When Cool Was Really Cool

What if you could see these celebrities in candid moments, with impromptu shots of them doing every day things? That's cool!

Freddie Mercury & Partner, 1985

In 1991, the world mourned the loss of legendary Queen front man, the flamboyantly lovable, immensely talented Freddie Mercury who died prematurely.  At his side for the last six years of his life was his partner, Jim Hutton.

Jim Hutton was a hairdresser from County Carlow, Ireland before meeting Freddie.  Once the couple started dating, Jim moved into Freddie’s Garden Lodge house where they would live together until Freddie’s death.

The couple was together at a time that same-sex marriage wasn’t permitted.  They did exchange wedding rings, though, to prove their love for each other.  When Freddie died, he was wearing his wedding band.

Stevie Nicks, 1970s

This is one strong front girl. Here we see Stevie Nicks, the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac and one of the undisputed queens of the 70’s.  On stage, she and her band were musical geniuses and amazing performances.  Off stage, though, Stevie was fighting a battle that all too many performers face; addiction and excessive partying.

It wasn’t until 1986 when Stevie came face to face with her health and  Steve took this warning very seriously and turned her life around.  Fleetwood Mac is now currently on tour.

Want to see more?  Let’s go!

Raquel Welch, 1960s

Raquel Welch is as influential now as she was back then. She became an international superstar in 1966 after a film about prehistoric times came out. It launched her career like a meteor.

Raquel wasn’t always the success she would one day become.  She had her humble beginnings on a local San Diego TV station as a weather girl, and as a Neiman-Marcus model.  The up and coming starlet also had a few appearances on TV shows like McHale’s Navy and Bewitched.

Zsa Zsa Gabor, 1950s

It’s hard to know who to focus our attention on.  On the one hand, we have an amazing car, on the other hand, we have Zsa Zsa Gabor.  Zsa Zsa had started her career on the Vienna stage, and in 1936 earned the Miss Hungary crown.  In 1941, Miss Gabor emigrated to the US and quickly won hearts all over Hollywood with her unique style and European flair.  Zsa Zsa earned the lead role in Moulin Rouge, the 1952 John Houston film.

Zsa Zsa collected husbands, nine total, rivaling Elizabeth Taylor. Many of her husbands were high profile, such as Conrad Hilton the hotel magnate related to Paris.  Zsa Zsa was reported as saying "Men have always liked me and I have always liked men. But I like a mannish man, a man who knows how to talk to and treat a woman—not just a man with muscles."

Now let’s discuss the car.  This sleek vehicle is the Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.  Stars sure do love their fast, shiny cars!

Celebs, 1983

photo by Bob Gruen

Hold the glass! There are parties, and then there are parties.  Here we see some amazing talent, gathered together and having a few sips from the bottle.  You may recognize Keith Richards and David Bowie, but that girl in the middle is none other than the fabulous Tina Turner.

This picture is amazing not only for who it portrays, but for the photographer behind the camera.  Bob Gruen has been in the industry for over four decades, snapping pics of the biggest names in entertainment.  He has gotten famed shots of The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Muddy Waters, Elvis, Johnny Rotten, and Madonna to name just a few.  He is widely considered to be one of the most well-respected photographers in the business.

In 1971, when John Lennon and Yoko Ono moved to New York, Gruen was hired on to be their personal photographer.  It is Gruen who snapped the famous picture of John Lennon in his New York City t-shirt and standing by the Statue of Liberty while flashing a peace sign.

Because Gruen is well-known and trusted, he can get intimate with his subjects, even when they are drinking wine straight from the bottle.

Sophia Loren In Italy

Sophia Loren was the queen of the 1950's. Here she is, hanging out on the patio of her home in Italy.  This shot was taken in 1955 by famed photographer David Seymour and is one of a series of photos.

David Seymour was no stranger to snapping shots of famous people.  He has many iconic photo subjects under his belt like Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn. Poland-born David Seymour started his photography career in 1930’s Paris.  His experiences took him far beyond simple celebrity shots; he is well known for his UNICEF sponsored project, the Children of War, and his pictures taken during the Spanish Civil War.

David Seymour and other renowned photographers like George Rodger, Henri Carier-Bresson, William Vandivert and Robert Capa founded Magnum Photos.

Sadly, after this photo of Sophia was taken, David would be killed traveling near the Suez Canal while covering a prisoner exchange in 1956; he was killed by Egyptian gun fire.

Farrah Fawcett, the 1970s

Texas born Farrah Fawcett was the daughter of an oil field contractor, and acting wasn’t at all in her radar as a younger woman.  In fact, few people know that Fawcett graduated from Austin’s University of Texas with her Microbiology degree.

During her days at the University of Texas, Farrah entered a campus contest where she was discovered by an actors agent.  He convinced her to give acting a try.

And try she did; she moved out to L.A. and almost immediately broke into advertising, with commercials for Wella Balsam shampoo and Ultra-Brite toothpaste.  She would also win several TV show appearances in her early days.

When Farrah married Lee Majors, star of The Six Million Dollar Man, in 1973, she drew the attention of Aaron Spelling, the famous producer.  This led to her being cast in the TV series role that would cement her place in Hollywood, Charlie’s Angels.

Mr. MJ Meets Mr. T

Mr. Laurence Tureaud had a life before the A-Team, and he is seen here with his client Michael Jackson.  One of Mr. T’s first professions was as a bodyguard for hire, and he worked for Michael during the early 1980’s.

Michael Jackson wasn’t Mr. T’s only big-name client, though.  He protected Diana Ross, Steve McQueen, and even Muhammad Ali (although it’s hard to imagine him needing protection!).  Mr. T’s career was lucrative; he would charge over $3k for a night’s work.

Mr. T always had his aggressively self-important air, even back then.  His business card read, “Next to God, there is no better protector that I.”  He compared his job at the time to being a kamikaze pilot.

Mr. T was also a Chicago nightclub bouncer, after he failed his tryout for the Green Bay Packers in the 70’s.

David Prowse, 'Luke's Dad', Early 1960s

Ever wonder if it was James Earl Jones under those robes?  After all, it’s common knowledge that he voiced the character of Darth Vader.

The person under the robes was British actor David Prowse, a champion weightlifter and body builder, for all three of the first Star Wars movies.  But why use his body and a different voice?

Initially, David did run through Darth Vader’s dialogue during the filming.  What he had in presence, though, he seriously lacked vocally when it came to filming the dark, menacing voice of the villain.  The crew wasn’t sure how they would get the appropriate voice for the character, but luckily, they found Broadway star James Earl Jones and were able to dub his voice into the film.

As for the 6-foot, 6-inch David?  He had won the 1962 title of British heavyweight weightlifting champ and appeared on the British comedy, The Benny Hill Show. He was also cast, unsurprisingly for his size, as Frankenstein.

David Prowse would help to train Christopher Reeve for his Superman role in 1978.  While he had thought that the role was his, he soon found out his actual role was as Reeve’s trainer.

White Lotus Esprit S1 - The Famous Bond Car

The real star of this photo is the car itself, the Lotus Esprit Series I.  This car was featured in the 1977 Bond classic, The Spy Who Loved Me; in the film, it could transform into a submarine which resulted in one of the most awesome chases in 007 history.

Roger Moore was behind the wheel of this Bond car, which was the first British sports vehicle to be used for a Bond movie since the Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger.

Lynda Carter Battling With The Network Stars

The Battle of the Network Stars was a battle between celebrity teams doing athletic challenges.  The show ran during the 1970’s and the 1980’s and could feature your favorite stars doing any number of physical feats, like Sonny Bono vs Scott Baio in track and field or Linda Carter, shown here, in an event like the Obstacle Course, the popular Dunk Tank, and Tug O’ War.  The program was narrated by none other than Howard Cosell, sportscaster extraordinaire, himself.  Millions tuned in to the show to see who was featured and who would win.

Linda Carter is shown here stretching out before her challenge, but really; who in their right mind is going to take on Wonder Woman?

Chase, Aykroyd, Belushi, 1970s

There was a time that Saturday Night Live was funny, irreverent, and full of star power like the ones pictured above.  This photo of Chevy Chase, John Belushi, and Dan Aykroyd was taken in the 70’s, when producer Lorne Michaels had the comedic players to back up his brilliant writing.

The crew of Saturday Night Live didn’t just magically appear on Saturday Night Live.  The biggest players had their beginnings in other sketch shows.  Dan and John were featured players in Chicago and Toronto for Second City.  Chevy Chase, of New York’s Channel One Theater, joined the duo on the National Lampoon Radio hour.  A spin-off from National Lampoon Radio Hour, Lemmings, was a live touring show that added Gilda Radner, Christopher Guest, Bill Murray and other SNL greats into the mix.

From this mix came pure comedy gold, every Saturday night on NBC.

Joan Jett And The Runaways, 1970s

The Runaways were more than just a teen band from Los Angeles.  The girls formed their band in 1975 and released four albums which found their biggest following overseas, specifically in Japan.  The Runaways were famous for songs including Queens of Noise, Hollywood, and Cherry Bomb. 

The band has one immediately recognizable face, Joan Jett.  Do you recognize one of the others?  Lita Ford was part of the band, too.

The band called it quits over the musical direction the members wanted to take. Joan Jett favored a punk rock flavor, a la the Ramones, while other members felt they wanted to embrace a metal, hard rock approach.

