Every now and then, you see a picture of past events that make you think differently about our history. From photos of iconic buildings to old advertisements to celebrities at the height of their career who seemingly belong to a different era, the photos in this article provide insight into the 19th and 20th century as we’ve never seen it. And there’s no better way to learn about the past than to look at it through never before seen photos.
The pictures show below are the closest thing to a time machine that one could find, and they’ll teach a lot about the people and the places in them. If you’re ready to take a stroll down through the history books, this article is definitely for you.
George Harrison and Stevie Nicks, 1978
It’s a bit odd to see George Harrison hanging out with Stevie Nicks, but these two award-winning singers were actually friends. She even helped him to write his 1979 hit, “Here Comes the Moon.” Stevie once detailed in an interview that the song came about when the two stars showed up in Maui, Hawaii at the exact same time.
In the book George Harrison: Behind the Locked Door by Graeme Thomson, Stevie said that she keeps a picture of them around while on tour to help her get through rough times. She said, “When I go on the road it goes right on my makeup mirror, so before I go on stage, whether it's with Fleetwood Mac or me in my solo career, the three of us are looking back at me and that has been my inspiration every single night…”
Dr. Seuss at Age 10 with his Dog Rex, 1914
Long before he became Dr. Seuss, this little boy was known as Theodore Seuss Geisel (his mother’s maiden name). The budding author was raised in Springfield, Massachusetts where he helped his father at the family’s brewery until it closed because of the prohibition.
When he wasn’t working with his father, the young boy spent much of his time at the local zoo with his mother and sister where he sketched many of the animals. It’s those same wacky animals that made it into his later works. The only question now is if his mom cooked him green eggs and ham.
Alfred Hitchcock and his Grandkids on a Sleigh, 1960
It’s not every day that you see the master of terror, Alfred Hitchcock, have fun doing simple things. But what’s the dark side if you can’t spend time enjoying yourself every now and again. Like, many grandparents, Alfred clearly liked to spoil his grandchildren, a fact verified by Tere O’Connell Carrubba, (Hitchcock’s middle female grandchild). According to her, he was always happy to spend time with them.
Carrubba went onto tell Mercury News that her grandfather loved San Francisco and that he would take the long seven and a half hour-long drive to get to Scotts Valley. Anything for some time away.
Grace Kelly on her Wedding Day, 1956
Many girls grow up wanting to be real-life princesses, but Grace Jones managed to make those dreams come true when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco on April 18th, 1956. Kelly wore a dress provided by movie studio company MGM. Rumor has it that it required the work of 30 seamstresses and roughly six weeks to be made. If that doesn’t scream royal wedding dress, then what does?
On the guest list were fellow Hollywood stars, Ava Gardener, Cary Grant, and Gloria Swanson. The ceremony was a spectacle which Grace rumoredly thought to be “overwhelming”. Her son, Prince Albert of Monaco, revealed that both of his parents thought that the whole this was over the top.
Twins, Lisa and Louise Burns on the set of “The Shining”, 1980
Arguably one of the creepiest parts of Stanley Kubrick’s (already scary) “The Shining” is when young Danny rode in on his tricycle to find the Grady twins standing at the edge of the hallway. The girls’ chopped their beloved father to pieces after he’d gone crazy from taking care of the hotel that past winter.
The real-life Burns twins said that they’d had a blast playing the pair of ghosts on set. They said this to the Daily Mail, “Every day felt like we’d been invited to a very exclusive party and we were the youngest, luckiest people to be there…”
A Baby in an Overhead Airplane Cradle, early 1950s
If you have an issue with flying now, then you should try to imagine flying on a plane with a baby in the spot where the overhead luggage compartment would be. It gives new meaning to carry on problems because you’ll have to compete with mothers trying to find space for their babies to sleep.
The carry on space is just one of the problems with these “sky cots”, as turbulence is also a factor. It’s hard to imagine babies being comfortable while the plane runs into air pockets on its way to its destination.
Robert De Niro with Martin Scorsese’s Mother on the set of “Goodfellas”, 1989
Martin Scorsese is one of the very few directors who has an entire repertoire of films to quote from, just think of Goodfellas, its’ one of the greatest movies ever made. In addition to the reference material, there’s a ton of food scenes, the most well-known takes place after a hit is carried out by Tommy DeVito, played by Joe Pesci. In that specific week, DeVito’s mother, played by Martin Scorsese’s real mother, cooks for everyone.
A little known fact is that Scorsese’s mother, Catherine, often cooked for the cast and crew during filming. The jail scene where Sorvino uses a razor blade to shave garlic comes from one of her cookbooks. He once told Jimmy Kimmel, “My mother made a dish called chicken with lemon and garlic and if you go to Francis Coppola's restaurant he has it on the menu... It's pretty good, pretty close...”
Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell and Rob Lowe on the set of “The Outsiders”, 1980
Francis Ford Coppola’s film adaptation of The Outsiders, tells the story of the lives of a struggling group of friends from the lower class. Not only does the underappreciated film successfully portray the despair of the youth in the 1950s, but it was also a sharp contrast to the 50s flashback occurring in the 1980s.
