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Panoramic "Living Picture"

An impressive panoramic formation photo by a noted Texas photographer who specialized in such work. The view depicts Schofield Barracks, in Oahu, Hawaii capturing the moment during break up of Hawaiian Division Insignia, on May 13th 1926. The image was made by Eugene Omar Goldbeck, a photographer of the National Photo Service, based in San Antonio, Texas.

The Officers Barracks are visible on the left side of the photograph. These single-story buildings lie in the foreground, offering an anchoring point to the viewer. Behind them, multi-story structures rise, likely the offices and headquarters for the barracks.

"Living Pictures" or Formation Photographs

The heart of the photo displays an interesting event - the break up of the Hawaiian Division Insignia. This image, capturing a large number of soldiers arranged to form the Hawaiian Division Insignia against the backdrop of the military base, showcases Goldbeck's unique ability to combine grand landscapes with detailed group portraiture. Known as "living pictures" or formation photographs, such meticulously choreographed image-making feats often required the participation of thousands of individuals.

Throughout the photo, various other features and facilities are identified, creating a virtual map of the military base. These include the artillery area, the hospital, Bachelor's Quarters, 19th Infantry, and the 11th Medical Regiment. Further, the Kole Kole Pass, the Waianae Mountain Range, and Kaala Mountain form the scenic background, creating a stark contrast to the military activities in the foreground.

Schofield Barracks, named after Lieutenant General John M. Schofield, was established in 1908. It played a significant role in the Pacific, hosting different infantry divisions and other units. From the time of its inception until 1950, the base grew both in size and importance. It became a crucial strategic location during World War II, serving as a launching point for numerous Pacific operations.

Eugene Omar Goldbeck was a renowned American panoramic photographer, known for his signature wide-angle panoramic photographs. Born on March 12, 1892, in San Antonio, Texas, Goldbeck began his photographic career as an assistant in his uncle's photography studio at a young age. By his late teens, he had become enamored with the technique of panoramic photography. He developed a unique style, opting to use a Cirkut camera to capture sweeping views of his subjects.

Over his career, Goldbeck built a successful business, founding the National Photo and News Service in San Antonio, and his work became widely recognized, especially for his massive panoramas of military bases and personnel.  Though most of his work was done in the United States he also took his Cirkut camera to China, where he recorded the aftermath of the bombing in Shanghai. In later years he even visited Egypt and Russia. He continued to capture impressive large format scenes until his retirement in the 1970s, leaving a significant impact on the field of panoramic photography. Goldbeck died in 1986, and his work remains a valuable historical and artistic record.

Examples of Goldbeck's photography are held in the Museum of Modern Art, the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, and other distinguished museums, libraries, and private collections. Burleson and Hickman reproduce a different panorama by Goldbeck of the Hawaiian division at Schofield Barracks in 1935, but not the present 1926 view.

Rarity

The present Goldbeck Hawaii panorama is very rare. No examples appear in RBH or OCLC.