"The Rock" And His Dad, 1981

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is obviously a chip off the old muscle block.  His dad, Rocky Johnson, was a professional wrestler, as was his granddad, “High Chief” Peter Maivia.  Additionally, Afa and Sika Anoa’I, professionally known as “The Wild Samoans,” were his uncles.

Lia Maivia, Dwayne’s grandmother, was a promoter in Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling, one of just a handful of female promoters in the industry.

It’s only natural that Dwayne dabbled in wrestling before he started his Hollywood acting career.

Meryl Streep Takes Public Transportation

While Meryl Streep doesn’t need to ride public transportation, it’s kind of cool that she does once in a while.  Her family, however, could own this bus line.

Meryl is a descendant of some significant wealth. Lawrence Wilkerson, her eighth great-grandfather, settled in Rhode Island, one of the first Europeans to do so.  Other ancestors were 17th-century English immigrants, and she shares lineage with William Penn.  Streep’s family was one of the first to invest in land in the state that is named after him, Pennsylvania.

As if that wasn’t enough, Meryl was a gifted actress even in school.  A drama professor at Vassar reported that she was never taught how to act, it came naturally to her.

Streep is often considered to be the best actress of her entire generation.

Portrait Of Jack Nicholson, Aspen, 1981

The trait of a great photographer is the ability to capture his subjects in intimate moments and relax them for the most natural picture possible.  Scottish photographer Albert Watson knows how to do just that, and his work has achieved some fame.

The photo of Steve Jobs, snapped with his thumb to his chin, was taken by Albert.  Jobs hated photographers and Albert was given one hour to get pictures.  Albert reassured Jobs and told him he only needed a half hour to get what he needed.  The picture was snapped and is an iconic image of Jones.

Here we have Jack Nicholson at his private residence in Aspen, Colorado in 1981.  He is clearly not feeling any stress over the photography session, and this picture is classic Jack.

By the way, Jack, if you’re reading this, we want you to come back.  It’s been more than eight years since your last film, and darn it, we miss you.

Robert Plant & Family In Wales, 1976

Robert Plant is looking a bit wild and crazy here, almost out of his element.  He is, in fact, completely in his comfort zone here with his wife Maureen and his kids as they stroll around his property in Wales.

Maureen is the daughter of the Calcutta Mounted Police Chief.  The pair met in 1966 at a Georgie Fame concert, and tied the knot just two years later.  Maureen had a cameo appearance in The Song Remains the Same, the 1976 Led Zeppelin movie that was, in part, filmed on the Plant farm.

Plant wrote the song Thank You for Maureen as tribute to her loyalty during the early years when the musician was still struggling.  Aww!

Princess Leia Charms The Cast On SNL

1978 was towards the end of a decade of goofy styles, cool music, and Star Wars mania.  On a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, Carrie Fisher performed her entire opening monologue in full Princess Leia garb.  In the monologue, she stated: “I felt a little awkward coming out here in my Princess Leia costume because it might seem like I’m exploiting Star Wars. But I went along with it because if I came out as myself, who would recognize me?”

Carrie took the act one step further by appearing in a sketch with Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and Al Franken, the former senator.  In this sketch, Star Wars was given new life as a beach movie in the 1950’s style of Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.

Rebecca De Mornay & Tom Cruise

No 1980’s kid missed the 1983 cult classic, Risky Business.  The film will always be a fan favorite for actor Tom Cruise and was the launchpad for his career.  If the onscreen romance of 23-year-old Rebecca De Mornay and the 19-year-old Cruise seemed steamy on film, you should have seen it off screen.

Dating De Mornay was risky business in itself, though; the actress was dating fellow actor Harry Dean Stanton, and he would show up to the set of the film from time to time.

Tom and Rebecca continued to see each other after they finished filming but had to make it long distance when Cruise began filming Legend, the action fantasy movie, in London.  After Tom came back home and began filming Top Gun, the couple decided to split.

Dorothy Dandridge, 1st Black Oscar Nominee

Carmen Jones was a 1954 musical with several unique factors.  First, it featured a cast that was all black.  Second, it featured the music stylings of Oscar Hammerstein II, who enjoyed merging modern lyrics with the feel of traditional opera.

Dorothy Dandridge was the lead for the movie. She was an iconic and talented African American who achieved a rare feat indeed; she was nominated for an Oscar award for the role.

Dandridge had been singing in many notable places such as the Apollo Theater and the Cotton Club prior to landing the role.  Dorothy would also go on to gain a Golden Globe nomination for her 1959 film, Porgy and Bess.

Dandridge should have continued acting and earning nominations for decades, but she died of a drug overdose in 1965 at the age of 43, completely penniless.

The Master Of Comedy John Candy, 1972

John Candy is a multi-talented Canadian comedian from Newmarket, Ontario.  Born in 1950, John would go to a community college to major in journalism.

In 1973, John was getting a few intermittent parts, such as an uncredited role in Class of ’44, a 1973 movie.  He would finally find his voice later that year at the age of 19 when he became a regular cast member on Toronto’s Second City.

In 1976, the TV show expanded and became SCTV which would soon be an NBC show.  John Candy received two Emmys for writing because of his role in SCTV.

The Groovy Partying Cheech And Chong Back In 1968

Here we see Cheech and Chong many, many years ago, looking quite young.  The comedy team paired up in Canada after meeting in the 1960’s in Vancouver.  At the time, while Chong was a citizen of Canada, Cheech wasn’t.  He had moved to Canada to avoid the draft and the Viet Nam War.

While Cheech and Chong came on the scene performing straight standup, they would soon mix rock and roll into the act and perform at musical venues.  When the 70’s ended, this comedic duo was considered the cream of the crop and the best-selling comedy act ever in the history of recording.

His Royal Badass Mick Jagger!

It’s hard to believe that the Rolling Stones front man ever looked this young, but here is Mick Jagger in 1966.  This would be the year that the Stones went on tour to promote their album, Aftermath.

Aftermath was a completely unusual break from the ordinary.  Produced by Decca Records, the album exclusively featured only music written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.  Brian Jones took it a step farther in creativity by bringing instruments such as the Appalachian dulcimer, the Japanese koto, the marimbas, and the sitar.  The album was also recorded in the United States, at California’s RCA studios.  This was their first album to have been recorded in the states.

The final stop of the Aftermath tour was in Honolulu, Hawaii and was broadcast on KPOI, a Hawaiian radio station.

Young Jane Seymour, 1977

During the 70’s, Jane Seymour made her mark on James Bond’s heart in Live and Let Die.  The film featured Roger Moore in his first James Bond appearance, while Jane Seymour played the psychic of the villainous Kananga, Solitaire.  Naturally, Solitaire falls for the man of mystery.

If the name of the movie seems familiar in other ways, it was also the name of a song featured in the movie that was originally performed by superstar Paul McCartney and Wings.  The song would be covered years later by Guns and Roses.

Jane Seymour is pictured here, having fun on the beach in 1973.  She is also well loved for her role as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

A Teenage Johnny Depp Kicking It At Home

Johnny Depp is an American classic.  Born in Kentucky and raised in Florida, Johnny Depp was already playing guitar when this picture was taken of the then-sixteen-year-old star to be.

Johnny had the desire for fame in his veins.  He dropped out of high school to chase his dream of becoming a musician after experimenting in a few garage bands.   He was close to rock star success with one band, The Kids, who made it all the way to Los Angeles before breaking up.  They never got the coveted record deal.

While acting might not have been his first dream, Johnny Depp got his big break in 1984 when he landed a part in A Nightmare on Elm Street where he played one of Freddy Krueger’s viciously mauled victims.  The rest is Hollywood history, and we are really glad Johnny chose this career instead of rock and roll.

Ann Wilson Of Heart Waiting For The Concert To Start, 1977

Who could imagine that such a small package could contain such an incredibly powerful set of pipes?  In 1976, Ann Wilson was looking sleek here in some renaissance festival duds.

The Runaways were one of the first groups to prove that women could kick ass at rock and roll, and Heart backed this theory up tenfold.  Ann and Nancy Wilson were making waves in a male dominated world, pulling off insane guitar riffs and genuine rock and roll rhythm.  Ann and Nancy were raised in Seattle Washington, but they moved to Vancouver Canada and stayed there long enough to produce their first album, Dreamboat Annie.

Heart wasn’t always known as heart.  Initially, they were called White Heart, but in the early 70’s they became known simply as Heart.  There was also one unfortunate incident, shortly after Ann joined the band, that they were known as Hocus Pocus.

A Young Ozzy Osborne, 1970s

Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, bat biting reality TV star known for his shocking state stunts.  Here, he looks like the friendly teen from down the street who dabbles in a garage band, but shovels snow out of his elderly neighbor’s driveway every winter.

Ozzy was born and raised in Birmingham, England, and always seemed to have an affinity for the stage.  In fact, he first appeared on the school stage for performances of two Gilbert and Sullivan performances, HMS Pinafore and The Mikado.  Ozzy had an obsession for the band from his land, The Beatles, and claims that their tune She Loves You was his reason for wanting to be a musician.

At the age of 15, Ozzy dropped out of school to pursue his dream of becoming a musician.  He supported himself with odd jobs including an abattoir worker, a construction laborer, a plumber’s apprentice, a toolmaker’s apprentice, and a car factory horn-tuner.  Could it be his work in the slaughter house paved the way for some of his on-stage antics?

