A Fun Beach Day in Santa Monica

Independence Day is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. This photo, shot by Ralph Crane at a beach in Santa Monica, shows people having an excellent time together and enjoying the holiday.

In the picture, a couple dug a hole and made that a private spot for themselves, avoiding every other thing going on in the background. Another exciting thing going on is a man covered up in beach sand with the help of his friends. It is unarguably one of the best periods to be at the beach as other people in the picture are busy enjoying the atmosphere.

Famous American Motor Personality, Linda Vaughn

Linda Vaughn, famously referred to as Miss Hurst Golden Shifter, is a motor racing personality. She grew up in Dalton, Georgia, spending hours in the lab developing her affection for dentistry. As a teenager, she became passionate about motors and has, since then, been a notable ambassador for 60 years.

There's a huge chance you'd have come across her picture at major racing events. Her induction into the Motorsport Hall of Fame of America occurred in 2019. Moving her passion toward motors was the right choice; motorsport would have missed a great icon if she had not.

A Beauty Unlike Any Other

In 1970, Jayne Kennedy became the first African American woman to win the Miss Ohio, U.S.A. beauty pageant title. She began her television career as a simple backup dancer on ‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.’ People then started to notice Kennedy in 1981, when she appeared on the 'Playboy' cover due to her enviable looks and charming personality.

The beauty queen also strongly supports women’s rights and gender equality. Throughout her life, she has given generously to a number of charitable organizations and foundations. The example she’s set for her four children, whom she has with actor Bill Overton, is nothing short of amazing.

When Rockstars Have Too Much Fun

Rolling Stones founders Mick Jagger and Keith Richards probably had no idea how big their band would become when they first joined forces. Little did they know that their partnership would help them become one of the most iconic songwriting tandems in music history.

A rock star’s partying tendencies are well-known during his peak years of stardom, which seems to be the case based on this picture. Jagger is having a blast at the original Playboy estate along with his pal Richards, but there’s more to this image than meets the eye. One of their band members nearly set fire to the Chicago home due to a buffet incident. Fortunately, no one was hurt!

Switching Made Him the Star

It’s hard not to smile when watching ‘Captain Ron,’ a silly sailing comedy from the '90s starring none other than Kurt Russell and Martin Short. Well, it’s interesting to note that the Captain’s voice and demeanor were inspired by Russell, with many of his character’s outfits borrowed from his own closet.

Apparently, Short was originally envisioned as the film’s protagonist by one of the film’s screenwriters. For some reason, the actors wanted to change things up after a night of partying, so they did. The film was critically panned and financially unsuccessful, so perhaps they should have stayed with the original cast.

The Actors of 'Interview with the Vampire'

Oftentimes, it takes only a handful of stars in a movie to make it successful. The directors of 'Interview with the Vampire' knew this and selected five sensational actors to be featured in the movie.

Christian Slater, Antonio Banderas, Tom Cruise, Kristen Dunst, and Brad Pitt were the famous actors chosen for the horror film. Predictably, 'Interview with the Vampire' was successful and raked in a massive $223 million. Not many people know that Cruise and Pitt had to hang upside down for about 30 minutes to help them have the veiny looks of vampires. That's a big sacrifice from them, right?

Elvis Presley and Mary Selph on a Motorcycle

When Elvis Presley's crew discovered that Mary Selph had a striking resemblance with Priscilla, Elvis' ex, they couldn't help introducing her to the singer. Interestingly, Mary was a singer and dancer too and worked at the Whirlaway Club. She and Elvis seemed to fall for each other and were often seen together cruising on his motorcycle. This picture was taken during one of such moments.

Sadly, Selph was involved in a fatal car accident a month after meeting Elvis, and this must have broken the young man's heart. Not much was known about his girlfriend's identity at the time, but the entire mystery was solved after her mother identified Mary as the one on the bike.

School Girls in the '50s Passing Notes

Kids have always been noisy and troublesome, and those of the '50s had their share of it. Though there were no cellphones and other mobile devices then, the kids still found a way to pass around entertaining information among themselves and have fun the best way they could.

This picture was taken in a class as a girl tried to pass a note to another girl sitting behind her. We don't know what the paper's content is, but one thing is sure: the kids didn't want to get caught. Punishments for being disorderly then were stricter than they are now, and school children knew better than to break the rules.

