Stunning Old Hollywood Photos That Will Transport You To The Golden Age
It’s hard not to get nostalgic in life, and that’s especially true when it comes to entertainment. The classics from cinema’s golden age make it hard to forget the dross that came out alongside them and the smiling, classy sheen over the industry might make its scandals easier to hide in a more innocent time.
Yet, while Hollywood may not have been much better than it is now in the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s, there’s something about that time that makes Tinseltown seem magical. Naturally, that makes photos from that era timelessly fascinating.
She Wasn’t As Happy As She Seemed Here
In this photo, MGM studio executive Louis B. Mayer and Judy Garland’s mother came together to celebrate the young star’s birthday. Yet, while their smiles and the cake make it seem like they had a good relationship, the reality is much more grim.
That’s because this birthday celebration was a marked difference from the rest of the year, where both of these people constantly pressured Garland to put her figure over her wellbeing. Add that to the amphetamines the studio pushed on her and Mayer’s lecherous misconduct towards her, and it’s clear Garland had a miserable experience at MGM.
The Making Of That Famous Studio Intro
It probably made for an anxious recording session, but this cameraman and sound technician brought history to life when they captured Leo the lion’s iconic roar for MGM’s famous movie intro.
Although Leo’s intro would appear on many MGM films, the intro was an idea to emphasize that audiences were about to witness the studio’s first movie to feature spoken dialogue, White Shadows in the South Seas.
Entertainment Can Be Repurposed For Propaganda
Since World War II was perhaps the most devastating and world-changing conflict in human history, it was deemed necessary to use the same infrastructure that entertained the masses to convince them to do their part for the war effort.
Perhaps that’s why Gregory Peck is standing in front of this poster, which won first prize for “Best Picture In Relation To The War Effort.” Peck is covering part of it, but the Ernest A. Bachrach creation promotes buying war bonds to save the freedom of speech throughout the world.
If Orson Welles Looks Tired, It’s Because His Day Was Busy
While there was likely no shortage of tiring phone calls the daring filmmaker Orson Welles took over the course of his trailblazing career, many of them happened on October 31, 1938. Although his first feature film would be released that year, those calls would instead regard his radio program.
That’s because this photo was taken the day after his The War Of The Worlds broadcast was mistaken for a report on a genuine alien invasion by panicked listeners. The number of irate calls he took that day would make anyone’s eyes droopy.
Disney Cleans Up At The Oscars
Although Walt Disney’s animated creations had already afforded him some Academy Awards (including a special set based on Snow White and The Seven Dwarves) by 1954, that year’s Oscar telecast saw the entertainment titan take home four of the gold statuettes in one night.
These awards recognized his studio’s feature-length documentary The Living Desert, the documentary short The Alaskan Eskimo, the cartoon short Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, and the two-reel short Bear Country.
Jane Russel Isn’t Filming, She’s Attending A Premiere
Although the golden age of Hollywood set the tone for the gala events people have come to associate with movie premieres, that doesn’t mean the studios at the time weren’t willing to experiment with that tried-and-true formula.
For instance, here we can see actors Jane Russell and Richard Egan suit up with scuba equipment to attend the underwater premiere for the John Sturges movie, Underwater. With all the trouble they had to go, it’s easy to see why this didn’t become a tradition.
Even Now, That Ring Would Be Incredibly Expensive
Although Elizabeth Taylor’s famous romance with Richard Burton was infamously volatile, it was nonetheless passionate and prominent enough to still capture the public’s fascination long after both of them passed away.
It also saw them play with more money than most people would ever see, as the ring Taylor is flashing in 1968 reportedly cost £127,000. According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, that’s the equivalent of $1.4 million in today’s money.
Some Directors Were Eccentric Behind The Camera
Even those who remember the smoldering good looks of Rudolph Valentino in 1921’s The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse may not have seen the man who directed it. His name was Rex Ingram and he certainly stands out in this picture.
If there’s a special reason why he’s wearing a top hat and knee-high boots to direct this movie, it isn’t immediately clear. Maybe he just figured the viewer would never see it.
A Huge Production For One Tiny Reaction
In this moment during the filming of The Understanding Heart in 1927, Joan Crawford joined most of the cast and crew in showering this baby with a wide variety of dolls, instruments, and other amusements. However, that wasn’t because it was the baby’s birthday or they just adored the little one so much.
Instead, the fact was that the next scene required this baby to laugh and everyone involved in the production was doing everything they could to get that reaction.
Even Animal Actors Had High-Profile Friend Groups
Although golden age celebrity friend groups like The Rat Pack still ooze glamor and charisma decades after their heyday, this picture reveals that even the dogs of Hollywood had some star-studded companions.
