Teal Traina: Elegant Mid-Century American Fashion

Teal Traina (1917–2002) was an influential American fashion manufacturer and Seventh Avenue executive known for his sophisticated ready-to-wear and eveningwear collections from the late 1950s through the 1970s.

After working with the prestigious Traina-Norell label, Traina launched his own company, Traina Inc., in 1959. He was particularly admired for his talent in discovering and mentoring young designers, most notably Geoffrey Beene, who designed for the house before establishing his own label.

With elegant, well-crafted designs that appeared frequently in major fashion magazines, the Teal Traina label became a respected name in mid-century American fashion. These sophisticated designs showcase the refined style and craftsmanship of Teal Traina, a respected name in mid-century American ready-to-wear and evening fashion.

Model in elongated evening dress plaided in black and white paillettes from throat to hem with black satin shoestring tie looping the waist by Teal Traina, photo by Lillian Bassman, Harper's Bazaar, November 1960

Model in black cocktail dress, worked like a halter on top and cut to a deep V in back in blend of Orlon and silk by Teal Traina, photo by Saul Leiter, Harper's Bazaar, October 1960

Model in dinner dress of jersey covered in shimmering flowers gilded with silvery Lurex threads and trimmed in sable by Teal Traina, photo by Saul Leiter, Harper's Bazaar, November 1961

Nena von Schlebrugge in dazzling white cotton crêpe dress by Teal Traina, white organdie hat by Halston made to order at Bergdorf Goodman, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, July 1, 1962

Suzy Parker in sea-shell white bias-cut silk tubular shift by Teal Traina, hat by Lilly Daché, earrings by DeMaria, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, June 1962

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Fascinating Photos of a Young Ronnie Spector at Home in 1970

Veronica Yvette Greenfield (née Bennett; August 10, 1943 – January 12, 2022), known professionally as Ronnie Spector, was an American singer. Regarded as the “bad girl of rock and roll,” she achieved international fame for founding and fronting the girl group the Ronettes.

After marrying record producer Phil Spector in 1968, Ronnie was forced out of the spotlight. By 1970, she was living inside their heavily guarded Beverly Hills mansion under tyrannical control. Phil restricted her contact with friends, fellow musicians, and the outside world. He went as far as hiding her shoes so she could not wander outside. In 1969, the couple adopted their first son, Donté. In late 1971, Phil unexpectedly adopted twin boys (Louis and Gary) without her prior knowledge as a “surprise Christmas gift.”

While Phil Spector was in London working on Let It Be and George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass in 1970, Ronnie saw a brief opportunity to record again. Harrison wrote “Try Some, Buy Some” specifically for Ronnie to record on Apple Records. In February 1971, Ronnie flew to London to record the single at Abbey Road Studios with production from Harrison and Phil. Released in April 1971, the track charted modestly on the Billboard Hot 100, but Phil withheld a planned follow-up solo album.

Realizing her life was in danger, Ronnie fled the mansion in 1972 bare-footed with the help of her mother, leaving behind all her possessions. She officially divorced Phil in 1974, re-formed the Ronettes with new members, and later launched her solo comeback in the mid-1970s alongside artists like Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel.

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Pat Crowley: Charming Star of Mid-Century Film and Television

Pat Crowley (1933–2025) was an American actress known for her warm personality and fresh-faced beauty in films and television of the 1950s and ’60s.

Crowley began her career on Broadway before making her Hollywood debut, earning a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year for her roles in Forever Female (1953) and Money from Home (1953). She appeared opposite stars such as Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Tony Curtis, and later found lasting success on television, most notably as Joan Nash in the sitcom Please Don’t Eat the Daisies.

With her natural charm and wholesome appeal, Crowley remained a familiar and beloved presence on screen for decades. These vintage photographs beautifully capture the warm charm and classic beauty of Pat Crowley, a memorable star of mid-century Hollywood and television.

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In 1982, Knickerbocker Released the E.T. Finger Light Toy Which Was Quickly Removed From Stores

The 1982 E.T. Finger Light by Knickerbocker Toy Co. is one of the most infamous movie tie-in merchandise failures in toy history. Released to capitalize on the massive success of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the toy was pulled from store shelves just months after its launch due to intense controversy over its design.

It was designed to let children ages 4 and up mimic E.T.’s famous glowing, healing fingertip. Carried under model number 4111, it consisted of a flesh-colored, textured rubber extension that fit over a child’s finger. When pressed down against a surface, an internal, non-replaceable battery would trigger a light bulb at the tip, causing it to glow. The packaging proudly advertised: “Finger Glows When Pressed!”

