Rarely Seen Photos From The Groovy Era
By | April 12, 2019
Who Remembers These Talented and Beautiful Sisters (Audrey and Judy Landers) back in the 1980s?
Like a blast from the past, these photos will have you reminiscing about the groovy days when a happening Saturday Night meant you wore your coolest hip-hugger bell bottoms, listened to Styx on your 8-track player, and met your friends to go see the premier of E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial. From the hottest Hollywood celebrities to your favorite rock bands, this collection of rarely seen photos from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s will remind you why we were lucky to grow up in the time before cellphones, social media, and the internet.
A dynamic duo, sisters Audrey and Judy Landers were everywhere in the late 1970s and 1980s. Older sister Audrey, who studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, landed the role of Afton Cooper on the hit nighttime soap opera Dallas. She appeared in 84 episodes of the popular TV show. Her younger sister, Judy, a buxom blonde, was often cast as the dumb blonde. She made her mark as a guest star in several of the hottest TV shows of the time, including Happy Days, The Love Boat, Charlie’s Angels, CHiPs, The Fall Guy, Knight Rider, and The A-Team, to name a few.
Leonard Nimoy Rocking a Plaid Robe in the Late 1960s.
Sure, Leonard Nimoy did a few other things with his career, like hosting In Search Of, penning three autobiographies, and – as we can see in this pic – lounging around in his bathrobe. But the bulk of Nimoy’s career was devoted to playing one iconic character … Spock. After tackling the role in the original Star Trek television series, he went on to reprise his character in six of the Star Trek films. Did you know that Nimoy even directed some of the Star Trek movies? He also voiced Spock in animated shows and video games, made numerous appearances at sci-fi conventions, and even recorded two musical albums as the Spock character.
Thank Catherine Bach For Defining Daisy Duke from "The Dukes of Hazzard", 1979 to 1985.
The casting call for the role of Daisy Duke on the upcoming TV series The Dukes of Hazzard called for a Dolly Parton-like actress. Tall, leggy brunette Catherine Bach knew she didn’t fit the mold, but she went to the audition anyway. To her surprise, she was hired on the spot. But there was one small problem. The costume department asked her to wear a poodle skirt, tight turtleneck, and tall white go-go boots. This outfit didn’t fit the vision of Daisy Duke that Bach had. She went to the producer and asked if she could bring in her own outfit, one that she felt would be more in line with the sexy country girl character. He agreed, and the next day, Bach showed up wearing a pair of high heels, a homemade t-shirt, and a pair of cut of jean shorts. The rest is history.
Close-Up of Elvis From a Press Conference in 1972.
The year that this photo was taken, 1972, was a pivotal one for the King of Rock n Roll. In April of that year, Elvis appeared in a film, Elvis on Tour, that later won a Golden Globe for Best Documentary Film. He won a Grammy for He Touched Me, his gospel album, and he played four consecutive sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. But 1972 was also the year that his marriage to Priscilla Presley crumbled and fell apart. The couple separated in February of 1972 and filed for divorce on August 18.
Caroline Munro Met an Untimely Death in the British Horror Film "Dracula A.D. 1972".
Caroline Munro and Stephanie Beacham starred in the British horror movie Dracula A.D., 1972, alongside Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. The updated retelling of the Dracula story takes place a century after the death of the famed vampire. When a group of hippies resurrects the bloodthirsty count, things don’t go well for Munro’s character and, for that matter, the rest of the group. The premise of the film seems like it would attract an audience, but overall, film critics gave the movie negative reviews.
Pink Floyd Enjoying the Sun at the Fête de l'Humanité Festival in 1970.
In 1970, Pink Floyd was the sole headline for the Fete de l’Humanite festival, held annually in France. What is the Fete de l’Humanite festival, you ask? It translates to mean ‘Festival of Humanity’ in English. It has been held annually since 1904 and is a fundraiser for the left-wing newspaper, l’Humanite. It has grown into the largest gathering in France, with attendance in the 800,000-visitor range. The event features a live music stage and attracts some of the popular performers of the time. The Who, Chuck Berry, Genesis, Avril Lavigne, and Iggy Pop have all headlined the festival. Taking the stage in 1970, however, was British psychedelic rock band, Pink Floyd.
Ali MacGraw's Presence on the set of "Papillon" in Jamaica, 1972, Caused a Stir.
Is it possible that Steve McQueen was snubbed for an Oscar for his role as Henri “Papillon” Charriere in the 1973 film, Papillon, which many critics believe was the best performance of McQueen’s career, because of his off-screen antics? Maybe. Filming of Papillon was somewhat overshadowed by McQueen’s romance with actress Ali MacGraw. When McQueen and MacGraw started their highly publicized fling, she was still married to Robert Evans, one of Hollywood’s most powerful movie studio executives. Evans claimed that McQueen stole his wife from him, but the paparazzi was quick to point out that MacGraw looked quite happy when she visited McQueen in Jamaica where Papillon was filmed. This photo was one of many taken of the actress during her visit to Jamaica.
