Unedited Vintage Photos Show A Different Side To History

Marilyn Monroe was a relative unknown when she appeared in a walk-on role in the 1949 musical comedy Love Happy. The film, which was directed by David Miller, was written by Mac Benoff and Frank Tashlin with inspiration from a Harpo Marx story. Love Happy starred Harpo Marx, Groucho Marx, and Chico Marx. In general, it ranks in last place among Marx Brother films. Later in his career, Groucho Marx acknowledged that it was a terrible film, but he said that the most memorable thing about it was Marilyn Monroe.

Swedish actress Ann-Margret originally auditioned for the role of Margy in the 1962 remake of State Fair, based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. While she nailed her performance, the studio execs instead cast her in the role of Emily, the movie’s bad girl – although she is tame by today’s standards. The role of Margy went to Pamela Tiffin. Tiffin hadn’t planned to have a Hollywood career. When she was 19 years old, she was on vacation in California with her family and they took a tour of Paramount Pictures. There, a producer spotted her and gave her a screen test and offered her a contract. 

In 1967, when this photo of sex symbol Raquel Welsh was taken, the steamy actress had reached international fame for her doe-skin bikini-clad role in One Million Year B.C. and was wrapping up filming Bedazzled, a British comedy starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Set in London during the swinging sixties, Bedazzled is the story of an unhappy man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for seven wishes that, he hopes, will bring him wealth and love. Welsh was cast in the role of Lilliam Lust, the personification of … well, lust. 

Actress Jill Ireland was married to actor David McCallum when she met her second husband, Charles Bronson. McCallum and Bronson worked on The Great Escape together, but sparks flew between Ireland and Bronson. After McCallum and Ireland divorced, Ireland married Bronson. That was in 1968 and the couple remained together until Ireland’s death from breast cancer in 1990. During that time, Bronson and Ireland appeared together in 15 films. Among those films were Chino, Hard Times, Rider of the Rain, Breakout, Love and Bullets, and Final Shot. 

When master puppeteer Jim Henson wanted to create a new character for the Sam and Friends TV show in 1955, he made his own hand-held puppet using green fabric from a spring coat his mother planned to throw away. Henson thought it was a good reptilian color. For the eyes of his puppet, Henson cut a ping pong ball in half. Early on, it was not clear what type of animal it was supposed to be, but Henson tweaked the design to make it more frog-like. But he needed a name. After he named his character Kermit the Frog, folks began to wonder where the name came from. It turns out that Henson knew a surprisingly large number of people named Kermit, from a childhood friend to a TV station’s sound engineer to a Sesame Street designer. Henson, however, denied that any of them were the inspiration for Kermit the Frog. 

In this 1961 mugshot, the first of Nick Nolte’s two arrests, the would-be actor looks a lot more clean-cut than he does in his 2002 mugshot (seriously, Google it). It was that wholesome image that spared Nolte a lengthy prison sentence when he was arrested in 1961 for selling counterfeit draft cards. His conviction carried a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison, but a kindly judge took pity on the young man in the button-down shirt and crew cut. The judge worked out a deal so Nolte could attend classes at the local community college in the mornings, spend his afternoons at football practice, then spend his evenings in a jail cell. 

The 1970s was a decade of questionable fashion trends and this page from the JC Penney catalog is a perfect example. Fashion designers of the 1970s continued the pattern set in the 1960s by rewriting traditional styles and adding a funky, modern twist. Low-button shirts, wide-leg trousers, and lots and lots of polyester were the name of the game. Seventies men’s fashion wasn’t afraid of bold colors, wild prints, and soft pastels. The attire shown here was supposed to be able to take a man from the office to the disco club without stopping home for a wardrobe change. 

Were you a fan of the dark, gothic television soap opera, Dark Shadows? The series ran on ABC from June 1966 to April 1971. When the show debuted, it was only marginally successful. Then actor Jonathan Frid, seen in this photo, was added to the cast, playing the role of Barnabas Collins, a vampire. After that, interest in the series increased. Joining Frid’s vampire character were zombies, witches, ghosts, monsters, and werewolves. There were even characters who were time travelers or who had come from a parallel universe. The action centered around the Collins family, a well-to-do family of freaky characters living in Collinsport, Maine.  

The king of fast-food fried chicken, Colonel Harland Sanders was a self-made millionaire but success came later in life for him. Still, he made it a point to enjoy the fruit of his labors, including extensive travel opportunities like this trip to Egypt in the 1970s. Colonel Sanders had a carefully crafted public image to uphold. For the last twenty years of his life, he was only seen in public wearing his iconic Southern colonel attire … a white suit with a black bow. He sported a mustache and goatee which he bleached white to match his suit. He wanted to maintain his public image everywhere he went. 

This young boy, who was a Disney star in his youth, made a memorable guest appearance on TV’s Gilligan’s Island. He is Kurt Russell, the actor you know from the movies he made as an adult, including Silkwood, Escape from L.A., The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China. But long before those appearances, he was a 12-year-old actor who was cast as the ‘jungle boy’ on Gilligan’s Island. In the episode, Gilligan discovers a wild child living on the island. The jungle boy cannot communicate, but he can repeat words that are spoken to him. That becomes problematic when he manages to leave the island without Gilligan and the other castaways. He cannot tell the outside world about the survivors of the SS Minnow. 