The film was the start of many of today’s well-known actors. Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, and Tom Cruise would all go one to be some of the biggest actors in that decade and the next.
Painters on the Woolworth Building in New York City, 1926
This one is for the men who risked their lives to make sure that the Woolworth Building in Manhattan, New York was properly painted. Back in 1926, these guys had to go to the top of one of the world’s tallest buildings to make sure that it looked its best. To work on such a project, not only must you trust your harness, but you must also trust your crew.
If you think getting to the side of the building was hard, imagine having to eat your lunch above the rest of the city. There were one of two options, either you climb back inside or you keep it with you. How things have changed.
A Tree Growing Through an Abandoned Piano
Can you imagine what it would be like to play a game of disco golf and end up running into this gem in the forest? The tree growing through a piano was taken on the campus of California State University in Monterey, California. As cool as it looks, the tree didn’t grow through the piano. The instrument was cut in half, then placed around the tree. The tree then continued to grow through the piano.
Jeff Mifflin, the person responsible for the “Piano Tree”, said that he wanted people to imagine the “ethereal sound” of the wind passing through its leaves when they see it.
An Evening Near Some Pyramids by Ernest R. Ashton, 1897
Photographed by Ernest Ashton, this shot of the pyramids was taken while the sun set in beautiful Egypt. Not only does it show how stunning the Middle East is, but it also shows how great Ashton’s eye is for finding shots of contrasting light and shadow. To remind you, this picture was taken long before digital photographs and Photoshop were created, which makes it that more amazing.
The photographer was able to capture such a shot by waiting for the exact second the sun dipped behind the clouds, thereby avoiding damaging the lens from the harsh light. As great as the picture is, it’s only five by seven inches.
‘Cow shoes’ used by Moonshiners to Disguise their Footprints in the Prohibition Days, 1924
During Prohibition, rum runners, moonshiners, and bootleggers tried their best to avoid getting caught by the police while making and selling their product. They did everything in their power to throw off the police off their scent, including wearing the “cow shoes” shown in the picture.
So what was the idea behind the cow shoes? They were shoes with pieces of wood fixed to the bottom of the shoes. It gave the impression of hoof prints instead of footprints. The primary belief was that if the police saw hoof prints, they wouldn’t follow. It was genius if you think about it.
A Colorized Photo of Actress Susan Peters, 1943
Even though Susan Peters’ career was not as long and prosperous as many had hoped, she had some shining moments on the silver screen. There was Dr. Gillespie’s New Assistant, The Big Shot, and Random Harvest, a film about a World War I veteran which she received an Academy Award for her role as Kitty.
Over the next nine years, she only appeared in eight other films, and in 1952, she passed away from a chronic kidney infection, which was made worse by self-starvation. She was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Hoover Dam Under Construction, 1934
America had several projects going on during the Great Depression, which thankfully helped to pull them out of it. One such project was the construction of the Hoover Dam, which cost $49 million at the time, which is approximately $639 million today. The place where Hoover Dam was built, Black Canyon was sought after since 1900, but Congress didn’t give permission for its construction.
By the time 1934, employment for constructing the Dam was at its maximum, at 5,251 workers. By 1936, the Dam had just reached the finish line for its dedication. It’s one of the country’s proudest achievements.
Kmart, 1970s
In the 1970s, Kmart was the one-stop savings store for everything one could possibly need, from discounted food to clothing. It was well-known that the department store had amazing deals, but when the company introduced their blue light specials, they completely changed the savings game. From the moment the blue lights went on, shoppers had one hour to get extra savings on select merchandise.
At the peak of their sales campaign, it was close to impossible to find a time when the store wasn’t packed with people. Kmart was where everyone was at in the ‘70s.
“Rabbit Tail”, a Shoshone Tribe Member who worked as a U.S Army Scout, 1895
Although she was born in Frankfurt, Germany, her family moved several times, following the migration of the European settlers across America. By the late 19th century, several members of the Shoshone tribe were displaced from their homes in what we now know as Idaho and Wyoming. Despite clashes and battles with the US Army, the Shoshone tribe began working alongside them in 1878 during the Battle of the Rosebud, against the Cheyenne and Lakota.
During the joint partnership with the U.S. Army, people like Rabbit Tail, were employed as Army Scouts, people who could follow horse tracks and footprints to determine how many soldiers were in a camp or party. They played a key role in the expansion of the United States.
“Just Divorced”, 1934
There’s nothing that makes you happier than getting out of something you didn’t want to be a part of, like a job, or get together, or in this case, a marriage. As depressing as it may sound, the man in the photograph is obviously happy to be out of his relationship, so happy that he put a twist on the “Just Married” sign seen on cars of newlyweds.
He may be hurting, but you’d never know it, as he’s clearly having some fun with it. That’s a lot better than how some others would have dealt with the situation. Hopefully, it’s the last time he has to use that sign.
