Arts, Entertainment, & Culture - LIFE

LIFE’s Favorite Ice Skating Images

Bill Syken — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 20:00:34 +0000

In 1968 figure skater Peggy Fleming graced the cover of the Feb, 23, 1968 issue of LIFE after winning a gold medal at the Winter Olympics at the age of 19. One of Fleming’s competitors gushed to LIFE that “Everything Peggy does is pure ballerina.”

The phrase “pure ballerina” is not just a tribute to Fleming but also to ice skating itself. It is the rare sport that demands of both athleticism and artistry.

Images of Fleming are included in this gallery of LIFE’s favorite ice skating images, appearing alongside other skaters of great accomplishment. Barbara Ann Scott, a champion skater from Canada, was a particular fave of the magazine in the 1940s Two-time Olympic champion Dick Button, who would later become a television commentator, is shown making great leaps during his competitive years.

Some of the photos are set at competitions. Others take place in public rinks, including two in New York City— at Rockefeller Center and also at Wollman Rink in Central Park.

Also included are pictures of some anonymous skaters whose movements across the ice made for pretty pictures. if you look at the credits you’ll see the names of some of LIFE’s star photographers—Alfred Eisenstaedt, Ralph Morse, Peter Stackpole and many others. The talent attracted to these assignments underlines the visual appeal of a sport that was also an art form.

Five-time world champion skater Carol Heiss performed at Wollman Memorial Rink in Central Park, New York City, 1955..

Ralph Morse/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Ice skaters in Switzerland, 1948.

Walter Sanders/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

British figure skater Graham Sharp at the Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, 1948.

Mark Kauffman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Tenley Albright, an Olympic gold medalist, performed a frog jump, 1956.

Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Dick Button at a figure skating competition in Stockholm, 1947.

Tony Linck/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Dick Button, 1947.

Tony Linck/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstuch

Dick Button at a figure skating competition, 1947.

Tony Linck/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Dick Button competed at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Mark Kauffman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Barbara Ann Scott at the world figure skating championship in Stockholm, 1947.

Tony Linck The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Barbara Ann Scott at the world figure skating championships in Stockholm, 1947

Tony Linck The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

The husband-and-wife team of Narena Greer and Richard Norris skated with The Ice Follies, 1947.

Gjon Mili/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Figure skater Johnny Lettengarver, a member of the U.S. Olympic team, 1948.

Mark Kauffman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Skaters performed at an ice show at Madison Square Garden, 1948.

Gjon Mili/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Austrian ice skating champion Melitta Brunner practiced in St. Moritz, 1934.

Alfred Eisenstadt/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

A skating waiter delivered drinks at the Grand Hotel, St. Moritz, 1932.

Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

U.S. skater Peggy Fleming won a gold medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France.

Art Rickerby/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

A figure skater made a leap that mimicked the statue of Prometheus at Rockefeller Center in New York, 1942.

Wallace Kirkland/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

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Like Seeing Old Friends: Images From the ’90s Golden Globes

Bill Syken — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:44:50 +0000

Looking at red carpet photos of years past is a surefire way to trigger memories. Those memories can be as small as remembering the way an actress wore her hair, or as deep as recalling the days when stars who who are longer with us were young and healthy.

Looking at this photo gallery of images from the Golden Globe Awards in the 1990s might trigger such memories as:

—When the TV show Melrose Place, starring Heather Locklear, was America’s guilty pleasure.

—When Seinfeld was America’s top comedy—and in one episode Jerry lied about watching Melrose Place.

—When Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were married. And how Kidman, who towers over Cruise in our photo, commented about being able to wear high heels again after the couple had divorced.

—Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley in their dating years (and though the two are long separated they are reportedly still close friends).

—Speaking of old friends, we have Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox on the carpet as well. While often nominated, Friends took home only one Golden Globe (Aniston in 2003) and the beloved sitcom generally earned greater recognition at other awards shows.

—And seeing Christopher Reeve walking the red carpet in 1993 might conjure up all sorts of thoughts about the man who became a spinal cord injury advocate after a 1995 horse riding accident left him paralyzed. Reeve, who died in 2004, remains the embodiment of Superman for people of a certain age.

