Rare Photographs of a Very Young Tom Hanks in the 1970s

Long before he was Hollywood's resident “everyman” or a multi-Oscar winner, Tom Hanks spent the 1970s as a wandering, highly energetic theater kid trying to find his footing. If you looked at him in 1975, you wouldn't see a movie star; you’d see a self-described “extroverted, colorful” teenager working as a bellhop at the Oakland Hilton and obsessing over stage productions. His journey through the decade was a classic, grinding origin story.

Hanks started the decade at Skyline High School in Oakland, California. Coming from a fractured, nomadic childhood (his parents divorced early, and he moved homes constantly), he found an emotional anchor in his school's drama program. His very first acting experience was playing in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

After graduating high school in 1974, he headed to Chabot Community College in Hayward, California, where his love for the stage completely took over. He wasn’t just acting; he was working as a stagehand, absorbing everything he could about how live theater operated. In 1976, Hanks transferred to California State University, Sacramento, to major in drama. While there, he met Vincent Dowling, a director associated with the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in Cleveland, Ohio. Dowling invited Hanks to intern for the summer of 1977.

Hanks packed his bags for Cleveland, and that internship turned into a three-year stint that essentially replaced his college education. He dropped out of CSU Sacramento because he was learning more on the job. He did everything: tracked props, built sets, managed stages, and played minor roles (making his official professional stage debut as Grumio in The Taming of the Shrew in 1977). By 1978, his hard work paid off when he won the Cleveland Drama Critics Award for Best Actor for playing Proteus in Two Gentlemen of Verona.

The end of the decade brought massive shifts in his personal and professional life, In 1977, his college sweetheart, Samantha Lewes (Susan Dillingham), gave birth to their first child, Colin Hanks. The couple married in 1978 when Tom was just 21 years old. Armed with his Cleveland theater experience, a young family to support, and immense determination, Hanks moved to New York City in late 1978 to try and break into professional film and television.

The hustle was real, he spent a lot of 1979 hitting pavement and visiting unemployment offices. But right at the tail end of 1979, the hard work began to materialize. He landed a small role in a low-budget, slasher horror flick called He Knows You’re Alone (released in 1980), which served as his feature film debut. More importantly, the auditions he ran at the close of 1979 set up the ultimate turning point of his early career: landing the co-leading role in the ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies, which premiered in late 1980 and officially launched him into the public consciousness.

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40 Fascinating Photos of a Young and Beautiful Kelly McGillis in the 1980s

In the 1980s, Kelly McGillis (born July 9, 1957) was the epitome of a Hollywood “it girl,” defining a very specific kind of screen presence: intelligent, statuesque, and classic. Following her training at Juilliard, she quickly transitioned into major film roles, bringing a grounded gravitas to a decade otherwise famous for its high-energy, stylized blockbusters. Her trajectory through the decade is defined by three massive, tonally distinct landmark films.

Her breakout role came opposite Harrison Ford in romantic thriller Witness (1985). Playing a young Amish widow, McGillis received critical acclaim, including BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. Her performance was widely praised for its quiet, luminous intensity and emotional depth, standing strong alongside Ford at the peak of his career.

She starred as flight instructor Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood in Top Gun (1986). This is the role that cemented her status as a global pop-culture icon. As the civilian astrophysicist and flight instructor who captured Tom Cruise’s Maverick, she shattered the typical “damsel” trope of 1980s action cinema. She brought an intimidating intelligence, authority, and an unforgettable style—her structured blazers, white tees, and leather aviator jacket became a decade-defining look.

Closing out the decade, McGillis took on an incredibly intense, gritty role as a deputy district attorney fighting for justice alongside Jodie Foster in The Accused (1988). It was a demanding, heavy drama that highlighted her range and commitment to serious, narrative-driven filmmaking over simple commercial stardom.

Musicians and actors of the era were leaning heavily into synth-pop neon, but McGillis naturally possessed a timeless, Golden Age of Hollywood allure. At 5'10", her commanding height, signature blonde curls, and sharp, classic features made her look like a classic noir actress transported directly into the modern era. She often played characters who were older, more academically accomplished, or more authoritative than their male counterparts, cutting through the typical Hollywood flash with pure substance.

