Kuwait 1950, People and Places
Just found this interesting photoset on Flickr which contains photographs that were taken in Kuwait around 1950. All the pictures were scanned by David C. Foster from the photograph album of Francis Hadden Andrus. The picture above is of Yousef Ahmad Al-Ghanim on the left and Tom G. Mohney on the right. [Pictures]
Update: In case you missed it the shot below was featured on SomeContrast.com awhile back. Its a picture that dates back to 1956 and is of the first Porsche in Kuwait. The owner Murad Behbahani is sitting behind the wheel, and his brothers Mohammed and Redha Behbahani next to him. In a way it’s kinda similar to the shot above. [Link]
Print
Email
Oct 12, 2008
Related Entries
No Seats
Kuwait, a bustling metropolis
The Airport
Brownbook Urban Guide - Kuwait
Going to Egypt
36 Comments, add your own...
1. Fereej | October 12th, 2008 at 1:29 am
ayyaaam 7elwa
2. Name | October 12th, 2008 at 1:33 am
AWESOME….!!!!!!!!!!!! This is just Awesome…thnx Mark
3. kwt23 | October 12th, 2008 at 5:28 am
wow…i like those vintage shots :) thanks mark!
4. BoBader | October 12th, 2008 at 7:31 am
This is very nice. I hope someone could make a website where similar pictures of old Kuwait can be submitted and sorted. Personally, I have a medium size bag full of personal family pictures from 1950s to the early 80s. There are hundreds of them taken by my father and his friends that include famous people at that time taken at many places around the world. I had a plan to scan them but after I started my graduate studies I couldn’t do it.
Mark you will probably know that. Most of the portraits and pictures I have were taken or developed at Hawally’s famous Sadeq Roundabout photo shop. I can’t remember his name and it is no longer there. They have built a new ugly building in its place. I don’t know if they reopened somewhere else.
5. vinz-Q8 | October 12th, 2008 at 8:54 am
I hope some one comments/updates those remaining pictures with the detials. Its a rare collection of classic photos.
6. holla | October 12th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Mark i am deeply disappointed in you showing ONLY pix of kuwait. What about other countries in the GCC or even the whole middle east? There are many arabic countries full with more history and culture than Kuwait and ur only showing this? I guess it shows ur true colours that ur just another arrogant expat living here GTFO
7. MYK | October 12th, 2008 at 11:00 am
That comment before me had me wondering WTF, until I realized it was Holla :p
8. Shoosh | October 12th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Oh dear lord, Holla can’t be serious!
Great pics Mark, thanks for sharing.
9. Mark | October 12th, 2008 at 11:18 am
of course he isn’t
10. Salbader | October 12th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
American guy wearing Bisht…7adda qawee!
11. Salbader | October 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
American guy wearing Bisht… Qawee!
12. Salbader | October 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Ooops.. double post!
13. The truth | October 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I think you should use these pictures as more of an explanation of “The state of Kuwait”. So 50 years ago when most of the world was advancing in medicine, art, technology, engineering, people were driving around on camels and living in tents. Find some oil(sorry the Brits did that) and then all of a sudden its luxury and ferraris. But the funny thing is - you cant buy culture - its something that evolves over time. So there you have it some kind of crazy experiment, its like going back to the 14th century and giving people cash and technology - it would never end well. Disagree - just drive down the Gulf road on a Friday night.
14. Ms.Baker | October 12th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Thank you for posting about these wonderful, wonderful pictures.
15. Realist | October 12th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Where can we get hi res stock images of old kuwait ?
16. Name | October 12th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Hey guys any idea who brought the first car into Kuwait?
17. mun | October 13th, 2008 at 10:21 am
omg i was just looking at those pics a few days back for research i sent to link to my dad. its so exciting to actually see how kuwait was there really isnt much left of the past :/
18. Randy | October 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
“In a way it’s kinda similar to the shot above.”
Well……………YEAHHHHHH!!
Kuwaitis standing by an old car, black & white photo………..
Need I say more?
Geez!!
19. Mark | October 13th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
nooooo you think??
20. Name | October 13th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I dont think its alghanim or behbahani because this shot was in the 50’s….any ideas.
21. b | October 14th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
its spelled Behbehani. and yes it is.
22. Behbehani | October 14th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Yes it is Morad Behbehani and his 2 brothers Mohammad Saleh and Mohammad Redha.. You can see this picture in the VW dealership in shuwaikh.. Amazing pics Mark ! ;)
23. Name | October 15th, 2008 at 4:26 am
B so it was Behbahani who brought the first car in Kuwait?
24. b | October 18th, 2008 at 5:03 am
Not sure if the first car ever, but one of the first and for sure the first Porsche. but cars were not just some of the first things brought to kuwait among other things such as refrigerators, vcrs etc.
Behbehani, 3esa?
