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April 4, 2025

Studio Portraits of Young Eddie Murphy Taken by Lynn Goldsmith in 1983

In 1983, photographer Lynn Goldsmith captured several notable images of comedian and actor Eddie Murphy. One prominent photograph features Murphy dressed in jeans, a white shirt, and a red necktie, playfully pointing his fingers at the camera. Another portrait from the same year shows him in a full-length pose, wearing a black leather jacket and black pants, looking over his shoulder at the camera.

Additionally, Goldsmith’s photograph of Murphy seated at a white piano has been featured on postcards. Goldsmith also provided the cover photo for Murphy’s 1983 comedy album, Eddie Murphy: Comedian. Reflecting on their collaboration, Goldsmith mentioned that Murphy often requested her for his photography needs during that period.

“I loved working with him and did most of the photography he needed for a few years as he always asked for me when a magazine was doing a story or if he had an album or a tv special,” said Goldsmith. “I think he was super impressed that Rick James used me for all his photography, he adored Rick. In 1984, I was on a job for Life magazine and Eddie wanted me to leave it to do a shoot for him. I didn’t. After that he never worked with me again! I’m sure he’s grown more mature since those days and I will always feel appreciative of the times he chose me to me to work with him. I love the guy. I hope he’s as happy as he’s made so many!”






Vintage Found Photos of a 1920s Picnic

A 1920s picnic features elegantly dressed people in vintage clothing, with women in flapper dresses and men in suits, enjoying a leisurely afternoon outdoors. Picnic baskets filled with classic foods like finger sandwiches, fruit, and lemonade are spread on a checkered blanket. Jazz music may play softly in the background, and there’s a sense of carefree fun and sophistication in the air.

The picnic might take place in a park or by a lake, with classic cars parked nearby. People may enjoy lawn games like croquet or badminton, or simply lounge and chat under the shade of large trees. Here is a set of vintage found photos depicting a picnic from the 1920s.






Striking Portraits of a Young and Handsome Marlon Brando Captured by Philippe Halsman in 1949 and 1950

“Brando came up to the Cape when I was there,” said Philippe Halsman. “There was no point in discovering him, it was so obvious. I never saw such raw talent in an individual, except for Laurette Taylor, whose talent was hardly raw. Then, before he was famous, Brando was a gentle, lovely guy, a man of extraordinary beauty when I first met him. He was very natural and helpful. He repaired the plumbing that had gone on the whack, and he repaired the lights that had gone off. And then he just sat calmly down and began to read. After five minutes, Margo Jones, who was staying with us, said, ‘Oh, this is the greatest reading I’ve ever heard, even in Texas!’ And that’s how he was cast in Streetcar.”

In 1949 and 1950, renowned photographer Philippe Halsman captured a series of black and white portraits of a young Marlon Brando in New York City. These photographs are celebrated for their striking use of light and shadow, which emphasize Brando's contemplative expressions and youthful features. One notable image features Brando wearing a striped shirt, gazing pensively away from the camera, conveying depth and introspection.

Halsman was at one point considered the best photo-portraitist in France. He had an incessant interest in faces: “Every face I see seems to hide—and sometimes fleetingly reveal—the mystery of another human being.” Halsman’s photographs of politicians, celebrities, and intellectuals were featured widely in magazines like LIFE and Vogue. His more famous subjects included the likes of Marc Chagall, Le Corbusier, Audrey Hepburn, and Albert Einstein. In the 1950s, Halsman began asking his sitters to jump in front of the camera, because he noticed that doing so paradoxically seemed to relax people. With his background in engineering, Halsman also made groundbreaking photographic inventions, including a twin-lens reflex camera that allowed the operator to see his sitter through a viewfinder.







April 3, 2025

25 Fascinating Portraits of a Young and Beautiful Doris Day in the 1940s

Doris Day (born Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress and singer. In the 1940s, she rose to fame as a big band singer before transitioning into a successful solo career.


Doris joined Barney Rapp’s band in 1939, where he suggested changing her last name to “Day” after the song “Day After Day.” In 1940, she moved on to Les Brown’s band, where she recorded hits like “Sentimental Journey” (1945), which became a wartime anthem for returning soldiers. Other hits with Brown included “My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time” (1945), showcasing her warm, expressive voice.

After her success with Les Brown, Day launched a solo career in 1946, signing with Columbia Records. She recorded popular songs like “It’s Magic” (1948), which was featured in her first film.

Day transitioned into acting almost by chance—songwriter Jule Styne introduced her to director Michael Curtiz, who cast her in Romance on the High Seas (1948). This marked the beginning of her film career, with subsequent roles in musicals like My Dream Is Yours (1949) and It’s a Great Feeling (1949).

