Yesteryear - Creative Underworld

Pursuit of Happiness, The

by editor@creativeunderworld.com | Yesteryear | 0 Comments

1 9 9 5 (USA) 7 (13) x 30 minute episodes Steve Rutledge (Tom Amandes, who had played Eliot Ness in the Paramount reboot The Untouchables) and Alex Chosek (Brad Garrett) were partners in the Chicago-based law firm of Rutledge and Chosek. The partners had divided the work: Jimmy Stewart-lookalike Steve was an idealist and handled […]

Our Street

by editor@creativeunderworld.com | Yesteryear | 0 Comments

1 9 6 9 – 1 9 7 3 (USA) 56 x 30 minute episodes This groundbreaking weekly PBS series from Maryland Public Television told the story of the Robinsons, a black family in East Baltimore, who lived amongst white neighbours who were not always understanding (and not exactly encouraged by the wary Robinsons). The […]

Walter Tyndale: The Virtuoso of Architectural Watercolors

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Walter Tyndale (1855–1943) was a distinguished British watercolorist and author, renowned for his exquisite depictions of architecture, landscapes, and street scenes.

Born in Germany but later settling in England, Tyndale initially trained in the classical traditions of Antwerp and Paris. However, he eventually abandoned oil painting in favor of watercolor, a medium that allowed him to capture the nuanced interplay of light and shadow on ancient stone and bustling marketplaces.

Tyndale became a celebrated “traveler-artist,” venturing across Egypt, Japan, Italy, and the Middle East to document their vibrant cultures and historical monuments. His work is characterized by meticulous topographical accuracy blended with a warm, atmospheric quality, a style that made him a sought-after illustrator for high-end travel books like Below the Cataracts and An Artist in Egypt.

As a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI), Tyndale left behind a legacy of paintings that serve not only as beautiful works of art but as precise historical records of a world undergoing rapid change.

An Arab Market

A Bustling Street before a Minaret, Damascus

A Mosque Doorway

A Pot Market, Assisi

A Souk

The 1904 Humber 8.5HP: A Milestone in Early British Motoring

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The 1904 Humber 8.5HP Two-Cylinder Two-Seater stands as a quintessential example of the “Veteran” car era, reflecting the rapid engineering evolution at the turn of the 20th century. Produced by the renowned British manufacturer Humber Limited at their Beeston works, this model was celebrated for its robust build and reliability. Powered by a vertical twin-cylinder engine, the 8.5HP was a significant step up from the single-cylinder “voiturettes” of the time, offering a smoother and more capable driving experience for early motorists.

The design featured a classic open two-seater layout, often accompanied by the iconic “brass era” aesthetic: gleaming lamps, a prominent radiator, and leather upholstery. Its mechanical simplicity, featuring a three-speed gearbox and a leather-faced cone clutch, made it a favorite among doctors and professionals who required a dependable vehicle for daily use.

Humber marketed these vehicles at approximately £260 (about $1,260 at the time), targeting buyers who wanted more power than standard offerings provided. Today, these vehicles are highly prized by collectors and are iconic participants in the prestigious London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, serving as a living testament to the dawn of the automotive age.

30 Stunning Portraits of a Very Young and Beautiful Lana Turner in the 1930s

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Lana Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized personal life. In the 1930s, Turner transitioned from a teenage girl in poverty to a Hollywood sensation known as the “Sweater Girl.”

In 1936, 15-year-old Julia Jean Turner was a student at Hollywood High School. While skipping a typing class to buy a Coca-Cola at the Top Hat Malt Shop, she was spotted by William R. Wilkerson, publisher of The Hollywood Reporter. This chance encounter led to her being signed by director Mervyn LeRoy, who suggested she change her name to Lana.

She made her screen debut in the 1937 film They Won’t Forget. Despite a small role, her appearance in a tight-fitting sweater earned her the nickname “The Sweater Girl,” a title she famously detested because it overemphasized her physical attributes. Originally signed to Warner Bros. for $50 a week, she followed LeRoy to MGM in 1938, where her career truly accelerated.

Born a brunette, Turner’s look was meticulously crafted by studios. In 1939, she bleached her hair blonde for the film Idiot’s Delight, a change that became her signature and led to her being dubbed the “Nightclub Queen” by the press.

By the end of the 1930s, she had moved from a $50-a-week contract to becoming a top-billed actress, setting the stage for her peak stardom as a femme fatale in the 1940s.

30 Photos of James Dean as a Teenager in the 1940s

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Long before he was the “Rebel Without a Cause,” James Dean was a quintessential small-town high schooler in 1940s Indiana. His teenage years were defined by a mix of athletic success, artistic experimentation, and a growing restless energy.

In the 1940s, Dean was a prominent figure at Fairmount High School, known more for his physical prowess than his brooding intensity. Despite being 5’8”, he was a star on the varsity basketball team, once scoring 15 of his team’s 34 points in a critical rivalry game. He played third base for four years and maintained a strong .333 batting average for his American Legion baseball team. He was also a county pole vault champion, setting a record that stood for years.

His interest in performing was nurtured by his high school drama teacher, Adeline Nall, who became a lifelong mentor. He participated in numerous school plays, famously portraying a “teenage Frankenstein” in a comedy review. He also competed in public speaking and forensics through the Indiana High School Forensic Association. He played the drums and was known to enjoy the bongos, a hobby that followed him into adulthood.

The seeds of his “cool” persona were planted during these years in Fairmount. For his high school graduation, his uncle Marcus bought him a motorized bicycle, which Dean soon traded in for a motorcycle. He became known for performing daring stunts around town. Peers remembered him as popular but introspective, often preferring to daydream or spend time on his aunt and uncle’s farm.

Dean graduated in May 1949 and moved back to California that summer, marking the end of his Indiana upbringing and the beginning of his journey toward Hollywood.

Ladies Man

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1 9 9 9 – 2 0 0 1 (USA) 30 x 30 minute episodes Jimmy Styles (British-born actor Alfred Molina) is married to Donna (Sharon Lawrence), divorced from tart-tongued cocktail waitress Claire (Park Overall), and the father of clever yet manipulative Wendy (Alexa Vega) – who attends the Buddy Ebsen Elementary School – and Bonnie, […]

Orleans

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1 9 9 7 (USA) 1 x 120 minute episode 6 x 60 minute episodes This short-lived CBS drama series revolved around the powerful Charbonnet family of New Orleans. The head of the family, Luther – a respected (and ruthless) judge – was the divorced father of Clade (a police officer), Paulette (the manager of a […]

Kirk

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1 9 9 5 – 1 9 9 7 (USA) 31 x 30 minute episodes Earnest and good-natured Kirk Hartman (Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron) is a recent college graduate and talented artist who has moved to New York City in search of fame and fortune. He works as a graphic artist (painting billboards), dreams of […]

Françoise Dorléac: The Spirit of 1960s French Cinema

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Françoise Dorléac was a radiant force of nature who became a definitive icon of the French New Wave before her life was tragically cut short.

Known for her sharp wit, effortless elegance, and spirited energy, she delivered unforgettable performances in classics such as That Man from Rio and François Truffaut’s The Soft Skin. Perhaps her most cherished legacy is the 1967 musical The Young Girls of Rochefort, where she starred alongside her sister, Catherine Deneuve.

While Deneuve represented a cool, blonde detachment, Dorléac was the vibrant, brunette heart of the era, a whirlwind of talent and charm. Her untimely passing at the age of 25 remains one of cinema’s greatest losses, but she forever remains the quintessential spirit of 1960s French sophistication.