You know you’re famous when just saying your name brings to mind a classic haircut, the world’s most famous mocktail, and (most crucially) an unstoppable kid star. Shirley Temple’s mother started curling her hair and bringing her to singing and dance lessons when she was just three. It didn’t take long for her to become Hollywood’s biggest box office draw—how’s…
For over a century, Aunt Jemima was one of America’s most recognizable brands, associated with pancake mixes and syrups. However, behind the smiling face on the packaging lay a history deeply intertwined with racial stereotypes and evolving conversations about race, representation, and marketing. Origins of Aunt Jemima The character of Aunt Jemima was born out of minstrel shows in the…
Freddie Mercury was a British singer and composer who became famous all over the world as the lead singer of the rock band Queen. He was recognized for his flashy stage presence and four-octave vocal range, and many people think he was one of the best rock singers ever. Mercury’s dramatic flair went against the norms of a rock vocalist…
Jennifer Lynn Connelly was born on December 12, 1970, and has had a wide range of experiences in the entertainment world. She originally became famous as a model, and then she made her acting debut in the 1984 crime movie “Once Upon a Time in America.” Connelly slowly moved away from modeling and toward acting, showing off her talent and…
Life Magazine photographer Ed Clark took these pictures in 1950 after receiving a call from a friend at 20th Century Fox on a “hot tomato” the studio had lately signed. His images of Marilyn provide an unusual window into the early years of the career of an ultimate pop-culture icon when a young actress had no idea what the next…
Though many actresses and models find inspiration in Marilyn Monroe, did Marilyn herself honor prior Hollywood icons? For an intriguing endeavor in 1958 Marilyn Monroe teamed up with photographer Richard Avedon. They brought to life famous pictures of five honored actresses from several eras. These were Lillian Russell, Theda Bara, Clara Bow, Jean Harlow, and Marlene Dietrich. Avedon was not…
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 30, 1966, Mike Tyson’s name will always be carved into the annals of professional boxing history. Especially in the 1980s, his career permanently changed the sport and enthralled viewers all around. Tyson, well-known for his explosive force, unrelenting aggressiveness, and seductive demeanour, rose to become a cultural symbol during this age. One may…
She was already making waves in Europe long before Hedy Lamarr became a household name in Hollywood—not only for her beauty but also for her compelling screen presence and keen intelligence. Hedwig was born Lamarr’s path from the great salons of pre-war Europe to the brilliant lights of Hollywood was anything from typical, Eva Maria Kiesler in Vienna, Austria, 1914….
While he was a POW, his wife stole 140,000 of his wages; she also took his two younger children, house, car, forty percent of his future pension, and $300 a month in child support. She had to reimburse only $1500 of his travel expenses paid for with other guys. On court, he battled and lost to her. Afterwards, he had…
German bombers emerging in the heavens over London brought a new weapon of horror and carnage into the arsenal of twentieth-century warfare. Beginning with September 7, 1940, this focused direct bombardment of industrial targets and urban centres started with strong attacks on London. It marked the start of the Blitz, a period of relentless bombardment of Great Britain’s cities including…