For instance, this photo captured the sixth birthday of a German shepherd named Kelly, who starred in the 1957 film Kelly And Me. Yet, not only was Lassie there but Cleo and Daisey (on either side of Kelly) also appeared on TV and in movies, respectively. The dog on the right, Red Dust, was somehow a headline act at nightclubs.
Actor’s Strikes Are By No Means A New Phenomenon
Even before the Screen Actor’s Guild and the American Federation of TV and Radio Artists merged in 2012, the two showbiz trade unions were hard at work representing the rights of the actors and broadcasters under their auspices.
In 1967, a dispute involving staff announcers and first-time contracts for news broadcasters working for the major networks of the time led AFTRA to its first national strike. Here, The Addams Family star John Astin does his part on the picket line.
There Are Always Dreamers And Hopefuls No Matter When
Although former stars and critical movies alike will often warn about the seductive lie behind Hollywood’s dream factory, that never stops a bountiful crop of as aspiring actors from trying to live out their dreams of stardom.
That’s evident in how many people are trying to make it in Los Angeles and New York City today but it’s also evident in this lineup of excited extras outside of Paramount Studios during the 1920s. The only difference is how they’re dressed.
The Year Marion Michael Morrison Became John Wayne
Back in the old days of Hollywood, it was practically standard operating procedure for studio executives to change an actor’s name based on their own personal tastes. That was how a former USC football player named Marion Michael “Duke” Morrison spent his legendary film career as John Wayne.
His first role was in the 1930 film The Big Trail and he had worked as a prop hand for Fox before that big opportunity. Still, that life-changing moment came nine years before Stagecoach truly put him on the map.
An Honor From Someone Who Knew Him Well
In the classic era of Hollywood, few directors were better known for their landmark Westerns than John Ford. This not only meant the war hero-turned-director worked with John Wayne but also The Duke’s friend and longtime collaborator Maureen O’Hara.
Thus, it must have been all the more meaningful when O’Hara cheerfully presented Ford with this costumer’s award for directorial achievement in 1955.
As Prestigious In The Military As He Was In Hollywood
Although Jimmy Stewart was already a celebrated actor thanks to his collaborations with Frank Capra (most notably Mr. Smith Goes To Washington), he was nonetheless willing to risk everything after answering the call of duty when the United States entered the Second World War.
Stewart enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1941 but proved such a capable airman and officer that he would be deputy commander of the 2nd Bombardment Wing and command the 703rd Bombardment Squadron by the time he was out of active duty by 1947. He was still active in the reserves until 1968, when he retired as a brigadier general.
A Major Film Event That Took So Long For A Reason
By the time they both signed on for the 1962 classic What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis were both Oscar winners who also both worked for Warner Bros. With that in mind, it was hard for people not to wonder why the two legendary actresses had never worked together before.
However, it didn’t take long before the world found out. Although the movie was a triumph that would see Davis nominated for another Oscar, both women made it clear that their characters’ violent animosity to each other was just as extreme in real life.
Marlon Brando Was Always A Wildcard
Although Marlon Brando infamously refused his 1973 Oscar for The Godfather, this picture shows he was also a little unpredictable after winning his first Academy Award, albeit in a much more lighthearted way.
At the 27th Annual Academy Awards, Brando was named the best actor of 1954 for his iconic performance in On The Waterfront. Since comedian Bob Hope was presenting that night, Brando clearly thought it would be fun to pretend to fight him for the Oscar.
Perhaps He Was Too Excited For His Own Good
If there was one thing late iconic actor James Dean had in common with his most famous characters was an overwhelming need for speed. Appropriately, the young star was clearly enamored with his sleek, shiny, and super fast Porsche 550 Spyder.
Sadly, this alluring machine would cost the rising legend everything in the blink of an eye, as he experienced a fatal crash while driving it on September 30, 1955.
Hollywood Was A Sad Battleground For The Red Scare
The history of Hollywood is marked with tragic tales of legendary actors, writers, and other creatives who had their careers all but cut short when their socialist sympathies had them blacklisted during the height of the Red Scare and Senator Joseph McCarthy’s self-aggrandizing campaign to root out domestic Communists.
Yet, while Hollywood had lifted its blacklist by 1960 and allowed formerly blacklisted artists like screenwriter Dalton Trumbo to receive film credits again, it was clear that some remembered why he was cast out. That’s why this group of protestors accused Hollywood of letting Communists back in when the movie Exodus premiered.
He Learned As Much As He Taught That Day
Although it’s certainly interesting to see how bulky film cameras always were in the movie business, that fascination was shared by the man with his hand on director Norman Taurog’s shoulder.
