Vintage celebrity portraits give us a glimpse into the past and a way to connect with icons from bygone eras. These pictures, often taken by renowned photographers, show us things like fashion and style, as well as the cultural and social norms of the time.
But they also offer a sense of nostalgia for a time that many people may not even have experienced firsthand. The images serve as reminders of the enduring influence of certain stars and the impact they have had on popular culture.
And the Facebook page 'Things of the Past' is one of the richest online archives of such memorabilia. So let's take a scroll through its most prized possessions and who knows, maybe we'll see some of our beloved celebs in a way we still haven't.
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Tilda Swinton - 1988
Stuning photograph. Tilda has always had an almost unearthly quality about her.
You know, one of the worst media comments about a woman I saw was about Tilda Swinton. This D-head "journo" said something like, she presents herself like a women who was once told that she was pretty without makeup. I just thought that was so rude because who gives a sh*t if you have make up on or not? Especially when you're an amazing actress?
Wow! She looks like a totally different person here compared to how she looks now.
Goldie Hawn In 1964
If they gave Oscars to best comedy....... I first saw her on Laugh-In but first movie was Butterflies Are Free
Load More Replies...Remembering Television Legend Betty White
January 17th, 1922 – December 31st, 2021
Portraits of Betty from 1954 during the period she was starring in the syndicated sitcom Life with Elizabeth. First appearing on television in an experimental broadcast in the late-1930s, Betty was a true TV pioneer. Beyond her work as an actress (as well as a singer, dancer, hostess and game show contestant), Betty assumed various roles during her years in television and produced, wrote and directed a number of productions she was involved with, breaking new ground for women in the entertainment industry. Nominated for twenty-one primetime Emmy Awards and twice for a daytime Emmy during her eight decade long career, Betty won five of her primetime nominations, one of her daytime, and received a daytime Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2015. She also won a regional Emmy Award in Los Angeles in 1951
Jazz Singer Ella Fitzgerald (1954)
I see Coldplay singer Chris Martin said that Rihanna was the greatest female singer of all time.....Things that make you go mmmmm wait, WHAT?
Had the great luck to see her a few times in concert. One time with Count Basie and his orchestra, two times with Oscar Peterson, NHO Pedersen and Joe Pass and one time with her own trio. Each time an exciting concert. Very cherished memories
Oh Wow! that's wonderful. My mom had tickets to see her and Oscar Peterson in the 80s, but he got sick at the last minute, so she did the entire show on her own.
Load More Replies...Debbie Harry And David Bowie
He did something very silly, lol look up "Debbie Harry And David Bowie" and find out what that was
Silent Film Actress Bessie Love In The Early 1920s
Yes, good description, it could be anytime in the past 100 years. An unusually relatable old picture
Load More Replies...I saw a colorized version of this photo and it looks like it could have been taken yesterday.
Such natural beauty......not like the lip-injection/butt-implant idiots who think that's "beauty" while their face looks like a baboon's a*s.
Can't we raise someone up without simultaneously tearing others down?!?
Load More Replies...1920's and 30's were actually pretty racy. They had to set up a board to ensure decency in motion pics. See the Hays Code.
Load More Replies...Marilyn Monroe
True! But it's hard to see them because of the cat.
Load More Replies...ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!😍😍😍 also the girl is kinda cute too I guess
Cate Blanchett
Given this photo was probably taken no earlier than the mid 1990's, there seems to be a pretty generous definition of "historical photo" used in this thread
I mean, covid outbreak was 3 years ago and can be considered an historical event, but I get your point. Just think about the concept of past: it can be 100 years from now or one frame of a second, still the past.
Load More Replies...Raquel Welch
Proof that having skin texture doesn't make you any less beautiful
Yes, I don't know if she ever had children but it looks like she has a mommy pouch. Pretty much like every women that's ever birthed another human.
Load More Replies...Would they though? And would she have given a damn?
Load More Replies...Makes sense that someone with a username like yours would write a comment like this. How about you focus on yourself before you critique others
Load More Replies...Mike Farrell, Loretta Swit, Alan Alda, Harry Morgan And David Ogden Stiers Raise A Toast And A Cake At A 7th Anniversary Cast Party
Well, the show did last longer than the actual Korean War, so…
Load More Replies...I was young, but I loved that show. Some TV station was running a M.A.S.H. marathon some few months ago and was fortunate to have the day off that day. Watched it all day.