Steve McQueen Spinning Some Vinyl At His Home In Palm Springs, 1963

Photographed by John Dominis

Just a picture of Steve McQueen, chilling at home with his favorite Jazz albums in this 1963 LIFE magazine photo.  This picture was one of many taken by the genius of photography, John Dominis, who was famous for capturing the most candid and intimate moments with his subjects, such as his work with Frank Sinatra. John had to have preferred snapping celebrity pictures compared to his prior experience as a photographer during the Viet Nam war.

Dominis wrote of this picture: "Steve is a jazz lover — he takes his portable stereo with him wherever he goes," Dominis wrote in his notes. Here, McQueen is surrounded by his favorite albums, including Sonny Rollins, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, and Miles Davis, while putting an album on the record player at his Palm Springs bungalow.

Marta Kristen From 'Lost in Space', 1960s

In 1965, Norwegian born Marta Kristen, American actress, got her first major role in the teen movie Beach Blanket Bingo.   She is better remembered for her role as Judy Robinson on TV’s Lost in Space, running from 1965 until 1968.

Before being stranded in space, Marta would appear in a 1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode, Bang! You’re Dead.  In a coincidence only ever seen in Hollywood stories, she appeared alongside Billy Mumy, who would go on to star with her again in Lost in Space.

In 1998, Kristen made a guest appearance in the Lost in Space film reboot.

"A Little Dab'll Do Ya!" Dick Clark In A Brylcreem Ad From The Late 1950s

Dick Clark was a beloved American icon best known for his role as host on American Bandstand.  Richard Wagstaff Clark didn’t get his start on TV, though, he got his first taste of entertainment in the mailroom of a radio studio in Rome, New Jersey, AM station WRUN.  Dick Clark was connected to the station through blood, with an uncle who owned the station and a father who managed it.

Dick Clark took a DJ job in 1952 where he substituted for the host of a Philadelphia radio show, Bob Horn’s Bandstand.  Bob Horn himself was fired after a drunk driving arrest, leaving young Dick Clark to host the show permanently.

Remember, as far as luck and good connections go, “A little dab’ll do ya!”

Bananarama Looking Fashionable In The Early 1980s

Is this everything that was wrong with 1980’s fashion in one picture?  No, it’s just the super fun girl group, Bananarama.  In 1981 London, two childhood friends, Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin, were at the London College of Fashion (yes, we see the irony) studying journalism when they met Siobhan Fahey.

Meanwhile, Woodward and Dallin were about to be tossed out of the YMCA, where they were staying, when in another celebrity coincidence, Sex Pistols’ Paul Cook offered them living space above their old rehearsal room.

The newly formed friends hit it off and began laying background vocal tracks for Iggy Pop, The Nipple Erectors, The Monochrome Set, The Jam, and Department S.

In 1981, the girls recorded a demo which caught the attention of Demon Records who signed them on.

Candice Bergen Posing At The Beach With Her Dog, 1968

It is hard to believe this young lady was once jealous of a ventriloquist dummy.

Candace’s father, Edgar Bergen, was a huge ventriloquist star in the 1940’s.  His act was so special that he performed it on the radio.  Candace always felt that she was living in the shadow of her father’s sidekick, Charlie McCarthy, his wooden ventriloquist dummy.  Charlie had a room in the family home, all of his own, and Candace was frequently referred to as Charlie’s little sister.

Candace started appearing on her dad’s radio show when she was eleven years old, and also starred with him on You Bet Your Life, Groucho Mark’s quiz show, in 1958.

Cheap Trick Looking Edgy For The Camera In 1979

Cheap Trick weren’t always a big name; they had their beginnings, like so many other bands, by playing local venues in 1969 throughout Rockford, Illinois.  Rick Nielson, guitarist for Cheap Trick, had already formed a few other bands with equally odd names, like The Grim Reapers, Nazz, Sick Man of Europe, Fuse, and The Boyz.

The group’s name, Cheap Trick, came about after the band saw fellow band members of Slade in concert, and realized that the group used “every cheap trick in the book” for their performance.  They began their first official European tour as Cheap Trick in 1973.

Cheap Trick at Budokan was an album that was only slated to be released in Japan.  Fans voiced their displeasure, though, and in 1979 Epic Records released it in the United States.

Desi Arnaz, John Wayne, Lucille Ball And Vivian Vance On The Set Of 'I Love Lucy' in 1955

In 1955, the I Love Lucy show featured a fantastic guest; none other than John Wayne himself.  In a stunt intended to breathe new life into the show, Ricky and Lucy moved to Los Angeles for Ricky to work on a film, leaving their New York life behind.

It so happened that this episode of I Love Lucy was timed perfectly to coincide with a new John Wayne movie, Blood Alley.  For the episode of Lucy, our red headed heroine takes John Wayne’s footprints from Grauman’s Chinese Theater.  John Wayne would reunite with Lucy on an episode of The Lucy Show.

Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Director Sergio Leone, Charles Bronson And Jason Robards, 1968, 'Once Upon A Time In The West'

Once Upon a Time in the West is a 1968 spaghetti western by director Sergio Leon, who co-wrote the film as well.  It is an epic film with a running time of two hours 46 minutes uncut.

Sergio was still reveling in the success of his last film, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly when Paramount offered him this opportunity.  He had been considering moving away from the genre altogether prior to this.  In addition to a phenomenal screenplay, Sergio was afforded the opportunity to work with Henry Fonda, and Charles Bronson, who was given the part that Clint Eastwood had turned down.

Check out this group picture of tough guys and girls taking a break from filming to cut up and have fun.

Here's A young Eva Mendes Getting Alyssa Milano’s Autograph In 1989

Is there anything about this picture that doesn’t make us think “1980’s?”  In 1989, Eva Mendes was just a 15-year-old fan of Alyssa Milano and the TV series, Who’s the Boss?

Alyssa was also a young teen, just 16 when this pic was snapped.  Mendes had gone to her local mall in the hopes of meeting Alyssa in an autograph session, and got her wish forever memorialized in this snapshot.

While Mendes would get her own break nine years later in ER, the popular medical drama, she recalled her meeting with Alyssa: "I lost my damn mind. I was obsessed."

Jan Smithers, Who Played 'Bailey Quarters' On The TV Show 'WKRP In Cincinnati' Started Off Her Career As A Model In 1966

You might not recognize her as Bailey Quarters, from CBS’s comedic series, WKRP in Cincinnati.  Jan Smithers starred on the show from 1978 through 1982.

Smithers got her start, as many actresses do, as a model.  In her teens in 1966, she was featured on an edition of Newsweek, sitting on a motorcycle.  After her camera debut, she was cast as Sharman Crane in a 1976 episode of the cop series, Starsky and Hutch.

Smithers is a Woodland Hills, California native and was married from 1986 through 1995 to fellow actor James Brolin.

Margi Kent, A Los Angeles Based Fashion Designer, Worked With Stevie Nicks To Develop Nicks's Unique Onstage Look

Stevie Nicks, the beloved lead singer of Fleetwood Mack, always had a unique style that was entirely her own.  Her fashion sense seemed to be a mixture of hippie and witch.

Stevie had help with her wardrobe and style; George Harrison and Neil Diamond stylist Margi Kent loved working with her on her stage wardrobe.  Margi’s job was to help Stevie embrace the energy that she felt in certain songs.

Margi commented on working with the iconic singer, “Stevie was the only woman in rock and roll to really go there with her costumes. She really did have a concept, a look and a character in mind that she was projecting when she was on stage. She is possessed by that particular song, the energy flows through her and I design the costumes to help that.”

Marilyn Monroe And Jane Russell On The Set Of 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', 1953

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.  Or do they?  When faced with these strong women, who will win out?  The movie covers showgirls Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw as they journey to Paris.  This 1953 film is the one where Marilyn finally confirms what men have always suspected:  diamonds really are a girl’s best friend.  While Jane Russel and Marilyn Monroe hit it off rather well, this was the only film they did together.  Jane was fond of Marilyn, nicknaming her Blondie, and was the only person on set who could get Marilyn out of her trailer and moving for the day’s filming.

Gentlemen may prefer blondes, but they certainly pay brunettes better; Jane Russel received $200k for the movie while Blondie pulled in a measly $500 per week.

Tom Petty Was A Real 'Heartbreaker' In The 1970s

Tom Petty strolls along the sidewalk in cowboy boots and his Steel Pulse t-shirt in the late 70’s in this pic.  Tom Petty, a Florida native, was a high school dropout at age 17.  He formed a band, Mudcrutch, and played bass for them.  Tom struggled at first to make his name known.

He worked as a groundskeeper for the University of Florida, which he never attended, and also as a gravedigger to make ends meet while taking guitar lessons from The Eagles’ Don Felder.

Tom was more than a Heartbreaker, though.  He also voiced Luanne Platter’s husband on the animated TV hit, King of the Hill.

The Cult Film, 'Harold and Maude' from 1971

In 1971, the world fell in love with Harold and Maude.  It was one of the first true movies that had a cult following, and played from mid-1972 through June 1974 in Edina, Minnesota’s Westgate Theater.  It was played 1,957 times during that time.

If you’ve never seen the movie, it details the life of a twenty-year-old man who has fallen in love with a young at heart 80-year-old woman.  Thankfully, Paramount stopped director Hal Ashby before he included a scene of this unusual couple making love.

Harold was played by Bud Cort and Maude by Ruth Gordon.  The movie was supposed to have a cameo by Suzanne Somers, who was a “deodorant girl” at a funeral, but that scene was cut out of the finished film.

