# Favorite 'Old' Hollywood publicity stills **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186 "2012-02-17T21:07:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/1 "2012-02-17T21:07:18Z")
This thread may die quickly but I thought I’d give it a shot. Define ‘Old’ anyway you would like- Silent Era to ‘before Coppola’. What are some of your favorite publicity stills of various stars? (And I’m flexible on what constitutes a ‘still’- it can be a candid shot or a paparazzi or whatever, so long as it’s a clear picture of the star or stars.) [Liberace’s introduction of Elvis to bling](http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/img/elvis/celebs/liberace_elvis_2.jpg) ca. 1956 [Ava Gardner in the 1940s](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-siv7bGUVb1w/Tgmo5d2bvqI/AAAAAAAAAQM/zd-ypDz31xE/s1600/ava-gardner8.jpg) or even [when she was fishing](http://timelessimagesmi.com/Ava.Gardner.1952.50.jpg) (early 1950s) was one of the most beautiful women on Earth [This](http://drnorth.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/mae-west-charlie-mccarthy.jpg) and [this](http://drnorth.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/mae-west-and-charlie-mccarthy.jpg) and [this](http://www.corbisimages.com/images/Corbis-U422607ACME.jpg?size=67&uid=2888d222-916b-4b5f-84db-c21fd40cc843), all shots of Mae West and Charlie McCarthy, are among the most disturbing. I can only assume it’s from the comedy short _I’ve Got Wood_. What are some of yours? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/2 "2012-02-17T21:24:30Z")
Those Mae West and Charlie McCarthy pix are twisted, all right. But not as disturbing as similarly-posed pictures of Ava Gardner with her first husband, Mickey Rooney, would have been. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/3 "2012-02-17T22:10:32Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Those Mae West and Charlie McCarthy pix are twisted, all right. > > But not as disturbing as similarly-posed pictures of Ava Gardner with her first husband, Mickey Rooney, would have been. I can only assume that marriage happened during one of Ava’s first binges. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/4 "2012-02-17T22:24:21Z")
Just about any photo from the [Stars and cars](http://www.imdb.com/media/index/rg66230784) galleries on IMDb. I especially love [this](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2055116800/rg267557376) one of Brigitte Bardot, and [this](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2944309248/rg267557376) one of James Garner. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/5 "2012-02-17T22:55:51Z")
[Classic Betty Grable](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.suspense-movies.com/stars/betty-grable/Grable1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.suspense-movies.com/stars/betty-grable/&h=600&w=622&sz=49&tbnid=dp5_GwyPynbOfM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=93&zoom=1&docid=r1TS7bS7pYRthM&sa=X&ei=l9o-T5rFJenZiAKSztG9AQ&ved=0CFUQ9QEwBw&dur=619). [Fred Astaire](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://s3.amazonaws.com/findagrave/photos/2001/222/astairefred4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi%3Fpage%3Dgr%26GRid%3D1624&h=376&w=300&sz=20&tbnid=xscnUnqWB3SddM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=76&zoom=1&docid=I6gyQta96mksPM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Z9o-T4qBMIaxiQKzzZGOAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CGoQ9QEwCA&dur=2199). Iconic [James Dean](http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1024&bih=475&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=9nj4nj9ti727NM:&imgrefurl=http://blogs.babble.com/famecrawler/2011/02/08/remembering-james-dean-on-his-80th-birthday/&docid=-GPFouybNlvmAM&imgurl=http://cdn.babble.com/famecrawler/files/2011/02/James-Dean-11.jpg&w=400&h=318&ei=1No-T4WzF-aiiQLU_pmjAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=562&vpy=172&dur=777&hovh=108&hovw=137&tx=131&ty=112&sig=104000242592643820162&page=1&tbnh=108&tbnw=137&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=0CF0QrQMwBA). ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/6 "2012-02-17T23:42:21Z")
Carmen Miranda looking insane in a leopard-print bikini: [![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvxejuwY071qbx2gpo1_500.jpg) ](https://64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvxejuwY071qbx2gpo1_500.jpg) I cannot find an online copy, but there is a \*wonderful \*1924 photo of John Gilbert at home, sitting on a doghouse, with his arms full of puppies and kittens, which I want to use on the back cover of my next book. What’s cuter than John Gilbert? John Gilbert with puppies and kittens! ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/7 "2012-02-17T23:51:46Z")
I’m not a big fan of the man himself, nor do I generally care for stills of stars, but this shot is perfect - [http://i.imgur.com/N6SDs.jpg](http://imgur.com/N6SDs) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/8 "2012-02-17T23:55:32Z")
Anna Held riding an ostrich: [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Cawston_Ostrich_Farm_Anna_Held_card.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Cawston_Ostrich_Farm_Anna_Held_card.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/9 "2012-02-18T00:20:27Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Anna Held riding an ostrich: > > [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Cawston\_Ostrich\_Farm\_Anna\_Held\_card.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Cawston_Ostrich_Farm_Anna_Held_card.jpg) Perfect positioning so that it looks like her legs at first. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/10 "2012-02-18T18:49:20Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Anna Held riding an ostrich: > > [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Cawston\_Ostrich\_Farm\_Anna\_Held\_card.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Cawston_Ostrich_Farm_Anna_Held_card.jpg) If we ever go to avatars I make the humble request that this be your’s. It’s how I intend to always think of you, though I’ll let you name the ostrich. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/11 "2012-02-18T19:06:08Z")
