Time Travel Through Photos: The Past Revealed in Stunning Detail
By Sarah Norman | November 18, 2023
British TV personality and food author Nigella Lawson in 1983
Do you remember when Superman saved the day on I Love Lucy? Did you know that Mary Tyler Moore was a dancing elf in commercials for Hotpoint appliances? Or that Brigitte Bardot was an aspiring ballerina before she started acting? How much do you know about the woman who was considered the British Marilyn Monroe? Do you remember when Shirley Eaton appeared on screen covered in gold paint? Join us as we revisit some of these groovy moments from the past, and see pictures of Julia Louis-Dreyfuss when she was young, and Melanie Griffith with a pet lion.
Nigella Lawson, who was born in 1960, graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in medieval and modern language. She got her start as a book reviewer and literary critic. She became the deputy literary editor of The Sunday Times in 1986, before becoming a freelance journalist and publishing her first book, How to Eat in 1998. She published her second book, How to Be a Domestic Goddess in 2000. She started hosting her own cooking show series, Nigella Bites in 1999, and since then, has hosted other shows and started her own cookware, Living Kitchen.
A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse, of course. Mr. Ed and Wilbur (Alan Young) 1961-66
The role of Mr. Ed was first played by a chestnut gelding, although the episode he appeared in was never aired. He was too difficult, and so was replaced by Bamboo Harvester and the horse played the role throughout the series, although in the credits he was listed as “Himself.” They claimed that they got Mr. Ed to talk by putting peanut butter on the horse’s gums, but the truth was more interesting: he “talked” on cue when the trainer touched his hoof. He apparently was a very smart horse.
Gabriele Susanne Kerner, singer of German band Nena in 1982
"99 Luftballons" is a legendary song by the German group Nena, released in 1983. This iconic track is not only a musical masterpiece but also a poignant commentary on the tensions of the Cold War era. Sung in both German and English versions, the song tells the story of 99 red balloons floating in the sky, mistaken for an impending nuclear threat, which leads to a catastrophic chain reaction. With its catchy melody and thought-provoking lyrics, "99 Luftballons" captured the anxieties and fears of the time, and it became an instant hit around the world. Nena's powerful vocals and the song's infectious rhythm make it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences, reminding us of the enduring impact of political tensions and the universal desire for peace.
Got your ears on? Cool kid with his bike-mounted CB radio,1976
CB radio (or Citizen’s Band radio) got its start in the 1940s, allowing users to communicate with each other over short distances. When it got its start, it was used mainly by small businesses, like plumbers and electricians, and of course, by truckers. By 1975, its use as a hobby was permitted. As the price of obtaining a CB radio license came down, more people were able to use them. And, of course, they became part of the popular culture, in both movies and film. So, if you were hip, you had a CB on your bike!
Grizzly Adams TV series starring Dan Haggerty as Grizzly Adams and co-star Denver Pyle as Mad Jack. 1977-78
The television show was based on the 1974 film of the same name. That, in turn, was based on the life of James Adams, who in the 1850s, fled into the mountains after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. In the show, when Adams adopts an abandoned grizzly bear cub, he raises it to become an adult companion he calls Ben. In terms of human companions, he has an old trader named Mad Jack and a Native American named Nakoma. Grizzly Adams, with his uncanny link to the wilderness, has to watch for bounty hunters because there's a price on his head.
I Love Lucy episode when Lucy dressed up as Superman and the real Superman (George Reeves) are on the ledge of her apartment in the rain. 1957
In the episode, Lucy decides to throw a birthday party for Little Ricky, but her friend, Carolyn Appleby, is planning to throw a party for her son Stevie on the same day. Since Lucy is worried that no one will come to Little Ricky’s party, she tries to compete with Carolyn, who is planning an elaborate party. Ricky mentions that Superman is in town, so Lucy tries to get him to come. When Ricky fails to get Superman, Lucy dresses up as the superhero and finds herself in a pickle. Luckily, Superman does show up just in time to save the day.
Pretenders debut album came out in 1980, produced by Nick Lowe.
The Pretenders got together in 1978. Dave Hill from Anchor Records heard demos of Chrissie Hynde’s music and arranged a rehearsal with a three-piece band. After this demo with a band, Hynde formed the original line-up; they then started recording five tracks, and Hynde named the band after the Platters’ song “The Great Pretender,” which was a favorite of one of her ex-boyfriends. They released “Stop Your Sobbing” in January 1979, and in June, released “Kid.” In June 1980, they released their self-titled debut, which has been named one of the best albums of all time.
