Category: 50s to 90s

A combination sand and rain storm batters a lone automobile in Kuwait, May 1969.
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID CUPP, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

The cool and eerie photograph above was featured today on the National Geographic Tumblr, Found. [Link]

This is the first time I see this footage which was filmed by the Dutch navy. The video quality is pretty choppy but it still gave me goosebumps. [YouTube]

Its been a while since I have written about laws you don’t need to know (part of a series), this one is for everyone that just came back from Hajj. Decree No. 34 from the year 1960, Regarding the Health Control Procedures for Pilgrims Returning to Kuwait:

(Article 2) “every pilgrim must come to the health environment doctor, in the area where he resides, within 24 hours from the time of his arrival for a medical examination. He must then come 48 hours after the first examinations and a third time 48 hours after the second examinations”

(Article 4) “the public health department shall have the right to sterilize the pilgrims luggage, if necessary it shall also have the right to destroy it”

(Article 5) “all violators of this law shall be imprisoned for a period that shall not exceed 3 months and a fine that shall not exceed 300 hundred rupees”

I personally found a lot of interesting things about this law but the most impressive to me was how organized Kuwait was back in the day to consider the safety of the other people and to state something like biological tests (we’re talking 1960 here). I just find that fascinating.

Post by Fajer Ahmed – Legal Counsel
Have a Kuwait law related question? Email me at [email protected]

The legal opinions expressed in this post are those of the author Fajer. Opinions expressed by Mark or any other writer on mark248am1.wpenginepowered.com are those of the individual’s and in no way reflect Fajer’s opinion.

Photo above from 1954 taken from [Here]

The above is a preliminary sketch of the Kuwait Airways logo sketched by then acting CEO Harry Pusey in 1958. Pusey was inspired by a bird ready to leave a tree branch while at a cafe in Beirut. This is what he had to say about the logo:

While designing the logo, I had to review the company’s image and develop a new logo and brand identity. Therefore the bird with its beak held high, reflecting my hope that to whichever destinations KU aircraft may fly, it must always be safe in the sky and there must not be any accidents.

The logo is still used by Kuwait Airways today.

I took the photo above from @kuwaitairways where they also posted the picture below which is a view from the Safir Airport Hotel. That’s an amazing view.

This was uploaded by the Kuwait Fire Department. Basd on the cars I’m guessing it’s from the 1960s. [YouTube]

An Episode from Farouq Abdul-Aziz’s Cine Club Show on Kuwait TV from Farouq Abdul-Aziz on Vimeo.

Wow I can’t believe I just found this! Those of you who used to watch KTV back in the day will remember a show that came on once a week called The Cinema Club where a host would first talk a bit about the movie he was going to show and it’s importance, and then play it for us. The host Farouq Abdul-Aziz uploaded one episode of the show on Vimeo and you can watch it above. Sadly the sound quality isn’t that great but the opening sequence still managed to bring back so many memories.

The Huntley Film Archives have uploaded another video of Kuwait from their film archive, this time dating back to around 1970. Video starts of slow a bit but becomes more interesting after the 3 minute mark. [YouTube]

In case you missed my previous posts on films on Kuwait from the Huntley Film Archives, below are the links:
Close Up On Kuwait – 1962 (a must watch)
Kuwait adverts from the 1980’s

I spotted this photo at the Bait Al-Othman Museum and posted it on my Instagram account last week. I don’t know who the original photographer is but if you want a higher resolution version of it click [Here]

No idea from what year since the video doesn’t have a description. [YouTube]

I was taking a back road towards Rihab Complex when I spotted a group of old buildings with what looked like a garden growing wildly in between them so I decided to pass by and check the place out. There didn’t turn out to be a wild garden just a few trees but the buildings were super old and interesting since it seemed like they used to raise pigeons there since I found cages everywhere. If you’re interested in visiting there are four of these building next to each other, I only visited one of them. Here is their location on [Google Maps]

Everyone knows about the Kuwait Bookshop located in the basement of Muthana Complex but not a lot of people know of the one located near the Sheraton roundabout. The Kuwait Bookshop at the Sheraton roundabout is their original location and has been there since the 1960s. I passed by last night with a friend and we ended up picking up a couple of books. Their top floor is full of old stuff and you can even find prints from the 70s just sitting on the shelves untouched and covered in dust. If you’ve never passed by there you should before the building ends up getting demolished. They’re located right on the Sheraton roundabout in Kuwait City to the right of Al Sawan Travels.

Note: The pictures in this post date back to 2010

[YouTube]

Damn, why don’t we have these kinds of races anymore? [YouTube]

I don’t have the photos in a larger size since they’re all screen grabs taken from this video. I’ve already contacted the guy who made the video to see where he got the photos originally from so hopefully he gets back to me. For now you can check out all the old photos below.

Also make sure you check out the fire departments official Instagram account which is pretty active [Here]

Letter Home is a book written by Karen Alanizi on her experiences during the 1990 Kuwait invasion. Below is the description I got from her website:

The Compelling true story of Karen Alanizi and her Kuwaiti husband during the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

Based on a letter written to her family in England her story reveals the heart-wrenching emotions, fears and the often amusing and sometimes bizarre side of life during the Iraqi occupation.

She describes the desperation of their separation, and the journeys that eventually re-unite them in England.

As the Gulf War unfolds they fear for their family and friends left behind in Kuwait and wait impatiently for the Liberation of the country that they love so much.

I haven’t read the book but while checking out her website I found some interesting pictures she had taken during and after the invasion. One of my favorites is the one I posted above of the two people in a George Bush and Margaret Thatcher masks. If you’re interested in her book or checking out more photos click [Here]