25. giggles | October 18th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
What’s the scoop on Behbehani/Behbahani? I have been reading alot of blogs and see this name quite often these days. Also, I have met seveal people telling me they are members of this family and that family. Is this a big family or something? It is customary to tell someone which family they belong to?(No, I am not in Kuwait…just learning a bit here and there before I make the move)
Sorry to sway off the topic.
26. b | October 18th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
This article will help
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/519674-gulfs-most-influential-families-revealed
As for spelling Behbehani is refers to family in article. (article not correct spelling). Behbahani same origin, no or very distant relationship to Behbehani.
Whatever family, i think its crazy to have those cars back in the 50s!
What would be the equivalent in today’s world?
27. giggles | October 19th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Thanks. I guess that means I should be flattered to have made acquaintance of someone from such an influential family. Sounds like the US equivalent to the Kennedy’s, perhaps?
28. Name | October 19th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I did the research and no behbahani didnt bring the first car to Kuwait neither did al-ghanim. The first car in Kuwait was brought by a rich kuwaiti family forgot the name of it. He bought more than one and he gave one as a present to mubark al sabah.
29. Mark | October 19th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
the post Says they brought the first Porsche not first car
30. Name | October 19th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I know that they brought the first porsche but i was asking who brought the first car in kuwait…
31. b | October 19th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Name: yeah i think i read that somewhere as well. I think that someone made a book for GM Middle East. If I am not mistaken its Al-Ibrahim family, will check if u REALLY wana know, the book is here somewhere.
Giggles: u shouldnt be flattered to meet someone bcz of their family name, you should be flattered if you meet good ppl. If thats the way u think then i dont think Kuwait is right for you. Or maybe it is depending on what kind of ppl u want to mix with.
32. giggles | October 20th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Mr/Ms. B. I was being sarcastic. I was mocking how alot of the people from the “family” made it a point to tell me that they were Behbahani…My referemce to the Kennedy clan wasn’t meant to be disrespective or anything..
I am all about good people. For me, I can care less who and what family you come from. I come from a family of farmers. Nothing much to brag about, but we are and always have been honest, hard working people.
I was trying to see if it were commonplace for people to make such a big deal about who and where they are descended from, that’s all. In the USA, there aren’t too many people that go around saying,” I am a member of this and that family.”
Alot of the people I met from Kuwait, or in overhearing coversation in general discuss which family they are from. None of that means anything to me. But seeing a familar name made me wonder… are they like the Bush’s? Is it a big deal to be associated with someone from that family? Bottom line for me, it’s a no. But I wasn’t sure how it would be perceived from the other side.
Sorry that you didn’t see it that way. My mistake. But thanks for the reply. =)
33. Mansoor Behbehani | October 20th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Hello everyone, the picture is of Murad Yousif Behbahani (on the wheel), and his brother (My Grandfather) Mohammed Redha Behbahani & standing on his left is Mr. Abdul Razaq Shirazi from Bahrain. This is for sure as I am the grandson of Mohammed Redha Behbehani.
Mansoor Adel Behbehani, thank you
Anymore Quastions, Happy to answer??
34. Mink | October 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I contacted and corresponded with David Foster a while ago about these photos. He said:
“I looked at your photos and Kuwait City has changed so much since 1950.
Francis Andrus, the man who took the photos in 1950 passed away in 1971 and many of the specific locations in Kuwait are unidentified.
You have my permission to download any photos of Kuwait. The photo’s might only be up for one year and hopefully someone in Kuwait will download to donate to a historical collection at a library or University. There are so few photos left of the old Kuwait.
I’m married to Francis Andrus’s youngest daughter. He passed away in 1971, I never met him.
What I know of the photos is already there, unfortunately most of the photos had nothing written on them and none of his family can give any additional information.
The photos belong to Francis Andrus’s widow.
In the Bechtel book you can find a few photos taken in the same place.
Also I found a few on-line photos of early Kuwait that were the same, like the police station.
It would appear that there are very few photos of Kuwait in 1950 or before. As time passes these photo will become historically important.
Anyone capable of identifying these photos in the USA or Kuwait would be 70 years old or older. I just hope someone in Kuwait will take them in and give them a home.
Best Wishes
David”
Thank you David for taking the time to scan those photos.
35. Behbehani | October 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
ehehe mansooor ishloonik? ana 3ali weld 5altik .. ;p i hope u spell Behbehani right next time ;p ehehe yeah that is baba murad allah yir7ama oo ur grandfather mohammad redha behbehani.. bes ily bainhom mu baba mohammad saleh?
36. Mansoor Behbehani | October 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
No, I Am 100% Sure it’s not baba Mohammad Saleh
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
Commenting Rules: Any comments that are personal attacks towards other users will be deleted. You are also not allowed to post with the name Mark or Nat since that might cause confusion. Finally, no advertising is allowed, you can't advertise your products or websites here unless its beneficial to the topic thats being discussed. One more thing: We are not responsible for readers comments!