The Great American Beauty Contest TV movie included Barbi Benton and Farrah Fawcett in an all-star cast.
The Great American Beauty Contest TV movie was originally shown on February 13, 1973 on ABC. It starred JoAnna Cameron, Robert Cummings, and Eleanor Parker as well as Farrah Fawcett and Barbi Benton. Parker is a former winner who oversees the contest, determined to keep it honest. It was essentially fluff, though it did try to have some relevance, as one of the contestants, Miss Oklahoma plans to use her acceptance speech to promote feminist ideas and shame beauty contests. The movie satirized beauty contests, and Farah Fawcett, for her part, performs a fairly ridiculous belly dance.
The Untouchables was a crime-drama that ran from 1959 to 1963, produced by Desilu Productions, with Special Agent Eliot Ness (Robert Stack)
Elliott Ness led a squad of Prohibition agents that helped to bring down Al Capone’s bootleg empire. He wrote a bestselling memoir in 1957 that would go on to become the television series starring Robert Stack as Ness himself. Ness found fame from both the book and the television, although he never enjoyed it as he died in May 1957 before his memoir came out. The show focused on the power struggle in the mob as they tried to establish a new boss with Al Capone out of the picture.
A young Julia Louis-Dreyfus with her mother Judith Bowles and her half-sister Lauren Bowles in the early 70s
This photo was taken long before Julia Louis-Dreyfus started her career. Her parents divorced in 1962, one year after she was born. Her mother moved to Washington D.C. and married L. Thompson Bowles, the dean of the George Washington University Medical School, and the couple then had her half-sister, Lauren Bowles, who also became an actress. Since her stepfather worked with Project HOPE, they spent time in various states and countries; in 1979, she graduated from the all-girls Holton-Arms School in Bethesda Maryland.
Actress Diane Lane in 1980.
This picture was taken when Diane Lane was only 15 years old. She got her start acting at the age of six, and by the time she was 12, she was cast in Joseph Papp’s production of The Cherry Orchard, alongside Meryl Streep and Irene Worth. By the time she was 13, she was acting with Laurence Olivier in A Little Romance, her first feature film. She also appeared on the cover of Time as one of the “Whiz Kids” of Hollywood.
Audrey Hepburn posing with a Saint Bernard dog in a snowy forest. (1962)
This picture was taken by Howell Conant in Lucerne, Switzerland for Life magazine. The British actress, who had studied ballet and had worked as a performing chorus girl in West End theater, had already starred in Sabrina (1954) with Humphrey Bogart, Funny Face (1957), and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) by the time that this photo was taken. The American Film Institute would rank her as the third-greatest female screen legend from the Classical Hollywood cinema, and she was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.
Brian Jones, founder and the original leader of the Rolling Stones, at home in London, 1965
The multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter who founded the Rolling Stones provided backing vocals and played a number of instruments for the band. He founded it in 1962 as a British blues band and gave the band its name, but Keith Richards and Mick Jagger started to change the band’s direction. Jones and Richards developed their style of guitar weaving which became a notable part of their music. In June 1969, the bad dismissed Jones because his alcohol and drug use led to problems. Less than a month later, Jones drowned in his swimming pool.
Clint Eastwood with country duo David Frizzell Shelly West, who sang You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma on his film soundtrack for Any Which Way You Can. 1981
David Frizzell and Shelly West had seven hits on the country chart, and this was their second, and biggest one, probably aided by the popularity of Eastwood’s film. The song was written by Larry Collins and Sandy Pinkard, but since the tune was similar to the song “Rocky Top” by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, the Bryants sued them for copyright infringement. For its part, the film performed really well at the box office, becoming the fifth-highest grossing film of 1980.
Diana Ross looking glamorous. Her solo career peaked in the 70s
Diana Ross first found fame as the lead singer of the Supremes and left the group in 1970 to pursue a solo career that would produce 25 albums. She released her eponymous debut album, which was followed by Everything is Everything in 1970. Her solo career success continued as she released additional albums, embarked on record-setting international tours, and starred in several prime-time specials. She also found recognition as an actress in several films in the 1970s. Billboard named her the “Female Entertainer of the Century” in 1976.