These stars all walked the red carpet at the Golden Globes because their performances made an impression on people, and those impressions remain. Which is as rare and meaningful as any award.

Actress Julia Roberts holding her Golden Globe Award for best actress in a musical or comedy for “Pretty Woman,” 1991.

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(L-R) Actors Jodie Foster, Al Pacino (holding his award for “Scent of a Woman”) and Patrick Swayze in the press room at the Golden Globe Awards, 1993

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Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus holding their awards in Press Room at the 1994 Golden Globe Awards.

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Tom Cruise with Nicole Kidman at the 1995 Golden Globe Awards.

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Friends co-stars Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox at the 1996 Golden Globe Awards.

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Jason Priestley, star of “Beverly Hills 90210,” in the press room at the 1992 Golden Globe Awards.

Actor Val Kilmer at the Golden Globe Awards, 1994.

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Actor Brad Pitt holding his supporting actor award for his performance in “12 Monkeys” at the 1996 Golden Globes.

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Winona Ryder at the 1994 Golden Globes, where she won best supporting actress for her role in “The Age of Innocence.”

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Actress Helen Hunt at the Golden Globe Awards, 1994.

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Actress Heather Locklear at the 1996 Golden Globes.

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Actress Halle Berry in the press room at the 1997 Golden Globe Awards.

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Rupert Everett and Julia Roberts, co-stars in “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” at the 1998 Golden Globe Awards.

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Actors Gina Gershon and David Spade at a 2000 Golden Globe Awards party.

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Eddie Murphy and wife, Nicole Mitchell, at the 1997 Golden Globe Awards.

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Bruce Willis and Demi Moore at the 1997 Golden Globe Awards.

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Actors Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley at a Golden Globe Awards pre-party, 2000.

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(L-R) Model Claudia Schiffer and actress Elizabeth Hurley at a party before the 2000 Golden Globe Awards.

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Tom Cruise at the 2000 Golden Globe Awards.

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Christopher Reeve and wife Dana at Golden Globe Awards, 1993

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The post Like Seeing Old Friends: Images From the ’90s Golden Globes appeared first on LIFE.

LIFE’s Favorite Vintage Surfing Photos

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 05:07:00 +0000

It’s more than the sun and the sea that makes surfing pictures so appealing. It’s also that surfers just seem to be living right. It is the rare sport that is both a pastime and a way of life. There are many quotes about the unique appeal of surfing, including this one from Frosty Hesson: “If you’re having a bad day, catch a wave.” Hesson made his name as a big-wave surfer, but the sentiment can be understood by anyone who has ever taken a refreshing dip in the ocean.

The sense of people enjoying themselves by the sea is what makes these surfing photos such a pleasure, and it’s why when you look at the best-selling photos in the LIFE print store that have anything to do with sports, you find that surfing is as popular as any.

Many LIFE photographers took their turns having a day at the beach. Some of the most wonderful photos were taken by Allan Grant, more noted as a chronicler of Hollywood. But he also swung out to nearby Malibu and captured the surf culture there. This overhead shot of riders catching a wave is LIFE’s best-selling surf print.

LIFE photographers such as Ralph Crane, Loomis Dean and Frank Scherschel turned up gems as well. All these images are wonderful. Enjoy.

Surfing, Malibu, California 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfers, Malibu, California 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, California, 1950.

Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.

Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959.

Ralph Crane/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 1965.

Ralph Crane/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Australia, 1958.

John Dominis/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Hawaii, 1963.

George Silk/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.

Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959.

Ralph Crane/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961.

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961.

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Sixteen-year-old Kathy Kohner (the real-life inspiration for the character of Gidget) rode a wave, Malibu, Calif., 1957.

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950.

Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.

Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

The beach scene at Lima, Peru, 1959.

Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1957

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950

Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950.

Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

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The Glamorous Anita Ekberg in LIFE

Bill Syken — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:45:17 +0000

Anita Ekberg was twenty years old when she first appeared in LIFE magazine. In 1951 the magazine breathlessly introduced this relative unknown model to readers in a story headlined “Beautiful Maid of Malmo.”

