In 1997, Nicolas Cage Participated in Several Costume Tests for Tim Burton’s Unproduced Film “Superman Lives”

In 1996, Warner Bros. began developing Superman Lives, a bold attempt to reboot the franchise following the critical failure of Superman IV. The project famously cast Nicolas Cage as Clark Kent, with Tim Burton directing a darker, more “gothic” version of the hero.

The plot was primarily based on the Death of Superman comic arc. Superman would have faced Brainiac, Lex Luthor, and Doomsday. After being killed by Doomsday, he was to be resurrected by a Kryptonian entity known as The Eradicator (or “K”), which would also function as a high-tech “rebirth suit.”

Along with Cage, the film's rumored or planned cast included Chris Rock as Jimmy Olsen, Sandra Bullock as Lois Lane, and Christopher Walken as Brainiac. Producer Jon Peters famously insisted on bizarre requirements, such as Superman not being allowed to fly, not wearing the classic suit, and fighting a giant spider in the finale. 

Despite spending roughly $30 million on pre-production, including the creation of elaborate “glowing” light-up suits, Warner Bros. pulled the plug in 1998, just weeks before filming was scheduled to begin. Multiple script rewrites by Kevin Smith, Wesley Strick, and Dan Gilroy caused the projected budget to balloon beyond $140 million. Following the box office failure of Burton’s Mars Attacks! and the critical disaster of Batman & Robin, the studio became wary of expensive, stylized superhero films. 

While the film never happened, it gained legendary status through leaked screen-test footage of Cage in the suit. Cage eventually realized a version of this dream with a cameo as Superman in the 2023 film The Flash, where he is seen fighting a giant spider, a direct nod to the unproduced script. 

Walter Tyndale: The Virtuoso of Architectural Watercolors

Walter Tyndale (1855–1943) was a distinguished British watercolorist and author, renowned for his exquisite depictions of architecture, landscapes, and street scenes.

Born in Germany but later settling in England, Tyndale initially trained in the classical traditions of Antwerp and Paris. However, he eventually abandoned oil painting in favor of watercolor, a medium that allowed him to capture the nuanced interplay of light and shadow on ancient stone and bustling marketplaces.

Tyndale became a celebrated “traveler-artist,” venturing across Egypt, Japan, Italy, and the Middle East to document their vibrant cultures and historical monuments. His work is characterized by meticulous topographical accuracy blended with a warm, atmospheric quality, a style that made him a sought-after illustrator for high-end travel books like Below the Cataracts and An Artist in Egypt.

As a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI), Tyndale left behind a legacy of paintings that serve not only as beautiful works of art but as precise historical records of a world undergoing rapid change.

An Arab Market

A Bustling Street before a Minaret, Damascus

A Mosque Doorway

A Pot Market, Assisi

A Souk

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The 1904 Humber 8.5HP: A Milestone in Early British Motoring

The 1904 Humber 8.5HP Two-Cylinder Two-Seater stands as a quintessential example of the “Veteran” car era, reflecting the rapid engineering evolution at the turn of the 20th century. Produced by the renowned British manufacturer Humber Limited at their Beeston works, this model was celebrated for its robust build and reliability. Powered by a vertical twin-cylinder engine, the 8.5HP was a significant step up from the single-cylinder “voiturettes” of the time, offering a smoother and more capable driving experience for early motorists.

The design featured a classic open two-seater layout, often accompanied by the iconic “brass era” aesthetic: gleaming lamps, a prominent radiator, and leather upholstery. Its mechanical simplicity, featuring a three-speed gearbox and a leather-faced cone clutch, made it a favorite among doctors and professionals who required a dependable vehicle for daily use.

Humber marketed these vehicles at approximately £260 (about $1,260 at the time), targeting buyers who wanted more power than standard offerings provided. Today, these vehicles are highly prized by collectors and are iconic participants in the prestigious London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, serving as a living testament to the dawn of the automotive age.

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30 Stunning Portraits of a Very Young and Beautiful Lana Turner in the 1930s

Lana Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized personal life. In the 1930s, Turner transitioned from a teenage girl in poverty to a Hollywood sensation known as the “Sweater Girl.”

