keeping real, vintage-style sensuality alive and well in this Brave New World
Thanks for reading. Have a sensual day.
Contact Dyann at: thebodyhouse.biz@gmail.com
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