Eagles linebacker Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik celebrating big time after Philadelphia’s win in The NFL Championship Game in 1960.
Chuck Bednarik attended University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was the first player selected in the 1949 draft by the Eagles, and he started on both offense (as a center) and defense (as a linebacker). He played on the Eagles’ NFL Championship teams in 1949 and 1960. In one of the most famous tackles in football history, he tackled Frank Gifford and knocked him out of play for more than 18 months. As for his nickname, that came not from football, but from his off-season career as a concrete salesman.
Elegant singer dancer actress Diahann Carroll.
Diahann Carroll, who was born in the Bronx in 1935, got her break at 18 as a contestant on the show Chance of a Lifetime. She took hom the top prize for her rendition of “Why Was I Born?” She soon found herself booked at Manhattan Café Society and Latin Quarter nightclubs. Her film debut followed with Carmen Jones (1954), and she was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in House of Flowers the following year. She has continued to find success on film and in TV.
Endearing character actress Marion Lorne had a 50-year career on stage before becoming known for her character Aunt Clara on Bewitched from 1964-68
Marion Lorne, who was born in 1883, appeared in her first film in 1951: Strangers on a Train, but she had been acting since her Broadway debut in 1905. Her stage career flourished both on Broadway and in London; she actually had her own theater in London, the Whitehall. There, she had top billing in Walter C. Hackett, her husband’s, plays. The plays at Whitehall were all successful, and none ran less than 125 nights. Starting in 1952, she regularly appeared on Mister Peepers, but she found her greatest fame on Bewitched.
Eugene Levy, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Rosemary Radcliffe and John Candy during their early Second City days, 1974.
Second City named itself after a series of articles published by A.J. Liebling in the New Yorker in 1952. The group itself began with two University of Chicago students, who started a “commedia dell’arte” based on Viola Spolin’s professional theater games. The theater was founded in 1959 and had a tendency towards satire and social commentary. They had already sent a cast to Broadway by 1961 and have a reputation for being a proving ground for comedians who made their way to television and film.
First Daughter Luci Baines Johnson dances the Watusi with Steve McQueen at a fundraiser in 1964
In 1964, a fundraising group formed to raise money to help Lyndon Baines Johnson win the 1964 election and retain the Presidency. The group, called Young Citizens for Johnson, was comprised of young people who shared this common goal. In this picture, Luci, one of LBJ’s daughters, was dancing at one of the fundraisers, which was held in Beverly Hills. The two appear to be dancing the Watusi, which was a solo dance that was briefly popular in the early 1960s.
Gene Simmons of KISS, June 22, 1974 - Electric Ballroom, Atlanta, Georgia
In the 1970s, the band KISS burst onto the music scene like a rock 'n' roll hurricane, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry and pop culture as a whole. Known for their distinctive and flamboyant personas, including Starchild, Demon, Spaceman, and Catman, KISS transcended mere music; they were a spectacle, an experience. With their iconic makeup and elaborate stage performances, they brought a theatrical element to rock music that had rarely been seen before. Songs like "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "Detroit Rock City" became anthems for a generation of rock enthusiasts. KISS's larger-than-life presence, fueled by their relentless touring and electrifying live shows, turned them into global superstars. The 1970s were KISS's golden era, a time when they cemented their status as one of the greatest and most influential rock bands in history, leaving an indomitable legacy that continues to captivate fans even decades later.
Neil Diamond Found Sweet Success In 1969
Neil Diamond got his first guitar when he was 16, and soon after, he started writing songs. This evolved into writing poetry. He found that this was a way to win over the girls. He went to college at NYU as a pre-med major on a fencing scholarship, but dropped out of college to take a job writing songs for Sunbeam Music Publishing. The job only lasted for 16 weeks, and after a brief deal with Columbia, he returned to writing songs for publishing houses for the next seven years. In 1968, he signed a deal with Uni Records, and started to find success.
Here's Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher on their way to promote their film The Empire Strikes Back in 1980.
The Empire Strikes Back had its debut at the Dominion Theater in London on May 6, 1980. This was followed in the U.S. with a premiere on May 17 at the Kennedy Center. The premiere featured the principal cast and 600 children attended. The world premiere took place three days later in London at the Odeon Leicester Square, and then, on May 21, as the country headed into Memorial Day weekend, it opened across the U.S. In addition to having the actors promote the film, they limited the release to 126 theaters so that it was more difficult to get a ticket.
