Incredible Photos From an Unknown Haunted House Party From the 1940s

Despite being captured by one of LIFE’s most prominent photojournalists, Alfred Eisenstaedt, these photographs were never published in the magazine. There is virtually no archival text, location data, or contextual identification accompanying the photo negatives.

Visually, the images strongly resemble a high-spirited college or youth party from the World War II era. Guests are seen dressed up in a variety of classic, mid-century Halloween attire, including classic sheet ghosts, early monster masks, and whimsical homemade costumes.

The photos reflect Eisenstaedt’s pioneering work with 35mm Leica miniature cameras and natural, available light. This allowed him to blend into the party seamlessly as a “friend rather than a photographer,” capturing incredibly raw, candid, and joyful interactions without the stiff posing typical of bulky 1940s press cameras.

Because Eisenstaedt traveled extensively across all 48 U.S. states on assignment for LIFE during the 1940s, historians have found it difficult to pinpoint exactly where this charming, ghostly gathering took place.

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Some of the Last Known Photos of Amy Winehouse, the Night of the Last Time She Took the Stage on July 20, 2011

On July 20, 2011, Amy Winehouse made a surprise final public stage appearance supporting her 15-year-old goddaughter and mentee, Dionne Bromfield, during Bromfield’s set at the iTunes Festival at Camden’s Roundhouse in London.

Winehouse walked out unannounced while Bromfield was performing a cover of The Shirelles’ classic “Mama Said.” Amy said she did not want to sing. Instead, she danced behind Dionne and gave her support as Dionne sang. Known for her generous spirit, it was unsurprising to many that her last performance would be supporting someone else. She took photos backstage after the event with Dionne, the band “The Wanted,” and some fans.

Amy Winehouse passed away three days later, on July 23, 2011, at her nearby home. Dionne and others state she was not under the influence of alcohol during this event, highlighting the highs and lows that people struggling to withdrawal from alcohol go through. She was taking medication for withdrawal and actively trying to stop drinking completely at the time of her death, but she experienced relapses until her body could not longer tolerate it. Her history of bulimia is thought to have weakened her body severely. Contrary to the belief of many, her use of hard drugs was not the cause of her death, as she had successfully quit those several years prior.

Miriam Hopkins: Versatile Star of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Born in Savannah, Georgia, American actress Miriam Hopkins (1902–1972) was known for her versatility and strong screen presence during Hollywood’s Golden Age. She began her career on the Broadway stage before moving to Hollywood in 1930.

Hopkins quickly became a leading lady at Paramount, starring in notable films such as Ernst Lubitsch’s Trouble in Paradise (1932), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), and the controversial The Story of Temple Drake (1933). She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Becky Sharp (1935), the first feature film shot entirely in three-strip Technicolor.

With her intelligence, intensity, and range, Hopkins left a lasting mark as one of the most distinctive actresses of the 1930s. These vintage photos capture the elegance, intensity, and distinctive screen presence of Miriam Hopkins, a memorable star of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

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30 Stunning Portraits of Evelyn Holt in the Late 1920s

Evelyn Holt (October 3, 1908 – February 22, 2001) was a German actress. In the 1920s, Holt was a highly popular German film star and a prominent leading lady of the late silent movie era. Known for her blonde hair, blue eyes, and attractive features, she quickly became a major celebrity in Weimar-era Berlin’s booming cinematic scene.

She began her career at the famous UFA studios before turning 20 years old. After minor roles, such as in the 1926 crime film Spitzen (Have an Eye), she quickly ascended to leading roles. Her breakout year came in 1926 with memorable roles in films like Lace and Orphan of Lowood (Die Waise von Lowood).

As her popularity surged, she starred alongside top contemporary German actors, most notably Hans Albers. Her popularity was immortalized through extensive merchandising. Her portrait routinely appeared on highly collectible vintage postcards printed by major publishers like Ross Verlag.

Unlike many silent film stars who struggled with the advent of “talkies” at the turn of the decade, Holt had formal training as a singer. This skill allowed her to make a completely seamless transition into sound pictures as a theatre and opera soubrette as the 1920s came to a close.

However, her thriving career would be cut short just a few years later. In the 1930s, the Nazi regime banned her from film due to her Jewish heritage, eventually forcing her to marry publisher Felix Guggenheim and emigrate to the United States.

