Iconic Vintage Photos Kept Out Of History Books
By Jack Ripley | March 15, 2023
Autographed photo of a humble but honest race car legend, Dale Earnhardt, in Darlington, S.C. (1979)
Ever wonder what Marilyn Monroe looked like eating a burger? Have you seen Natalie Wood covered with pie? Or perhaps you would like to see a more “studious” Clint Eastwood as opposed to the “tough guy” we’re all accustomed to? Let’s take an exclusive look at some of America’s most beloved icons of all time with these rare photographs collected here.
Here’s an old photo of race car driver Dale Earnhardt, back in 1979. Earnhardt is widely regarded as one of the most significant drivers in NASCAR history. With a total of 76 Winston Cup races won over the course of his career, how could he not be? He also earned seven NASCAR Winston Cup championships.
It was in February of 2001 when Earnhardt collided with Ken Schrader during the final lap of the Daytona 500 and died instantly. Earnhardt remains a NASCAR legend and has been inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame inaugural class in 2010.
Papa Don't 'Sweep'...a 24-year old Madonna at her brother's apartment in NYC. (1983)
Pictured here is a 24-year old Madonna hanging out at her brother's apartment in NYC back in 1983 just waiting for all the fame and fortune to come pouring in. It was July 27, 1983, when her debut album was released by Sire Records. She knew she had what it took, look at that sass. Those who knew her when she was performing live and trying to make a name for herself said she always had that diva attitude about her. Although, those who went to high school with her painted a much different picture. They claimed she kept to herself and they were shocked when she became famous. Guess she gained a whole lot of confidence between graduation and her launching her music career!
On the set of teen comedy, "Private School", with Michael Zorek, Phoebe Cates, Betsy Russell and Kari Lizer.
Here on the set of the 1983 comedy "Private School", are the talented Michael Zorek, Phoebe Cates, Betsy Russell and Kari Lizer. The film also starred Matthew Modine, and its plot follows a teenaged couple attempting to have sex for the first time.
Christine (Phoebe Cates plays Christine, an all-girls private school student, is in love with Jim (Modine), from the nearby boy's academy. Of course, Christine's arch rival Jordan (Russell) also wants Jim, and she’ll do anything to steal him away. Christine and Jim try to run away for the weekend together and as can be expected in a film such as this, things don’t go as smooth or as romantic as they had hoped.
Jayne Mansfield and her second husband, 1955 Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay, in 1958.
Here are Jayne Mansfield and her second husband, Mickey Hargitay, in 1958. In addition to being 1955’s Mr. Universe, Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay was also an actor. During the course of his marriage to Jayne Mansfield, the couple made four movies together: Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957), The Loves of Hercules (1960), Promises! Promises! (1963), and L'Amore Primitivo (1964). Mansfield was one of the early Playboy Playmates and a major Hollywood sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s. As an actress, she had several box-office successes and won a Theatre World Award and a Golden Globe. She died tragically at only 34-years old after a horrible car accident in 1967.
The best mustaches in the West Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott in 1982's The Shadow Riders.
Those are some seriously intense mustaches we’ve got in the 1982 Western, Shadow Riders. Pictured here is Tom Selleck as Mac Traven, a Civil War veteran who fought for the North, while his brother, Dal (Sam Elliott), was allied with the South.
Despite opposing sides during the war, the siblings must join forces when they return home to find their younger brother and a fiance, have been kidnapped by rebels who refuse to accept the Confederacy’s defeat.
The made-for-television western was based on the book of the same name by Louis L'Amour. It was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and also starred Dominique Dunne and Katharine Ross.
A serious looking Sir Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi) & George Lucas on the set of Star Wars. (1977)
Pictured here is director George Lucas making history on the set of Star Wars back in 1977. At his side is legendary British actor Sir Alec Guinness, or as he was known on set: Obi-Wan Kenobi. His portrayal earned him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Sir Alec Guinness was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959 for services to the arts, the following year he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1980, he was awarded the Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievement and the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award in 1989.
Hunky Steve McQueen on the set of Le Mans with not one, but two women on his bike! (1970)
Le Mans was meant to be a dream come true for Steve McQueen, but it ended up being a nightmare. McQueen had wanted to make this movie for over a decade, he invested his heart and soul into making it and it was nothing but problems every step of the way.
Not only was he told just two days before shooting by the insurance company that he couldn’t drive in the actual Le Mans race as planned, but he clashed so much with the director that he quit. By the time a new director got on board, McQueen still had some rebellion left in him but he eventually relented, came to work on autopilot, and was just glad to be done with it once it finally wrapped.
