Rare Portrait Ambrotypes of Japanese People From the Late 19th Century

In the late 19th century, as Japan navigated the transformative Meiji Era, the ambrotype, known locally as garasu-shashin (glass photos), became a cherished medium for capturing the nation’s changing identity. Unlike the fleeting paper prints of the time, these underexposed glass negatives, backed with black material to create a positive image, offered a hauntingly sharp and ethereal depth.

Sourced from tokyogaz, these portraits are remarkable for their cultural synthesis, they often depict subjects in a state of flux. Typically encased in custom-carved Kiri-wood (Paulownia) boxes, these ambrotypes were treated not merely as photographs, but as sacred family talismans, preserving the stoic dignity and quiet grace of a society standing on the threshold of the modern world.

Ambrotype in pawlonia wood case. Father and son in kimono and tabi, January 2, 1882

Ambrotype of 3-year-old boy named Sawa Genzo

Ambrotype of a 19-year-old man, April 8, 1888

Ambrotype of Japanese gentleman named Suzuki Gohei in kimono, 1898

Ambrotype of three men seated at a table, upon which there is a stack of books. One of the men has a 'chon-mage' or top-knot

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Portraits of Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra Taken by Philippe Le Tellier, 1962

In 1962, French photographer Philippe Le Tellier captured iconic behind the scenes portraits of Elizabeth Taylor on the set of Cleopatra at Cinecittà studios in Rome. His photographs are notable for showing the actress in her elaborate regal costumes while highlighting her relaxed and human side during the film's famously high-pressure production. 

The photos were taken primarily in March 1962 during the Roman phase of filming. His work often features Taylor in her iconic blue crown or golden headdress, showcasing the Academy Award-winning costume design. These images remain essential pieces of film history, depicting Taylor at the peak of her “screen goddess” status amidst the extravagance and scandal that defined the production.

Vintage Cover Photos of ABC Film Review Magazine in the 1950s

First published in 1950, ABC Film Review (later known simply as Film Review) was a cornerstone of British cinema culture for over half a century.

Originally created as a promotional magazine for the Associated British Cinemas (ABC) circuit, it quickly transcended its marketing roots to become the UK’s longest-running film publication. For generations of moviegoers, the magazine was an essential companion to the silver screen, famous for its glossy star portraits, behind-the-scenes features, and its comprehensive “descriptive reviews” that helped shape public taste.

By capturing the transition from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the blockbuster era, ABC Film Review served as a vivid historical archive of changing cinematic trends and celebrity fandom. Even as digital media eventually took over, the magazine’s legacy remains a nostalgic symbol of a time when the magic of the movies was first captured on the printed page, making it a prized collectible for cinephiles and historians today.

Below is a collection of ABC Film Review magazine covers from the 1950s.

ABC Film Review magazine first cover, 1950

ABC Film Review magazine cover, 1950

ABC Film Review magazine cover, March 1951

ABC Film Review magazine cover, April 1952

ABC Film Review magazine cover, August 1952

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30 Stunning Portraits of a Young and Beautiful Betty Hutton in the 1940s

Betty Hutton (born Elizabeth June Thornburg; February 26, 1921 – March 12, 2007) was an American stage, film, and television actress, comedian, dancer, and singer. She rose to fame in the 1940s as a contract player for Paramount Pictures, appearing primarily in musicals and became one of the studio’s most valuable stars. She was noted for her energetic performance style.

She started the decade on Broadway with hits like Two for the Show (1940) and Panama Hattie (1940), where her “overdrive” energy even led to songs being cut to keep the show balanced. After signing with Paramount in 1941, she made her feature debut in The Fleet’s In (1942). Her major breakthrough came in Preston Sturges’s screwball comedy The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944), which proved she could handle both comedy and dramatic acting.

During World War II, she was a favorite for entertaining the troops and starred in morale-boosting hits like Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) and Here Come the Waves (1944). She dominated the mid-to-late 1940s with films like Incendiary Blonde (1945), where she played Texas Guinan, and The Perils of Pauline (1947).

