Pictures are likely the closest thing to time travel we have, and luckily, numerous photographers have made it possible for us to travel way back. From photos in family albums taken decades ago to images of famous people on the covers of old magazines, they allow us to catch a glimpse of moments we couldn’t have otherwise witnessed ourselves.
Quite a few spectacular moments have been caught by photographers documenting the life of Hollywood stars back in the day. There’s even an entire Instagram account dedicated to them, known to the fans as ‘Old Hollywood’. It boasts an impressive collection, which includes photographs of such well-known celebrities as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Audrey Hepburn, and they are just the tip of the iceberg. Scroll down to find some of the captivating photos shared by ‘Old Hollywood’ and take a quick trip back in time.
Below you will also find thoughts on nostalgia shared by professor of psychology at Georgia Gwinnett College, David Ludden, who was kind enough to answer a few of Bored Panda’s questions.
#21 Grace Kelly And Cary Grant Sharing A Laugh On The Set Of To Catch A Thief, 1955
"I’ve worked with many fine actresses. But in my opinion, the best actress I ever worked with was Grace Kelly," Grant revealed in a 1987 interview. "Ingrid [Bergman], Audrey [Hepburn], and Deborah Kerr were splendid, splendid actresses, but Grace was utterly relaxed—the most extraordinary actress ever. Her mind was razor-keen, but she was relaxed while she was doing it. I appreciated that. It’s not an easy profession, despite what most people think."
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#22 Swathed In Bandages After A Brutal Beating Scene In Dirty Harry, Eastwood Rarely Escapes Mayhem In Films. His Fans Appreciate That He Gives More Than He Takes. Photo By Bill Eppridge
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#23 The Beatles Cooling Off During A Cover Shoot For Life Magazine In Miami, 1964
"I went down to Florida to make this photo after being asked if I had any ideas on what to do with the Beatles as a cover," said photographer John Loengard. "It was my idea to put them in a pool—but we couldn’t find a heated pool, the water in the pool we did use was cold, and there was always the problem of other press trying to get in. It would have to be a pool that we could close off to everyone else. So, in the end, it was a very quick shoot in a private pool, with the Beatles shivering and singing in the water before jumping out. My impression of these guys was that they were like four high school kids. You know, they had beards, sort of—like when you first start having to shave, but aren’t quite sure how to do it."
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Started back in 2017, the ‘Old Hollywood’ Instagram account might also be somewhat nostalgia-evoking, especially if you can relate the people in the images to some beautiful memories. For instance, maybe a picture of Audrey Hepburn on a tennis court reminds you of the time you watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s with your friends; or maybe Tina Turner gazing at you from behind the screen makes you think of the times you were blasting her songs over the speakers when you were young.
If you enjoyed the images on this list, make sure to view Bored Panda’s previous editions on the Instagram account here and here.
#24 Charles Bronson Photographed By Giancarlo Botti, 1960
Known for his "granite features and brawny physique", Bronson worried that his tough guy image would hinder his career. "Maybe I’m too masculine," the actor confessed in a 1971 interview. "Casting directors cast in their own, or an idealized image. Maybe I don’t look like anybody’s ideal."
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#25 Brigitte Bardot Dancing On A Rooftop Overlooking Paris, 1952. Photos By Walter Carone For Paris Match
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#26 James Dean Reading Aloud During A Visit To His Childhood Home In Fairmount, Indiana, 1955
"James Whitcomb Riley was the poet of the Hoosier, and Jimmy loved to read from his work, which he did for me one day after dinner, to give me a feeling of the people and place whence he had come," wrote photographer Dennis Stock.
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#27 Marlon Brando Training For His Film Debut In The Men (1950), The Story Of A Paraplegic Veteran
"This was the way Brando prepared himself: he spent three weeks—day and night—living with the men on one of the paraplegic wards," director Fred Zinnemann shared in his autobiography. "He found out not only how they moved and behaved, but how they felt and what they thought. They gradually accepted him as one of their own and he became one of them. He shared their physiotherapy, played water polo with them and went to their drinking sessions at the Pump Room. Soon only a doctor or a nurse could tell that he was not a paraplegic." Photos by Ed Clark.
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#28 Marilyn Monroe Taking Singing Lessons With Bandleader, Phil Moore At The Mocambo, 1949. Photos By J. R. Eyerman
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#29 Al Pacino Photographed By Jack Mitchell During His Broadway Run Of Richard III At The Cort Theater, New York City, 1979
The production closed after 25 previews and 33 performances. "It’s what it was. It had its flaws. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either. The main thing was that people felt the connection with Shakespeare," the actor later commented.
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