Curious Historian

By Sarah Norman | September 4, 2023

Deidre Hall and Judy Strangis as Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976)

This collection of memories and behind the scene glimpses into Hollywood’s history have us completely smitten with the past. It feels like just yesterday when "Who's the Boss?" was still on the air and it’s so strange to think that groundbreaking musician David Bowie and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner are no longer alive. Come daydream away with this batch of goodies from pop culture history. 

This gem features Deidre Hall and Judy Strangis as Electra Woman and Dyna Girl back in 1976. The live-action science fiction children's television series only aired 16 episodes in one season. It was more like a special extension of The Krofft Supershow.

The crime-fighting exploits of Electra Woman (played by Deidre Hall) and her teen sidekick Dyna Girl (Judy Strangis), parody Batman in several ways. They were spandex-wearing caped crusaders with day jobs, ready to go through the "Electra-Change" and hop in the "ElectraCar" at a moment's notice. They also had a wide array of technically advanced gadgets and an eclectic collection of supervillains. They even uttering catchphrases like "Electra Wow!" or "Electra Yikes!"

On land or in water, Grace Kelly was a beauty! (1955)

Pictured here is Grace Kelly taking a dip back in 1955. She spent six years as a highly popular film actress in the 1950s, starring in classic movies such as High Noon, Rear Window, Dial M for Murder and To Catch a Thief.

The actress transitioned from Hollywood royalty to actual royalty when she married Prince Rainier III and became the Princess of Monaco. A stylish, stunning, brilliant actress, who turned into a real-life Princess, her life sounded more like the plot of a movie than actual life. Although, she was widely adored long before her marriage to Prince Rainier III, her royal love story certainly reinforced her iconic status. 

A rare photo of KISS bassist Gene Simmons without makeup or costume on in 1976.

Gene Klein, born Chaim Witz, is known professionally as Gene Simmons or as his on-stage persona “The Demon” of rock band KISS. The musician, singer, and songwriter, also became a record producer, entrepreneur, actor, and television personality. He even dated the Queen of Pop herself, Cher!

The oddly hot couple had an open relationship. Cher once said that theirs was “the best relationship I’ve ever had with a human being.” She admitted to going off with other men but only for companionship. "Gene is the only one I’m crazy about” she clarified. “Gene might spend time with another woman and stay the night, but he wants her to leave in the morning so he can get on with his day.” Unfortunately for the demon and the diva, they learned the hard way that "casual" is not conducive to longterm love. 

Another photo of the late Hugh Hefner with his girlfriend at the time, model Barbi Benton. (1970)

Pictured here are Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and his longtime love Barbi Benton Benton. The pair met back in 1968 on the set of his TV show, Playboy After Dark. She was 18 and in college. He was 42 years old and already well into his career. She initially wasn't interested, college kept her busy, the age difference troubled her, and she did have a college sweetheart already. But this is Hef we’re talking about here...he wore her down. 

It took awhile but he did get her to travel the globe with him and eventually moved her into the Playboy mansion. Sadly, he couldn’t stay faithful and her music career began to take off. She knew he couldn’t remain loyal while she was on tour, he couldn’t even remain loyal while she was in the next room. Over the course of their relationship, he proposed four times and she moved out three times. After she moved out for good, they kept in touch and were said to still have a deep connection and love for each other, but she could never fully trust him enough to say "I do".  

Baby you can drive my car! The Beatles stop for some gasoline while touring in their van. (1963)

Here we have an early shot of The Beatles stopping for gas while touring back in 1963. This was a magic year for them, they went from being a relatively small rock band playing in the “underground club scene” to sparking a cultural phenomenon known as Beatlemania. From there they went on to become one of the best bands in the world.  

"Beatlemania" describes the intense frenzy this now legendary group inspired in their fans. They weren’t simply star struck, they were obsessed. The phenomenon began in 1963 and continued well beyond the group’s past the group's break-up in the 1970s. 

Beautiful in front or behind the camera-actress Tanya Roberts.

