^^It is a smaller version of the picture posted in #861
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=16654099&postcount=861

Old currency...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/2367743421_ac2fa38e6b_o.jpg

quite stunning
courtesy of Monroe 73
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6638/25650272017e1eb65836okh6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/343/monroe73vf5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^from the cars and the buildings, those pictures date back to the early 50's

The city looks "lived in" its almost too pretty now.

^^its too fake now...nothin looks better than an old crumbling city, so much character, so much "soul"... now its boring, and as you said, too clean.

I like how Downtown looks ATM... I hate it when things are old and falling apart

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3658/6nazarethbeirut1890feh2.jpg

Notre-Dame de Nazareth in the background.

Does it still exist??

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2578144236_3a3245ac50_o.jpg

Lebanese Passengers of Titanic

Survivors

Banoura Ayyoub age 15
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/images/ayoub_b_thm.jpg
(story:http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/banoura-ayoub-daher.html)

Adele Nasser age 14
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/images/nassrallah_n2.jpg
(story: http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/adele-nasser.html)

For more http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivors/

^^ That's not 14 at all :S

^^when the accident happened ,she was 14 ,this pic was taken later
same goes with Miss Banoura.
There is a lot more of Lebanese passengers with interesting stories on that site.

Was there 66 lebanese on the Titanic!? Thats a lot!
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/manifest.php?q=23&v1=rct.ct_id&v2=30&t=People+residing+in+Lebanon

I remembered once Zaven made an episode about Lebanese who were on the Titanic, and they brought people who had relatives in it and stuff...

Does it still exist??

Yes it does, it is located in Achrafieh

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8856249&lon=35.5133057&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2

Stunning! :)

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/1866/1963wo4.jpg

Tramway terminal on Bliss Street near Saudi embassy in 1963.

How can I contact someone about publishing one of these tramway images?

^^
Go ahead, Susan, all the photos I posted on Skyscrapercity.com were downloaded from the Internet.

Pictures from the 50s

Where is this beach ?? Jnah-Ouzai???

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2670007526_454c55d964_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/2670006828_3b7b977a45_b.jpg

Hersh Beirut

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2670001440_26de22e957_b.jpg

The Airport

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/2669176249_7c476b412f_b.jpg

Bousta

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2669999284_f5a790186b_b.jpg

^^WOW! Nice pics Hassoun, the first two pictures were taken in Jnah in the mid-50's, the first one where the Summerland & Coral beach are located now and second one is the Saint-Michel beac The third picture was taken in front of the racecourse on Fouad 1er avenue (now Abdallah El-Yafi avenue) and the 4th pic is Beirut Airport, the fifth pic was taken near Sa7hat El-Bourj (Martyrs' square).
Where did you find those pictures?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT1YmP0CO_w&feature=related

cool video of lebanon in the 70's

thats funny that footage is incorporated in a lebanese film i recently purchased

Ide love to get a copy or for u to upload it lol

one more watch till the end

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu6o6T3wdL4

That was a great Video! I loved the Voice over.

A postcard from 1963 - Beirut

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2889464936_e5ca3a2606.jpg?v=1222405693

^^Is this the Carlton hotel?

^^ i think it's the St. Georges

NO it is the Carlton i think

^^ yeah Definitely the Carlton

Was the Carlton there in 1963???

Carlton! Yes, it was built around 1960

http://nowlebanon.com/ContentPictures/cinq-livres-092608075744.jpg

A five-pound bank note printed in 1935 by the Banque de Syrie et du Grand Liban, a precursor to today’s Banque du Liban. (Photo courtesy of Abdo Ayoub)

Tyre 1957

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8746/tyre19572vz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

there are a couple of videos with the pictures we posted on this thread

oAXtbyq6lYY

Qucnt-coFXc

Sabah signing Allo Beirut with early 70's pics

kFywimOFan4

I have used some of the wonderful rare photos of Kheireddine in the following videos posted at youtube related to this topic [old Lebanon before the civil war] .The credit is clearly given to him in the description of the videos.These videos are
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcPrm4yIpzk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F22aF5HH0wQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FclTL5lTlLg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAXtbyq6lYY

I have used some of the wonderful rare photos of Kheireddine in the following videos posted at youtube related to this topic [old Lebanon before the civil war] .The credit is clearly given to him in the description of the videos.These videos are
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcPrm4yIpzk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F22aF5HH0wQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FclTL5lTlLg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAXtbyq6lYY

Thank you Jacques, and welcome to the Forum :okay:

I donnu how old,but it looks like 1800s

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/7641/oldbeiruthv7.jpg

^^1890

ioboy

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/ioboy.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/ioboy2.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/ioboy3.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/ioboy4.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/2943092965_712534c023.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/2943857864_68ca5507ca.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/2943858196_67ee1b2f9d.jpg

[IMG]http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/2943857864_68ca5507ca.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/2943858196_67ee1b2f9d.jpg

Those two pics, don't look to me as Lebanon

^^ Yes,and what's the tower being built on the 1st pic????

i think those 2 pics are Haifa, Israel

^^ yes,that's right .

