From Sock Hops to Space Age: Iconic 20th Century Moments
By Jack Ripley | November 8, 2023
Lovely photo of Liza Minnelli from 1969.
Step into a time machine and journey back to the 1960s and '70s, an era that resonates with boundless creativity, unforgettable pop culture moments, and an unapologetic embrace of fun. The middle of the 20th century was a time of seismic shifts in entertainment, music, and society as a whole. It was a period marked by boundary-breaking comedy acts, a musical revival that would define generations, and the birth of some of the best family television shows in history.
In the midst of political and social change, the '60s and '70s also gave rise to a vibrant and colorful pop culture that celebrated individuality and promoted togetherness in equal measure. Whether you were grooving to the tunes of the Woodstock generation, laughing along with groundbreaking comedians, or gathered around the TV with loved ones, this was a time when nostalgia met innovation, and it's an era that continues to hold a special place in our hearts.
Join us as we revisit this unforgettable era through a kaleidoscope of nostalgic photos. From the swinging '60s to the disco-infused '70s, these snapshots capture the essence of a time when the world was changing, and the spirit of fun, adventure, and pop culture reigned supreme. Get ready to immerse yourself in the grooviness of the '60s and '70s and rediscover the joy, laughter, and togetherness that defined this remarkable period in history.
Here's a lovely photo of Liza May Minnelli from back in 1969. She grew up to be an actress and singer just like her mother, Judy Garland. Minnelli is primarily known for her Academy Award-winning role as Sally Bowles in the 1972 musical film Cabaret. It was just one year after this photo was taken, 1961, that Liza moved to New York City to begin her career as a musical theatre actress and traditional pop recording artist. She’s famous for her renditions of pop standards and was named a gay icon in a list titled The 12 Greatest Female Gay Icons of All Time in Out Magazine in 2014.
Actress Rene Russo was a top model in the 70's, here she is on the cover of Cosmopolitan Magazine in 1978.
Former top model Rene Marie Russo is now an actress and producer. She made her film debut in the comedy film Major League back in 1989. Her fame just kept rising as she went on to star in a number of action/thrillers throughout the 90s.
Over the years she’s accumulated quite the impressive title list. She’s been in hits like: Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), Outbreak (1995), Get Shorty (1995), Tin Cup (1996), Ransom (1996), Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000). Russo was also Frigga, in the superhero films Thor (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013). She received critical praise for her role in Nightcrawler (2014), for which she won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Three beautiful women (Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, and Sharon Tate) entering the dreamland of show biz, fall through the trap door of drugs, booze, and screwed-up men in The Valley of the Dolls (1967).
Valley of the Dolls is a 1967 drama film based on the Jacqueline Susann novel of the same name. It stars Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, Sharon Tate, and Susan Hayward. The film chronicles the rise and fall of three young women in show business. Upon entering the dreamland of showbiz, they fall through the trap door of drugs, booze, and screwed-up men.
At the time of its initial release, Valley of the Dolls received generally negative reviews. However, the box office yielded rather impressive results, bringing in 50 million USD worldwide gross against 5 million USD budget.
'Captain Kirk' (William Shatner) and The Reactor 1967
Pictured here is William Shatner as Star Trek’s 'Captain James T. Kirk' posed by the Reactor back in 1967. This custom creation was built in 1965 by Gene Winfield for an ‘Autorama’ custom car show. Winfield also built the shuttlecraft for Star Trek. He then went on to build the Spinner flying cars for Blade Runner, and even the legendary 6000 SUX from Robocop! Too cool!
Star Trek is a science fiction television series that has become a major franchise since the days of its conception by Gene Roddenberry. The first tv series was simply called Star Trek (now referred to as "The Original Series"), debuted in 1966 and ran for three seasons.It followed the interstellar adventures of Captain James T. Kirk of the starship USS Enterprise, and his crew in the twenty-third century.
Guitar Man Jerry Reed had three songs that he wrote covered by Elvis Presley and had more than 40 albums in his career that began when he was 18, with hits on the radio from 1967 to 1983.
Jerry Reed Hubbard, or as he was known professionally, Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He also tried his hand in acting and ended up appearing in over a dozen films over the course of his career. But his true love was music, some signature songs are "Guitar Man", "U.S. Male", "A Thing Called Love", "Alabama Wild Man", "Amos Moses", and "When You're Hot, You're Hot" (which garnered a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance).
He was also the creator of the theme song for the 1977 blockbuster Smokey and the Bandit, titled Eastbound and Down, Reed also co-starred in the film. In April of 2017, Reed was announced as an inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame and was officially inducted by Bobby Bare on October 24, 2017.