Victoria Leigh Blum, or as she is most commonly known by, Tanya Roberts, can be seen on That 70s Show as Midge Pinciotti. She got her start as a model and seamlessly transitioned into acting and producing. She was chosen to replace Shelley Hack in the fifth season of the Charlie’s Angel’s television series in 1980. She played Kiri in the adventure film The Beastmaster back in 1982 and was then featured on the cover of Playboy to help promote the movie (the October 1982 issue). Then it was on to her most notable role of the 80s'; Stacey Sutton in the James Bond film A View to a Kill in 1985.

Here's a Tuesday Weld photo!

The stunning Tuesday Weld (born Susan Weld), began acting as a child, and matured into more serious roles in the late 1950s. She won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Female Newcomer in 1960 and spent the next decade establishing herself as a dramatic actress.

Her work in Play It as It Lays (1972), was acknowledged with nominations for a Golden Globe Award. She received a nomination for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977). Then she went on to earn an Emmy Award for The Winter of Our Discontent (1983), and a BAFTA for Once Upon a Time in America (1984).

Bob Dylan and Robert De Niro hanging out backstage at the Roxy in 1976.

Pictured here is singer Bob Dylan and actor Robert De Niro just hanging out backstage at the Roxy back in 1976. The pairing may seem odd at first, but it’s not. Why wouldn’t Dylan, who was among the biggest influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades be hanging out with Robert De Niro, who is one one of the best actors of his generation?

On this particular night, the two cultural icons were at the August 18th, 1976 Ronee Blakley concert. They were also photographed mid-shenanigans with actresses Lainie Kazan and Sally Kirkland that night.

British film icon, Sir Michael Caine showing off his fists in 1969.

Sir Michael Caine and his infamous and highly distinctive cockney accent, has appeared in over 115 films. While he is a highly regarded as a British film icon, there’s plenty of love for him right here in the states, most notably for his roles as Ebenezer Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol and of course, Alfred Pennyworth in The Dark Knight Trilogy.

Caine’s breakthrough was back in the 1960s with starring roles in British films like Zulu (1964), Alfie (1966), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, and The Italian Job (1969).

He had notable roles in the 1970’s but some of his greatest critical success happened in the 1980s when he took home a BAFTA, a Golden Globe for Best Actor, and then an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Colonel Sanders and shock-rocker Alice Cooper discuss the infamous Chicken Incident of 1969.

Pictured here is a somewhat perplexed looking Colonel Sanders posing with a thoroughly amused Alice Cooper. This photo was taken sometime in the 1970s. In 2014, when asked about this strange encounter, Cooper recalled; “Here comes this nice old man in a white suit, suddenly I realize that this is the Hannibal Lecter of chickens. I have the death of exactly one chicken on my hands, and this guy has a score of 10 billion. Yet everyone loves this guy, and hates me for being a chicken killer! The irony of the two of us being in the same room at the same time was not lost on either me or the Colonel.”

Cooper went on to elaborate on his "chicken incident," stating; "There was an INCREDIBLE thing that happened in the early 70’s! Somebody threw a chicken onstage, I threw the chicken in the audience, the audience tore it to pieces, and then in the newspaper the next day the headline read “Alice Cooper tears chicken to pieces.” It’s the most notorious story about Alice Cooper that’s been going on forever. And I thought “it just one chicken and I didn’t even kill it, the audience killed it, so I thought why not take a picture with the mass murderer of chickens Colonel Sanders?” so to me it had a sense of humor to it. I mean, one chicken for me, seven BILLION chickens for Colonel Sanders. And yet I’m the villain. I would say if you interviewed the chickens they would be more terrified of him, than me."

Coolness! Steve McQueen and Jacqueline Bisset in a scene from Bullitt (1968)

The king of cool, Steven McQueen with his gorgeous Bullitt co0star in tow. Between McQueen’s reputation for excess and adultery, it’s no surprise the rumors were flying about these two. Even McQueen's wife commented on Bisset’s beauty, stating she was the most beautiful leading lady her husband had ever worked with. But for once, McQueen was innocent it seems.