The most photographed, most pursued, and most popular girl at the most recent Miss America contest in Atlantic City was the blue-eyed blonde shown above, who boasts a sunny face and a stunning figure, a five-word English vocabulary—ya, no, hamboorger, El Morocco, ice cream—and was not eligible for the contest. The beautiful blonde was 20-year-old Anita Ekberg who, as Miss Sweden, was a guest of honor.

The gist of the story was that Ekberg, hot off being named Miss Sweden, had come to the United States to further her modeling career. LIFE photographer Lisa Larsen captured Ekberg meeting with a titan of that business, Eileen Ford.

The magazine was clearly among those impressed with the young Swede. Mere months later Ekberg posed in Los Angeles for another LIFE photographer, Allan Grant. And she would pose for Grant again in 1956.

In addition to modeling, Ekberg soon launched an acting career. She picked up small parts in films beginning in 1953, including playing an alien in Abbott and Costello Go to Mars. In 1955 staff photographer Loomis Dean captured Ekberg’s appearance on the short-lived television version of Casablanca.

In 1956 Ekberg then debuted on the cover of LIFE, when the magazine wrote about the film adaptation of War and Peace. Ekberg had a supporting role—the female lead in the movie was played by Audrey Hepburn—but that didn’t stop LIFE from devoting a major feature to her, photographed by James Whitmore.

The headline of that story, “Malmo Maid Makes Good,” celebrated how far the young model had come from her first appearance in the magazine.

Anita Ekberg made her first appearance in LIFE at age 20, in 1951, when she was an aspiring model. In this photo she wore a hostess hat from Scandanavian Airlines.

Lisa Larsen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg made her first appearance in LIFE at age 20, in 1951. In this photo, as she looked to advance her modeling career, she was having her hips measured by agency executive Eileen Ford, 1951.

Lisa Larsen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg made her first appearance in LIFE at age 20, in 1951.

Lisa Larsen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg in Los Angeles, 1951.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Model and actress Anita Ekberg posed for LIFE in 1955.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg and Clarence Muse appeared in the television version of Casablanca, which ran for ten episodes from 1955-56.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg appeared in the 1950s television version of Casablanca.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg appeared in the 1956 film version of War and Peace.

James Whitmore/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

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Did You Know Casablanca Was Also a TV Show?

Bill Syken — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:52:48 +0000

Casablanca is one of the most beloved movies in history. When the American Film Institute listed its top 100 movies, the film from 1942 came in second, behind Citizen Kane and just ahead of The Godfather.

So perhaps its not surprising that Hollywood tried to take another bite from that apple. In 1955 ABC aired a Casablanca television series built around the continuing adventures of freedom-loving cafe owner Rick Blaine in the age of the Cold War. The show was part of a rotating series of dramas presented under the aegis Warner Bros Presents. Warner Bros had been the studio that made the original movie.

But the magic of the movie could not be recaptured, and the series ran for only ten episodes. What went wrong?

According to the book Short-Lived Television Series 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops by Wesley Hyatt, the problems began with casting. Humphrey Bogart had no interest in playing Rick Blaine again. The show’s director, John Peyser, set his sights on Anthony Quinn, but the actor’s asking price proved too high. So they ended up casting Charles McGraw—who, according to Peyser, “couldn’t act his way out of a hat.” Also, according to Peyser, the scripts were terrible.

With the benefit of hindsight, it’s easy to see another issue. The movie Casablanca was not only the story of the resistance movement during World War II but also a romance between Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund (played by Ingrid Bergman), the woman who broke Rick’s heart in Paris.

The television show couldn’t easily bring back the Ilsa Lund character because of the way the movie ended, with Rick sending Ilsa away in a grand moment of self-sacrifice for a larger cause. In a speech for the ages Rick declared that their problems didn’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world, but here’s looking at you, kid.

In the television show, Rick didn’t have a “kid” to look at—except for one episode. Anita Ekberg, who like Bergman was Swedish, made a guest appearance playing a character named Katrina Jorgenson. Ekberg’s character was the center of attention when LIFE staff photographer Loomis Dean visited the set for photos. In the shots where Ekberg poses with Clarence Muse, who portrays Sam the piano player, Ekberg looks like she is just about to ask Sam to play As Time Goes By.

