@haskafah – With all due respect, you should perhaps look at the list I presented. I did not mention any from the era or yeshivos you mention and claim they had peyos. Although I could mention Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, Rav A. Y. HaKohein Kook, Rav M. M. Epstein, and Rav Aharon Cohen (the former two being from Slabodka/Chevron).
I am certain that you are aware that the heads of many (non-chasidish) Yeshivos made a decision in the years between the two world wars to bring the dress code of their bochrim more in line with the aristocracy of the times. This was simply because more and more women (prior to the acceptance and success of Sarah Schnirer) had little interest in marrying benei Yeshivah. Ergo, the three-piece grey suits, the fancy fedoras, pocket watches, pinc-nez (sp.?) glasses, and no beards and close-to-the-skin peyos.
My point is only that this “style” is better described as REnewed rather than simply new.
All this is a matter of historical record. The fact the Mir, Telz, and Slobodka adopted a hora’ah sha’ah style, does not in the slightest cause the pictoral history mentioned in my original post to disappear.