Yesteryear

Caesar’s Hour

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1 9 5 4 – 1 9 5 7 (USA) 73 x 60 minute episodes After great success on Your Show of Shows, NBC gave funnyman Sid Caesar his own live sketch comedy and variety show in 1954. Caesar took with him many of the same creative people who had been with him from the start. For […]

‘Orrible

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2 0 0 1 (UK) 8 x 30 minute episodes Paul Clark (ex Big Breakfast presenter and former jailbird Johnny Vaughan) is a 32-year-old part-time minicab driver and full-time fantasist and wannabe small-time criminal – who still lives at home with his mum (Di Botcher) and sister (Angel Coulby). He is assisted in his fantasies by […]

Ashes to Ashes

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2 0 0 8 – 2 0 1 0 (UK) 24 x 60 minute episodes “Today, my friend, your diary entry will read: ‘Took a prozzie hostage and was shot by three armed bastards’!” This sequel to the impeccable Life on Mars begins in 2008 with DI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) investigating DCI Sam Tyler (the […]

The Cuban H-Bomb: Captivating Portraits of Chelo Alonso in the 1950s and ’60s

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Born Isabel Apolonia García Hernández, magnetic Afro-Cuban dancer and actress Chelo Alonso (1933–2019) became a sensational icon of Italian cinema during the “Sword and Sandal” (Peplum) era of the late 1950s and 1960s. Famed for her fiery screen presence and extraordinary exotic beauty, she was often billed as the “Cuban H-Bomb.”

Before conquering the silver screen, Alonso was a star at the Folies Bergère in Paris, where her mesmerizing dance routines earned her international acclaim. In films like Sign of the Gladiator and Goliath and the Barbarians, she blended athletic grace with a fierce, magnetic charisma that captivated audiences worldwide.

A true queen of the cult epic, Chelo Alonso remains a symbol of mid-century cinematic glamour and the vibrant, untamable energy she brought to every performance. Take a look at these captivating portraits to see why Chelo Alonso remains one of the most unforgettable and vibrant stars of the golden age of Italian epics.

The Incredible Survival Story of Kazuko Higa, aka the “Queen of Anatahan”

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The story of Kazuko Higa, often sensationalized as the “Queen of Anatahan,” is one of the most bizarre and tragic episodes of World War II holdouts. It involves 31 Japanese men and one woman stranded on a small volcanic island for seven years.

Anatahan is a small volcanic island (about 2 by 5 miles) in the Northern Mariana Islands. Before the intense fighting in the Pacific, it had a small Japanese-run coconut plantation with local Chamorro workers.

Kazuko Higa (born in Okinawa, sometimes described as around 28 years old at the time) arrived on the island earlier. She was initially married to Shoichi Higa, a plantation employee. Shoichi left the island to check on family in Saipan and never returned (he reportedly believed she had died or was lost). Kazuko then entered a relationship with (or “married”) another man on the island, Kikuichiro Higa, who was involved in overseeing the plantation.

In June 1944, U.S. forces bombed Japanese ships near Anatahan. Around 30–32 Japanese sailors and soldiers survived by swimming ashore. They joined the small existing Japanese population, which included Kazuko and her partner (Kikuichiro). This created a group of roughly 31 men and one woman on the isolated island.

After Japan’s surrender in August 1945, U.S. forces evacuated most locals and some Japanese from Anatahan. However, the shipwreck survivors (and remaining Japanese) refused to believe the war was over. They fled into the jungle as holdouts, continuing to live as if the conflict was ongoing. They survived on coconuts, fish, and whatever they could forage or salvage.

Life on the Island and “The Queen”

With only one woman among more than 30 men, intense competition, jealousy, and power struggles erupted. Kazuko became the central figure, often sensationalized in the media as the “Queen of Anatahan.” She reportedly lived with different men over time, sometimes described as having a “harem” of several partners, and at one point was said to lead or heavily influence the group.

Accounts vary, but many sources note that at least 6–11 of the men died under suspicious or violent circumstances between 1945 and 1951: murders, stabbings, beatings, or mysterious “accidents” (e.g., “drowned while fishing”); violence was frequently linked to rivalry over Kazuko; one reported case involved a man with 13 knife wounds.

Kazuko navigated this dangerous environment by aligning herself with stronger or dominant men for protection, shifting alliances as power changed hands. Some portray her as a clever survivor who pitted men against each other or used relationships strategically to stay safe; others see her more as a victim in a coercive, male-dominated situation marked by fear and imbalance. Exact details of what happened remain murky, as they come from later survivor accounts that were often sensationalized.

Escape and Aftermath (1950–1951)

By 1950, tensions peaked. Kazuko reportedly learned that some men planned to kill her. She fled into the jungle and survived alone for about 33 days. When an American vessel appeared offshore, she signaled for help and was rescued in June/July 1950. She told authorities that the remaining men on the island still did not believe the war had ended.

After her departure, the violence stopped. In June 1951, the last Japanese holdouts (around 20 men) finally surrendered and were evacuated.

Kazuko Higa returned to Japan and became a minor celebrity. She was around 32 years old and gave interviews and even planned a burlesque-style tour where she would share her story. The media often portrayed it in a lurid, sensational way, focusing on sex, jealousy, and “one woman with 31 men.” She downplayed the romantic fantasy, implying it was far from paradise.

She later remarried, lived relatively quietly, and died in 1972 at about age 50 from a brain tumor.