While intended as an innocent piece of movie magic, the toy’s shape, rubberized texture, and phallic appearance immediately raised eyebrows among parents. Adults heavily criticized the toy for unintentionally resembling an adult novelty product rather than a children’s plaything. Due to the immediate wave of complaints, awkward parental backlash, and public mockery, retailers quickly removed the product from shelves and discontinued it after only a few months in production. Coincidentally, the manufacturing company, Knickerbocker Toy Co., went out of business that very same year, in 1982.

50 Vintage Color Slides Capturing People at Homes in the 1960s

These vintage color slides offer a warm and intimate glimpse into everyday life inside American homes during the 1960s. From family gatherings in living rooms to quiet moments in kitchens and bedrooms, the images capture the clothing, furniture, décor, and domestic atmosphere of the era.

With their soft colors and candid quality, these found slides preserve the simple routines, fashion, and interior styles that defined mid-century home life, providing a nostalgic window into a bygone decade.

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28 Amazing Photographs of Melanie Griffith on the Set of “Something Wild” (1986)

Melanie Griffith had a positive, collaborative experience on the set of Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild (1986), where she played the free-spirited Audrey “Lulu” Hankel opposite Jeff Daniels. Demme pictured her in the role from his first reading of the script, impressed by her bold performance in Brian De Palma’s Body Double (1984). She was the first actor offered the part.

Filming took place mainly from March to May 1986, largely in Tallahassee, Florida (and nearby areas such as Quincy and Havana for key scenes like the liquor store, motels, and reunion), with additional work in New York and New Jersey. The production operated on a relatively modest budget and emphasized spontaneity, Demme often avoided heavy rehearsals or storyboarding, letting actors explore scenes on location.

Griffith contributed creatively. She helped shape Lulu’s striking early look (the black Louise Brooks-style bob wig and layers of bold, eclectic jewelry sourced from a New York store called Craft Caravan). Demme later praised her as a hard worker full of ideas who took ownership of the character. She also had informal input on casting the role of her character’s volatile ex-husband: after a bad experience with another actor, she recommended Ray Liotta (a fellow student from her acting class), which helped him land the part that launched his film career.

She has spoken warmly about the production. In a 1986 interview, she called Demme “very special” for being supportive, he even visited her in the hospital while she was pregnant, and for “set[ting] his actors free,” helping her feel she could take bold chances. In a later interview she recalled the shoot as “great” and “fun,” noting that it was filmed mostly in sequence and that working with Demme and Daniels was excellent. The role itself was a creative high point for her and helped revive her career after earlier ups and downs.

Griffith’s magnetism on set translated into immense critical acclaim. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress and directly paved the way for her iconic, Oscar-nominated starring role in 1988’s Working Girl.

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Stunning Portraits of 18-Year-Old Whitney Houston From Her First Ever Photoshoot Before Fame, 1982

In February 1982, photographer Jack Mitchell conducted what is widely regarded as Whitney Houston’s first professional photoshoot. She was 18 and a senior in high school at the time. The session took place in Mitchell’s Manhattan studio and was arranged by someone connected to her mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston. It was originally intended for the entertainment magazine After Dark but the photos were never published then. Mitchell later described it as “a routine thing.” He shot 13 rolls of film on a medium-format camera over roughly two hours.

Whitney arrived straight from high school in the clothes she had worn that day. While waiting (her mother’s manager was running late), she asked if she could do her homework; Mitchell agreed, noting he had never had that happen before or since.

She had no makeup artist, hair stylist, or entourage. Mitchell, more accustomed to “highly glazed” celebrities like Donna Summer, was surprised by the simplicity. He described her as “an innocent, sweet, pleasant schoolgirl with very good manners.” The shoot was sometimes an “uphill situation” because she was not camera-ready or particularly savvy, though she responded well to direction. He did not see obvious stardom written on her face at the time: “The pictures I made of her were not her subsequent polished image. Mine were just simple images.” He believed these were among her first professional photographs, taken while she was still singing in a church choir and occasionally performing with her mother.

The black and white portraits show a fresh-faced, natural-looking young woman in casual or simple attire (including turtlenecks and everyday school clothes), often in straightforward or profile poses against plain studio backgrounds. They contrast sharply with the glamorous, highly styled images of her later career. The negatives remained in Mitchell’s files for about 30 years until he released them following her death in February 2012.

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