Rediscovered Photographs Expose A Fresh Perspective On History
By Sarah Norman | October 18, 2023
Freddie Mercury owning the crowd at Wembley
Prepare to embark on a breathtaking journey through time and space as we unveil a mesmerizing gallery of rare nostalgic photos that will undoubtedly reshape your perspective on history and the world around us. From the electrifying stage presence of Freddie Mercury, commanding an audience of thousands, to the intimate behind-the-scenes moments of the Apollo 7 launch, and even glimpses of awe-inspiring, far-flung locales inaccessible to most, these images will transport you to new realms of wonder.
Join us as we explore the extraordinary, the historic, and the otherworldly, all captured in a single, evocative click of the camera. You won't want to miss this opportunity to see the world from a fresh angle, so let's dive in and discover the incredible stories behind these rare and unforgettable snapshots.
Freddie Mercury could take over an arena like no other performing artist we’ve ever seen. His combination of vocal power and theatrical delivery made it impossible to take your eyes off of his performance. Here he is in front of what looks like a sold out Wembley Stadium. Assuming they are at capacity there could be over 80,000 people at this show. Predictable as it is, this show ended up being an iconic moment for Mercury and Queen. Who could forget that yellow jacket?
Nancy Sinatra with her new style in 1967
Following in the footsteps of a legendary parent can be a daunting task for even the most talented of artists. Nancy Sinatra had the task of following her father, Frank, and she got off to a rocky start. Her original attempts at music were unsuccessful, and she was in danger of being dropped by her own father’s record label. If it weren’t for her hit “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” that very well may have happened. The hit showed her in a different light, a bit more rough around the edges, and it resonated with the music world.
A Young Eva Gabor out for a walk on the beach
Hollywood marriages are always full of intrigue, and it’s not easy to keep under wraps. In fact, it seems like front page news anytime a celebrity so much as goes on a first date. Eva Gabor was an easy target for the paparazzi, you can only imagine the tabloids in her day. The Hungarian star married five times in her life, yet unfortunately wound up with no children. None of her spouses had the fame that she did, but that didn’t mean the relationships were any less volatile.
A simpler time, before airpods
What do you think the guy in this picture would think of a pair of Airpods? You see, we look back on this picture with nostalgia, but what would he think about our wireless options? The reality is, we always want what we can’t have, whether it’s a return to tradition or a new convenience. While it might remind us of simpler times, I’d bet this guy would kill to ditch the bulky headphones for a sleeker option.
BTO capitalizes on the need for blue collar music
Canadian rockers Bachman-Turner Overdrive stepped into the limelight at an opportune time. The music world, particularly in Canada, was clamoring for some straightforward rock and roll. Rush was popular, but too complex for the masses of casual music fans to really latch on to. Even in America, in the late ‘70s and into the ‘80s there was a lot of glam rock that had started to stray from the classic sound. BTO made sure to keep it alive, churning out catchy hooks with relatable lyrics anyone could sing along to.
Miami Vice paved the way for all cop shows to come
Miami Vice was a pioneering series for crime dramas. Nowadays, you can’t change the channel without finding an episode of CSI this or NCIS that. There are more cop shows than you can shake a stick at, but where would all those be without Miami Vice? '80s Miami was so iconic, it just grabs the audience. The music, the clothes, the cars - just look at the suits sported by two of the stars in this photo. No other crime series since has had such an impact on the genre.
Keith Richards before the years took their toll
Different health trends promise more longevity, but Keith Richards turns his nose up at them all. He’s lived a hard life, but he’s still around and making music at 78 years young! This picture shows him before he was weathered by the hard life of a rambling rock and roller. Not only has he given us classic after classic, his persona alone should occupy a room in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Many of his peers may have thought they’d outlive him - they were wrong.
McCartney and Jackson crossover blows up the Billboard charts
It’s hard to imagine a more powerful dynamic duo in music than Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Both of them were larger than life in their respective genres. Crossovers of this variety don’t always live up to the hype, but their hit “Say Say Say” did just that. It stayed in the Billboard Top 100 for over a month, and helped Jackson break a Beatles record of top ten hits in a single year. McCartney most likely wasn’t too saddened by the breaking of his record, considering how much money the two would eventually make from such a monster hit.
