A Young Robert De Niro Photographed in 1963 for Brian De Palma’s “The Wedding Party” (1969)

Robert De Niro made his film debut in the movie The Wedding Party (1969), although it was actually filmed earlier in 1963 and released later. Many people associate De Niro’s early breakthrough with Greetings (1968), also directed by Brian De Palma, because it was released earlier and gained more attention. His career truly exploded after Mean Streets (1973) with Martin Scorsese, beginning one of the most famous actor–director collaborations in film history.

The Wedding Party is an American independent black-and-white comedy farce co-directed, written, produced, and edited by Brian De Palma, Wilford Leach, and Cynthia Munroe. It was shot in 1963 (on a budget of about $43,000) as a collaborative project involving Sarah Lawrence College theater professor Leach and two of his students (De Palma and Munroe). Due to a legal dispute over rights and final cut, it was not released until April 9, 1969, in New York City, after De Palma’s Greetings (1968) and after Robert De Niro had started gaining notice. The on-screen copyright year is 1966. It was later distributed by companies including Troma Entertainment and Ajay Film Company.

The film follows Charlie (Charles Pfluger), a young groom who arrives at the wealthy Fish family’s estate on Shelter Island, New York, two days before his wedding to Josephine (Jill Clayburgh). He is accompanied by his groomsmen and friends Cecil (Robert De Niro) and Alistair (William Finley).

Charlie quickly develops cold feet amid the eccentric, judgmental relatives, social rituals, and pressures of the pre-wedding events (stag party, rehearsal, dinner, etc.). His friends encourage him to bail, and he considers sabotage or other ways out, while the story satirizes wedding etiquette and social pretensions (including title cards quoting a fictional etiquette book, “The Compleat Bridegroom”). The tone is manic, experimental, and influenced by the French New Wave and Richard Lester-style comedy, with quick cuts, speeded-up sequences, and an improvisational feel.

It is an early, formative work for De Palma (he later noted realizing on this set that he knew more about filmmaking than his mentor Leach) and marks the screen debuts of De Niro and Clayburgh, plus early appearances by future De Palma collaborators Finley and Salt. It is often viewed as a messy but interesting precursor to De Palma’s later style and as a historical curiosity rather than a polished classic.

Robys (Robert Wolff): The Art Deco Master of French Advertising Posters

Robys, the professional name of Robert Wolff (1916–1995), was a French poster artist celebrated for his bold and colorful advertising designs.

Active primarily from the late 1920s through the 1950s, Robys created striking lithographic posters for wines, aperitifs, and consumer products, including brands such as Kina Lillet, Toni-Kola, Monsoleil, and Union. His work is marked by strong compositions, vivid colors, and a playful Art Deco elegance that captured the spirit of mid-century French commercial art.

Today, Robys’s posters remain highly regarded for their graphic energy, charm, and lasting visual appeal. These vibrant vintage posters showcase the dynamic Art Deco style of Robys, a true master of French advertising design.

Monsoleil, Léger, fin, délicat, circa 1929

Vals Saint-Jean, Eau Minerale Naturelle, circa 1920s

Adelshoffen, la bière fine d'Alsace, circa 1930

Baby L’Ange, Toute La Layette, circa 1930

Les Graines Vivantes VITA, Tous Jardiniers, circa 1930

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40 Photos of a Beautiful Julie Newmar in the 1960s

In the 1960s, Julie Newmar (born Julia Chalene Newmeyer; August 16, 1933) became an indelible pop culture icon, defining the decade's fusion of space-age glamour, high camp, and female empowerment. Already an accomplished Broadway dancer and Tony Award winner, she reached global stardom on television by delivering a masterclass in seductive, witty, and physically imposing performances.

Before putting on the catsuit, she starred as Rhoda Miller, a sophisticated female android, in this sci-fi CBS sitcom My Living Doll (1964–1965). Leveraging her classical dance training, she perfectly executed the rigid, emotionless movements required of a robot, which she considered some of her finest and most challenging acting work.

Her most famous role came as the villainous love interest in the campy ABC hit series Batman. Appearing in just 13 episodes over the first two seasons (1966–1967), her sultry chemistry with Adam West's Batman permanently defined the character. She even famously customized her skintight black Lurex bodysuit, lowering the belt to emphasize her hips, creating a look later preserved by the Smithsonian Institution.