Model & actress Lauren Hutton at an event in 1975.
Pictured here is top model and actress, Mary Laurence "Lauren" Hutton. She was initially dismissed by many in the business because of a gap in her teeth. That beauty of hers trumped her signature gap and she landed a modeling contract with Revlon back in 1973. Which, for the record, was the biggest contract in the history of the modeling industry at that point in time.
Hutton also transitioned into acting. She played central roles in films such as The Gambler (1974) and American Gigolo (1980), and later she appeared on television in the series Paper Dolls and Nip/Tuck.
Benji was the first film in a series of nine about the golden, mixed-breed dog named Benji. It was written and directed by Joe Camp in 1974.
Benji (1974) was the first film in a series of nine about the adventures of a golden, mixed-breed dog named Benji. In it, a stray dog (Benji) saves two kidnapped children. The film, or more accurately, the fictional character Benji, was a success and the franchise was born. A small, shaggy, lovable mixed-breed pup who has an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time, and is always able to help someone in need. What’s not to love?
Mark Hamill and Anne Wyndham in 1972, they played siblings on soap General Hospital and were a couple in real life at the time.
Pictured here is Mark Hamill of Star Wars and Anne Wyndham back in 1972 when they were playing siblings on the hit Soap Opera General Hospital. Strangely enough, they were a couple in real life at the time… that had to be at least a little awkward.
General Hospital is a daytime television medical drama, that actually made the Guinness World Records as the longest-running American soap opera in production and the second longest-running drama in television in American history! It came in second to Guiding Light. It also holds the record for most Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series, with 13 wins.
Happy Turkey Day from Marilyn Monroe and Tom.
Gobble, gobble, it’s a vintage Thanksgiving themed photo of legendary Marilyn Monroe and Tom the turkey. The kitchen is probably the last place anyone pictures the screen siren, but as it would turn out, Marilyn loved to cook and did so often. She scribbled her methods for preparing a Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings. After her death, her lists and recipes were uncovered, including a puzzlingly labor intensive recipe for stuffing. It consisted of a whopping 20 ingredients, including various herbs and three different types of chopped nuts. It seems Marilyn was quite the home chef.
Diana Ross and Groucho Marx on the dance floor doing the Frug at Bobby Darin’s house in Bel-Air. (1966)
Seventy-year-old comedian, writer, and actor, Groucho Marx decided to dust off his dancing shoes to get down with 22-year old Diana Ross, who was the lead singer of "The Supremes" at the time. They were at Bobby Darin’s Bel-Air home for an outdoor barbecue party on August 19, 1966. Groucho later admitted that this moment captured to film here, was the first time in 20-years that he’d been on a dancefloor! Can you blame the guy? Who would pass up a chance to dance with Diana Ross?
Diana Ross won the hearts of the public in the 1960s, as the lead singer of the most successful Motown group in history. Following her departure from “The Supremes,” Diana went on to become one of the most successful solo female singers of all time. Diana Ross is credited with paving the way for future African-American R&B and soul acts to achieve mainstream success.
The beauty of Suzanne Pleshette in 1965.
There certainly is no denying the beauty of Suzanne Pleshette. Look at those eyes in this photo from 1965. The American actress launched her career in the theatre and then began appearing in films in the late 1950s. Her more prominent films came out of the 1960’s, such as Rome Adventure (1962) and Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963). She later appeared in various television shows, most notably was her role as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show, which she played from 1972 until 1978. She received several Emmy Award nominations for her work on the show. It wasn’t until 2004 that she retired from acting, which was four years before her death at age 70.
Charro was a 1969 Western film starring Elvis, it was his only role that did not feature him singing on-screen
Charro was a 1969 Western film starring Elvis and the only role that did not feature him singing on-screen, also the only Presley film to feature no songs at all, except for the main title theme.
It was also the only Presley film that was released to theaters by National General Pictures. Charro! Was shot on location at Apacheland Movie Ranch and Old Tucson Studios in Arizona and co-starred Ina Balin, Victor French, Barbara Werle, and Solomon Sturges. While the film did make a profit, it wasn’t exactly a hit and it still remains one of Presley's least viewed films today. Even though it’s regarded as being among his best in terms of a 'straight' (non-musical) acting performance.
Have a Groovy Thanksgiving!
