Born 1827 in Lucerne, Swiss landscape painter Robert Zünd came from a middle-class family. He traveled to Paris in 1852. At the Louvre, he studied the works of the Dutch and French masters of the 17th Century. His first major work was The Harvest (1860), now in the Kunstmuseum Ba … | Continue reading
Esther Jones (aka Baby Esther), born in Chicago in 1918, was a natural performer who debuted on stage at four years old. Her first managers were her parents, Gertrude and William. Jones made silly expressions, danced, and frequently used the phrase “Boop, boop-a-doop” during her … | Continue reading
Before a camera she could exude personality. Newsreel footage shows Clara among the Baby Stars, her unruly hair blowing in the wind while others wear chic cloche hats. Grinning impishly, she blows a kiss to the camera, as natural as the rest are formal. The moment is charming, bu … | Continue reading
In 2006, photographer Harry Benson captured Amy Winehouse during her global success and recognition at the Savoy Hotel in London. The photographs beautifully highlight her lively and vibrant personality. “I am glad I had the opportunity to photograph the mega-talented Amy Winehou … | Continue reading
Born 1924 in the province of Frosinone and raised in Turin and Rome, Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni made his film debut in 1939 at the age of 14, but did not seriously pursue acting until the 1950s, when he made his critical and commercial breakthrough in the caper comedy Big … | Continue reading
Our Gang (also known as The Little Rascals) is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the producer of the Laurel and Hardy films, Our Gang shorts were produced from … | Continue reading
On September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur, who’s just left the Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon fight at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, was gunned down in Suge Knight’s BMW while at a stop light at East Flamingo Road and Koval Lane. He was shot four times, with two of the .40 caliber shots landing … | Continue reading
When Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan hugged Harrison Ford at the 95th Academy Awards after Quan’s Everything Everywhere All at Once won Best Picture, it was more than just a celebration of one movie’s victory. The teary embrace was an emotional reunion with Ford, Quan’s co-star in 1984’ … | Continue reading
The 1940s were heavily influenced by the impact of World War II, which necessitated efficient and reliable transportation infrastructure, including railways. The technology for railroad inspection vehicles continued to improve, though much of the focus during this period remained … | Continue reading
Cornwall is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised by Cornish and Celtic political groups as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, Devon to the east, and the E … | Continue reading
Led Zeppelin II was released in October, 1969, and became the first Led Zeppelin album to hit #1 in the U.S., unseating Abbey Road by The Beatles for the top spot. It was the first recording with engineer Eddie Kramer (famous then for his work with Hendrix) and his expertise, com … | Continue reading
Horns blare as two showgirls emerge from behind curtains dressed in identical shimmering red gowns. They knowingly look at one another, step forward, throw their white fur wraps to the ground and begin singing and sashaying to the oh so effervescent “Two Little Girls from Little … | Continue reading
The Casbah Coffee Club was a rock and roll music venue in the West Derby area of Liverpool, England, that operated from 1959 to 1962. Started by Mona Best, mother of early Beatles drummer Pete Best, in the cellar of the family home, the Casbah was planned as a members-only club f … | Continue reading
Fashion in the 1930s was characterized by elegance and sophistication, reflecting both the economic challenges and the glamorous escapism of the era.Fashion photography in the 1930sFor women, the decade saw the rise of longer hemlines, with floor-length gowns for evening wear and … | Continue reading
In 1996 Bowie became the first major artist to make a single release downloadable. ‘Telling Lies’ took about 11 minutes to download using a dial-up connection. He set up his own Internet Provider in 1998 called BowieNet. Users were given access to exclusive content and bonus mate … | Continue reading
The garden party was planned for August 24, 1964, the day after the Beatles performed at the Hollywood Bowl in front of thousands of screaming fans. Alan Livingston was president of Capitol Records and had signed the Beatles that same year. Livingston was married to Sunset Boulev … | Continue reading
