There is something somewhat magical about looking at old pictures. We might not recognize the faces we’re seeing, but we end up making a connection with the past. It immediately transports us to the times we didn’t get to experience. Thanks to these images, we are able to look back and analyze.
From the groovy times of the ‘60s to the disco era and beyond, here we have different important moments of history captured in front of the camera that remind us of the significance of these instances in pop culture and in the hearts and minds of everyone.
Marilyn Monroe's last film
Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe will always be the epitome of glamour. Her life was short, but her legacy remains to be one of the most important in the history of cinema and pop culture. Photos of Monroe became extremely valuable after her passing, as they are ways for us to get a glimpse of different aspects of her life.
Here, we see a candid shot of her on the set of her last movie, The Misfits, in 1960. The pictures were commissioned to several photographers—among them is Eve Arnold—by Magnum Photos as a way to document the filming process.
Chilling on set with Wonder Woman
American actress, model, and beauty pageant queen Lynda Carter took over the world with her role as Diana Prince (a.k.a Wonder Woman) in the hit TV series Wonder Woman, which aired from 1975 to 1979. For the longest time, hers was the most famous depiction of the DC superheroine in Hollywood.
After that series, Carter received many opportunities in acting and music. Her most recent participation in a DC production was in the TV series Supergirl in 2017. She’s also been a dedicated advocate of women’s rights and the legal equality for the LGBT community.
Before Bo Derek, there was Mary Cathleen Collins
Mary Cathleen Collins was the original name of the actress who would then change her name to Bo Derek to start a career in the entertainment industry. She got married very young to actor and director John Derek, whom she worked with in various films of hers.
Her breakthrough role was in the 1979 film 10. Her iconic scene in the movie wherein she was running on the beach with cornrows have become one of the most memorable moments of cinema. She still acts occasionally, and her most recent work can be seen in the 2017 film 5 Weddings.
The King loved dogs as much as he loved rock and roll
The King of Rock n’ Roll Elvis Presley was a self-proclaimed animal lover. As proof, here's an adorable snap of the Hound Dog singer with the puppy he gifted his mother, Gladys Presley, in 1956. It’s said that after his mother’s passing, he kept and continued to lovingly raise the pooch named Sweet Pea.
This picture was taken after Presley was released from jail after being involved in a gas station fight that took him straight to court. The charges were dropped and the owner of the station publicly apologized.
Looking back at an amazing career
Here's a very young and energetic Angie Dickinson posing on a scooter at the beginning of what would become a successful acting career in Hollywood. Being in the industry for over six decades, she’s appeared in more than fifty movies.
She’s been honored with a vast number of accolades and nominations, with two Golden Globes awards, a Saturn Award, and several Emmy nominations under her belt. Her last on-screen appearance was on the 2009 TV film Mending Fences. Her love life also got her lots of attention after being linked with names like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Larry King.
Claudia Cardinale shows off her European allure
Claudia Cardinale was the Italian-Tunisian who came after Sophia Loren to captivate the cameras and the American audience with her exotic beauty and European elegance. She starred in many of the most important European films of her time but gained recognition in the United States after her role in the 1963 film Pink Panther.
She also appeared in other American movies but eventually grew tired of Hollywood and returned to Europe. Cardinale is an outspoken feminist and was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Defence of Women’s rights in 2000.
America fell deeply in love with A Little Romance
This is a still from the film A Little Romance starring Sir Laurence Olivier, Thelonious Bernard, and a fresh-faced Diane Lane. The movie was based on one of the books of author Patrick Cauvin titled E=mc2 Mon Amour and tells the story of a French boy who falls in love with an American girl.
The film was widely praised by critics and received a shower of awards nominations alongside the 1979 Academy Award for Best Score. It was also Unfaithful star Diane Lane's first film in her acting career and the first film to be released by Orion Pictures, the production company behind movies like The Terminator.
The Dino—the most unconventional car ever
This amazing car wondered everybody with its revolutionary design and typical soft elegant curves when it was released by Ferrari. It was the first car manufactured in large quantities by the Italian luxury sports car company.
Looking back, it really does look like something from the future. It looks quite modern even for today's standards and proves to be one of the most unconventional models of vehicles in history. The Dino was originally intended to be a sub-brand of Ferrari, which makes it even more special for car enthusiasts and collectors.
The Bad News Bears: a comedy for all ages
Here we have the cast of the 1976 film The Bad News Bears, a hit sports comedy which stars Walter Matthau and Oscar-winning actress Tatum O’Neal. Before she starred in the film, Tatum already became the youngest recipient of an Academy Award at the age of 10 for her role in the 1973 movie Paper Moon.
The Bad News Bears made a big amount of money at the box office and was received with high praises from the critics. The lead actor, Walter Matthau, was nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Performance in a Comedy. It’s been called one of the best child-adult comedies of cinema history.