Check it out, it's the always lovely (even when armed) Susan Dey all decked out in Pilgrim wear. Susan Dey is best known for her television role as Laurie Partridge on “The Partridge Family” from1970 to 1974. She took on the role at the age of 16 with no acting experience and went on to get three Emmy Award nominations, six Golden Globe nominations, and a win for Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 1988.
Lovin' this photo of Yoko smiling and John doing a funky walk while in Cannes, 1971.
Pictured here are John Lennon and Yoko Ono in Rue D Antibes, Cannes back in 1971. Lennon was known for being a member of the legendary British rock band The Beatles. Yoko Ono was known for her work as an independent artist. Ono worked in performance art, film and multimedia, in addition to venturing into singing and songwriting. and peace activist.
The two met back in 1966, worked on several collaborations together. The pair quickly became inseparable resulting in Lennon’s divorce from his first wife, Cynthia Lennon, in order to be with Ono. Once they were married in 1969, they had a child together. In 1970, just a year after Lennon and Ono got married, The Beatles broke up. Since then, many people have speculated over the years as to whether Ono may have played a role in the group’s separation.
Don’t eat Elly May’s critter! The Beverly Hillbillies Turkey Day (1963).
Check out this picture from the “Turkey Day” episode of The Beverly Hillbillies from back in 1963! Fans of the show know just how much the darling Elly May Clampett loved her critters, she practically owned a private zoo! In this episode, “Elly bonds with the Thanksgiving turkey so the family can't bring themselves to kill it; Mrs. Drysdale hires some Indians to take a Thanksgiving picture, which puts Granny on the warpath.”
The Beverly Hillbillies accumulated seven Emmy nominations during its 9 season run and is ranked among the top 20 most-watched programs on television for eight of them. Twice it came in as the number one series of the year! It even has a number of episodes that remain among the most-watched television episodes in history.
Here's a scene from the Thanksgiving crossover episode featuring The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres in 1968.
Here's a still from a scene from the Thanksgiving crossover episode featuring The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres in 1968. These three shows were all interrelated programs produced by Paul Henning. The first to come out was The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971), then came Petticoat Junction (1963-1970), and following its success came the spin-off, Green Acres (1965–1971).
The Beverly Hillbillies follows the rags to riches story of a backwoods family named the Clampetts, who move to posh Beverly Hills, California, after striking oil on their land. Petticoat Junction is set at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley, her three daughters, and her uncle Joe Carson. Green Acres, was more of a reversed rags-to-riches, the opposite of the country-to-city model of The Beverly Hillbillies. Rich Eva Gabor was torn from New York and plopped into farm life.
Demond Wilson and Redd Foxx celebrate Thanksgiving on Sanford and Son 1972
Check out this classic moment in Hollywood history, Demond Wilson and Redd Foxx celebrate Thanksgiving on an episode of Sanford and Son back in 1972.
Comedian Redd Foxx became a household name for his hilarious portrayal of the bitter and bigoted junk dealer Fred Sanford in NBC’s Sanford & Son. Also starring Demond Wilson as Fred’s son Lamont, the series was the first hit African American-based sitcom in television history, and it paved the way for classics like Good Times and The Jeffersons.
Archie Bunker's Place Thanksgiving Reunion, 1979.
Archie Bunker's Place is a spin-off and continuation of the hit sitcom All in the Family that aired on CBS from September 23, 1979, to April 4, 1983. It was never as popular as its predecessor, but the show held its own for four seasons before being canceled.
It had big shoes to fill, All in the Family is one of the most famous family sitcoms in television history. It was such a groundbreaking show at the time, depicting highly controversial topics of the time like racism, abortion, women’s liberation, homosexuality, religion, and even impotence. All topics previously considered inappropriate to air on network television.
I Got You, Bob... Cher, Sonny and Bob Dylan in 1965.
After the release of their first album with their hit single, “I Got You, Babe,” back in 1965, Sonny and Cher’s popularity skyrocketed. The couple began making television appearances and even more performances. The song "All I Really Want to Do" was written by Bob Dylan but Cher also covered it. She released her version in May 1965. It reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it was at #9 in the United Kingdom, and it was charted in other countries as well. The Byrds covered the song as well, however, their version was really different and also entered the Billboard Hot 100 during the same week.
A 21-year old Joan Collins listening to records with a very beatnik vibe-style in 1954.
Here we have a 21-year old Joan Collins listening to records with a very beatnik vibe-style back in 1954. The career of the glamorous Joan Collins we all know today didn’t start to pick up until the 1960s after she guest-starred in an episode of Star Trek. By the 1970s she was starring in a series of horror films and the 1980s brought her to her most memorable role, Alexis Colby in “Dynasty” for which she earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. She has authored many novels over the years and recently co-starred in “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie”, and “The Time of Their Lives”.
