25 Stunning Photos of Teenage Jean Harlow in the Late 1920s

It’s a common misconception that Jean Harlow (March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) burst onto the scene as the “Blonde Bombshell” and “Platinum Blonde” we know today. In the late 1920s, she was actually a struggling extra and bit-player, often unrecognizable from her later iconic image.

Before she was Jean Harlow, she was Harlean Carpenter, a teenage runaway and socialite from Chicago who moved to Los Angeles. In the late 1920s, her hair wasn’t yet that blinding “Platinum” white. It was more of a natural ash blonde or sandy color, styled in the tight, finger-waved bobs popular during the flapper era. Her eyebrows were thin, but they hadn't yet reached the dramatic, high-arched pencil lines she sported in the 1930s.

Harlow spent the tail end of the silent era as an “extra.” She famously didn’t want to be an actress; she was essentially dared into it and took jobs to please her mother ("Mother Jean"). She appeared in several Laurel and Hardy shorts. Her most famous early moment was in Double Whoopee (1929), where her dress gets caught in a taxi door. She was mostly a background player in silent films like Moran of the Marines (1928). Because she was still learning the craft, her performances were often stiff.

By the very end of 1929, her trajectory changed forever. Howard Hughes was re-filming his epic Hell’s Angels to add sound. He needed a blonde with a specific “magnetic” presence to replace the original lead, Greta Nissen. She signed with Hughes, and by the time the film premiered in 1930, she was no longer an extra, she was a sensation.

Harlow actually tried to quit acting several times in 1928 and 1929, but casting directors kept calling her back because her screen presence was undeniable, even when she was just standing in the background.

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Rhonda Fleming: The Radiant Queen of Technicolor

Known as the “Queen of Technicolor,” Rhonda Fleming (1923–2020) was one of the most radiant stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her vivid red hair, striking green eyes, and flawless complexion made her a favorite of cinematographers during the transition to color film. She shot to stardom in the 1940s after being discovered by legendary producer David O. Selznick, making a memorable impact in Alfred Hitchcock’s psychological thriller Spellbound (1945).

Throughout the 1950s, Fleming’s versatile talent allowed her to transition effortlessly between genres, from noir classics like Out of the Past to lavish musicals and rugged Westerns. She was also a gifted singer who performed on stage in Las Vegas and released her own album, Rhonda.

A dedicated philanthropist in her later years, Fleming co-founded the Rhonda Fleming Mann Clinic for Women’s Comprehensive Care, leaving behind a legacy that combined cinematic glamour with a deep commitment to women’s health. Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Golden Age with these classic portraits and film stills of Rhonda Fleming.

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Executive One: When U.S President Richard Nixon Traveled on a Regularly Scheduled Commercial Flight in 1973

On December 26, 1973, President Richard Nixon, his family, staff, and Secret Service detail flew United Airlines flight 55 from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. In doing so, President Nixon became the ONLY sitting President to fly a public commercially scheduled flight. The event was kept secret until the presidential party arrived for their flight. It was reported that not even the pilot knew until half an hour before departure. No passengers were bumped from their seats to accommodate the presidential party.

During the flight, President Nixon walked the aisles of the DC-10 aircraft, meeting and talking with other passengers. By foregoing the use of Air Force One, he intended to draw attention to the energy crisis and demonstrate his confidence in the commercial airlines industry.

The President’s party used 13 first class one‐way tickets at $217.64 each and 12 coach seats at $167.64 each. The total cost was $4,841, which, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, is about $34,033.70 today.

The presidential party returned to Washington in January by flying on a military aircraft from Palm Springs, CA to Andrews AFB, MD, via a refueling stop at Tinker AFB, OK.

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Art Deco Elegance: Stunning 1930s Posters by William P. Welsh

William P. Welsh (1889–1984) was a highly accomplished American illustrator and painter whose work defined the sophisticated visual style of mid-20th-century advertising and media.

A master of composition and color, Welsh was renowned for his ability to blend classical fine art techniques with the bold, graphic demands of commercial illustration. His portfolio was incredibly diverse, ranging from evocative travel posters for the Pullman Company and South Africa Tourism to elegant covers for prestigious magazines like Vogue and Woman’s Home Companion.

Welsh’s artistic versatility was one of his greatest strengths, he was equally comfortable creating large-scale, powerful murals as he was painting delicate, intimate portraits. During the Art Deco era, his work often featured streamlined forms and a sense of monumental dignity, yet it always maintained a warm, human touch.

Step back into the era of streamlined design and travel glamour. These impressive posters, created by William P. Welsh during the 1930s, showcase his mastery of Art Deco composition and his ability to turn commercial advertisements into timeless works of art.

