Intriguing Vintage Photos Sure To Get Your Heart Pumping...
November 17, 2022
Christie Brinkley in a sexy swimsuit in the 1970s.
Christie Brinkley, one of the biggest supermodels of the 1970s and 1980s, was a California surfer girl studying art in Paris when an American photograph spotted her and asked her to pose for him. Those photos landed her a contract with Elite Model Management and her career quickly took off. She was the first model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in three consecutive years, 1979, 1980, and 1981. She graced the pages of this publication numerous times, rocking tiny bikinis like this one. Her face has been on more than 500 magazine covers throughout her career.
Greta Garbo in a very revealing pose on the 1931 spy film 'Mata Hari' - Yikes, I'll tell you everything!
The 1931 film Mata Hari, about the real-life exotic dancer, courtesan, and World War I spy, was made prior to the enforcement of the Hays Code, the movie industry’s guidelines for self-censorship against inappropriate content. That means the film’s star, Greta Garbo, could be asked to wear revealing and provocative costumes like this sheer negligee. Even though Mata Hari was Garbo’s most successful film, portions of it were censored out after the Hays Code came out in the mid-1930s. Today, the only versions of the movie that remain are the edited and censored ones. Scene in which Garbo wore this negligee were cut as was most of her seductive, nearly-nude dance of the veils.
Handsome, Debonaire, Shirtless Pierce Brosnan in the 1980s
Irish Pierce Brosnan became a 1980s heartthrob when he starred as the title character in the romantic detective television series, Remington Steele. He was handsome and debonaire, a great combination. The Washington Post suggested that the Brosnan would make a great “young James Bond.” Folks in Hollywood thought so, too. Albert R. Broccoli, the producer for the James Bond films, said, “if he can act, he’s my guy.” Update … he could act. Brosnan played the iconic spy in the 1995 GoldenEye, the 1997 Tomorrow Never Dies, the 1999 The World Is Not Enough, and the 2002 Die Another Day.
Pamela Tiffin in 1966
Talk about a lucky break … Pretty Pamela Tiffin was on vacation with her family when they took a tour of Hollywood’s Paramount Pictures. The 19-year-old was spotting by a movie producer who gave her a screen test right on the spot. The studio liked what they saw and offer Tiffin a role in their upcoming film, Summer and Smoke, which was released in 1961. After she appeared in the comedy, One, Two, Three with James Cagney, the film’s director, Billy Wilder, called Tiffin “the biggest find since Audrey Hepburn.” And all I got when I toured Paramount was a t-shirt from the gift shop.
Young Marilyn Monroe in 1948
Before she was Marilyn Monroe the international sex symbol, she was Norma Jean, a struggling model trying to make ends meet. From 1946 to 1950, he paid her $10 per hour to pose for him in various states of undress. Moran used the photos as the basis for his hand-drawn pinup illustrations, but he also sold the images to others, including Playboy magazine and a calendar printing company. Those photos came back to haunt her years later when she was a big star. But she handled it by telling the truth … that she was young and broke and needed money and that the photos were sold without her permission.
Glamorous photo of the beautiful Allison Hayes in the 1950s.
Pretty Allison Hayes struggled to land big roles in major Hollywood films in the 1950s, though her performances in smaller roles were generally well received. In 1958, she had the lead role in the B movie, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, playing a neurotic socialite who, thanks to space aliens, becomes a giant who goes on a rampage searching for her abusive, cheating husband. When movie roles didn’t come her way, Hayes earned a living as a model, posing for peekaboo cheesecake photos like this one to help pay her rent.
College Days in the 1980s
College life in the 1980s didn’t include iPhones, laptops, virtual reality goggles, and Zoom classes like today’s college experience. There is one thing that hasn’t changed … hot co-eds. While young men and women go to college to get more knowledge, there are some red-blooded extracurricular activities that take place, along with football games, cramming for exams, and rushing sororities. This young lady looks like she is taking advantage of the sunny weather to do some outdoor studying, but she may also be coyly playing the field.