The New York Dolls created punk rock before there was a term for it, they formed in 1971 with David Johansen on vocals.
The New York Dolls formed in 1981, just predating the big glam metal movement, making them one of the first to arrive in the early punk rock scene. Their first two albums—New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974), landed among the most popular cult records in the rock.They are credited with influencing the Sex Pistols, Kiss, the Ramones, Guns N' Roses, the Damned, and The Smiths, to name a few. Following a 2011 British tour with Alice Cooper in 2011, they disbanded. and they became one of the most influential rock bands of the last 20 years.
No bones about it, even Herman Munster enjoys his turkey on Thanksgiving!
Here’s a picture of Herman Munster enjoying some well-deserved Thanksgiving turkey in the episode of The Munsters titled “low cal Munster”. In it, “Herman is invited to a reunion of his old army outfit but finds himself unable to fit into his old uniform. Lily will only allow him to go only if he goes on a diet. When Dr. Dudley tells him to lose a hundred pounds in a week, Herman resolves only to consume water and vitamins. Unfortunately, the last day of his diet coincides with Thanksgiving.”
Here's the original Sesame Street cast from 1969-1970.
Sesame Street is an educational children's television series that has been combining live action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry since 1969. In the first season, Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird were the only Muppets to appear regularly in Street scenes, while the others Muppets debuted in separate segments.
The original human cast members were Bob, Mr. Hooper, Gordon, and Susan. With the exception of Mr. Hooper’s passing in 1982, the other original characters remain on the series, making them some of the longest (continually)-running characters in American entertainment (outside of Soap Operas that it).
A mustache-less Sam Elliott in a Hawaii Five-0 episode in 1974.
Here we have a groovy looking Sam Elliot playing Jack Houston in an episode of Hawaii Five-O titled, The Two-Faced Corpse” (really paints a picture doesn’t it). In this particular episode, a businessman is found murdered on the very tract of land he was trying to develop. It turns out he was a thug who had gone Federal and was put in witness protection after providing testimony against the mob. Soon McGarrett begins to suspect that the mob had nothing at all to do with the murder. Suspicion soon falls on the victim’s wife and her lover, Jack Houston (Elliot).
The Hollywood Squares was a long-running celebrity tic-tac-toe game show that featured celebrities put in strategic positions on panel. 1966-2004
Ranking it at No. 7 on TV Guide’s list of the top 60 greatest game shows ever, The Hollywood Squares is basically televised tic-tac-toe for cash and prizes. It may not sound like much but as the saying goes, simplicity is paramount.
The game board is a 3 × 3 vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity. The stars are asked questions by the host, and the game contestants are tasked with judging the truth of their answers in order to gain squares. Obviously, like tic-tac-toe, they need to get squares in the right pattern to win the game.
Paul Lynde's infectious laugh and sarcastic humor made him stand out as one of Bewitched's most memorable characters, 'Uncle Arthur'.
Out of all of Samantha Stephen’s kooky relatives, Uncle Arthur was a beloved fan favorite. Paul Lynde brilliantly portrayed Endora’s prank-loving brother but that wasn’t his first role on the show. His debut appearance in Bewitched was as Harold, Samantha Stephens' skittish driving instructor. Everyone loved working with him and because he was so well received by the viewers, the recurring role of Uncle Arthur was created for him.
Lynde appeared in 10 episodes of Bewitched and then got into voice acting for a while. His most famous cartoon role was Templeton the Rat in the children’s classic, Charlotte's Web. He was also the center square on Hollywood Squares for thirteen seasons. In January of 1982, Lynde was found dead in his home from a heart attack.
Eurythmics released their first album, In the Garden, in 1981 with little notice, but achieved global success with their second album Sweet Dreams in 1983.
Pictured here is the British duo Eurythmics consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart. They released their first album, In the Garden, back in 1981 but they didn’t really start to get attention until their second album, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) in 1983. They went on to achieve global success with the title track. Everyone loved it, it was topping the charts in various countries including the US. The duo went on to release a string of hit singles and albums before they eventually split up in 1990. At that point in time, Stewart had become a highly sought-after record producer and Lennox launched her solo career, with her debut album Diva released in 1992.
In their time together, they took home the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1987, the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1999, and in 2005 were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and have sold an estimated 75 million records worldwide.
Eric Clapton, Robert Plant and Phil Lynott waiting at a bus stop in London.
