See Audrey Hepburn Genuinely Freak Out On Film

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How The Improvised Scene In Roman Holiday That Frightened Audrey Hepburn Was Conceived

Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday (1953)

When shooting a film there’s only one chance to get a genuine reaction for a scene that is not in the script.

In director Willy Wyler’s 1953 film Roman Holiday there is an improvised scene that star Audrey Hepburn was not told about.

Who came up with the idea to improvise is open to debate; director Wyler or co-star Gregory Peck.

In Jan Herman’s excellent biography A Talent for Trouble: The Life of Hollywood’s Most Acclaimed Director, William Wyler (Putnam) 1995, two versions are given for the genesis of the famous scene: Continue reading →

Bettie Page, 1950s Pin-Up Icon With Companion

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Bettie Page Goes Native

Previously we featured this photograph of Bettie Page a number of years ago. But we never gave the backstory, so here it is.

The photograph was taken in Africa, USA by future Playboy magazine photographer (and later a pin-up girl herself) Linnea “Bunny” Yeager.

Bunny Yeager self-portrait 1960 photo: Bunny Yeager

Bettie Page and Bunny Yeager 1954 at Africa, USA photo via Gnarlymag.com

Continue reading →

Movie Tie-In Publicity Failure 1948

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Who Is This Woman Selected As “Miss Panic For 1948”?

If a bizarre pose, pointy brassiere and looking up somebody’s nostrils are considered sexy then this photo has the necessary boxes checked.

The caption on the rear of the photo says:

“Candis Leo age 19 from West McHenry (Illinois) is selected to be Miss Panic for 1948.” (credit: unidentified February 2, 1948)

Besides the unusual pose, why is this publicity photo a complete failure?

For one, the woman in the picture is identified as Candis Leo.

It is not. Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #165 – Broadway & 40th St. 1913

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East Side of Broadway & 40th Street 1913

A Story Of Three Buildings On The Main Stem

This photograph taken by William Roege can be narrowed down to the autumn of 1913. Though photographer Roege engraved the year within the photo, he did not write an exact date.

The Empire Theater

We are looking at the east side of Broadway at 40th Street and the main clue to the time of year is the Empire Theater marquee which announces the appearance of actor John Drew.

John Drew

Drew was one of the turn-of-the-century’s big stage stars and the uncle of actors John, Lionel and Ethel Barrymore. Continue reading →

St. Louis Cardinals Catchers At Spring Training 1937

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Who Will Be The Cardinals Catcher? – March 3, 1937

Though these three men look like they could be in a softball beer league, they are actually major league catchers.

As the news slug explains:

A Lot of Backstopping
Daytona Beach, FLA. – The burden of St. Louis Cardinal catching duties is almost certain to fall on one of the three backstoppers shown at the Card’s training camp here. Front to back: Paul Chervinko, Arnold “Mickey” Owen and Brusie Ogrodowski. credit: Associated Press March 3, 1937

Of the three catchers Mickey Owen had the most successful career. Continue reading →

The Beatles Recording Of Metallica’s Enter Sandman

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The Beatles “Covering” Enter Sandman Via Artificial Intelligence

https://youtu.be/B5Yjgn9vLtU?si=blo5omst28z864AL

As pointed out here previously, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used in amusing ways. There is another version of this on youtube that is musically virtually the same note for note. But Continue reading →

Braves Eddie Mathews, Joe Torre & Henry Aaron Spring Training 1965

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Braves Big Bats Mathews, Torre & Aaron Are Ready For 1965 Season

HEAVY LUMBER MEN
West Palm Beach, Fla., Mar. 5 – Milwaukee Braves hard hitting trio reported for spring training today. Left to right, Eddie Mathews, Joe Torre and Hank Aaron. (AP Wirephoto March 5, 1965)

Spring training means a new start. It’s too bad that these three sluggers could not change the Milwaukee Braves overall fate for 1965. In 1966, the Braves would be in a new city.

Though Aaron and Mathews Continue reading →

Food & Grocery Prices 100 Years Ago

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Grocery Prices From The Buffalo Evening News February 21, 1924

Every so often we look back at life in the Unites States 100 years ago. In this case, we were looking at Buffalo, New York.

Besides the household prices for groceries, we glanced quickly at a few news items from the Buffalo Evening News newspaper for February 21, 1924.

Buffalo was dealing with a major blizzard. Continue reading →

Miss America Swimsuit Contestants -1926

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Those Racy Bathing Suits In The 1926 Miss America Beauty Pageant

Pick of Nation In Race For Nation’s Beauty Crown!
A staggering fascinating view of the cream of America’s beauty , gathered from all corners of the United States to vie for title of Miss America at Atlantic City. The beauties of all sorts and moods – are pictured as they appeared September 8, lined up for rehearsal of ceremony of picking of winner. photo: Pacific and Atlantic Photos 9/9/1926

The Miss America prize was awarded to “The Most Beautiful Bathing Girl in America” starting in 1921. As you can see in our photo, originally the competitors were from various cities around the United States and not representing individual states.

The irrelevant Miss America contest still takes place but without the bathing suit competition. Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #164 – Elevated Curve At 110th Street

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The Ninth Avenue Elevated Curve At 110th Street c. 1880

The Ninth Avenue Elevated train tracks took a dramatic “S” turn at 110th Street to continue along Eighth Avenue. This part of the El system were very elevated, at certain points rising 100 feet above street level. Because of its phenomenal height Continue reading →