A Night Watchdog on Duty at Macy’s in New York, 1954
There aren’t many things that will pique your interest more than a dog with 9 to 5. In the early to mid 20th century, guard dogs were wildly popular and could be found in major stores to keep their goods safe for those thinking about stealing jewelry or dresses.
Back then, most guard dogs were employed because of their loud, thunderous barks, one of the main reasons why German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers were sought after, particularly in the 1950s. They were very territorial and they knew how to be mean when the time called for it. The use of guard dogs declined when modern security systems were made.
A Graveyard for Red Telephone Boxes
Have you ever thought about where those red telephone boxes go when they’re no longer in use? Well, for those who aren’t repurposed, they’re sent off to storage spaces across small villages in England. One such “phone box cemetery” can be found in Carlton Miniott. The graveyard is home to hundreds of these boxes, each of which is in a different state of disrepair.
If you happen to be in the area, you can pick up one of these boxes and do what you want with it. Many artists pick them up for different installations. If you feel like doing the same, be sure to buy lots of red paint, you’ll need it.
A Lion Cub in Second Grade in Garden City, Kansas, 1951
Why is there a lion in a Kansas City classroom? Well, in 1956, a cub by the name of Kyla made headlines in Kansas after being hosted in the home of Stuart Hansen and his wife. The Garden City Telegram states that the little cub’s popularity soared and people would pay, just to say hello.
The paper went on to say that little Kyla was very eager and extremely curious and her cuteness could not be ignored. She began visiting local schools because of the amount of traffic through the Hansen household. We’re not sure what became of Kyla after this photo was taken.
Miners on an ‘Aerial Tram’ in the Kimberly Diamond Mine in South Africa, 1885
Who was it who said, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend?” Well, these glistening precious stones are extremely hard to find, and there was one place that was known to have them. Kimberly was a diamond mining center in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The business went into operation in 1869 and miners built an entire civilization around the mine including a system of railways to transport people to and from the dig site.
At the time that the photograph was taken, the diamond mining was controlled by De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd., one of the world’s premiere diamond producers, even to this day. The wine was shut down almost 50 years later, in 1914.
John Candy, Tom Hanks and Eugene Levy with Daryl Hannah on the Set of Splash, 1984
Splash was one of the best movies to come out of the 1980s and it introduced the world to the talent that is Tom Hanks. The film also starred SCTV alums Eugene Levy, John Candy and it also featured Daryl Hannah as Madison the Mermaid.
According to Daryl, her hand-painted mermaid tail took eight hours to put on and after being in it all day, it made it hard for her to walk once she got out of it. She said, “My circulation would be gone in my extremities, so it took a while before I could walk again. It made me very sympathetic to fish! I remember when I was filming the scene in the lab tank I was very upset about a big fish that was being kept in a smaller tank.”
Actor Len Chaney Jr. Resting on the Set of “The Wolfman”, 1941
The Wolfman is one of Universal’s most popular horror films. It tells the story of Larry Talbot Jr. a man who returns home to visit his estranged father, when he gets attacked by a wolf, and is cursed with lycanthropy. The actor, Len Chaney had to spend approximately two and a half hours getting his face put on, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that he’d need some rest.
Chaney described putting on the makeup as a nightmarish process, but it was nothing compared to taking it off. He said, “What gets me is after work when I’m all hot and itchy and tired… [I’ve still] got to sit in that chair for forty-five minutes while Pierce just about kills me, ripping off all the stuff he put on me in the morning.”
An Abandoned Gothic Revival Home from the 1840s
For some people, there’s nothing cooler than a Gothic Revival home. This particular style was first seen in the late 19th century and remained popular for almost 40 years especially among churches and houses. Typical features included asymmetric floor plans, multiple chimneys, and pointed windows.
The Gothic Revival was seen across Europe and America, so there were several variations across the world. Because of this diversity, it’s easy to have your very own haunted home; all you’ll need is the down payment.
Workers Forging the Chain for the Titanic’s Anchor, 1910
In order to build the 10 deck, 46,000 ton ship that was the RMS Titanic, approximately 15,000 workers had to be brought in under the authority of Harland and Wolff, the company takes with building the majestic passenger liner. It took 26 months for construction to be complete, and one of the last pieces to be added to the boat was its anchor.
It is rumored that the center anchor for the Titanic weighs 16 tons, making it the largest forged item in history (at the time), and it was only one of three, secured to the ship. It would be interesting to see what it looks like today.
Best Friends, 1924
Over the years, we’ve heard many tales of man and his best friend, or in this case, a boy and his dog, and some of us have never seen something this adorable. This vintage photo captures the love between these two and you can tell that these have spent quite a bit of time together – possibly getting into trouble, as friends should.
You can just imagine them running around all day then coming home just in time for dinner, covered in dirt and with a scrape or two. This photo would make anyone want to get a dog.
California Street in San Francisco, 1964
There’s no street that captures the essence of San Francisco like California Street. The blacktop lanes are a straight ride up to the peak that overlooks the beautiful city. It’s one of the longest streets in the city as such, it not only has a thoroughfare, but it also has cable car lines that would take you all the way to Fillmore District.