Her unique, statuesque presence (standing 5'11") made her a highly sought-after guest star. She memorably played the pregnant tribal queen Eleen in the 1967 Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Friday’s Child,” and made appearances on hit shows like Get Smart, The Twilight Zone, The Monkees, and Bewitched.

She spent the early 1960s starring in major national theatrical tours, playing the ultimate seductress Lola in Damn Yankees (1961) and the title character in Irma la Douce (1965). At the end of the decade, she stepped away from Batman to star in the Western adventure film Mackenna’s Gold (1969).

Beyond her acting, Newmar’s sharp intellect saw her emerge as an early fashion innovator; she actually patented a precursor to shaping pantyhose during this era, paving the way for her second career as a multi-millionaire real estate entrepreneur and lingerie designer.

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Albert Einstein Driving a ‘Flying’ Car With His Wife Elsa (1931)

On February 3, 1931, Albert Einstein and his second wife, Elsa, visited the Warner Bros. First National studio lot in California. This home movie footage captures the famous physicist, who never actually learned to drive, playfully getting behind the wheel of a car on a soundstage while utilizing early rear-projection special effects.

Einstein and Elsa toured the active Warner Bros. lot, where he received demonstrations on sound recording and early cinematic special effects. Footage shows Einstein in the driver’s seat with Elsa as a passenger, pretending to drive past projected backdrops in a practical effects demonstration.

The rare silent film was rediscovered decades later in boxes belonging to a co-inventor of Kodakcolor and premiered publicly 87 years after it was shot.

Anne Helm: Charming Star of 1960s Film and Television

Born 1938, Canadian actress Anne Helm is best known for her work in American film and television during the 1960s. She gained wide recognition for playing Elvis Presley’s love interest in the 1962 musical comedy Follow That Dream.

With her fresh-faced beauty and natural charm, Helm appeared in several films of the decade, including The Interns and Honeymoon Hotel, while also becoming a familiar guest star on numerous popular television series. Later in her career she had a recurring role on the soap opera General Hospital and eventually turned to writing children’s books under the name Annie Helm.

These vintage photos capture the youthful charm and classic appeal of Anne Helm, a memorable face of 1960s Hollywood and television.

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Madonna and Emmy and the Emmys

Emmy and the Emmys (also known simply as Emmy) was the short-lived, pre-fame post-punk and ska band formed by Madonna in New York City around 1979–1980.

After moving to New York City in 1978 to pursue dance, Madonna played drums, guitar, and sang in the band Breakfast Club (with then-boyfriend Dan Gilroy and others). She left that group around 1980, ended the relationship with Gilroy, and formed Emmy with her former Michigan boyfriend and collaborator Stephen Bray (drums). Other members included Gary Burke (bass) and Mike Monahan (guitar), with a rotating cast. The name came from Madonna’s nickname at the time, “Emmy.”

The band played a post-punk (described by Madonna as “deranged punk with minimal funk”), performed low-paying gigs at New York venues such as Max’s Kansas City, the Roxy, Botany Talk House, My Father’s Place, and Chase Park, and recorded demos. A notable four-song studio demo was recorded on November 30, 1980, and distributed on cassettes around the city. Tracks included “(I Like) Love for Tender,” “No Time for Love,” “Bells Ringing,” and “Drowning” (an early version that later evolved into Madonna’s solo track “Burning Up”). Other associated material included early takes related to songs like “Everybody” and “Ain’t No Big Deal.”

The group was active roughly 1980–1981 and did not release an official album. Madonna left to pursue a solo career; she was signed by manager Camille Barbone (Gotham Records/Management) in 1981, who focused on Madonna individually rather than the full band. Her songwriting partnership with Bray continued successfully into her solo work, including hits like “Into the Groove” and “Angel.”

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Love in the Jazz Age: 40 Charming Vintage Photos of 1920s Couples

These charming vintage photos capture the romance and spirit of couples during the Jazz Age of the 1920s. From elegant formal portraits to candid moments of affection, the images reflect the changing social atmosphere of the decade: a time of greater freedom, modern fashion, and youthful optimism.

Whether posing in stylish flapper dresses and sharp suits or sharing quiet, intimate glances, these couples embody the charm and energy of an era defined by music, dance, and new possibilities in love and life.

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