Outrageous and Flamboyant, Here Is Freddie Mercury Onstage in 1970s.
Always a flamboyant showman who liked to push the envelope while on stage, Freddie Mercury was a unique individual either off-stage or on. Enormously talented, Mercury founded the British rock band Queen in 1970 and served as the group’s lead vocalist. He penned most of Queen’s biggest and most memorable hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Killer Queen,” “We Are the Champions’, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “Somebody to Love,” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Mercury had a four-octave vocal range so he could hit the high notes in dramatic fashion. As a stage performer, Mercury was unmatched. He interacted with the crowd and made each concert a unique event.
The Young Rolling Stones Rocking Matching Suits, 1963. Spoiler Alert: It Wasn't A Good Look For Them.
When they were just starting out, the Rolling Stones signed an agreement to make Andrew Loog Oldham their manager. Oldham tried to use the same strategy Brian Epstein used with the Beatles in making the Rolling Stones stars. That included having the members wear matching suits and present a clean-cut image. That approach didn’t seem like a good fit for the band. Instead, Oldham decided to do the opposite as the Beatles. In fact, he viewed the Rolling Stones as the anti-Beatles. Under his guidance, the Rolling Stones earned a reputation for being raw, gritty, uncouth, and somewhat dangerous … all the things that a good rock band should be.
Marilyn Monroe Performing “My Heart Belongs To Daddy” in the Film, "Let’s Make Love" (1960).
The 1960 musical comedy, Let’s Make Love, would be Marilyn Monroe’s last musical film role before her untimely death nearly two years later. By this point in her career, Monroe had earned a reputation in Hollywood for being unreliable and unprofessional. She was often late to set, rarely knew her lines, and took her direction from her personal acting coach rather than the film’s director. Despite being emotionally fragile, she butted heads with studio execs, producers, and directors. After filming wrapped up on Let’s Make Love, Monroe was quoted as saying that it was the worst movie of her career. She felt that the character had no substance.
Stevie Nicks, David Lee Roth and Bonnie Raitt outside of The Body Shop on Sunset Strip, 1978.
A staple of Sunset Strip since the 1960s, The Body Shop was the area’s first all-nude strip club. The club employed more than 200 of the hottest exotic dancers in Hollywood to perform on two stages for the general audience, as well as being available for private shows in the VIP lounge. The Body Shop prided itself on being a first-class establishment and a top entertainment destination. In addition to the bevy of lovely ladies, The Body Shop played host to appearances from Hollywood celebrities and rock stars. In this photo from 1978, we see rockers Stevie Nick, David Lee Roth, and Bonnie Raitt hanging out outside The Body Shop.
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Once Went on a Date With Elvis.
The year was 1968 and Cassandra Peterson had not yet developed the Elvira, Mistress of the Night character that would make her famous. At this time, she was a 17-year-old working as a Las Vegas showgirl when a chance encounter with the King of Rock n Roll changed the course of her life. She met Elvis in Vegas and, she later admitted, she was totally smitten with him. The two went on what Peterson later called a ‘sort of date’. Elvis offered some advice to the young girl, telling her to get out of Vegas and pursue her own career in show business. It was Elvis, after all, so she heeded his advice. She recently noted that if she had ignored his advice, she would be the oldest showgirl in Vegas at this point.
"You Talkin' to Me?" Robert De Niro in 1973.
About the time this photograph was taken of Robert De Niro, the actor had just wrapped up filming on Martin Scorsese’s 1973 movie, Mean Streets in which he played a mobster. His performance in that film caught the attention of Francis Ford Coppola who was working on the crime epic The Godfather II. De Niro had auditioned for Coppola before, for The Godfather, and was actually offered a role in that film, but De Niro turned it down in favor of another project. Coppola remembered the young actor and offered to give him a second chance, starring at Vito Corleone.
Farrah Fawcett in a skit on "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour", 1972.
Farrah Fawcett first appeared on The Sonny and Cher Show before she became a household name from her role on Charlie’s Angels. In the early 1970s, when this picture was taken, Fawcett was in her early 20s and enjoyed success from her numerous TV commercial appearances. She also landed a series of guest roles in some of the biggest TV shows of the time, including I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun, The Partridge Family, and Mayberry R.F.D. She appeared alongside her then-husband Lee Majors, in four episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man. On the big screen, she had parts in Love Is a Funny Thing and Myra Breckenridge. It was playing the detective Jill Monroe on Charlie’s Angels, however, that pushed her into superstar status.
The Stylish and Gorgeous Jacqueline Bisset in London, 1971.