Here’s a great shot of musicians Eric Clapton, Robert Plant and Phil Lynott all waiting at a bus stop in London. Famous musicians are not exactly who you expect to see riding a bus but hey, that’s a rock star for you, always keeping you guessing.
Lead singer and songwriter of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant is most notable for his powerful and wide vocal range. He’s been long credited with being the "Greatest Metal Vocalist of All Time". In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked him number 15 on their list of the 100 best singers of all time. In 2009, Plant was voted "the greatest voice in rock".
Eric Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and of Cream. Clapton remains one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time.
Philip Parris Lynott was an Irish musician and songwriter. His most famous and commercially successful group was Thin Lizzy, of which he was a founding member, the principal songwriter, lead vocalist and bassist.
The Absent-Minded Professor is a 1961Disney film based on the short story A Situation of Gravity by Samuel W. Taylor. A professor (Fred MacMurray) invents a revolutionary flying rubber, which he dubs flubber
The Absent-Minded Professor is a 1961, Disney film based on the short story A Situation of Gravity by Samuel W. Taylor. It was one of the first Disney films to be colorized for the 1986 video release.
In it, A chemistry professor named Ned Brainard (played by Fred MacMurray) invents a revolutionary flying rubber, which he dubs flubber. The film was a huge box-office success, and two years later became the first Disney film to have a sequel, 1963's Son of Flubber.
Jim Morrison holding an empty glass in 1967.
The frontman for the Doors once joked about becoming a member of the "27 Club"... and then did just that. As he predicted, Morrison’s fame quadruped after his death in July of 1971. He was found dead in a bathtub by his girlfriend Pamela Courson. No autopsy was performed but heart failure is listed as the cause of death. Courson stood to inherit Jim’s entire estate but died of a heroin overdose before seeing a penny of it. She was also 27 at the time of her death. This reinforced the myth of the 27 club for the public–that somehow Morrison and all icons who died at 27, were somehow fated.
Steve Perry performing with Journey in 1980.
Here's a photo of Steve Perry performing with Journey back in 1980. The rock band had formed in 1973, seven years prior to this show. It composed of a hodgepodge of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. Since then the band has undergone multiple changes in members but their most commercially successful period was between 1978 and 1987. This is the time frame in which they released hits like “Loving Touching, Squeezing” (1979), "Don't Stop Believin'" (1981), and “Any way You Want It” (1981).
Shelley Duvall looking glam in 1977.
Here’s a great picture of actress Shelley Duvall, looking glamorous as can be. Former actress Shelley Alexis Duvall garnered much critical acclaim for her portrayals of eccentric characters of the course of her career.
Duvall’s most famous films are Stephen King’s The Shining (1980) and the cult live-action film, Popeye (1980). She got her start in the 70’s by appearing in various Robert Altman films, including Brewster McCloud (1970), McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), Thieves Like Us (1974), Nashville (1975), and 3 Women (1977), which won her the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress. She also had a supporting role in Annie Hall (1977) and later she appeared in Time Bandits (1981), Frankenweenie (1984), and The Portrait of a Lady(1996).
Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. performing at the Kraft Music Hall. (1970)
Here we have a great shot of famed members Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz, and Desi Arnaz Jr. performing at the Kraft Music Hall back in 1970. All that’s missing is Lucy! Sadly, this was post-divorce for TV’s favorite couple. But their children joining Desi Arnaz as he headlined a Kraft Music Hall special on NBC was a classic moment.
Lucie Désirée Arnaz remains an actress, singer, and even took on the role of producer just like her mother. Her brother Desi Arnaz Jr. is also still in show business, he is an actor and a musician just like his dad.
John Glenn, relaxing aboard the USS Noa after becoming the first astronaut to orbit the Earth, 1962.
Here’s a shot of former Astronaut John Glenn, just relaxing aboard the USS Noa after being recovered from the Atlantic near Grand Turk Island after his historic Mercury flight. So you know… just an ordinary day.
It was February 20, 1962, when Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth on in his "Friendship 7" capsule and made history. He also served four terms as a U.S. senator from Ohio.
On a more personal note, Glenn was described as "humble, funny, and generous" by Trevor Brown, dean of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at Ohio State University. "Even after leaving public life, he loved to meet with citizens, school children in particular. He thrilled to music and had a weakness for chocolate."
Patrick Swayze in 1979, around the time the film, Skatetown USA came out.
Here's a shot of actor Patrick Swayze back in 1979, this was taken around the time the film, Skatetown USA came out.