McQueen was devastated for the duration of the shoot, he ended up suffering a mid-life crisis, having numerous affairs, and did way too many drugs. His wife left him during this production and he partied so hard one night that he wrecked a Porsche 911. Then he crashed a Peugeot, sending his co-star Louise Edlind through the windscreen. Another big stressor for McQueen at this time was the Manson family murders which had just occurred months earlier, police found Steve’s name on their hit list.
A young Freddie Mercury sitting behind a trophy while he was in boarding school in India- early 60's.
Here we have a young Freddie Mercury while away in boarding school in India back in the early 60's. Mercury would grow up to be lead vocalist of one of the most famous rock bands in the world, Queen. With his flamboyant onstage personal and four-octave vocal range, he was destined for rock icon status.
The British singer and songwriter was also a record producer who also led a solo career while performing with Queen. He would produce and often serve as a guest musician for other artists.
Sadly, Mercury died at just 45-years old back in 1991 due to complications from AIDS. He was posthumously awarded the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music in 1992 and a tribute concert was held in his honor at Wembley Stadium, London. Mercury was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 as a member of Queen, into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003, and then the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
Alice Cooper and Mae West, from the film Sextette, 1978.
What a gem! A still from the 1978 musical comedy Sextette. The film stars Mae West and includes appearances by big names like Ringo Starr, Tony Curtis,, Timothy Dalton, Dom DeLuise, Keith Moon, George Hamilton, Walter Pidgeon and of course Alice Cooper.
Sextette was Mae West's final movie. In it, West plays movie star Marlo Manners who has just married for the sixth time. But on the day of her wedding, she’s asked to intervene in a political dispute between nations, which leads to chaos.
Big hair, don't care! Michael Jackson checking out Cher's moves, 1974.
It was 1974 and big hair certainly did not care as can be seen here. The Queen of Pop shaking her groove thang with the King of Pop and just look at all that sparkle! This photo is pure gold. Cher and Jackson were two of the most consistently successful celebrities out there. Almost effortlessly releasing hit after hit, theirs are two of the most impressive music careers in the business. Jackson died in 2009 after consuming a lethal mix of prescription medications and going into full cardiac arrest. Cher, now 71-years old, is still releasing music, touring and doesn’t seem to have aged all that much.
Bad Reputation. Joan Jett getting cozy on top of a trash can, 1977.
Pictured here is rocker Joan Jett, drink in hand as she gets cozy on top of a trash can back in 1977. Cheers!
Jett was a co-founder of The Runaways, in 1979 she pursued a solo career and teamed with the Sex Pistols on a few songs. Then she formed Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, recorded new material in addition to re-releasing her older fan favorites like "I Love Rock n' Roll" and "Bad Reputation".
In recent years, Jett has had her songs featured in several films and television shows including, The Runaways, Baby Mama, and Shrek. While Jett still plays live, touring extensively she is actively involved in signing new musicians to her record label, Blackheart Records.
'Bennie and the jets...' Elton John playing and having a drink on his private plane - 1970's.
Pictured here is music legend Sir Elton Hercules John, enjoying a drink and making music on his private plane back in the 1970s. As glamorous as that may seem, he has an extensive list of far more impressive achievements. The man has more than fifty Top 40 hits and throughout the course of his five-decade career, Elton John has sold more than 300 million records (so far), making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world.
He’s won pretty much everything there is to win and having already been named a Order of the British Empire in 1996, John was then made a Knight Bachelor by Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in 1998. We raise our glasses to you, Sir John.
The classic beauty of Elizabeth Taylor. (1956)
Elizabeth Taylor, was such a beauty… even the film tycoon Howard Hughes wanted to marry her so bad, he offered her parents six-figures for her hand in marriage. She turned down the offer. She wanted to marry for love and as it turned out she fell in love many times.
The only thing that drew more attention than Elizabeth Taylor's stunning looks and acting career was her personal life…. And the attention wasn’t always good. Especially after she had an affair with her friend Debbie Reynold’s husband, Eddie Fisher. They had two children and Eddie ran off and left his family behind to marry Taylor. But it didn’t last, Taylor has had numerous lovers and eight husbands through the course of her life.
Bill Murray cutting the rug with his fellow SNL partner Gilda Radner at Studio 54 . (1978)
Not many people can easily recognize this ghostbuster busting a move on the Studio 54 dance floor, right next to one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live, Gilda Radner. But here it is. At the time this photo was taken, Bill Murray had already starred in a few extremely popular movies--Ghostbusters would be filmed just a few years later.
Like Radner, Murry also gained fame on Saturday Night Live. It was the 'must see' show of the time. It's amazing how many Hollywood legends danced between these walls considering it was only operational for 33 months.