Playmate Miss January 1979 Candy Loving
Yes, her real name is Candy Loving. In 1978, she was married to her high school sweetheart and a junior at the University of Oklahoma when Playboy magazine announced that it was running a Great Playmate Hunt in honor of its 25th anniversary. Her husband convinced her to enter. Seven months later, she learned that she beat out nearly 4,000 other models to win the contest. As Miss January 1979, her centerfold graced the pages of that issue and Loving was sent around the world as Playboy’s 25th anniversary Playmate Ambassador, hosting promo events are various gentlemen’s clubs. Afterward, she tried her hand at acting, but decided to resume her college studies instead.
Cybill Shepherd in TV's "Moonlighting" (1985)
A teenaged pageant queen, Cybil Shepherd also won a modeling contest and worked as a model throughout college before making the move to acting. She made her film debut in the 1971 drama, The Last Picture Show, which also starred Jeff Bridges. She also appeared in The Heartbreak Kid, Taxi Driver, and Woody Allen’s Alice. In the mid-1980s, she starred in the hit television detective comedy, Moonlighting, with an up-and-coming actor named Bruce Wiis. She won two Golden Globes for this series and, wearing dresses like this, showed her fans that she was still as hot and beautiful as she was when she was a teen model.
Debbie Harry on stage in the mid-1970s.
Punk queen Debbie Harry was never afraid to do things her way. In the early 1970s, she worked as a go-go dancer and a Playboy bunny before she caused a stir with her New Age brand of music. Much of her stage appeal had to do with her style. Debbie Harry was different than everyone else and refused to be a cookie-cutter version of what a rock star should be. She was not just musically talented. She had creativity juices coursing through her veins. She wore her blonde hair in flirty styles with splashes of color, wore her eye makeup in an innovative way, and wore clothes that were fun, fresh, and fashionable.
Jayne Mansfield - the pinup queen of the 1950s & 1960s in a photo shoot
As you can see in this photo, actress, singer, and pinup model Jayne Mansfield was a major sex symbol in the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1963, Mansfield was the first major American performer to do a nude scene in a post-silent era film when she appeared in the sex comedy Promise! Promises! Mansfield was also a Playboy Playmate and was rumored to have been romantically linked to many prominent and powerful men, including both John and Robert Kennedy. She was married and divorce three times and had five children, including actress Mariska Hargitay.
TV superstar Morgan Fairchild in the 1970s.
Morgan Fairchild built a pretty good career making guest appearances in popular television shows of the 1980s and 1990s. She was in episodes of Simon & Simon, The Love Boat, Magnum P.I., Hotel, and more. She was in one season of the primetime soap opera Falcon Crest and in the television miniseries North and South. In 1984, she teamed up with Joan Collins to co-hosted a special TV variety show called Blondes & Brunettes. Throughout the show, she was the butt of a series of blonde jokes that poked fun at the stereotyped dumb blonde.
Yvonne Craig "Batgirl" and "Green Hottie on Star Trek" looking awesome in the 1960s.
Yvonne Craig was a classically trained ballerina who became the youngest member of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo’s corps de ballet. When she left the ballet company in 1957, she moved to LA to continue her dance career. Instead, she landed movie roles. In September 1967, she was cast as Barbara Gordon and her alter ego, Batgirl, in the Batman TV series. She drew upon her dance background to help her with the stunts and fight scenes in the show, but she had to learn to drive Batgirl’s purple motorcycle for the show.
Brighton Swimming Club circa 1863.
This group of manly men in loin-cloth Speedos is the Brighton Swimming Cub of 1863. It is believed that photographer Benjamin William Botham took this picture. The Brighton Swimming Club was a group of men who loved swimming that was founded on May 4, 1860. According to the minutes of the club’s June 2, 1863, meeting, the group voted to accept Benjamin Botham’s membership application on the condition that he take a photograph of the members of the club.