30 Stunning Portraits of Eve Arden in the 1940s

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Eve Arden (born Eunice Mary Quedens, April 30, 1908 – November 12, 1990) was a prominent American actress in the 1940s, known for her sharp wit, impeccable comic timing, and dry, sarcastic delivery. She typically played supporting roles as the heroine’s wisecracking best friend, independent career women, or scene-stealing sidekicks, often stealing the show with her deadpan humor.

Arden appeared in dozens of films during the decade, building on her late-1930s work. She was a reliable character actress in comedies, musicals, and occasional dramas or film noirs. She was prolific, often appearing in 2–7 films per year in the earlier part of the decade, and excelled at playing self-assured, witty women who provided comic relief or grounded the lead characters.

Arden had strong Broadway credits leading into and during the 1940s, including Let’s Face It! (1941), where she co-starred with Danny Kaye. She transitioned successfully into radio, becoming a regular on The Danny Kaye Show (1945–1946). Her radio work highlighted her talent for quick, witty dialogue.

Toward the end of the decade, in 1948, she originated the role of Connie Brooks (a sardonic high-school English teacher) in the CBS radio sitcom Our Miss Brooks. This became her signature character: tart-tongued, perpetually single but hopeful, and constantly clashing with her principal (Gale Gordon) while pining for colleague Mr. Boynton. The show was a massive hit; she won polls as top radio comedienne in 1948–1949. The radio series ran until 1957, later spawning a TV version (1952–1956) and a 1956 film.

In portraits and films from the era, Arden was elegant and glamorous, with a sophisticated look that suited both comedic and dramatic roles. She was often described as beautiful with a distinctive, no-nonsense presence that made her sarcasm land perfectly.

40 Vintage Cover Photos of Ladies’ Home Journal during the 1900s

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Founded in 1883, the Ladies’ Home Journal grew to become one of the most influential American magazines of the 20th century, serving as the definitive guidebook for women’s domestic and social lives. At its peak, it was a cultural powerhouse, famous for its beautifully illustrated covers, groundbreaking advice columns like “Can This Marriage Be Saved?”, and contributions from literary giants and political figures.

More than just a collection of recipes and sewing patterns, the Journal tackled complex issues of health, suffrage, and education, helping to shape the modern identity of the American woman. Today, vintage issues of the Ladies’ Home Journal are cherished as vibrant time capsules, preserving the evolving dreams, fashions, and values of generations past.

Below is a collection of Ladies’ Home Journal covers during the 1900s.

Ladies’ Home Journal cover, December 1900

Ladies’ Home Journal cover, August 1900

Ladies’ Home Journal cover, June 1900

Ladies’ Home Journal cover, December 1901

Ladies’ Home Journal cover, March 1901

David Bowie During the Filming of “The Man Who Fell To Earth” in Los Angeles, 1975

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In 1975, legendary photographer Terry O’Neill captured a series of images of David Bowie in Los Angeles during the production of Nicolas Roeg’s sci-fi masterpiece, The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Bowie is captured in a sharp, detached look, often wearing a stylish hat and sunglasses, dressed in a suit jacket. He appears elegant yet distant, perfectly suiting his role as the alien Thomas Jerome Newton. This was during a turbulent time for Bowie; he was deep into the “Thin White Duke” era, recording Station to Station while filming, and later admitted he remembered the production only in “flashes” due to heavy cocaine use.

The movie itself was mostly shot in New Mexico (deserts, White Sands, etc.), but there were scenes and downtime in Los Angeles, where these iconic off-set or between-takes photos were taken.

Candid Photographs of Teenage Kirsten Dunst During the Filming of “The Virgin Suicides” (1999)

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In 1998, Kirsten Dunst starred in the Sofia Coppola-directed drama The Virgin Suicides as Lux Lisbon, one of the troubled teenage daughters of Ronald Lisbon (James Woods). It’s still considered one of her best movies. Sofia Coppola and Kirsten Dunst went on to collaborate on The Bling Ring, Marie Antoinette, and The Beguiled.

“We were in Toronto during preproduction and Kirsten was there shooting some teen comedy, I think. At that point, she’d been doing more broad comedies, but I’d seen Interview With the Vampire, and she stands out,” Coppola said about Dunst in an interview with Vogue. “What I love about her is that she looks like this all-American blonde cheerleader but has this depth behind her eyes that contrasts her look. I just clicked with her right away. She just totally gets me and got how I wanted to do it. Back then, she was just a kid, but it was the beginning of our friendship.”

The film premiered on May 19, 1999, at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. Dunst was 17 years old at the time, having celebrated her 17th birthday on April 30, 1999. The movie was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, during the summer of 1998 when she was 16.

“When I read the script, I was a little bit nervous because I was making out with all these guys in the script, and I just was overwhelmed and kind of a young 16-year-old,” Dunst told People. “But when I met Sofia, I felt at ease, and I knew that this would be something special.”

“The lights in the house would go off, and then I’d have to run out,” Dunst said about a romantic scene in the movie involving a kiss with Josh Hartnett as Trip Fontaine. “It was such a long-winded thing to get in the car, jump on Josh, his wig would fall off… Then I bit him once, I remember. It was just a mess…. To be part of a movie that would be my favorite movie during that age. You couldn’t ask for more.”

Here are some behind the scenes photographs of Kirsten Dunst as Lux Lisbon during the filming of The Virgin Suicides. She looks lovely as usual with her legendary sweet smile and cute dimples!

After Dark

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1 9 8 2 – 1 9 8 5 (Australia) 144 x 90 minute/60 minute episodes Sounds host Donnie Sutherland presented this late-night mix of music and chat, which aired on Saturday nights on Sydney’s Channel 7, debuting in March 1982. The show (which was pre-recorded on Monday nights) had a relaxed, laid-back style with Donnie […]