Celebrities like Dan Akroyd, Michael Jackson, Woody Allen, Rod Stewart, Olivia Newton-John, and Andy Warhol among countless others, all helped build the club's glamorous reputation. Now it's iconic, Studio 54, just in reputation alone, has yet to be topped.
'Bones heal, pain is temporary and chicks dig scars...' the one and only Evel Knievel! (1974)
Robert Craig Knievel Jr. or as he was known professionally, Evel Knievel, was a stunt performer and international icon. Evel’s first jump was at the National Date Festival in Indio, California back in 1966, and he spent the rest of his career outdoing himself. Each stunt became more ambitious and more dangerous than the last. Some of his most memorable being Caesars Palace (1967), Madison Square Garden (1971), Twin Falls, Idaho, Snake River Canyon(1975), and the famous Wembley Stadium jump (1975). Over the course of his career, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps and was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.
Camping hippie-style at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969.
Woodstock was the largest festival in music history and a cultural landmark for an entire generation. Despite the absurd amount of people that descended on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm near the town of White Lake, it was still a very peaceful event.
The hippie generation got their wish, even if only for a duration of four days. They got to live amongst like minds, share food and drugs and rock out to music in their own Utopian society. All they had been protesting for came to life on that farm for those summer days in 1969.
Clint Eastwood looking more like Clark Kent in 1967.
David Bowie and Mick Ronson having a bite to eat-Mick was the guitarist and Bowie's cohort in the Spiders from Mars band in the early '70s.
Here is David Bowie and Mick Ronson, guitarist and Bowie's cohort in the Spiders from Mars band in the early '70s. While Ronson achieved critical and commercial success working with Bowie, he also worked on several albums with Ian Hunter, Morrissey. In 1982, Ronson worked with John Mellencamp on his American Fool album, in particular, the song "Jack & Diane". He worked with Van Morrison and Bob Dylan, and also recorded several solo albums, the most popular being Slaughter on 10th Avenue. In 2003, he was named the 64th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone and then moved up to 41st in 2012 by the same magazine.
Eating a hamburger never looked so good! Marilyn Monroe enjoying a burger at a drive-in. (1952)
Here we have the beautiful Marilyn Monroe, splurging on a little fast food at a drive-in back in 1953. The stunning onscreen goddess could certainly strike a perfect pose in pretty much any setting, give her a cadillac and a burger or even just a burlap sack and she was ready to go. This particular photograph was taken by Philippe Halsman, who enjoyed a prolific 30-year career.
Farrah Fawcett pouring herself a Coke while taking a break on Battle of the Network Stars in 1976.
Pictured here is the leggy blonde of legend herself, Farrah Fawcett in Battle of the Network Stars back in 1976. Fawcett was playing on behalf of ABC along with Lynda Carter, Ron Howard, and Penny Marshall to name a few.
The premise was simple, teams of television stars from all three major networks would compete against each other in sporting events. ABC, CBS, and NBC would gather their stars, choose a team leader, and the games aired on ABC. Regular occurring events included swimming, kayaking, volleyball, golf, tennis, cycling, and running, among various other challenges.
Glenn Frey onstage during the Eagles 'Hotel California Tour' in 1978.
Go ahead, take my chair....Clint Eastwood sharing his chair with a sleeping boy on the set of The Enforcer. (1976)
Guns N' Poses. A young Slash with his parents in 1970.
Nowadays Slash is known as the lead guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses and for his side project Slash's Snakepit. But before all that he was Saul Hudson named for the artist Saul Steinberg.
Pictured here are little Saul and his very talented parents. His mother, Ola J. Hudson worked as a costume designer. Her clients included big names in music like David Bowie. His father, Anthony Hudson, also worked as an artist, creating album covers for musicians such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. It seems artistic talent and a love for the music industry, in particular, runs in the family.
Hat's my Valentine! John Lennon and Yoko Ono on Valentine's Day, 1968.
John Lennon was still married to Cynthia Lennon at the time this photo was taken. He met Yoko Ono in 1966 during a preview of her art exhibition at a London gallery, a year later they were having an affair. It didn’t seem as though Lennon had any intentions of leaving Cynthia, in fact, it was Cynthia who finally filed for divorce in 1969 and only then did embark on a real life with Ono. The two were married in 1969 after his divorce went through and in 1975 they had a son together, Sean Ono Lennon.
Lennon and Ono spent years collaborating on numerous recordings, including Two Virgins and "Give Peace a Chance," the couple held "Bed-ins for Peace" to protest the Vietnam War. After the disbanding of the Beatles, Lennon and Ono moved to New York. It was outside of their apartment there, that Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980.
I Am the Greatest A 19 year-old Muhammad Ali in 1961.
Although much of the music Diana Ross is associated with came out of the seventies, her original breakthrough was while performing with The Supremes throughout the 1960s. In addition to her own musical success, her biggest accomplishment is probably how many others she has inspired to follow in her footsteps.