Lots of changes were taking place with the English rock band Faces in 1969. The band originally included guitarist and lead vocalist Steve Marriott, but Marriott soon left Faces to form another group, Humble Pie. Faces’ remaining members, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, and Kenney Jones, replaced Marriott with not one, but two new members … Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. This created a unique scenario. Rod Stewart had already signed a contract with Mercury Records as a solo artist. But Faces was signed with a competing label, Warner’s. Stewart included Faces on much of his solo releases, but this only caused tension within the group. The members of Faces began to feel like they were Stewart’s back-up band and not its own entity with its own identity. 

This is where the cool kids hang out. And in 1955 when this photo was taken, there were none who were cooler. This was the year that blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield first appeared as the Playmate of the Month in Playboy magazine. It was also the year that teenage actress Natalie Wood earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Rebel Without a Cause. Actor Lance Fuller had just finished up filming Apache Woman with Lloyd Bridges, actor John Smith appeared as one of the Earp brothers in the western Wichita, and Bob Fuller, who had appeared in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Marilyn Monroe two years earlier, had just returned from service in Korea.  

The British actor who played the role of Chewbacca in the Star Wars films was Peter Mayhew, shown here goofing around with his co-star Carrie Fisher. Mayhew was a natural to play the giant, hairy, space alien sidekick to Han Solo. At 7 feet, 3 inches in height, Mayhew towered over Fisher and his other Star Wars co-stars, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill. That’s because he suffered from gigantism. He was diagnosed with the disease as a child. It caused his unusual growth, but also created mobility issues for him later in life. During the filming of The Force Awakens, Mayhew relied on a wheelchair most of the time. 

With a brand name that was meant to look French but to appropriately identify the product, it is easy to see how the next step in marketing L’eggs pantyhose would be to sell them in plastic eggs. Starting in 1969, L’eggs were the go-to brand of pantyhose for women, particularly businesswomen who would never dream of going into the office bare-legged. And those plastic eggs were quite handy. Kids loved them. They could be used to store other items. And crafts could be made from them. Unfortunately, too many of the plastic L’eggs eggs ended up in landfills. In 1991, the company retired the egg packaging in favor of more environmentally friendly cardboard. 

The 1982 comedy film, Night Shift, which was directed by Ron Howard, is full of surprises when we rewatch it now. First, Night Shift was Michael Keaton’s first starring role. He appears alongside Henry Winkler of Happy Days fame (a TV show he co-starred in along with Ron Howard). Shelley Long plays a prostitute, Belinda, who, through a series of odd happenings, helps the men open a brothel in the city morgue where Keaton and Winkler’s characters work the night shift. Look closely though, and you will see a young Shannen Doherty as a Bluebell scout, a young Kevin Costner as a frat boy, Charles Fleischer as an inmate, and Vincent Schiavelli as a food deliveryman. 

An unlikely Tarzan and Jane. In a comedy skit for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson that ran in 1981, Carson played the role of the Lord of the Jungle and Betty White, who was 59 years old at the time, played Jane. Carson and White enjoyed a long friendship that, at times, seemed flirtatious. Betty White often guest-starred on The Tonight Show and she enjoyed bantering with him. They were both quick-witted and had a similar sense of humor, which the audience loved. Carson sought out White’s advice on upcoming skits and the two were able to collaborate on them. 

By the time comedian Rodney Dangerfield appeared in the comic film Caddyshack in 1980, he had established himself as a stand-up comic. He had his own Las Vegas show and regularly appeared on late-night television talk shows. He had appeared in minor roles in a few movies in the 1970s but Caddyshack was his biggest role to date. He joined an ensemble cast that included Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, and Bill Murray as an obnoxious and crass nouveau riche golfer. The character fit Dangerfield’s brand of comedy quite well, allowing him to wear loud clothing and act in a boorish way. 

According to the story, Raoul Walsh, the director of the 1930 western The Big Trail, initially wanted Gary Cooper to play the lead role but he declined. Walsh then ask his buddy and fellow director John Ford if he could suggest an actor for the part. Ford recommended 23-year-old John Wayne, a total unknown who was working in the props department. Ford simply said that he “liked the looks of this new kid”. When Wayne was approached about the role, he admitted that he had no acting experience. Walsh instructed him to “sit good on a horse and point”. Apparently, that’s how John Wayne got his big break. 

This photograph was taken shortly after the end of the 1961 NFL Championship Game on December 31, 1961. The game pitted the Western Conference champs, the Green Bay Packers, against, the New York Giants, the Eastern Conference champions. It was held at Green Bay’s New City Stadium which is now called Lambeau Field. Packers players Paul Hornung, Ray Nitschke, and Boyd Dowler were granted a leave from the military to participate in the game. Good thing, too. Hornung scored one touchdown, three field goals, and four extra points to lead the Packers to a 37 to 0 victory. 