In 1936, 15-year-old Julia Jean Turner was a student at Hollywood High School. While skipping a typing class to buy a Coca-Cola at the Top Hat Malt Shop, she was spotted by William R. Wilkerson, publisher of The Hollywood Reporter. This chance encounter led to her being signed by director Mervyn LeRoy, who suggested she change her name to Lana. 

She made her screen debut in the 1937 film They Won’t Forget. Despite a small role, her appearance in a tight-fitting sweater earned her the nickname “The Sweater Girl,” a title she famously detested because it overemphasized her physical attributes. Originally signed to Warner Bros. for $50 a week, she followed LeRoy to MGM in 1938, where her career truly accelerated.

Born a brunette, Turner’s look was meticulously crafted by studios. In 1939, she bleached her hair blonde for the film Idiot’s Delight, a change that became her signature and led to her being dubbed the "Nightclub Queen" by the press.

By the end of the 1930s, she had moved from a $50-a-week contract to becoming a top-billed actress, setting the stage for her peak stardom as a femme fatale in the 1940s.

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30 Photos of James Dean as a Teenager in the 1940s

Long before he was the “Rebel Without a Cause,” James Dean was a quintessential small-town high schooler in 1940s Indiana. His teenage years were defined by a mix of athletic success, artistic experimentation, and a growing restless energy.

In the 1940s, Dean was a prominent figure at Fairmount High School, known more for his physical prowess than his brooding intensity. Despite being 5’8”, he was a star on the varsity basketball team, once scoring 15 of his team’s 34 points in a critical rivalry game. He played third base for four years and maintained a strong .333 batting average for his American Legion baseball team. He was also a county pole vault champion, setting a record that stood for years.

His interest in performing was nurtured by his high school drama teacher, Adeline Nall, who became a lifelong mentor. He participated in numerous school plays, famously portraying a “teenage Frankenstein” in a comedy review. He also competed in public speaking and forensics through the Indiana High School Forensic Association. He played the drums and was known to enjoy the bongos, a hobby that followed him into adulthood. 

The seeds of his “cool” persona were planted during these years in Fairmount. For his high school graduation, his uncle Marcus bought him a motorized bicycle, which Dean soon traded in for a motorcycle. He became known for performing daring stunts around town. Peers remembered him as popular but introspective, often preferring to daydream or spend time on his aunt and uncle's farm.

Dean graduated in May 1949 and moved back to California that summer, marking the end of his Indiana upbringing and the beginning of his journey toward Hollywood.

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Françoise Dorléac: The Spirit of 1960s French Cinema

Françoise Dorléac was a radiant force of nature who became a definitive icon of the French New Wave before her life was tragically cut short.

Known for her sharp wit, effortless elegance, and spirited energy, she delivered unforgettable performances in classics such as That Man from Rio and François Truffaut’s The Soft Skin. Perhaps her most cherished legacy is the 1967 musical The Young Girls of Rochefort, where she starred alongside her sister, Catherine Deneuve.

While Deneuve represented a cool, blonde detachment, Dorléac was the vibrant, brunette heart of the era, a whirlwind of talent and charm. Her untimely passing at the age of 25 remains one of cinema’s greatest losses, but she forever remains the quintessential spirit of 1960s French sophistication.

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That Time Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston Did an Advert for Windows 95

In 1995, at the peak of their Friends fame, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston starred in a 60-minute instructional video titled the Microsoft Windows 95 Video Guide. Marketed as the “world’s first cyber sitcom,” the production was released on VHS to teach users the basics of the new operating system.

The actors play themselves visiting Bill Gates' office to audition for a role in a Microsoft video guide. They are guided through the "top 25 features" of Windows 95, including the Start button, right-clicking, multitasking, and the Recycle Bin.

Along the way, they interact with a cast of eccentric characters, such as a “martial arts guru” and “Joystick Johnny,” who explain technical concepts like Plug and Play. The video features iconic era-specific moments, such as Aniston calling copy-pasting “trippy” and Perry learning how to send an email to a friend in a grunge band.

The tape was divided into three sections: the “cyber sitcom,” a step-by-step technical review, and a section answering the 20 most frequently asked questions.

It’s a fascinating piece of tech-marketing history, especially considering Windows 95 was the version that truly moved PCs into the mainstream.

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