The Massive Foot of Emperor Marcus Aurelius' Statue

The gigantic foot in this picture was unearthed in an archeological site in Sagalassos, Turkey, and belongs to a statue of the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius. It was found in what used to be a bathroom, and experts think it was used as a frigidarium—ancient Roman bathrooms that contained cold pools.

A massive earthquake that hit the city between 540AD and 620AD must have led to the collapse of the bathroom. Many more parts of the emperor's statue have been excavated from the area, and only the future will tell what other massive objects will be found there.

A Dangerous 1962 'Rambler' Advertisement

This 1962 advertisement by 'Rambler' was meant to promote the vehicle's reclining seats. In the picture, a baby is shown lying comfortably on one of the relined seats while the mum is focused on driving the car.

At that time, the dangers of this position were not known by the public and 'Rambler' went on to win the 'Car of the Year' in 1963. Seat belt laws didn't take effect until 1968 when they were passed in the United State; still, many states didn't take it seriously at that time. Today, we know better and our roads are safer.

Helen Mirren's Aura Has Us Transfixed

Back in the day, Helen Mirren fast-tracked her success with theater acting and had made a name on Broadway early in life. Looking into her background, it's safe to say that being descended from a Scottish-Russian aristocratic family benefited her financially.

This is one of the numerous pictures the actress took during her coming-of-age and new-adult years. If you dig deep enough, you'd find Helen's other portraits on the internet. Regardless of the different backdrops in each of them, they're all ruled by one brilliant denominator: Helen's confident aura.

The Romantic Cliff House of San Francisco

The idea of standing on the edge of a cliff is romantic, so it's no surprise that the first Cliff house of San Francisco moved things up a notch. Built in 1863, the structure evolved from an elite resort to a haven for liq*or lovers. The historic site was then renovated and restored to its original, family-friendly state in 1881.

Having said that, the image depicts the Victorian Cliff House, which replaced its predecessor in 1896 following a particularly destructive fire. The new facility, now redesigned with a touch of elegance, withstood the 1906 earthquake. Sadly, it succumbed to another wildfire exactly one year later.

Why the Civil Courts Building Resembles a Mausoleum

The Civil Courts building stands majestically in St. Louis today. Without photos like these, imagining how much effort and expertise went into its construction would have been nearly impossible. The entire structure's design mirrored that of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.

Constructed on the orders of the ancient King Mausolus, it was as lofty as an Egyptian Pyramid. Then, the monarch loved the concept of being immortal. So while our friends in Cairo introduced mummies, he initiated the creation of a gigantic vault. Although the original monument has since collapsed, its architecture was a perfect fit for the legal edifice.

How Jack Haley Played the Tin Woodman

Here's Jack Haley, who played the Tin Woodman in the Oscar-winning 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz.' Actually, everyone who had a novel-crazed childhood will enjoy the film's live-action portrayal of each character. The producers had planned to cast Buddy Elsen alongside Judy Garland, but the former reacted negatively when makeup artists experimented with aluminum powder on his face.

Unfortunately, he didn't recover early enough, so the filmmakers had to replace him with someone else. Luckily, Jack was a wonderful substitute. This time, those beauticians had learned their lesson and mixed the powder with paste, which was then painted on the new Tin Man.

Gladys Presley Stole Her Son's Heart

As far as Elvis Presley was concerned, his mom, Gladys, was the love of his life. Born into a modest family, he spent his young adult years knitting a tight bond with the matriarch. At the age of 18, the King of Rock and Roll recorded his first song for her. This affectionate relationship, however, proved unhealthy as the boy rose to fame.

Feeling left out of Elvis' success, Gladys became unhappy in her final years. She frequently overdosed on substances to cope with the overwhelming blues. When the star's mother left the world for good in August 1977, a part of him went with her as well.

Detained for Wearing Trousers

From starting as a German actress to establishing herself as a Hollywood royalty, Marlene Dietrich’s star power was unparalleled. She was considered one of the highest-paid actresses of her time. Off-screen, the actress garnered tremendous respect for supporting the Allied Powers during World War II and her humanitarian works.

By the '30s, Dietrich also started turning heads due to her fashion choices. Known for her love for trousers and jeans, the actress’ gender-bending style separated her from her peers. The Paris police had warned her after she was photographed wearing a white suit on a France-bound ship. The bold beauty then challenged the authorities by debarking the liner wearing a tweed suit, an overcoat, a beret, and sunglasses.

