Women’s Criminal Work: 1930s-40s Anonymous Female Mugshots From Los Angeles

These women appear to have been accused of just as impressive crimes. Arrested in Los Angeles for crimes as diverse as assault with a deadly weapon (gun), prostitution, procuring, hold up, embezzlement and burglary during the late 1930s and early 1940s, these women were processed by the “mechanism” without dignity–humanity–no longer identified as individuals but solely by their crimes.

The machine had taken over and what didn’t compute became criminal. The tone had been set when LAPD Chief James E. Davis set up the “Red Squad” in 1933 to target strikers, unions, communists–those defined as troublemaking employees. One Police Commissioner said at the time:

“The more the police beat them up and wreck their headquarters, the better. Communists have no Constitutional rights and I won’t listen to anyone who defends them.”

See more»

Stunning Black and White Portraits of Marilyn Monroe by Bert Stern

Here are some amazing photos of the beautiful Marilyn Monroe. They were taken by Bert Stern and were published in Marilyn Monroe: The Complete Last Sitting in 1992.

See more»

A Bad-Luck Guide to Friday the 13th

Friday 13th is considered by many superstitious people to be the unluckiest day. No one's sure what the exact origin of the superstition is but lots of people try to avoid doing certain things on this day.

Friday the 13th

Do you believe that Friday 13th is an unlucky day? Do you behave differently when it comes around? Do you have any other superstitions? Do you avoid walking under ladders or are you worried about bad luck if you break a mirror?

Be careful! On the unluckiest day of the year, watch out for these superstitious signs of bad luck.

1. Breaking a Mirror: Seven Years of Bad Luck

2. Putting Your Left Foot on the Floor When You First Wake Up

3. Walking Under a Ladder

4. Spilling Salt

5. Opening an Umbrella Indoors

See more»

20 Rare Photographs Captured Elizabeth Taylor's Life From Between the 1940s and 1960s

Here's a selection of some of rare and fascinating vintage photographs from LIFE magazine, captured daily life of Elizabeth Taylor from between the 1940s and 1960s, including shots from her very first wedding, when she was just 18 years old; from the sets of Giant and Cleopatra; from studio backlots (with her dear friend and soul mate, Montgomery Clift); and from her tumultuous romance with two-time husband and bigger-than-life star in is own right, Richard Burton.

In 1945, at age 13 and already a veteran of five films, Elizabeth Taylor signs autographs during a charity cricket match at Los Angeles' Gilmore Stadium. (Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor in 1947, age 15. (J. R. Eyerman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Liz Taylor gazes into the distance while wearing an "All America" sweatshirt, 1948; the pin she wears belonged to Glenn Davis, a 1946 Heisman Trophy-winner she was dating at the time. (Mark Kauffman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Taylor and her mother, Sara — a former stage actress — in 1948. (Mark Kauffman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor in 1948. (Mark Kauffman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

See more»

37 Amazing Photographs Capture Cosplayers at a Los Angeles Sci-Fi Convention From the 1980s

The photos in this gallery come to you courtesy of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society from the Westercon convention of 1980 and showing dressing up in sci-fi, fantasy or comic costumes was always a lot of fun.

Westercon, or West Coast Science Fantasy Conference, was founded back in 1948 and changes locations each year.

See more»

W. Eugene Smith’s Cinematic Photographs of a Country Doctor in 1948

For his 1948 feature Country Doctor, LIFE magazine photographer W. Eugene Smith spent 23 days in Kremmling, Colorado, shadowing general practitioner Ernest Ceriani. His powerful, intimate images capture in poignant detail the emotional and physical challenges faced by this modest, hard-working rural physician — and gradually reveal the inner workings and the outer trappings of what is clearly a uniquely rewarding life.

When first published, ‘Country Doctor’ was an instant classic, setting Smith firmly on a path as a master of the unique art form of the photoessay, and solidifying his status as one of the most passionate and influential photojournalists of the 20th century.

See more»

We Were So Much Older Then! Check Out These 24 Portrait Photos of Middle Aged Women From the 1960s

Is it our hair? Our makeup? Do our fitted jeans make the difference? Are our yoga and pilates classes more effective than we thought? Are we Botox-ing more than anyone will admit, or dyeing our hair at some kind of marathon pace? Why is it that middle-aged women today seem years and years younger than women of the same age from the 1960s?

Do you look at pictures of your mom when she was your age now and think she looks more like a grandmother than a young(ish) mother? Why is that? Was it how they wore their hair? Was it the style of clothing — how they always seemed to be in formal suits or dresses? Is their jewelry too heavy-looking, and did they wear too much of it? Did they simply hold themselves older?

Could our more youthful appearance be attributed to how so few women of our generation smoke cigarettes? How we get out of the house more than our moms did to pursue rewarding careers (and earn our own money to spend on beauty products)? Are our Spanx working better than their girdles? Do we simply feel more pressure to look better now then they did then?

Take a look at these 20 vintage photos of middle-aged women from the 1960s (courtesy of Retronaut.co) and try to discern why it is they look more like grandmas than moms. (And take note how — ironically — the one thing that makes all of the women in the photos look younger is their good-looking legs, which look good with the help of pantyhose. Pantyhose on a woman today, of course, would make her seem considerably older.)

See more»