Michael Jackson and his sister Latoya sharing a dance
Celebrity families are rarely able to escape the drama that surrounds Hollywood. Not dissimilar to the royal families of Europe, jealousy and resentment could cause major issues between relatives, parents, or siblings. Michael Jackson did not hide behind the fact that he wasn’t particularly close with his family, despite the fun they seem to be having in this picture. Any speculation on this fact was crushed when Latoya publicly spoke out against some of the allegations against Michael involving children.
Billy Joel in his hometown makes you feel nostalgia for vintage America
If someone were to ask you to define vintage americana, you may struggle to find the words. What words could capture the colorful chaos of such a vast country? If a verbal description escaped you, you’d be better suited to just point to this picture. Billy Joel before his fame, in his New Jersey hometown. It doesn’t get any more American than that! Who knew that this teenager from Hicksville, NJ would grow up to be one of the best-selling musicians of all time.
Steve McQueen sought thrills on and off screen
Hollywood bad boy Steve McQueen was not just an actor who played the part on screen. He did his best to be that same character off screen as well. The former Marine had a rough upbringing, and suffered frequent abuse of his stepfather. It made him into who he was, and the fans loved him for it. Outside of his military service, he was also an accomplished martial artist and a fitness enthusiast. On screen or off of it, most men thought twice about messing with Steve McQueen.
Angie Dickonson breaks down barriers in "Police Woman"
The western world was experiencing massive cultural change in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Social movements were popping up left and right, and the youth of America were as active as ever in the political and social scene. One of the movements that caught fire was women’s empowerment. It’s no secret that the entertainment industry follows the trends of popular thought, which is evident in the TV series Police Woman. Angie Dickinson broke barriers as the first ever female lead in a police show.
Joplin and Turner's impromptu concert is lost to history
Virtually nothing of any significance ever fails to be recorded in 2022. In fact, even the most insignificant things are filmed or documented by someone on their cell phone. Part of the magic of decades past was that you had to be in the moment to really experience something. Even as late as 1969, historic events would get lost to history. This was the case with Tina Turner and Janis Joplin’s impromptu duet at a concert at Madison Square Garden. A performance made even more unique after Joplin’s death a year later. To this day no footage exists.
Using a phone booth, family-style in the 1970s
Who wouldn’t want to jam themselves into a phone booth with two of their family members? I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen a phone booth or even pay phone, but not long ago they were commonplace. You have to really feel for the poor kids. Especially the one on the right who could probably use a trip to the chiropractor after this event. Thankfully, these days we can all avoid the back problems by using our handy smartphones instead.
Young girl witnesses history in 1969
Every once in a while, a seemingly ordinary event ages into an immortal part of human history. This was not the case with the moon landing. There was absolutely nothing ordinary about it, and even a girl as young as the one in this picture could grasp the significance of such a feat. Even if you don’t consider the fact that it had massive political implications, it was still awe inspiring. Consider the fact that the Wright Brothers discovered flight in 1903, and just 66 years later NASA discovered how to put a man on the moon.
Keanu Reeves before the John Wick days
Whatever you do, do NOT mess with this young man’s dog. This flashy jacket and tie combo doesn’t exactly scream “John Wick,” but make no mistake, this is Keanu Reeves. In 1984, he was in his first year as an actor. One look at this photo and you can tell he’s a long way from the likes of Speed, The Matrix, and John Wick. His shy personality and dislike of the spotlight has given him the reputation of being different from other actors, but you wouldn’t be able to tell it by looking at him in 1984.
What if these Kansas walls could talk
Certain images make you wonder if walls could talk, what they would say? This abandon house on the Kansas prairie surely has many stories to share. Tales of a simple life, of independence and subsistence. What lessons could those old boards teach us? How many night skies have illuminated the plains surrounding homes like these? Stop and look once in a while, and you’ll fnid more of these images all around you. History is everywhere, and its lessons aren’t always in plain sight.
An Idaho winter wonderland
So you say you want a winter wonderland? I doubt the poor souls stuck in these cars feel the same. Big Sky country has about as unforgiving of a climate as you’ll find in America, this photo should be proof enough. Images like these make you thankful for climate control, heated seats, and snow tires. None of which were accessible in 1950s Idaho. Just imagine running out of gas in this snow tunnel here. No thanks! Modern conveniences take some the adventure out of it - but it beats freezing your toes off on the way to work.