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20 Amazing Photographs of Bonnie Tyler Performing on Stage in the 1970s and 1980s

Bonnie Tyler (1951–2026), “Total Eclipse of the Heart” singer, has passed away at the age of 75 after suffering from an unexpected illness in Portugal. Her family and management confirmed that she died on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, while being treated at a Portuguese hospital.

The legendary Welsh singer had been hospitalized following emergency surgery for a perforated bowel and was placed in a medically induced coma. Tributes have poured in from around the world, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling her “one of Britain’s greatest recording artists.” Fellow musicians like Sir Rod Stewart remembering her as a “true soul stirrer.” Bryan Adams and Sir Cliff Richard, alongside family members like actress Catherine Zeta-Jones (who was married to Tyler’s cousin), sharing their heartbreak.

It is a massive loss for the music world. She leaves behind an unforgettable legacy, from the gritty brilliance of “It’s a Heartache” to the timeless, epic grandiosity of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero.” Her completely unique, powerful voice and larger-than-life stage presence will absolutely never be replicated.

Tyler’s transition from a rising 1970s country-pop singer to a definitive 1980s stadium-rock powerhouse is one of the most striking evolutionary arcs in modern music history. Her stage presence underwent a total transformation, driven by an unexpected medical twist and a change in creative partnerships.

After undergoing vocal cord surgery in 1977, Tyler mistakenly screamed during her recovery period. This accidentally gave her voice a permanent, raspy, heavy-grit texture. On stage, this allowed her to deliver country-rock ballads like “It’s a Heartache” with an unpolished, heart-wrenching sincerity that echoed Janis Joplin and Tina Turner.

Having honed her craft for years on the rigorous South Wales pub and nightclub circuit, her 1970s stage demeanor was deeply grounded, organic, and conversational. During this decade, her stage attire was relatively understated compared to what would follow. She frequently performed in simple, relaxed 1970s trousers, casual blouses, and naturally styled hair, relying strictly on her vocal power rather than major production elements to captivate the room.

Transitioning into the 1980s, Tyler partnered with epic rock composer Jim Steinman. Her live sets transformed overnight into thunderous, operatic experiences. When performing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” or “Holding Out for a Hero,” she channeled immense physical energy, gripping the microphone stand tightly, pacing the stage, and unleashing soaring, full-throttle high notes with intense facial expressions.

Her standalone 1980s concerts featured massive stadium-level elements, incorporating heavy smoke machines, dramatic pulsing spotlight choreography, and an incredibly loud, synth-and-guitar-heavy backing band. Her look became a visual staple of the decade. She dominated the stage sporting massive, voluminous teased blonde hair, oversized statement earrings, heavy leather jackets, bold denim-on-denim coordinates, and extravagant sequin-overloaded blouses with bat-wing silhouettes.

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Jocelyn Lane: The Sultry Beauty of Postwar Hollywood

Jocelyn Lane, also known as Jackie Lane (born Jocelyn Olga Bolton in 1937), was a stunning British actress and model of the 1950s and ’60s. Born in Vienna, Austria to British parents, she rose to fame in the UK as a fashion model and later transitioned into acting, appearing in several British films before moving to Hollywood in the mid-1960s.

Often compared to Brigitte Bardot for her sultry beauty and blonde allure, Lane is best remembered for co-starring alongside Elvis Presley in the 1965 musical comedy Tickle Me. She also posed for Playboy magazine in 1966 and appeared in cult classics such as Hell’s Belles (1969).

After retiring from acting in the early 1970s, Lane married Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, adding a touch of European royalty to her glamorous life. These timeless portraits capture the breathtaking beauty and effortless glamour of Jocelyn Lane at the height of her fame.

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Vintage Portraits of Pier Angeli on the Set of “Somebody Up There Likes Me” (1956)

In 1956, while filming the boxing drama Somebody Up There Likes Me, Italian actress Pier Angeli captivated audiences and photographers alike with her delicate beauty and quiet elegance. Captured in a series of intimate vintage portraits on set, the young star radiates a soft, luminous charm that perfectly blends Hollywood glamour with her signature European innocence.