Jackie and JFK getting their pictures taken in a photobooth when they were first dating in the early 1950's
Jackie and JFK were introduced by Charles L. Bartlett, a journalist and mutual friend. They first met at a dinner party in May 1952. Jackie was attracted to Kennedy for his physical appearance, wit, and wealth, but they did have some things in common. They were both Catholic, both enjoyed reading and writing, and they both had lived abroad. After the election in November of that year, he proposed to her, although she did not accept immediately. Their engagement was formally announced on June 25, 1953. At the time, she was 24 and he was 36.
Jacqueline Bisset -1960s bombshell and one of Hollywood's golden actresses
Jacqueline Bisset, who was born in 1944, first appeared in The Knack…and How to Get It (1965) as an uncredited model, and her official debut came in Roman Polaski’s Cul-de-Sac (1966). After this, she had a role in Two for the Road with Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn. A more sizeable role came as Miss Goodthighs in Casino Royale. In 1968, she replaced Mia Farrow in The Detective playing opposite Frank Sinatra, which led to mainstream recognition.
James Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale on the set of The Godfather, 1971
When it came to casting for the film, Mario Puzo, the author of the book which the movie is based on, was the first to express an interest in casting Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone. The executives at Paramount were against the selection, wanting to cast Laurence Olivier, but he declined. There was also debate over casting Ernest Borgnine for the role. They still hadn’t cast Michael Corleone as filming drew closer. Coppola wanted Pacino for the role, and was able to cast him even though the executives thought he was too short. He was given the role with a caveat: Caan had to play Sonny.
Jefferson Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden and Grace Slick in a photo taken by Linda McCartney in 1968.
Marty Balin bought a pizza parlor in 1962, and converted it into a nightclub called the Matrix. Then he started searching for members of the house band at The Matrix. They based the band’s name on the nickname Richard Talbot gave Kaukonen, “Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane.” They had their first public appearance at The Matrix on August 13, 1965 after which the lineup started changing. In mid-1966, they brought on Spencer Dryden. Grace Slick was singing with The Great Society when she was asked to join the band. The year that this picture was taken also marked a shift in their sound.
Jimi Hendrix performing a free concert in San Francisco, Panhandle Golden Gate Park, 1967.
Jimi Hendrix, who the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has called “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music,” started playing guitar when he was 15. He was discharged from the Army after a year of service, and then started playing gigs on the chitlin’ circuit, playing in the backing band for the Isley Brothers and with Little Richard. He then moved to London and months after Chas Chandler of the Animals became his manager, he was making hits with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He found fame in the U.S. after he performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
Jimi Hendrix playing guitar for a small group that included Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith of The Monkees in a motel room, 1967
The Monkees got their start in 1966, and by 1967, they were celebrities. Jimi Hendrix, on the other hand was still unknown for the most part. When Micky Dolenz was in New York in the spring of 1967, he heard Hendrix perform, though he couldn’t remember his name at the time. After the Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Monterey Pop Festival a few months later, Dolenz suggested hiring the band as their opening group. Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith both supported this as they wanted to be considered serious musicians and they thought Hendrix would help them gain credibility.
John Candy getting made up for his character Barfolomew on the set of Spaceballs
Spaceballs is a parody of the original Star Wars trilogy, and Barfolomew, or Barf for short, is a parody of Chewbacca. As he describes himself, he is a mog, which is half-man, half-dog. Candy rose to fame in the 1970s in the Toronto branch of Second City as well as the TV series SCTV. He also found fame in film, starring in a number of comedies over the course of his career, including Stripes (1981), Uncle Buck (1989), Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987), and Cool Runnings (1993) . In addition to donning face paint and costumes for his comedies, he had roles in JFK and Only the Lonely, both in 1991.
Kurt Russell in the 1976 TV show The Quest
This short-lived show was about two brothers, Morgan and Quentin Bodine who are trying to find their sister, who they think is held by the Cheyenne. They were separated during an “Indian massacre,” and after the brothers are reunited, they set out on their “quest.” The pilot had good ratings, but once the series got underway in the fall, it didn’t do so well. It was cancelled on December 29, 1976 because of its low ratings and the fact that Westerns were no longer popular with audiences. They had already produced 15 episodes, but four of them never aired in the U.S.
Lucille Ball, not only funny but elegant too, 1960s.