Introducing a new groovy sound
We have here a picture of the legendary folk-rock band that defined the ‘60s counterculture movement, The Mamas and The Papas. The band was composed of Denny Doherty, John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, and Cass Elliot. Their music, which was composed by the band's leader John Phillips, was noted for its nostalgic, folky sound that is heavy with harmonies.
Their time as a band lasted for a short but highly successful four years, and their legacy is still felt in today’s music. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for all their contributions to the industry.
The risks of chewing too much gum
Denise Nickerson is seen here in her movie costume for her role as the spoiled and rude Violet Beauregarde who blew up after misbehaving and ignoring Willy Wonka’s warnings. The 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory was a great success and became highly popular through the years with reruns on TV and video sales.
It remains one of the favorite films of American families for decades. Nickerson retired from acting when she turned 21 and just made seldom appearances on TV. In 2011, the actress admitted to TMZ that filming the scenes left her with 13 cavities. At least we’re sure she was able to afford a good dentist!
Golden Earring showing some Radar Love
The Dutch rock band Golden Earring gained international fame after their single Radar Love became a chart-topper in both the United Kindom and the United States in 1973. They have released over 25 studio albums throughout their career.
They are still active to this day, and all the musicians of the line-up are still members of the band. They are still quite a big thing in Europe, and their most recent single, Still Got The Keys To My First Cadillac, seems to be an ode to a very special car.
Putting your head to good use
Here we see Elvis Presley happily signing autographs for three kids in Germany. Presley was an amazing musician who sadly became a troubled man, but he had other qualities that most people who knew him and many of his fans can attest to.
He loved his fans, and always had a kind disposition to people around him, which stemmed from his strong religious faith. Elvis was also incredibly generous with both his fans and random people in need, donating large sums to charity. In addition, contrary to popular belief caused by a nasty rumor, he always advocated for inclusivity even at a time when segregation was the norm.
How people chilled back in the day in the Big Apple
Here we see several kids licking big blocks of ice on the streets of New York City more than 100 years ago. This was one of the strategies people from back then employed when faced with the terrible heat waves that were deadly.
Without air conditioners and with no technology available, a heat wave was one of the most feared things in the early 20th century. When ice blocks were not available, people drank from several fountains across the town and even dunk their heads in them to cool down.
A playful message on a payphone
Believe or not, in the old times, people had to make calls that were first received by operators in the call center. The operators then had to manually connect each specific call using the name of the person the caller wanted to reach out to.
Here we see an antique telephone of those times located in the neighborhood of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, California. The neighborhood would later be considered the center of the Hippie culture of the 1960s and would, to this day, be associated with the counterculture movement.
A truly amazing sight
In a time where you needed to break the bank in order to have a television at home, working people often gathered in front of window shops that were exhibiting the (at that time) advanced appliance to enjoy the experience.
This picture taken in 1948 shows a well-dressed young boy watching the tiny screen of a television in a shop front. Judging by his amazed expression, he has probably never watched anything like it before. It's a stark contrast with present times where being tech savvy from infancy is the usual thing.
The cat is out of the bag
This girl is definitely someone who was ahead of her time. Here, we see a photo from 1931 depicting a little girl who seems to be walking her cat using a leash. Even if cats are not known for being the most obedient pets out there, using a leash on felines is actually a thing nowadays.
It works best if you get your cat to be used to being walked since they were kittens, but it’s possible. So here’s to this little girl who probably gave a lot of people a lesson on animal care and inspired a (somewhat) common practice in modern times. Besides, her outfit is adorable just like her kitten!
A calorie-fic treat
Here’s another image with a big cultural difference. We see two teenage girls buying what is said to be a 10,000-calorie sundae from Blair Parson’s store in the town of Lynchburg, Virginia. If this scenario was present in our modern times, the two teenagers would be running as fast as they can in the opposite direction to where the low-calorie food items are found.
Curiously enough, being curvy was the in thing during the '50s. Businesses advertise a myriad of products and diets that would help you gain pounds and get that feminine hourglass body of your dreams.
The Great Wall of China hasn't aged well
Being one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the Great Wall of China is one of the most touristic places on earth. Dating back thousands of years, the weather and the millions of people visiting each year have not been kind to the famed wall. Here, we see a very old image of an unkempt part of it.
Sections of this great architectural feat have to undergo constant repair and restoration works. Current works on the structure are still done the old way, as the terrain is inaccessible to any type of vehicles or heavy machinery.
Helen Keller "sees" the President with her hands
Helen Keller met with a lot of presidents throughout her life. Working as an activist for disabled people, she traveled all over the world raising funds for the blind and giving speeches.