Spring, 1931

Summer, 1931

Autumn, 1931

Winter, 1931

Andante, 1932

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Fabulous Photos of Jennifer Jones on the Set of “Portrait of Jennnie” (1948)

In Portrait of Jennie (1948), Jennifer Jones delivers a performance that is widely considered one of the most ethereal and haunting in classic cinema. She plays Jennie Appleton, a mysterious girl who appears to a struggling artist (played by Joseph Cotten) in Central Park.

The most challenging aspect of Jones’s role was that she had to portray Jennie at multiple stages of life, from a young schoolgirl to a mature woman, over the span of just a few months in the film's timeline. Despite being 29 at the time of filming, Jones successfully captured a wide-eyed, Victorian-era innocence in the early scenes. As the artist paints her, she “grows up” rapidly between their meetings. Jones shifted her voice, posture, and gaze to reflect this supernatural maturation.

The film was a “prestige project” produced by David O. Selznick (who was obsessed with Jones and later married her). He ensured she looked otherworldly through several cinematic techniques. She is often filmed through heavy diffusion filters to give her a glowing, ghost-like aura. Her presence is anchored by a recurring, haunting theme song that adds to her melancholic charm. Her wardrobe shifts from 1910s-era children’s clothing to elegant, timeless gowns, emphasizing that she is a “woman out of time.”

While the film’s pacing was polarizing upon release, Jones was praised for her ability to ground a high-concept supernatural romance with genuine emotion.

“Jones manages to make the impossible believable. She isn’t just a ghost; she is a memory coming to life.”

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30 Photographs of Karen Carpenter Performing on Stage in the 1970s and Early 1980s

Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American musician who was the lead vocalist and drummer of the highly successful duo the Carpenters, formed with her older brother Richard. With a distinctive three-octave contralto range, she was praised by her peers for her vocal skills. Carpenter appeared on Rolling Stone’s 2010 list of the 100 greatest singers of all time.

In the early 1970s, Karen famously considered herself a “drummer who sang.” She was happiest behind her Ludwig kit, where her technical proficiency was world-class. As the Carpenters’ hits piled up, audiences (and management) wanted to see her face. She resisted the move to the front of the stage, feeling “exposed” without her drums. Her 1970s performances were marked by wholesome, flowing gowns, modest hairstyles, and a sincere, almost vulnerable connection with the audience.

While she became more mobile, her stage energy remained centered on her voice. She had a rare ability to maintain perfect pitch and breath control even while moving, delivering that famous "basement" alto tone that felt like she was whispering directly to each listener.

By the dawn of the 1980s, Karen’s stage persona had become more polished and “showbiz,” though this era was tragically short-lived. Her wardrobe shifted toward the high-glamour trends of the era – sequins, shoulder pads, and more structured outfits. During their 1980s specials and final live appearances, Karen was more of a “total performer.” She engaged in more choreographed movements and banter, appearing more confident in her role as a leading lady.

Sadly, performances in the early 1980s also documented her physical decline due to anorexia nervosa. While her voice remained hauntingly beautiful and technically strong, her increasingly frail appearance became a point of concern for fans and critics alike.

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Stunning Fashion Photography by Arnaud de Rosnay in the 1960s

Arnaud de Rosnay (1946–1984) was a flamboyant French aristocrat, world-class photographer, and visionary windsurfer who lived a life defined by high-stakes adventure and effortless style. Initially making his mark as a celebrated fashion photographer for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, he captured the essence of 1960s and 1970s glamour before shifting his focus to the untamed spirit of the ocean.

De Rosnay is perhaps best remembered as a pioneer of speed sailing and extreme windsurfing, famously inventing the speed sail (a windsurf rig on wheels) and completing several perilous solo crossings of international straits.

De Rosnay’s life was a blend of cinematic daring and tragic mystery. He successfully crossed the Bering Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar, but his luck famously ran out in 1984 during an ambitious attempt to windsurf across the Taiwan Strait. He disappeared at sea, leaving behind a legacy that bridges the world of high fashion with the grit of extreme sports.

Beyond his life of adventure, De Rosnay was a master behind the lens. Take a look at these stunning fashion portraits captured by Arnaud de Rosnay during the 1960s.

Marisa Berenson in Australia wearing tattersall hip pants and wide-ribbed camel sweater by Crestknit, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay, 1967

Marisa Berenson in knit silk sun dress in deep coral with bands of green and violet by Avagolf, coiffure by Maury of Kenneth, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay in Antigua, Vogue, February 15, 1967

Marisa Berenson on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean wearing red and white wavy-striped mini-tent dress by Guy D by Leo Narducci, turban by Irene of New York, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay, 1967

Marisa Berenson on the island of Mauritius wearing black and white float with diamond-point hem from Guy D by Leo Narducci, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay, 1967

Marisa Berenson wearing black and white dress that can be worn long for evening or short for day, Monet earrings, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay on the island of Mauritius, Vogue US, January 15, 1967

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