Apollo 7 crew prepares to launch themselves into the history book
Nothing tests the bravery of mankind like going somewhere no one has ever gone before. Except perhaps going somewhere that people have attempted to go to, but died in the process. The Apollo 7 astronauts displayed this kind of bravery when they signed up to resume the great space race. About a year and a half prior, three astronauts were killed during a launch rehearsal fire on Apollo 1. Despite this, history has taught us that when the glory outweighs the risk, the brave ones will always show up.
Bob Seger joined Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for an encore reprise of "Thunder Road" in Michigan, 1980.
Blue collar men and women rejoice! Two of the men who wrote the soundtrack of the working class join forces in Detroit, Michigan. There isn’t a person alive who hasn’t heard "Old Time Rock and Roll" or "Born to Run". Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen gave working America relatable tunes, and the fans paid them back in kind. Both are immortalized in music history, and it was their average joe personas that made them so likable.
Dancing in the '50s sometimes happened in the kitchen
Do you ever wonder if you can feel nostalgia about an era that you have never experienced? This picture would make you believe that you could. The high heels and the slacks in the kitchen are just something you’d never see today. Dancing? How many young couples do any kind of formal dancing these days? Perhaps it’s not a life that we would want to live all the time, yet it still makes us feel a connection to something that we may never experience ourselves.
Diamond miners get X-rayed for stolen merchandise in the De Beer mines
There aren’t many occupations in the world that seem to be less desirable than a diamond miner. Made popular in the western world by the movie, Blood Diamond, African diamond mines have long been a discussion of human rights activists. This picture is astounding to say the least, even with knowledge of the working conditions in these mines. Under suspicion of theft, miners were often x-rayed to catch anyone smuggling out diamonds. Especially in the more primitive days of x-ray technology, one can only imagine the radiation damage that a miner may experience.
The strange red-lipped batfish walking around the ocean floor
The ocean seems to be the last place where truly wondrous and unbelievable things can still be discovered. The animals found on land simply can’t compare to the ridiculous appearance of the ones found under the sea. The red-lipped batfish may be the best example of that you'll ever see. Not only does it look indescribably strange, it has strange habits too. Despite its ocean dwellings, it does not swim very well. To move around the water, it uses its fins to walk along the ocean floor.
Fraternity gets a little wild in '82
Depending on your views, you may view this as one epic party or an astounding display of degeneracy. Such has been the discussion of fraternities for as long as they’ve been in existence. Between the guy attempting to scale the building, and a few of the frat brothers holding guns, it’s hard to tell exactly what this is. However you may feel about frats, it is nice to see a picture of a party where no one has a cell phone in their hand. Say what you want, these gentlemen are living in the moment.
Galileo changed the way the world looked at the moon
It’s a common mistake to think that the societies of the past were primitive. It’s easy to look at some of their practices and beliefs and look down upon them. It’s true, much of the scientific discovery over the last century has disproved many theories of the past. Still, can't we marvel at the amazing discoveries that were made with little technology? This was Galileo and his discovery of the moon. His drawings pictured here were groundbreaking - the first time anyone ever looked at the moon as more than a strange, smooth sphere far away in the sky.
A long NYE ends on the Grand Central Station escalator
Many of us can boast of crazy New Years Eve stories, yet it’s doubtful our stories can compare to the people in this photo. Sometimes a good night gets away from you, and you end up in a place you shouldn’t. Thankfully the folks pictured here didn’t end up anywhere too dangerous. You’ve got to be pretty worn out to sleep on something as uncomfortable as an escalator. Perhaps it’s all worth it if for a great memory and an iconic photo opportunity.
Shark egg case in the sunlight
Commonly known as a mermaid’s purse, the egg case surrounds the eggs of sharks and other similar species. The look of this makes it look like some sort of dinosaur egg. The case forms a leathery shell outside to protect the embryo on the inside. It’s commonly deposited on the seafloor, where it waits to be fertilized. This picture is a reminder of the miraculous conditions of bringing life into the world in the wild.
