In 17th-Century Iceland, a Pair of Necropants Were Made From a Dead Man’s Skin

In 17th-century Iceland, a pair of necropants, such as the one seen here on display at the Strandagaldur Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft, was believed to bring the owner an endless supply of money.

If you want to make your own necropants (literally; nábrók) you have to get permission from a living man to use his skin after his dead. After he has been buried you must dig up his body and flay the skin of the corpse in one piece from the waist down. As soon as you step into the pants they will stick to your own skin. A coin must be stolen from a poor widow and placed in the scrotum along with the magical sign, nábrókarstafur, written on a piece of paper.

Consequently the coin will draw money into the scrotum so it will never be empty, as long as the original coin is not removed. To ensure salvation the owner has to convince someone else to overtake the pants and step into each leg as soon as he gets out of it. The necropants will thus keep the money-gathering nature for generations.

40 Fabulous Cover Photos of Modern Screen Magazine in the 1930s and ’40s

Founded by the Dell Company of New York City it initially sold for 10 cents, Modern Screen was an American fan magazine that for over 50 years featured articles, pictorials and interviews with movie stars (and later television and music personalities).

Modern Screen covers in the 1930s and 1940s

Modern Screen magazine debuted on November 3, 1930, and quickly became popular and by 1933 it had become Photoplay magazine’s main competition. It began to brag on its cover that it had “The Largest Circulation of Any Screen Magazine”, and Jean Harlow is seen reading a copy of Modern Screen in the 1933 film Dinner at Eight.

During the early 1930s, the magazine featured artwork portraits of film stars on the cover. By 1940, it featured natural color photographs of the stars and was charging 15 cents per issue.

Contributors to the magazine included famed photographer George Hurrell and famed writers like Faith Baldwin. Louella Parsons wrote a column entitled “Good News.”

The magazine remained popular through the 1970s. In the early 1980s, however, the popularity of general interest celebrity publications like People magazine proved to be the end of old-fashioned movie fan magazines. Modern Screen became a bimonthly magazine, but in 1985 publication of the magazine ceased. 

Here below is a set of fabulous photos that shows covers of Modern Screen magazine in the 1930s and 1940s.

Miriam Hopkins on the cover of Modern Screen, March 1930

Norma Shearer on the cover of Modern Screen, December 1932

Kay Francis on the cover of Modern Screen, December 1933

Ruby Keeler on the cover of Modern Screen, August 1933

Sally Eilers on the cover of Modern Screen, June 1933

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Dead Coyote Teeth and Melted Toothbrushes Made Into Homemade Dentures, ca. 1900s

What would you do if you were living a meager life in the early 1900s in a remote mountain community and had lost all your teeth? Perhaps you’d count your pennies and go see a local dentist. Perhaps the closest dentist is in a town far away and you can’t afford the time or expense.

A gruesome artifact, now on display in the Eastern California Museum in Independence, seems to tell the story of a man who, in about 1930, found himself in this predicament. What he did is not just grotesque, but rather ironic as well.

He fashioned a set of dentures from the teeth of a dead coyote!

He made the now famous coyote dentures by melting celluloid from toothbrush handles, molding the mixture to the shape of his gums, then pressing the yellowed coyote teeth into the cast.

After years of wearing them, in 1946 a local dentist was so impressed with this ingenuity that he offered to make the man a professional set in exchange for the coyote dentures.

Pictures of American Teenagers in Heidelberg, Germany, 1947

In the late 1940s American girls (and boys) spice up Heidelberg, Germany in an unruly mix of saddle shoes and lederhosen. The locals gawk and gasp as young girls parade down the streets decked in men’s flannels, trousers and loafers. Shocking the Germans as they reappropriate various Heidelberg traditions into trendy accessories—old university caps, miniature Heidelberg sabersons, and military patches. American invasion!

 

American teenagers drink toast in small inn.

Army patches and German coats of arms, worn by American teenagers.

Still life at the Hercules fountain.

Two American students sauntering along a Heidelberg street, cause staid German women to look at them in wonderment.

American students silhouetted against sky, Schloss in background.

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Handsome Portrait Photos of Peter Lawford in the 1940s and ’50s

Born 1923 in London, English actor Peter Lawford made his Hollywood debut in a minor part in the film Lord Jeff starring Freddie Bartholomew.

Lawford’s first leading role came in Son of Lassie (1945), a big hit. He won a Modern Screen magazine readers’ poll as the most popular actor in Hollywood of 1946. He was top billed in some lower budgeted films: You for Me (1953), a comedy, The Hour of 13 (1953), a thriller and Rogue’s March (1953), a war film.

Lawford was a member of the “Rat Pack” and the brother-in-law of President John F. Kennedy and senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy. In later years, he was noted more for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting; it was said that he was “famous for being famous”.

Lawford died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve 1984, aged 61, from cardiac arrest. For his contribution to the television industry, Peter Lawford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6920 Hollywood Blvd.

Take a look at these vintage photos to see portrait of a young and handsome Peter Lawford in the 1940s and 1950s.

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Phone Number Sweater, 1971

Melanie Myers, a Los Angeles secretary, wears the latest fad — a made-to-order sweater with her telephone number knitted on the front — as three girl watchers take note.

(Carlisle Evening Sentinel – Sep. 30, 1971)

25 Stunning Photos Show Fashion Styles of a Young Dale Bozzio

Born 1955 in Medford, Massachusetts, American rock and pop vocalist Dale Bozzio is best known as co-founder and lead singer of the ’80s new wave band Missing Persons and for her work with Frank Zappa. While with Zappa, she performed significant roles in two of his major works, Joe’s Garage (1979) and Thing-Fish (1984). In her solo career, Bozzio has released four albums and one EP.

Bozzio co-founded Missing Persons in 1980 with former Zappa musicians Warren Cuccurullo and Terry Bozzio (her husband from 1979 to 1986). In addition to being the band’s lead vocalist, she also contributed lyrics. Missing Persons released one EP and six albums, including Spring Session M (1982), which achieved gold record status.

After Missing Persons disbanded in 1986, Bozzio was signed to Prince’s Paisley Park label which released her first solo album, Riot in English (1988). She subsequently reformed Missing Persons and continues to perform the band’s repertoire at venues across the United States. She has also participated periodically in reunions of the original band and has continued her work as a solo artist.

In 2014, Bozzio was signed to Cleopatra Records and released a new studio album titled Missing in Action. During the summer of 2014, she signed with GRA Records for a new album to be produced by Stephan DeReine.

Take a look at these stunning photos to see fashion styles of a young Dale Bozzio in the 1980s.

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