She interceded for the blind in the White House several times, too. She managed to get the distribution of braille books for adults and asked for the creation of talked books. Here, we see the iconic moment in which she was feeling former US President Dwight Eisenhower’s face with her sensitive hands to "see" what he looked like.
A very literal women's basketball team
Here’s a group of inspirational ladies. This is the basketball team of Smith’s College back in 1902. Smith College was the first school to introduce the sport as part of their physical activities. Basketball became the first women team sports, which was eventually followed by hockey, volleyball, and rowing.
We're not exactly sure if they're just being sarcastically funny here, but these pioneers helped create a new image that associated women with athleticism; proving that women were able to play sports just as well as any man. Girl power!
One of the first few female Olympic athletes
This is another exciting moment in history for women that was captured during the Olympic games in Paris, France in 1900. For the first time, women were allowed to compete at the Olympics in sporting events like lawn tennis and golf.
There were 22 amazing female athletes that year. They set the ground for future generations, securing a spot for every girl who has dreamt about representing their country at such a gigantic event. Helene de Pourtales was the first female athlete to ever win an Olympic gold medal by finishing first in sailing.
A very glamorous ride
Well, sometimes you're just too iconic to be featured only once on this list. Actress Marilyn Monroe is seen looking fabulous while cruising through a gorgeous New York City in a brand new 1956 Ford Thunderbird.
That year was a big one for Monroe, as she won her battle against 20th Century Fox studios, married playwright Arthur Miller, and received critical acclaim for her role in the film Bus Stop. On top of those, her company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, did their first independent film titled The Prince and The Showgirl.
Taking a little rock and roll nap
Jim Morrison, lead vocalist of the famous rock band The Doors, is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of rock history. He had a sort of enigmatic quality to him seeping through his songs, lyrics, and the dramatic events surrounding his life and early death.
As one of pop culture's most rebellious figures, he was the face of the counterculture youth and has performed hit songs that are still considered gold like Light My Fire and Break On Through (To The Other Side). He died at age 27 in Paris, France.
Fly me to the moon
This one is a photo of two boys on a "Trip To The Moon" in 1955 at the Planetarium in Forth Worth, Texas. Even if it was a simple simulation, the kids look taken by it. And while men wouldn't be able to set foot on the moon until 6 years after this photo was taken, people still dreamed of it.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk the surface of the moon. It was a joyous time for the US, who was finally able to prove that they were a force to be reckoned with in technology and aeronautical science areas at that time.
A fundraising Santa in the streets of Chicago
This man dressed in a Santa Claus suit in 1902 on a Chicago sidewalk is part of the Volunteers of America charity foundation. The man is wearing a mask with a beard attached to it. Despite being a little bit underweight to look like a real Santa, he is trying his best to help those in need.
The non-profit organization has been providing affordable housing and primary service assistance to low-income people all over the American territory for over 123 years now. The foundation also provides assistance to veterans, children, low-income seniors, intellectually disabled people, and ex-convicts.
Taking selfies in the 1900s
We tend to think of selfies as a rather modern thing, like some type of phenomenon that invaded our lives since social media became the biggest thing in our generation. But the truth is self-portraits have been around for way longer than we thought.
Here we see an image of five German fraternity boys taking what we now know as a selfie in front of the mirror in 1912. One of the young men is operating a very early model of a camera while his friends happily pose behind him with a drink, a sword, and a rifle in their hands.
An iconic landmark under construction
The construction of this very famous landmark—the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France—started in 1887. It was designed by the company of Gustave Alexandre Eiffel and impressively took two years and a couple of months to be completed.
After so many years, it continues to be one of the most popular destinations tourists from around the world want to visit. It's also known for witnessing many couples writing new chapters in their love stories as it is the perfect setting for romance, love, and marriage proposals. After all, there is nothing more classic than to start your engagement in the city of love.
Vintage inspiration for our Teslas
If you thought that eco-friendly electric cars like the popular Teslas are cutting-edge in automobile technology, you're definitely in for a surprise. Actually, electric cars were first created, developed, and used in the 19th century.
They fell out of fashion for their elevated cost in comparison to gas-fueled vehicles. Eventually, fuel became cheap and plentiful, which is partly why gas-fueled cars became better suited for traveling long distances (the other part being oil corporations lobbying of course). Fast forward to a century of fossil fuel climate disaster later and one can see how electric cars are making a comeback.
A lama in Times Square
This is probably one of the most iconic pictures taken in the Big Apple. It's reportedly a photo assignment for the December 1957 issue of LIFE magazine. The photo shows a llama sticking its head out the window while in the back of a car in New York City.
The llama named Linda was used for TV shows and films. When this picture was taken, it was being transported in the back of its trainer's vehicle from a day of work at the studio to his home. So, we're safe to say it was just a lucky shot!