British actress Jacqueline Bisset had bit roles in a few movies in the 1960s, but her official movie debut was in 1966 in the Roman Polanski film, Cul-de-Sac. Her next movie, however, was the one that got her noticed. That was Two For the Road which starred Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn. After her favorable performance in that movie, the studio 20th Century Fox, put her under contract. That led to her first major role as Miss Goodthighs in the James Bond satire, Casino Royale. In 1970, Bisset was one of many stars to appear n Airport, a film that launched the disaster film genre.
Quite the Dish! Betty Brosmer in the Kitchen, 1959.
Sexy Betty Brosmer pioneered the fitness and bodybuilding craze for women in the 1950s. The self-proclaimed tomboy and sports nut, Brosmer found success as a model. She flaunted her toned body in skin-tight clothing, but she has her principles. In 1959, about the time that this photo was taken, Playboy magazine hired Brosmer to do an exclusive photoshoot in Beverly Hills. Brosmer, however, refused to pose nude, opting to wear a demi-bra instead. The magazine rejected all the photos and threatened to sue Brosmer for breach of contract. Brosmer stuck to her guns. She never posed nude, saying she was thinking about the reaction of her future husband and children.
Hugging It Out: Cher and Sam Elliot, From the Movie, "Mask," 1985.
In 1985, singer Cher proved that she was an all-around performer when she tackled the role of Rusty in the biographical drama, Mask. As the mother of a teenager, Rocky, suffering from a disfiguring disease. For their riveting and gritty performances, both Cher and Eric Stoltz, the actor who portrayed Rocky, earned Golden Globe Nominations. The film, which also starred Sam Elliot, shown here with Cher, won an Academy Award for Best Makeup that year.
Groundbreaking Actress Mary Tyler Moore Relaxing by the Pool in the '70s.
In the 1970s, actress Mary Tyler Moore was responsible for tremendous advances in the Women’s Movement. She didn’t accomplish this by becoming an activist, staging, protests, or running for political office. She simply did what she did best … starred in a hit television sitcom. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran from 1970 to 1977, depicted Moore as an independent, professional woman who was focused on her career. She did not need to be a wife and mother to feel happy and complete. Seeing a character like this on TV was revolutionary at the time. It helped to showcase and define the modern version of womanhood in America.
Funnyman Robin Williams on the Set of "Good Morning Vietnam" (1987) Where He Ad-Libbed Most of His Lines.
It might be easy to think that the 1987 comedy film, Good Morning, Vietnam, was created as a star vehicle for zany funnyman, Robin Williams, but the movie was actually grounded in fact. It was loosely – very loosely – based on the wartime antics of Adrian Cronauer, a DJ for Armed Forces Radio. Aside from that, Robin Williams was given free rein with the part. The majority of his lines were improvised. Cronauer later remarked that if he had done half the stuff depicted in the movie, he would have found himself in Leavenworth.
Britt Ekland, Swedish Actress and Singer Looking Pretty Groovy, 1970s.
Swedish actress Britt Ekland was one of the celebrity paparazzi’s most popular targets in the 1970s. That was due in part to her status as a seventies sex symbol following her appearances in The Double Man, Stiletto, The Wicker Man, High Velocity, and King Solomon’s Treasure. It could also have been because she was a Bond girl, appearing in the 1974 spy thriller, The Man with the Golden Gun. It was also likely that the media followed her around because of her high-profile personal life. She was married for a time to actor Peter Sellers then had a much-publicized romance with rocker Rod Stewart and later married Slim Jim Phantom, the drummer for Stray Cats, who was nearly twenty years her junior.
Oh, Those Hairy Legs and The Man With a Plan! "M*A*S*H" Cross-Dressing 'Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger' (Jamie Farr) Was Always Trying to Get Discharged. 1980
Who could forget Jamie Farr’s zany portrayal of Corporal Max Klinger in TV’s M*A*S*H? Bucking for a Section 8 discharge – a discharge from the military based on insanity – Farr’s Klinger accomplished his duties all while wearing various dresses, high heels, and pantyhose. It was hilarious at the time, but his sort of gimmick wouldn’t fly in today’s world, as people are more aware of gender fluidity. Cross-dressing is no longer an indicator of insanity. On a side note, did you know that Jamie Farr was one of only three M*A*S*H actors who actually served in the U.S. military in Korea? The other two were Alan Alda (Hawkeye) and Mike Farrell (BJ).
Cher Showing Off Her Amazing Figure Backstage at the Grammy Awards in 1974.
This photo of singer Cher was taken about a year before her divorce from her husband and former singing partner, Sonny Bono. Tall, slim, and statuesque, Cher was known for her rockin’ figure and her love for flaunting her toned abs and belly button. In fact, that was a highlight of The Sonny & Cher Show, a 1970s variety show. On the show, Cher, who was known for her hit songs, “Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves”, “Dark Lady”, “and Half-Breed”, always wore elaborate and revealing costumes with ornate headpieces.