The film sought to capitalize on the rollerskating fad of the 70's and features Scott Baio, Flip Wilson, Maureen McCormick, Ron Palillo and Ruth Buzzi. Patrick Swayze had the leading role as the skater "Ace", this was actually his first movie performance. The film centers on a Los Angeles roller disco called Skatetown, U.S.A., where a rivalry between two skaters (Patrick Swayze and Greg Bradford) culminates in a contest. The winner will receive a moped and $1000 and a moped.
Gary Busey had the lead role in The Buddy Holly Story in 1978.
The Buddy Holly Story (1978) is a biographical film which tells the life story of rock musician Buddy Holly. It features an Oscar-nominated lead performance by Gary Busey. The film also stars Maria Richwine, who played Maria Elena Holly, Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith, Conrad Janis, and William Jordan.
The film received many positive reviews and was a massive box office success, grossing $14.3 million dollars on a $1.2 million dollar budget. That’s not to say there haven’t been complaints. Holly ‘authorities’ (yes that’s a real thing) and music scholars criticized what they deemed to be inaccuracies in the plot, such as the depiction of a physical confrontation at Holly's first Nashville session when nothing of the sort actually happened. Another inaccuracy is that Holly’s main guitar was a Fender Telecaster and the guitars used by Gary Busey's character in the film are different.
.38 Special was formed by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant (the brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd's leader, Ronnie Van Zant) in 1974.
The rock band .38 Special was formed back in 1974, by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant (who just so happens to be the brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd's leader, Ronnie Van Zant). The band's first two albums had a strong southern rock influence but by the early 90’s they shifted to a more arena rock style (without completely abandoning their southern rock roots of course). This little change proved to be a smart one though because with it, came quite the string of successful albums and singles.
Alice was about greasy-spoon Mel's Diner and the waitresses who worked there on this long-running series that aired from 1976-1985.
The sitcom Alice, aired on CBS from August 31, 1976, to March 19, 1985. It stars Linda Lavin in the title role. Her character is a widow who moves with her young son to start life over again. She finds a job working at a roadside diner, Mel’s Diner to be exact. Most of the episodes revolve around this greasy spoon located in a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona.
The waitresses at Mel's Diner were Vera (played by Beth Howland), Alice (Linda Lavin), and a rather spunky waitress named Flo, played by Polly Holliday. Flo was known for constantly saying "Kiss My Grits!” This catchphrase became widely popular at the time the show was on the air.
Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf is a Canadian rock band that was prominent from 1968 to 1972. The group began in late 1967 in Toronto by lead singer John Kay.
Canadian rock band Steppenwolf was prominent from 1968 to 1972. The group began in late 1967 in Toronto by lead singer John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, and drummer Jerry Edmonton (all formerly in Jack London & the Sparrows). Then guitarist Michael Monarch and bass guitarist Rushton Moreve were brought into the fold. Clashing personalities is what led to the demise of the core lineup. Today, John Kay is the only original member, having served as the lead singer since 1967.
With their three successes being, "Born to Be Wild", "Magic Carpet Ride", and "Rock Me", Steppenwolf has sold over 25 million records worldwide. They’ve also released eight gold albums and had 12 Billboard Hot 100 singles!
Wanda Ventham is a British actress who has appeared many times on the Doctor Who TV series from 1967-1987. She is also the mother of actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
The veteran British actress, Wanda Ventham has made numerous appearances on Doctor Who, She portrayed Jean Rock in The Faceless Ones, Thea Ransome and the Fendahl Core in Image of the Fendahl and Faroon in Time and the Rani. She remains best-known, however, for her role as Colonel Virginia Lake in the 1970s science-fiction television series UFO.
She is also the mother of actor Benedict Cumberbatch. She and actor Timothy Carlton have been married since April of 1976. The couple appeared together in the third series of BBC's Sherlock in 2014, where they played the parents of Sherlock. Which worked out great since their real-life son, Benedict Cumberbatch played Sherlock!
Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour find each other through time travel in Somewhere In Time (1980).
Here is Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour in the film Somewhere In Time, back in 1980. The film is a romantic science fiction drama, that was adapted from the 1975 novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson. In it, Reeve plays Richard Collier, a playwright who becomes obsessed with a photograph of a young woman at the Grand Hotel. Through self-hypnosis, he actually travels back in time to the year 1912 to fall in love with actress Elise McKenna (portrayed by Seymour).
