Charles L. Bronson slide #1
Object number2017.015.0003.0001
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer
Charles L. Bronson
ObjectSlide
Credit LineCharles L. Bronson Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumFilm
Dimensions2 × 2 in. (5.1 × 5.1 cm)
DescriptionOriginal 35mm color slide taken by Charles L. Bronson while standing on a pedestal in Dealey Plaza at the southwest corner of Main and Houston streets. This is the first of three still photographs taken on November 22, 1963; Bronson took two additional images in Dealey Plaza the following day.
The image shows President John F. Kennedy's motorcade heading down Main Street towards Houston Street surrounded by crowds of people on Friday, November 22, 1963. Two police officers on motorcycles are visible beside the presidential limousine. The Dallas County Criminal Courts Building is visible in the foreground on the left side of the image, and the Dallas County Records Building is near the center of the image. The Old Red Courthouse building is along the right edge.
Slide copyrighted Charles L. Bronson 1978.
Curatorial CommentaryForty-five-year-old Charles Bronson, chief engineer of Varel Manufacturing in Dallas, brought two cameras to Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963: a Leica Model III for still photographs and a Keystone Olympic K-25 for color home movies. He and his wife, Frances, stood atop a concrete pedestal at the southwest corner of Main and Houston streets. Bronson had had a lifelong dream to see a president and was eager to capture images of President Kennedy during his visit to Dallas.
Bronson's Leica, purchased in 1938, was the oldest known camera used in Dealey Plaza on the day of the assassination. It was loaded with daylight Kodachrome film. Two of his three still images were made just after taking a brief film sequence of the presidential parade on Main Street, approaching the turn onto Houston. Switching quickly to his Leica, he took two slides showing the Kennedy limousine approaching and then making the turn from Main Street onto Houston Street. He then switched back to his Olympic home movie camera for a sequence showing the presidential parade on Houston, approaching the turn onto Elm Street. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
Bronson's Leica, purchased in 1938, was the oldest known camera used in Dealey Plaza on the day of the assassination. It was loaded with daylight Kodachrome film. Two of his three still images were made just after taking a brief film sequence of the presidential parade on Main Street, approaching the turn onto Houston. Switching quickly to his Leica, he took two slides showing the Kennedy limousine approaching and then making the turn from Main Street onto Houston Street. He then switched back to his Olympic home movie camera for a sequence showing the presidential parade on Houston, approaching the turn onto Elm Street. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