To reduce costs and increase production of his most successful automobile — the Model T — Henry Ford borrowed a tactic from the meatpacking industry and implemented the assembly line in his manufacturing plant. It would revolutionize the auto industry as would Ford’s groundbreaki … | Continue reading
Victorian little girls had a distinctive and recognizable appearance, largely shaped by the fashion norms of the time. They typically wore long dresses, often white or pastel-colored with high necklines, puffed sleeves, and lots of lace or ribbon detailing. Pinafores were wore ov … | Continue reading
Purported last photograph taken of Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary (at left) at Territet, Switzerland, with her lady-in-waiting Irma Sztáray on September 3, 1898. Elisabeth (born Duchess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie in Bavaria; December 24, 1837 – September 10, 1898), nicknamed … | Continue reading
As the undisputed icon of its time, the 1959 Cadillac epitomizes the 1950s ethos: embracing excess with the belief that more is better and too much is never enough. The well-known narrative unfolds with a glimpse of Chrysler’s radical 1957 lineup prompting a swift response from G … | Continue reading
Salma Hayek was born on September 2, 1966 in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. Her father is of Lebanese descent and her mother is of Mexican/Spanish ancestry. After having seen Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) in a local movie theater, she decided she wanted to become an actress. … | Continue reading
Here’s the strangest cartoon with an automotive theme you’ll ever see. From the delightfully demented mind of comedian Charley Bowers comes the 1930 stop-action classic, It’s a Bird. Ever see a bird devour an entire Model T Ford? Watch this. Charles Bowers is virtually forgotten … | Continue reading
Born 1918 in San Francisco, California, American actress Marjorie Lord made her Broadway debut in The Old Maid with Judith Anderson. Her other Broadway appearances came in Signature (1945), Little Brown Jug (1946), and The Girl in the Freudian Slip (1967). Lord played Kathy “Clan … | Continue reading
Keanu Charles Reeves, whose first name means “cool breeze over the mountains” in Hawaiian, was born September 2, 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon. He is the son of Patric Reeves, a showgirl and costume designer, and Samuel Nowlin Reeves, a geologist. Keanu’s father was born in Hawaii, of … | Continue reading
Eugene ‘Gene’ Vernier (1920–2011) worked as a fashion photographer for British Vogue from 1954 to 1967, during one of the most exciting periods in fashion history. Fashion photography by Eugene Vernier in the 1950s Shooting of-the-moment looks from the likes of Christian Dior and … | Continue reading
Margaret Yvonne Kao Middleton (September 1, 1922 – January 8, 2007), known professionally as Yvonne De Carlo, was a Canadian-American actress, dancer and singer. She became a Hollywood film star in the 1940s and 1950s, made several recordings, and later acted on television and st … | Continue reading
In 1922, the world witnessed an encounter between two of the most iconic figures in the realms of film and dance: Charlie Chaplin, the master of silent film comedy, and Anna Pavlova, the prima ballerina whose ethereal grace had captivated audiences across the globe. The year mark … | Continue reading
Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and the third-oldest European capital city (after Athens and Rome), predating other modern European capitals by centuries. In the 1980s, Lisbon experienced significant change and moder … | Continue reading
Water is so scarce in the desert that often only a few drops are allowed to wash with during WWII-North African Campaign. But Mobile Bath Units travel about, carrying their own water with them. A marquee is set up with showers and soon hot showers are laid on for the troops. Pict … | Continue reading
In the 1950s, weddings were typically formal and elegant. Brides often wore full-skirted gowns with petticoats, long veils, and pearls or lace accents. The ceremonies were usually held in churches, and the reception often featured traditional foods with formal sit-down dinners. G … | Continue reading
In the 1960s, fast-food chains began to adopt more standardized approaches to their operations, including the appearance and attire of their employees. Instructional photos and manuals from this era would often feature guidelines on how to “dress for success” in the fast-food ind … | Continue reading
In the 1970s, Richard Gere (born August 31, 1949) was in the early stages of his acting career, establishing himself in Hollywood. He had a youthful, charismatic presence with a striking look—often sporting thick, wavy dark hair, a lean build, and a brooding expression. His style … | Continue reading