Portrait of the Chief's Daughter

This 1905 portrait of Loti-Kee-Yah-Tede is from a collection of shots taken by American photographer Carl Moon. Here, the Pueblo Indian Chief’s daughter can be seen wearing the traditional dress with a belt and beaded neckpiece.

Inspired by the stories of J.F. Cooper, Moon devoted his life to documenting the lives of Native Indians. He represented several tribes like Navajo, Taos Pueblo Indians, Apache, and Hopi in his oil paintings and pictures. The photographer’s works were well received, and he was invited to the White House by President Roosevelt to present an exhibit. In later years, Moon and his wife started writing children’s books. He published 'Indians of Southwest' in 1924, illustrated with 100 of his best works.

The Yellow Bellies of Thiers

For centuries, the city of Thiers in France has been renowned for its knives and cutlery. The local knife grinders worked on water-powered grinding wheels and were referred to as "yellow bellies" because of the yellow dust released by these machines. To avoid hunching on their backs for long hours, the workers opted to lie on their stomachs.

The workplaces operated in the valley, and temperatures would usually drop due to the cold and damp surroundings. While lying down, the knife grinders often had their dogs sit on their legs to keep themselves warm. Due to the extreme working conditions, the cutlery factory was called 'Le Creux de L'Enfer' which meant hell hole.

The Statue of Liberty Under Construction

This rare photograph was captured during the construction of the Statue of Liberty in the 1880s. Given how small the workers look compared to Lady Liberty’s arm, one can get a perfect idea of this architectural wonder’s size.

Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the Statue of Liberty took nine years to complete. Later it was dismantled and shipped to New York as a commemorative gift to the United States of America. The monument was reassembled in four months and unveiled to the public on October 28, 1886. Over the decades, the copper beauty has changed into a bluish green marvel.

Transforming Into the Joker

For the first half of his career, Cesar Romero mostly played Latin characters and other supporting roles. The turning point of his career came after he appeared as the Joker in the 1960 TV show 'Batman.' Romero was the first actor to play the character and is considered one of the best portrayals of the favorite super-villain.

Romero’s unique make-up for the role got a lot of attention, too. He decided to go for the green hair depicted in the comics, and it became the norm for every actor playing the Joker in later years. The actor also refused to shave his mustache and had it layered with white face paint.

The Elk Horn Saloon in 1915

Change is the only constant thing in life. The eerie photo of Elk Horn Saloon in the 1910s depicts a western-style tavern filled with dashing men in derby hats. These well-dressed gentlemen frequented these sorts of bars at the time. We must say, it’s a shame their fashion did not survive the century.

The photo in question illustrates the charm of the saloon itself. Its polished wooden finish and namesake Elk’s head mantle peach all add to the allure of the establishment. It must have been a noteworthy place if one considers its patrons. The tavern was known for welcoming people from all walks of life along with some of the most distinguished members of the town.

Watching Chicago Cubs from the Trees

We all know the pain of missing out on the last ticket to our favorite concert or even the big game. One would be desperate to see their heroes live and some might even go to extremes. This photo depicts a group of people desperate to see the Chicago Cubs game of 1932 that allowed them to enter the World Series.

There are six gentlemen all clinging to a sparsely branched tree. Each of them is perched on the branches with their hands wrapped firmly around the tree and their eyes trained ahead of the Wrigley Field. We can't blame them. The big game of 1932 was not one to miss out on.

Empire State Building Meets a B-25 Bo*ber Plane

July 28, 1945, was a sad day as the New York sky was filled with a dense fog. The fog obscured the view of pilots flying overhead and cost the lives of 14 innocent people. The loss of visibility caused the pilot of a B-25 to crash into the side of the Empire Building.

The crash wiped out the 78th to 80th floor of the structure and caused over $1 million in damages to the property. It was a horrific accident, but New York is not known for slacking off even in times of peril. The building was up and running in less than 48 hours.

Chairs Save People During Parisian Flood of 1910

Mother Nature did not show the Parisians any mercy during the Great Flood of 1910. This is how grown men were forced to use chairs across a former metropolitan street to escape the high waters.