Yea, thats Haifa,

but from what year...
Im thinking 1960's

How long did that Bayern advertisement last in Beirut?

Yea, thats Haifa,

but from what year...
Im thinking 1960's

How long did that Bayern advertisement last in Beirut?

About 40 years, from 1935 to 1975


http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5809/beirut1955ua5.jpg

North of Martyrs square in 1955.

oops your right.lol

Beirut
http://images.orkut.com/orkut/albums2/ATgAAADNwm1zedkPT_HZAwe4EftzPQJpOWNcoQjK6TdrOa4c6IpRjwuycga_NStNn8Kl-smegiNXqLrSlnIcGkhbqGpwAJtU9VCcdXayM5LNEzXJ8qyYjAvCKmt6ag.jpg
Ceders
http://images.orkut.com/orkut/albums2/ATgAAACJtCkBcSX_fEThVyyzuejbROCscQ_4pUQAH-SzhsO357ReOC7uYdJAVMeJglqTBp3XPEDHabkgFF-n3FiPClb-AJtU9VAY4vk8Cu-G-24oCNGXnWin83TuAg.jpg
Sannine
http://images.orkut.com/orkut/albums2/ATgAAAB1CSkZq0riillvqcyevBTA_tkCMPh_PMGzYfFRAnd4ijPcud6hwl0eHjxJzePNBxC-9qI2pdyB-Dn59vQASn3XAJtU9VABdTIwpSCXjT_uQ0L-S72IbIDrwA.jpg

Actually these are in the 60's ...the phoencia opened in 1961

What year was the other part of the Phoencia hotel built ?

^^ After the war, I think in 1993 if im not mistaken

AmeriLeb lol i didn't relized that !
Actually i found theses photos in the house of the aunt of my dad that she came from lebanon to brazil from 50 years as she said and theses photos she have from there !
she always dreams go back haram :D
but i didn't calculate the years exactly to know what year been taken lol

Beirut
http://images.orkut.com/orkut/albums2/ATgAAADNwm1zedkPT_HZAwe4EftzPQJpOWNcoQjK6TdrOa4c6IpRjwuycga_NStNn8Kl-smegiNXqLrSlnIcGkhbqGpwAJtU9VCcdXayM5LNEzXJ8qyYjAvCKmt6ag.jpg

Is that the Gefinor in the back (the big black bldg that's standing out)?
I didn't know it was that old it looks so modern!!

Is that the Gefinor in the back (the big black bldg that's standing out)?
I didn't know it was that old it looks so modern!!

The Gefinor was built in 1968 This picture is not form the 50's, it was taken around 1971 when the Holiday Inn started being built.

What year was the other part of the Phoencia hotel built ?

^^ After the war, I think in 1993 if im not mistaken

I was built in the late 60's and rebuilt in the 90's

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/5917/trablostn1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/7139/1895bdx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9581/1895ug1.jpg

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3360/1958marinesoy7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4180/buc1946st8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy Library of Congress

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1840/saidalk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/2424/tyrda7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9175/corniche1969od9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3276/ainmraysseh1969vj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy of Anne

^^ OMG I'm speechless
Thank you so much Kheireddine for these awesome pictures
keep them coming if u have more

i have been to both Beirut and Damascus and both cities have a magnetic attraction to them that i really like both amazing cities

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/7148/beirut1953dd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The year my mother graduated from AUB

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4812/beirut1953bvx5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/161/b1953aum2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy of LIFE

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5898/b1953bnu6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5720/aub1953dzl8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/189/aub1953eip1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7664/aub1953bew9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4599/aub1953gw4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy of LIFE

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6559/6thfleet1957ja6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8937/beirut1938pu7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6095/zeitouneh1938bq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9973/zeitouneh1938bhm3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/3896/verdun1958za0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5893/riadelsolh1958sg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2124/barricade1958tf5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

A Lebanese tradition...

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/3896/verdun1958za0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the bldg on the left is that where Jammal Trust Bank is? :banana:

the bldg on the left is that where Jammal Trust Bank is? :banana:

Yes. I was hit by a car in 1974 while crossing the street between the Lycée and Carmel St-Joseph. Luckily, I was not hurt because I rolled on the hood of a VW Beetle :lol:

^^ was the beatle blue?
(Mom used to drive a blue beetle and once she hit a guy back in the 70s)

^^ was the beatle blue?
(Mom used to drive a blue beetle and once she hit a guy back in the 70s)

No, it was white and driven by a man.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4433/aineltineh1958fh8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7272/aineltineh1958bwy5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Where Nabih Berri stays nowadays.