I like this shot of Audrey Hepburn with her [fawn](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yyQg3W_EzTg/TbC2SOONPGI/AAAAAAAAAZk/MKK7rx_B2Zs/s1600/audrey-hepburn-deer-pippin.jpeg). Nice lighting. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/12 "2012-02-19T03:10:46Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > [This](http://drnorth.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/mae-west-charlie-mccarthy.jpg) and [this](http://drnorth.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/mae-west-and-charlie-mccarthy.jpg) and [this](http://www.corbisimages.com/images/Corbis-U422607ACME.jpg?size=67&uid=2888d222-916b-4b5f-84db-c21fd40cc843), all shots of Mae West and Charlie McCarthy, are among the most disturbing. I can only assume it’s from the comedy short _I’ve Got Wood_. > > What are some of yours? They made a movie with that title?!?!? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/13 "2012-02-19T09:01:18Z")
I always liked [these](http://course1.winona.edu/pjohnson/images/keaton4.jpg) [three](http://www.possumsal.com/Keaton/busterkeaton_wideweb__430x324.jpg) of [Buster Keaton](http://photos.lucywho.com/buster-keaton-photo-gallery-c10187073.html). Here’s an interesting shot of [Brigitte Helm](http://www.spectres.com.au/seanimation/wordpress/?p=802) on the set of **Metropolis**. [Olive Thomas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Olive_Thomas_4.jpg) was one of the most beautiful actresses in history, gone now for nearly a century, forgotten by all (aside from **Eve** ). And there are too many good photos of Louise Brooks to pick any favorites. Damn was she photogenic. I’d link to a google image search but it returns a few NSFW pics. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/14 "2012-02-19T14:52:52Z")
I tried to do a search on Virgina Lake (I Married a Witch). Sadly, nothing worth while. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/15 "2012-02-19T15:37:12Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > I tried to do a search on Virgina Lake (I Married a Witch). Sadly, nothing worth while. That’s because you should have been searching for \*\*Veronica \*\*Lake. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/16 "2012-02-19T15:50:33Z")
[Fred Astaire in midleap.](http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=zo-293sh5F3mBM:&imgrefurl=http://www.gettyimagesgallery.com/Picture-Library/Image.aspx%3Fid%3D3002&docid=AjVk4d9pbzrXhM&imgurl=http://www.gettyimagesgallery.com/Images/Thumbnails/1355/135539.jpg&w=420&h=522&ei=ohlBT8j3Aebf0QHE-NCpBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=782&vpy=279&dur=684&hovh=250&hovw=201&tx=145&ty=118&sig=103563658263909350719&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=110&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=0CIgBEK0DMBA&biw=1024&bih=642) A beau gave me a huge framed print of this many years ago. Way to woo a girl, Patrick! ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/17 "2012-02-19T17:27:52Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I can only assume that marriage happened during one of Ava’s first binges. I _think_ I remember this: Johnny Carson saying that he saw Mickey and Ava dancing-- “All you could see was his ears, but you knew he was smiling.” . ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/18 "2012-02-19T17:39:19Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I _think_ I remember this: Johnny Carson saying that he saw Mickey and Ava dancing-- “All you could see was his ears, but you knew he was smiling.” I always assumed that one of the many breaks in Mickey Rooney’s career occurred when he was having sex with Ava Gardner and fell in. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/19 "2012-02-19T18:19:51Z")
I used to stumbleupon a lot and there was a russian livejournal community that often showed up called everyday\_I\_show and it was full of collections of old photos from around the world. Sometimes it was focused on celebrities, though and there I found many photos I love like [this one](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4855611615_bb4f68cb7d_b.jpg) of Fred Astaire with his sister or [this one](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4856231358_878a427179_b.jpg) of Elizabeth Taylor or [this one](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4855613987_277a338248_b.jpg) of Bette Davis. My favorite is [this one](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5214241500_b5d77a88ec_b.jpg), though because I am incurably shallow. (I was accused of being entirely too young when I first saw it for not recognizing Paul Newman. I recognize him _now_, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186/20 "2012-02-19T18:39:14Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > or [this one](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4855613987_277a338248_b.jpg) of Bette Davis. I can just imagine Joan Crawford seeing this photo and lamenting the fact that she wasn’t right there behind her… > [@](#): > > My favorite is [this one](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5214241500_b5d77a88ec_b.jpg), though because I am incurably shallow. (I was accused of being entirely too young when I first saw it for not recognizing Paul Newman. I recognize him _now_, of course.) I see the gentleman dressed to the right… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-old-hollywood-publicity-stills/613186.md?page=2)