Most people know Lucille Ball as the awkward, funny, accident-prone character from I Love Lucy, but may not know that she got he start in modeling in 1928. She died her hair platinum blonde and started modeling fur coats. She found her way to Broadway, and started acting under the stage name Diane Belmont, before appearing in films, often as a chorus girl. By 1960, she had divorced Desi Arnaz and two years later, had become the first woman to run a major television studio, adding show business acumen to her list of skills.
Maggie Smith has had a 60+ year career in film, here she is back in 1960
Maggie Smith, who was born in 1934, got her start acting on the stage in 1952 when she was a student. Her first role was as Viola in Twelfth Night at the Oxford Playhouse, where she continued to act throughout the early 1950s. Her professional debut on Broadway came with New Faces of ’56 from June to December 1956 at the Ethel Barrymore Theater. Her stage career continued, and in 1962, she won her first Best Actress Evening Standard Award. Laurence Olivier invited her to become part of his new National Theater Company.
Melanie Griffith with her pet lion Neil, relaxing at the pool. (1971)
Melanie Griffith’s mother Tippi Hendren took a trip to Africa with her husband decided to make a movie about big cats. An animal trainer convinced them to make a lion a pet so they could learn what they are like. They did, and they named him Neil and treated him like a member of the family. Neil did not injure any of the family, but they later adopted other big cats, resulting in injuries. At the time they brought Neil into their home, Griffith was a teenager. Now, years later, California’s Shambala Preserve which Hendren’s Roar Foundation started, and she is opposed to owning big cats.
Nylons and garter belts were replaced with tights before the mini skirt rage of the 60s
Hosiery has a history dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. In the 1920s, stockings were worn to just above the knee, and suspension belts or garters were used to keep them up. In the 1930s, women started wearing nylon rather than silk stockings until the war required the nylon. At the end of the war, nylon again became popular. In the ‘60s, thigh highs were introduced, and Lycra was invented. With the introduction of the miniskirt, tights became popular as women did not want to have their garter belts peaking out from beneath the short skirts.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff and quarterback Ken Stabler celebrate their victory over the Minnesota Vikings
Stabler and Biletnikoff definitely had reason to celebrate as they were two of the key players in the Raiders’ win. In 1977, the Oakland Raiders won their first Super Bowl, Super Bowl XI. This was not their first Super Bowl appearance, however, as they lost in Super Bowl II. During the game, Ken Stabler helped to set an offensive record for rushing, and they beat the Vikings 32-14. During the game, Stabler passed for one touchdown, and Biletnikoff set up two touchdowns when he caught two passes of 17 and 48 yards
Odd Couple - David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor (1975)
In 1975, David Bowie was one of the most sought-after performers, and so it should come as no surprise that Elizabeth Taylor wanted to try to cast Bowie in her movie The Blue Bird. She arranged for a meeting through her friend Faye Dunaway, and the two were to meet at director George Cukor’s house in Beverly Hills. Also present was photographer Terry O’Neill who captured the now-iconic picture of the two of them sharing a coffin nail. Bowie was late for the meeting, and Taylor was annoyed, so O’Neill started taking pictures to break the ice. Although Bowie didn’t get the role, we do have this photo of the meeting.
Pattie Boyd and George Harrison sporting matching perms back in 1973.
Patti Boyd was a model when, in 1964, she was cast as a schoolgirl in the Beatles’ film A Hard Day’s Night. At this point, she met George Harrison, and they soon became romantically involved. They became one of the leading couples of the Swinging London era. They got married on January 21, 1966, and headed to India, where they began to follow a lifestyle of vegetarianism and yoga. By 1973, the year this photo was taken, their marriage was falling apart as Boyd had an affair with guitarist Ronnie Wood and Harrison started to pursue Wood’s wife.
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward dancing at the 1958 Oscars
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward met when they appeared together on Broadway in Paul Inge’s play, Picnic. They were in their first film together, The Long Hot Summer, in 1958. They were married on January 29, 1958, and two months later, they were dancing together at the Oscars. During this particular Oscar night, Woodward won her first Academy Award for her performance in The Three Faces of Eve. Later that year, Newman would receive his first nomination, for Cat On a Hot Tin Roof.