By the end of the 1940s, Doris Day was already a beloved singer and a rising Hollywood star, setting the stage for her dominance in the 1950s.






30 Gorgeous Photos of Anne Francis in the 1950s and ’60s

Anne Francis was an American actress, best known for her roles in science fiction films and TV shows. Born on September 16, 1930, in Ossining, New York, she began her career in the 1940s and gained fame for her role as Altaira in Forbidden Planet (1956), a classic sci-fi film. She also starred in the TV series Honey West (1965–1966), where she portrayed a private detective, becoming one of the first female leads in an action series.

Francis was known for her beauty, versatility, and strong screen presence, and she remained active in the entertainment industry throughout her life. She passed away on January 2, 2011, at the age of 80. Take a look at these gorgeous photos to see the beauty of young Anne Francis in the 1950s and 1960s.






Stanisław Wyspiański: One of the Most Outstanding and Multifaceted Artists in Early 20th-Century Poland

Stanisław Wyspiański (1869–1907) was a renowned Polish playwright, poet, painter, and designer, often considered one of the most important figures in Polish art and culture at the turn of the 20th century. He was a central figure of the Young Poland movement, which was a modernist artistic and literary movement that sought to break away from the constraints of the past.

Wyspiański’s artistic output was vast and varied, including paintings, drawings, and theater works. As a playwright, he is best known for his symbolic and expressive plays that often explored themes of Polish national identity, history, and the role of art in society. Some of his most notable plays include Wesele (The Wedding), Wyzwolenie (Liberation), Achilles, Bolesław Śmiały (Boleslaus The Bold) and Legenda II (Legend 2).

In painting, Wyspiański was known for his strong use of color, innovative composition, and his exploration of symbolism and modernist ideas. His work often incorporated elements of Polish folk art and medieval iconography. He is also noted for his contributions to the design of stained glass, including a series of windows for the Wawel Cathedral in Kraków, which remain a significant part of his legacy.

Wyspiański’s health was fragile, and he died young, at the age of 37, but his impact on Polish culture and the arts has been profound. His works continue to be celebrated today for their emotional depth, intellectual rigor, and their reflection of Poland's national spirit during a time of political turmoil.

Here is a selection of stunning portrait paintings by Stanisław Wyspiański, created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Portrait of the Three Bobrówna Young Ladies

Boy with a Flower

Boy with Guns

Cracovian Girl

Double Portrait of Eliza Parenska

April 2, 2025

Brat Pack, a Group of Young and Charismatic Actors Who Dominated the 1980s Movie Scene

The Brat Pack was an informal group of young actors who became famous in the 1980s for starring in teen-oriented films, particularly those directed by John Hughes and Joel Schumacher. While they were never an official group, their films and off-screen camaraderie solidified them as an iconic part of 1980s pop culture. The group has been characterized by the partying of members such as Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson.

The Brat Pack concept emerged in the mid-’80s, at a time when Hollywood was making more films that focused on the teenage experience. Studios realized there was a profitable market for stories about high school life, friendships, romance, and the struggles of growing up.

Director John Hughes played a crucial role in launching the movement with films like Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Pretty in Pink (1986), all of which became defining films of the era. Hughes had a unique ability to capture the authentic voices and emotions of teenagers, making his films relatable and timeless.

At the same time, Joel Schumacher directed St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), which focused on young adults navigating post-college life. Many of the same actors appeared in both Hughes and Schumacher films, further solidifying the idea of a recurring group of young Hollywood stars.

The term Brat Pack was coined by journalist David Blum in a New York Magazine article published on June 10, 1985. Blum originally wrote the piece after spending an evening with Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, and Rob Lowe, who were out partying in Los Angeles. The article painted them as immature and arrogant young stars who were taking Hollywood by storm.

Blum’s headline was a play on the Rat Pack, the famous group of entertainers from the 1950s and ‘60s that included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. However, while the Rat Pack embraced their collective identity, the Brat Pack actors resented the label, as it made them seem like reckless, entitled kids rather than serious actors.

Despite the negative label, the Brat Pack became the face of 1980s teen cinema. Their films were box office successes, and their influence on pop culture was immense.

However, the Brat Pack era was relatively short-lived. By the late 1980s, some members sought to break free from teen roles and transition into more mature projects. The group also never truly functioned as a tight-knit collective—many of the actors worked together but weren’t necessarily close friends.

Although their reign was brief, the Brat Pack remains one of the most iconic groups in Hollywood history. Their films continue to be beloved by new generations, with The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and St. Elmo’s Fire frequently referenced in pop culture.









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