They think they are funny! Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, Rodney Dangerfield, and executive producer Jon Peters seemed to be playing a round of musical chairs on the set of Caddyshack in 1980. Although each man has his own designated chair, they decided to switch it up for this photo, in keeping with the slapstick hilarity of the movie. Caddyshack still has a cult following of fans who find the plot sidesplitting and the characters memorable. ESPN has even called Caddyshack “perhaps the funniest sports movie ever made.”

Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt were all good friends in the 1970s and 1980s. They admired each other’s work and talent. In fact, the trio tried to collaborate on an album in the mid-1970s but it never came to fruition. Their conflicting schedules and the fact that all three of them were contracted with different recording companies made a collaboration project nearly impossible. But the friends never lost sight of this goal and finally, on March 2, 1987, they released Trio, their aptly named studio album. The album reached the number six spot on the Billboard chart. Several of the songs from Trio hit the Billboard Top Ten, including “To Know Him Is to Love Him”, “Telling Me Lies”, “Those Memories of You”, and “Wildflowers.”

Here is professional wrestler Richard Morgan Fleihr, better known as Ric Flair, in his rookie year, 1973. When this photo was taken, Ric Flair had no idea that his professional wrestling career would extend for the next fifty years. He is considered by many to be the greatest professional wrestler of all time. He was a staple with Jim Crockett Promotions, the World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation, as well as several others. He was named Wrestler of the Year six times and the first two-time inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame and the first wrestler to complete the WCW’s Triple Crown. 

Before he was Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the hit TV sitcom MASH, actor Harry Morgan was well-known for playing Officer Bill Gannon, the partner of Joe Friday, on TV’s Dragnet. But did you know he also made a guest appearance on MASH as a different character before he landed the role of Colonel Potter? In the third season of the television show, when the camp was under the leadership of Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson), Morgan played Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele, a mentally unstable general in an episode that aired on September 10, 1974. Morgan, a huge fan of the show, fit in well with the rest of the cast members. When Stevenson left the show, Morgan was the first choice to play the new commanding officer. 

Shirtless Jeff Bridges is enough to make the 1984 romantic thriller, Against All Odds, a fan favorite. Joining Bridges on screen were the equally sexy Rachel Ward and James Woods which would also make the film a hit. But what really cemented it was the Grammy Award-nominated soundtrack. It featured songs by Stevie Nicks, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Big Country, and Genesis. In fact, it was Genesis’s title song that struck gold. Sung by Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, and Mike Rutherford, the title song was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and a Grammy. 

Clint Eastwood starred with Richard Burton in the 1968 British war film, Where Eagles Dare, which was filmed in England and on location in Austria. Set in World War II, the film follows the daring rescue of a US Army brigadier general who was captured by the Germans and held in a secluded and inaccessible castle atop a mountain. Eastwood plays a US Army ranger who, along with Burton’s character, a British major, in the daring and dangerous rescue, which includes parachuting into the Austria Alps and a terrifying fight scene atop a cable car. The movie and a book of the same name were written simultaneously by author Alistair MacLean. 

Sexy Sophia Loren appeared in the 1962 film Boccaccio ’70, a unique comedy anthology movie. The movie was really four individual stories, each with their own director – Fredrico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, Vittorio De. Sica, and Mario Monicelli. Each story examines some aspect of modern love with a common thread of morality running through each one. Sophia Loren plays the role of Zoe in the story titled “La Riffa”, or “The Raffle”. In this tale, a meek and timid man wins the lottery. His prize is one night with the sultry Zoe. But Zoe has a plan of her own. The “La Riffa” portion of Boccaccio ’70 was directed by De Sica. 

You may remember her best for playing Morticia Addams on television’s The Addams Family, but actress Carolyn Jones had a successful career pre-television. She earned a nomination for an Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in the 1957 film, The Bachelor Party. She was also in Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Man Who Knew Too Much. She starred with Elvis in King Creole and played opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest leading men, including Frank Sinatra, Kirk Douglas, Dean Martin, George Peppard, and Anthony Quinn. She was cast in From Here to Eternity, but was forced to pull out of the film when she came down with pneumonia. 

In 1976, businesswoman Stacey Weitzman, who owned a public relations firm, stopped to see one of her clients, Jerry Magnin at his Beverly Hills clothing store. While she was there, actor Henry Winkler, who was a big star thanks to his role as Fonzie on the TV sitcom Happy Days, stopped in to purchase a sports coat. He mistook Stacey for a sales clerk and asked her for help. She didn’t have the heart to correct him, so she helped him find a jacket to buy. She made a mental note about when the coat would be finished being tailored and popped back into the store that day. Sure enough, she ran into Winkler as he stopped by to pick up his new coat. This time, the actor asked Stacey out for a drink. Two years later, they were married and they are still happily married today. 

Talk show host Johnny Carson spent three decades as the host of the late-night program, The Tonight Show. During that time, he racked up a collection of honors and awards, including six Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and, surprisingly, a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Carson shook up the late-night talk show scene when he announced that his last show would be on May 22, 1992. When he made this announcement to his viewers, he added a few more resignations. He quipped, “Ed McMahon announced he'll be going with me. But I don’t know if he read the fine print in his contract. When I died, he's also going with me.” Also exiting with Carson and his “Heeeeere’s Johnny” co-host was Doc Severinsen, the leader of the Tonight Show band. 