Best ever. May have been a comedy, but so many times it was a comment on the costs of war. Best one was Hawkeye not understanding why he was so upset about the chicken dying.
I have the series on DVD. It has a feature that lets me choose the episodes without the laugh-reel. It's the BEST thing ever to watch this show with some dipshit telling me when something is hahaha-funny... *eyeroll*
Sophia Loren
Just curious - why the question mark?
Load More Replies...Incredible. But check out the movie “Two Women”. Willing to do what it takes. Her best movie, as far as I’m concerned.
One of the most enduringly beautiful women in history! Finally looks like she's maybe 50 instead of 90!
Sean Connery & Michael Caine By Michael O’neill For “ Vanity Fair”
I can almost imagine the telepathic conversation between those two: Sean: Are you as f_cking bored as I am? Michael: I may have surpassed you on that.
Christopher Walken, Robert Deniro, Chuck Aspegren, John Savage, And John Cazale On The Set Of The Deer Hunter (1978)
I watched this film at too young an age. It’s stuck with me for 45 years.
John Cazale was in 5 of the best movies ever made; This, Godfather 1&2, Dog Day Afternoon and The Conversation
Audrey Photographed By Mark Shaw In Beverly Hills, California During The Filming Of ‘Sabrina’ In 1953
One of my favorite movies, although I like the Harrison Ford remake better. Hard to imagine Humphrey Bogart in this role
It's a shame she didn't think she was beautiful...lucky for her the world thought otherwise ❤️
The Brady Bunch Meets The Jackson 5
Sammy Davis Jr
The first concert I ever saw was him, Liza, and Sinatra at the Fox in Detroit. He was mesmerizing, it was one of those things where you are so into the performance that when it's over you need to remember to breathe. He was on television a bunch in the early 60's, entertainers did the talk show circuit back then, so I had an idea of what to expect when he would be live. It was unreal, here's this man (fairly short) who had this entire room totally in his hand. The ultimate showman.
People were so cruel to him! Such a talented and big hearted guy and the rat pack treated him like sh!t.
Even in his heyday, he had to use the service entrances to the venues where he performed. I'm surprised that the rest of the Rat Pack didn't stand up for him.
Load More Replies...There have been very few people who had his amazing talent! He had it all!
Little Liza Minnelli With Mom Judy Garland At Mgm During The Filming Of In The Good Old Summertime
Liza's little girl face is exactly the same as her adult face. Instantly recognizable.
such a great artist, but now there is always a little tought about the horrible life they make her live
Lucille Austero : Today at lunch, you were ashamed to be with me. Gob : No. I was ashamed to be seen with you. I like being with you.
Harpo Marx And His Children, 1954
Harpo was always my favourite. Brilliant photo - wigs n all. ☺️
For me it was Chico. I appreciate his cantankerousness.
Load More Replies...Marlon Brando And Al Pacino On The Set Of The Godfather (1972)
There was no more delightful person to be with than Brando when he was having a good time. And no one more exasperating to be with when he wasn't.
When Al Pacino was young, he was very handsome! So Brando! Not everyone can age well like Sean Connery.
Looks like he was sitting in the makeup chair.
Load More Replies...That's a wonderful (and unusual) picture of Marlon Brando. He looks like he's trying not to laugh.
Logo Shots For Metro Goldwyn Meyer In 1928
We will need another cameraman for take 2, please...
Load More Replies...Ingrid Bergman And Isabella Rossellini In 1971
I don't get how people think they're beautiful? I'd say regular at best, but more leaning toward unattractive
I don't mean it badly, but neither were more than average. Maybe less as far as beauty goes.
“The Best Time I Ever Had With Joan Crawford Was When I Pushed Her Down The Stairs In “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?”“ - Bette Davis
This was Bette's comment after hearing of Joan's death. "You should never say bad things about the dead, only good… Joan Crawford is dead. Good.”
There’s a great quote from Crawford to a friend of hers, famous photographer Eve Arnold: “But of course I was always a lady. Unlike that cúnt Bette Davies!”.
Load More Replies...Watch "Feud" with Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange. It's juicy and hilarious.
At least Bette didn't buy her children off the black market and abuse them their entire lives.
You know what? I love both of them and their movies. I think they hated each other because Joan was more of a manufactured movie star, she played the role and beautifully. Came from a “common” and impoverished family and strives to be accepted and lauded. So what? She succeeded. Bette came from an East Coast well-to-do and respected background, and was talented and things seemed to come easy to her - she didn’t have to fight so hard for success. She was self-assured, while Joan (not her birth name) was self-conscious and unsure, always putting on a facade. You can see how easily there would be jealousy and envious thoughts on both sides.