Even recently Bisset felt it necessary to come out and set the record straight in Steve McQueen’s biography, that they never even came close to having an affair. At 69 years old she went on record, "No, we did not have an affair. People write things and have done for many years. Yes, he was handsome, friendly and nice and there was a little bit of teasing, but nothing happened."

Bisset went on to explain that she spent much of her time alone, traveling between Los Angeles and San Francisco, but she did have dinner with McQueen on multiple occasions so she can understand how the rumors of an affair began. 

Danger-Danger, Will Robinson!

Here’s to a generation lost in space! The science fiction television series, Lost in Space aired in 1965 and follows a pioneering family of space colonists (the Robinsons) and their many struggles and adventures. The show ran for three seasons, ending in 1968 with a total of 83 episodes.

While the plot is centered on the Robinson family, it evolves to include storylines focused on Dr. troublesome Zachary Smith and the Robot: who provided much conflict, comic relief, and misadventures. The Robot, which had no given name, had superhuman strength, futuristic weaponry, and he often displayed human characteristics: sadness, laughter, and mockery were all in his wheelhouse.

Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock 1957.

Jailhouse Rock was a musical drama directed by Richard Thorp and starring Elvis Presley. The film premiered on October 17, 1957, in Memphis, Tennessee and nationwide on November 8, 1957. It peaked at number 3 on the Variety box office chart and made $4 million, reaching number 14 in the year's box office totals. Despite this, reviews weres still mixed. Although most of the negativity was directed towards Presley's persona in the film, not the film itself.

In it, Vince Everett goes from serving time for manslaughter to becoming a teenage rock star. Upon his release, he decides to look for a gig singing in a club and ends up meeting a musical promoter who helps him launch his career. It’s not all smooth sailing from here though, apparently, his ego grows along with the ever-increasing success and his personal relationships suffer.

Freddie Mercury rocking a jumpsuit back in 1977.

Farrokh "Freddie" Mercury is best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. With his flamboyant on stage personal and four-octave vocal range, he was destined for rock icon status. Some of his best-known hits are "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", and "We Are the Champions".

The British singer and songwriter was also a record producer who also led a solo career while performing with Queen. He would produce and often serve as a guest musician for other artists.

Sadly, Mercury died at just 45-years old back in 1991 due to complications from AIDS. He was posthumously awarded the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music in 1992 and a tribute concert was held in his honor at Wembley Stadium, London. Mercury was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 as a member of Queen, into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003, and then the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. 

Fresh Prince of Bel Air cast members Will Smith, Karyn Parsons and Alfonso Ribeiro at Playboy Mansion with Hugh Hefner in 1993.

Here’s a good one! The cast of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool at the Playboy mansion back in the early 90’s. Here are Will Smith, Karyn Parsons and Alfonso Ribeiro posing with Hugh Hefner.

At this point in time, the Fresh Prince was in its prime. The show aired in 1990 and ran until 1996 so this was smack dab in the middle of its run.

The show stars Will Smith, who gets himself into trouble in his hometown of West Philadelphia and is sent to live with his wealthy aunt, uncle, and cousins in their Bel Air mansion. With their very conflicting lifestyles, shenanigans always ensued. 

Funny face! Comedian George Carlin doing his stand-up routine in the 60's.

It was in 1959 when comedian, actor, and author George Carlin met Jack Burns and formed a comedy team. The duo did local performances in Fort Worth before heading out to California in February of 1960. The as they say… a legend was born.

Carlin is now most known noted for his hilariously dark way of conveying his thoughts on…. Well on pretty much everything. He’s taken on politics, psychology, religion, just about every taboo he could get his hands on, and even the English language. Sadly he passed on June 22, 2008, but his work continues to influence the work of writers and comedians every day.

Some who credit Carlin as an influence are, Kevin Smith, Bill Burr, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Louis C.K., Lewis Black, Stephen Colbert, and Bill Maher among many others. 

