1930s

How The World Looked When Airships Filled The Sky

How The World Looked When Airships Filled The Sky

The airship industry effectively died with the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, but for 80 or so years previously the dream of lighter-than-air travel had gradually been becoming a reality. The sight of airships were becoming less of a novelty and were seen in the sky’s across Europe and North America. In truth though, by the(…)

Risqué Nose Art from WW2 Bombers (NSWF)

Risqué Nose Art from WW2 Bombers (NSWF)

Nose art on airplanes first became popular during WW1 when German airmen (or rather their ground-crews) started painting a mouth and teeth onto nose cones, rather like Moby Dick below. In fact a shark-face design is still painted on nose-cones of military aircraft today. During World War II the military didn’t allow nose-art, but was(…)

Back When Everybody Smoked…

Back When Everybody Smoked…

More and more smokers are becoming social pariahs. They have to stand on the street in the rain outside restaurants, bars, pubs and even their own cars (if their kids are inside). And while I don’t mind this, being a non-smoker, it does strike me as strange that in years gone by smoking was seen(…)

Scream Queens: Elsa Lanchester

Scream Queens: Elsa Lanchester

You might not recognize the name Elsa Lanchester, but you’ll definitely recognize her in her most famous role: as the Bride of Frankenstein.  Actually that film title always annoyed me, since Frankenstein was the scientist, not the monster, but anyhoo… Here she is looking spectacular: Born in 1902 Lanchester worked in theater and film for(…)

Iconic Wedding Dresses #1: Wallis Simpson (1937)

Iconic Wedding Dresses #1: Wallis Simpson (1937)

The wedding of Wallis Simpson to Edward, Duke of Windsor in 1937 was one of the most scandalous marriages of the 20th Century.  In order to marry ‘the woman I love’ who was an American 2-time divorcee and therefore seen as totally unsuitable to become Queen, King Edward VIII was forced to abdicate the throne.

Queen Elizabeth II in the 1930s, 40s and 50s

Queen Elizabeth II in the 1930s, 40s and 50s

Tomorrow Queen Elizabeth II overtakes Queen Victoria as the longest serving monarch in British History.  I was born in the 1970s so she’s always seemed very much an older woman to me, so I thought it might be nice to see some photos of her as a young woman. I particularly love the photos of(…)

What 1930 Looked Like in the Movies

What 1930 Looked Like in the Movies

1930 bridged the gap between the decadent 1920s and the introduction and enforcement of the Hayes Motion Picture Code which cracked down on immorality, nudity and general fun at the movies*. Here are some of the films released in this year. They range from the sublime to the ridiculous and from racy to glamorous not(…)

Amazing Costumes from the Folies Bergère in the 1920s and 30s

Amazing Costumes from the Folies Bergère in the 1920s and 30s

I should probably point out that this might not be suitable for viewing at work. It’s not terribly risque, but there are some photos of 1920s topless showgirls, so I guess it depends on what you classify for NSFW, and I don’t want to get anyone into trouble! The Folies Bergère opened in Paris in(…)

10 Classic Hollywood Stars Before They Were Famous

10 Classic Hollywood Stars Before They Were Famous

We all know that the Studio System of 30s, 40s and 50s Hollywood remade and remoulded their actors and actresses, but what did they look like before they were styled by the star factory? Here are some of my favourite Classic Hollywood actresses before they were famous. Who do you think had the biggest transformation?(…)

A Moment in Time: Skirts Blowing in the Wind 1930

A Moment in Time: Skirts Blowing in the Wind 1930

I thought this photo was delightful, there’s something delicious about seeing little glimpses back in time. It looks like neither these women nor the ships officer knew this photo was being taken and I love the way the ladies are both trying to stop their skirts from flying up in the breeze.  It’s so much(…)

1930s French Paper Dolls: Les Robes De Suzy (Printable)

1930s French Paper Dolls: Les Robes De Suzy (Printable)

Doesn’t every girl love paper dolls? I always loved them as a child and these are delightful! They were published in a French magazine and I’m guessing by the fashions that they’re from the 1930s. Suzy has a truly amazing wardrobe which I’m very jealous of – I particularly adore the dress with all the(…)

Whatever Happened to the WAMPAS Baby Stars?

Whatever Happened to the WAMPAS Baby Stars?

What on earth were the WAMPAS Baby Stars you might well ask? Well, if you lived in 1920s and 30s America you would have been very much aware of this campaign. It was run by the United States Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers (WAMPAS) who picked a lucky group of young actresses every year(…)

Vintage Scream Queens: Fay Wray

Vintage Scream Queens: Fay Wray

Fay Wray is perhaps the most famous of all the early scream queens because of her role as Ann Darrow in King Kong. She began her career aged just 19 in 1926 as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars (actresses who the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers thought were on the threshold of movie(…)

What Hallowe’en Used To Look Like

What Hallowe’en Used To Look Like

I love the different Hallowe’en costumes in these photos, although being British I always find it strange to see people dressing in ‘regular’ fancy dress during Hallowe’en. Here we just wear spooky costumes (ghosts, skeletons etc) whereas in America any kind of fancy dress seems fine. Anyone know why? I have no idea but I’d(…)

Obscure Beauty Contests from the Past

Obscure Beauty Contests from the Past

Boy have there been some strange beauty contests over the years! These photos include the contestants for ‘Miss Psywar’ (doesn’t that stand for Phsychological Warfare…?), ‘Miss War Worker’ and ‘Miss Bobbed Hair 1925’…

1930s Screen Icons: Myrna Loy

1930s Screen Icons: Myrna Loy

Myrna Loy is perhaps known best for her roles as femme fatale in silent movies. Because of her exotic beauty she was often cast in the role of Asian or Eurasian characters but later became a popular female lead in romantic comedies where she was frequently paired with William Powell and Clark Gable. Here are(…)

5 Photos Which Prove the 1930s Were Impossibly Stylish*

5 Photos Which Prove the 1930s Were Impossibly Stylish*

The 1930s are a decade which haven’t really had a popular revival in the same way that the other decades of the 20th Century have. Pretty much anyone can tell you what a 1920s flapper looked like, or a 1950s circle skirt or a 1960s Mary Quant mini dress but quite often if you mention(…)