Pictured here is a young Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. He would grow up to become Boxing legend, Muhammad Ali. He began training at just 12-years old. At 18-years old, he took home a gold medal from the 1960s Summer Olympics in Rome. All that training and dedication certainly paid off. He became one of the most iconic and decorated athletes of our time.
I wonder what the talent part of the contest was. Dark Shadow's Jonathon Frid crowns Miss American Vampire-1970
Christine Domaniecik had the honor of being the first regional selection in MGM’s Miss American Vampire Contest back in 1970. The competition was a promotional tool for House of Dark Shadows and Domaniecki was the winner of the New York regional event. She along with eight other regional winners; Barbara Marciel, Diane Kirby, Nina Johns, Signe Vernon and Beverly Rose traveled to Los Angeles for the national finals. Marie Cruz ended up winning but it seems history has declared Domaniecki the true winner of the event. Her name and image is the name most often associated with the contest.
Inspiration for his song Photograph. Ringo Starr and French singer Sylvie Vartan check out their cameras, 1964.
Here with Beatle Ringo Starr, we have the inspiration for the song Photograph, the French singer Sylvie Vartan. As can be seen here, the two are armed with cameras, Ringo’s other artistic medium of choice. Ringo Starr isn’t just a drummer, he’s spent years perfecting his skills as a photographer and nowadays his work can be seen in exhibits.
He also has a published a book titled: Photograph: Ringo Starr. In it, Starr shares everything from childhood memories to his time spent in The Beatles. It’s full of rare, unseen photographs taken by the icon himself. In 2015, he told Brenda Emmanus of the BBC he started taking photographs around 19 years old. He distinctly remembered making a day of photographing himself at the beach in Liverpool around this age.
I've Just Seen a Face! Linda McCartney taking a mirror selfie with hubby Paul, their daughter Mary and sheepdog Martha in London, 1969.
Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman on March 12, 1969 in a small civil ceremony—when Eastman was four months pregnant with their first of three biological children, Mary McCartney. Paul legally adopted Linda’s daughter Heather, from her first marriage and then the couple went on to have two more kids, Stella and James McCartney.
Sadly, Linda died on April 17, 1998 of breast cancer at the age of 56-years old. According to McCartney he and Linda spent less than a week apart during their entire marriage, (aside from McCartney's incarceration for drugs in Tokyo back in 1980). Paul later credited his wife as the woman who "gave me the strength and courage to work again", referring to his depression after the break-up of The Beatles.
Johnny Depp wearing a crop top in Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984.
Here we have an oh-so-80’s Johnny Depp in his breakout role as Glen in Wes Craven’s Nightmare on Elm Street. Funnily enough, it’s Craven’s daughter Depp has to thank for launching his acting career. Apparently, she was a teenager at the time and she told her father Depp was the one who would keep the female viewers interested. She was right, Depp went on to be a teen heartthrob after A Nightmare on Elm Street was released. And since then, he's become one of the highest paid and most highly sought after leading actors in Hollywood. And it all started right here... when he got sucked into his own bed and torn apart in the bloodiest scene in the film while wearing this crop top.
Keith Moon and his daughter at Tara, his home was shaped like pyramids & named by the original owner after Gone with the Wind. (70's)
Here we have a photo of drummer Keith Moon and his daughter back in the 70’s. Moon played with the English rock band the Who from 1964 until his death in 1978. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest drummers of all time, in fact, he was voted the second best in the world by Rolling Stone's readers in a poll. He was posthumously inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1982, becoming only the second rock drummer to be chosen.
Moon was known for being quite the eccentric, so it’s not really that shocking that he decided to move his family into an offbeat pyramid inspired house and name it Tara, after Gone With the Wind. Tara was a party house for much of the 1970s… “It was a very unusual house, maybe not that conducive an atmosphere for a child,” his daughter Mandy Moon later recalled.
Ladies, he makes house calls! 'Marcus Welby, M.D.' actor James Brolin as the handsome Dr. Steven Kiley. (1969)
Pictured here is actor James Brolin in one of his more memorable roles, as the handsome Dr. Steven Kiley on Marcus Welby MD. and boy did the ladies love him!
The show follows two doctors, the title character Marcus Welby, a general practitioner and Steven Kiley, Welby's young assistant. Together, they treated patients compassionately and as individuals in an age of specialized medicine and uncaring doctors… swoon.
Brolin went on to do a wide range of sitcoms and soap opera work throughout his career. Among other awards, Brolin has won two Golden Globes and an Emmy. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 27, 1998. He is married to singer/actress Barbra Streisand and the father of actor Josh Brolin.