Here's a Blast from the Past in Men's Fashion!
Long before the 1960s, only sailors wore wide-leg pants, but they became a new fashion trend during the hippie era. The young people of the 1960s and 1970s rejected traditional ways in every aspect of life, including fashion. Instead of buying uniform, conventional clothing from department stores, they opted to buy their clothing from second-hand and military surplus stores. It was at the military surplus store that they found a plethora of bell-bottom pants from the Navy. Most hippies were against the war in Vietnam and the irony of wearing old military clothing wasn’t lost on them. They added their own statements by embroidering peace signs and flowers onto the old military pants.
Living Up to the Bad Boy Rocker Image, The Who Got Kicked Out of an Entire Country.
The British rock band, The Who, made up of Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey, and John Entwistle, had a reputation for being wild and crazy guys who liked to have fun and pull pranks, as this photo from 1968 seems to illustrate. During performances, they often smashed guitars and destroyed drums. When the band appeared on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Moon paid a stagehand to hide explosives in his drum kit, however the stagehand added too much. The explosion threw Moon off the stage, destroyed the studio cameras, and burned Townshend’s hair. In 1968, about the time this photo was taken, the group was touring New Zealand and Australia. Things got out of control on a flight to Sydney and the four were arrested. The Prime Minister of Australia asked the band to leave the country and never return.
Model Nena von Schlebrügge (Uma Thurman's mother) in 1959.
Good looks run in the family! This photo shows model Baroness Birgitte Caroline von Schlebrugge, who went by the nickname Nena. The Swedish-German model was born in Mexico and arrived in New York City in 1958 as a 17-year-old girl hoping to further the modeling career she started in Stockholm when she was 14. Her face graced the cover of several top magazines, including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. In 1967, Nena married Robert Thuman, a former monk and scholar of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. The couple had four children, including actress Uma Thuman.
Do You Know Who Else Auditioned for "The Breakfast Club"?
The cast of the 1985 John Hughes film, The Breakfast Club, could have looked a lot different. Several other well-known actors and actresses were considered for roles in the movie. Both Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall were filming another John Hughes film, Sixteen Candles, when Hughes tapped them for his next movie project. Hall accepted the role of the nerdy, brainy guy, but Ringwald was originally considered for the part of the weird outcast, Allison. According to reports, Ringwald pouted until she got the role of the preppy, stuck-up girl. Jodie Foster, Robin Wright, and Laura Dern all auditioned for that part too. Emilio Estevez was, at first, casts as the rebel bully, but he was recast as the jock. Nicolas Cage and John Cusack were up for the bully role that eventually went to Judd Nelson.
Bringing Sexy Back: Faye Dunaway in the 1967 Film, "The Happening."
Proving that the feminine spine can be a sexy sight, Faye Dunaway is shown in a scene from her debut film, The Happening, which was released in 1967. Billed as a crime comedy, The Happening was a product of its time. The plot followed a group of hippies who kidnap a former Mafia boss and hold him for ransom. It poked fun at the older generation, middle-class values, and traditional beliefs. It was a busy year for Faye Dunaway. Shortly after filming closed on The Happening, she shot her second film of the year, Bonnie and Clyde, in which she played Bonnie. From there, her career took off.
Happy Mom Jayne Mansfield and her daughter, Mariska Hargitay. (1964)
Did you know that Mariska Hargitay, the star of Law and Order: SVU, is the daughter of sexy Hollywood starlet, Jayne Mansfield? Here is a photo of the 1950s-era sex symbol with her young daughter. Mariska shares her father’s last name. He was Mickey Hargitay, a Hungarian-born bodybuilder, actor, and former Mr. Universe. Mariska’s parents had long divorced when, on June 29, 1967, tragedy struck. A terrible car accident in Mississippi instantly killed Jayne Mansfield, her boyfriend, and the driver of the car. Mariska, then just three and a half years old, was asleep in the backseat with her two brothers. The boys escaped injury, but Mariska was left with a head wound.
Future Medicine Woman, Jane Seymour in the early 1970s.
You might best remember the classically beautiful British actress Jane Seymour for her six-season run as television’s Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman in the 1990s, but by this time, she had more than twenty years of show business experience under her belt. Seymour was cast in her first movie role as an extra in the 1969 film, Oh! What a Lovely War, a musical comedy. She skyrocketed from movie extra to leading role in a relatively short amount of time. About the time that this photo was taken, Seymour had already had a leading role in a TV series, The Onedin Line, and played a Bond Girl in Live and Let Die.
A Young Model, Cybill Shepherd, Before Launching Her Acting Career.
