PHOTOS; rare photos of Calcutta 1944 part2

Calcutta In 1944

This collection is comprised of photographs taken during World War II by an American serviceman, Glenn S. Hensley.

Chowringee Road

Chowringee Road at Esplanade, center of Calcutta

Trolley

Esplanade trolley junction point. Chung Sun Chinese restaurant is visible at far left. Was a really good place to get Chinese food

News sellers

News sellers at the Esplanade

Red Cross Club

"North along today's Old Courthouse Street. At left is Dalhousie Square. Building at right with American Flag was the American Red Cross club for American servicemen, 1944. Church at left is on today's Lal Bazaar Street."

Street activity

"Activity along what is today, I think, R. N. Mukharji Street. Anyway, it is in that vicinity"

Nehru Road

"North up today's Nehru Road toward today's Bentinck Street from the intersection of Nehru Road and Esplande Row East, Lenin streets. Photo made from second floor Chung Sun restaurant building. Calcutta Statesman newspaper office is just out of sight to right."

Looking south on Chowringee Road

" Chowringee Road near the tram terminus. Building with clock tower housed Whiteaway and Laidlaw department store. It stocked good, British and Indian made clothing and accessories. Even in 1944, the Hotel Continental lacked most modern conveniences. The Great Eastern Hotel, however, was excellent and its food great! Calcutta."

Christmas decorations

Christmastime decorations for sale in Calcutta's New Market, December 1944."

Phonograph for sale

Phonographs offered for sale in Calcutta

Ice cream freezer

Noel Hepp, U. S. serviceman from Troy, New York, negotiates a price on an ice cream freezer from a young vendor in a stall along a Calcutta street"

Intersection

"Looking northeast across the intersection of Chowringee and today's Lenin (Was Dharamtolla, I think) street. Esplanade tram terminus is off to the left, out of sight."

Nahkoda Mosque

Looking down from Nahkoda Mosque on street activity, Calcutta, 1944. Note brick ""blast walls"" to protect from potential bomb damage. These are the vertical walls you will see in front of some buildings' doors."

Rabindra Street

Looking south down today's Rabindra Street from the Nakhoda Mosque. I think the dome at right of center on the horizon is the post office on Dalhousie Square.

Movie house

Looking south down Chowringee Road from tram terminus. Maidan is on right. Calcutta, 1944. Note movie ""Red Skeleton and Esther Williams in Bathing Beauty,"" at the Metro."

Tram terminus scene