Television programs in the 1960s followed a supernatural trend. Look at Bewitched, My Favorite Martian, Star Trek, and I Dream of Jeannie, for example. With TV producers all looking for the next big otherworldly hit show idea, it is not surprising that two networks, ABC and CBS, had similar ideas. Writers at both studios pitched ideas for television shows about typical American families (like The Donna Reed Show) with a monstrous twist. And, coincidentally, they began production on their shows at about the same time. ABC premiered its show, The Addams Family, first, on September 18, 1964. A week later, on September 24, 1964, CBS debuted The Munsters, featuring the characters in this promo pic. 

A hit song by Huey Lewis and the News was featured prominently in Back to the Future, but that almost never happened. When the movie’s producer, Steven Spielberg, and writer, Bob Gale, called a meeting with Lewis, they explained that the main character in their time-travel movie was going to be a big fan of Huey Lewis and the News. Lewis was naturally flattered. But when they asked him to write a song for the movie, he was skeptical. He didn’t think his style of music would be a fit for the film. But he was told he could write a song about anything he wanted. Lewis agreed to let them listen to the next song he wrote to see if they could make it work in the movie. That song, of course, turned out to be “Power of Love”. 

When this photo was taken, Laurence Tureaud was a high school senior who played football and wrestled for his Chicago-area school. After his father left the family, Laurence, who was the youngest of twelve kids, shortened his last name to Tero to distance himself from his estranged father. About the time that he posed for this picture, he legally changed his last name to T. As a bouncer, bodyguard, tough man competitor, and stunt man, he preferred to be called Mr. T. He explained that after watching the Black men in his neighborhood being called ‘boy’, he demanded that people call him by a title that shows respect. 

In the 1960s, no city in America attracted more hippies than San Francisco. A center for the counterculture movement, the California city embodied the music, lifestyle, and drug culture that arose in the sixties. The Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in particular saw an influx of young people who were anxious to break free of the conformist lifestyle of the previous generation. Bands like the Grateful Dead created the soundtrack for this counterculture generation. Beat generation writers and television news journalists reported on the free-spirited lifestyle of San Francisco. 

Sidney Poitier starred in the 1967 drama, To Sir, With Love, a British film that explored issues of race and social class in a high school for troubled kids. The movie was based on an autobiographical novel written by E.R. Braithwaite that was published in 1959. The movie also featured a number one song, “To Sir, With Love”, which was performed by singer Lulu who also appeared in the movie. In fact, it was Lulu’s film debut. The song spent five weeks in the Billboard number one spot. 

Drew Barrymore was just seven years old when she played the role of Gertie in Steven Spielberg’s E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982. She was not a stranger to acting, despite her young age. As a member of the famous Barrymore family, acting is in her blood. She land her first professional acting gig before she was one year old and had several minor roles in movies prior to E.T. Since E.T. was a blockbuster hit – the highest-grossing movie of the 1980s – Drew Barrymore became a sought-after child actress. She was awarded a Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Actress and became the youngest person to appear as a guest host of Saturday Night Live. 

The year 1975 was a pivotal time for singer and songwriter Stevie Nicks. That was the year she joined Fleetwood Mac. As part of this group, Nicks achieved rock success. Fleetwood Mac is one of the top-selling music groups of all time with sales exceeding 120 million records. The band’s album, Rumours, the second album released by Fleetwood Mac after Nicks joined the group, remains one of the best-selling albums in music history. It has been certified platinum 20 times over in the U.S. alone. Nicks, while remaining a member of Fleetwood Mac, launched her solo career in 1981. Her debut solo album, Bella Donna topped the Billboard charts when it was released. 

Billy Joe Shaver, who died in October of 2020, was a singer and songwriter that epitomized the outlaw country movement in the 1970s. Although he released several albums on his own, including his 1973 debut album Old Five and Dimers Like Me and his Grammy-nominated 2007 album Everybody’s Brother, many of Shaver’s songs were big hits for other artists, including Willie Nelson. Waylon Jennings, David Allen Coe, Patty Loveless, and Joe Ely all performed songs written by Shaver. Later in his career, Shaver’s son, Eddy, co-wrote with him. His acclaimed 1993 album, Tramp On Your Street, showcased Eddy Shaver’s guitar playing. 

Big-haired Lea Thompson starred in the weird superhero comedy movie, Howard the Duck, that was released in 1986. For fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is strange to think that Howard the Duck was based off a Marvel comic book character, the same as Captain America, the Hulk, Ironman, and Thor. It is hard to envision a large, anthropomorphic duck saving the Earth from an alien invasion, but then again, there is a talking raccoon and a humanoid tree in Guardians of the Galaxy, so I guess anything is possible in the MCU. 