Continuous rainfall in the early months of the year caused the Seine River in Paris to overflow and flood the streets of the city. Many had to evacuate their drowned homes and seek shelter outside of the city. Parisians outsmarted a tempered Mother Nature and used innovative methods to escape the city. They used chairs and makeshift walkways made from wooden blanks and even borrowed the Venetian style of canoe ferrying to stay out of water.

Dwayne Johnson Meets His Wrestling Hero

It is a surreal experience to meet your hero face to face. Few of us get to experience this amazing moment. It is even more inspiring when your hero reminisces about your meeting years later once the two of you become equals. This is exactly what happened when Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson met his wrestling hero Ric Flair in 1985.

A few decades after their encounter, Dwayne is a successful actor and TV personality and has even made it into the wrestling hall of fame. We’re certain that one of the crowning moments for The Rock was having his former hero tweet a picture of their first meeting and praise him as an equal. Well done, Dwayne. You did it!

The Famous Pamir in 1949

This picture was taken back in 1949, and it portrays the beautiful ship called the Pamir as it sailed around Cape Horn. The ship was built in 1905 for a shipping company under the name F.Lausiz. What’s special about this boat is that it was one of the last four-masted ships that traveled around Cape Horn before bulk carriers were invented.

Moreover, the Pamir met its untimely end when it was destroyed during Hurricane Carrier in September 1957, 12 years after the picture was taken. The ship sank off to the Azores, claiming the lives of all but the six passengers who were rescued.

Legendary Jim Thorpe and His Mismatched Shoes

Jim Thorpe was an American athlete and gold medallist. He was the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States in the Olympics. What’s unusual about the picture is that Thorpe was wearing mismatched shoes.

This picture shows him moments before the games when Thorpe couldn’t find his shoes, and he had to figure out a quick and practical solution. After finding shoes that didn’t match and were different sizes, he had to improvise by wearing extra socks to even out the footwear. Kudos to Thorpe, as this didn’t set him back in winning not one but two gold medals.

Linework Back in 1911

This picture was taken in 1911, showing a lineman in the middle of hundreds of telephone lines. How this lineman was able to do his job is a mystery to us as it seems highly confusing and impossible to distinguish the lines from each other.

Moreover, this job was considered highly dangerous at the time to the point that labor organizations were formed. This allowed the workers to defend their right to be safe during work. Thanks to the advancement of technology, these lines no longer appear as terrifying as they are in the picture.

The Little Nurse, Róża Maria Goździewska, in 1944

In another memorable picture, we see the adorable Róża Maria Goździewska in her little nurse uniform. Known as the Little Nurse back in 1944, she was the youngest nurse to serve in the Warsaw Uprising Operation during World War II. Her heart-warming smile brought peace to many of her patients.

Although this picture is quite cute, it can be tragic and devastating once you know why Roza even had to be a nurse. After the Germans invaded Warsaw, innocent children had to serve their nation. We can all agree that must have been terrifying to the young kids who should have been playing instead.

The Catwalk Cars Back in the ‘50s

Back in 1954, one of the ways to have better control of traffic was to use catwalk cars. Not only were they small, but they had their own lane that made it easier for patrol officers to do their job. When the vehicles had a lot of success in the Holland tunnel under the Hudson River, the police bought four more to use in the Lincoln Tunnel.

Even though the cars were small and toy-like, they could go up to 35mph and had an eight-horsepower engine. While they made the job much easier for police offers, the vehicles were pulled off the streets in 2011.

“The Veiled Christ” Marble Sculpture

The sculpture of Christ that lies in the Sanservo Chapel in Naples is a remarkable feat of art. It was initially commissioned by the Prince of Italy to be made by famous sculptor Antonino Corradini. Fate, however, played in another artist and sculptor Giuseppe Sanmartino’s favour, as Corradini passed away before he could do this project.

Sanmartino did an excellent job creating the sculpture, which shows Christ lying down with a translucent veil covering him. The veil appears transparent but is made from the same material as the entire structure. The most spectacular detail is that Sanmartino made the whole piece from a single block of marble.

Howard Stern Participating in a Softball Game

The world knows the famous radio jockey Howard Stern by his voice on the renowned 'The Howard Stern Show.' This picture places Stern in another light, as we see him posing with his teammates at a celebrity softball game in 1985.

Stern's passion had always been to talk on radio and television. His show is what gave him his fame and reputation. He has even won many awards for his work and renewed his contract with Sirius XM for an extension of his show. Here, seeing the star in sports gear with other celebrities makes this picture unique and noteworthy.

