Grace Kelly as an Advertising Model for Cleaning Products in New York City, June 1948

In 1948, before she became a Hollywood icon and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly was a young aspiring actress and model living in New York City. At just 18, she supported herself by taking on commercial modeling jobs, which were among the most common ways for newcomers to gain visibility in the entertainment world.

Kelly appeared in print advertisements for consumer goods, including household and cleaning products, cosmetics, and fashion catalogs. These early ads often portrayed her as the wholesome, elegant “American girl next door,” qualities that later defined her screen presence.

Her modeling work was handled by the John Robert Powers Agency, one of the top agencies of the era. She appeared in ads for products such as Old Gold cigarettes, Maxwell House Coffee, and domestic cleaning brands, often wearing neat dresses and aprons, smiling in spotless kitchen settings.

These modest beginnings in New York’s advertising world were a key step in her journey, helping her pay for acting classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, which launched her transition to Broadway and then Hollywood by the early 1950s.

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Two Men Holding Up a Pair of Oversized Trousers of Daniel Lambert, the Heaviest Man in England

Daniel Lambert (1770–1809) was an English man renowned in Georgian England for his extraordinary size, intelligence, and dignified character. Despite his immense weight, he was a respected jailer and a keen sportsman. Here’s an image of two men holding up a pair of oversized trousers that belonged to Lambert, ca. 1956:

Daniel Lambert was born in Leicester, England on March 13, 1770. In his youth, he was a keen sportsman, enjoying activities like swimming, fishing, shooting, and horse racing. He was considered an expert in breeding sporting animals, particularly dogs and fighting cocks. He initially worked for four years as an apprentice at an engraving and die casting works in Birmingham. Around 1788, he returned to Leicester and succeeded his father as the keeper of Leicester’s gaol (prison). He was known for his strength and once reportedly fought a bear in the streets of Leicester.

He began to gain weight when he took up the more sedentary job as gaol keeper. By the time of his death, he weighed 52 stone 11 pounds (739 lb; 335 kg). He was known to have disliked changing his clothes and would wear the same ones, even if they were wet, though he claimed no ill effects.

Daniel Lambert’s clothes display at the Newarke Houses Museum in Leicester.

In 1806, his weight prevented him from working, and he was forced by poverty to put himself on exhibition to raise money, charging spectators to meet him. He moved to London and took up residence in Piccadilly. Visitors were impressed by his intelligence and personality, and it became highly fashionable to visit him.

After earning sufficient wealth, he returned to Leicester but continued to make short fundraising tours. He died suddenly in Stamford, Lincolnshire on June 21, 1809, at the age of 39. Due to his immense size, a window and part of a wall at the inn had to be dismantled to remove his body for burial. His coffin was enormous, requiring 112 to 156 square feet of wood, and it took “upwards of twenty men” to lower it into the grave.

Daniel Lambert became a celebrated icon in Leicester and his name became synonymous with immensity. His memory is preserved in various pubs named after him, and many of his personal belongings, including his large armchair and clothing, are on permanent display at the Newarke Houses Museum in Leicester. A life-size model can also be seen at the Stamford Town Hall.

40 Amazing Black and White Photos of Little Richard in the 1960s

Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), better known by his stage name Little Richard, was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Referred to as the “Architect of Rock and Roll,” Richard’s most celebrated work dates from the mid-1950s, when his charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding backbeat and powerful raspy vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll.

Richard had abruptly abandoned his rock and roll career at its peak in 1958, viewing the music as “the Devil’s work,” and dedicated himself to a religious life. He formed the Little Richard Evangelistic Team and preached sermons as a traveling evangelical preacher. He recorded and released several gospel albums, including Sings Spirituals and Sings the Gospel, for various labels.

His return to the secular music scene was spurred by an offer to tour the UK in 1962, initially under the assumption he would perform only gospel. However, he soon resumed performing his classic rock and roll hits. His European tours, particularly in 1962 and 1964, were highly successful and influential.

During these tours, then-unknown British bands opened for him. The Beatles opened for him in Hamburg in 1962, and he provided them with musical advice. He also toured with the Rolling Stones on their first major tour, providing them with support and even loans. His touring bands during this time featured future legends such as Jimi Hendrix on guitar and Billy Preston on organ.

The success of British bands like The Beatles and Creedence Clearwater Revival, who frequently covered his songs like “Long Tall Sally,” generated renewed interest in Little Richard’s original sound and prompted his official return to the recording studio for pop music.