Somewhere in Time has received several awards, including Saturn Awards for Best Costume, Best Music, and Best Fantasy Film. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Costume Design (for Jean-Pierre Dorleac).
Steve McQueen getting in his very cool 1966 Corvette Stingray 427 Coupe at a film studio lot.
The man and his toys… here is actor Steve McQueen hoping into his slick ride: a 1966 Corvette Stingray 427 Coupe. Steve McQueen rose to fame throughout the counterculture of the 1960s and soon became the highest paid actor and the biggest box-office draw of the 1960s and 1970s. He was also a race car driver and car collector, in fact, one of his best-known films is Bullitt. Bullitt is legendary for having one of the big screen's all-time best car chase scenes in history!
In regards to McQueen’s review of this particular beast, he is pictured with here, the King of Cool wrote: "I was very impressed by the Corvette. Other than the Ferrari, it was the best car I drove at Riverside. And let's face it, it went out the door at $ 5,500 instead of $ 14,000."
Here's Johnny...Cash eating and wearing his cake under a tree in 1971.
Pictures here is the legend Johnny Cash, captured in the act of chowing down on fistfuls of strawberry cake (because forks will only slow him down). So here he is, sitting in the bushes during what was probably the most intense case of the munchies ever.
It’s no secret that the singer struggled with drugs and alcohol all throughout his life. The late Hall of Famer was once quoted, "I took all the drugs there are to take, and I drank. Everybody said that Johnny Cash was through 'cause I was walkin' around town 150 pounds. I looked like walking death."
He partied hard, and this picture of a Johnny, high as a kite, would go on to be the art cover for the back of his album entitled Strawberry Cake in 1971.
Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) clowning around, the band formed in 1970 in England with Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan. Their goal was to carry the torch of the recently disbanded Beatles.
The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is a rock band formed in 1970, by songwriters, multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood with drummer Bev Bevan. Their sound is characterized by a fusion of Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements, and futuristic iconography.
In the mid-1970s, ELO saw more success in the United States and were billed as "the English guys with the big fiddles". Between 1972 to 1986, ELO accumulated twenty Top 20 songs on the UK Singles Chart and fifteen Top 20 songs on the US Billboard Hot 100. During ELO's original 13-year period of active recording and touring, they sold over 50 million records worldwide. They also amassed 19 CRIA, 21 RIAA, and 38 BPI awards.
The Seven Dirty Words. George Carlin first listed these in 1972 in his monologue Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.
Carlin is now most known noted for his hilariously dark way of conveying his thoughts on…. Well on pretty much everything. He’s taken on politics, psychology, religion, just about every taboo he could get his hands on, and even the English language. Sadly he passed on June 22, 2008, but his work continues to influence the work of writers and comedians every day.
The Seven Dirty Words. George Carlin first listed these in 1972 in his monologue Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television. At the time, the words were considered highly inappropriate and unsuitable for broadcast… thus the basis of their appeal in the first place. Most of the words on Carlin's original list remain taboo on American broadcast television.
Jonathan Winters had a 60 year career and appeared in hundreds of TV shows and films; including The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters (1972–74), Mork & Mindy, Hee Haw, and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
Pictured here is Jonathan Winters. A comedian. Actor, author, and artist with a career spanning over 60 years. He appeared in hundreds of TV shows and films; including The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters (1972–74), Mork & Mindy, Hee Haw, and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
He released comedy records every decade for over 50 years, receiving 11 Grammy nominations for Best Comedy Album. He won a Grammy Award for Best Album for Children for his contribution to an adaptation of The Little Prince in 1975 and the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album for Crank(y) Calls in 1996. The award wins and nominations just kept rolling in until his death in 2013. Winters was a real talent!
Comedian Ruth Buzzi is famous for her portrayal of 'Gladys Ormphby' in the late 60's TV show Laugh-In
Actress, singer, and comedian Ruth Ann Buzzi has appeared onstage, as well as in numerous films and television shows. She is probably best known for her performances in the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968–73. As the versatile and accomplished comedian and actress that she is, Buzzi has played everything from a dowdy old woman to a tipsy drunk, from a Southern belle to a flashy hooker. Her brilliant work on this series actually earned her a Golden Globe Award and five Emmy nominations!
Behind the scenes photo of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris from Way of the Dragon 1972.
The Way of the Dragon (1972) is a Hong Kong martial arts action comedy that was written, produced and directed by Bruce Lee, who also just so happens to star in it. The film also co-stars Nora Miao, Chuck Norris (pictured here), Robert Wall and Hwang In-shik. Way of the Dragon is Lee’s only completed directorial film and it was a success. It set a new box office record in Hong Kong and it won the Golden Horse Award for Best Film Editing. In it, “A man visits his relatives at their restaurant in Italy and has to help them defend against brutal gangsters harassing them.”