Lew Alcindor (later to be known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) in New York City, photo taken by Richard Avedon. (1963)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. He was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and has the reputation of being the greatest basketball player of all time.
Over the course of his career, Abdul-Jabbar has also been an actor, a basketball coach, and a best-selling author. He was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be a U.S. global cultural ambassador back in 2012. Then in 2016, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
Maureen O'Hara, John Wayne and Yvonne De Carlo starred in 'McLintock!' 1963
Pictured here are stars of the 1963 western comedy McLintock! John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara., along with co-star Yvonne DeCarlo (who was billed as "Special Guest Star").
The storyline is loosely on William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. In it, Wealthy rancher G.W. McLintock tries to keep the peace between farmers, ranchers, land-grabbers, Indians and corrupt government officials. But things aren’t all peaceful on his own home front either. He also has to deal with the return of his estranged wife Katherine (Maureen O'Hara), who left him two years before, suspecting him of adultery and now wants a divorce…. Which he won’t give her and he doesn’t even get why she’s been “mad at him” for two years.
Moore, Roger Moore as the iconic spy James Bond in 1973.
It's actor Sir Roger George Moore, is best known for having played Ian Fleming's British secret agent James Bond in seven feature films. It was 1972 when Moore took over the role of James Bond from Sean Connery, making his first appearance as 007 in Live and Let Die (1973). He was the longest-serving Bond, portraying the spy in a total of six more films until finally retiring from the role in 1985.
He was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991, and was then knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for "services to charity". Moore received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.
Motley Crue's Tommy Lee & Heather Locklear when they were an item in 1985, back when rockers wore more makeup than their girlfriends-wives!
Pictured here is rocker Tommy Lee of Motley Crue and actress Heather Locklear back in 1985.
These two tied the knot on May 10, 1986, and fans couldn’t have been more confused (their public images were wildly different)
Lee was perceived as a reckless hedonist and Locklear had this “sweet and innocent” reputation, mostly driven by her appearances as Sammy Jo Dean on Dynasty and Officer Stacy Sheridan on T.J. Hooker.
But outside of their Hollywood personas, the couple was as normal as could be. "Tommy doesn't worship the devil," Locklear once said to the press, "He worships me."
Theirs wasn't a love built to last, they divorced in 1994, and by the end of the year Locklear had gone on to marry guitarist Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.
Richard Pryor on the Ed Sullivan Show, 1966. He made his debut on the show a year earlier and returned many times during the late 60's.
"I ain't no movie star, man. I'm a booty star!" It’s Richard Pryor on the Ed Sullivan Show back in 1966 The actor, comedian, and social critic, reached a wide audience with his profanity-filled, examinations of contemporary issues and colorful storytelling style. Pryor remains widely regarded as one of the most influential stand-up comedians of all time and he’s been an unwavering influence to all the greats to come after him.
According to Jerry Seinfeld, Pryor was the "The Picasso of our profession". Dave Chappelle had a great description of Pryor’s contributions, "You know those, like, evolution charts of man? He was the dude walking upright. Richard was the highest evolution of comedy."
SNL's Chevy Chase doing some grocery shopping in the 70's.
Chase had an ongoing feud with John Belushi and was regularly combative with pretty much everyone. He even got into an actual physical brawl with Bill Murray just moments before broadcast in 1978. Chase has also been known to spouted racist, misogynistic and even homophobic views on set.
Stop! In the City of Love-The Supremes looking tres chic in Paris (1965)
Dressed in pastel and sitting pretty in a Parisian cafe is Diana Ross and the Supremes back in 1965. Although much of the music Diana Ross is associated with came out of the seventies, her original breakthrough was while performing with The Supremes throughout the 1960s. In addition to her own musical success, her biggest accomplishment is probably how many others she has inspired to follow in her footsteps.
Teenage Idol Ricky Nelson rocking a pair of short-shorts in 1958.
Ricky Nelson started out in the entertainment industry at the age eight, starring alongside his family in the radio and television series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
Just one year before this photo was taken Nelson launched his long and successful career as a performing artist. He was among the top teen idols of the time and his popularity scored him a co-starring role alongside John Wayne and Dean Martin in the western film Rio Bravo (1959).
He managed to plac 53 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1957 and 1973. He then went on to record 19 more Top 10 hits and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 21, 1987.
The 'Bat's' meow! Feline fox Julie Newmar as Catwoman (1966)
The beautiful Julie Newmar played Catwoman in the Batman television series. Sporting a tight one piece and armed with a bullwhip, the provocative thief had quite the love-hate relationship with Gotham’s hero. It was Newmar who was responsible for modifying the Catwoman costume. She wore the belt at the hips instead of the waist, to accentuate her hourglass figure.
