George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is remembered for his gangster roles in Quick Millions (1931) with Spencer Tracy, ScarfaceContinue reading “Handsome Photos of Actor George Raft in the 1930s and 1940s”
Category Archives: portraits
40 Beautiful Photos of Actress Dorothy Malone in the 1940s and 1950s
Born 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, American actress Dorothy Malone began her film career in 1943, and in her early years, she played small roles, mainly in B-movies, but an exception is The Big Sleep (1946). After a decade, she changed her image, particularly after her role in Written on the Wind (1956), for which sheContinue reading “40 Beautiful Photos of Actress Dorothy Malone in the 1940s and 1950s”
The Photography of Heinrich Kühn
Heinrich Kühn, originally Carl Christian Heinrich Kühn (25 February 1866 – 14 September 1944) was an Austrian–German photographer and photography pioneer. The grandson of a sculptor, Heinrich Kühn initially used photography to aid his medical studies. He gave up medicine for art around 1890 but spent much of his life pursuing technical research into newContinue reading “The Photography of Heinrich Kühn”
35 Fabulous Photos of Danish Actress Osa Massen in the 1930s and 1940s
Born 1914 as Aase Madsen Iversen in Copenhagen, Danish actress Osa Massen began her career as a newspaper photographer, then became an actress. She first came to the United States in 1937. Her first film was Kidnapped (1935). Massen notably appeared as Melvyn Douglas’ unfaithful wife dealing with blackmailer Joan Crawford in A Woman’s FaceContinue reading “35 Fabulous Photos of Danish Actress Osa Massen in the 1930s and 1940s”
20 Beautiful Photos of Marilyn Monroe Taken by George Barris in 1962
Born 1922 in New York City, American photographer and photojournalist George Barris had a lifelong interest in photography. As a young man, he worked for the U.S. Army’s Office of Public Relations. Many of his photographs of General Dwight D. Eisenhower were published. After the war, he became a freelance photographer and found work inContinue reading “20 Beautiful Photos of Marilyn Monroe Taken by George Barris in 1962”
Photos of Actor Cesar Romero in the 1930s and 1940s
Born 1907 in New York City, American actor Cesar Romero was active in film, radio, and television for almost 60 years. The 6’3” [190 cm] Romero routinely played “Latin lovers” in films from the 1930s until the 1950s, usually in supporting roles. In 1935, Romero played a leading role The Devil is a Woman oppositeContinue reading “Photos of Actor Cesar Romero in the 1930s and 1940s”
A Look Back at Audrey Hepburn and Her Oscar Win in 1954
Audrey Hepburn had her first starring role in the romantic comedy Roman Holiday (1953), also her first American film. The film was a box-office success and brought Hepburn to stardom. Her critical acclaim portrayal of the European princess won Hepburn an Academy Award for Best Actress, a BAFTA Award for Best British Actress in aContinue reading “A Look Back at Audrey Hepburn and Her Oscar Win in 1954”
The Nine-Fingered Geisha: 30 Vintage Portraits of Chishō Takaoka aka Teruha From the Early 20th Century
Chishō Takaoka (April 22, 1896 – October 22, 1994) was a geisha in Shinbashi who became a Buddhist nun later in life. Her stage name was Chiyoha or Teruha, while her real name was Tatsuko Takaoka. She became famous for her radiant beauty, and for chopping off one of her fingers for her lover. SheContinue reading “The Nine-Fingered Geisha: 30 Vintage Portraits of Chishō Takaoka aka Teruha From the Early 20th Century”
25 Gorgeous Photos of Actress Barbara Payton During Her Brief Life
Born 1927 in Cloquet, Minnesota, American actress Barbara Payton first gained notice in the 1949 film noir Trapped co-starring Lloyd Bridges. After being screen-tested by James Cagney and his producer brother, William, Payton starred with Cagney in the violent noir thriller Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye in 1950. William Cagney was so smitten with Payton’s sensual appealContinue reading “25 Gorgeous Photos of Actress Barbara Payton During Her Brief Life”
Stunning Portraits of Bette Davis Taken in 1939
Ruth Elizabeth “Bette” Davis (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical films, suspenseContinue reading “Stunning Portraits of Bette Davis Taken in 1939”