Dressed in simple yet stylish wardrobe, with her dark hair often styled in soft waves, these vintage photos offer a nostalgic glimpse into the golden age of cinema and the fleeting brilliance of one of the 1950s’ most enchanting starlets.

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30 Fabulous Photos Teenage Anjelica Huston From the Late 1960s

In the late 1960s, a teenage Anjelica Huston (born July 8, 1951) possessed a look that was entirely unique—striking, aristocratic, and thoroughly modern. Long before she became an Academy Award-winning actress or the definitive Morticia Addams, she was a high-fashion model capturing the eyes of the world’s greatest photographers.

Though she grew up in the secluded Irish countryside at St. Clerans, the estate of her larger-than-life director father, John Huston, Anjelica moved to London as a teenager. By 1968, at just 16 and 17 years old, her distinct look caught the attention of the fashion elite. Unlike the hyper-youthful “dolly bird” look popularized by Twiggy, Anjelica brought something older, more regal, and heavily reminiscent of her mother, the Italian-American prima ballerina Enrica Soma. She possessed a strong, sculptural nose, high cheekbones, and an effortless, statuesque posture.

Her true breakthrough into the upper echelon of modeling came when legendary photographer Richard Avedon encountered her. Recognizing her unconventional beauty, Avedon ran a massive, multi-page spread of a 17-year-old Anjelica in the pages of Vogue in 1968. He took her to the rugged landscapes of Ireland and Scotland, capturing her in dramatic, sweeping capes, heavy furs, and structured woolen garments. The images combined a raw, romantic old-world atmosphere with the sharp, graphic sensibilities of late-1960s editorial photography.

While her modeling career was soaring, her transition to cinema at the end of the decade was fraught with tension. Her father insisted on casting her as the lead in his 1969 medieval romance film, A Walk with Love and Death. Anjelica, just 17 during filming, did not want the role and felt entirely unready. The production strained her relationship with her father, who was notoriously tough on set, and the film was critically panned. The experience temporarily soured her desire to act, prompting her to focus almost entirely on photography and runway modeling as she moved into the 1970s.

“I was 16, and I wanted to be a model in London, to wear miniskirts and have Jean Shrimpton’s hair. My father wanted me to be a medieval princess.” – Anjelica Huston, reflecting on her late-60s transition from modeling to film.

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Learn Roller Disco With Kevin Bacon, 1979

Long before he became an icon for breaking the “no dancing” rule in Footloose, a young Kevin Bacon was putting his rhythm to use on eight wheels in New York City. The year was 1979, and the roller disco craze was sweeping across America. At the time, Bacon was a struggling actor working as a busboy in Manhattan. He had bought a pair of quad skates in 1977 and became an avid street skater.

Because elite, flashy New York roller clubs like The Roxy and Xenon were far too expensive for a busboy’s budget, Bacon took his talents to the pavement, spending hours grooving, spinning, and practicing roller disco out in Central Park.

While skating in the park, an acquaintance who was putting together a project to capitalize on the exploding trend approached him. The pitch was simple: “Hey, I’m writing a book about this roller disco thing. Do you want to be a model?” Desperate for the gig, Bacon agreed. He ended up being featured as an instructional model in the 1979 paperback book titled How to Disco Rollerskate.

“Back when I was working as a busboy, I got a gig to model for a how-to roller disco book,” he recalled. “For reference, this move is called ‘Shoot the Duck.’”

In the book’s black-and-white photo spreads, a young, heavily feathered-haired Kevin Bacon can be seen demonstrating highly technical maneuvers, including a left-hand turn transition and a classic 1970s skate trick called the “Can Opener.”

Years later, Bacon revisited the memory on The Late Late Show, admitting that while he still owns those original 1977 skates, his feet have grown two sizes since his days as a Central Park roller disco model. Still, during the 2020 lockdowns, he famously dusted them off to post “Roller Disco” dance videos from his basement, proving he’s still got the moves.