George Harrison, John Lennon & Billy Preston in the studio for the song Get Back in 1969.

In January of 1969 tensions were high with The Beatles. It was about 11 weeks after the nightmare recording sessions for The White Album and the band seemed to be constantly at each other’s throats.There was hostility over Yoko Ono encroaching on the band and Paul McCartney was being accused of “bossing” the group around and “preaching” to Harrison about his playing… Ringo had already just about walked away for good.

It was around this point, old friend Billy Preston stepped in.

He first met the Beatles back in 1962 in Hamburg in 1962 when they were just starting out. He was playing keyboards for Little Richard, and the Beatles were huge fans. Harrison and Preston stayed life-long friends and bringing Preston in was like bringing over family that everyone had to behave in front of. Harrison recruited Preston to play with the Beatles on the Get Back project and it worked! He contributed musically and kept everyone on their best behavior for the duration. 

Have mercy! John Stamos and his lucky date, with matching perfect hair, at their prom. (1981)

Well, this picture proves John Stamos has always been handsome and seriously hair-obsessed… although he could have toned it down a few notches. This may have been in style back in 1981 but it’s never okay go as “twinsies” with your date.

Stamos and his famous locks may be best remembered for his role as Uncle Jesse on Full House but he first gained wide recognition as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital back in 1982, just a year after this photo was taken. This was his first real role and in 1984, his performance earned him a nomination for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. 

Here are Sammy Davis, Jr. and May Britt on their wedding day back in 1960.

Pictured here is actor, singer, and dancer Sammy Davis Jr. with his blushing bride, Swedish actress May Britt back in 1960. The two lovebirds met in 1959, dated and got engaged within less than a year, and were married on November 13, 1960.

There was quite a bit of controversy surrounding the wedding, rumor has it, both John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy told Frank Sinatra to tell Davis to wait until after the 1960 Presidential Election to get married. Interracial marriage was against the law in 31 U.S. states at the time. It wasn’t until 1967 that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the marriage ban unconstitutional.

Once married, Britt left the movie business after the wedding, only to find out her husband was having an affair with dancer Lola Falana. By then the couple had a biological daughter and two adopted sons together. She ended the marriage, their divorce was finalized in They divorced in 1968, after eight years of marriage.

How sweet it is! Jackie Gleason with conductor Hedda Hopper, LA Times columnist during his $80,000 cross-country excursion via railway.

It was August 9th, 1962 when Jackie Gleason made a 4,337-mile excursion, covering 10-cities by train. The starting point was Los Angeles California and what was titled “The Great Gleason Express” was New York bound. The railway excursion was to promote the new TV show, “Jackie Gleason’s American Scene Magazine.”

The Times Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper went on to write: “Jackie Gleason sure knows how to make an exit. Balloons, midgets, a band, beautiful girls – his choreographer, lovely June Taylor, leading lady Sue Ann Langdon, and his daughter Geraldine – director George Marshall and 210 freeloaders were present when he took off on his special train bound for New York. Forty-five went with him. It was show business in the manner of P.T. Barnum, which someday Jackie must put on screen. They had everything except an elephant.”

In a galaxy far, far away...The opening day of STAR WARS at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles on May 25, 1977.

George Lucas’s 1977 “Star Wars” was the first film in a trilogy that later launched the franchise still turning to this day. The original epic space opera focuses on the Rebel Alliance who aims to destroy the Death Star, under the lead of Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher).

Pictured here is a line for the blockbuster film which took the world by storm. As can be seen, the patrons of 1977 were just as willing to head to theaters early to secure their spot in a massive line. Patiently fans wait outside the movie theater in anticipation of the eye candy that awaits them on the other side of the velvet ropes. 

I've 'Goth' You, Babe...Kelly Ripa going Goth during her Hayley Vaughan role on All My Children, 1990.