Al Pacino And Robert De Niro Posing In A Production Still For The Godfather: Part Il (1974)
Why would someone feel the need to use a filter on this picture. Looks ridiculous . x6q07hxzak...727223.png
Ben Kingsley
Jack Nicholson In Paris In 1975
I would say something, but mama always said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” So, I’m keeping my mouth shut 🤐!
He looks like Hugh Jackman in that picture! He is such an amazing actor!
Y’all know he is in two episodes of The Andy Griffith Show? He was a young man then.
Audrey Hepburn And Gina Lollobrigida At The Marigny Theatre During The Nuit Du Cinema N Paris (1965)
It always does. I saw an outfit in a ladies wear store that would have fit right in with my high school years in the early 70’s. The glasses shapes are retro too.
Load More Replies...Frank Sinatra Gets Carried Off Stage By Dean Martin While Sammy Davis Jr. Watches, Photo By Art Shay, Las Vegas, 1961
When someone asked Martin where he got his muscular physique, he replied "Well, I carried Jerry Lewis for years."
Load More Replies...One of the settings in my time machine will be to see them all together live in Vegas.
Sophia Loren In The Millionairess
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981, Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange, John Colicos)
I guess it is "artsy' to make most of these photos B&W? In the 60s most photos were still B&W but by the 70s and beyond color was very common.
idk I think it's a theatre thing. A lot of the backstage stuff in theatre is photographed in BW, idk why.
Load More Replies...Well then they should have called it "The Postman Always Rings Twice....Twice".
Load More Replies...Jack Nicholson
Maybe because he is well known for portraying creepy and unlikable characters? I find him immensly icky. Just blech.
Load More Replies...This should be higher up. Brillant. Show his persona SO well...
Hedy Lamarr By Laszlo Willinger, 1943
Absolutely stunning. And everyone with a Bluetooth compatible device and Wifi should say thank you to her.
Highly intellectual person, inventive and we still use the results of her creativity.
Ava Gardner
Audrey Hepburn For Revlon’s “Most Unforgettable Women In The World” Campaign, Photos By Richard Avedon, New York, 1988
Audrey Hepburn, Dean Martin, And Jerry Lewis Photographed By Bob Willoughby, 1953
You, as someone who is decades younger, can say that now, but in their time they were the ultimate comedic duo. Silly, slapstick comedy was was their stock in trade and they were VERY good at what they did. They didn't need to use the "7 words you can't say on TV" to get a laugh. You can call it cringe now, but when they were popular, they were great.
Load More Replies...soooo true, i look "Artists and Models" yesterday, very funny
Load More Replies...Buster Keaton, Photographed By Melbourne Spurr, 1926
The best silent comedian ever, and I will take no discussion on the topic :)
Pretty good in the talkies as well, even though he didn't have the creative control he once did.
Load More Replies...Michelle Pfeiffer And Al Pacino In Frankie And Johnny (1991)
Elvira? Obviously not the Mistress of the Dark, so Elvira from what?
Load More Replies...Paul Newman
David Lynch And Isabella Rossellini By Helmut Newton, 1988
I have much respect for David Lynch but I'll never understand how he could dump this incredible woman over a text, smh
Lauren Bacall And Humphrey Bogart At Their Home In Benedict Canyon, 1954
The remarkable Lauren Bacall knew who he was, let him be who he was, and, in return, he was at last able to give something no other woman could grab from him: his total commitment.“ - Mary Astor, Bogart’s Maltese Falcon costar
I love that era for the styles, if I had the figure I’d dress like that
Load More Replies...Looks like he was already showings signs of cancer by then. I know he wasn’t diagnosed until the following year, and died two years after that, but he does not look well in this picture.
Anita Ekberg
Goldie Hawn
Marilyn Monroe
Greta Garbo By Clarence Sinclair Bull For Ninotchka, 1939
Steve Mcqueen - The Thomas Crown Affair (1967)
Ursula Andress
John And Julian Lennon With The Cast Of Happy Days
He abandoned Julian & Cindy. I suppose it’s a silver lining they were at least spared from any more of his physical abuse. I’m sure he piled that on Sean & Yoko.