The world's last commercial sailing ship, 'Pamir' in 1957.
Check it out, it’s the world's last commercial sailing ship, a four-masted barque known as the 'Pamir' back in 1957. It was one of the famous Flying P-Liner sailing ships of the German shipping company F. Laeisz. She had been outmoded by modern bulk carriers and could not operate at a profit by 1957.
Her shipping consortium was not able to pay for much-needed repairs, nor could they manage to recruit sufficiently trained officers, causing severe technical difficulties. Then on September 21, 1957, the Pamir was caught in Hurricane Carrie and sank off the Azores. An extensive search and rescue mission was employed, but sadly only six survivors were rescued.
Buddy Miles hanging out with Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival, 1967.
It’s Buddy Miles hanging out with Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival, back in 1967. George Allen "Buddy" Miles Jr. was a founding member of The Electric Flag (1967), and a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys (1969–1970). He was also the founder and leader of the Buddy Miles Express and later, the Buddy Miles Band. Not that playing and recording with Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, and Mike Bloomfield, (among other music legends) isn’t beyond awesome accomplishments, but he was also the lead vocals on the "California Raisins" claymation TV commercials. How cool is that? He wound up recording two California Raisins R&B albums!
One of the happiest Hollywood marriages, Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks-they were married 41 years until her death from uterine cancer.
Check out this sweet photo of two people in one of the happiest marriages in Hollywood! Oh so rare to find a long-lasting partnership, especially in Hollywood but Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks were married 41 years until her death from uterine cancer. And it seems both of them were positively beaming with love for each other most of the time.
The pair got married at New York City Hall on Aug. 5. 1964. "I was a Catholic girl who had been divorced and living alone for a long time. My mother was so happy, she didn't even care if he was Mel Brooks, Jewish or what," Bancroft said of their interfaith relationship in 2000. "She was just happy he was a man!"
The couple appeared in front of the camera together several times, including on Curb Your Enthusiasm ("Opening Night") and in three comedies Brooks directed: Silent Movie (1976), To Be or Not to Be (1983), and Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995). Bancroft also starred in Brooks’ award-winning drama The Elephant Man in 1980.
Here's a cool photo of David Cassidy sitting on the front hood of his 1972 Corvette. (1975)
David Bruce Cassidy was an actor, singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his role on The Partridge Family. He played Keith Partridge, the son of Shirley Partridge (who just so happened to be played by his actual stepmother Shirley Jones). The musical sitcom led to Cassidy becoming one of pop culture's biggest teen idols and pop singers of the 1970s.
His later career was also pretty evenly focused on both acting and music. In the 80’s he did some musical theater work, provided backup vocals for George Michael, and he co-wrote the song "Prayin' 4 a Miracle" with John Wetton and Sue Shifrin. The 90s and 2000s brought more of the same and in the 2010s he took on reality TV and appeared on Celebrity Apprentice.
After suffering from multiple medical conditions, he died at the age of 67 from liver failure on November 21, 2017.
Bob Hope and Connie Stevens entertaining the troops on a USO tour in 1969.
Bob Hope’s USO tours are legendary, here he is on stage with Connie Stevens during the tour of 1969. Sadly, not all of the 2.5 million troops who served in Southeast Asia were able to attend these highly anticipated shows, but those who did were grateful to have the change in mood and scenery for the duration. For a couple of hours, there was laughter in combat zones across Vietnam. That’s a beautiful gift.
Hope first decided to take his show on the road after the United States entered World War II and the United Service Organization (USO) started sending Hollywood entertainers to perform at military bases in North Africa, Europe, and the South Pacific.
Legendary drummer Buddy Rich - never taught, never read music, never practiced but could keep a steady beat with spoons at the age of one.
Bernard "Buddy" Rich is widely considered one of the most influential drummers of all time.
He performed with many notable bandleaders like Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Count Basie, in addition, his own big band.The jazz drummer and bandleader was very well-known for his virtuoso technique, power, and speed. In fact, during the course of his career, Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and Rich was both a performer and endorser of Ludwig, Slingerland and Rogers Drums.
On the homefront, Rich got married to dancer/showgirl Marie Allison on April 24, 1953, and the two lovebirds stayed together until his death in 1987. The couple had one child together, a daughter, Cathy who later became a vocalist in her father’s band.