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/824/ramletbaida1958pl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

No roads, no buildings, just sand!

OMG!
thank you Kheiro!

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7421/bliss1958bsu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5289/bliss1958cfp2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8763/bliss1958pr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7947/1958ctt4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

No, it was white and driven by a man.

ok, phewww :)

*EDIT*

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/9831/riadelsolh1958bqg6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6082/mauricebarrs1958uo6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5500/basta1958bis8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/7408/dbayeh1958vf2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2159/phoenica1958ku7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2545/aub1953coc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2159/phoenica1958ku7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

no way no way!!
these photos are too good too be true

^^ What is that building next to the Phoenicia and when was it demolished?

^^ What is that building next to the Phoenicia and when was it demolished?

The building belonged to El-Cheikh family from Ain El-Mrayssé. It was torn down in the early 60's to enlarge Fakhreddine St (tal3et el Phoenicia) and my best school friend's father Zouheir El-Cheikh wanted to build there a 500 rooms hotel. I think he couldn't get financing for his plan. Actually, he was lucky because the hotel would have been destroyed in 1975.

no way no way!!
these photos are too good too be true

Those are wonderful pictures that were published in TIME magazine, I wished I could get online similar pictures of Beirut in 1975-76...

Is anyone willing/able to post pictures of a certain spot pre '75 next to one from today? I'm wondering how much of Beirut has retained its original layout, and how many modernist structures from the '50s and '60s are still around.

I think one of the most beautiful aspects of Beirut is all the mid-century modernist architecture. All of it in Iran, the only other place I've been with similar architecture, has been torn down and replaced by tackiness.

^^Sorry, I am not in Lebanon to take recent pictures.

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/9103/pertuis1953up7.jpg

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8249/1957saoudox3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/9103/pertuis1953up7.jpg

everybody looks elegant with those coats :lol:

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/2034/jounieh1920oc0.png (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy of Nad (Panoramio)

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/883/maameltein20sem5.png (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy of Nad (Panoramio)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7763/jbeil30sqm6.png (http://imageshack.us)

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1007/jbeil30s2ao5.png

Courtesy of Nad (Panoramio)

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2200/nahrelkalb30snadgp2.png (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy of Nad (Panoramio)

AMAZING PICS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:eek: :eek: :eek:

I just hate mankind! look how beautiful lebanon was before we constructed everywhere!!!:ohno::bash:

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2200/nahrelkalb30snadgp2.png (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy of Nad (Panoramio)

Check out the railroad :banana:

Imagine how clean the Mediterranean water was back then

I don't know if this is the sort of picture you're looking for, but this is my dad in Beirut in 1971 or 1973:

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/79/beirut73wo9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Can anyone tell what neighborhood that is?

^^ This is if i am not mistaken,Ramlet El Baida neighborhood in the background :)

Nice pic BTW :)

Are any of those buildings still there today? Where could he have taken that picture from? And can someone source a picture of Ramlet al-Baida now?

^^ Most likely in front of the Old Carlton - Royal Plaza Hotel

Here's the pictures I took this summer

The road it's located on
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/Nadini23/P1040621.jpg

The view on the right
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/Nadini23/P1040623.jpg

View from the raillings
Courtesy of Lagaffe
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/Nadini23/Beirut_132156453.jpg

WOW! Thanks Nadini, I will have your children.

You Lebanese should be very proud of your ability to make Ramlet al-Baida look the same as it did when my dad had that pic taken, only better. It looks like 1982 didn't happen.

You really have no idea how happy this picture makes me.

^^ Very nice picture indeed, you dad looks so Beiruti back then :)

Here are more pictures of Ramlet El-Baida (Show them to your dad!)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6149/n5076746331090058689ia8.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4347/n5076746331090079982mb0.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9605/n5076746331090187167pt9.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6181/n5076746331090176706cu0.jpg

p.s. Ramlet El-Baida is an arabic word that means "The white sand"

^^ Very nice picture indeed, you dad looks so Beiruti back then :)


He looks very early '70s, and he's always loved fashion. I suppose good fashion sense=Beiruti.

