by CU Newswire | Aug 18, 2026 | Yesteryear
Hollywood legend Mae West was famous for her ultra-glamorous, larger-than-life persona, but she stood barely 5 feet tall. To gain a commanding screen presence and stand eye-to-eye with towering leading men like Cary Grant, she famously wore custom-made, “double-decker” platform shoes that added between 8 to 9.5 inches to her height.
A marvel of vintage footwear engineering, these shoes literally featured one shoe bolted on top of another. A set of white platform straps sat atop a lower pair of wooden silver pumps. The bottom section created a “fake foot” illusion to fool onlookers. Hidden beneath her signature floor-length gowns, only the bottom silver toes would peek out from the hemline. This kept her massive height advantage a complete secret from audiences.
Her towering footwear directly birthed her trademark cinematic style. West could not take normal steps in 9-inch wooden blocks, so she adopted a slow, rhythmic, swaying sashay. What audiences perceived as a deliberate, seductive stride was actually a gait born out of pure necessity to keep from falling over.
Several pairs of her custom platforms survive in prominent historical fashion archives. ASU FIDM Museum holds several pairs (including 1950s performance shoes measuring 9½ inches total, plus her foot traces used for custom lasts) and has displayed the “double-decker” style. The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum has shown a pair of her 1950s wooden/metallic-leather platforms (around 8 inches). Other pairs have appeared in exhibitions such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s Hollywood glamour shows.
by CU Newswire | Aug 18, 2026 | Yesteryear
The 1930 Packard 745 Deluxe Eight Convertible was one of the most elegant American automobiles of the Classic Era. Built on Packard’s long 145.5-inch wheelbase chassis and powered by a smooth 385-cubic-inch straight-eight engine producing 106 horsepower, it combined refined performance with exceptional craftsmanship.
Many examples featured exclusive coachwork from renowned builders such as Dietrich, Waterhouse, Derham, and Brewster, resulting in graceful convertible designs that epitomized prewar luxury. With its long hood, balanced proportions, and sophisticated styling, the Packard 745 remains a highly prized symbol of American automotive elegance.
These stunning photos capture the timeless grace and refined luxury of the rare 1930 Packard 745 Deluxe Eight Convertible, a true classic of the Golden Age of American motoring.
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by CU Newswire | Aug 18, 2026 | Yesteryear
In the 1950s, Maureen O’Hara (August 17, 1920 – October 24, 2015) reached the absolute pinnacle of her career, solidifying her status as Hollywood’s definitive “Queen of Technicolor.” Known for her striking red hair, fierce independent screen presence, and electric chemistry with John Wayne, she dominated the decade through iconic Westerns, action-packed adventure films, and television appearances.
Her working dynamic with director John Ford and co-star John Wayne defined her decade. She starred as Mary Kate Danaher in The Quiet Man (1952), delivering an iconic performance marked by fiery independence and physical commitment, followed by Western classics like Rio Grande (1950) and The Wings of Eagles (1957).
Studios leaned heavily into three-strip Technicolor specifically to feature O’Hara’s signature vibrant red hair, emerald-green eyes, and flawless complexion, making her a box-office staple in high-budget adventure films.
Known for insisting on performing her own stunts, O’Hara played fiercely capable leads in swashbucklers and adventure pictures like At Sword’s Point (1952), Flame of Araby (1951), and Against All Flags (1952) alongside Errol Flynn.
In 1957, O’Hara famously sued the tabloid magazine Confidential for libel after it published fabricated stories about her, becoming one of the first major Hollywood stars to challenge gossip rags in court and win.
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by CU Newswire | Aug 18, 2026 | Culture Pop!
Hey Big Brother fans, we’ve got your veto meeting results with Yash Patel losing control of the last bit of his HOH as Rick Devens pulled out his power and took over the event. Blindsiding Yash and Kamu Kirk was the icing on Angela Murray’s birthday cake even before they baked it.
The post Big Brother Week 6: Veto Meeting Results – Yash BLINDSIDED! appeared first on Soap Dirt.
by CU Newswire | Aug 18, 2026 | Culture Pop!