Below is a selection of 30 stunning portraits of a young and beautiful Betty Hutton in the 1940s:

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Amazing Photos of Johnny Cash Taken by Michael Rougier for LIFE Magazine, 1969

In 1969, photographer Michael Rougier captured one of the most intimate and revealing photo essays of Johnny Cash for LIFE magazine. Unlike the grit of the Folsom or San Quentin concert photos, Rougier’s work focused on Cash’s life during a massive career pivot.

This was a “rebirth” year for Cash. He had recently married June Carter, was celebrating the success of his live prison albums, and was filming The Johnny Cash Show at the Ryman Auditorium.

One of the most famous shots depicts Cash walking along railway tracks near his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, carrying his guitar. He was also photographed posing in front of the historic Dixie 576 steam locomotive in Nashville.

Rougier documented Cash during recording sessions at Columbia Studio B in Nashville. The collection includes intimate photos of Cash with family and friends at his Tennessee home, as well as portraits with fellow artists like Glen Campbell.

Rougier was known for his “fly-on-the-wall” approach. Because Cash was notoriously guarded, these photos are highly regarded for their authenticity. They didn't feel like staged publicity stills; they felt like a window into the life of a man who was finally finding peace after years of drug addiction and legal trouble.

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Suzanne Pleshette: The Voice and Wit of Television’s Golden Era

Suzanne Pleshette (1937–2008) was a quintessential star of American stage and screen, celebrated for her husky, sultry voice and a sharp comedic wit that made her a household name.

While Pleshette began her career as a serious dramatic actress on Broadway and in films like Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, she found her greatest fame as Emily Hartley on the 1970s sitcom The Bob Newhart Show. As Emily, she redefined the “sitcom wife” by portraying a woman who was fiercely intelligent, independent, and an equal partner to her husband, all delivered with her signature dry humor.

Her career spanned five decades, earning her multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and cementing her status as a versatile performer who could pivot effortlessly from high-stakes drama to sophisticated banter. Off-screen, Pleshette was beloved for her earthy personality and “tell-it-like-it-is” attitude, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most charismatic and enduring figures of the Golden Age of Television.

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Daguerreotype Portrait of “Mona Lisa of the Deep” Found in the Wreck of a Ship That Sank in 1857

In 2014, an extraordinary discovery emerged from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean: a hauntingly well-preserved daguerreotype of an unidentified woman, found in the wreckage of the SS Central America. The ship had sunk in 1857, resting about 7,200 feet (2,200 meters) deep off the coast of South Carolina. Alongside this enigmatic portrait, explorers recovered a staggering treasure valued at over $765 million in today’s currency.

As scientists worked to recover gold and other items from the ship in 2014, they found more than 100 photos, many in glass case holders. A majority were degraded beyond recognition, but 10 standouts are remarkably clear, including this striking daguerreotype portrait, which was found in a pile of the ship’s coal on the seabed. Because the deep ocean is cold, dark, and low in oxygen, and because daguerreotypes are made on metal rather than paper, the image was perfectly preserved.

Scientists dubbed it the “Mona Lisa of the Deep” due to the woman’s enigmatic smile and the hauntingly clear preservation of the image after 157 years underwater. To this day, the woman remains unidentified. Historians believe she may have been a relative of one of the miners, a “treasure” more personal and valuable to its owner than the gold that sank with it. In March 2023, the original daguerreotype was sold at auction for $73,800.

“She’s the Mona Lisa of the depths... staring up at the living from the seabed,”  said Bob Evans, Chief Scientist of the recovery mission.

In September 1857, the SS Central America was traveling from Panama to New York City. It was carrying over 30,000 pounds (13.6 tonnes) of gold, much of it belonging to miners returning from the California Gold Rush, to help bolster New York banks during a financial crisis.

On September 9, the ship encountered a Category 2 hurricane off the coast of the Carolinas. For days, the crew and passengers fought to keep the ship afloat. On September 12, 1857, the ship’s boilers failed, leaving it powerless. Despite rescue efforts by passing vessels, the SS Central America sank roughly 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina.

The sinking of the SS Central America remains one of the most significant maritime disasters in American history. Of the 578 people on board, 425 lost their lives. The loss of the gold cargo was so massive that it directly contributed to the Panic of 1857, the first global economic recession.

The wreck was located in 1988 at a depth of 7,200 feet (1.3 miles), but the “Mona Lisa of the Deep” wasn’t recovered until a later expedition in 2014.