Load More Replies...Marilyn Monroe Signing Autographs For Fans On The Set Of “Some Like It Hot” In Coronado Beach, California, Summer Of 1958. Photo By Richard Miller
Raquel Welch
Folks, let me introduce you to what a natural woman’s body looks like. She’s got a nice figure, but it’s well-proportioned. Not exaggerated. No need to photoshop. No disproportionately big boobs or huge a*s. Nothing you need plastic surgery to create with filler or silicone. Nothing that makes her a caricature of a human being. Just curves that are normally proportioned. What you see is what you get. Real.
No one should feel bad about the body they have because of someone else's opinion. I have a small waist but have a large chest that makes my body disproportionate. I haven't had implants or fillers but should I feel like a caricature anyway? Hel! No. And no one should even if they have had those things. Let people be who they are or who they want to be without trying to lessen them by implying they aren't "real". I am Real. People that change their looks are Real.
Load More Replies...The Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling With Jodie Foster
Episode of the Twilight Zone. It was a TV series.
Load More Replies...Clint Eastwood And Telly Savalas In The Film "Kelly’s Heroes" (1970)
“Don’t hit me with them negative waves so early in the morning” 🤣 even more hilarious in French, when he talks about the "ponpont" (the bribridge)
Load More Replies...Oh my goodness, yes, especially as Rowdy Yates in Rawhide!
Load More Replies...Federico Fellini And Sophia Loren, 1960s. Photo By Chiara Samugheo
Brigitte Bardot
Somehow she always looks tousled in a sexy way, like she just got out of bed.
I could never pull that look off. While a lot of women look sexy with messy hair, no matter how hard I try I just look, well, messy. Wild Man of Borneo hair. Unkempt. Like I need to brush that damn rat’s nest on my head. Oh well.
Load More Replies...A horrible racist bigot. No amount of beauty erases her ugly personalty
For wanting to retain her cultural heritage? What would you say if a bunch of white people went over to a middle eastern or African country and change the dynamics and way of life of the citizens, making life harder? What would you say if they fought to keep their way of life? Dirty hypocrite.
Load More Replies...Gina Lollobrigida
Nathalie And Alain Delon
John Belushi And The Go-Go’s
Funny when you see a picture and most people will know Belushi as the mad one, but clearly the lovely Jane Weidlin is the kookiest person in that picture.
Gina Schock is the drummer, Belinda does the singing.
Load More Replies...Jane Russell
Barbara Eden And Sammy Davis, Jr
Marcello Mastroianni And Federico Fellini
Liz Taylor And Rock Hudson Cementing Their Handprints At The Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Ingrid Bergman And Roberto Rossellini
Brigitte Bardot
She is stunning in this pic. Goes to show what a difference angles make because in the last picture of her I was thinking…I just don’t see it.
Cybill Shepherd
Audrey Hepburn In A Publicity Still For “Funny Face” (1957)
Personally I don't see it except for the big eyes, both Audrey and Ariana have those big doe eyes. x3
Load More Replies...Ava Gardner, C.1952
I bet that dress is beautiful and she had red lipstick on
Load More Replies...That’s a map of North Carolina. Ava Gardner was from Smithfield, if I’m not mistaken. (Yeah yeah, THAT Smithfield, where Smithfield hams come from.)
Audrey Hepburn Taking Pictures In Belgian Congo On The Set Of The Nun's Story (1959)
Shirley Macliane And Warren Beatty
Gina Lollobrigida
James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor And Rock Hudson On The Set Of Giant In 1955
English Actress Jacqueline Bisset Enjoys The Beach During Her First Year Living In California In 1965
Sharon Tate In 1960s
Ingrid Bergman, 1940s
Anita Ekberg By Andre De Dienes, C.1954
Rita Hayworth
The famous “Put the Blame on Mame” black strapless gown. She wore it well.
Vivien Leigh
I won’t think of it now. I’ll think of it tomorrow, when I can stand it.
Load More Replies...Marcello Mastroianni And Anita Ekberg At A Press Event For The Federico Fellini Comedy-Drama La Dolce Vita Held At The Martini Terrace In Milan, Italy On February 5th, 1960
Raquel Welch
Cyd Charisse Resting Her Feet On Ice, Behind The Cameras After Rehearsals In 1948
Peter Falk And Gena Rowlands In A Woman Under The Influence (1974)
Jane Russell
Marilyn Monroe Photographed By Milton Greene, 1956
And like she’s being surrounded by a pack of wolves.