Swedish-born actress, Ann-Margret Olsson was known professionally as Ann-Margret throughout her career. Many of the parts she played, in such films as State Fair and Viva Las Vegas, Ann-Margret played sexy, confident characters. It may surprise you to know that she was an early favorite to play the role of the sweet, innocent Sandy in the 1978 movie musical Grease. But Ann-Margret was 37 years old at the time, so the producers felt she was too old to play a high school student. Instead, they cast 30-year-old Olivia Newton-John. In the play version of Grease, Sandy’s last name was Dumbrowski. For the movie version, the producers changed her last name to “Olsson” – Ann-Margret’s real last name – in her honor. 

The 1967 film, More Than a Miracle, had two alternative titles, Cinderella Italian Style and Happily Ever After. The second two titles are more indicative of the plot of the movie, which stars Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif. Filmed on location in Naples, the movie is a fairytale romance between a rebellious Spanish prince, who is reluctant to accept an arranged marriage, and a poor but beautiful village girl. In true Cinderella fashion, the unlikely couple fall deeply in love, but have to work through societal expectations before they can experience their happily ever after. 

Do you remember shopping at a Kinney Shoe store to get a pair of Buster Brown shoes for back-to-school time? Kinney Shoes is now out of business but at one time, the chain had stores across the country. In fact, it was the largest family shoe chain in the country for a number of years. Kinney Shoes was the go-to place for Buster Browns, sensible, sturdy shoes for children. The Brown Shoe Company started in business in 1878 in St. Louis. The Buster Brown mascot was taken from a comic strip character. 

Before she gained a fan base as Lily Munster, the vampish wife of the Frankenstein-like Herman Munster in TV’s The Munsters, Canadian actress, singer, and dancer Yvonne De Carlo appeared in several movies that were inspired by ancient tales or biblical stories. For example, she starred in Salome, Where She Danced, Song of Scheherazade, Slave Girl, The Sword and the Cross, and The Ten Commandments. De Carlo was also the first American movie star to visit Israel. She was called “the most beautiful girl in the world” and the “queen of Technicolor.” 

When it comes to suspenseful movies, the 1960 film Psycho set the bar pretty high. The horror thriller, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is often called the first slasher film. Perhaps Hitchcock’s best movie, Psycho used camera techniques, dramatic lighting, suspenseful music, and other tricks to build the tension. The audience was left shocked and shaken by the twists and turns of the movie. People were terrified to take showers after watching Psycho. Despite this, the film earned four Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Director for Hitchcock. 

For about a decade, the hottest Hollywood couple was Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. When they married on June 4, 1951, both of their movie studios tried to talk them out of it. Despite the obvious attraction between the two, Curtis’s studio wanted him to marry Piper Laurie to boost the publicity for both of them. As for Janet Leigh, she was a biggest, more established star at the time. Her studio felt as though she was marrying down when she announced her engagement to Tony Curtis. At the time, Curtis was an up-and-coming leading man who was trying to build his Hollywood persona. But it was a good march. Curtis and Leigh were married for ten years. 

Ernest Tubb, the Texas Troubadour, was one of the country music singers to introduce the honky-tonk style. He helped set the foundation for the country music genre. Perhaps the biggest song of his career came in 1941 with “Walking the Floor Over You.” Tubb was also the first person to record “Blue Christmas”, written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson, that was later made popular by Elvis Presley. His 1965 hit, “Waltz Across Texas”, is still popular in Texas dancehalls. In the 1960s, he recorded a duet, “Sweet Thang,” with a relatively unknown singer, Loretta Lynn. 

A Vaudeville performer, Sammy Davis Jr. was just 18 years old when, in 1943, he was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in World War II. As a member of the military, Davis endured racial prejudice that often escalated into violent confrontations. He claimed he had several broken noses to prove it. He returned to show business following the war and, by the mid-1960s, he was a big star and one of Hollywood’s famous Rat Pack. When the U.S. got involved in the Vietnam War, Sammy Davis Jr. volunteered for a 13-day USO tour. It was not lost on his that he would be re-entering an environment that he found to be racist in the 1940s, but he stated that his USO tour experience was quite rewarding. 

The rock band Genesis was in a crisis in 1970. They signed a contract with Charisma Records by their drummer and guitarist both suddenly quit. The remaining members contemplated folding the band but decided to keep going. They placed an ad looking for a “drummer sensitive to acoustic music” and a “12-string acoustic guitarist”. Phil Collins applied and auditioned for the band. His first reaction, after listening to the band’s 1970 album Trespass, was that the group was a soft rock band similar to Crosby, Stills, and Nash. At first, Collins was a backup singer as well as drummer, but the first song on which he sang lead vocals was on the 1973 tune “More Fool Me.”  

Did you know that the down-homey cartoon rooster, Foghorn Leghorn, from Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, was inspired by another character that was featured on Fred Allen’s radio show in the 1940s. That radio character, that was played by Kenny Delmar, was a boastful, blustering Southerner called Senator Claghorn. Like the Senator Claghorn character, Foghorn Leghorn was fond of saying “I say, old boy”. Foghorn Leghorn was created by Robert McKimson and made his debut in 1946. He appeared in cartoons from 1946 to 1964. 

Predator is a quintessential action flick from the 1980s that boasts a cast of tough guys delivering zingers faster than they can shoot bullets, and a fearsome alien creature that’s both mesmerizing and menacing. With actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, and Carl Weathers leading the charge, the film is packed with machismo - but there was one more tough guy in the mix.