If you ever visit California Street, be sure to check out Grace Cathedral and the Masonic Auditorium. They are said to be some of the city’s most beautiful landmarks.
A Little Girl taking her Puppy for a Walk, 1900s
Okay, so there are few images of cute puppies in this article, but who can blame us. The dog’s cuteness is only slightly beaten by the little girl pushing it around in the Victorian era stroller. If one thing is certain, it’s that no matter the time, kids love pushing things and animals around in strollers.
The stroller itself, while beautiful, poses a number of concerns, the most prominent being keeping a child secured without them falling out. Nevertheless, it seems like the right fit for the dog, and we’re not complaining.
Dancing in Paris, France, Late 1940s
After the second world war, Paris was in all types of disarray, but when the German left, the French celebrated by dancing in the streets at all hours of the day. Even though their city was in terrible shape, nothing compared to how London was left, at least they had their Eiffel Tower.
With the Nazis gone, the French began to have fun again and the city of Paris was the go-to destination for music lovers around the world. Jazz musicians flocked to the city and clubs popped up seemingly everywhere. But who needs to go clubbing when you can show off your moves right there in the streets?
George Harrison takes a Selfie in Front of the Taj Mahal, 1966
Long before the selfie stick or reverse camera were created, people were taking selfies, and one of the coolest happened right in front of the Taj Mahal. Right after The Beatles’ final tour of America, George Harrison immersed himself in Indian culture. He visited the country several times to study with sitar Ravi Shankar and to work on his yoga moves with wife, Pattie.
He said this about his first visit, “I went to India in September 1966. When I had first come across a record of Ravi Shankar's I had a feeling that, somewhere, I was going to meet him. It happened that I met him in London in June, at the house of Ayana Deva Angadi, founder of the Asian Music Circle… He also came round to my house, and I had a couple of lessons from him on how to sit and hold the sitar.”
A Shot of Freddie Mercury at Wembley Stadium, 1986
Queen spent what seemed like an eternity at the top of the charts, and if you watched them live, you’d understand why. Their performances seemed to get better as time passed, a fact which many attribute to the groups increasing closeness and their uplifting songs. This was feeling during their Wembley Stadium concert in 1986.
On that day, the band played for approximately two and a half hours straight, and during that time, the group managed to sing their greatest hits. It doesn’t matter what era of Queen you love, this show will have you belting out notes in your best Freddie Mercury impression.
Gunnar Kaasen and his Lead Dog Balto Delivering Diphtheria Antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, 1925
Some people have just got the stuff of heroes, and Norwegian dog sledder Gunnar Kaasen is one of them. He found his way to the United States during the early 20th-century gold rush where he learned that he learned that he was a great musher. He then moved to Nome, Alaska.
During an outbreak of diphtheria in the town, a group of mushers went on a multi-day, 674-mile relay to get the medication to those who needed it. During the journey, Kaasen had his sled flipped upside down due to intense winds, but he still managed to make to back on schedule, thereby saving the town.
Harlem, 1970s
Those who lived in Harlem in the 1970s were people who stayed behind after many evacuated for neighboring boroughs like Queens and the Bronx in search of better housing. They were the people who either loved it too much to leave or they could not afford to. As depressing as it sounds, those who stayed clearly had an eye for style.
As dull as the city was, its people had a vibrant outlook on life, which was reflected in their outfit choices.
Marriage Advice for Young Ladies from a Suffragette, 1918
The Suffragette movement really began in 1848 at a women’s rights convention in New York. The event inspired women across the country to create their own groups and to host similar conventions. What started as a way to help women get the right to vote, turned into advice for how young ladies should treat their husbands, if they choose to marry.
The views expressed in this pamphlet are clearly anti-male, and in the funniest way possible. It tells you what profession to look for and most importantly to feed them.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his Father Rocky Johnson, 1978
Long before he became The Rock and one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, Dwayne Johnson was just a young boy who grew up in a wrestling family. His father, Rocky Johnson, was an NWA Heavyweight Champion and a member of the first Black wrestling tag team to take home the win in WWF.
Rocky did not want his son to be involved in wrestling, but he reluctantly agreed to train him only after they agreed that he would take it easy on young Dwayne. The young Rock had a rough start but he quickly found his footing and solidified himself as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
Ireland, 1915
Throughout its history, many people saw Ireland as a lower class country, especially before the 20th century when they were just coming out of a potato famine. In 1915, Dublin slums were considered to be some of Europe’s worst and it was advised to steer clear of them.
The people who lived there experienced high death rates, and no way to earn a decent living. Despite the absence of a high violent crime rate, people stole from each other on a regular basis. Everything changed during World War I. The standard of living rose with the city’s sudden boom in ammunition factories.
Marilyn Monroe, 1949
When people think about Marilyn Monroe, they tend to think o her from 1955 onward even though she’d starred in a few films in the late 1940s. In that year, she’d starred in Some Like It Hot and The Seven Year Itch. Many may not have known it, but by the late 1940s, she was well on her way to superstardom.