Born 1953 or 1954 in Fort Dix, New Jersey, American actress Priscilla Barnes is best known for her role as Terri Alden in the ABC sitcom Three’s Company between 1981 and 1984. She also has appeared in films, including A Vacation in Hell (1979), Licence to Kill (1989), Stepfather … | Continue reading
This might be one of the most famous images in photographic history. The first ever X-ray image was taken on December 22, 1895 by Wilhelm Röntgen (1845-1923), who was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. The original radiograph is at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, G … | Continue reading
Fernet-Branca is an Italian brand of fernet, a style of amaro or bitters. It was formulated in Milan in 1845, and is manufactured there by Fratelli Branca Distillerie. Fernet-Branca ad posters in the early 20th century Fernet-Branca is often consumed neat as a digestif, or as a m … | Continue reading
The Big Oak is a large live oak (Quercus virginiana) located in Thomasville, Georgia, in the United States at the corner of Crawford Street and Monroe Street. The Big Oak is one of many historic landmarks located in Thomasville. The Big Oak was one of the earliest trees registere … | Continue reading
Bentley has recreated an important car design from its past that was lost during the bombing of France during the outbreak of WWII. The 1939 Bentley Corniche is the missing link in the history of Bentley’s most important models, connecting the fabled Embiricos 4¼ Litre and post-w … | Continue reading
The General Art and Industrial Exposition of Stockholm of 1897, also known as Stockholm Exhibition or Stockholm World’s Fair, was a World’s Fair staged in 1897 in Stockholm, Sweden. This marked the 25th anniversary of King Oscar’s reign. Construction began in 1895 and the Exposit … | Continue reading
“If going much further please take one.” Typical ‘Aussie’ humor is reflected in this sign erected on the El Alamein road by Australian troops, 1942. The Australians are famous for all their well-developed sense of humor. At the wire along the El Alamein road, they have erected a … | Continue reading
Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) is a 1931 American pre-Code Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film directed and produced by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Greta Garbo and Clark Gable. The film is based on a novel by David Graham. It is the only screen pairing of Garbo and Gable, who did not li … | Continue reading
Thriller is the music video for the song “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, released on December 2, 1983. It was directed by John Landis, written by Jackson and Landis, and stars Jackson and Ola Ray. It references numerous horror films and has Jackson dancing with a horde of zombies. … | Continue reading
Ingrid Bergman, the renowned Swedish actress, had a memorable moment in 1952 when she was photographed carrying her twin daughters, Isabella and Isotta Rossellini. Isabella and Isotta Rossellini are the twin daughters of Ingrid Bergman and Italian film director Roberto Rossellini … | Continue reading
Otto Lucas (1903–1971) was a German-born, London-based milliner. Running a hugely successful hatmaking studio in London between the 1930s and the 1970s, his business supplied both major stores throughout Europe, the US and Australia and hats for private clients such as Greta Garb … | Continue reading
Tom Thumb was the first American-built steam locomotive to operate on a common-carrier railroad. It was designed and constructed by Peter Cooper in 1829 to convince owners of the newly formed Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) to use steam engines; it was not intended to enter rev … | Continue reading
Founded in Milan in 1900 by Cesare Isotta and brothers Oreste, Vincenzo, and Antonio Fraschini, Isotta Fraschini initially imported French cars before starting their own production in 1902. By 1906, they became Italy’s second-largest motor manufacturer, highlighted by an Isotta F … | Continue reading
United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) is an American multinational shipping & receiving and supply chain management company founded in 1907. Originally known as the American Messenger Company specializing in telegraphs, UPS has expanded to become a Fortune 500 company and one of the … | Continue reading
Traveling Wilburys were a British-American supergroup active from 1988 to 1991 consisting of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. They were a roots rock band and described as “perhaps the biggest supergroup of all time.” Originating from an idea disc … | Continue reading
Born 1922 in Sioux City, Iowa, American actress and dancer Frances Rafferty signed by MGM Studios and made her film debut in 1942. She appeared in minor and secondary roles, and although she had a part in the 1944 film Dragon Seed with Katharine Hepburn and Walter Huston, her sig … | Continue reading