The 1971 film, Harold and Maude, was one of the first cult movie classics - it played for a

Young Hasselhoff and Caroline Munro In Starcrash,  1978

Luigi Cozzi, director of Hercules, had a crazy notion of a sci-fi movie that would rival Star Wars. The result was the overly campy 1978 offering, Starcrash. 

Starcrash could have been considered a flop, but it featured an all-star cast including David Hasselhoff and Christopher Plummer, who was rumored to have made $10k a day during the filming.  The movie took 18 months to finish.

Starcrash had its share of Hasselhoff incidents, such as when his insistence to perform his own stunts ended up with an Italian stuntman losing a tooth, or when he got food poisoning and was replaced temporarily by a crew member wearing a mask as he recovered.

The movie earned a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode, which just about sums up its fate completely.  Still, the movie wasn’t a complete loss; take a look at Caroline Munroe in costume.

Par-tay!! Keith Richards, James Brown And John Belushi Hanging Out At Studio 54 In The 1980s

The notoriously raucous Studio 54 was the place where all New York’s rich and famous came to see and be seen in the 70’s and 80’s.  Here we see the recipe for one unforgettable night.

It’s not common knowledge, but Keith Richards and John Belushi were good friends after the two met when the Rolling Stones performed on an episode of Saturday Night Live.  Richards told Belushi, “There’s a difference between scratching your arse and tearing it to bits.”  It’s unclear if anyone actually understood what Richards meant.

Keith Richards is the only one of this trio still alive today.

Mary Lou Retton Winning The Olympic Gold Medal In 1984

Check out this duo:  Ronald Reagan, America’s President, and Mary Lou Retton, America’s Medalist. Retton is a winner of the 1984 Olympic gold medal in gymnastics.  She also won two bronze and two silver medals in the Los Angeles sponsored event that year.

Mary Lou Retton is a Christian Conservative who was an avid supporter of the Reagan administration.  She appeared at his reelection campaign rallies in her native West Virginia.  At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Mary Lou Retton delivered the Pledge of Allegiance.

Keith Richards Doing What He Does Best

Keith Richards is a walking, talking medical mystery.  The above picture is just one of many depicting his party habits; he is a chain smoking, heavy drinking rock star who has somehow managed to survive despite his unhealthy lifestyle choices.  Here he is depicted pouring himself a stiff belt of Stoli, making us wonder if he keeps on going because he is pickled from the inside out.

Richard has music in his veins, as well as alcohol.  His grandfather was jazz musician Augustus Theodore Dupree, who toured across Britain with his band, Gus Dupree and his Boys.  Gus gave Keith his first guitar and introduced him to the jazz classics like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday.

Moe, Larry, Curly Of The Three Stooges Back In The Day!

These stylish guys are better known as the Three Stooges, and they were known and loved for their unique brand of slapstick humor.  Ready for some little-known facts about your favorite trio?

The Three Stooges were already billed as a vaudeville act before releasing their films.  In 1922, these guys started their act and were known as Ted Healy and His Stooges.

The Three Stooges produced 190 films shorts for Columbia Pictures.  The films have been seen on TV since 1958, and the team remained active until 1970 with some necessary personnel changes along the way.  Stooge fans noticed that Curly disappeared and was replaced by Shemp.  Shemp was Moe’s real-life brother and stepped in when Curly had a stroke in 1946.

The remaining Stooges were supposed to star in Blazing Stewardesses, an R-rated movie released in the 70’s.  Unfortunately, Moe received bad news, and was diagnosed with lung cancer.  The team backed out of the film and was replaced by the Ritz Brothers.

JFK And Jackie In A Photo Booth, 1953

Here is a happy couple, Jackie O and JFK, clowning around in a photo booth.  This power couple met in 1952 after a friend introduced them at a Washington DC dinner party.  It was love at first sight; Kennedy claims he had never met anyone like Jackie.

Two years later, Kennedy popped the question with a modest engagement ring; a 2.84 carat emerald set with a 2.88 carat diamond designed by Van Cleef & Arpels.

The wedding was no less extravagant.  Married at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church with more than 800 guests, the couple honeymooned in Mexico.

Model And Rock Muse Jerry Hall In 1974

With Grace Jones

Some were born to be wealthy and successful.  Take Texas model Jerry Hall, for instance.  She was discovered by Claude Haddad, a fashion agent, while she was laying out in the sun on a Saint Tropez beach in the French Riviera.  From there, she would go on to share an apartment with Jessica Lange and in Paris.  Her big break was on a 1975 album cover, where she was a mermaid for Roxy Music’s Siren.

Within two years, Jerry was pulling in a cool grand per day for her modeling jobs.  In addition, she was all over the magazine covers like Cosmopolitan and Italian Vogue.  She had more than 40 covers to her credit.

Andy Warhol enjoyed using the six-foot-tall model for his own art projects.  Jerry would ultimately be married to Rupert Murdoch, a billionaire, and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones fame.

Debbie Harry Rockin' it in 1975

With David Bowie. How cool is that!?

This is the singer Debbie Harry, lead singer of The Angel and the Snake.  You may know the band better by its later name, Blondie.

While Blondie was Debby’s nickname, it was not her high school moniker; in school, she was known as “Moon” because of her oval face.

Blondie nearly had a hand in recording the title track of the Bond film, For Your Eyes Only.  The song is on The Hunter, the group’s 1981 album.  The producers of the Bond film ultimately rejected Blondie’s version and chose Sheena Easton’s version instead.

Tom Petty And His Group, The Heartbreakers, 1970s

Tom Petty was always too cool for words.  One of his early bands, The Epics, had their motto, “For love or money” written onto business cards.

The Heartbreakers featured an almost all Floridian cast; only one member wasn’t a Florida native.  The Heartbreakers were a huge success in the United Kingdom before finding their audience in the United States.

Tom Petty formed another group in 1988 with his friends Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, George Harrison and Roy Orbison.  The group, The Traveling Wilburys, enjoyed modest success with several very catchy tunes in a style that was completely unlike Tom’s normal style.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers earned their Hollywood Walk of Fame Star in 1999 for their major contributions in the music industry.

Lynda Carter At An Evening Event

This inspiring woman first caught our eye in 1972 when she was crowned Miss World America, finishing as a semifinalist in the 1972 Miss World Pageant. In 1974, Lynda Carter appeared in an episode of Nakia, a police drama.

Lynda would carry on appearing in a few other TV series, such as Starsky and Hutch, but it wasn’t until she landed her Wonder Woman role in 1976 that she became a widely recognized star.  Wonder Woman had a short but successful three-season run.

Brigitte Bardot Looks Sad When She's Happy

Brigitte was a power player of the French cinema, appearing in over forty movie roles.  She was also a recording artist with a few albums to her credit.  She worked with Serge Gainsbourg, French music legend, on a few of her albums.

Brigitte was married to Bernard d’ Ormale, the former advisor of the Front National, a political party in France.  She retired from show biz just before her 39^th birthday and is currently an animal rights activist.

Valerie Bertinelli, Battle Of The Network Stars, 1979

In 1979, Valerie Bertinelli had her turn on Battle of the Network Stars, the ABC series that pitted stars from all of the major networks against each other in various physical challenges.  Valerie’s team was led by the team captain, Jamie Farr, and players Lou Ferrigno, Patrick Duffy, Catherine Bach, and Leif Garrett.

The series drew from the talents of ABC, NBC, and CBS to compete in kayaking, golf, outdoor bowling, football, volleyball, swimming, an obstacle course, a rousing game of Simon Says and the popular event, the baseball dunk.

200,000 People Listen As Martin Luther King Delivers "I Have A Dream" Speech - August 28th, 1963

Few people were as influential in the civil rights movement as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Here, a huge multitude of people were peacefully gathered to air grievances, and the last speaker was Dr. King.

Dr. King emphasized that the struggle of African Americans should be dealt with in a peaceful manner.  His speech is probably one of the most widely recognizable speeches in all of history:

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today....”

His speech lasted sixteen minutes, and ended with this rally cry:

“When we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men, and white men, Jews, and Gentiles, Protestants, and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'”

Robin Williams Hits The Big Time, 1979

Robin Williams was an undeniable comedic master.  The role that launched him into super star history was, of course, Mork in the series Mork and Mindy.  The show was highly loved all across the United States and had a Nielson ranking of #3.

Mork was from a small planet, Ork, and is befriended by Mindy when he lands on Earth.  With no where else to go, Mork begins to stay with Mindy and the room mates find themselves in hilarious positions.  The world met Robin Williams and fell forever in love with him until his tragic death by his own hand in 2014.

Marvin Gaye With A Parrot In California, 1976

Motown singer Marvin Gaye is pictured with an Amazon Parrot while swimming in California.  Marvin Gaye was a very influential force that shaped the sound of Motown during the 60’s.

In the 70’s, Marvin and Stevie Wonder broke from their production companies to try a different direction.  For Marvin, that direction led to the recording of the albums Let’s Get it On and What’s Going On.  His new sound had a heavy influence on a couple of R&B genres including neo soul and quiet storm.

Marvin Gaye’s life would be tragically cut short by his own father on April 1, 1984.  Marvin Gaye Sr. would fatally shoot his own son following an argument.  His father was found calmly waiting outside the home for the police to arrest him.  He was given an astounding six-year suspended sentence and only five years of probation for the murder.  His wife of 49 years divorced him after the shooting.