In 1949, she was featured in Life Magazine while stretching and taking dance lessons. Her earlier photos show that she was always a beauty and there was definitely a star presence even before she walked down her first red carpet.
Colorful Tights, 1969
It seems like the 1960s was the jump off point for many trends and fad, some of which are still around today. The mini-skirt which seemed to be worn by every woman in the world was one of the most significant forms of fashion to come out of the decade.
There was serious pushback against the short skirt and some countries even put a ban on the outfit. This pushback didn’t last and women found creative ways to wear their skirts.
Taking a Ride on Snow King Chairlift in Jackson, Wyoming, 1965
If you ever find yourself passing through Jackson, Wyoming, take a rode on what’s being called the most scenic chairlift in America. The Snow King Chairlift takes visitors 1,571 feet up to the summit of the Snow King Mountain where they can see an Elk Refuge, the Grand Tetons, and Jackson, Wyoming. Rumor has it that if you go on a perfect day, that you may be able to see Yellowstone.
The 12-minute long ride is a great way to take in the scenery, and if you’re brave enough, you can ride the chairlift back down. Either that, or you hike down the mountain.
Ladies Can Do It… Too, 1943
World War II was fought back in the United States on the home front just as much as the soldiers fighting on the battlefield. While the men were enlisted and deployed to parts of Europe and Asia, women were recruited to work in military and civilian factories around the country.
It was the first time since World War I that women were allowed to take on jobs that were deemed “manly”. The image shows Private Elizabeth Gourlay transmitting a radio message.
Behind the Scenes Look at “Star Wars,” 1980
Star Wars actors and co-stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fischer, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker, are pictured together in the United Kingdom in May 1980. Apparently, it was just as fun to film the first trilogy as it was to watch it, well that’s according to the people starring in it.
The stars became very close friends while shooting and it is said that Carrie became known for her sense of humor, especially her love of pranking her cast members. Not only did she use squirt guns on them, but she also made Mark Hamill walk around the set in her costumes for fun.
The Statue of Liberty, 1883
The Statue of Liberty was completed in 1884 and the few years before were spent constructing the masterpiece in The Monduit and Bechet Workshop in Paris, France. Very few people know that Lady Liberty is actually the Roman goddess Libertas.
The statue was a gift from the French and was designed by sculptor, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. It was believed that the statue’s face was inspired by his own mother’s. Another fun fact is that the framework was made by the same engineer who built the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel.
Globe Making, 1933
Industrialization led to the decrease and extinction of several jobs and crafts, one of which is globe manufacturing. As the photo shows, globes were created firstly by carving wooden balls, then painting maps of the earth onto strips of paper, and then sticking the painted paper onto the wooden ball.
The meticulous process requires precision and any one strip being out of place would lead to the distortion of the map. Now, machines attach printed maps to plastic globes, making them more accurate, but not as charismatic.
London’s West End, 1975
Teeth ‘n’ Smiles was a popular musical written by the playwright, David Hare. The play which premiered at London’s West End in 1975 told the tale of a failing rock band that goes to play a concert for students at the prestigious Cambridge University.
Actress Helen Mirren played the role of the band’s rebellious singer, Maggie Frisby. In an interview, the actress said that she enjoyed playing the role because of Maggie’s feisty personality and spirit.
Creating Disney, 1954
Walt Disney was a true visionary; he wanted to create a place where kids and adults alike could enjoy themselves. He spent years developing the idea, and this photo captures that. Walt had several problems including limited financing and finding a place that was near a major highway. He’s seen standing next to a 4D model of Disneyland located in Anaheim, California.
The theme park’s opening day was reserved for journalists, but something odd happened that day. Out of the 30,000 attendees, half were invited, and the other half managed to get in by using fake tickets.
Caravan Camping, 1934
At the end of the 20th Century, caravan and camping trips became the “it-thing” to do, especially in England. The craze all began when young gentlemen began taking these trips for fun.
In 1097, journalist J Harris Stone founded a group called the Caravan Club, for like-minded travelers. Two and a half decades later, camping trip became even more popular as more families owned vehicles. Today, his club has well over 1 million members and over 3000 camping sites across England.
One-Wheeler
The Dynasphere, also known by the name “Jumbo”, is an electrically driven wheel that was invented by J. A. Dr. Purves of Taunton and his son in the 1930s. The doctor was inspired by one of Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches. Purves thought that his creation was the ‘vehicle of the future” simply because it reduced driving to its most basic form.
The first model had a basic engine that was used to push it forward. If you needed to turn the vehicle, the driver would have to lean to the side and tip the wheel to go in another direction. The wheel also had to have a low center of gravity to prevent it from tipping over. Two years later, Perves developed a bus version to hold more passengers.
Ronald McDonald Mascot
Willard Scott was an up-and-coming TV star in Washington when he got the opportunity to play Bozo the Clown. The show was wildly successful, especially with children. When the show came to an end, it was no surprise that MacDonald’s approached Scott with the clown character.
