KKK on a Ferris wheel

[videoguy]

I ass/u/me this is real, but I figured I'd ask the experts anyway.

[Malruhn]

It looks like many period photos of KKKers getting together for family fun. I vote real.

Googling 'KKK Ferris Wheel' gives the same image (I think it was the third hit) and says that it was taken April 26, 1928 at 8th and Greenwood.

And another one says...

Members of Cañon City Klan No. 21 pose on and around the ferris wheel at the site of a carnival at 8th and Greenwood in Cañon City, Colorado. Klan members were invited by W. H. Forsythe, owner of the outfit and a klansman from Fort Collins, to don their gowns and pose for a group portrait. Houses and trees can be seen in the background. At left are a flying swings amusement ride and a ticket booth.

[Drama Queen Of Mars]

IMO it's a rather disturbing photo. The ferris wheel is something that I, and I assume many others, associate with childhood and innocence. My friends and I loved to hang out at the county fair and ride all the different rides, ferris wheel included. To see that associated with something that I, and I hope many others, see as despicable and repulsive is a little unnerving.

[BluesScale]

In fairness, many of the KKK members would be related. Cousin-Uncle Bob would join up with brother-daddy Cleetus.

Blues

[Amigone201]

Originally Posted by Drama Queen Of Mars

IMO it's a rather disturbing photo. The ferris wheel is something that I, and I assume many others, associate with childhood and innocence. My friends and I loved to hang out at the county fair and ride all the different rides, ferris wheel included. To see that associated with something that I, and I hope many others, see as despicable and repulsive is a little unnerving.

I think it's because of this that the picture might rise to the level of "art."

[Bettie Page Turner]

A friendly suggestion- when posting links that might have NSFW/NFBSK content, or links to such content, include a note in the OP. Although the photo in question is not necessarily NSFW, there were two porn site ads when I clicked the link. That doesn't offend me, but if I were at work, with monitored net access, I wouldn't want anything like that to pop up on my screen.

[Spam & Cookies-mmm]

Originally Posted by Bettie Page Turner

A friendly suggestion- when posting links that might have NSFW/NFBSK content, or links to such content, include a note in the OP. Although the photo in question is not necessarily NSFW, there were two porn site ads when I clicked the link. That doesn't offend me, but if I were at work, with monitored net access, I wouldn't want anything like that to pop up on my screen.

It would be hard to warn people about content without knowing it might be there. The ads I got when I visited the site were for T-mobile cell phones and a mortgage company.

[One-Fang]

I think it's fair to say that any site you click on *may* have ads of an unacceptable nature to net nannying. At least they're text ads, no images.

[Artemis]

You think they'd take off the cloak and hood when riding the ferris wheel. I mean, I don't even like to sit around wearing a cardigan that's too thick.

[Horse Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Artemis

You think they'd take off the cloak and hood when riding the ferris wheel. I mean, I don't even like to sit around wearing a cardigan that's too thick.

I wondered about that, too, Artemis. They supposedly wore hoods to hide their idenities from the law, but why would they need to hide their idenities from each other.

Just chalk it up as another example of "I'd laugh if they weren't so scary".

[videoguy]

Originally Posted by Bettie Page Turner

A friendly suggestion- when posting links that might have NSFW/NFBSK content, or links to such content, include a note in the OP. Although the photo in question is not necessarily NSFW, there were two porn site ads when I clicked the link. That doesn't offend me, but if I were at work, with monitored net access, I wouldn't want anything like that to pop up on my screen.

Sorry. I use Adblock Plus (a Firefox extension), and there are NO ADS at all on the page for me.

[TuFurg]

Originally Posted by Horse Chestnut

I wondered about that, too, Artemis. They supposedly wore hoods to hide their idenities from the law, but why would they need to hide their idenities from each other.

Just chalk it up as another example of "I'd laugh if they weren't so scary".

I think them appearing in the hoods was pretty much the point for the photo in the first place.

Even if it wasn't, given the spectacle (it was apparently close to a residential neighborhood) I would think they would still keep the hoods on given the attention they were probably getting. Also if was indeed an open carnival there were probably plenty of other people around.

[PatYoung]

The Ku Klux Klan at play. I hope that dashes your prejudices concerning the hidden empire.

You can't have Slaughter without Laughter....

That has got to be the spookies thing i've ever seen.

[JFB]

Originally Posted by TuFurg

I think them appearing in the hoods was pretty much the point for the photo in the first place.

Even if it wasn't, given the spectacle (it was apparently close to a residential neighborhood) I would think they would still keep the hoods on given the attention they were probably getting. Also if was indeed an open carnival there were probably plenty of other people around.

Unfortunately, your first point is the right one. The hoods were more ceremonial than they were protective. The Klan was tolerated and even respected throughout much of the country during the 1920s. Though members maintained anonymity while comitting the group's outright criminal acts--ie, murder--membership in the Klan was generally an open secret.

On a lighter note, I can't help but think that Mel Brooks would have a field day with the scene in this photo.

[RainyDaze]

Originally Posted by BluesScale

In fairness, many of the KKK members would be related. Cousin-Uncle Bob would join up with brother-daddy Cleetus.

Way too much inbreeding going on.