Cybill Shepherd, who starred with Bruce Willis in the 1980s detective show, Moonlighting, was a pageant queen and teen model in the 1960s. As the story goes, Shepherd’s photograph graced the cover of Glamour magazine in 1970. Movie director Peter Bogdanovich’s wife at the time, Polly Platt, happened to see the magazine as she was standing in the checkout line at her local grocery store. For weeks, she had listened to her husband lament that he could not find the right girl to play the role of Jacy in his latest film project, The Last Picture Show. When she saw Shepherd’s Glamour cover, she knew she had found the person her husband had been searching for. She brought home the magazine and Bogdanovich tracked down the model and ultimately cast Shepherd in her debut role.
Kim Basinger Has Been Romantically Linked to Many of Hollywood's Biggest Names.
During the late 1970s, pretty, blonde, girl-next-door, Kim Basinger was a top fashion model and actress. In fact, she was one of the biggest sex symbols of the 1980s. It is Basinger’s off-screen life that is somewhat enviable. She has been romantically linked to many of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Richard Gere, model Tim Saunders, football player Joe Namath, fashion designer Alexio Gandara, singer Prince, rapper Eminem, and actor Alec Baldwin, to whom she was married for nine years. According to reports, she is currently living with her hairdresser, Mitch Stone.
Mariska Hargitay, in this pic from 1988, Got Her Good Looks From Her Mom, Jayne Mansfield.
Mariska Hargitay, the daughter of Hollywood sex symbol Jayne Mansfield, may be known today for her long-time role on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, but she had a diverse career before landing this role. Did you know that she was one a pageant girl and held the title of Miss Beverly Hills. She advanced to the Miss California USA pageant and came in fourth. She was in a music video in 1984. It was for Ronnie Milsap’s “She Loves My Car”, the first country music video to air on MTV. She appeared in a horror film and was a guest performer on several TV shows, including Baywatch, In the Heat of the Night, and thirtysomething.
Bewitching Barbara Eden in "I Dream of Jeannie," in 1965.
Television audiences in 1964 loved the ABC fantasy sitcom Bewitched, about a witch who was trying to live her life as an ordinary suburban housewife. NBC wanted a piece of the pie. They tapped Sidney Sheldon to come up with their own sitcom that was, like Bewitched, a juxtaposition of magic with typical American life. What he came up with was I Dream of Jeannie. For added appeal, he had the beautiful genie freed from his bottle by an astronaut and US Air Force Captain. He also added some romantic tension by having the genie, Jeannie played by Barbare Eden, live with the bachelor astronaut.
Milton Berle and Marilyn Monroe Together for a Benefit for Arthritis, 1950s.
Throughout his long entertainment career, Milton Berle had a reputation for working clean. In his vaudeville, radio, television, and movie appearances, he kept his performances wholesome and family-friendly. Away from the spotlight, however, Berle was known for his use of profanity, his gambling habits, and his womanizing. One of the most prevalent rumors surrounding Milton Berle had to do with the size of his … manhood. Even Marilyn Monroe, shown in this photo with Berle, once quipped about Berle’s ‘little buddy’, saying, “Everyone says Milton Berle has the biggest schlong in Hollywood.”
British Bond Girl Honor Blackman Behind the Scenes of "Goldfinger" (1964).
Sexy British actress Honor Blackman was one tough cookie. During the 1960s, she practiced judo and was quite athletic. That quality helped her land the role of Cathy Gale on the British TV show, The Avengers. She appeared in this show from 1962 to 1964. Because of her success on this show, Blackman was tapped for a Bond girl role in the 1964 film, Goldfinger, starring Sean Connery. This part became one of the most memorable Bond girl characters in the history of the movie franchise, in part because of Blackman’s outstanding beauty and acting chops and in part because of the memorable name of her character … Pussy Galore.
Wooza! Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis Jr. Have Fun at a Photoshoot in 1953.
This action-packed photo of Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis Jr was taken by famed photographer Frank Worth in 1953. It was taken near the Los Angeles River off the backlot of the 20th Century Fox Studios. Monroe was on set filming the 1953 motion picture, How to Marry a Millionaire, when Worth and Sammy Davis Jr borrowed her for some photographic fun. Worth noted that he had a knack for being in the right place at the right time and, through his numerous connections with Hollywood stars, he was able to arrange for some fantastic photoshoots that were a refreshing departure from publicity stills and paparazzi pics.
Bad Boy Waylon Jennings Invented the Outlaw Country Music Genre in the 1970s.
Throughout the 1970s, singer, songwriter, and musician, Waylon Jennings was the face of the ‘outlaw country’ movement, with songs such as “Luckenbach, Texas”, “I’m a Ramblin Man”, and “Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.” He enjoyed a career that spanned more than half a century, but did you know that it was almost cut tragically short? Jennings was an up-and-coming young singer in 1958 when he was hired by Buddy Holly to play bass in his band. Waylon Jennings was supposed to be on the airplane with Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens that crashed in 1959, killing all the singers.