Palmer Hotel’s Peacock Doors

The entrance doors of the Palmer’s Hotel in Chicago are a sight to behold. Made of bronze, these intricately carved doors feature two peacocks facing each other at a symmetrical angle. Delicate feather details of the birds in particular take one’s breath away with delight and awe at the superior craftsmanship.

Louis Comfort Tiffany is the genius behind these famous peacock doors designed and built in 1925, and were originally meant for the C.D. Peacock jewelry store that the building housed at the time. Once the store closed down, the edifice was converted into a hotel. Tourists from all over the world flock to see this marvelous creation worth more than a million dollars.

Brave Ladies Riding the Ski Lift Without Belts

The picture of two women riding the ski lift in Jackson, Wyoming, in the '60s seems almost unreal. Originally meant for skiing, this ski lift was installed at the Jackson Hole Ski Club in 1939. It was meant for skiers to ride during skiing time, with proper safety gear.

The ladies, however, look confident and the least bit bothered by the height they’re at, even without the use of any safety belts. They seem to be relaxed and smiling, and surely not in skiing gear. It appears they’re just riding for the thrill of it.

The Dock Which Housed the Titanic Once

The picture, which features two images of the same dock at different times in history, is rather haunting and nostalgic. One photo shows the dock with the famous ship “Titanic” parked in it in 1912, just before its doomed maiden voyage. The second image shows the same dock in 2015.

Viewers are instantly reminded of the shocking tragedy that befell the grand ship in 1912 when it hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic during its cross-Atlantic maiden voyage. From the impact of the hit, the ship broke into two parts and sunk, taking down many lives on board with it. The sinking of the Titanic is one of the most tragic incidents in history.

Bulgarian Wedding in the Early 1900s

One of the things Bulgarians are known for is their fancy and cheerful wedding ceremonies which last for two days. Even though the bride looks younger than her husband in this picture, this was normal in Eastern Europe during the twentieth century. The bride is decorated by women from the groom's side, and an interesting tradition is that a day before the dowry ceremony, the dowry is placed at the door of the bride's father.

To signify a transition from being a girl to a wife-to-be, the bride's hair is braided before sunrise on the wedding day. For the groom, he is shaved by either his brothers or godfather.

 

The Statue of Liberty From the Balcony View

Can you see the tourists peeping from the inside of Lady Liberty's crown, looking excited? This photo was taken from the balcony on top of the statue's torch. Sadly, people are no longer allowed to visit the monument because it has suffered damage.

Since 1916, the balcony around the torch has remained closed. The copper statue, which symbolizes freedom, holds a torch above her head, and there is a broken shackle and chain at her feet. It was designed by a French sculptor and gifted to the United States by the French people, and today, the monument is a major tourist attraction.

 

The Stairs of Montmartre by Brassaï in 1936

The Stairs of Montmartre was captured by the talented Jules Halasz, who moved to Paris in 1924 and fell in love with the city. Jules, better known as Brassaï, would walk in Paris at night, capturing the beauty of the streets and gardens in the rain.

The Hungarian-born artist took this photo at the top of the stairway at Rue Foyatier, a street named after the sculptor Denis Foyatier. Lots of Paris images taken by Brassaï gained him international fame, and his work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, where he had a one-man show.

 

1947 Shoeshine Boys Dressing Beyond Their Age?

From this photo, one can draw several conclusions; the first is that maybe the red hot frankfurters were so hot that the boys were cooling their mouths by opening them, or they were just having an interesting conversation while eating. In those days, children worked to support their families financially.

One of the jobs was shoe shining, and perhaps because it was easy to learn, lots of children could do it and earn. In this picture, the shoe-shining boys are having their lunch break in New York, and despite them being young, their dressing almost resembles that of the older man selling to them. It could be that this was the dressing style in the '40s.

 

Workers Posing Near Titanic's Anchor in 1910

From the look of things, these men must have been working hard building the largest ship of that time, the Titanic. Maybe they're among the laborers who helped put together the anchor, and to honor their good work, they decided to take a picture! The chain beside them is huge, and that's understandable, considering the ship it anchored.

Even though the photo shows only a few men, Harland and Wolff hired thousands of men to work on the ship, which took almost three years to complete. They started building the Titanic in 1909 in their shipyard in Belfast, Ireland and finished it in 1912.