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Vintage Photos of a Bridal Shower in the Early 1970s

These vintage photos capture a bridal shower held in 1972, offering a warm and nostalgic glimpse into a classic pre-wedding celebration of the era. The images show friends and family gathered in a domestic setting, surrounded by decorations, gifts, and the cheerful atmosphere typical of such gatherings.

From the fashion and hairstyles to the party details and candid moments, the photos reflect the informal, intimate style of bridal showers in the early 1970s. They preserve a charming visual record of friendship, tradition, and everyday celebration from more than fifty years ago.

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In 1994, Sofia Coppola and Spike Jonze Took Fashion to the Streets During NYFW With the ‘X-Girl’ Fashion Show

X-Girl’s 1994 fashion show was a legendary sidewalk event in SoHo, New York, held during Fashion Week in early April. It was the debut show for X-Girl, the women’s streetwear label co-founded by Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and stylist Daisy von Furth (as a counterpart to the men’s skate brand X-Large). The brand offered a feminine take on skater and indie style aimed at girls who wanted clothes that fit better than oversized menswear.

Staged without permits on a sidewalk (Mercer Street / near Wooster Street area), deliberately timed so people leaving Marc Jacobs’ nearby show would walk right into it. A spray-painted bedsheet (reportedly taken from the Paramount Hotel) served as a banner. Music included Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl.” Production was handled by Sofia Coppola and Spike Jonze; Donovan Leitch Jr. acted as MC with a megaphone.

Not traditional models, but friends and downtown figures. Pre-fame Chloë Sevigny (then the brand’s fit model, with a blonde bowl cut and pink-sprayed roots) walked, including in a white T-shirt dress. Others included Pumpkin Wentzel, Luisa Reichenheim, Michele Lockwood, Jutta Koether, Ione Skye, Zoe Cassavetes, and more. Only about 20 looks. Kim Gordon was present (pregnant at the time).

Attracted fashion insiders and celebrities spilling out of the Jacobs show, plus the indie/rock scene: Linda Evangelista and Kyle MacLachlan, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Meisel, Bill Cunningham, Beastie Boys members, J Mascis, and others. MTV’s House of Style covered it. It took place shortly after Kurt Cobain’s death, adding a strange atmosphere, but the event stayed playful and anti-establishment.

Gordon later described it as playful and not taking themselves too seriously as designers; the street setting felt appropriate. It captured a mix of supermodel fashion world and ’90s indie/skate/riot grrrl energy, helping define X-Girl’s cult status as accessible, fun streetwear for women.

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Actress Frances Farmer in 1943, Showing Some Attitude After Being Arrested

In January 1943, Hollywood actress Frances Farmer was violently arrested at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Los Angeles for violating her probation. The arrest spiraled into a highly publicized media circus due to her aggressive resistance, which ultimately led to her being involuntarily committed to a psychiatric institution rather than serving jail time.

In October 1942, Farmer was stopped for driving with her headlights on during a wartime blackout. Drunk and uncooperative, she reportedly told the officer, “You bore me.” She was fined $500, given a suspended jail sentence, and put on probation with strict orders not to drink.

By early 1943, her behavior had become increasingly erratic. On a movie set, she got into a physical altercation and allegedly slapped or hit a studio hairdresser. When authorities looked into the assault, they discovered that Farmer had failed to pay the remaining balance of her $500 drunk-driving fine from the previous year. Because she had also violated her sobriety order, a judge issued a warrant for her arrest on January 6, 1943.

On January 14, 1943, police tracked Farmer down to her room at the Knickerbocker Hotel. Officers found her drunk and sleeping naked. She fiercely resisted arrest, refusing to dress and forcing officers to wrap her in a blanket and physically drag her out of the hotel kicking and screaming.

Her hearing the following day became legendary. She famously mocked the judge and threw an inkwell at him. When asked about her drinking, she defended herself by shouting, “Listen, I get liquor in my milk, I get liquor in my coffee and in my orange juice, what do you expect me to do, starve to death?”

The judge sentenced her to 180 days in jail. However, due to her highly unstable behavior, her family and a sister-in-law intervened. Instead of serving prison time, she was transferred to a sanitarium in Los Angeles, marking the beginning of her tragic, years-long institutionalization in psychiatric hospitals.

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