Stand Back! A Totally Flammable Situation Is About to Happen in this Photo!
Things are about to get interesting at the styling salon! Back when this photo was taken, everyone smoked, so it was not shocking to see a woman light up at the beauty parlor or other public places. But this particular cigarette may have unexpected consequences. The aerosol hairsprays of the day – that were so necessary to maintain the gravity-defying hairdos that every woman wanted – were made using highly flammable hydroflurocarbons, propylene glycol, and polyvinyl alcohol. These chemicals were not compatible with open flames and not at all good for the ozone layer.
Flying High! Aerial View of the Concertgoers at Woodstock, 1969.
The four men who planned and organized Woodstock, the three-day live music concert held in upstate New York, were Michael Lang, John P. Roberts, Artie Kornfield, and Joel Rosenman. Although these men later claimed that only 186,000 tickets for Woodstock were sold, most people contend that the actual number of concertgoers in attendance was much higher. As this aerial photo shows, people were packed onto Max Yasgur’s dairy farm. When the line of cars backed up outside the farm, overwhelming the gatekeepers, people just piled into the concert without getting tickets. The generally accepted attendance number is about 400,000.
Demure-Looking Demi Moore at the Cusp of Stardom 1981.
When this photo of actress Demi Moore was taken, she was a young model and cover girl hoping to break into acting. She took a small movie role in 1981, but she landed a role on the soap opera General Hospital in 1982. That role helped her catch the eye of casting directors and soon, she was appearing in a series of “Brat Pack” movies, including Blame It On Rio, St. Elmo’s Fire, and About Last Night. She gained star power with her appearance in Ghost, Indecent Proposal, and A Few Good Men. Over the years, Demi Moore has proved her acting chops and her Hollywood longevity.
Lucky Dog! Hailing a Cab in NYC, 1956.
And you thought that the pampered pooch trend was a new phenomenon. This photo from 1956 is evidence that folks treated their dogs like children for the last several decades. Snapped on the streets of New York City, we see a stylish and urban young woman, wearing a pencil skirt, pumps, and a push-up bra under her sweater set, and her equally stylish terrier in his adorable Glengarry tartan raincoat hailing a taxi cab. Perhaps the two are heading out for a night on the town.
Kris Kristofferson and Burt Reynolds Battled for the Same Girl and Faced Down the Self-Help Movement in the 1977 Sports Comedy "Semi-Tough".
In the 1977 movie, Semi-Tough, Kris Kristofferson and Burt Reynolds play two professional football players who are vying for the affections of the same woman, played by Jill Clayburgh. A comedy, the film was based on the 1972 novel by Dan Jenkins. There is a notable difference between the book at the movie. In the film, screenwriter Walter Bernstein added a subplot that poked fun at the new-age self-help movement of the time. Semi-Tough received mixed reviews. Some critics loved the commentary on the self-help movement while others criticized the departure from the original novel.
Here's a Guy Recording Music His Own Way at a Music Festival in the 1980s.
Back in the 1980s, nothing said “I’m here for the party” like a giant boombox. Portable, personalized playlists were a revolutionary concept in the eighties. Sure, you could carry a battery-powered radio with you to the beach, but you were then forced to listen to whatever songs the DJ plays, along with those annoying commercials. The boombox changed all that. You – and everyone around you -- could enjoy your favorite mixed tape blaring from the ghetto blaster’s speakers. And, as this genius concertgoer seen here is demonstrating, you could record sound on the boombox, too, something mp3s and portable DC players that came after could not do.
The British Hammer Horror Film "Frankenstein Created Woman," Starring Peter Cushing and Susan Denberg -1967.
Hammer Studio’s 1967 movie, Frankenstein Created Woman, was the fourth in Hammer’s series of Frankenstein movies. This one, which starred Peter Cushing and Susan Denberg, marked a departure from their previous movies. The other films in the series focused on Baron Frankenstein, played by Cushing, and his attempt to artificially create a human body. In Frankenstein Created Woman, the focus shifts from the physical body to the human soul as the Baron attempts to transfer the soul of a recently deceased woman from one body to another.
Forget Fast-Food Burgers. KFC was 'Finger Lickin Good' 1960s.
You have probably heard that Kentucky Fried Chicken was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders who sold his special recipe chicken at a roadside stand in rural Kentucky during the Great Depression. But did you know that the colonel hadn’t planned on opening his own chain of restaurants? On the contrary, he hoped to cash in on his finger lickin’ good fried chicken by selling the recipe and cooking technique to already-established eateries. Many of the restaurants he approached bought his secret recipe and offered Colonel Sanders’ Kentucky Fried Chicken on their menus. But he realized that he could make more money by franchising. The first KFC franchise restaurant opened in 1952 and showed the public that there was more to fast food than hamburgers.
