Considered to be the first photograph of a woman smoking, this is Lola Montez’s portrait by Southworth & Hawes. A savvy self-promoter, Lola Montez is the first woman ever to be photographed smoking. She made sure the cigarette is the focus of the picture. (Metropolitan Museum of Art) This is Lola’s third and most provocativeContinue reading “The First Photograph of a Woman Smoking: Lola Montez 1852”
Tag Archives: female
Gorgeous Photos of Sharon Tate on the Set of “Eye of the Devil” in 1965
Eye of the Devil is a 1966 British mystery/horror film with occult and supernatural themes directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Deborah Kerr, David Niven and Sharon Tate. The film is set in rural France and was filmed at the Château de Hautefort and in England. Eye of the Devil is based on theContinue reading “Gorgeous Photos of Sharon Tate on the Set of “Eye of the Devil” in 1965”
Vintage Photos of Women Workers in the Factories in London During World War II
These women were all training in various London polytechnics to work in munitions factories during the early 1940s. Women have always worked outside the home but never before in the numbers or with the same impact as they did in World War II. Prior to the war, most of the women that did work wereContinue reading “Vintage Photos of Women Workers in the Factories in London During World War II”
40 Wonderful Portrait Photos of Women Posing With Their Books From the Mid-19th Century
Women formed a large and increasing part of the new novel-reading public. The traditional discrepancy between male and female literacy rates was narrowed, and finally eliminated by the end of the 19th century. The gap had always been the widest at the lowest end of the social scale. Perhaps more women than we realize couldContinue reading “40 Wonderful Portrait Photos of Women Posing With Their Books From the Mid-19th Century”
35 Stunning Photos of Actress Allison Hayes during the 1950s
Born 1930 in Charleston, West Virginia, American actress and model Allison Hayes made her film debut in the 1954 comedy Francis Joins the WACS. Her second film, Sign of the Pagan, provided her with an important role in a relatively minor film. Released from her contract, she was signed by Columbia Pictures in 1955. ChicagoContinue reading “35 Stunning Photos of Actress Allison Hayes during the 1950s”
Mabel Love: One of the Great Stage Beauties in Late Victorian and Edwardian Eras
Mabel Love (16 October 1874 – 15 May 1953), was a British dancer and stage actress. She was considered to be one of the great stage beauties of her age, and her career spanned the late Victorian era and the Edwardian period. In 1894, Winston Churchill wrote to her asking for a signed photograph. AmongContinue reading “Mabel Love: One of the Great Stage Beauties in Late Victorian and Edwardian Eras”
Here’s the Earliest Known Image of Women’s Hockey, ca. 1890
This 1890 photograph is the oldest-known picture of women playing hockey, taken at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Isobel Stanley, daughter of Lord Stanley, is seen wearing white.
26 Wonderful Vintage Photos of Hollywood Stars Enjoying Summer in the 1930s & 1940s
What did Hollywood beauties look like in the 1940s during summertime? Take a look at these glamorous photos to see.
Portrait of Madam C.J. Walker, the First Black Woman Millionaire in America
Madam C.J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove; December 23, 1867 – May 25, 1919) was an African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist. She is recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in America in the Guinness Book of World Records. Multiple sources mention that although other women (like Mary Ellen Pleasant) might haveContinue reading “Portrait of Madam C.J. Walker, the First Black Woman Millionaire in America”
Edwardian Ladies’ Outdoor Tea Party, Walton-le-Dale, ca. 1905
A summertime tea is a vintage themed event that you can enjoy recreating for all decades. The vintage tea gown’s heyday was centered in the Edwardian era (1900-1920), when white lace dresses posed beautifully against a luscious green garden. The enormous flower-covered picture hats were also perfectly suited for an outdoor tea. Starting in 1870,Continue reading “Edwardian Ladies’ Outdoor Tea Party, Walton-le-Dale, ca. 1905”