With her Catwoman costume now sitting in the Smithsonian Institution, Julie Newmar has gone on to establish an immensely successful career since her Batman days. She is still going strong and in addition to acting, Newmar has become a vocal supporter of LGBT rights. She was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing organization in 2013.
The debate still goes on, Tiffany or Debbie Gibson as the Teen Pop Princess of the 80's.
The two teen pop princesses of the late ‘80s: Tiffany and Debbie Gibson. Both of these talented young ladies released their debut albums in 1987 — Tiffany’s was self-titled and Gibson’s was “Out of the Blue”. The media often tried to paint the girls as rivals, although according to Tiffany then two of them were so busy with their careers that they didn’t even have time to connect with each other on any level. They did finally find the time to develop a friendship as adults however and they even toured together.
The iconic smoking comedy duo, Richard 'Cheech' Marin and Tommy Chong! (70's)
It’s everybody’s favorite stoners, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong! The Grammy Award–winning comedy duo gained notoriety throughout the 1970s and 1980s for their standup and films. Their first feature film, Up in Smoke,came out in 1978 and became a cult classic. It grossed over $44 million which warranted two sequels: Cheech and Chong's Next Movie in 1980, and Nice Dreams in 1981.
Some of their other films include Things Are Tough All Over (1982), Still Smokin (1983), Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984), and Get Out of My Room (1985). They also have a ton of notable side projects to their names.
The late Monty Hall and announcer Jay Stewart with happy contestants on Let's Make a Deal. (1970's)
The long-running game show Let's Make a Deal, originated in 1963 and was created and produced by Stefan Hatos and Monty Hall. Hall also hosted for many years and Jay Stewart was the show’s announcer throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
The show’s format involves selecting members of the studio audience to be "traders," who are given the option to keep something of value or make a deal for another (hidden) item. The show is also known for its audience members dressing up in outrageous costumes to increase their chances of being selected.
The late Tom Petty and Johnny Depp on the set for the music video Into the Great Wide Open. [1991]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers"Into the Great Wide Open" is the third song on the 1991 album of the same name. The music video starred heartthrob Johnny Depp as the protagonist, Eddie Rebel, and Gabrielle Anwar as Eddie's girlfriend, and Faye Dunaway as his manager.
Petty himself also played multiple roles in the music video; he was the narrator, the tattoo artist, Eddie's roadie Bart, and a reporter.The other members of the Heartbreakers also had cameos as did singers Terence Trent D'Arby and Chynna Phillips of Wilson Phillips. Randomly enough Matt LeBlanc (aka Joey Tribbiani ) also appeared in this smorgasbord of famous faces.
The original Ronald McDonald, Willard Scott, in 1963.
Horror of horrors, it's the original Ronald McDonald, come to swallow your soul with a smile. From 1963 to 1966 and occasionally as late as 1971 Willard Scott smeared on the grease paint, rocked a paper cup nose, and terrifying double eyebrows as Ronald McDonald for the McDonald's franchise.
It’s amazing how unintentionally menacing wide eyes and a smile can be... But seriously what made him think those eyebrows were a good idea?
Scott is now an author and has worked as a weather presenter, radio personality, and is also well known for his TV work on the Today show.
A 16 year-old Sylvester Stallone with his younger brother Frank, mother Jacqueline and stepfather Tony out on the town in NYC. (1963)
Here we have a fresh-faced Sylvester Stallone out to eat with his family: brother Frank, his mother Jacqueline, and his stepfather Tony are all out in NYC back in 1963.
Little "Sly" Stallone would grow up to be a writer, actor, and filmmaker best known for his action roles as boxer Rocky Balboa and soldier John Rambo.
Stallone was nominated for two Academy Awards for Rocky in 1977, the first was for Best Original Screenplay and the second was for Best Actor. This made him the third man in history to receive these two nominations for the same film, the first two were Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles.
Another celeb couple back in the day was Rick Springfield and Linda Blair, he was 25 and she was 15 when they met and dated from 1974-76
All we can say is, ick. Rick Springfield, then a 25-year-old struggling musician, found himself at the Whiskey A Go Go, where he performed a show. It was there that he met Linda Blair, one of Hollywood's most popular young actresses at the time, thanks to her recent role in the iconic horror movie, The Exorcist. Linda's sister bought them drinks, since Linda - being only 15 years old - legally could not. Despite keeping their relationship under wraps, the media eventually caught wind of the affair, causing a great deal of controversy. As you might expect, Springfield faced significant scrutiny due to his involvement with a teenager - though not apparently not enough.
While the attitudes towards underage relationships may have been more permissive in the 1970s, it is essential to note that such behavior is entirely unacceptable.
