A Little PR for The Sultan of Swat

The seventh of a series of portraits taken of Babe Ruth on July 23, 1920 at the Irwin, La Broad, & Pudlin studios. Courtesy Library of Congress/George Hobart Collection.

A lucky find

Capturing the images of celebrities on film has been a staple of the practice of photography since shortly after its invention in 1839. The pioneering generation of photographers recognized early on the money-making potential of capturing and circulating images of newsworthy rich and famous personalities. Celebrities likewise have recognized the obvious benefits that such publicity confers…