Robert De Niro taking a break on the set of The Deer Hunter - 1978
Deerhunter was co-written and directed by Michael Cimino. The film focuses on three steel workers who fought in the Vietnam War and returned, their lives changed forever. The producer pursued De Niro because the storyline sounded gruesome and Cimino was barely known; they wanted someone with star power, but De Niro was not the first to be cast. Roy Scheider dropped out two weeks before filming. To prepare for the role, De Niro started spending time with steelworkers in bars and going to their homes, but people didn’t recognize him because Cimino introduced him as his agent. According to De Niro, this was his most physically exhausting film.
Rock twins Cherie and Marie Currie in 1979, they released an LP called Messin with the Boys
The twins were first cast on an episode of My Three Sons when they were two, but when they were supposed to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” they froze and the part was cut. They danced as background dancers on American Bandstand before they rose to fame. Cherie was in The Runaways and Marie started the Marie Currie Band, which went nowhere. Marie then saneg a duet with Cherie called “Love at First Sight,” which was on Cherie’s debut album. In 1979, they released the singles “Messin’ With the Boys” and “Since You’ve Been Gone.” “Since You’ve Been Gone” charted at number 95.
The cast of The Dukes of Hazzard in 1979, the year it premiered
The Dukes of Hazzard was on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985, with 147 episodes altogether. The high-rated show was about two cousins, Bo and Luke Duke, who, with their other cousin Daisy, have to contend with the corrupt Boss Hogg and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane. Two elements of the show became iconic: the 1969 Dodge Charger which was nicknamed the General Lee and had a distinctive horn, and Daisy’s short shorts, which came to be called simply “Daisy Dukes.”
The classic beauty of singer Sade in 1980
Helen Folasade Adu was born on January 16, 1959 in Nigeria, to a Nigerian lecturer in economics and an English district nurse. Her parents separated when she was four, and she returned to England with her mother. She completed a three-year course in fashion design and modeled before singing backup with Pride. During Pride’s gigs, she stared doing her own sets with Stuart Matthewman and Pride’s rhythm section, and her performances of “Smooth Operator” brought her some attention. She and Matthewman split from Pride in 1983 and formed the band Sade. Sade, the singer, signed with Epic Records in 1983, and the rest of the band signed in 1984.
The glamorous dancer actress Ann Miller in an old Hollywood photo from the 1950s
In 1936, when Ann Miller was only 13, she became a showgirl at the Bal Tabarin and was hired as a dancer in the “Black Cat Club” in San Francisco. Although she was only 13, she lied and claimed she was 18, and she landed a contract with RKO. She played Ginger Rogers’ dancing partner in Stage Door in 1937, and, in 1938, she played Essie Carmichael in You Can’t Take it With You. She continued appearing in musicals throughout the 1940s and into the 1950s. Her fame really came from her tap-dancing speed.
The Gong Show with Chuck Barris
The Gong Show ran from June 14, 1976 to July 21, 1978. It was created and originally produced by Chuck Barris. Barris also served as host from 1977 to 1980. It was known not only for its humor, but also for the outlandish acts that were often a part of the actual competition. The show featured amateur performers appearing before three celebrity judges. If the performer lasted without being gonged, they were given a score with a maximum possible score of 30.
Tina Turner performing at the Seattle Pop Festival in 1969
When Tina Turner met Ike Turner, her name was Ann Bullock. She took the name Tina Turner, which Ike trademarked just in case she left so he could replace her. As they found success, building their reputation as an explosive R&B ensemble, with live performances that were a spectacle, they continued to crank out the hits. They opened for the Rolling Stones on their 1966 tour, and Tina got her first solo Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female at the 12th Annual Grammy Awards. By the end of the 1960s, they were performing at music festivals; after this, they started to find mainstream success.
Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers of the TV classic Leave it to Beaver
The 1957 show about an idealized American family ran for six full seasons. Typically, Beaver, played by Jerry Mathers, gets into some sort of boyish trouble, and then is reprimanded by his parents. Although this may have been an idealized family, the parents were not perfect, as they tried to navigate parenthood. Mathers had substantial acting experience, and they were impressed by his innocent candor. Tony Dow, who had no acting aspirations when he auditioned for the part of Wally was just accompanying a friend for a separate audition.
Who remembers watching Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea
The show, which ran from 1964-1968, was based on the 1961 film of the same name. Because both were created by Irwin Allen, they were able to reuse things from the film in the creation of the series. The pilot introduced viewers to the nuclear submarine which had an official mission of conducting marine research and a secret mission of defending the planet. Allen went on to create Lost in Space and two other science fiction series.