Marion Ross Will Forever Be "Mrs. C" in Our Hearts!
As the beloved matriarch of the Cunningham family, Marion Ross was everyone’s favorite TV mom for 11 seasons of Happy Days, between 1974 and 1984. Off-screen, she was less mild-mannered. In 2011, one of Ross’s friends hit the slots at a casino and found a Happy Days-themed slot machine featuring her likeness on it. Upon further investigation, Ross discovered that she, and several other Happy Days cast members, were not getting the royalties from numerous Happy Days merchandise. She initiated a lawsuit in 2011, along with her former co-stars Anson Williams, Erin Moran, and Don Most, suing CBS for breach of contract for not paying the actors for the merchandise bearing their images. The lawsuit was settled out of court and CBS agreed to fully honor their contracts with the studio.
Pretty in Pink. A Vintage Kitchen from the 1950s.
Step aside, harvest gold and avocado green, as this vintage photo shows us, baby pink was also a hot kitchen décor color in the 1950s. We can thank Mamie Eisenhower for this trend. The First Lady adored the color pink and wore it often, setting a fashion trend. Home décor often takes its cues from the fashion world and that’s exactly what happened in the 1950s. The soft, candy pink was the perfect splash of color against black and white accents. In the 1950s, the kitchen was still very much the center of a housewife’s world so making it a pretty, feminine space made good sense. It is sexist, we know, but that retro fridge is cool.
The 250MB Hard Drive Was a Behemoth in 1979.
Computer hard drives have come a long way over the years. In this photo, you can see a computer technician working on a 250MB hard drive back in 1979. While today’s hard drives can fit in the palm of your hand, this one is quite bulky. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the ‘bigger is better’ concept ruled the computer industry. A single mainframe computer was often assigned to its own dedicated room…and it filled up that room! IBM’s first hard disk drive, for example, could hold 2.52GB of information, was roughly the size of a refrigerator, and weighed about 550 pounds.
John Cleese Looking Pleased on the Set of "Fawlty Towers".
You probably remember the British actor and comedian John Cleese from his numerous roles in comedies and spoofs in the 1960s and 1970s. He was one of the co-founders of the comedy troupe, Monty Python, which produced such classic comedies as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Meaning of Life, and Life of Brian. Cleese and his then-wife, Connie Booth, wrote the British sitcom Fawlty Towers. As shown in this photo, Cleese even starred in the sitcom, playing the role of Basil Fawlty. Did you know that John Cleese also lent his voice to three Shrek movies and appeared in two of the Harry Potter films as the character, Nearly Headless Nick?
Fay Wray Lookalike Jessica Lange on the set of "King Kong" (1976)
Jessica Lange was a relative unknown when she was cast in Dino De Laurentiis’s remake of the 1933 classic, King Kong. At the time, Lange was trying to make it as a model She was living with Jerry Hall and Grace Jones, so she had a lot to live up to. She later stated that she found modeling to be a struggle, especially because photographers made her feel like an object instead of a person. But it was at a modeling shoot that De Laurentiis spotted the waif-like blonde. He noted her resemblance to Fay Wray, who starred in the original King Kong. De Laurentiis took a chance on the unknown actress and offered her the role instead of awarding the part to an established actress, like Goldie Hawn or Meryl Streep.
Who Remembers Watching "The Gong Show" with host Chuck Barris in the 1970s?
The seventies-era TV show, The Gong Show, hosted by Chuck Barris, defied pigeonholing. On one hand, it was a talent show with a genuine competition component, but it was also a variety show, farce, and comedy. There was always a panel of three celebrity judges, including Jaye P Morgan, Phyllis Diller, Anson Williams, Arte Johnson, and Jamie Farr. Hanging prominently behind them was a giant gong. As the contestants performed for the judges, the celebrities scored them or, if they were too awful, they were gonged. One of the judges would strike the gong to send the contestant packing. Did you know that one of the biggest talents to come out of The Gong Show was 12-year-old Andrea McArdle who, after her appearance on the show, was awarded the starring role in Broadway’s Annie?
"Batman" Villains Jazzed Up the Show.
Let’s be real … many of us tuned in to watch TV’s Batman as much for the wacky, zany villains as we did for Caped Crusaders themselves. Batman, after all, was a bit too upstanding and Robin was a bit too ‘gee-whiz-y’. But the villains Batman and Robin encountered were tragically comic characters that added some spice to the crime scene of Gotham City. This foursome of costumed criminals represents the fan favorites among Batman baddies. Who can forget Julie Newmar as Catwoman, Frank Gorshin as The Riddler, Burgess Meredith as Penguin, and Cesar Romero as The Joker?
Classic Hollywood Actress Ava Gardner Ready for Halloween, 1940s.