That man was Dr. Henry T. Wensel, an atomic expert with the U.S. Bureau Of Standards who also served as the technical advisor on Taurog’s 1947 film The Beginning Or The End. However, it seems Wensel’s inquisitive mind was curious to know how Taurog’s camera worked.
It’s Hard To Picture The Movie Industry Without It
Although Paramount Pictures is one of the largest entertainment companies in the world and nestled among the “big five” of major studios today, the staggering fact is that this was just as true when Hollywood was in its infancy.
Back in the ’30s, Paramount, Warner Bros., RKO, MGM, and 20th Century Fox made up the “big five” of film studios. However, only Paramount and Warner Bros. remain similarly positioned today. After all, RKO is defunct, MGM was purchased by Amazon, and 20th Century Fox is now owned by Disney.
A Banner Entry Into A Long-Standing Tradition
If someone were to visit Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, they would see panel after panel of cement hand imprints featuring stars from the movie industry’s classic beginings all the way up to present-day stars.
Although Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe weren’t the first actresses to take part in this tradition, their joint induction into this idiosyncratic hall of fame was a major spectacle in 1953. The crowd was just as full of cheers and wolf whistles as shutter clicks.
They Don’t Make Them Like This Anymore
Although it seems like Jean Harlow and William Powell are posing for an intimate promotional shot in connection to the 1935 film Reckless. Indeed, that intimacy wouldn’t have been purely a matter of dramatic talent on their parts, as they were reportedly engaged for two years.
However, this photo is actually taken from a genuine scene in the movie. While couples would exhibit more natural body language in later films, it was clear that the focus was more on what looked good on camera than what felt natural in the old days.
A Photo Full Of Icons
For those wondering whose pockets were deep enough to get Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, and Marilyn Monroe in the same movie, there doesn’t appear to be an answer. That’s because this photo was taken from the premiere of How to Marry a Millionaire.
Although Monroe and Bacall both starred in the film, Bogart attended the premiere in support of Bacall, the love of his life.
Not Everything Needed To Be Shot On Location Back Then
While it’s true that the economics of filming in New York City typically necessitates substituting a city like Toronto or Vancouver for the Big Apple nowadays, the earliest of film crews went to entirely different trouble to make their sets look like the real thing.
Rather than shooting on location, it was far more common to build sets replicating the locations filmmakers wanted. For instance, this Hollywood production is made to look like a district of New York City between 67th Street and 7th Avenue.
A Premiere That Couldn’t Be Ignored
In the old days of Hollywood, this was traditionally what it looked like when a new film reached its premiere. In this case, the gala event was celebrating and promoting the release of the 1937 film Captains Courageous, based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling.
With such a dazzling array of searchlights, it would seem that attendees would require sunglasses no matter how late in the evening the premiere took place.
A More Modest Affair In The ’40s
Although prestigious premiere venues like Grauman’s Chinese Theater were typically awash with searchlights during a gala event, that wasn’t quite as doable by the time the 1940s rolled around.
In this photo, it’s clear that only two searchlights could illuminate the theater during the 1943 Academy Awards. This was due to restrictions imposed during World War II.
What Appeared To Be A Permanent Change
There’s something about vintage photos that can feel magical and that’s especially true when looking at the dazzling lights of skylines that now look so different. Nonetheless, the Pantages theater in Los Angeles still stands and its marquee still retains its iconic style.
However, this photo isn’t just a nostalgic romp. It’s also a sign that when war restrictions limited the number of searchlights that could shine at a premiere, the industry seemed content with the more modest lighting long after that restriction no longer applied. After all, this picture was taken on the night of the31st Academy Awards in 1959.
Empty, Safe, And With Proper Trigger Discipline
Although Humphrey Bogart starred in several movies that never saw him carry a gun, it’s fair to say that most of his roles saw him portray the exact kind of tough guy who needed one. That was just as true in his villainous early roles as it was in his anti-heroic film noir protagonists.
The golden rule in gun safety is to treat every weapon as if it’s loaded and Bogart appears to be following those rules carefully in this shot. Presumably, it isn’t pointed at anyone, it’s not ready to fire, and his finger is not touching the trigger.
A Behind The Scenes Photo From The Earliest Days
While it’s very common for behind-the-scenes photos from movie sets to reach the internet nowadays, that was once a rarer phenomenon. As such, it’s pretty incredible to get a look at all the equipment and crew that was standing off-camera while this picture from the 1920s was being filmed.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to get more specific than that. Not only is it unclear what movie they were filming or what year this photo was taken in but it’s hard to know whether the movie’s prints even exist anymore.
