Does anyone recognize the men in this photo?

This is probably a stab in the dark but... any chance one or both of these men is someone of note? Any guesses on the photo's age based on the clothing?

I think the photo is kind of interesting between the clothes worn by the man on the right, the lack of clarity of whether the two men were together, and the facial expression on the man on the left... is he sticking out his tongue? Moistening his lips? Or... ?

The photo was probably taken in Manhattan. I forget if it was among my mother's things or my uncle's; they both lived in NYC.

If the photo was my mom's and it's 1967 or earlier, then it most likely had belonged to my dad and it's possible they're just "people on the street" he photographed. Most of his photos he developed himself on matte paper, though, and the gloss finish of this photo would be unusual for him. He had a small ad agency, so it's also possible this was a photo meant to be used in an ad, although I don't remember his doing anything that would have used photos like this. In earlier times, I think he submitted photos to newspapers for possible publication, but that would be more like the '40s and '50s.

If the photo was my uncle's, I have no idea why he had it. He was an animator who did work in the NYC TV and advertising world, and I'm doubtful the photo had anything to do with his work or personal life, but who knows.

Any thoughts?

 

Guy on the right looks like he should be a fashion model in that outfit! Early Polo?

I'm with "moistening his lips" for the other guy.

I was going to say Harlem, but I see the street sign is E. 40th.

 

The "other guy" bears a resemblance to Alan Arkin. Any way you can do a close up of just the faces?

The dog walker is in a most peculiar outfit! The boots and johdpurs are ok, but the leather jacket (or whatever) has nothing to do with anything, and the coat is an old one. Look at the width of those sleeves. I rather prefer the Russian wolfhound's outfit.

The wolfhound fad was pretty much gone by the early 40's, but I doubt this photo is anywhere near that old.

 

I agree... the man on the right was either highly individualistic in his style, or there's a reason why he's dressed that way.

I wish the building on the righ were more visible. Looks like the ground-floor establishment was "The Brew..." but who knows what the rest of the name was.

 

My gut is saying the photo is '60s-'70s.

 

Here's the man on the left. He looks African American to me. No?

 

I don't see Alan Arkin there and so little of his face is lit that I wouldn't be able to say one way or other on ethnicity.

The other guy has on a very "layered" look - turtleneck, shirt with long and broad collar just peeking out on his left (our right), aviator jacket of leather and then the camel? coat. He's also got on some kind of chain with pendant jewelry and wedding ring.

I'd go with 70's.

 

Guy left reminds me of Bruce Dern when he was in the Cowboys also I think a 1970s movie.

 

I think it's a 70s fashion victim. The aviator glasses are the dead giveaway, even if the clothes didn't.

 

OK, NOT Arkin. And, not, I think, Dern. It's his hat which bothers me. Not a costume statement...that's His hat. But men in NYC had pretty much stopped wearing hats by the end of the 60's. (No matter how brightly red their little ears became!)

I am trying to think back The High Episcopalian church up the street on Park Avenue got gentlemen in top hats, and men would be seen in watch hats when it snowed, and of course, their were those peculiar men in wide-brimmed purple velour who drove very looooong cars...

 

Yes! The aviator glasses! Charleton Heston especially. My knee jerk reaction is that the dog walker is an aspiring actor who wants to be seen by...somebody.

 

Maybe late '70s since no one's wearing bell bottoms ('cept maybe the person on the far right?) and the guy with the dog doesn't have an Afro?

I liked the early '70s style... bell bottoms, vests, long hair on men and women, etc.

 

It's a decidedly "western look." Quilted "barn jacket"?

 

I went to every East 40th Street intersection on Google maps, but did not see the building on the right. They either tore it down or redid the outside appearance and windows.

 

Not sure if you're referring to something in the photo?

 

Sorry - had the thread open too long while considering the guy's hat in the context of the rest of what he was wearing - and who that might make him.

 

Ah, gotcha. I wore a hat like that for a while, think it was in the 80s.

 

The guy on the left appears to be a few feet behind the guy on the right. The feet of the guy on the left appear to be the same distance from the camera as the people who are walking the other direction behind the guy on the right. I don't think they were together... just a bunch of people walking on the street.

 

I'm wondering if it could be Stokely Carmichael -- it could have been during his Howard University days or thereafter (perhaps he was visiting his family living in NYC).

The haircut/hairline looks about right and the very slight indentation in the middle of his forehead and the eyeglasses/sunglasses (he was photographed on occasion wearing eyeglasses).

Just a thought, but it was indeed my first (and only thus far) thought.

 

Fig, agreed, the guy on the left is further back and probably not with the other guy.

Yourturn, I just looked at photos of Carmichael, and the features don't look right to me. I can't picture him dressing this way, either.

Ah, well, I wasn't very hopeful of identifying them.