Courtesy of David Avocet

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3086855499_36ae9f9b77.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/3087688816_214c411b65.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/3087693556_c812201f4b.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/3087696504_76313d879d.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/3087690170_80a9aa9189.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/3087694968_def448898a.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3086861903_7964e2ab49.jpg?v=0

Courtesy of David Avocet

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3086863521_f0d27579b9.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/3086865429_460853f4c6.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/3087703658_0e00928fee.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/3087648210_bfd2502efa.jpg?v=0

^^ Dahr l Baidar didn't change at all :)

it's really sad that we lost those old souks :( and the soul of the beirut city center...

Souk El-Tawileh, Souk Sursock, Souk Ayyas, Souk Aboul Nasr, Souk El Sagha, Souk El Joukh...I remember them all because my mother used to take me with her for shopping in dowtown Beirut before the war.

Is there a souk el Tayyib? i dont remember where i heard it

No, Souk El-Tayyib is recent.

I have been trying to become a member here for weeks! These photos are astounding. Thank you so much.

I went to Beirut as a small child a lived there until we evacuated in 1967 (I was 17). I have never been back and miss it everyday.

I sat at my computer and cried at the wonderful memories the pictures brought back. Some were so familiar to me; I expected to see myself standing there. I will dig around and see if I can find anything in my albums that might be of interest to other members but I can no way match the incredible quality of what has been posted.
Thank you, Thank you!!
:)

Welcome to the forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the forum LibraryLady!! Are you lebanese? :)
And wow, this realy amazes me, all people (lebanese and foreigners) who had lived in Beirut before the civil war kept their lifes' best souvenirs. It really must have been something!

No,I was born in the USA and live here now. My Dad worked in the oil field and traveled to Saudi, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait. Back then, Beirut was a safe haven with an excellent school and we loved it.

We evacuated in June of 1967 and I have never been back. After the Middle East, my folks lived in Venezuela and China but Beirut always held our hearts.

No,I was born in the USA and live here now. My Dad worked in the oil field and traveled to Saudi, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait. Back then, Beirut was a safe haven with an excellent school and we loved it.

We evacuated in June of 1967 and I have never been back. After the Middle East, my folks lived in Venezuela and China but Beirut always held our hearts.

Welcome to the SSC LibraryLady, you left Beirut when I was one year old ;)
Where did you live in Beirut?

SAIDA (courtesy of ayacata7)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/3095538106_e5577f6e41_b.jpg

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/9077/dbayeh21958rl1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/6640/hmseagle1956cx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Eagle_(R05)

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/5566/1958bkc9.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9986/1947tp8.jpg

Edit

OMG! that picture of Beirut in 1956 is stunning! Look at Beirut with no ugly high rises. Beirut (although much more beautiful then surround Arab capitals) needs better zoning laws. My mother (who is egyptian, born and raised in Cairo) used to tell me that Lebanon was the garden of Eden and alot of her friends used to go vacation in Lebanon. Unfortunately she never got to go herself. Incredible thanks to Kheireddine for posting such great pictures, and offering a window on the past.

You are welcome, Paully86 :)

You know Kheireddine you might be able to confirm these rumours for me. I professor of mine who was born and raised in Hamra in the 60's/70's told me that Gemmayzeh was a poor area. A lebanese woman I know told me that Saifi Village in the pre-civil war days was the "red light district" of Beirut and parts of it were gross. Any truth to either of these claims?? Also do you have any old pics of Ashrafieh

P.S. there needs to be a Beirut neighborhoods thread (past and present) that'd be great!

That is true that Gemmayzeh was a relatively poor compared to Ras-Beirut and Hamra, (I went to Sacré-Coeur College from 1972 to 1975); it was the Christian equivalent of the Muslim Basta area; and yes, Saïfi was the red light distric as many bordellos were there behind Martyrs' square. I could not find pictures of pre-war Achrafieh, except for this one from the late XIXth Century

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3658/6nazarethbeirut1890feh2.jpg

Notre-Dame de Nazareth in the background.

TTLlW2CO2gA

The pictures I posted on SCC in a documentary on LBC

cool :applause: :applause:

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/7353/beirutmunicipality1960vz0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy of Beirut Municipality

www.habeeb.com pages 63-64 are loaded with pictures of lebanon from the 1880's to 1920's

I have been trying to become a member here for weeks! These photos are astounding. Thank you so much.

I went to Beirut as a small child a lived there until we evacuated in 1967 (I was 17). I have never been back and miss it everyday.

I sat at my computer and cried at the wonderful memories the pictures brought back. Some were so familiar to me; I expected to see myself standing there. I will dig around and see if I can find anything in my albums that might be of interest to other members but I can no way match the incredible quality of what has been posted.
Thank you, Thank you!!
:)

WHy were you evacuated in '67? Do you mean '76?

No, in June of 1967 during the Six Day war.