My oh my, this blast from the past is none other than gothic Kelly Ripa in All My Children! Her debut was on Thanksgiving Day in 1990 as heroine Hayley Vaughan, who showed up in Pine Valley, dressed like Joan Jett/Elvira hybrid and full of sass. Her rebellious character was the niece of Trevor Dillon (James Kiberd), whom she affectionately called “Uncle Porkchop.”

Despite how she appeared and behaved at first, she soon won over audiences and the residents of the fictional town after her rough upbringing came to light and her rambunctious ways were exposed as just a defense mechanism.

Lucille Ball in 1913 (2 years old) and Desi Arnaz in 1923 (6 years old).

Pictured here are an adorably small Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. These two would grow up to become one of Hollywood's first power couples, best known for the hit show I Love Lucy. They ran the show together and starred in it. It won five Emmy Awards, received numerous nominations, and was the first scripted TV show to be shot on film in front of a live studio audience.

Between 1951-1957, I Love Lucy was the most watched show in the United States and was the first to end its run despite being at the top of the Nielsen ratings.

In it, Lucy is naïve but ambitious, with a desire stardom though she possesses no real talent for anything… well, she seems to have a real talent for getting herself and those around her into trouble. 

Lucky horse! She's still the one, the ever beautiful Shania Twain. (1993)

Born Eilleen Regina Edwards, singer and songwriter Shania Twain has become a pop and country music icon. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and among the best-selling music artists of all time.

The "Queen of Country Pop" sold an astounding 20 million records worldwide in 1995 and won a Grammy Award with her second album, “The Woman in Me”. Twain's third album, Come On Over, was also a great success. It became the best-selling studio album of all time by a female act in any genre! That’s in addition to being the best-selling country album – 40 million copies worldwide. Her fourth album, Up!, was released in 2002 and certified Diamond in the US, just like her previous two albums. Twain is the only female artist in history to have three consecutive albums certified Diamond. She won five Grammy Awards, 27 BMI Songwriter awards, and has stars on Canada's Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Martial artist extraordinaire, Steven Seagal (looking a bit like Michael Bolton) back in the 70's.

Goodness gracious that is some serious 70’s hair Steven Frederic Seagal was rocking! This was back when he was working as a martial arts instructor. Seagal didn’t make his acting debut until 1988, in Above the Law. By 1991, he had four starring roles in four successful films under his black belt.

The actor and martial artist has gone on to also produce, write, and direct. He has also released two studio albums: Songs from the Crystal Cave and Mojo Priest. And he has performed on various film scores over the years. He has collaborated with Stevie Wonder and Tony Rebel, who both performed on his debut album.

In addition to being a 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal holds American, Russian, and Serbian citizenship. Seagal is also now known for his efforts as an environmentalist, animal rights activist, and as a supporter of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

Move over Twiggy, it's Ziggy! David Bowie modeling with Jan De Souza on Kingly Street,1965.

Pictured here is “David Bowie decked out in the designs of John Stephen, while on a modeling assignment with Jan De Souza. This was taken by photographer Fiona Adams, in Kingly Street W1 for British pop music magazine Fabulous 208, back in 1965. The world-famous performer was known for his outlandish stage presence and his extraordinarily unique music.

Bowie’s consistently remained quite the phenomenon to the entertainment industry over the span of his life. He was awarded nine Platinum album certifications, eleven gold, and eight silver, and released eleven number-one albums in the United Kingdom. In the United States, he received five platinum and nine gold certifications. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He was a leading figure in music for over five decades before he lost his life to liver cancer, just two days after his 69th birthday in 2016.

Nanu nanu? Spacewoman and Spaceman from the Tomorrowland Park at Disneyland in 1960

The “Spaceman” character was one of Disney’s Tomorrowland theme park’s most iconic elements of the 50s and 60s. In this rare photo from the Disneyland archives “Space Woman” makes an appearance.

It was December of 1955 when construction for Disneyland’s original Tomorrowland began. So basically, that left them a whopping six months to complete it. The early incarnation of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland featured a series of exhibits that were essentially corporate brochures realized in 3-D. Sadly, Walt wasn’t able to communicate his vision until 1967 when he set new plans for Tomorrowland in motion. Then he didn’t live long enough to see how it came together.