Girl Riding On A Moped In 1965

Mopeds have been around for a long time.  Elements of mopeds have been seen in motorcycles since 1914, if not even earlier than that.

Mopeds are an economic source of transportation as well as being small enough to store easily, simple to operate, and cheap to maintain.  The moped gained popularity in both the US and Europe between WWI and WWII and continued to grow in popularity after WWII with sleek new models such as the Lambretta and the Vespa.

Because mopeds have no licensing requirements and do not need to be insured, they remain a popular choice for city dwellers to get around town.

Princess Margaret Meeting The Beatles At The Royal Variety Show, November 1963

The Royal Variety Show was packed to the brim.  Because the world was on fire with Beatlemania, they were the act most had come to see.  The Beatles were the seventh act of the nineteen slated to perform that day.

Just before launching into the last song of their set, John Lennon made the following famous quip: “For our last number, I'd like to ask your help. The people in the cheaper seats clap your hands. And the rest of you, if you'd just rattle your jewelry. We'd like to sing a song called Twist and Shout.”  Naturally, the papers made this the headline of the next day.

Cindy Morgan On The Set Of The Film 'Tron', 1982

Tron was an iconic movie with a genius ahead of its time.  It was the first film to feature an entirely computer-generated world and is widely considered to be a huge movie for the computer counter-culture.  The film’s fanatic followers were mostly kids who saw the invention of an internet society and spent a lot of time in video game arcades.

The movie starred Jeff Bridges, Cindy Morgan, David Warner, Bruce Boxleitner, and Bernard Hughes.  In the film, a hacker is sucked into a digital world and must play gladiator games.  His only hope of escaping the computer world is through a heroic security program.

Julius Erving aka Dr. J, Arriving In Stylish Attire At The 1976 ABA Finals

Now, this is one long drink of water.  Here we see slam-dunker Julius Erving strolling into the ABA finals in 1976.  Dr.J. started his career in 1968, playing for several teams such as the New York Nets, the Virginia Squires, and the Philadelphia 76ers.  He set many records and pulled a not so shabby sixth ranking scorer in NBA and ABA history with over 30K points scored.

In 1993, this basketball legend was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, but this was just one of his many awards.  He earned four MVPs, was named one of Sport’s Illustrated 40 most important athletes and was one of the players named in the 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team of the NBA.  In 2004, Dr. J. earned a spot in the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.

Princess Diana Has A Chat With Elton John As George Michael Watches, 1980s

Well, this picture is a who’s who of celebrity sightings.  Princess Diana is chatting with Sir Elton John while George Michael listens.  This photo was snapped at “Feed the World’s” Live Aid event.

Princess Diana was known as the People’s Princess, and her tragic death is remembered every year by her celebrity friends as well as her adoring fans.

Diana was close to both Elton John and George Michael.  She turned to George for advice and comfort during her often-contentious divorce from Prince Charles.  Diana met George in the 80’s during a concert, and the pair hit it off right away.

Drew Carey, United States Marine, Circa 1978

Drew Carey is both a comedian and an actor, as well as the current The Price is Right host.  He is pictured during his six-year stint in the Marine Corps reserve, around 1978.  Drew gives his military career the credit for shaping his adult life.  As he explained in a Time magazine interview, “It instilled a great sense of discipline that I can call on when I need to."

Once he left the Marines, Drew Carey started the stand-up comedy circuit.  He gained enough attention to earn his very own sit-com, The Drew Carey Show, and soon was an easily recognized celebrity.

Drew has made appearances in film, TV movies, and music videos.  He’s been the host for The Price is Right since 2007.

1955 Photoshoot With Marilyn And Cute Pup

Marilyn Monroe was an avid animal lover.  Her own fluffy white pup was a gift from Frank Sinatra that she named Maf, or Mafia Honey, as a tongue-in-cheek connection of the dog to the mafia through Frank Sinatra.

She is pictured here in a March 1955 photo shoot dedicated to Look magazine’s oriental gown project.  This photo was snapped at Milton Greene’s New York Studio.

Milton Greene carefully staged the shoot to embrace many themes of the orient, including the folding dressing screen, multiple cushions, and the embroidered ottoman.  For added flair, he dressed Monroe in a black oriental styled robe and gave her a Pekinese pup to cuddle.

Cutie Jamie Lee Curtis In The Early 1980s

Jamie Lee Curtis is most known for her portrayal of Lori Strode in the Halloween franchise.  The “scream queen” was the face of 1970’s horror, but she also had several roles outside of the genre that earned her Hollywood honors.

Her 1983 role in Trading Spaces got her the best supporting actress BAFTA, the first real step to her receiving attention outside of the horror industry.  She would move on to earn a nomination for a Best Leading Actress BAFTA for her role in the comedic A Fish Called Wanda.  Another role got her a Golden Globe in 1994 when she played a leading part in True Lies.

Jamie Lee Curtis hasn’t turned her back on the franchise that gave her a big break in Hollywood, though.  She starred in Halloween II, Halloween H20, had a voice part in Halloween III, and played a part in Halloween Resurrection as well as Halloween, 2018.

That’s a lot of screaming.

Manute Bol In 1984 Playing College Basketball

This isn’t photoshopped; this pic of the 7-foot 7-inch basketballer Manute Bol is completely real.  He is the tallest player to ever grace the boards of the NBA.

Bol has played on several teams, including two college and four NBAs.  Manute is a specialist player, and as you can imagine, is one of the best shot-blockers ever.  In fact, Manute is the second ranked shot blocker for the average number of blocks per game, with a career ranking of number 15.

Manute is also a political activist.

The Rebel Yell-er, Billy Idol Back In 1978

Billy Idol started his career as far back as the 70’s with his punk band, Generation X.  William Michael Albert Broad moved on to his own solo work, launching him to “idol” status over the course of his career.  Billy Idol was played frequently on MTV, specifically the “Second British Invasion.”  His first album, Billy Idol, was released in 1982 and included songs we all know, such as White Wedding and Dancing with Myself.

Billy Idol kept his momentum, releasing his next album Rebel Yell in 1983.  This album sold over two million copies in the United States alone.  A huge success, the album was certified as double platinum.

Billy wasn’t done yet, though.  He kept turning out albums until the late 1990’s when he decided to step down from the stage to live life quietly under the radar.  In 2005, Billy released another album, Devil’s Playground, and one more in 2014, Kings and Queens of the Underground.

Here's A Rare Photo Of Lynda Carter As Wonder Woman Stopping A Robbery, 1975

Lynda Carter, in the role that defined her career, is starring as Wonder Woman in this shot.  She had her beginnings as Miss World America, but in the 70’s grabbed her lasso of truth and her itty-bitty costume to stop the bad guys and save the world.

It’s hard to remember, but as recently as the 70’s women were still striving for equality.  Lynda was playing a superhero in a world that still thought women were delicate.  Attractiveness was not defined by a woman’s strength, and women were not expected to be independent or self-sufficient.

Lynda Carter managed to roll smart and strong into one heroic package.  What might seem to be a mere TV series was actually a groundbreaking new concept for women.

Lynda Carter continued to fight for equal rights, joining the battle for LGBT causes after her show was finished.  She also joined other charities, such as cancer research.

Stewardesses Of The 1960s

Women in uniform on airplanes is nothing new; the concept of young girls serving passengers in the air has been around since passenger planes fist took to the sky.

Here we see a group of stewardesses in the 60’s.  In the early 70’s, NOW (National Organization of Women) accused airlines of crossing a line and objectifying women.  They went after all airlines but paid particular attention to the “Fly Me” brand, National Airlines.

Their efforts led to much more fair treatment of stewardesses, as well as the hiring and promoting of males in the industry.

You're A Heartbreaker! Rock Vixen Pat Benatar Wearing A Zebra-Striped Bodysuit In 1982

Pat Benatar wasted no time on albums that didn’t sell; her first one, In the Heat of the Night, was released in 1979 and was at #12 in the US by 1980.  No grass grew under the feet of this rocker, though, and she was already releasing her next album Crimes of Passion in 1980.  This album featured one of her most famous songs, Hit me with Your Best Shot. 

This single broke the US top 10 list, reached gold status, and sold over a million copies in the states.

Clint Eastwood In A Tux, Circa 1966

Who remembers Clint Eastwood as a guy in a tux?  This 1966 photo shows a scruffy Clint looking rugged and handsome.  Clint has many accomplishments under his belt, from politics to director and, of course, award winning actor.

Clint Eastwood’s role in Rawhide launched him to the top of 1970’s Western fame, and he would go beyond that to play the role of tough guy in movies such as the Dirty Harry franchise.  His role of Dirty Harry Callahan is probably the one most remembered, and cemented him forever as the epitome of rugged, tough masculinity.

At The Beach In Iran, 1968

You could be forgiven for thinking this picture was taken somewhere on the west coast of the United States.  This 1960’s era pic was actually snapped in Tehran.

In 1979, the Iranian Revolution changed the country forever, both in itself and in its role with the United States.  During the revolution, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi’s dynasty was toppled.  From that moment, the country was ruled by Jalal Al-e-Ahmad’s “Gharbzadegi” and the idea that Western civilization is the root of all evil and must be destroyed.

It certainly is a shame; look at how relaxed this woman looks on the beach.

Ozzy Osbourne In 1974

In 1974, Ozzy is only 26 and is still a member of the heavy metal group Black Sabbath.  Five years later, Ozzy would be fired from his band because of addiction and alcohol abuse and not showing up to scheduled rehearsals.