Scott served as the company’s mascot for several years, and after his retirement, they had to find a replacement. There’s a rumor going around that MacDonald’s only employs one actor to play the role of Ronald at their official events or in commercials at a time.
Impressionist Clause Monet, 1923
Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) was a French painter who was one of the founders of Impressionist painting. The picture shows Monet standing in front of one of his large waterlily canvases he painted of his garden in Giverny, a few years before his death.
Monet was a bit of a rebel back then; his impressionist movement was focused on drawing reality as the artist saw it, not realistically, as was previously done. Unfortunately, he started losing his sight and could only draw the little he could have seen.
Up and Coming
The photo shows a 13-year-old Milla Jovovich with several photos of her 1988 Lei magazine cover. The Ukrainian-born teen moved to America where she became a model, musician, clothing designer, and award-winning actress, of course.
It took Milla quite a few years to land a lead role, and when she finally did, it was in Return to the Blue Lagoon. The role raised several eyebrows and was deemed controversial by many. Even then, it earned her a Best Young Actress nomination at The Young Artists Award. The role also earned her a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Actress.
Constructing Rushmore
Constructing Mount Rushmore in Black Hills, South Dakota was an enormous task that took almost 13 years to complete. Over 400 people worked to carve the president’s faces into the mountainside. At the time the photo was taken, the worker was busy carving Jefferson’s eyelid in 1934.
The original plans for the monument were to carve out their entire bodies, but the plan soon proved to be too ambitious. Before long, the project ran out of both time and money, so the project has to stop at their heads. The work was completed in 1939.
Back to Earth
When the Apollo 11 team went to space, it was expected that they would make it back to earth, and they did. They became national heroes as they were the first people to walk on the moon. Their mission happened in the middle of the Cold War and was meant to show everyone that the United States was the world’s leading power.
The photo shows the lead astronaut and commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong – the first person to walk on the moon – celebrating his 39th birthday. Neil, along with the crew reception area of the Manned Spacecraft Center’s Lunar Receiving Laboratory cut cake to honor the astronaut’s big day.
"Man's Work"
Although World War I was mostly fought in Europe, the United States also felt the hardships associated with the war. many young men were drafted by the military and many industries had to replace their workforce because of those who left to fight the war.
The solution for the depleted workforce was to hire women. Jobs that were previously considered men’s jobs, like carrying ice (shown in this image) were now being filled by young ladies. The photo was taken before the creation of the modern fridge and the only way to keep food cool was to put it in an ice box with big blocks of ice.
Frida Kahlo, 1926
Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954) was a Mexican painter who became famous for her surrealistic self-portraits featuring her iconic unibrow. Kahlo was a bit of a rebel, especially for her time. She was known for not only wearing men’s clothing but also for having an open relationship with her husband, Diego Rivera, who was also a painter.
During her life, her success was always in the shadow of her more famous husband, but today, her body of work is finally getting the recognition it deserves. The photo shows her mother Matilde, sister Cristina, and two other family members.
The Train of Tomorrow
In the mid-20th century, America seemed to be obsessed with the future, particularly what the future looked like. The country was experiencing a boost in prosperity after the war and people were extremely optimistic about the future. Not to mention, car companies were performing much better than they have in a long time.
These future-minded designers and engineers were in a competition to try to design the perfect vehicle for “modern-America”. The picture shows an observation lounge care created by General Motor, called “Train of Tomorrow.” The train can now be found on a national exhibit tour of major cities in the United States.
Queen in Japan, 1975
In the 1970s, at the height of their success, the band Queen was a symbol of youth rebellion around the world. Not only did they defy gender norms with their clothing choices and long hair. The rock band redefined music with their stylistic choices and Freddy Mercury’s iconic operatic vocals.
The band was extremely successful outside of the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1975, they went on a world tour which began in Canada and ended in Japan, where they performed in seven different cities. That year was one of the best moments of their career; they went on to record Sheer Heart Attack and A Night at The Opera.
Cars of the Future, 1956
With the end of the Second World War, the American Automobile industry was booming. In fact, the 1950s have been nicknamed the Era of the Automobile. Families have more money coming in and they were also moving to the suburbs. Vehicles were a symbol of status and prosperity and everybody wanted one.
Vehicles were also a symbol of modernization and that’s the main reason why many of them were designed to look like airplanes. The photo shows models posing next to a collection of General Motors’ cars in 1956.
Painting the Eiffel Tower, 1953
The Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron lattice tower that was first constructed for the 1889 World Exposition in Paris, France. Construction began two years before and by the time that they were done, it was over 1000 feet tall. The tower wasn’t quite the attraction it is today.
When the monument was first constructed, hundreds of artists took to the streets of Paris to protest against it. According to them, the iron structure was going to ruin the city. French writer Guy de Maupassant would eat his lunch in the tower because it was the only place where he didn’t have to see it.
American Football
American football, also known as gridiron, is one of the most popular and beloved sports in the United States. History tells us that the sport evolved from other sports like soccer and rugby and that the first game was played on November 6th, 1869 between rival college teams, Princeton and Rutgers.