Ouch! Paul McCartney holding a nasty pin after John's controversial comment which caused a Beatles boycott in 1966.

“To Hell with the Beatles” was in response to a comment John Lennon made during an interview conducted by journalist Maureen Cleave back in 1966. Lennon argued that Christianity was on the decline and that it would most likely be outlived by rock music. He said "We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first – rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me."

As could be expected, this statement caused much controversy among Christians in the United States. Although when originally published in a March 1966 article for the London Evening Standard, readers in the United Kingdom didn’t seem all that perturbed by it. After Datebook, a US teen magazine quoted Lennon five months after the fact, protests broke out all throughout the Southern United States.

Some radio stations stopped playing their music, Beatles albums were publicly burned, threats ran wild and clever little buttons like the one pictured here were all the rage until Lennon reluctantly apologized. Although he did throw in this little jab, "if I had said television was more popular than Jesus, I might have got away with it". 

Paul Newman during the filming of The Young Philadelphians (1959)

Here we have a shot of Paul Newman during the filming of The Young Philadelphians back in 1959. The award-winning actor also went on to become a director, producer, philanthropist, and quite the racecar driver. As old ‘cool hand’ once explained, auto racing was "the first thing that I ever found I had any grace in". 

Some of his impressive title character roles include The Hustler (1961) and Cool Hand Luke (1967), as well as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), as Butch Cassidy, The Sting (1973), and The Verdict (1982). Newman has won and was nominated for numerous awards. He took home an Academy Award for his performance in The Color of Money (1986), a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award, and an Emmy Award… just to name a few.

Paul Newman, Katherine Ross and Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).

Here we have a classic shot of the main cast of one of the greatest films ever made. Paul Newman, Katherine Ross and Robert Redford on the set of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid back in 1969.

This American Western directed by George Roy Hill is loosely based on the real Wild West outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker, known as Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman), and his partner Harry Longabaugh, the "Sundance Kid" (Robert Redford). After a string of train robberies, the partners in crime go on the run with Sundance's lover, Etta Place (Katharine Ross), and head to Bolivia to continue their criminal careers. 

Photo taken on the original Ghostbusters movie set, 1984.

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, as can be seen in 1984’s Ghostbusters, was created by Bill Bryan using miniatures, optical compositing, and Bryan himself dressed in a latex suit. Talk about dedication to your craft! The suit had two layers, the outer layer was flammable and the inner-layer was fire-proof. All the "marshmallow" that rained down on the crowd after Gozer was destroyed was actually shaving cream…. Which is far more dangerous than it sounds. They did a test using about 75 pounds of shaving cream and it took the stuntman out, knocked him flat. They cut it down to 35 pounds for the final shot and all was right with the world. 

Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon and C. Thomas Howell on the set of the ‘Outsiders.’ (1982)

Check out the Outsiders: Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon and C. Thomas Howell on set back in 1982. This classic coming-of-age drama was Francis Ford Coppola’s onscreen adaptation of the novel of the same name by S. E. Hinton. This film, also famous for its cast, helped fuel the whole “Brat Pack” genre of the 1980s.

The core of which would become: Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy. 

Rockers Axl Rose and Steven Tyler having a stare down in 1988.

Here we have rockers Axl Rose of Guns n’ Roses and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith back in 1988. About six years after this photo was taken Axl and bandmate Slash had a falling out and the band split up. According to their manager at the time, Doug Goldstein, it was guitarist Slash's decision to play a concert with Michael Jackson that ended up being a huge contributing factor in the band's break-up.

Numerous fans and other rock stars were in shock, Steven Tyler was among them and he personally tried to convince Axl to make up with Slash and get back to work.

According to Tyler on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show:

She's smokin' hot! Brigitte Bardot taking a smoke break in the early 60's.

Brigitte Bardot still reigns supreme as the "It Girl", a fashion and sex icon of her era. Bardot won the world over with her charms, talent, and effortless beauty. Her look was so distinct and desirable, that designer's even named clothing styles after her.