This might seem a fair decision, but in reality, all of Black Sabbath were under the influence of drugs and alcohol and cancelled their own rehearsals on a regular basis because they were not in a state to produce new music.

Blizzard of Oz was Ozzy’s debut solo album that was released to insane popularity; it achieved multi-platinum status without having released a stand-alone single from the album, one of only a very few albums in the 80’s to do so.

Ozzy has had a successful career on his own, but he has also reunited with Black Sabbath from time to time.  Considered the “Godfather of Heavy Metal,” Ozzy has left his former bandmates far behind.

Audrey Hepburn In Paris, 1955

This smiling lady was America’s Sweetheart from the 1950’s and beyond, but Audrey Hepburn also was hiding a secret personal complication that might have derailed her career if it would have been found out.

In the 1950’s, Audrey’s parents Joseph and Ella were big time Nazi sympathizers, belonging to the British Union of Fascists.  Her father abandoned her at a young age, and after the divorce, her mother went back to Germany where she was part of some very unsavory activities.  Ella was published in The Blackshirt, a fascist magazine, and attended rallies in Nuremberg.  Meanwhile, Joseph was investigated over funding he received from Joseph Goebbels, declared an enemy of the state, and subsequently imprisoned through the rest of the war.

Audrey Hepburn denounced all of her parents’ controversial beliefs and activities.

Debbie Harry is a pinball wizard Back In 1977

Debbie Harry is widely considered to be the first female rapper.  She reached number one in the US, and also starred in many movies and had numerous TV appearances.

Blondie was the brain child of punk musicians Gary Valentine, Clem Burke, and Jimmy Destri who mixed many musical stylings to come up with their signature sound.  In the mix was pop, disco, and reggae; the group was the forerunner of alternative rock at the time.

Blondie, inducted in 2006 to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and is still active today.

Tom Cruise And Rebecca De Mornay Relaxing On The Set Of 'Risky Business',  1983

Risky Business is about a high school misfit who turns his house into a brothel and scores the affections of a high-class call girl in this rather unusual coming of age tale starring Tom Cruise.  Risky Business is a rite of passage for all teens to watch at least once.

In the 80’s, Tom was devoted to both his Bible studies and partying. Along the way, Tom turned his onscreen romance with Rebecca De Mornay into a real-life affair.

Rita Hayworth Publicity Still From Gilda, 1946

Rita Hayworth poses in her designer gown for a 1946 publicity photo for the film noir, Gilda, for which she is most remembered for her leading role.

Gilda is the story of a gambler working at a Buenos Aires casino who learns that his boss is married to his ex-lover.

Hayworth gained her popularity throughout the 40’s, appearing in more than 61 movies over the course of her 37-year career.  She earned the title of the most glamorous screen icon of her time.

Kim Basinger Wore Her Blazer Well Back In The Day!

Kim Bassinger’s given name is Kimila Ann.  Kim worked at first in the New York modeling industry before moving to Los Angeles in 1976 to pursue a career in acting.

Kim’s first movie was the 1979 reboot of From Here to Eternity, but she would quickly move to feature film fame in 1981 when she landed a role in Hard Country.  Kim was a Bond girl opposite Sean Connery in 1983’s Never Say Never Again.

Her career only went up from there, as she played in the 1984 film The Natural, 1986’s comedy, 9 ½ Weeks, and of course Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989.

Kim was far from finished, though.  In 1997 she earned a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Lynn Bracken in L.A. Confidential.

Bob Dylan Checking Out Records, 1963

Bob Dylan was a highly influential singer and songwriter performed in the same era as George Harrison, Tom Petty, and The Grateful Dead.  He joined The Traveling Wilburys with some of his musician friends completely by accident.

George Harrison was hanging out in the studio with Bob, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison.  He was trying to think of a song to put on the B side of his single, This is Love, off of his album Cloud Nine.  Traditionally, the B side of a single was a song that hadn’t been released.  Looking around at his immensely talented grouping of friends, George cam e up with an idea; why not pool the talents and produce the song?  From there, obviously, the friends went on to form the group and release many catchy tunes on their album.

Elvis Presley In 1960

Elvis Presley was the founder of the rockabilly sound merged with blues and rhythm.  In January of 1965, Elvis released the RCA single that would hit number one and launch his career, Heartbreak Hotel. Elvis had the largest collection of awards of anyone else in entertainment history:  25 multiplatinum albums, 90 gold records, and 53 platinum albums.

Elvis Presley In Friedberg, Germany, 1958

Elvis Aron Presley joined the army on March 24, 1958.  During his tour, he spent a few days at the reception station at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.  He would go on to leave active duty status from Fort Dix, New Jersey on March 23 of 1960, and would receive his final discharge on March 23, 1964.

Elvis was more than just a soldier in name only; he completed basic and advanced training before serving two armor battalions.  He would serve overseas in Germany for the 1^st Medium Tank Battalion, 32^nd Armor, from October 1958 until March 1960.

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford And Joey Bishop outside Sands Casino, Las Vegas, 1960

The Rat Pack featured big names like Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra. The group is pictured here in front of the Sands Casino in 1960’s Las Vegas.  The term “Rat Pack” was coined just for this group.

If the group had unofficial leaders, they were Martin, Davis and Sinatra.  Some other big names in the group were Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart.

Throughout the 60’s, the Rat Pack were featured in films like Ocean’s 11, Robin and the 7 Hoods, and Sergeants 3. 

Funny Face! A 15-Year-Old Ellen Degeneres

Even the sleek, smooth Ellen Degeneres was once an unknown 15-year-old, as shown here.

Ellen began her career as a stand-up comedian throughout the early 80’s, appearing on an episode of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1986.

Ellen has also acted in several films such as the 1996 offering, Mr. Wrong, and 1999’s EdTV and The Love Letter.  Ellen has also offered her voice talents for the Pixar animated films Finding Nemo in 2003 and the 2016 sequel Finding Dory where she played the much loved, dizzy Dory.  She has had television shows of her own, the Ellen Degeneres Show and most currently, Ellen.

Dancer, Singer And Actress Ann-Margret, 1966

Ann-Margret made her living being the bad girl everybody loved.  Shown here in a 1968 photo, she was an actress, a singer, and a dancer.

Ann-Margret had some help from a big name to launch her singing career; George Burns took her under his wing.  Not long after, she would gain a seven-year 20^th Century Fox film contract and would soon be starring opposite some acting heavy weights like John Wayne, Elvis, and Jack Nicholson.  She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Carnal Knowledge.

Her voice was unique, earning her the nickname “the female Elvis.”  One year after Marilyn Monroe sang happy birthday to President John F Kennedy, Ann-Margret was invited to do the same.  Ann-Margret’s love of motorcycles cemented her reputation as a daredevil and bad girl.

Gloria Estefan Singing In The Late 1970s Early 1980s

Come on, everybody, do the Conga with Gloria Estefan in 1985.  The song may have launched the career of the Cuban American performer, but the singer songwriter was just getting started.  Her other toe tapping tunes included Get on Your Feet and Rhythm is Gonna Get You as well as ballads such as Here We Are.

Gloria’s awards include 7 Grammys and a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood and Las Vegas.  She earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom for contributions made to the American music scene, and the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors for contributions made by the performer to the American Culture scene.

Good Morning, Vietnam Robin Williams Won A Golden Globe For Best Actor

Robin Williams won quite a few awards during his career, starting with one for his lead comedy actor role in the 1979 TV series, Mork and Mindy.

Overall, his list of wins is quite impressive:  Academy Award for the 1997 film, Good Will Hunting, and six Golden Globes for Good Morning Vietnam in 1987, 1991’s The Fisher King, and 1993’s Mrs. Doubtfire.  In 2005, Robin won the coveted Cecil B. DeMille award.

A Glimpse Of 1967 Chicago

In 1967, a blizzard dumped 23 inches of snow on Chicago.  It was the largest snowfall to ever hit the city, and it crippled the transportation system.  Many people, estimated to be in the thousands, were stuck at work or school.  800 Transit Authority buses were abandoned along with 50K cars.

Four schools in Markham were forced to have over 650 students sleep in the gyms and libraries; for these students, it was a big sleepover party.  Because their school buses couldn’t make it to the students, they all made the best of it and turned it into a fun campout. School superintendent J. Lewis Weingarner told the Chicago Tribune, "They are all enjoying themselves. This is a night that will go down in many memory books."

Hanging Out At The Record Store, 1957

Before there were CD’s, there were cassette tapes and vinyl albums. A trip to the record store was a fun journey to sample music and choose your favorite artists.  Record collections from these days can be worth a small fortune, depending on the rarity of the albums.

While iTunes is an incredible feat, it can’t compare to a visit to the music store.  Customers were surrounded as soon as they walk in the door with all things musical, from colorful album art to 8-Track and cassette tapes, novelty items, and staff who truly wanted to work in the stores.  Eventually, CD’s would creep in to replace albums and tapes; from there, the digital music world destroyed nearly all of the shops.

A Constant Reminder Of His Reason To Stay Alive - Vietnam, 1968

True love carried this soldier through an impossibly long deployment in Viet Nam.  This picture, dated May 1, 1968, was snapped in Chu Chi, South Viet Nam.  Soldiers would look forward to letters and pictures from home to keep them in touch with their loved ones, far across the oceans.