^^ But why you were evacuated?? Lebanon didn't participate in that war :)

^^ but Lebanon was threatened by israel and eventually israel bombed (BEY)or Beirut International Airport in 1968 so....

During the June 1967 Six-Day War, I was one of several members of the Yale class of 1966 who likewise evacuated Beirut. At that time, the U.S. embassy was in Ras Beirut, on the Corniche, adjacent to the campus of American University. When war broke out, the embassy opened a reception point on the AUB lower campus to welcome U.S. citizens and dependents who drove from as far as Amman and Damascus to join the evacuation.

Some of us volunteered for several sleepless days and nights to assist at the evacuation center. Although Beirut was not bombed in 1967, angry demonstrators hurled rocks and ink at the embassy and nearby American and British properties, and shots were heard -- whether fired by demonstrators or Lebanese police dispersing them, I never knew. Beirut International Airport was closed to commercial traffic when the war started, but embassy staff escorted evacuees by bus from AUB to the airport where chartered aircraft flew them to various destinations.

This isn't my story but pretty identical. We stayed at AUB for a day or two and then went by bus to the airport where dozens of planes came in to shuttle us to other places.

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2010/b1958nationalgeoaz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

From National Geographic

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7369/raoucheh1973la4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8499/measep1975wally10ys6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Courtesy Wally 10


I saw it flying above Verdun in 1975, it looked huge!

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4007/bsep1975zd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The picture was shot from a '73 Dodge Coronet, behind a 1961-64 Mercedes 190.

Courstesy of Wally 10

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8343/bainmilitairesep1975qu0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Courtesy Wally 10

Police Staghound light tank.

Let's go for a mechwar with Ronza and Wahid Jalal (1974) :)

11CuUjATYgA

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7369/raoucheh1973la4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Look at the man on the left-what a looker. Are any of those buildings still there? Beirut had some excellent mid-century modern architecture.

^^ the third building from the right was demolished to make way for the Rotana Raouche Suites Hotel ....the first,second and last ones were renovated and restored as residential buildings with shops/cafes & restaurants on the ground floors ...

The men on the left are mostly likely Syrian migrant workers.

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/8350/beirut1962katypaynedn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy Katy Payne

Look at the slimest buiding in the world, A man built it in the 40's to block the sea view on his brother. :lol: Actually, it has a triangular shape :nuts:

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/2553/rivoli50skatypaynesd4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy katy Payne

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3721/beirut1951monroe73py0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy Monroe73

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2159/phoenica1958ku7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


^^ What is that building next to the Phoenicia and when was it demolished?

The building belonged to El-Cheikh family from Ain El-Mrayssé. It was torn down in the early 60's to enlarge Fakhreddine St (tal3et el Phoenicia) and my best school friend's father Zouheir El-Cheikh wanted to build there a 500 rooms hotel. I think he couldn't get financing for his plan. Actually, he was lucky because the hotel would have been destroyed in 1975.

Correction: the building was "Le Cercle des officiers", a French Army officers club, it was bought later by Zouheir El-Cheikh

The same area in the early 30's. There was an old house on the Phoenicia plot, also a couple of cafés in front:

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/1681/bild011xs6.jpg

Look at the slimest buiding in the world, A man built it in the 40's to block the sea view on his brother. :lol: Actually, it has a triangular shape :nuts:

What on earth is that?!?! :rofl: Only a true lebanese would do such a stupid thing :lol:

What on earth is that?!?! :rofl: Only a true lebanese would do such a stupid thing :lol:

And only Beirut Municipality would allow it :lol:

Look at the slimest buiding in the world, A man built it in the 40's to block the sea view on his brother. :lol: Actually, it has a triangular shape :nuts:

I always heard it called the Grudge Building
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c12/dtharman/Beirut/grudgebuilding.jpg

is it still there?

^^ Yes
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8980175&lon=35.4725415&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2

Oh My Gosh, I had never seen that map before!! I found the park where I used to play as a child - in 1956!!

René Moawad Garden (Sanayeh)

Oh My Gosh, I had never seen that map before!! I found the park where I used to play as a child - in 1956!!

René Moawad Garden (Sanayeh)

You were so lucky to be in Beirut before the war!
Do you remember the '58 events? Please check all the pictures I found in Life Magazine:

http://images.google.com/images?q=beirut&q=source%3Alife
http://images.google.com/images?hl=fr&q=Lebanon+source%3Alife
http://images.google.com/images?hl=fr&q=Lebanese+source%3Alife

My Dad sent my Mom and I to Rome for a few months when he felt things were getting tense so I really know very little. I was only 8.