The French model, actress, and singer was the original blonde bombshell. Brigitte Bardot’s style, grace, and eventually her passion for animal rights heavily influenced culture as a whole. Her hair, makeup, her way of dress, and even her signature pose has been (and continues to be) emulated across the world.

Siblings Shirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty attending a movie premiere in Los Angeles. (1966)

Warren Beatty is widely known not only for his acting career but also his womanizing ways. The Hollywood Playboy spent decades bedding every woman he came into contact with. He was notorious for dating his co-stars, picking up random women, and leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him. Before finally settling down with Annette Bening.

What many didn’t realize about the man who seemed to live his life as an open book back in those early years, was that his big sister is actress Shirley MacLaine. MacLaine got started in Hollywood first and Beatty didn’t want to be known around town as Shirley’s younger brother. He wanted to make it on his own, so he did. The siblings have never been in a film together and they’ve even gone through long periods of estrangement. 

Surfer dude Keanu Reeves (1991)

Keanu Charles Reeves is best known for his acting career, which launched in 1985 and has spanned more than three decades now. He gained notoriety for starring in several blockbusters very early in his career but most notably would be the Bill and Ted franchise (1989–1991).

Then he took on the action genre with Point Break in 1991 and Speed in 1994. Then he took on the psychological/supernatural thriller arena with The Devil's Advocate in 1997 and Constantine in 2005, followed the science fiction thriller franchise The Matrix (1999–2003).

His more dramatic films were in the late 80’s to early 90’s with Dangerous Liaisons (1988), My Own Private Idaho (1991), and Little Buddha (1993), as well as the romantic gothic horror Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992).

Susan Alexandra Weaver, aka Sigourney Weaver in the 80's.

Susan Alexander Weaver first rose to fame when she acted in 1977s Aliens. Since then, she has acted in over 15 sci-fi box office hits. This seven-time Golden Globe nominee grew up in Manhattan, New York to a Tv executive father and an actress mother and attended one of the best girls’ preparatory school in the United States. She began using the name Sigourney after she read the novel The Great Gatsby after a character that she encountered in Chapter 3.

Sigourney was a very tall teenager with a reported height of 5’ 10 ½ inches at 14 years old, she also grew another inch before she was 18. After graduating in the year 1967, when she was still 18, she went to Israel to volunteer for several months on a kibbutz. When she returned to the US, she enrolled at Stanford where she first started getting involved in acting and she then graduated with a B.A. 

The Beatles and their wives/girlfriend at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, India. (1968)

The eyes have it-Model-actress Andie MacDowell in 1984.

Rosalie Anderson "Andie" MacDowell made her film debut back in 1984 with Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, then she went on to receive critical acclaim for her role in Sex, Lies, and Videotape in 1989. She modeled for Calvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman for L'Oréal since 1986.

Since her start in the 80’s, she’s gone on to appear in notable films including, Green Card (1990), Short Cuts (1993), Groundhog Day (1993), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Michael (1996), and Multiplicity (1996). She spent 2013 to 2015, starring in the drama series Cedar Cove.

The late Hugh Hefner with Playboy 'bunnies' Penny Marshall and Carrie Fisher, 1982.

The legendary Bruce and son Brandon Lee back in 1967.

Pictured here is legendary actor and martial artist Bruce Lee with his son Brandon Lee back in 1967. Sadly, Bruce passed away in 1973 while he was filming Game of Death and his son Brandon would grow up to become an actor too.

Young Brandon Lee began his acting career with a supporting role in the 1986 television film Kung Fu: The Movie and went on to star in several low-budget action films in the late 1980s and early 1990s: Legacy of Rage (1986), Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) and Rapid Fire (1992).

Then in 1992, he landed his big breakthrough role as Eric Draven in The Crow, which was based on the comic book of the same name. Then on March 31, 1993, tragedy struck the Lee family again. Brandon was killed while filming The Crow after having been accidentally shot with a prop gun. 