Did someone order a tongue sandwich? Mike Douglas, Gene Simmons and Cher in a publicity shot for 'The Mike Douglas Show' in 1979
Gene Simmons was known for his outrageous stage antics, but did you know he had just as much drama offstage?
Back in the late 1970s, Simmons was dating none other than the iconic singer and actress, Cher, pictured above. The two even lived together! But as fate would have it, Simmons' heart was soon captured by another leading lady, the soulful Diana Ross. And guess what? He ended up living with her too! But wait, there's more! Simmons was a bit of a ladies' man, to say the least. He claims to have slept with as many as 5,000 women over the course of his lifetime. That's a lot of smooching!
If you ever wondered what Yvonne De Carlo looked like without the 'Lily Munster' makeup and hair, here she is in the 1950's.
Hey there, movie buffs! Did you know that Yvonne De Carlo, famous Hollywood actress, made history as the first American movie star to visit Israel? That's right, folks - she wasn't Jewish, but that didn't stop her from touring the country back in 1951 and being treated like an absolute queen!
De Carlo was a multi-talented performer, known for her roles in countless classic movies. During her visit to Israel, she even gave several performances, singing and dancing scenes from some of her most beloved films. And let's just say, the people of Israel were totally enamored by her! It turns out, her movies were huge hits over there too.
De Carlo traveled to some of the country's most famous cities, including Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Jerusalem, and Haifa. Everywhere she went, she was greeted with kindness and warmth, and even enjoyed some Turkish coffee with the mayor of Jerusalem. Not too shabby, right?
Farrah Fawcett, Raquel Welch and Rex Reed on the set of the movie Myra Breckinridge, 1970.
Myra Breckenridge is a 1970 movie based on a groundbreaking novel by Gore Vidal, which was published in 1968. Now, you might be wondering - what's so special about this book and movie? Well, for starters, it was a total trailblazer when it came to discussing gender identity. Myra Breckinridge features the first main character to go through a clinical sex change during the story, opening up all sorts of discussions about patriarchy, feminism, transgenderism, societal norms, and deviant sexual behavior. Pretty wild, right?
Of course, this movie wouldn't be complete without a killer cast. The lovely Raquel Welsh was tapped to play the titular character, and she shared the screen with none other than the iconic Farrah Fawcett and the sharp-tongued Rex Reed.
Donny and Marie Osmond with their mini-mes in 1976
Hey there, pop culture fans! Do you remember the groovy brother-sister duo, Donny and Marie Osmond? These two were the ultimate sibling powerhouses, and they became teen idols practically overnight thanks to their hit television variety show, which debuted back in 1976. Donny was already a household name thanks to his stint with the Osmond Brothers, but this variety show was Marie's big chance to show off her amazing singing skills, and boy did she deliver!
Donny and Marie even inspired their very own Barbie dolls! That's right - the Osmond siblings were such icons that Barbie herself had to get in on the action, creating special Donny and Marie dolls for fans to collect and cherish.
Jacqueline Bisset in Vogue Paris, November 1973.
We've got a fun fact for you today about the one and only Jacqueline Bisset. Did you know that her real first name is actually Winifred? That's right - she decided to drop her first name when she embarked on her acting career back in 1965.
And boy, did that decision pay off! By 1968, Bisset had already starred in three incredible films - The Detective, Bullitt, and The Sweet Ride - and had even earned herself a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. Talk about a rising star!
But that was just the beginning for Bisset. Over the years, she continued to shine in a variety of roles, earning herself a second Golden Globe nomination for her work in Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? in the 1970s. And let's not forget about her iconic performances in Airport, Murder on the Orient Express, The Deep, and The Greek Tycoon - this woman truly knows how to bring a character to life!
Agnetha and Frida, the voice of ABBA, 1970s. The Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972.
Did you know that the name ABBA actually came from the first letter of each band member's first name? That's right - it stands for Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny, and...Frida. Oops. Luckily, the band used her birth name, Anni-Frid, to make the name ABBA work. Crisis averted! And speaking of the band members, did you know that ABBA was made up of not one, but two married couples? That's right - Lyngstad and Benny Andersson were married, as were Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus. It was a real family affair, and their chemistry on stage was undeniable.
Of course, the real reason we all love ABBA is for their unforgettable music. From the catchy pop of "Waterloo" and "Take a Chance on Me" to the disco-fueled anthems of "Mamma Mia" and "Dancing Queen," these Swedes knew how to get us dancing and singing along.
Groovy photo of Elton John and Stevie Wonder, 1973
Elton John and Stevie Wonder are musical legends who have been inspiring each other and collaborating in their hearts for years. And finally, in 2021, that long-awaited collaboration came to fruition. Stevie and Elton teamed up for the sweet and nostalgic tune "Finish Line," which appeared on Stevie Wonder's most recent album, Lockdown Sessions. This was a momentous occasion, a true meeting of the musical minds that had been a long time coming.