A funny story; I had a nice fish aquarium and we left it with the airline office that was in the ground floor of our building. They promised to keep the fish until we got back. There was a black out and they left the aquarium light on so my fish lost their tiny lives to sniper fire!

^^ the third building from the right was demolished to make way for the Rotana Raouche Suites Hotel ....the first,second and last ones were renovated and restored as residential buildings with shops/cafes & restaurants on the ground floors ...

The first building from the right was actually demolished in 2008. It had been an un-renovated eyesore for decades.

You were so lucky to be in Beirut before the war!
Do you remember the '58 events? Please check all the pictures I found in Life Magazine:

http://images.google.com/images?q=beirut&q=source%3Alife
http://images.google.com/images?hl=fr&q=Lebanon+source%3Alife
http://images.google.com/images?hl=fr&q=Lebanese+source%3Alife


^^hahahah it looks like the marines did more swimming and soaking up the sun in Beirut then protect Chamoun

Beirut Intl. airport in the 60s

Courtesy of Zfubz

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3454/3207655792_a6a8426834_b.jpg

you are the best kheireddine i hoope to meet you some day thanks

You are welcome, Abou Bahaa :)

kheireddine,

The pictures you posted are amazing and they really touched me...and I'm only 23 years old...

kheireddine,

The pictures you posted are amazing and they really touched me...and I'm only 23 years old...

Thanks LebCedar, I am 23 + 20 ;)

Hi guys! Please somebody, post a picture of the old Beirut Bir Hassan airfiled. There are so few pictures ot this airfield available. I've seen only one.Also where was it located? Thanks, and Kheireddine, your photos are amazing!

Hi guys! Please somebody, post a picture of the old Beirut Bir Hassan airfiled. There are so few pictures ot this airfield available. I've seen only one.Also where was it located? Thanks, and Kheireddine, your photos are amazing!

Bir Hassan Airport was facing the Cité Sportive (Madineh El-Riadieh), it was built by my grandfather cousins in 1936. The main building was destroyed on June 4 1982 when the Israeli carpet bombed the area...I could not find more pictures than the ones I posted.
Here is a vidéo of De Gaulle landing at the airport in August 1942
http://www.ina.fr/archivespourtous/index.php?vue=notice&id_notice=AFE00003088

(Courtesy of Hebeeb.com)

Ghazir 1893
http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/9169/ghazir1893.jpg

Hrajel 1894
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/8615/harajel1894.jpg

Hasroun 1898
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2412/hasroun1898.jpg

Jbeil 1893
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8185/jebeilbyblos1893.jpg

Maison a Beyrouth 1892
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2703/maisonabeyrouth1892.jpg

Maison des Jesuites Bikfaya 1894
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/4406/maisondesjesuitesbikfay.jpg

Nabi Younis 1898
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7083/nabiyounis1898.jpg

Nahr El-kalb vu de Louaizeh 1894
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/168/nahralkalbvudelouaizeh1.jpg

Notre Dame des Champs Dleptah 1894
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/535/notredamedeschampsdlept.jpg

Notre Dame des Fievreux Tripoli 1896
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/7477/notredamedesfievreuxtri.jpg

Plage de Batroun 1893
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4294/plagedebatroun1893.jpg

Qannoubine 1898
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8366/qannoubine18981.jpg

Qannoubine 1898
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/9322/qannoubine18982.jpg

Qozhaya 1896
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8559/qozhaya1896.jpg

Qozhaya 1896
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8058/qozhaya18963.jpg

Ras Baalbeck 1896
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3194/rasbaalbeck1896.jpg

Saydah vue du Sud 1898
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8368/saydahvuedusud1898.jpg


Sour (Tyr) 1898
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/9826/sourtyr1898.jpg

Sour (Tyr) 1898
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5754/sourtyr18982.jpg

Sour (Tyr) entree Nord 1898
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/2578/sourtyrentreenord1898.jpg

Tripoli Lebanon 1896
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/7725/tripoli189603.jpg

Universite St. Joseph Beyrouth 1892
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9213/universitestjosephbeyro.jpg

Yammouni 1891
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2931/yammouni1891.jpg

Zahle 1891
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4774/zahleh1896.jpg

^^ i love how Lebanon looked like those days, too bad we ruined it with all this anarchic constructions...

I made a new video based on the wonderful photos of Kheireddine [after his permission ],its URL is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E98Axk7s_l4

I made a new video based on the wonderful photos of Kheireddine [after his permission ]

E98Axk7s_l4


Thank you Jack, I read sowhere that you are going back to Lebanon after 30 years of exile, I left 18 years ago and never went back...