Although a 1964 comeback single, “Bama Lama Bama Loo,” didn’t achieve the chart success of his 1950s hits, he continued to tour and release new material throughout the decade. He also started appearing in films and television, maintaining his reputation as a flamboyant and revolutionary figure in music and culture.

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Beautiful Portraits of Gaby André in the 1940s and ’50s

Gaby André (1920–1972) was a French film actress who had an extensive career spanning from the late 1930s through the 1970s. Born Gabrielle Louise Mathilde Andreu, she began her career in France, appearing in several films before World War II. After the war, she frequently worked in international co-productions and Italian cinema, showcasing her versatility across different genres.

André is perhaps best known for her roles in the American film noir Highway 301 (1950) and various European productions, including the Italian historical drama Verdi, the King of Melody (1953) and the horror/sci-fi film The Strange World of Planet X (1958). Her daughter, Carole André, also became an actress, following in her mother’s cinematic footsteps.

Take a look at these beautiful photos to see portraits of a young Gaby André in the 1940s and 1950s.

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Einar Nerman: The Elegant Swedish Illustrator

Einar Nerman (1888–1983) was a highly acclaimed Swedish artist and illustrator known for his elegant, distinctive Art Deco style and his witty, stylized portrayals of people. Having studied art in Paris, his career spanned several creative fields, including painting, set design, and composing, but he achieved his greatest fame through his commercial work and illustrations.

Nerman’s unique style was characterized by fluid lines, simplified forms, and a sophisticated, almost theatrical air, making him highly sought after internationally. He created famous illustrations for publications like Vogue and illustrated numerous books, including classics by Selma Lagerlöf. Perhaps his most iconic work, however, was his long-running series of charming silhouette-like illustrations for the British tea company, Lyons, which cemented his legacy as a master of visual elegance and commercial artistry in the mid-20th century.

Anders De Wahl, Karin Molander, Pierrots Drama, 1918

En Gyllene Medelväg, 1919

Turné Ivan Hedqvist, Från Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, Dunungen av Selma Lagerlöf, 1919

En sjömansdrill, 1920

Naima Wifstrand, Karl-Gerhard, Nalle Halldén, circa 1920s

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24 Amazing Photos of a Young Jeff Bridges on the Set of “Bad Company” (1972)

In the 1972 film Bad Company, Jeff Bridges stars as Jake Rumsey, a “scruffy scoundrel” and charismatic leader of a gang of young Civil War draft dodgers and runaways. He is a con man who robs the film’s main character, Drew Dixon (played by Barry Brown), before they ultimately join forces and head west.

The film is built on the chemistry and contrasting personalities of the two leads: the cultured, good-hearted Drew and the primitive, street-smart Jake. Drew’s Methodist upbringing is challenged as he’s forced to do things he once considered unthinkable in order to survive.

Critics noted Bridges’ seemingly effortless performance, highlighting his ability to convey a mix of cunning, youthful inexperience, fear, and confidence, often with subtle facial expressions. One memorable, tough-to-watch scene involved his character attempting to skin a rabbit he had no idea how to properly prepare, displaying a powerful exercise in mime and revealing his feigned experience. 

Bad Company was the directorial debut of Robert Benton, who co-wrote the screenplay with David Newman (the pair also co-wrote Bonnie and Clyde). The film is considered an “acid western” or revisionist western, offering a bleak and realistic take on the frontier, devoid of traditional Hollywood romanticism. Its themes of draft dodging and the absurdity of war resonated with audiences during the Vietnam War era.

Bridges’ character, Jake, was an early display of the “coltish version of the excellent actor” he would become. He was approximately 22 years old when the film was released, having already earned an Oscar nomination the year prior for The Last Picture Show.

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Raffaella Carrà: The Italian Pop Icon

Raffaella Carrà (1943–2021) was an Italian singer, dancer, actress, and television presenter, widely regarded as the “Queen of Italian Television” and a pop culture icon across Europe and Latin America. Famous for her trademark blonde bob, vibrant energy, and audacious sequined costumes, she was a true pioneer, becoming the first TV personality to deliberately show her belly button on camera, creating a national sensation in 1970 with her provocative dance, the “Tuca Tuca.”

Carrà charted internationally with infectious disco-pop hits like “A far l'amore comincia tu” (known as “Do It, Do It Again”) and “Tanti auguri” (“Happy Birthday to You”), often singing in Spanish, English, and French. Beyond entertainment, she became a powerful figure for feminism and LGBT rights, using her massive platform to promote sexual freedom and liberation in the conservative landscape of 1970s and ’80s media.

Take a look at these vintage photos to see the beauty of a young Raffaella Carrà.

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