Jean Claude Van Damme was a relative unknown when he was cast as the Predator, but the role didn't quite work out. Not only did Van Damme not mesh with the rest of the cast, but the cumbersome costume was incredibly uncomfortable. According to Van Damme:

"My head was in the neck. My hands were in the forearms, and there were cables [attached to my fingers to move the creature's head and jaws]. My feet were in his calves, so I was on [stilts]. It was a disgusting outfit."

Fortunately for Van Damme (and for movie fans everywhere), he was offered the lead in Bloodsport and the Predator filmmakers decided to go in a different direction with their creature design.

kdbbeck@gmail.com

rewrite this: There’s really not a more recognizable Hollywood couple than Jack Nicholson and Angelica Huston. He’s a self-made star who came from Nowheresville, and she’s the daughter of John Huston, one of the most charismatic directors in the biz. They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Huston says that she knew she was in love with Nicholson before they ever met. She was working as a model in London when she saw Easy Rider, and that was that for her. She writes:

I had gone with some friends to see Easy Rider in a movie theater in Piccadilly Circus and had returned alone some days later to see it again. It was Jack’s combination of ease and exuberance that had captured me from the moment he had come on-screen. I think it was probably upon seeing the film that, like many others, I first fell in love with Jack.

Jack Nicholson and Angelica Huston were the epitome of a Hollywood power couple. Nicholson, a self-made star from humble beginnings, and Huston, the daughter of the legendary director John Huston, were both at the top of their game. They were the kind of couple that made heads turn and the industry take notice.

According to Huston, her love for Nicholson started before they even met. She was working as a model in London when she saw Easy Rider and was immediately smitten with Nicholson's charm and charisma. She was so taken with him that she went back to the theater alone to see the movie again.

It's hard to imagine a Hollywood romance like Nicholson and Huston's happening today. They were both larger-than-life personalities with a passion for the industry and each other.

kdbbeck@gmail.com

rewrite this: Before she was Catwoman, and way before she was freaking everyone out in Mother!, Michelle Pfeiffer was an up and coming actress trying to make her way in the world just like the rest of us.

In 1979 she got what was supposed to be her big break on Delta House, a short lived sitcom about collegiate life. She says that at the time she didn’t think much about her looks, but when she was cast as “The Bombshell” she realized that her genetic makeup could be an asset.

It was nearly five more years before she really got her break in Scarface, a role that allowed her to step out of the preppy sweaters of Delta House and into some brain searing drama.

Rewritten:

Before becoming Catwoman or starring in Mother!, Michelle Pfeiffer was a budding actress hustling to make a name for herself just like any other newcomer.

Her big break was supposed to come in 1979 with Delta House, a short-lived sitcom about college life. Pfeiffer didn't think much about her looks at the time, but being cast as "The Bombshell" made her realize her genetic makeup could be an advantage.

It wasn't until five years later that she landed her breakthrough role in Scarface, where she shed her preppy image and embraced the intense drama. Pfeiffer's journey proves that with perseverance, talent, and a little luck, anyone can go from a small-time sitcom to Hollywood stardom.

kdbbeck@gmail.com

rewrite this in an engaging manner: Cheryl Tiegs is one of the most iconic models of the 1970s, and she appeared on everything from the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue to Glamour and everything in between. If you were a teenage boy in the ‘70s you definitely had pictures of this blonde beauty on your wall.

Even though Tiegs looks elegant in her photo spreads she’s insistent that she’s just a simple gal. She told Artful Living:

In my own personal life, I dressed very simply. Yes, I would wear the designers, but the next day I would give it back. I had the luxury of being able to wear that clothing, but in my own life, it was very simple. Give me a sweater, a pair of jeans and tennis shoes, and I was fine.

Cheryl Tiegs, the quintessential model of the 1970s, graced the pages of every fashion magazine imaginable, from Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues to Glamour. And let’s be real, if you were a teenage boy during that era, there’s a good chance you had a poster of her hanging on your wall.

But despite her stunning photo shoots and glamorous persona, Tiegs insists she’s just a down-to-earth girl at heart. She prefers simple clothing in her personal life, opting for a cozy sweater, jeans, and tennis shoes over designer ensembles. She once said in an interview with Artful Living, “I had the luxury of being able to wear that clothing, but in my own life, it was very simple.”

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rewrite in a fun tone: Before destination weddings, and definitely before there were hashtags for everyone in your wedding party, there was the idea that when you got married you did things that you both wanted to do - whether it be go on a cruise or get a Big Mac after tying the knot.

This couple clearly has things taken care of, from the matching suits on down to the rose in the vase. We may think of McDonald’s as fast food today, but in the 1970s it was still special to go out and grab a burger with your sweetheart.

Even if this seems a little silly, it’s sweet that this couple got off to such a fun start to the rest of their lives.

