Inside a Women’s Hair Salon From the 1960s

The 1960s began with the highly formal up-sweep big hair styles from the late 1950s, but as the women’s movement, protest groups and hippies got into full swing toward the end of that decade, hair styles reflected the changes and became more casual and easier to maintain. The bouffant, or bubble, a formal big-hair up-styleContinue reading “Inside a Women’s Hair Salon From the 1960s”

Gangster John Dillinger During the 1930s

When notorious outlaw John Dillinger was gunned down on Lincoln Avenue on a steamy July night in 1934, his death ended a months-long manhunt that captivated the press and the public. John Herbert Dillinger (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934) was an American gangster of the Great Depression. He led a group known asContinue reading “Gangster John Dillinger During the 1930s”

57 Rare and Candid Photos of Actress Louise Brooks in the 1920s

Mary Louise Brooks (November 14, 1906 – August 8, 1985) was an American film actress and dancer during the 1920s and 1930s. She is regarded today as a Jazz Age icon and as a flapper icon due to her bob hairstyle that she helped popularize during the prime of her career. At the age ofContinue reading “57 Rare and Candid Photos of Actress Louise Brooks in the 1920s”

Vintage Photos of Men Shaving Their Faces With Axes From the 1930s and 1940s

Believe it or not, there is photographic evidence of men, some who were lumberjacks or loggers, who shaved their own faces, and the faces of others, with an ax. There were a couple of notable manly men who were known for performing the feat in front of crowds such as Paul Criss whose moniker wasContinue reading “Vintage Photos of Men Shaving Their Faces With Axes From the 1930s and 1940s”

15 Amazing Vintage Photographs Documenting the Iconic Summer of Love in San Francisco in 1967

In 1967, 100,000 hippies from across the country converged on San Francisco in a mass phenomenon dubbed the “Summer of Love.” Many were college kids on summer break and would leave come autumn—others stuck around to witness the Haight’s slow decline into a cultural wasteland. Like a lot of young people, Jim Marshall was there.Continue reading “15 Amazing Vintage Photographs Documenting the Iconic Summer of Love in San Francisco in 1967”

11 Vintage Pictures of Fashion Icons and Pivotal Moments That Defined 1950s Style Forever

Fashion has always been about change, and the transition from 1940s fashion to fifties’ style was a pretty radical one. Post-war, 1950s fashion moved style from the salons to the streets, as inventions in easy care fabrics and speedier manufacturing systems meant that new silhouettes could be made for the masses. Having the latest trendsContinue reading “11 Vintage Pictures of Fashion Icons and Pivotal Moments That Defined 1950s Style Forever”

From Mark Twain to Hemingway, Here Are 10 Photos of Authors Who’ve Gone Topless

Mark Twain, possibly apocryphally, once said: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” America’s favorite writer is of course much better known for dressing up in white suits. But Open Culture turned our attention to a photograph of Sam Clemens taken in 1883. Turns out, Twain is by noContinue reading “From Mark Twain to Hemingway, Here Are 10 Photos of Authors Who’ve Gone Topless”

Amazing Vintage Photos of West Virginia Coal Mine Life in 1938

West Virginia coal mine life during the 1930s was tough. The Coal companies used the miners to dig the coal, then turned around and rented them company houses and sold goods at the company store. As these photos show, the miners and their families practically worked just to keep alive, while the mine owners madeContinue reading “Amazing Vintage Photos of West Virginia Coal Mine Life in 1938”

18 Vintage Photos of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin in 1926

It’s probably been a while since you read a Winnie-the-Pooh story or watched an animated film featuring the humble bear, but here’s a series of vintage photos centering on author A. A. Milne’s famous character. The images of Milne’s son Christopher Robin — the inspiration for Milne’s character of the same name who was Pooh’sContinue reading “18 Vintage Photos of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin in 1926”