But what's even more heartwarming is the fact that the music video for "Finish Line" commemorates the more than fifty year friendship between these two icons. It's a touching tribute to the bond they share and the impact they've had on each other's lives and careers.
John Travolta and his dance moves in Saturday Night Fever, 1977.
Are you ready to boogie down with some disco fever? Saturday Night Fever is a film from 1977 is all about the flashy dance moves of the one and only John Travolta, whose hip-shaking and foot-tapping helped make disco music a worldwide phenomenon. And let's not forget about the killer soundtrack, featuring jams from the likes of the Bee Gees and other disco-era icons. It was a match made in dance-floor heaven!
But Saturday Night Fever was more than just a movie - it was a cultural phenomenon that shone a light on the disco subculture in all its glory. From funky fashion to steamy sexual encounters, this movie had it all. And at its core, it was a story about the working-class struggle and the power of music to unite and inspire.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun! Cyndi Lauper and her friend in the early 1970s
Cyndi Lauper was a fun-loving, quirky singer made a splash in the music industry with her unforgettable tunes and colorful personality.
Back in 1983, Lauper dropped her debut album, She's So Unusual, and it was an instant hit. In fact, it was the first time a female artist had ever had four Top Five hit singles on the Billboard charts with a debut album. Talk about a trailblazer!
And let's not forget about those classic tunes - who could resist jamming out to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "She Bop," "Time After Time," and "All Through the Night?" These were the kinds of songs that got stuck in your head and made you want to dance around the room like a maniac.
But perhaps Lauper's biggest hit of all was "True Colors," off her second album of the same name. This powerful anthem has become a timeless classic, reminding us all to stay true to ourselves and embrace our unique qualities.
Debbie Harry rocking on stage in the 70s.
Hey there, music lovers! Did you know that the iconic Debbie Harry spent much of the 1970s living it up in the big apple? That's right - this punk rock queen was a fixture on the New York City scene, rubbing elbows with the likes of Andy Warhol and other famous faces of the time.
Now, living in the city wasn't always easy for Harry. As she reveals in her recently released autobiography, the Big Apple could be a dangerous place, full of risks and unknowns. She even experienced some pretty harrowing moments, including being robbed, raped at knifepoint, and accepting a ride from a man who she now believes may have been none other than notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. Yikes!
But despite all of that, Harry still looks back on the 1970s as an exhilarating and romantic time to be a New Yorker. The music and art scenes were absolutely thriving, full of cutting-edge creativity and eclectic sounds. It was a time of experimentation and boundary-pushing, and Harry was right there in the thick of it all.
Talented teens, Donny and Marie Osmond in 1973.
These two siblings churned out hit after hit throughout the decade. In 1974, Donny and Marie hit the charts with "I'm Leaving It Up To You" and "Morning Side of the Mountain," proving that they were much more than just a one-hit wonder.
The next year, they found even more success with "Make the World Go Away" and "Deep Purple," cementing their status as two of the most talented and beloved singers of the era. And as if that wasn't enough, they kept on delivering hit after hit, with "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" in 1976 and 1977, followed by "I Want to Give You My Everything" in 1978.
Barbara Bach practicing yoga in 1977
You might recognize the fit and fabulous Barbara Bach from her iconic role as Anya Amasova, aka Agent Triple X, in the James Bond classic The Spy Who Loved Me. Or maybe you know her better as the beloved wife of former Beatle Ringo Starr.
That's right - these two lovebirds first met on the set of the film Caveman back in 1981, and they've been together ever since. They tied the knot that same year and have been going strong ever since. It's a real-life love story that's sure to make your heart sing.
But it hasn't always been sunshine and rainbows for this power couple. In the late 1980s, both Ringo and Barbara struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. But instead of letting it tear them apart, they faced it head-on and checked themselves into rehab together. And the best part? They've both been sober ever since.
The queen of the silver screen Elizabeth Taylor playing in the rain, 1950s.
Elizabeth Taylor's legendary beauty was apparent even from a young age. That's right - her eyes were so strikingly beautiful that her mother was constantly being told to get her daughter into show business.
And it's not hard to see why. Taylor's eyes were technically blue, but they had a rare and unusual shade of deep blue that almost looked violet. And thanks to a genetic mutation, she had not one, but two sets of eyelashes, which framed her stunning eyes with a thick, dark fringe.
Eventually, Taylor's mother listened to all the suggestions and allowed her daughter to audition for movie roles. And at the age of just nine, she landed her first acting gig. It was the start of a long and illustrious career that would make her one of the most beloved actresses of all time.