Viet Nam sparked massive protests in the United States as an entire generation protested the war and demanded that the Americans be sent back home.  Tragically, once the soldiers were returned home, they faced hardship from a public who somehow blamed them for the conflict.

Happy Birthday Michael Jackson, 1968

Michael Jackson was number 8 out of 10 Jackson siblings. He was born on August 29, 1958, and at the age of only five, his father started The Jackson Five, showcasing five of his sons.

Michael would quickly become the center of the group; he had an amazing vocal range even as young as he was.  Their father entered them in talent shows in Chicago, at the Regal Theater, and in Harlem, at the Apollo.  Naturally, the group won.

Gladys Knight was impressed and took their demo to Motown. Initially, the group was rejected but they would catch the eye of Bobby Taylor who, on March 11, 1969, would sign them on to the label.

After moving to Hollywood, they had the opportunity to open for Diana Ross and the Supremes.  They followed this in October of the same year with the single, I Want You Back. The song flew up the billboard charts, landing at number one.  The rest is Jackson history.

Lynda Carter Aged 20, 1971

In 1971, Lynda Carter was 20 years old and had no idea that just a few years later, in 1975, she would land the role of Wonder Woman in the series that lasted four years and defined her career.  Lynda was the first female superhero and made her career out of being a tough woman.

Lynda became active in several charitable causes, such as cancer research and an advocate for LGBT rights.

Inside A Music Store At The Mall, Circa 1989

Record stores could be large corporate ventures, or smaller, quaint stores selling vintage offerings such as the one pictured here.  Teens would frequently hang out in these stores, shopping for novelty items such as black light posters or browsing the CD’s and albums, preordering the ones that hadn’t been released yet.

iTunes killed these little stores, and the film Empire Records will be as close as most teens today will ever get to this classic pastime.

Jimi Hendrix Performing In Bakersfield, California, 1968

Jimi Hendrix didn’t get signed until 1966, but once he did, there was no stopping the guitar god.  After getting signed on to a label, he released three songs that made it on the UK Top Ten.  Suddenly, everyone knew who Jimi Hendrix was.

He was one of the main attractions at the Woodstock music festival in 1969, but sadly his career would only last just under a decade.  On September 18, 1970, Jimi would die from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills and alcohol; the mixture of the two was not unusual for Jimi, but this time he never woke up.

He took 18 times the dosage recommended for Vesparax; only half of one of these heavy hitters was all that was needed to sleep for 8 hours straight.

Happy Birthday Michael Jackson, 1968

Michael Jackson was number 8 out of 10 Jackson siblings. He was born on August 29, 1958, and at the age of only five, his father started The Jackson Five, showcasing five of his sons.

Michael would quickly become the center of the group; he had an amazing vocal range even as young as he was.  Their father entered them in talent shows in Chicago, at the Regal Theater, and in Harlem, at the Apollo.  Naturally, the group won.

Gladys Knight was impressed and took their demo to Motown. Initially, the group was rejected but they would catch the eye of Bobby Taylor who, on March 11, 1969, would sign them on to the label.

After moving to Hollywood, they had the opportunity to open for Diana Ross and the Supremes.  They followed this in October of the same year with the single, I Want You Back. The song flew up the billboard charts, landing at number one.  The rest is Jackson history.

Lynda Carter Aged 20, 1971

In 1971, Lynda Carter was 20 years old and had no idea that just a few years later, in 1975, she would land the role of Wonder Woman in the series that lasted four years and defined her career.  Lynda was the first female superhero and made her career out of being a tough woman.

Lynda became active in several charitable causes, such as cancer research and an advocate for LGBT rights.

Inside A Music Store At The Mall, Circa 1989

Record stores could be large corporate ventures, or smaller, quaint stores selling vintage offerings such as the one pictured here.  Teens would frequently hang out in these stores, shopping for novelty items such as black light posters or browsing the CD’s and albums, preordering the ones that hadn’t been released yet.

iTunes killed these little stores, and the film Empire Records will be as close as most teens today will ever get to this classic pastime.

Jimi Hendrix At The "Love & Peace Festival" In Germany, 1970

It’s the legend himself, wearing hot pink, better than any other man could. This photo was captured before Jimi’s last show at the Love & Peace Festival, on an island called Fehmarn, in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

The late Hendrix performed on the final night of the festival with a two-piece backing band and those who were there, probably didn’t realize how significant this performance would be.

As soon as his performance was finished, a helicopter took the Rockstar to London. A few days later, Jimi Hendrix passed away on the 18^th of September 1970. A true rock and roll legend, taken too soon.

Muhammad Ali In 1974 Standing With His Winnings.

Muhammad Ali was known as The Greatest, and here he is in a vault with a ton of money earned from his boxing matches under his feet.

October 30, 1974 saw the then 32-year-old Muhammad Ali completely knock out the champion George Forman in the eighth round of a match held in Zaire called “Rumble in the Jungle.” This victory led him to become the heavyweight champ in the world.  It was his second time with this honor.

Ali had a life outside the ring, too, with his role in promoting Civil Rights in the 60’s as a representative of African Pride.  Ali refused to be drafted into the military because he was against the war in Viet Nam; this would lead to his being stripped of all of his titles and arrested for evading the draft.  With the Zaire win, he became the second of only two dethroned champs in boxing history to regain his belt.

Paul Mccartney Taking A Cigarette Break While Filming The Strawberry Fields Forever Promo, 1967

The Beatles started work on their promotional film for Strawberry Fields Forever on January 30^th, 1967.  Lennon had penned the tune while he was filming How I Won the War in Spain a year prior.

The song was, according to John Lennon, a memory of his time spent playing in the garden of a Salvation Army children’s institution called Strawberry Field, near his own residence in Liverpool.

This promotional shoot was directed by Peter Goldmann, who also produced the Penny Lane promo, and was filmed in Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent.  Peter Goldmann was a TV director from Sweden who was recommended to the group by a close associate, Klaus Voorman.

Princess Diana And Harry, Who Is Dressed In A Miniature Parachute Regiment Uniform, July 1986

Princess Diana, or more properly Lady Diana Spencer, was working as a teacher and only 19 years old when the then 32-year-old Prince Charles swept her away.

Diana had known the royal family her entire life.  As the daughter of the eighth Earl Spencer, the kids grew up together.  Her father was an officer for the royals in Diana’s youth.  She and Prince Charles were distantly related, as 16^th cousins once removed.

Shy Di would become Princess of Wales, the People’s Princess, and would remain much beloved by the entire world.

So Cute! A Little Girl In Her Car, 1947

In 1947, street photographer Fred Stein snapped this adorable picture of this little girl in her custom car, all set for a Sunday drive along the streets of New York.

Fred Stein worked with his hand-held camera to catch pictures of every day people in a time now long forgotten.  His pictures are credited with some impressive cultural and psychological insights.  His portraits also reflected the personalities of his subjects and the era in which they lived.  Sadly, Fred would die in 1967 at 58 years old.  His work currently still appears in magazines, newspapers, books and exhibits worldwide.

Telly Sevalas 1960s. Who Loves Ya Baby

Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas had a career would last for over forty years and include singing as well as acting. Everyone loved the bald headed, gravelly voiced Telly Savalas.  He was busy during his incredibly long film career and had many movies in his credits such as the 1961 The Young Savages, the 1965 hits Greatest Story Ever Told and Battle of the Bulge, The Dirty Dozen from 1967 and 1968’s The Scalphunters.  In 1969, he went bad for Bond, playing supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. 

In 1962, Telly’s role in Birdman of Alcatraz earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination, and his career kept moving steadily along through the 70’s.  On top of movies during this time, he would land the lead in Kojak, a TV crime drama series that ran for five years from 1973 until 1978; the series also starred his brother, George Savalas.

'The Godfather' Was Showing In Theaters In 1972

Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 mob saga The Godfather starred Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, and of course Marlon Brando, who played Don Vito Corleone.  The film was taken from Mario Puzo’s novel and follows the lives of an Italian American crime family in what is considered to be the best mob film ever made.

In 1971, Al Pacino starred in The Panic in Needle Park as a heroin addict and caught the eye of Coppola.  Coppola turned away Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, and Robert Redford to take a chance on the newcomer to play Michael Corleone.  Now, we can’t imagine anyone else playing the embattled Corleone son.

The Great Pretender! Rocker Chrissie Hynde, 1979

This woman is Chrissie Hynde, the rock and roll legend behind the band The Pretenders.  The band also featured Pete Farndon on the bass guitar, James Honeyman-Scott on lead guitar, and Martin Chambers on drums.  All members sang back up, giving the band its unique sound.

Chrissie Hynde was the only consistent member of the band, though.  She was more than just the backbone of The Pretenders, she was quite busy on other projects as well including a few songs with Cher, UB40, and Frank Sinatra.

The band was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

The Legendary Muscle Man Carroll Shelby And His Car In The Late '60s

Carroll Hall Shelby was a race driver, and the automotive designer behind Shelby American Inc.

Shelby was a driver in eight World Championship races as well as a few non-championship ones.  He was Sports Illustrated’s driver of the year in 1956 and 1957.

Shelby is best known (especially now after Gone in 60 seconds) for his work with the Ford Motor Company on the AC Cobra and Mustang (later known as Shelby Mustangs).

As an amateur, he raced his friend’s MG TC and Cad-Allards.  Of course, Shelby is best remembered for his Ford Mustang and the AC Cobra, which he credits to a combination of the American V-8 engine and the smaller English Allard.  His Mustang would be known as the Shelby Mustang, and was featured in the movie Gone in 60 Seconds.

