On 21st October 2020, the celebrated photographer, Frank Horvat passed away at the age of 92.
Frank was born in April 1928 in the Croatian town of Opatija (then part of Italy and known as Abbazia), into a family of Jewish, Central European descent. He discovered photography in his teens and swapped his stamp collection in order to obtain his first camera.
Frank would go on to live in numerous countries including India, the USA, England and Switzerland. It was in France that he would finally settle however, establishing himself as an acclaimed fashion photographer. Despite this speciality, Frank was also a skilled photojournalist and, throughout the 1950s, he snapped a series of evocative photographs on the streets of London.
To celebrate Frank Horvat’s long and distinguished career, I would like to share some of these wonderful images here with you.
Man on London Bridge, looking towards Tower Bridge, 1955
With the dockyard cranes visible on either side of the Thames, this image perfectly captures the atmosphere of 1950s London. Notice too that this is old London Bridge, which was removed in the late 1960s to make way for its modern-day counterpart.
Boxing Lads, 1955
These young pugilists appear to have had their photographs taken on Culvert Road, Battersea.
London Policeman, 1959
The traffic looked far less severe in 1950s London (although perhaps this Bobby was just very good at his job!)
Lobb's Shoe Shop, 1959
Located on St James’s Street, John Lobb’s bespoke shoe shop has been in business in London since 1866- meaning it was already over 90 years old when Frank Horvat popped in to compose this photo.
London Snooker Hall, 1954
Salvation Army Ladies, 1959
The London Underground, 1955
There were of course no smart-phones in 1950s London, so reading- and, it would appear here, knitting- were the best ways to while away a tube journey!
City Gents, 1955-59
If you worked in London’s financial Square Mile during the 1950s, a bowler hat was a must…
Fashion Shoot, 1955
The Cafe Royal, 1955
The Cafe Royal remains in business today on Air Street W1, having rebranded itself as a hotel.
Lovers in Green Park, 1959
Veteran Car Run, 1954
The RAC club has held a veteran car run (veteran cars classified as those built before 1905) from London to Brighton every November since 1947. Sadly, this year’s had been cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Piccadilly, 1959
It’s interesting to note the long line of cars parked all along Piccadilly… such a set-up would be unthinkable in 21st century London.
Club Row Pet Market, 1955
For many years, Club Row (close to the northern end of Brick Lane) in London’s East End held a regular pet market. It continued until 1983, when new laws regarding selling live animals on the street were introduced.
Dancing in Soho, 1959
Self Portrait in a London Market, 1955
Frank Horvat, 1928-2020
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Such wonderful pictures! That is a stern-looking group of Salvation Army ladies 🙂
Thanks Kate; and yes you wouldn’t want to mess with them!
Fantastic photos and history I grew up in London just like that and on my 21 st birthday my future wife and I got treated to a meal in the Cafe Royal wonderful memories thanks Rob
You’re very welcome Bill, glad you enjoyed them.
What great pictures and how times have changed so much.
Thanks Tracey 🙂 Hope you’re keeping well.
My London when I was a child. I stood on London Bridge mant times admiring Tower bridge, and the cranes were the view of my childhood. That must have been a good mirror, as 55 shillings was a lot of money then. Close to a week’s wages for my dad in 1955.
I was glad when Club Row Pet Market was closed down. I dread to think of the conditions those animals endured.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks Pete, couldn’t agree more about Club Row Market. Hope you’re keeping well.
I love old photos. Especially like the people Knitting and reading on the tube, how different from today !!
Thanks, glad you like them 😉
1959 was the year I joined the Met Police, those traffic gauntlets worn by the Officer on point duty were heavy plastic, they got heavier as the shift went on
That’s interesting Desmond, I wasn’t aware of that- always assumed they were fabric! Thanks and stay well.
In the policeman shot he is directing 2 cabs. Great pictures on bygone Kondon.
Good spot, didn’t notice that!
Noticeable most on suits properly dressed unlike the rags and torn Jean’s some people go to work in now days.
Very true Chris.
mmm,yes. But i think most men had only one suit which they wore day in day out. Not dry cleaning them often. Also, in the 1950s most of us had no bathroom as such. It was a weekly visit to the public baths or getting out the tin bath once a week. Redolent times. I can remember the stale sweat on the armpits or City workers when I started work in 1969 traveling into town on the train and Central line from Essex (where we’d move to get an indoor bathroom though still only bathing once a week because of the cost of heating the water). oh,yes, young people, we had it easy.