Let's take a trip down memory lane to the era of disco and bell-bottoms, where lovebirds didn't need a fancy venue or a gourmet spread to celebrate their nuptials. Instead, they headed to the Golden Arches for some post-wedding bliss! This couple was ahead of their time, embracing the idea that marriage is about doing what makes you happy - even if that means getting a side of fries with your vows. And with their matching suits and a single rose, they prove that sometimes, the simplest things can be the most romantic. So cheers to the happy couple, may their love continue to be as classic and satisfying as a Big Mac!

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rewrite this: For a short time Studio 54 was a magical place. It was a club where anyone could go no matter their color, preferences, or status and dance the night away. Famous folks like Diana Ross and Mick Jagger were comfortable there because people didn’t bother them. When they were on the dance floor they weren’t celebrities, they were one part of the multi-cell organism that was studio 54.

The most important thing for this short lived club was to have a good attitude and to look cool. As long as you had those things going on you wouldn’t just get in, you’d have an amazing time.

Studio 54 was a place where the rules of the world outside just didn't apply. It was a place where everyone was accepted and anyone could come in and have the time of their lives. The coolest thing about it was that once you stepped in, you became a part of the magic that made the place what it was.

At Studio 54, it didn't matter who you were or where you came from, as long as you had a good attitude and looked the part, you were in for an unforgettable night. Even A-list celebrities like Diana Ross and Mick Jagger felt at ease, able to lose themselves in the music and dance without being bothered as just one more part of the Studio 54 experience.

kdbbeck@gmail.com

rewrite this: Have there ever been two cooler guys that Al Pacino and Robert De Niro? Especially in the 1970s these guys were on fire. Not only were they the stars of one of the most hyped sequels, but they were both in some of the most important movies of the decade.

The best thing about these two gents is that they’re actually friends and they still hang out today.

Wildly enough, even after they appeared in Godfather II together (albeit not on screen at the same time) the two didn’t share a scene with one another until 1995’s Heat - and that was only for a few heart pounding minutes.

Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are undoubtedly some of the coolest actors in Hollywood, especially during the 1970s when they were at the peak of their careers. They were the stars of highly anticipated sequels and both had roles in some of the most significant films of the decade.

What's even cooler than their on-screen presence is the fact that they're actually friends and still hang out to this day.

Despite appearing in Godfather II together (although not in the same scene), it wasn't until 1995's Heat that the two shared the screen for a brief but unforgettable scene. It just goes to show that even after all these years, Pacino and De Niro are still some of the coolest guys in Hollywood.

kdbbeck@gmail.com

rewrite this: We’ll take “grooviest game show host for $500,” Alex. Long before he was the host of Jeopardy and a legitimate day time TV heart throb, Alex Trebek was spending his time on CBC hosting whatever he could.

He got his start hosting Music Hop, a CBC-TV teen dance show, where he was described as a “solid citizen” with a “fresh-faced verve and breezy identification with youth.” You can’t beat those credentials.

It’s great to see him still hosting Jeopardy when he can and popping up on TV every once in a while. It’s not just good to know that he’s feeling okay, but his voice is like a warm blanket on a cold night.

Alex Trebek had humble beginnings as a game show host. Before becoming a household name as the charming and witty host of Jeopardy, Trebek cut his teeth hosting whatever shows he could on CBC.

One of his early gigs was hosting Music Hop, a teen dance show on CBC-TV. Even back then, Trebek was noted for his "fresh-faced verve and breezy identification with youth." Clearly, he was always destined for greatness.

Though we lost Trebek in 2020, his legacy lives on through his incredible career in the entertainment industry. His warm voice and quick wit will forever be missed, but we can take comfort in knowing that his impact will never be forgotten.

kdbbeck@gmail.com

rewrite this: Now this was TV. For years one of the few shows that could bring everyone in the household together was Hollywood Squares, a weekly program where stars large and small did their best to make America life while answering trivia questions.

At the vaulted center square sat Paul Lynde, one of the most mischievous entertainers of the day. He always had something cheeky to toss out even if he didn’t really know the answer.

Hollywood Squares had something for everyone, whether you liked comedy, sports, or music there was sure to be a star to make you smile. It’s hard to find something like that today.

Rewritten: Remember the good old days when TV shows brought the entire family together? Hollywood Squares was one such show, featuring stars big and small engaging in trivia while keeping us entertained.

At the heart of the tic-tac-toe board sat Paul Lynde, the beloved mischief-maker of his time. He may not have always known the answer, but he never failed to deliver a cheeky comment.

Hollywood Squares had it all - comedy, sports, music - there was something for everyone. It's a shame we don't have shows like that anymore.

Dating Elvis Presley must have been a surreal experience. He was not only the biggest star in the world but also a heartthrob to millions of fans, including his own dates. It's hard to imagine what it was like for Dottie Harmony to sit across from him, without asking for a quick serenade.

For those who grew up idolizing Elvis, the idea of spending time with him must have been out of this world. He was a celebrity so famous that he seemed almost otherworldly. But for those who miss the King's music and charisma, there's no time like the present to rediscover his classic hits.

 The fashion of the mid-60s was groovy and far out, man, but not everyone was down with the colorful threads and funky patterns. According to Cher, adults just couldn't handle the psychedelic fashion of the era, and when Sonny and Cher started making it big, they were met with some serious resistance:

"It sounds crazy, but it all happened so fast. One day we were dirt poor, the next we were famous... Kids loved us, but adults? Not so much. They really, really hated us. We're talking fistfights, man."