Cameron Diaz eating Cheetos in 1993
Cameron Diaz was just 16 when she signed a modeling contract with Elite Model Management. She posed for ad campaigns for Calvin Klein, Coca-Cola, and Levi’s. In 1992, the year before this photo was taken, 19-year-old Diaz posed topless for an S&M fashion spread. The session was also videotaped. Fast forward to 2003 when Diaz was set to appear in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. The photographer she posed for approached her offering to sell her the photos and video from her topless for $3.5 million, claiming he was giving her the right of first refusal before he sold the photos to others. Diaz sued him for blackmail.
Kandy Kids in 1997, getting ready for the rave.
For people who are into the rave culture, looking the part of a Kandi Kid is just as important as the music. So, how do you look like a Kandi Kid? As this pic shows, bright colored outfits, wild hair styles, crazy make-up, layers of necklaces and bracelets, skimpy bikini tops, and skinny jeans. The Electric Daisy Carnival, one of the more popular raves, has been going strong since 1997 and included non-stop electronic music concerts.
Christina Ricci 1998
Teen actress Christina Ricci appeared in the pages of Vogue Italia’s October 1998 issue after a photoshoot with photographer Steven Meisel. The 17-year-old Ricci had a busy year in 1998. She appeared in Pecker, The Opposite of Sex, Buffalo ’66, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This was also the year that she made a conscious effort to transition from kid roles, like the ones she played in Casper and The Addams Family, to more adult-oriented films.
Friends Returning from the 1990 GWAR Concert in Oslo
No, this group of friends wasn’t in a terrible knife fight or catastrophic accident. They were in the audience at the GWAR concert in Oslo in 1990. GWAR is an American-based heavy metal band that presents unique concerts. The band, which features a rotating group of musicians and artists that call themselves the Slave Pit Inc., includes science fiction and mythical elements in their concerts. Think barbaric warriors, satire violence, and inappropriate sexual themes. Oh, and there is fake blood. Lots of it. Fans know to wear white to the concert and expect to leave covered in fake blood, and fake other body fluids. To call them “shock rock” is an understatement.
Gary Anderson the guy who at age 23 designed the recycling logo for a contest in 1970
You see the three arrows that make up the recycling logo on all kinds of things today, from your trash receptacle to your cleaning product packages. The person who designed that logo was a 23-year-old graphic artist names Gary Anderson who created the logo for a contest in 1970. The Container Corporation of America put posters up at colleges and universities across the country promoting its logo design. Anderson’s entry beat out more than 500 entries to win the contest.
Generation X. 1984
Like a typical Gen-Xer in 1984, this girl is not-so-subtly obsessed with Billy Idol. And who can blame her? Since he released his self-titled debut studio album in 1982, the British rocker amassed a huge fan based. He combined a David Bowie-like glam rock vibe with a punk sound to create a unique musical sensation. He also understood the visual element of music to attract fans with the new entertainment vehicle, MTV music videos. After the success of his singles “Dancing with Myself” and “White Wedding”, he found commercial success with his second album, Rebel Yell.
Jasmine Trevanna aka Yasmin the Fire Eater at home in Cricklewood London 1961
Practice makes perfect, right? That’s particularly important when working with something as dangerous as fire. British circus performer Jasmine Trevanna, who used the stage name Yasmin the Fire Eater, was photographed in her home in Cricklewood, London, in 1961 as she worked on honing her craft at the dinner table. The name is a bit misleading. Yasmin the Fire Eater is not actually eating the fire. Good thing … she won’t spoil her dinner.
Ava Gardner & Frank Sinatra Had a Very Public Affair 1955
The affair between Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner caused a sensation in the 1950s. Sinatra met the young actress in 1950 but he was already a married man. He had been married to his wife, his childhood sweetheart Nancy, for 12 years and had three kids. The affair between Sinatra and Gardner was hot and heavy and, unfortunately for Nancy, quite public. Nancy filed for divorce. Sinatra married Gardner as soon as his divorce was final, but the flames of romance were already burning out. They divorced after six years of a tumultuous marriage.