The Monkeemobile was a modified Pontiac GTO, designed and built by Dean Jeffries for The Monkees.

Here we have the Monkeemobile, which is essentially a modified Pontiac GTO designed and built by Dean Jeffries for The Monkees, a pop-rock band and television program. Some of the customizations included a tilted forward split two-piece windshield, a touring car convertible top, and modified front panels and rear quarter panels, and exaggerated tail lamps.

The Monkees were originally active between 1965 and 1971, and originally formed for the television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968. The group consisted of Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Davy Jones.

For the first few months of their initial five-year career as "the Monkees", were given limited roles in the recording studio. But they fought and eventually earned the right to collectively supervise all musical output under the band's name. Even after the sitcom was canceled in 1968, the band continued to record music through 1971.

They were The Mod Squad, the hippest and first young undercover cops on TV.

The Mod Squad was a crime drama that ran on ABC from 1968 to 1973. They were the first young undercover cops on television and each represented a fear in mainstream culture for the era. The whole concept was to take three rebellious social outcasts and turn them into undercover detectives as an alternative to being incarcerated themselves. 

The main cast in 1971 was Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton, and Michael Cole. Despite its short initial run, the iconic series earned six Emmy Award nominations, four Golden Globe nominations plus one win for Peggy Lipton, and a Directors Guild of America Award. 

Tim Curry photographed by Art Kane, 1981.

Pictured here is actor Tim Curry, who has had so many iconic (mostly villainous) roles over his long spanning career that its hard to pinpoint his best. Curry is one of those actors who just doesn’t seem to have a bad role, he can make anything work for him…. even high heels.

Most people would probably choose his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) as his most notable work, it was certainly is breakthrough role, but he’s really done so much better than that. He was ‘Darkness’ in the classic fantasy Legend and Pennywise the Clown in the original Stephen King’s IT for crying out loud! 

What computers used to look like in the old days (back in 1983).

Wow! Check out this dinosaur sighting from 1983! This was the decade when PCs went mainstream, they were huge, had horrible graphics… but back then they were awesome! Internally, it was a clean and simple layout. Obviously, you needed your monitor and display circuitry, main motherboard, and memory chips. But they were far from the refined machines of today. So brilliant in their simplicity and apparently so missed are those frustratingly pixelated days. It's pretty common to see throwbacks to this time from modern day game and even web designers who try to recreate the look and feel nowadays. Because who doesn't love a little tech nostalgia?  

Who remembers The Bugaloos. The four-bug rock sensation of Tranquility Forest from the magical world of Sid & Marty Krofft. (1970)

The Bugaloos, the Bugaloos, they're in the air everywhere. Flying high, flying loose, flying free as a summer breeze…. This Saturday morning children's television series was produced by brothers Sid and Marty Krofft. It aired on NBC from 1970 to 1972.

The four-bug rock sensation featured on the show was a musical group composed of four British-accented teenagers dressed in insect-themed costumes, who live in Tranquility Forest. The whole vibe was very hippie-like, steeped in peace, love, and tranquility. That is, until, the hideous old crone named Benita Bizarre would start blaring her own unpleasant brand of "music" which obviously destroys everyone else's zen. Not cool Benita, not cool. 

Young grunge love; Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. (1992)

You're so 'vain'....maybe Steven Tyler is writing Carly Simon's phone number on his arm - 1979.

One of Beatty’s indiscretions took place within hours of sleeping with her and it was her therapist who broke the news to her. According to Carly, during her 11 a.m. appointment, her therapist broke the news that Carly wasn’t the first patient of the day to say they had slept with Warren Beatty last night. 

ncG1vNJzZmibpae2sMHSoaCsrJ%2BntqK6jZympmeYmq6zwNaaqaahnpx6sbvRramaoaSoerCyjK2fnmWglsC1ecearZ5lpah6pa3YnamemZ2eu6h5ya6qrWWcnrimecitZLCZo2LGpr%2FTnqmdmalisLC82GZo