These photos were taken by legendary LIFE photographer Ralph Crane in 1961 and document the audition for a black cat role. Following a newspaper casting call, 152 black cats are waiting for the audition for a low-budget horror movie adaptation of ‘Tales of …
Following the advent of the automobile in the 1890s, motoring grew fashionable among wealthy people. As early cars had no roofs or doors and were driven mostly on dirt roads, motorists needed clothes that could protect them from wind, cold, and dust. Conseq…
The allure of Christmas transcends time, but few eras have captured its true essence quite like the enchanting decades of the 1940s and 1950s. In those post-war years, the festive season was steeped in a kind-hearted spirit and simple joys, creating end…
In the 1930s, make-up legend Max Factor came up with an ingenious invention combining phrenology, cosmetics, and a pseudo-scientific approach to analyze a woman's facial flaws. This is the Beauty Micrometer, a Clockwork Orange-style device that claimed to …
With the birth of Émilie, Yvonne, Cécile, Marie, and Annette Dionne in 1934, the province of Ontario, coupled with Canada, discovered a “human goldmine”. From the moment the Quints were born, they were subjected to awful living standards and were abused by …
An album’s artwork represents the first impression to many fans and it creates an aesthetic vibe about its music. In the days before the internet, bands would have to rely on their covers to catch the eye of any potential fans. And many people discovere…
American photographer Harry Whittier Frees created novelty postcards with his photographs of animals placed in human situations. This photo collection from the 1910s features bizarre but adorable animals dressed and posed as humans with props, often with ca…
Spurred by the instant nationwide success of blended cigarette brands such as Camel, Lucky Strike and Chesterfield cigarette companies spend millions on advertising and promotion to encourage smoking. Tobacco marketers featured healthy, vigorous, fun-loving…
These images, taken between the turn of the 20th century and the 1950s, show how student housing in the US has changed over the past hundred or so years. The students used a vivid combination of vintage decor, collegiate pennants, high school diplomas, fami…
In the world of glamor and allure, where beauty reigns supreme, one name shines brightly: June Wilkinson. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Wilkinson captivated audiences with her exquisite looks and undeniable charm. She emerged as one of the era's…
These interesting photos, captured by photographer Charles Percy Pickering between 1863 and 1868, illustrate the ability of alcohol to transform a fine upstanding citizen into a staggering wreck. Across the five pictures, an upright, dignified gentleman s…
At Tartu University in Estonia, it was a tradition for students to hold “pledge theatres” in late autumn which consisted of staging plays as rites of initiation for soon-to-be members. The all-male pledges were expected to play both male and female roles an…
These photos, taken from a book on phrenology, are packed with strange theories and a whole host of strange illustrations. Published by Chicago phrenologist L.A. Vaught in 1902, the book lays out the 42 known elements of human nature (including Acquisitiven…
Ry-Krisp, a brand of rye crisp bread, was founded by Arvid and Erik Peterson, who immigrated to the United States from Sweden, and brought with them a recipe for traditional Swedish “crisp bread.” Crisp bread or knackerbrod was a staple of the 19th-century …
Bettie Page ( born in 1923) was an American model who gained notoriety in the 1950s for her pin-up photos. Popularly referred to as the Queen of Pinups, she was famous for her free-spirited demeanor and unabashed sensuality. Her trademark short bangs, …
These vintage advertisements, published in magazines and newspapers from the 1930s to the 1960s show how weight gain was aspired to then as firmly as we today aspire to weight loss. The ads tout scientific ways to "add attractive pounds and inches" (a compl…
Mike Tyson, born on June 30, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York, is a name that will forever be etched in the records of professional boxing history. His career, particularly during the 1980s, left an indelible mark on the sport and captivated audiences around…
The term "burlesque" means a literary, dramatic, or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects. It’s a form of theatrical entertainment featuring parodic humor, …
These pictures are not staged and show Tippi Hedren, star of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, with her husband, Noel Marshall, her daughter, actress Melanie Griffith, and their lion, Neil. In 1969, Hedren and Marshall were filming in Africa and came across…
These photos include old advertisements that preyed on women’s need for marital security in order to sell products in the mid-20th century and are collected by Andrew Heisel. It’s no surprise advertisers pay attention to consumers’ emotions in order to …