Wally and Smartie, Portobello Road 1974
$20.00 $10.00
Instant royalty-free digital download. No watermark. You will receive a JPG image of between 3000 and 4000 pixels on the longest side. Perfect for prints, books, media, creative projects, and more. The download link will appear in the checkout after successful purchase.
A well-known character of Portobello Road in 1974, Wally stands for the camera with his scarlet parrot Smartie perched on his hand, while the decorated street organ slung from his shoulders adds another layer of market theatre to the scene. Behind him, the frontage of the Portobello Antique Arcade is clearly visible, along with the blue Dolphin sign and the busy line of stalls and shoppers that made this stretch of Notting Hill such a draw for visitors. The photograph is full of period detail, from the red telephone box and the yellow van in the background to the mix of coats, jackets and wide ties in the crowd. More than a simple street portrait, it captures the informal showmanship and eccentric charm that helped give Portobello Road Market its distinctive identity in the 1970s, when characters like Wally and Smartie were as memorable to many visitors as the antiques and bric-a-brac.
About Retro Stock Photography
Retro Stock Photography specializes in genuine vintage color photographs from the 1950s through the 1990s, all available as royalty-free instant downloads. Our photos are popular for editorial features, books, magazines, websites, documentaries, advertising, social media, local history projects, creative design, and as unique gifts when printed.
All of our images are scanned directly from original slides and negatives, preserving their authenticity, detail, and character. And because we own the original photographs and copyrights, all of our collection is exclusive to us and not available elsewhere.
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