Cher Looking Wild and Free in 1973
Cher’s father, John Sarkisian, was part Armenian, and her mother, Georgia Holt, has a mix of Irish, English, and Cherokee ancestry. With her tall stature, classic good looks, and long, straight, dark hair, Cher certainly looked like she could pass for an Eastern European or Native American. In fact, many of Cher’s biggest hits may have been inspired by her diverse heritage, including “Half Breed”, “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves”, and “Dark Lady.”
Kathy Ireland Turned her 1980s Supermodel Fame into a Billion Dollar Business Empire
Pretty Kathy Ireland turned her fame as one of the hottest supermodels of the 1980s and 1990s into a business empire with billions in sales. That’s billion with a B! As a top mode, she appeared in the pages of 13 consecutive Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues and graced the cover of this prestigious special edition three times. When her modeling career was over, Ireland started a brand licensing company in 1993. Her business helped her amass a personal fortune of $420 million by 2015. Last year, her company generated retail sales of $3.1 billion! Kathy Ireland is more than just a pretty face. She’s a smart and savvy business tycoon.
Raquel Welch Defined the Modern, Confident Woman
Raquel Welch played a series of strong, independent female characters in the 1960s and 1970s. She seemed to excel in roles that challenge gender stereotypes and expectations. In a Hollywood era that loved dumb, blonde, bimbo stars, Welch was an anomaly. She stood out from the crows and it helped her to become an international sensation. Of course, the doe-skin bikini that she famously wore in the 1966 movie One Million Years B.C. She was a sex symbol, but not the helpless damsel in distress type.
Jayne Mansfield Insisted She Wasn't a Marilyn Monroe Knock-Off
With her curves and platinum blonde hair, sexy Jayne Mansfield naturally drew some comparisons between herself and the legendary blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe. The two beautiful blondes never met each other, but they certainly knew who each other were. Monroe commented that Mansfield was simply a cheap wannabe clone. Mansfield, however, insisted that she was nothing like Monroe despite their similar looks. The two women did have one thing in common; they both died tragically young.
Keith Richards at his wedding to Patti Hansen in 1983
Keith Richard, guitarist for the Rolling Stones, married the former model Patti Hansen on December 18, 1983, which was Richards’ 40th birthday. The couple wed at the beach of Finisterra Hotel in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Hansen, a native of Connecticut, had appeared on the covers of Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Vogue, Glamour, Esquire, and Cosmopolitan. Her fashion campaign for Calvin Klein was featured on a Times Square billboard. She retired from modeling before she married Richards. Together, Keith Richards and Patti Hansen have two daughters, Alexandra and Theodora.
LA in the 1980s
This photo was taken in Los Angeles in the 1980s and offers us a glimpse of the hot rod vibe of the city. In the 1980s, LA was a different city than it is today. Forty years ago, LA was dirty, noisy, and polluted. A big part of that was because of all the cars on the crowded freeways, as well as the refineries and factories that were also located in the city. One of the favorite activities, especially for people like these who have muscle cars, was to drive to Venice Beach and show off their automobile.
Cleo Moore poses for a photo by Earl Leaf in 1954
In 1950s Hollywood, actress and model Cleo Moore joined a long list of voluptuous young ladies who dyed their hair a platinum blonde in hopes of following Marilyn Monroe’s path to stardom. Moore achieved moderate fame after appearing in a handful of films, but was known more for her pinup work, including this photo by Earl Leaf. Cleo Moore was briefly married to Palmer Long, the son of Huey Long, of Louisiana who was assassinated while serving as a senator.
Nirvana Raji’s Los Angeles on Feb. 15, 1990. Grunge scene being born
This image shows the birth of grunge. The band Nirvana, founded by Kurt Cobain who served as the group’s lead singer and guitarist, hailed from Washington State, an unusual place for a rock scene in the late 1980s, but Nirvana was about to change all that. With their unique style of alternative rock, Nirvana helped establish the grunge scene in Seattle. They offered a departure from the 80s rock vibe by appealing to Gen-Xers … and making graphic Ts, ripped jeans, flannel shirts, and knit beanies cool.