Despite the hate, the dynamic duo persevered and gave us timeless hits like "I've Got You Babe" that still get stuck in our heads today.

Back in the day, postal workers were a friendly bunch who greeted you with a smile and a kind word. Nowadays, our dedicated U.S. postal workers still deliver rain or shine, but the times have changed. This photo captures a different era, where postal workers were an integral part of the community. They weren't just delivering mail, they were friends and neighbors who you'd see at the grocery store, church, or even living next door. Seeing this snapshot from the 1950s is a real eye-opener, especially for younger folks who may not have experienced this level of connection and camaraderie.

Who isn't a fan of Sandra Bullock? She's a charming and beloved actress that has captivated audiences with her talent and irresistible smile. Whenever she graces the screen, you know you're in good hands. With her reassuring presence, you can sit back and relax, confident that she's got everything under control.

Whether you were drawn to her romantic comedies in the '90s or her thrilling performances in the same era, it's impossible not to admire this beautiful and talented star.

Few actresses can match her impressive body of work, and she's still going strong today with no signs of slowing down. Sandra Bullock is a true Hollywood treasure that we can't get enough of.

Get ready to be transported back in time when movies were more than just flashy special effects and action sequences. In 1989, Steel Magnolias hit theaters and proved that a movie about the bonds of sisterhood and love could be just as powerful. This all-women cast became one of the biggest hangout movies, inviting audiences to kick back and relax with a group of funny and sweet southern ladies.

Whether you're a fan of Dolly Parton's wit and charm, or you prefer the elegance of Sally Field, there's a character in this movie for everyone. And let's not forget about Julia Roberts and Daryl Hannah, who both bring their own unique style to the mix.

What's even more impressive is that all of these women shared the screen together, setting aside their egos to make a beautiful film that resonated with audiences of all ages. So grab some tissues and get ready to laugh, cry, and fall in love with the women of Steel Magnolias all over again.

Let's face it, these circular neighborhoods in Denmark are downright mesmerizing. Brøndby Haveby, also known as Brøndby Garden City, is a sight to behold. Just take a look at those triangular yards - they're perfect for growing whatever your heart desires while escaping the hustle and bustle of city life.

This unique concept was approved back in 1964, when the municipality of Brøndby realized the importance of dedicated space for allotments. And voila - these circular neighborhoods were born!

Living here might take some getting used to, but can you imagine waking up every day surrounded by all that lush greenery? We're definitely a little envious!

 Let's take a moment to appreciate the golden age of cinema, where movies didn't need to be critically acclaimed to be absolutely thrilling. Take, for example, Viva Las Vegas: a film that may not have won any awards, but is undeniably entertaining, with some of the best music in cinema history. And let's not forget the added bonus of Ann-Margret co-starring alongside the King himself, Elvis.

In this flick, Elvis plays a race car driver who falls on hard times and has to resort to using his vocal talents to make ends meet, all the while trying to win over the lovely Rusty Martin, played by Ann-Margret.

Watching Viva Las Vegas is like taking a time machine back to a time when movies were all about letting loose and having fun. The set design, costumes, and music will all transport you to a world of pure nostalgia.

Let's dive into another aspect of Amelia Earhart's adventurous life! We all know she was a skilled pilot, but did you know she was also an avid diver? This incredible woman had many talents and interests, and diving was just one of them.

During her tour of the Eastern Seaboard, Amelia visited Brook Island in Rhode Island. She arrived in style via an amphibious plane from New York City and set out to explore the depths of the sea. Though her first attempt at a deep sea dive didn't go as planned, Amelia persisted and eventually made it down to 35 feet, spending an impressive 12 minutes underwater.

To prove her love for the water, Amelia brought back a clam she found on the sea floor. It's clear that she was just as comfortable exploring the ocean as she was soaring through the skies. Amelia Earhart truly was a remarkable woman.

Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt joined forces to create the iconic album "Trio" in the late ‘80s. These three women were already major successes in the music industry, but their collaboration took them to new heights as the album went quadruple platinum upon its release in 1987.

The women had been friends for a long time and admired each other's work, but finding time to record an entire album together proved challenging. We're talking about three of the biggest names in country music, after all. They did work together in the late ‘70s, but those sessions never made it onto a "Trio" album. It wasn't until they teamed up with producer George Massenburg in the late ‘80s that they finally hunkered down and created the iconic record we know and love today.

Imagine mailing your child to your relatives instead of buying them a plane ticket or driving them there yourself. It sounds crazy, but in the early 1900s, it was a thing. Back then, all you needed to do was put a stamp on their head and hand them over to the postman. Okay, it wasn't that simple, but some children were actually mailed short distances via the post. According to Nancy Pope, a historian and curator at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, a "handful" of kids were sent this way. It was possible because everyone knew their local mail carrier, so it wasn't like the child was being handed off to a stranger. However, as time passed, the Postal Service requested parents transport their children themselves. It makes modern-day air travel and safety regulations look a lot less daunting.