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/433/tabarja1965.jpg (http://img2.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tabarja1965.jpg)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2790/byblos1967.jpg

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9537/harissa1967.jpg

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9445/stgeorges1967.jpg (http://img513.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stgeorges1967.jpg)

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5202/juin1974.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=juin1974.jpg)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4357/rawchehnov1967.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/8600/port1967.jpg

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6845/wegandoct58.jpg

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/3497/wegandavril67.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3692/ainelmraysseh1967.jpg

Miltary vehicules to protect the American Embassy.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7085/train1975.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=train1975.jpg)

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/5360/freefrench1941.jpg (http://img25.imageshack.us/my.php?image=freefrench1941.jpg)

:eek2:

i need a time machine....

Thank you Jack, I read sowhere that you are going back to Lebanon after 30 years of exile, I left 18 years ago and never went back...

I left 41 years ago, never got to go back and never will but this forum gives me so much pleasure.
Thank you kheireddine, and others.

Great Photos minus the Ain El-Mraysseh :ohno:! Lebanon reminds me of Monaco or the French Riviera

Refering to the picture of USJ in 1892, dose that building still exist ?

As always, great pictures Kheireddine. Thank you thank you :)

Has anybody seen the old 007 Bond movie which had a scene in Beirut?
does any body has a clip?

^^ I was looking for that same clip... or even screen caps would do!

^^ well here's the trailer "The Man With The Golden Gun 007"

Xzt6zAj7XUM
I bet 00:55-1:00 is supposedly Beirut in the 70s :lol:

And here for the film's Synopsis http://www.jamesbondwiki.com/page/The+Man+With+The+Golden+Gun?t=anon
http://image.wetpaint.com/image/1/hPovCUNMt1x-GXy3HK09Jg34632/GW200H150

But I was actually looking for the actual complete scenes :dunno:

May 27 1967

Courtesy of roger4336

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3489153425_eaa8dc91f7_o.jpg

Much nicer than today with all of the red roofs! Beirut style buildings everywhere! hopefully we have some left in the BCD!

I had no idea that the Starco building has been there since the 1960s !

May 27 1967

Courtesy of roger4336

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3489153425_eaa8dc91f7_o.jpg



Beirut was amazing!!!!all those red roofs! i wonder why doesn't Beirut enforce a red roof policy like they are doing in jounieh now?

This city is really unique,always reborning form its ashes.
I prefer the old beirut, though.

well they're nice, but maybe if whoever designed them actualy integrated them into the "star" grid, it would have looked nicer.

btw, how do i upload pics?


The churches pre date the star Grid. They were built between 1700 and 1800. The grid was planned and built during the french mandate period. there was a plan to demolish the churches to extend the grid, but later decided against it. Thank god!

I had no idea that the Starco building has been there since the 1960s !

Since 1962 :)

This thread is absolutely great; those old photos of Beirut most are very nice :cheers: many thanks for sharing them :okay:

There are some really nice pictures on Wikipedia, I don't know if they were ever posted here..

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/21/Grand_serail_solidere_6.jpg/800px-Grand_serail_solidere_6.jpg
Old times Beirut

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86_%D9%A1%D9%A9.jpg
An aerial panoramic view of Beirut sometime in the last third of the 19th century.

^^It's so nice that the mountains behind are empty and haven't turned into concrete :(

There are some really nice pictures on Wikipedia, I don't know if they were ever posted here..


The first one no; it is was taken around 1930: it shows the the Grand-Sérail which was then the "Haut-Commissariat français and Wadi Abou Jmil.

The second one yes, however not the panoramic version; actually I downloaded it yesterday from Wikipedia, it is Beirut in 1875 by Bonfils :)

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1627/babidriss30s.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/my.php?image=babidriss30s.jpg)

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6154/weygand19302.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=weygand19302.jpg)

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5701/beyarmedulevant.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beyarmedulevant.jpg)

I hate this thread for one reason only......it makes it clearly apparent that we don't live in the same city!

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/6946/placedesmartyrs53.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=placedesmartyrs53.jpg)

Donkey v/s Rolls Royce in Rawcheh, 1970

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2930/jan1970.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jan1970.jpg)

Where did the old castle in Rabih's second pic go ??? :(

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bldg under construction, Beirut,1972.

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/8789/0243040.jpg (http://img36.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0243040.jpg)

Where did the old castle in Rabih's second pic go ??? :(

It got demolished in 1888 when the modern Beirut harbour got built.

Jnah, 1958

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/1092/jnah1958.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jnah1958.jpg)

Martyr's square, 1941-42

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/4117/martyrs194142.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=martyrs194142.jpg)

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/174/martyrs1941422.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=martyrs1941422.jpg)

Bab Idriss (1941-42)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3782/babidrissannes40.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=babidrissannes40.jpg)

It got demolished in 1888 when the modern Beirut harbour got built.