The Roller-Skating Scene at Panama City Beach 1982
The roller-skating fad of the early 1980s owes a debt of gratitude to the disco era of the late 1970s. The music, lights, fashion, and dance moves of the disco days translated well to roller skates. Heck, there were even some movies about this. But as disco faded and the ‘80s fitness craze began, roller skating just kept rolling along. Instead of being confined to indoor roller rinks and disco dance floors, however, folks took their roller skates outside – even to the beach. In lieu of jogging – another big trend of the time – the hip, fun, sporty crowd donned their roller skates and hit the boardwalks, like this group at Panama City Beach in 1982.
Polaroids Of The Cast Of Clueless 1995
Do you recognize these stars of the 1995 movie, Clueless, in polaroid? Starring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, and Brittany Murphy, Clueless, which is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma, has been called one of the best teen films of all time. The film’s director, Amy Heckerling, spent time in real Beverly Hills high schools, observing real high school teens, to help her understand the latest slang terms and teen behavior. Since its release, Clueless has become a cult favorite.
Protesting a ban on slacks for girls in 1940
It seems like every generation places some sort of social rules on women’s attire, doesn’t it? In the 1940s, wearing slacks was a big no-no for women, but some brave, defiant, forward-thinking girls like this bunch protested enough that it became more acceptable for girls to go out in public in trousers. Eventually, even schools caved and allowed female students to show up for class in pants. In the last decade or so, this whole thing repeated itself, but with leggings as the focal point. But as more and more women ignored the stares and eyerolls, leggings have found their way into the office and into schools.
Rolling to Work 1940s.
Here’s one way to help the war effort…skate to work! As these lovely, leggy ladies are demonstrating in the early 1940s, folks could save gas by wearing their own set of wheels and roller-skating to and from work, school, or the market. During World War II, when Americans turned their full attention to winning the war and supporting the troops, these innovative girls found a way to get some great exercise while conserving precious resources that could be better used to help our soldiers.
Salvador Dali with Yoko Ono and John Lennon in 1969
John Lennon and Yoko Ono were on their honeymoon in Paris in 1969 when they had the opportunity to meet renowned artist, Salvador Dali. The Spanish surrealist artist with the enviable mustache was creating quite a stir in the art world at that time. His paintings were technically brilliant and demonstrated a high level of skill, but the subject matter was often bizarre and fraught with symbolism. For John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who dabbled in the weird, Dali’s work was right up their alley.
Suzanne Somers Circa 1970s
Before landing the role of ditzy Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company, sexy Suzanne Somers had a bit role in American Graffiti. Look closely … she was the blonde in the white Thunderbird. She did guest roles in some of the hottest TV shows of the early 1970s, including The Rockford Files, The Six Million Dollar Man, and The Love Boat. A health and fitness buff, Somers also released a series of exercise videos. Today, she promotes some questionable, untested health products, but hey … she still looks great.
Trying to stay cool in the summer NYC 1943
In the heat of summer, the city is no place to be. The asphalt jungle retains heat and the skyscrapers block the breeze. As these ladies are showing us in this photo from 1943, the residents of New York City had to find creative ways to beat the heat. One way to stay cool is the escape to the rooftops. Another way is to cool off with a bucket of cold water.
Tupac in the 80s
When this photo was taken of rapper Tupac Shakur, he was on the cusp of stardom. A native of New York, he spent time in Baltimore before moving to San Francisco in 1988. He became a key player in the West Coast hip hop scene following the release of his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, in 1991. A lyrical genius, Tupac used his music to draw attention to social issues, especially those plaguing the inner cities. Despite his untimely death, Tupac remains one of the most influential rappers in music history, as well as one of the best-selling music artists.
Vintage jockstrap. 1940s
Long before the 1980s fitness craze, keeping in shape was still important, though most people worked out in private and not at fancy, trendy gyms. It is arm day for the guy in this 1940s photo. He seems to know his way around a set of dumbbells, but we are calling foul on his workout attire. We hope no one is watching him pump iron in his vintage-looking jackstrap that seems more like a loin cloth than gym shorts.