Weird Al, Valedictorian Of Lynwood High School, 1975

Sometimes, the weirdest ones are also the smartest.  Take Weird Al, for instance.  He graduated valedictorian of the senior class and earned his bachelor’s degree in Architecture at California Polytechnic State University.

Of course, the ukulele parody artist would be best known for his hilarious takes on popular songs.  He has sold over 12 million records since his first song, released in 1976.  Weird Al also has more than a thousand live performances under his belt.  His songs now number over 150, most parody, but some original work.

Funny, indeed, and the industry recognizes his unique talent.  Weird Al has been nominated for eleven Grammys and won four on top of that.  He has six platinum records and four gold ones.

A Young, Good-Looking John Goodman Before He Was In Roseanne, 1981

Recognize this guy?  Look closer and you can see it.  This is John Goodman in 1981.  He was in a Foot Locker commercial; he was the know it all guy who strolls into the store demanding to see every shoe the store had, since he played every sport known to man.  He also had a commercial for California First Bank that you may remember; he had a bunch of toys in his attic and he would chat with them.  He ended up taking them to the bank to get a loan.  If you don’t believe us, check them out on YouTube.

Naturally, John Goodman has been in many movies and is best remembered for his role in Roseanne where he played Dan Connor, her husband.

What Was Your Favorite Song From The Group Bread (1971)?

How many couples fell in love to the soft musical stylings of Bread?  Between 1970 and 1977, this super group had 13 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.  The group consisted of Jimmy Griffin, Mike Botts, Robb Royer, Larry Knechtel and David Gates, who was the lead singer.  Each musician in the band was talented and could all play any instrument necessary for their signature sound.  Bread’s soft rock tunes included, If, Everything I Own, Make it With You, and Baby I’m- a Want You.

As frequently happens in bands, the infighting was too much, and they split up.  They briefly reunited before splitting permanently in 1977.

The group called themselves Bread after they were stuck in back of a Wonder Bread truck during a traffic jam.

Ali MacGraw And Steve McQueen In Jamaica During The Filming Of "Papillon", 1972

photograph by Steve Schapiro

Adorable and absolutely in love, here is actress Ali MacGraw with her then romantic partner, Steve McQueen.  Ali, most famous for the 1970 film, Love Story, left her marriage to Hollywood producer Robert Evans for the star of Papillon.  It is reported that during her marriage to Evans, there was a lot of 1970’s Hollywood style partying before she met McQueen onset of the Sam Peckinpah movie, The Getaway, from 1971.

Ali is also noted for her role in the 1969 film, Goodbye Columbus. She once described her relationship with Steve, “This was a man who could walk into any room and man, woman, and child all would go, ‘Whoa, what’s that?’ And I was no exception.”

The couple would spend five years riding a romantic roller coaster before getting off of it permanently in 1977.

Sandahl Bergman And Arnold Schwarzenegger Training For The 1982 Film, 'Conan The Barbarian'

Arnold Schwarzenegger is pictured here with his costar, Sandahl Bergman, practicing for the role that would make him a household name, Conan the Barbarian.

Long before he was the Terminator, Arnold was a barbarian seething to avenge the death of his parents and his tribe.  Everything about him was real for the film, from his muscles to his long hair that he had started growing in 1979 for the part.

As you may figure, finding body doubles for stunts for this incredibly fit pair was impossible.  The couple performed all of their own stunts for the film instead.

At the last minute, the producers decided to cast James Earl Jones in the film as well.  He and Arnold fit together instantly, and Jones was able to give Arnold some acting tips, too.

Marilyn Monroe Taking In The Sights At Griffith Park, Los Angeles, 1950

Marilyn Monroe wasn’t always the world-famous Hollywood actress she would later become.  In the 1950’s, she was struggling for her name to be heard, just like everyone else.

Enter Ed Clark, a LIFE Magazine photographer during the decades between the 1940’s and 1960’s.  A mutual friend from 20^th Century Fox called Ed in 1950 and asked if he would be interested in photographing a young and unkown woman.

Marilyn and ed met in Hollywood for the photo shoot.  Because Marilyn wasn’t a big name at the time, Ed was able to spend a long time with her, getting timeless shots of her in Griffith Park.

Ed sent a few rolls of film to LIFE for them to meet this young girl, but their response was “Who the hell is Marilyn Monroe?” It’s safe to say they loved her, though; the rest is history.

Warren Beatty And A 17-year-old Carrie Fisher On The Set Of The Film "Shampoo", 1975

Before she was Princess Leia, Carrie Fisher was Lorna Karpf for the Hal Ashby film Shampoo in 1975.  This was her first film.

While Carrie was immensely talented, she got this role through her family connections.  Warren Beatty ran through her lines with her over family meals, and Paul Simon, creator of the musical score for the film, would go on to marry her.

On a somewhat disturbing side note, the character portrayed by Warren Beatty was based on a real person, a hairdresser named Jay Sebrig.  Jay had once dated Sharon Tate and was killed in her home the night of the infamous massacre at the hands of the Manson Family.

Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), Bob Denver (Gilligan) And Tina Louise (Ginger) Of Gilligan's Island

The series Gilligan’s Island ran in the sixties, from 1964 until 1967.  Side note:  the lagoon the cast were marooned on is the same that was used to film Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Another side note: Pay attention to the opening credits, and in the first shot you will notice the American flag seems to be flying over the harbor at half-mast.  In reality, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated just before the opening shot was filmed.

Swedish Actress Anita Ekberg, 1960s

Have you ever heard of this Swedish starlet?  This is Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg during the 1960’s.  She was in relationships with the likes of Tyrone Power, Rod Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Errol Flynn.  Kerstin got her start in modelling, and in the 1950’s she made the transition to the big screen.  Her most famous role was Sylvia in the 1960 film, La Dolce Vita.

Civil War Veteran Sharing Stories With A Captive Audience In 1935

From 1861 through 1865, the United States fought brother against brother in the Civil War over their differences in opinion regarding state’s rights and slavery.  The Union soldiers were in support of the North, while the Confederates were supporting the rights of the South.

To the South as well as many people in the North, slaves provided labor that in turn amounted to profits for plantation owners, farmers, and businessmen.  The South voted to secede from the Union, and the North, unable to survive without the influx of money from the South, fought to keep the states united and under one government.

The North would eventually win, the states would become united again, and slavery would be abolished in the states.

Glenn Danzig And Jerry Only Of The Misfits Hanging Out At Club 57 In New York, 1980

Club 57 was the elite New York club where the rich and famous people hung out.  The Misfits, featuring Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only as pictured here, were famed for their unique blend of horror imagery and a punk rock sound.  They invented a subgenre known as horror punk.

The pair in this picture were the only constants in The Misfits.  The original band of 1977 consisted of Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only the bassist, and Manny Martinez on the drums.  The Misfits released a few albums and singles with Only’s brother playing the guitar.  In 1983, The Misfits broke up, but Danzig kept pursuing his musical career in the bands Samhain, and then Danzig.

Charlotte Rampling As Shot By Helmut Newton In 1976

Charlotte Rampling got her start in modeling.  She was considered a fashion icon during the 60’s.  This picture was snapped in 76 as she was making the leap into onscreen work involving Italian and French Arthouse movies.

These films include the 1969 movie The Damned, 1974’s Liliana Cavani film The Night Porter, 1974’s Zardoz, and the 1975 classics My Lovely and Farewell.

Throughout the 80’s, she starred in many films including the Woody Allen movie, Stardust Memories, and 1987’s mystery film Angel Heart.  She also played the lead opposite Paul Newman for the 1982 film, The Verdict.

Morgan Freeman Was A Radar Technician In The Air Force

Morgan Freeman is possibly America’s favorite narrator of all time.  It would stand to reason that he had some experience in voice, even if as a radio technician in the military.  Morgan was always a big fan of war films, especially those surrounding fighter pilots.  He wanted to live out his dream of being one himself, so in 1955 he joined up with the US Air Force.

To pursue his visions of being a fighter pilot, Morgan had to turn down a drama scholarship from Jackson State University.  Unfortunately for him, he was assigned to the role of radio technician and never fulfilled his dream of flying in the military.  Morgan explains, "I joined the Air Force. I took to it immediately when I arrived there. I did three years, eight months, and ten days in all, but it took me a year and a half to get disabused of my romantic notions about it."  In 1959, Freeman quit the Air Force and went to Los Angeles to become an actor.

Imagine; if he had succeeded in his Air Force career, some of our most beloved voice-over films would be changed forever.

Patrick Swayze And Rob Lowe, ‘Youngblood’, 1986

It is unbelievable how young these two are in this picture.  In 1986, the pair starred in the film Youngblood.  Youngblood features the duo as hockey teammates trying to succeed in Canada’s Junior Hockey league.  During the film, Rob Lowe’s character Dean Youngblood falls for the coach’s daughter.  Does this ever end well for anyone?  Watch the movie and see how it turns out.

This duo was joined by Keanu Reeves for the film.  Of the three, only Keanu had experience playing hockey.  Patrick did have some prior ice experience as a figure skater, but Rob Lowe needed to be taught the entire game, from skating to rules, from the ground up.

The trio would be paired off for other films both before and after Youngblood, such as Keanu and Swayze for Point Break and Lowe pairing with Swayze for the 1983 film, Francis Ford Coppola’s classic The Outsiders.

The Who In Concert, 1970