For much of the 1940s, when this photo was taken, Hollywood actress Ava Gardner had only small, bit roles in films. In fact, she learned the ropes of the entertainment industry by taking so many bit parts. It all paid off when she began to catch the attention of studio execs. Her breakout role was in the 1946 movie, The Killers, in which she played a femme fatale. For the next decade and a half, she was one of the Golden Age of Hollywood’s leading stars, appearing in The Snows of Kilimanjaro, The Barefoot Contessa, The Sun Also Rises, and Show Boat.
Who Remembers Watching "Romper Room" to See if the Hostess "Saw" You at Home? The First Episode Aired in 1953.
Youngsters from 1953 through the early 1990s who tuned into the popular children’s television show, Romper Room, could expect to see a similar format week after week. The action was overseen by a hostess, who was called “Miss” and her first name. A small group of children, typically around four to five years old, gathered around in a classroom setting. At the end of each show, the hostess brought out a magic mirror, which was really a hand-held mirror that was missing the mirror. She would recite an odd chant and then peer through the opening, telling the audience that she could see through the television set to see the children at home. She would list some first names and claim that she could ‘see’ these children and know that they were having fun that day.
Who Used to Watch "The Rat Patrol" TV Series or Read the Comic Books Back in 1966-68?
When The Rat Patrol aired on ABC, from 1966 to 1968, most American audiences were somewhat anti-military because of the conflict in Vietnam. Despite that, and the historical inaccuracies in the show, it was still quite popular, particularly among children. In fact, a comic book based on the show was also developed to appeal to their youthful audience. The Rat Patrol was loosely based on exploits of the British Special Air Service. The action centered on four Allied soldiers, one Brit and three Americans, who were stationed in the desert during World War II’s North American campaign. Their goal was to disrupt the activities of Germany’s Field Marshal Rommel.
A Young Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot. After a Decade and a Half of Being a Hollywood Sex Symbol, She Left Fame Behind to Become an Animal Activist.
Sexy French actress Brigitte Bardot began her acting career in 1952. Twenty years later, she had appeared in 47 films, recorded more than 60 songs, and earned a reputation for being one of the most popular sex symbols of the time. In 1973, she stepped away from show business and turned her back on her former career. She used her fame and the fortune she amassed to devote her time and energy to her one true passion…animals. She became an animal rights activist and established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
A Young Steve McQueen in the TV Series "Wanted Dead Or Alive" 1958–1961.
A spinoff of the TV western Trackdown, the television series, Wanted Dead or Alive, ran for three seasons from 1958 to 1961. The series starred a young Steve McQueen as a Confederate veteran and bounty hunter named Josh Randall. Randall carried a modified Winchester rifle known as the “Mare’s Leg” and was able to draw the shortened gun with incredible speed. Even though McQueen’s character was a bounty hunter, he had a big heart. In many episodes, he donated his earnings to someone in need. He even helped his prisoners prove their innocence in some cases.
Frenemies Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart Still Had a Beef With Each Other in 1979.
Strange bedfellows, punk rockers Frank Zappa and Don Van Vliet, also known as Captain Beefheart, grew up together and were high school friends. As teens, they even collaborated on some musical projects. In the 1960s and early 1970s, they often toured together and Zappa even produced Trout Mask Replica, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band’s iconic 1969 album. It was Zappa, in fact, who helped Captain Beefheart get his foot in the door of the music industry, but Captain Beefheart didn’t see it the same way. After Captain Beefheart made disparaging remarks about Zappa in the media, the two old friends had a falling out.
Natalie Wood Wore Brownface as Maria in "West Side Story", 1961.
Things were a lot different in 1961 when the original West Side Story was made. The musical film, a modern retelling of the Romeo and Juliet story, focused on a group of Puerto Ricans living in New York City. Actress Natalie Wood, seen here in a shot from the film, was cast in the role of Maria, meaning the white actress was playing a character of color. Wood and the other cast members were put in brownface by the make-up department … even actress Rita Moreno who is Puerto Rican. When Steven Spielberg cast his 2021 remake of the film, he refused to put actors in brownface. Instead, he sought out Puerto Rican performers.
Safety First? Here's a Vintage Volkswagen Toddler Safety Ad.
When we think of the fact that our parents and grandparents used seatbelts like this as children, it is a wonder any of them survived. Safety features, like seat belts and child car seats, were a long time coming as automobile manufacturers were slow to acknowledge safety concerns for drivers and passengers, especially children. As this vintage ad seems to indicate, most parents wanted child restraints in their cars merely as a way to keep their kids from climbing all over them as they were driving and to keep them from opening a door or window and jumping out. It wasn’t until later – and after a series of high-profile car accidents involving children – that car companies realized they could develop seat belts that kept kids from driving their parents nuts in the car and keep them safe in an accident, too.
