10 strange historical photos that require an explanation

It can be difficult to imagine what life was like for a few dozen (or even hundreds) years ago, and sometimes it seems strange to modern people. Fortunately, quite a lot of photographs have been preserved that are directly related to vivid historical events and can tell us much more than it seems at first glance.

John Lennon's Glasses after his murder

Not so long ago, Lennon's widow Yoko Ono posted this creepy old photo on Twitter. These are the same glasses that were on John Lennon on the day he was shot.

Lyndon Johnson and his amphibious car

The man driving this car is none other than US President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. He loved to scare the guests of his ranch by speeding up and driving his car into the lake.

Carnival for the Ku Klux Klan

This is not a frame from horror films and not a nightmarish production. This is a real photo of Ku Klux Klan members having fun at a carnival in Cannon City, Colorado, in 1925.

Hitler before and after

During the Second World War, Hitler was for many people worse than the worst villain, and no wonder. The German dictator had a very distinctive appearance (pictured on the right), but in 1944, American intelligence agencies distributed a photo collage with a supposed portrait of Hitler if he changed his appearance (left).

Ronald McDonald, 1963

If the modern version of Ronald McDonald the clown seems sinister to you, look at what he was like in 1963. This image will haunt you in your dreams.

Women's archery, 1908

Women wore truly impressive dresses when they competed at the 1908 Olympics in archery. Judging by the empty stands, these competitions have not gained much popularity.

Body armor testing

Someone had to test bulletproof vests, right? This brave man took the initiative, and he was shot on purpose in the name of science and the defense industry.

The first photograph of Abraham Lincoln

This is the earliest known photograph of US President Abraham Lincoln, dated around 1846. Without his trademark hat and beard, he is hardly recognizable.

Che Guevara and Fidel Castro

Although most consider Che Guevara a symbol of revolution, and Fidel Castro a dictator, both put a lot of effort into making the revolution in Cuba in 1956.

Elvis Presley in the Army

No, this is not a frame from the filming of the movie. Elvis Presley was indeed drafted into the US Army in 1958, when he had already begun his singing career with might and main. This was not a PR stunt: the king of rock and roll took service in the army very seriously and spent two years in its ranks defending the fatherland.