Are they stupid or what ? :bash:

Are they stupid or what ? :bash:

They had no other choice due to lack of space. FYI the new port was built by a French company.

^^ Still,Stupid .

Ramlet-El-Baida from Carlton Hotel, early 70's.

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2268/raouche.jpg (http://img37.imageshack.us/my.php?image=raouche.jpg)

Fashion photography by Mark Mender, Lebanon, 1963

Phoenicia Hotel:

sZPjR5oOSW4

Jnah:

4zEcaGuRSUg


Baalbeck:

CaU2axxxGvo

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1627/babidriss30s.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/my.php?image=babidriss30s.jpg)

I had no idea that the ABC dept store existed back then! When was it established?

I had no idea that the ABC dept store existed back then! When was it established?

It opened first on Martyr's sq, then the Bab Idriss store was inaugurated in 1940.

Source: http://www.abc.com.lb/

Excellent thread, glad to have.

Kheireddine you should know that every time you post new pictures in this forum, I attach them in an email and send them to mom..

She's a big fan too, keep them coming :)

Kheireddine you should know that every time you post new pictures in this forum, I attach them in an email and send them to mom..

She's a big fan too, keep them coming :)

You are welcome, Rabih :)

They had no other choice due to lack of space. FYI the new port was built by a French company.

true but no one protested against the demolition, and the Lebanese merchants were all for it. they even insisted that the castle be destroyed along with the twin towers and the old light house. they dubbed them as ugly without character. I was reading a book "Fin de Siecle" which explained the events at the time.

Orosdi Back Department Store 1912

http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/760/769/old_beirut/Rue_de_la_Douane.jpg

Imperial Ottoman Bank

http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/760/769/old_beirut/Nouvel_Etablissement.jpg

Jnah, 1958

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/1092/jnah1958.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jnah1958.jpg)

check out the beaches, they were amazing. i can even see sand islands!!

true but no one protested against the demolition, and the Lebanese merchants were all for it. they even insisted that the castle be destroyed along with the twin towers and the old light house. they dubbed them as ugly without character. I was reading a book "Fin de Siecle" which explained the events at the time.

I read a couple of months ago extracts from "Fin de siècle" on Google Books, what a great book, however very expensive. It mentioned my great grandfather :) http://www.google.com/books?id=R3J6Ye8YItQC&pg=PA169&dq=IBRAHIM+AHDAB&lr=&as_brr=3&hl=fr#PPA169,M1

I read a couple of months ago extracts from "Fin de siècle" on Google Books, what a great book, however very expensive. It mentioned my great grandfather :) http://www.google.com/books?id=R3J6Ye8YItQC&pg=PA169&dq=IBRAHIM+AHDAB&lr=&as_brr=3&hl=fr#PPA169,M1

Heh heh good to know, I enjoyed reading it thoroughly! Lots of good info on the modern history of Beirut. It helps give you a perspective on what is going on right now. I actually bought a copy. It was a must have! :)

thank you kheireddine,
what ur posting is unique and precious.
i was wondering if there is illustrations about lebanon in the time of the emirs...chehabs, maanites...fakhreddine, bashir ..etc....

Jnah, 1958

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/1092/jnah1958.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jnah1958.jpg)

Martyr's square, 1941-42

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/4117/martyrs194142.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=martyrs194142.jpg)

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/174/martyrs1941422.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=martyrs1941422.jpg)
Indeed those old photos (i choose especially them from 1941 and 1958) are totally awesome :)

Courtesy of Laura
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/viewfromcampus.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/storm.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/laura.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/harborview.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/MomonCorniche.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/MomLauraBeirut.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/LauraviewfromCasinoDuLiban.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/DadByblos.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/Cornicheflooded.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/Beirutstorm67.jpg

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/laura.jpg

WOW :drool:

^^ and what's the snow-capped hills on the right side ???

thats Mt.Knisse (Jabal El Knisse)

^^ Thanx :)

You wouldn't be able to see this mountain from this angle today :D

The photos in this page are indeed gorgeous... :)

^^ Thanx :)

You wouldn't be able to see this mountain from this angle today :D

You could actually still see it when your at the end of the corniche's tip and on a very clear day

^^ I think those pictures were taken in the late 60's. The last Ford Mustangs were imported in 1966. It seems that Avenue de Paris was flooded. The yellow and red public buses were manufactured by Saviem-Chausson in France. they were imported in 1965 to replace the tram. I remeber them very well, they were running on gasoline and not diesel.
We use to call them ja7ch el dawleh :D Unfortunately, they ended their life as barricades in Dowtown Beirut in 1975-76 :(