Fifty years later, in 1920, the Nation Football League (NFL), a group of professional teams was established, but under the name American Professional Football Association. Today it is arguably the most-watched sport in America.
An Enormous Harmonica, 1938
The harmonica is a musical instrument that was invented in China many years ago, making it one of the oldest instruments in the world. From there, it made its way to Europe, then the United States at the beginning of the 19th century, where it was an instant hit.
The instrument was easy to make, it was cheap, and most importantly, it was small. Learning to play the device was also an easy task it didn’t take long for it to become one of the most used instruments, especially by folk and blues musicians. The photo shows two girls playing one of Blue Bird’s giant harmonicas in a music store in London’s Regent Street.
Adventurous Outfits, 1960s
In the 1960s, commercial flights were becoming more affordable and accessible to the everyday American, and airlines, knowing this little fact, were trying to appeal to as many potential customers as possible. One of the ways they tried to appeal to the masses was by changing up their uniforms.
Several airlines introduced skimpy uniforms for their flight crew members to wear. It was so bad that some airlines became famous for their “adventurous” outfits, but luckily, for some, the trend was over by the mid-1970s. The photo shows a Boac Stewardess Patricia Bleasdale wearing the ‘new paper dress” uniform at a London airport.
Tennis on the Wings of a Plane
The photograph of two men playing tennis on the wings of an airplane first appeared on a postcard in the 1920s. According to some, it was a common practice – two people playing as the plane cruised up to 60 miles an hour.
The photo shows daredevils Gladys Roy and Ivan Unger and was taken 3,000 feet above the city of Los Angeles in November 1925. The two were “wing walkers” or “barnstormers” and they would frequently perform stunts like this, especially at state fair type events. The original caption read, “There was no umpire, and the players did not say whether they went after the balls that were batted out of bounds.”
1940s Bra Design
The bra design seen in the picture became popular around the 1940s and 1950s, keep that in mind before forming an opinion. For centuries women have used a variety of garments, shapewear, and contraptions to cover up the appearance of bosoms.
Some bras date as far back as the 14th century and in the late 19th century, they replaced corsets as the most widely used device for chest support. By the early 20th century, undergarments started to resemble what we see today.
Garry Kasparov’s Chess Defeat, 1997
The image shows world chess champion Garry Kasparov getting beaten by a computer in 1997. In a competition known as Deep Blue versus Garry Kasparov, the IMB supercomputer and the chess champion went head-to-head in six matches which spanned. Kasparov won the first series in 1996, but the 1997 rematch was won by Deep Blue.
It was one of the first signs of what artificial intelligence could do and we’re seeing how much progress it’s made today. Kasparov, as well as the crowd’s reactions, were fun to see, but today, no one would be surprised by a computer beating a human at any strategic game.
Highway Pursuit, 1994
Orenthal James Simpson, better known as O.J. Simpson, or “The Juice” was one of the most famous football players in the NFL’s history. In 1973, just a few years of him playing for the Buffalo Bills, he became the first player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. However, in 1994, O.J. would be known for something else.
In 1994, Simpson became a person of interest then tried for the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. The law requested that he turn himself in, but instead, he became the object of a highway pursuit in his friend, Al Cowlings’, 1993 Ford Bronco SUV. He was found not guilty, a decision that remains controversial to this day.
The First First Class, 1969
The photo shows an air hostess and steward serving a Scandinavian country-style buffet aboard a SAS Scandinavian Airlines first class flight in 1969. Flying by plane, especially for tourism purposes only became a reality in the 1930s, and at that time it a luxury that very few could afford. But a lot has changed between then and now.
SAS was founded in 1946 a frequently flew between Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, which made up the mainland of Scandinavia. The airline continues to fly to this day, and it is said that their service, which has always been great, continues improving.
Jesse Owens’ Big Win, 1936
Adolf Hitler hoped to prove a point of racial superiority during the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, but athlete Jesse Owens had other plans when he made sporting history that would last 25 years. Owens was an American track and field athlete and a four-time Olympic gold medalist.
He made sporting history when he broke five world records, making him the most successful athlete at the Games. According to ESPN, Owens, as a Black man, “single-handedly crushed Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy.” The Jesse Owens Award is the highest accolade for the year’s best track and field athlete in the United States.
Golden Gate Under Construction, 1934
The Golden Gate Bridge connects the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County across the Golden Gate Strait. Construction on the bridge began in 1933 and was opened to pedestrians in May 1937. For a long time, it seemed that building it would be an impossibility and earned the title “the bridge that couldn’t be built”.
Spearheaded by engineer Joseph Baermann Strauss, the bridge is now one of the most iconic and internationally recognized symbols of the United States in the world. The American Society of Civil Engineers called it one of the “Wonders of the Modern World” and travel guides describe it as “possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world.”
Monroe’s First Marriage, 1942
Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortensen, married three times in her lifetime. Her first marriage was to her then neighbor’s 21-year-old son, a man by the name of James Dougherty. It was often said that she married him to avoid having to go back to an orphanage as she was only 16 years old at the time.
