Some gorgeous 1950s swimsuit models who don’t seem quite sure which camera they should be smiling at… Source and copyright: No known copyright restrictions
1950s swimsuit models
1950s
After the hardships of the wartime years, the 1950s exploded in a riot of colour. Women embraced the hourglass figure of Christian Dior’s ‘New Look’ and wore big petticoats to make their skirts larger, and for the first time teenagers developed their own fun sense of style.
Lucille Ball dressed as a fat clown
I’ve accidentally inflicted a bit of a clown-themed day on you today, what with Cho Cho the nightmarish children’s health clown from earlier. What can I say (except sorry)? Here’s Lucille Ball dressed as a fat clown. Have a great weekend everyone!
Marilyn Monroe in The Prince and the Showgirl
Marilyn Monroe‘s promotional photos from the 1957 movie The Prince and the Showgirl. You can see she was on-screen dynamite can’t you? [4 photos]
Roger Moore doing something with a goat…
Roger Moore photographed doing something with a goat, although I can’t quite work out what. Are they sharing a carrot…? Answers on a postcard please!
Naked 1950s girls (and a boy) in gold body paint
Well that’s got your eyes open on this early Tuesday morning (or Monday night depending on where you are in the world)! These golden Parisienne dancers were photographed in 1955. I’m hoping that the gold body paint wasn’t lead-based! And in case you were wondering guys looked equally good in gold body paint too (see(…)
Esther Williams: So long and thanks for all the fish
I’m a bit late to the party on this one, but I couldn’t leave the occasion unmarked. Last week (on June 6th) swimmer and movie star Esther Williams died in her sleep at the age of 91 in California. I have happy memories of watching re-runs of Esther Williams movies growing up. The first time(…)
Zsa Zsa Gabor
The incredibly beautiful and regal-looking Zsa Zsa Gabor photographed by her studio in 1955. Stunning eh? Having said that I’ve never seen a single movie with Zsa Zsa Gabor in it, have you?
Young girl in a knitted 1950s bikini
A young girl wearing a knitted 1950s bikini top and shorts. The photos were taken in Leipzig in 1950. How on earth does a knitted bikini top not stretch out of shape when she comes out of the water..?? [2 photos]
Lucille Ball as Marlene Dietrich
Lucille Ball dressed as Marlene Dietrich from the TV show Here’s Lucy. In this episode, Carter decides to have a benefit show at the employment agency and Lucy does a Marlene Dietrich imitation. What do you think, does she make a good Marlene Dietrich?
Quotes: Ingrid Bergman on kissing
A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous Ingrid Bergman
A young glamorous Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor looking fabulously glamorous in a studio publicity portrait circa 1955.
Elizabeth Taylor, Mike Todd and their baby
Isn’t this the most gorgeous photograph? I don’t remember looking quite that beautiful and serene when I had a newborn baby, but then I’m no Liz Taylor! The photo is of Taylor and her husband Mike Todd with baby Liza from who was born in August 1957. Within six months Mike Todd was killed in(…)
Rex Harrison lurking in the background
Oh what I crush I had on Rex Harrison… Here he is photographed with his wife, German actress Lilli Palmer in 1950. I like the way this photo has been composed, the way she’s lost in her own little world and he’s gazing adoringly at her from the background. Having said that he was married(…)
Rex Harrison getting up close and personal
After a childhood spent watching My Fair Lady over and over again I almost find it a bit shocking to see a photo of Rex Harrison not only getting a bit up close and personal, but with another woman! Perhaps I loved that movie a bit too much… but in my eyes Audrey Hepburn is(…)
Lilli Palmer in a novelty jumper 1950s
A publicity photo of Broadway actress Lilli Palmer from 1957 (check that lovely hand position!). If I were having an important photo taken I’m not sure I’d choose quite such a novelty one. Are they cockerels on the front of her cardigan or strange mutant spiders…?
Model with llamas from 1950s Harpers Bazaar
“Fashion model with llamas, Cusco, Peru”, a fashion photograph by Toni Frissell for Harper’s Bazaar, January 1952.
Elizabeth Taylor with short hair in a leopard print swimsuit
Elizabeth Taylor with short hair in a leopard print swimsuit. This photo is a publicity photo from film The Last Time I Saw Paris in 1954. I’m not sure I’ve seen her with such short hair before but she looks absolutely knock-out doesn’t she?
The drug culture of Hollywood’s golden age
The movie-going public adored the image of glitz and glamour presented to them by their favorite Hollywood stars in the first half of the 20th Century, but many of them were hiding dark secrets. The use of illegal (and legal) drugs was widespread and several well-known faces dabbled in narcotics. In some cases drug use(…)