Dean’s camera knew what the show’s creators did not, because they capture what the show was missing. If Ekberg had been in more than one episode, maybe that would have been the beginning of a beautiful TV series.

Anita Ekberg and Clarence Muse appeared in the television version of Casablanca, which ran for ten episodes from 1955-56.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

The television series Casablanca ran for ten episodes from 1955-56.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg appeared in the 1950s television version of Casablanca.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

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The “Hollywood Shakespeares” of Cinema’s Early Days

Bill Syken — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 21:05:35 +0000

In 1937, about ten years after talking movies had ended the era of silent film, LIFE magazine—then in its second year of existence—decided to shine a spotlight on the people who were putting the words in the mouths of movie actors.

LIFE staff photographer Paul Dorsey shot portraits of Hollywood’s most important writers. Some of the names of those writers are still recognizable today, while others are more likely to be known only to hardcore cinephiles.

For these writers, LIFE explained, it was the best of times but also the worse of times, because they were well-compensated by movie studios but also largely anonymous. Here’s how the magazine explained their predicament:

The greatest market for literary talent the world has ever known exists today in Hollywood. Writers for movies are better paid than any writers have ever been before. They are less recognized, however, than any equally important writers ever were—except, perhaps, the authors of the King James version of the Bible. These Hollywood Shakespeares have usually been mute, inglorious Miltons.

LIFE also believed that some of these writers were frustrated by their secondary role in the filmmaking process, and that this came though when they posed for their portraits—not because the writers looked upset, but rather because of the way some hammed it up for the camera, developing comic concepts for their photos.

For example, John Lee Mahin, who would be nominated for an Academy Awards for his 1937 film Captain Courageous, posed with chickens on his typewriter to jokingly suggest that his screenplays were about to lay an egg. LIFE theorized, “This urge to act probably represents the revolt of repressed artists who have never had the satisfaction of giving final expression to their inspiration.”

Some of the writers in this portrait collection did have a considerable public profile. Dorothy Parker was glamorous enough that she would eventually become the subject of a movie, and Dashiell Hammett came to Hollywood as a seminal writer of detective fiction. Then there’s Preston Sturges, who would eventually become a director as well as a screenwriter and make classic films such as Sullivan’s Travels and The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek. A PBS piece of Sturges said that “The success of these films set the precedent for other writers to become directors.”

Thus did writers gain an avenue to the limelight that did not involve clowning in front of the camera for LIFE.

Writer Dorothy Parker (wearing hat), who co-wrote the original “A Star is Born,” sat with Edwin Justus Mayer, who wrote for many Ernst Lubistch movies, including “To Be or Not To Be,” 1937.

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

MGM screenwriter John Lee Mahin sat at his typewriter with chickens who were supposed to be, along with him, laying an egg, 1937; he would be nominated for an Academy Award for a movie he wrote which came out that year, Captains Courageous..

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Dashiell Hammett, the legendary noir mystery writer, had many of his stories adapted in to movies and wrote original screenplays too.

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Warner Bros. studio writing trio (L-R on sofa) Jerry Wald, Maurice Leo, and Richard Macauley in the throes of writing Gold Diggers in Paris.

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Screenwriter Robert Hopkins received a 1936 Academy Award nomination for the earthquake musical “San Francisco,” starring Clark Gable.

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Writer Niven Busch lying on sofa with a newspaper over his face as he took a break from screenwriting, 1937.

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

J. P. McEvoy, who wrote screenplays and also many fiction stories that were adapted into movies, is credited with originating the phrase “Cut to the chase.”

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Writer and director Preston Sturges, in white tee shirt, showing cut on arm, in 1937. Sturges would later direct as well as write and become famous for movies such as 1941’s Sullivan’s Travels.

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Screenwriter Jack Cunningham was known for being prolific, and he is credited with scripts for more than 130 films.

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Warner Bros. writer Niven Busch worked on screenplay in his office. In 1938 he would be nominated for an Oscar for the musical drama In Old Chicago.

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Ring Lardner Jr., early in his screenwriting career in 1937, would win writing Oscars in 1943 for Woman of the year and in 1971 for M*A*S*H.

Paul Dorsey/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

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