Marilyn claimed that she was “dying of boredom” during their marriage and when she got signed to Blue Book Model agency, she sent him divorce papers. In 1954, she married baseballer Joe DiMaggio, which lasted one year. And in 1956, she wed playwright Arthur Miller. Monroe died a few years later in 1961 from what many believed to be an accidental overdose.
Private James Hendrix
Before Hendrix’s 19th birthday, law enforcement had caught him riding stolen cars and had given him the option of either going to prison or joining the Army. He chose the latter and became Private James Hendrix of the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Jimi Hendrix’s mainstream career may have only lasted four years, but he was regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in the history of popular music. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said that he was “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music”. Hendrix is one of the most celebrated musicians of our time and continues to be referenced in popular culture.
Monstrous Manta Ray, 1933
In 1933, a New York-based silk manufacturer by the name of A.L. Kahn was caught a massive manta ray off the New Jersey coast when rumor has it that the anchor line of his boat got caught in the giant ray. After hours of struggling, he was able to bring the large “devil fish” to shore. Although the image shows a taxidermy version of the ray, Kahn really did catch one.
The giant ray is the largest of its type and they are usually found in tropical and subtropical waters, and on occasion, temperate waters around the world. Although many make them out to be sea monsters, mantas are gentle creatures that feed off plankton – microscopic organisms that float in the ocean’s water – by scooping them into their mouths by the thousands.
The King of Rock n Roll, 1958
Many did not know that the king of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, served in the United States Army between March 1958 and March 1960. The picture shows him, along with a group of other candidates, being sworn into his compulsory Army service in 1958. At the time that he was drafted, Elvis was already one of the most famous celebrities in the world.
Another little known fact is that he was offered the opportunity to enlist in Special Services where not only would he live in priority housing, by his job would be to entertain the troops. Presley declined and decided to sever as a regular soldier, like many of his fellow Arkansas natives. His decision earned him the respect of his fellow soldiers, but also his fans across the world.
Farewell to the 18th Amendment, 1919
The 18th Amendment to the Constitution prohibited the making, selling, importing, and transporting of intoxicating liquors and was made legal on January 16th, 1919. It resulted in what is popularly called the Prohibition – a campaign that believed that alcohol led to poverty and criminal activity.
Much to their surprise, the United States’ crime rate soared during the Prohibition years as mobsters became rich from selling alcohol on the Black market. Prohibition ended on December 5th, 1933 when the 21st Amendment was established.
Excavating the Sphinx, 1867
In 1960, part of Khafre’s pyramid complex was found by archeologist and Egyptologist, Auguste Mariette. The picture, taken some time between 1867 and 1899 shows the partial excavation of his finding. The Great Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue of a creature called a sphinx. The mythical beast which was thought to represent the pharaoh Khafra has the body of a lion and the head of a human.
It is located on the Giza Plateau on the western bank of the Nile River in Giza, Egypt. The sphinx is the oldest known monument in Egypt and is believed by many to be built by the ancient Egyptians between 2558 – 2532 BC.
Olive Oatman’s Tattoos
Olive Ann Oatman was 13 years old when she and her family were traveling from Illinois to California with a company of Mormon Brewsterites and were attacked by a group of Native Americans. Most of her family were either murdered or left for dead while she and her sister were made slaves. They lived with the Yavapai Indians for a year before being traded to the Mohave, who tattooed her face.
She grew accustomed to her new way of life, but at the age of 19, she was repatriated back to American society. It didn’t take long for Olivia to become famous as her story was retold time and time again. The blue tattooing of her face was somewhat of an oddity in 1860s America.
Saying Goodbye, 1963
The North Yemen Civil War was fought from 1962 to 1970 between the Mutawakkilite Kingdom and supporters of the Yemen Arab Republic. This support included sending American soldiers and the photo shows them saying goodbye to their loved ones before leaving for Egypt in 1963.
On the royalist side were Saudi Arabia and Jordan who supplied military aid, while Britain gave covert support. The Republicans were supported by Egypt and were also given warplanes from the Soviet Union. In the end, the Republicans won the war.
Different Types of Schools, 1957
The age of open-air schools was so long ago that it seems like it never happened. These types of schools were seen throughout several European countries, leading up to the Second World War. They were designed to prevent the widespread rise of tuberculosis that occurred during that time.
It was believed by many that fresh air improved health, so schools were built away from cities, in rural areas to help facilitate this new theory, and to also provide a space that is free from overcrowding and pollution. By the mid-1970s, most of those schools were shut down.
Illegal Settlements, 1876
The Deadwood settlement in South Dakota began illegally in the 1870s on land that was granted to Native Americans. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the expedition into the Black Hills in 1874 and a little while later, he made the announcement of gold on French Creek, near what is presently called Custer, South Dakota.
The Colonel’s announcement triggered the historic Black Hills Gold Rush which gave rise to the lawless town of Deadwood. The town is best known for attracting Old-West figures like Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok.