Newly colorized versions of famous Golden Age actresses, World War II-era soldiers, and prominent moments from the Kennedy administration show what life was really like back before the invention of digital photography.
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor is pictured here on the set of Giant in 1956. She started acting in 1941, and this is one of her more beloved roles alongside Rock Hudson and James Dean. Did you know she was the last person James Dean was with before he was in that car accident?
The Historic Stock Market Crash
October 29th, 1929 was the last day of the first stock market crash. The day was named "Black Tuesday," and was the day prices completely collapsed. This was the first big push into the country's Great Depression.
A Young Brigitte Bardot
The French actress was at the peak of her career in the 1950s and '60s. She moved from Paris to Hollywood at a young age, and because of her looks and talent, she was rarely not in the spotlight. She's quoted as saying, "I don’t know what it means to sit quietly in a bistro, on a terrace, or in the theatre without being approached by someone."
Three Title Holders
Europe's tallest, shortest, and fattest men are pictured here, all playing a game of cards dated back to 1913. It's hilarious to think about what they're all talking about. Oh, to be a fly on the wall...
Unpacking the Mona Lisa
This photo was taken in 1945 after historians unpacked the Mona Lisa from safety at the end of World War II. Several famous art pieces were put under protection during the war in case anything happened to them. This is one of the art world's most famous paintings of all time.
Sally Field in "Gidget"
An 18-year-old Sally Field starred in "Gidget" in 1965, and she played a free-wheeling surfer chick with a penchant for trouble. She was so inexperienced when she auditioned that she even asked the crew "which one is the camera?" For whatever reason, that won over directors.
Newly Engaged Jackie and JFK
After they got engaged, Jackie Bouvier and John Kennedy visited the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port with a reporter who documented their relationship. Life Magazine ran a feature on their engagement with the headline "Senator Kennedy Goes a-Courting.”
The Littlest Man In The World
Henry Behrens was only 30 inches tall and weighed 32 pounds. He toured the world with Burton Lester's troupe of little people. His most famous photo shows him dancing with a sweet cat.
Arsenal Goalkeeper Jack Kelsey
In 1954, the Arsenal soccer team played a game that was shrouded in a thick fog, and goalkeeper Jack Kelsey actually stayed on the pitch for 15 minutes after the game was called because he couldn't see what was going on. A similar event happened in 1937 during a Christmas Day match between Chelsea and Stamford Ridge.
Night Fishing in Hawaii
How crazy is this? Traditional spearfishing has been in practice in Hawaii for decades, and this photo shows the lengths people went to light their way before the invention of electricity These elaborate torches were a little too dangerous to continue using today.
Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein
Charlie Chaplin attended the premiere of his film City Lights in LA alongside Albert Einstein in 1931. Chaplin and Einstein were good friends who were introduced by the head of Universal Studios, Carl Laemmle. Apparently, both men were envious of each other's fame but were still close pals.
Lawrence of Arabia
Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence served as a British ambassador and demolition expert in the Middle East during World War I. He worked with Arab rebel allies to fight against the Ottoman Empire. He did a huge amount of damage, much of which has never been rebuilt.
Lydon B. Johnson Swearing In
Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into office on board of Air Force One almost immediately after John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. The president was shot in broad daylight while driving in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. In the photo, President Johnson is standing beside former First Lady Jackie Kennedy, who is covered in her husband's blood, and his wife Lady Bird Johnson.
Koboto Santaro
Japanese military commander Koboto Santaro is pictured here wearing traditional military armor in 1863. The photo was taken by Felice Beato and was hand-colored by the photographer. This garb was worn by Japan's rulers from the 12th century until the 1800s.
Working Class Oregon
This photo depicts an unemployed lumber worker in 1939. His social security number is tattooed on his arm, identifying him as Thomas Cave. He and his wife found themselves out of work during the Great Depression. This picture was taken by the iconic portrait photographer Dorothea Lange.
Sophia Loren
Italian beauty Sophia Loren appeared in her first film, Quo Vadis, at just 17 years old. She often took on roles as the seductress of comic stars. She gave some valuable advice to hardworking actresses, saying that it's important to look back on your life critically and recognize moments where you took jobs or opportunities that you didn't want just because you felt like you had to and to not put that pressure on yourself.
The OG Popeye
This stoker worked for the Royal Navy in the 1920s and was aptly nicknamed Popeye. He was aboard the HMS Rodney during his service. It's possible the creator of the famous Popeye cartoon, E.C. Segar, was inspired by this man's likeness.
A Homecoming Soldier
This photo was taken by the famous photojournalist Ernst Haas. He photographed soldiers returning home from World War II, and his eye always managed to capture the bleak humanity of his subjects. Many of his images follow soldiers searching for survivors in concentration camps.
A Civil War Veteran
The last remaining Civil War veteran passed away in 1956. This story shows a group of "bootblacks," or shoe polishers, congregating around this veteran and listening to his stories. Imagine the thing he must have seen.
21-Year-Old Winston Churchill
Here Winston Churchill is pictured as a Cornet in the 4th Queen's Hussar's Calvary in 1895. His whole life was greatly dedicated to the British army and he served during the Victorian era. He shipped off to India with his regiment before inevitably pursuing a successful career in politics.
Albert Einstein
Though remembered as a scientific and mathematic genius, Albert Einstein always preferred to think of himself as a creative. He's quoted as saying: "I am enough of the artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
A 1970s Hitchhiker
Hitchhiking was one of the most common ways to travel in the 1970s if you didn't have a car. It was also incredibly dangerous, especially if you were a young woman. It often led to rape or murder, so it quickly grew out of fashion and was only used as a last resort, if at all.
An Iceberg Grotto
Geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor and Meteorologist Charles Wright explored icebergs in 1911 and were photographed at the entrance of this grotto, a natural phenomenon. These two explorers were competing to become the first person to reach the South Pole aboard the Terra Nova Expedition.
Charlie Chaplin, Age 27
Believe it or not, Charlie Chaplin didn't actually look like his Tramp character with that bowler hat and mustache. He grew up in poverty as the son of a failing actress, so he took to the stage himself to travel from the USA to London. He quickly became a vaudeville legend.
Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara
Vivien Leigh starred as Scarlett O'Hara in 1939's Gone With The Wind. Though she was British, she played the part of the Southern Belle perfectly, and it would go down in history as her most iconic role. Despite the fame, she was certain that Gone With The Wind would be a failure.
The Seaforth Highlanders
The Seaforth Highlanders are pictured here taking a break in their trench in 1915. Trench warfare was popular during World War I, and these soldiers were stationed near La Gorge, France. The Scottish infantry did its best to combat the Central Powers.
Salvador Dali
The famous painter was photographed on board the S.S. Normandie in New York City in 1936. His art style experimented with post-modern visuals and surrealist ideals. His trips to New York inspired his work for much of his life.
Eunice Hancock
Eunice Hancock was a 21-year-old welder who operated heavy machinery at a Midwest aircraft plant during World War II. More women took it upon themselves to pick up jobs on assembly lines when most of the country's men were sent off to war. Statistically, 27-37% of the country's women were working outside of the home by 1945.
Sophie Scholl
Sophie Scholl was an anti-Nazi activist who was convicted of high treason for handing out anti-war leaflets. She and her brother, Hans, were both executed at the guillotine. She was one of few activists who worked against the Nazis publicly.
"West Meets East"
These two German brothers were separated by the Berlin Wall. They got to reunite during 1963's border pass agreement. However, it took 25 more years after this photo for the wall to permanently come down.
Mata Hari
Mata Hari was killed by a French firing squad after she was accused of being a spy. Her final moments included her blowing a kiss at the very men who killed her. She was confirmed as a spy, and her job as a dancer helped her work through the ranks of powerful men until she was found out.
Warsaw, Poland, 1946
This photographer brought his own backdrop to a site in post-WWII Warsaw, Poland to hide the ruins. Europe was in shambles for years after the end of World War II. Photographers attempted to make things look and feel normal while shooting portraits or advertisements.
The Eiffel Tower, 1944
Paris was liberated from four years of Nazi occupation in 1944. Allegedly, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Choltitz to set the tower on fire and burn Paris to the ground so it couldn't be liberated. Two days after this didn't happen, there was a celebration on the Champs d'Elysees.
American Troops in Normandy
These American troops were photographed as they were on their way to Normandy in June 1944 for the infamous battle at Omaha Beach. It was one of World War II's most horrendous fights that lasted for two months. There were 156,000 American, British, and Canadian troops fighting together against the Axis Powers.
Native Americans in Montana
These Crow Native Americans were photographed watching the 1941 Crow fair rodeo in Montana. The crow fair brought together all the Native American tribes on the Great Plains and hosted a huge celebration. There was everything from rodeos to horse races to dancing.
Orange Pickers in California, 1931
The dust bowl drove many Midwest Americans to the west coast in search of better jobs during the Great Depression. Many people weren't lucky enough to find work, but some did pick up occasional seasonal fruit picking jobs if the crops were good.
Dutch Resistance Fighters
These Dutch Resistance fighters were armed with confiscated German weapons following the Netherlands' liberation in 1944. The Dutch soldiers aided allies with "counterintelligence, domestic sabotage, and communications" to drive the Nazis out.
Jackie and JFK's Wedding
Senator John F. Kennedy and his new wife Jackie were photographed at their wedding in Newport, Rhode Island in 1953. Known as "America's couple," this was as close as the United States ever got to a royal wedding.
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was a wildly popular Irish poet and playwright, and he was photographed here in 1882. His most famous work was The Picture of Dorian Gray. He was very well-traveled and even gave over 150 lectures to crowds as large as 200,000 people.
King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania
The King and Queen of Romania attended a state visit to Dover, England in 1924. The queen married Ferdinand in 1892 and gave up her life in the fields — and it's because of her that Ferdinand allied himself with England against Germany.
John and Robert Kennedy
Presidential Candidate John F. Kennedy is shown here speaking to his brother (and campaign manager) Robert F. Kennedy in 1960. They were planning John's moves during the LA Democratic National Convention, which was historically one of the most important DNCs ever.
Princess Elizabeth in WWII
Before she was England's longest-ruling Monarch, Princess Elizabeth served as an ambulance driver during World War II. When she was 18 years old, she was able to join the forces and trained with the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service.
Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.
Two of the Civil Rights Movement's most prominent allies, MLK Jr. and Rosa Parks, are pictured here in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. It was a notoriously segregated state, and they faced much danger as they peacefully protested bus services and segregated businesses.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was considered "the most prolific figures in engineering history." He created the groundwork for the Great Western Railway as well as a series of bridges, tunnels, and ships meant for transatlantic service. He also designed most of the major docks in Great Britain.
Titanic Orphans
Michel and Edmond Navratil were the only children rescued from the Titanic wreckage without a parent or guardian. The famous ship sank in April 1912 and these two children were saved when the ninth life-saving ship circled through the remains. Until they could get back to France, it was discovered that their mother was actually alive and well in Nice.
Tolstoy, 1908
Regarded as the greatest writer of all time, Russian author Tolstoy poses here in 1908. He often wrote about various family dynamics and believed that love, above all things, was the most important part of life.
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia is seen here with the 1st Army General Alexander Ivanovich Litninov in 1916. Tsar Nicholas and his family were killed in 1918, though it's rumored that his daughter, Grand Duchess Anastasia, survived and escaped the Romanov seige.
Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics
The American athlete Jesse Owens defeated Nazi Germany's Lutz Long in the long jump, and saluted during his medal presentation. Long, however, did the controversial German Nazi salute since the events were held in Berlin that year.
Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin
The British Prime Minister and the vaudeville star are pictured here on the set of "City Lights." Did you know these two were actually at political odds? Churchill visited the United States in 1929 and hung out on the film set, and when the film premiered in London in 1931, Chaplin was invited to dinner at Churchill's home.
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso visited Cannes in 1958 and was photographed with this revolver that was given to him by Gary Cooper. He never fell victim to the "reclusive artist" trope. He loved to entertain, and often had Gary Cooper and his daughter to his ceramics studio in Vallauris.
Rita Hayworth at the Beverly Hills Hotel
Actress Rita Hayworth was a famous Hollywood starlet during the Golden age. She was born Margarita Carmen Cansino, but changed her name to Rita Hayworth because it had more star appeal. She also had her hair thinned by electrolysis to prove her dedication to a role.
An Iranian Woman, 1960
Women weren't allowed to wear traditional veils before the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Before then, women were allowed to wear Westernized clothing like jeans, miniskirts, and short sleeves. Young women often wore bathing suits to the beach, a practice that is now extremely forbidden.
A Young Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly was one of the world's most famous film stars during the Golden age. She was the daughter of a three-time Olympic gold medalist and was used to growing up in the spotlight. Her big break came when she was cast in Mogambo, and she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
Princess Diana, 1997
Princess Diana was seen vacationing on a yacht in Portofino, Italy, one week before she died in a car accident in 1997. The yacht was owned by Dodi Al Fayed, her boyfriend at the time. She was hoping to remove herself from public scrutiny following her divorce from Prince Charles.
Farrah Fawcett Photographed by Andy Warhol
Farrah Fawcett was regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses to ever live. She was photographed by Andy Warhol in 1979 and was intended to be a one-off Polaroid. However, several painted renditions have been created based on this iconic photo.
Inside Japan Airlines Flight 123
This is the last known photo of the flight that went down over Japan. It crashed into the side of a mountain in 1985, and this picture shows a scary sense of calm. The plane ascended 24,000 feet, then quickly lost altitude and crashed just 45 minutes after takeoff.
Plane Crash Survivor Juliane Koepcke
Juliane Koepcke was the only survivor of the LANSA Flight 508, and she somehow lived in the jungle for 11 days afterward until she was rescued. The plane fell two miles, and she was just seventeen at the time. She had a ruptured knee but still managed to fend for herself until she was rescued by a group of locals in the Peruvian rainforest.
Buried At Sea
This photo shows at least 10 soldiers being buried at sea from the USS Intrepid in 1944 after a kamikaze attack. The Intrepid took part in terrifying warfare while in the Philippines. The crew protected the ship and survived both air and sea attacks.
Exotic Dancer Under Arrest
This exotic dancer was arrested in the early 1980s, so to thank the judge for her sentence, she flashed him. The photo actually ended up being picked up by Playboy and was captured by the Tampa Bay Times staff photographer Jim Damaske.
The Kiss
This is one of the most famous post-war photos ever taken. The sailor kissing a civilian girl to celebrate V-J Day is one of the most-seen moments from the early 20th century. In color, it looks even more celebratory.