Load More Replies...Toni Tennille (Of Captain & Tennille), Perry Como, And Loretta Switt (Of M*a*s*h*)
I was staring at the censored word trying to figure out what it said for a good minute before I realized that it was not in fact a censored word
Marlon Brando
Nastassja Kinski
Barbara Stanwyck
Ursula Andress
Monica Vitti
Cary Grant And Randolph Scott
Cary Grant did many therapeutic trips of LSD to work through psychological issues caused by childhood trauma.
Actress Faye Dunaway As Bonnie Parker, Standing Outside The Merchants Bank In The Film 'Bonnie And Clyde', 1967
Robert De Niro In Taxi Driver (1976)
Greta Garbo “Mata Hari” By Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1931
Lou Reed, Mick Jagger And David Bowie
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards And Bob Dylan
Kinda shoots that good clean living theory all to hell. My role model.
Load More Replies...Claudia Cardinale And Alain Delon
Marlon Brando
Gary Cooper And Marlene Dietrich In A Publicity Photo For Desire (1936)
Priests Mingle With Hippies At The Glastonbury Music Festival In 1971
The priests look pretty young, so probably went because they really dug the music.
Gina Lollobrigida
Showgirl Rosemary Williams Reading, 1949 Photography By Stanley Kubrick
Rita Hayworth
Monica Vitti, Alain Delon
Julie Christie
Susan Hayward
Sharon Tate Photographed By Terry O’neill, 1968
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor Photographed By Bert Stern, 1962
Jane Russell
Ava Gardner
Alfred Hitchcock, Janet Leigh Psycho - 1960 Director: Alfred Hitchcock Paramount USA On Set Psycho (1960)
But not as much as he terrorized Tippi Hendren, I understand.
Load More Replies...The Great Gatsby, Mia Farrow, 1974
Monica Vitti
Natalie Wood In Manhattan During Production Of The Mgm/Arthur Hiller Crime Comedy Penelope, Photo By Art Zelin, 1966. Natalie’s Costumes In The Film Were Designed By Edith Head
Marcello Mastroianni & Anita Ekberg On The Set Of 8 1/2
Alan Arkin’s Son David, Rob Reiner, Joey Bishop’s Son Larry, And Richard Dreyfuss
Anita Ekberg, 1956. Photo Taken By Peter Basch
Judy Garland And Jerry Lewis At Ciro’s Circa 1949
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝑶𝒇 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒌 (1962) On The Set: Doris Day And Husband Marty Melcher
John Wayne For 'The Quiet Man', 1952
So many comments about their physical appearance on the pictures of women but not on the ones of men.
Audrey Hepburn is amazing, these are gorgeous photos, but weird that almost all are white. I could be mistaken but there are historical famous actors who weren't white. Other than the couple of pics posted. But my bad?
It's not weird at all. The only African-American actor of any note for many years was Sidney Poitier. Certainly the "golden years" of Hollywood were not diverse. The Rat Pack were big fans of Kennedy, but unlike the others Sammy Davis Jr wasn't invited to his inauguration, which is why his friend Dean Martin stayed away.
Load More Replies...Ok, so I'm starting my own damn thread, because there's something missing here, and it's POC. Lets start with the stunning Eartha Kitt. Eartha-Kit...d452ab.jpg
Dear Panda, you screwed up, I actually know who most of these people are.
Of course not, but seeing as the title of this article is "121 Of The Most Interesting Historical Photos Of Celebrities From The “Things Of The Past” Facebook Page". I am thinking these photos are geared toward celebrities...
Load More Replies...So many comments about their physical appearance on the pictures of women but not on the ones of men.
Audrey Hepburn is amazing, these are gorgeous photos, but weird that almost all are white. I could be mistaken but there are historical famous actors who weren't white. Other than the couple of pics posted. But my bad?
It's not weird at all. The only African-American actor of any note for many years was Sidney Poitier. Certainly the "golden years" of Hollywood were not diverse. The Rat Pack were big fans of Kennedy, but unlike the others Sammy Davis Jr wasn't invited to his inauguration, which is why his friend Dean Martin stayed away.
Load More Replies...Ok, so I'm starting my own damn thread, because there's something missing here, and it's POC. Lets start with the stunning Eartha Kitt. Eartha-Kit...d452ab.jpg
Dear Panda, you screwed up, I actually know who most of these people are.
Of course not, but seeing as the title of this article is "121 Of The Most Interesting Historical Photos Of Celebrities From The “Things Of The Past” Facebook Page". I am thinking these photos are geared toward celebrities...
Load More Replies...
