When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Riding Around Vietnam’s Southern Ho Chi Minh City on a Motorcycle in 2006

In November 2006, one of the most famous couples in Hollywood history, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, surprised the world, and the people of Ho Chi Minh City, by appearing as ordinary tourists. Their visit has since become a legendary piece of “Brangelina” lore in Vietnam.

The couple arrived unannounced on Wednesday, November 22, 2006, flying in from Cambodia. They stayed at the Park Hyatt Hotel in District 1, but rather than using a fleet of black SUVs or heavy security, they chose to blend in.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 23, they decided to explore the city like locals. Pitt rented a Yamaha Nouvo, a common automatic scooter in Vietnam at the time. Passersby were stunned to see “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” weaving through Saigon’s chaotic, buzzing traffic. Pitt drove while Jolie sat behind him, both dressed in casual clothes and sunglasses.

They were spotted driving past the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Building (City Hall), through the city center, and eventually heading toward Ben Thanh Market for some shopping. When a reporter from the Tuoi Tre newspaper asked if he was worried about the “chaotic” traffic, Pitt simply smiled and replied, “There will be no problem.”

The couple spent their evening at Temple Club, a popular restaurant on Ton That Thiep Street converted from an old temple. They reportedly enjoyed a quiet dinner, with Brad describing Vietnam as “wonderful.”

Beyond sightseeing, this trip laid the groundwork for their deep connection to the country. During this visit, they stopped at the Tam Binh Orphanage in Thu Duc. It was here that they first met a three-year-old boy named Pham Quang Sang, whom Angelina Jolie would officially adopt a few months later in early 2007, renaming him Pax Thien.

See more»

This Whaling Suit From Greenland, Made Sometime Before 1834

This whaling suit from Greenland, crafted sometime before 1834, reflects the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Inuit people. Designed for the harsh Arctic environment, it allowed hunters to remain dry and insulated while navigating icy waters during dangerous sea hunts. Every element of the suit was carefully considered for practicality and protection, ensuring the wearer could focus on hunting without succumbing to hypothermia.

Constructed entirely from sealskin, the suit was both flexible and durable. Its central opening allowed the hunter to crawl inside, after which the hole was tightly secured to create a nearly waterproof seal. This simple yet effective design demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of materials and environmental challenges, turning natural resources into life-saving technology.

Today, the suit is preserved at the National Museum of Denmark, serving as a testament to Inuit craftsmanship and survival skills. Beyond its practical use, it offers a glimpse into the daily lives and ingenuity of Arctic communities, highlighting how cultural knowledge and adaptation were crucial for thriving in one of the world’s most extreme climates.

30 Fascinating Photos of Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles in the 1980s

Susanna Hoffs (born January 17, 1959) was arguably the ultimate “girl with a guitar” icon of the 1980s. She co-founded the all-female rock band the Bangles in Los Angeles in 1981 alongside sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson. Originally part of the “Paisley Underground” scene, the band transitioned from garage rock to mainstream pop-rock success through three multi-platinum albums.

The band achieved massive success with the album Different Light, featuring the Prince-penned hit “Manic Monday” (No. 2) and the global chart-topper “Walk Like an Egyptian.” In the “Walk Like an Egyptian” music video, Hoffs’ side-to-side eye movement became an iconic 1980s visual; she later revealed it was a subconscious habit she used to combat stage fright.

In 1988, she co-wrote and sang the power ballad “Eternal Flame,” which reached No. 1 in nine countries. Despite their success, internal tensions regarding the media's focus on Hoffs as the “lead singer” led to the band's dissolution at the end of the decade.

Hoffs was celebrated for a singing style that blended “pep, coy sweetness, and an occasional plaintive resonance.” As a guitarist, she favored 1960s-inspired “jangly” sounds, helping to revive the pop-rock aesthetic of that era. Beyond her music, she was a major 1980s fashion icon, known for her tousled hair and chic, laid-back wardrobe.

See more»

Piper Laurie: From Hollywood Starlet to Dramatic Powerhouse

Piper Laurie (1932–2023) was an American actress whose career spanned over seven decades, marked by her remarkable transition from a “red-headed starlet” to one of the most respected dramatic performers of her generation.

Initially cast by Universal Studios in decorative “ingenue” roles during the 1950s, most notably opposite Tony Curtis, Laurie famously grew frustrated with the lack of depth in her scripts and walked away from Hollywood to study acting in New York. This bold move paid off when she returned to the screen to deliver a searing, Oscar-nominated performance as Sarah Packard in The Hustler (1961). To younger generations, she is perhaps best known for her chilling portrayal of the fanatical mother, Margaret White, in the horror classic Carrie (1976), and for her captivating, Golden Globe-winning role as the villainous Catherine Martell in the cult TV series Twin Peaks.

Piper Laurie’s legacy is defined by her immense range, her fierce independence, and her ability to bring a haunting intensity to every character she portrayed. Take a look at these beautiful photos to see portraits of a young Piper Laurie.

See more»

The 1957 AC Ace-Bristol Roadster: A Masterpiece of British Engineering

The 1957 AC Ace-Bristol Roadster is widely regarded as one of the most elegant and spirited British sports cars of the post-war era.

Introduced by AC Cars, the “Ace” model achieved legendary status when it was upgraded with the high-performance Bristol straight-six engine. This 2.0-liter powerplant, based on a pre-war BMW design, transformed the lightweight aluminum-bodied roadster into a formidable competitor on both the road and the racetrack, including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With its sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension and timeless barchetta styling, the Ace-Bristol offered a level of agility and balance that was rare for its time. Beyond its own merits, the car holds a special place in automotive history as the primary blueprint for the iconic Shelby Cobra, after Carroll Shelby famously mated this very chassis with an American V8 engine.

Today, an original 1957 Bristol-powered Ace is a prized jewel for collectors, celebrated for its pure driving experience and graceful curves.

See more»

22 Childhood Photos of Jim Carrey in the 1960s and Early 1970s

Born on January 17, 1962, Jim Carrey’s childhood during the 1960s was primarily spent in a lower-middle-class environment in Ontario, Canada, before the severe financial hardships that defined his teenage years began.

He was the youngest of four children born to Percy and Kathleen Carrey in Newmarket, Ontario. His father, Percy, was a classically trained saxophonist who took a “safe” job as an accountant to support the family, while his mother, Kathleen, was a homemaker.

Even as a young child in the 1960s, Carrey displayed an obsessive need to entertain. He famously wore his tap shoes to bed just in case his parents needed cheering up in the middle of the night. At age eight, he began making faces before a mirror and discovered a talent for doing impressions. At age ten, Carrey wrote a letter to Carol Burnett of the Carol Burnett Show pointing out that he was already a master of impressions and should be considered for a role on the show; he was overjoyed when he received a form letter reply.

Carrey spent his early years in the borough of Scarborough, Ontario, part of Metropolitan Toronto, where he attended Blessed Trinity Catholic Elementary School in North York. His family later moved to Burlington, Ontario, where they would spend eight years; Jim attended Aldershot High School while there.

Some time later, his family became homeless and lived together in a Volkswagen van while teenage Jim and his brother spent months living in a tent in Charles Daley Park on the Lake Ontario shore in Lincoln, Ontario. The family struggled financially, however, their situation started improving once his father found employment in the accounting department at the Titan Wheels tire factory in Scarborough.

Furthermore, in return for living in the house across the street from the factory, the family—primarily teenage sons Jim and John—would work as janitors and security guards at the tire factory, doing eight-hour shifts from 6 pm into the next morning. Moving back to Scarborough, teenage Jim started attending Agincourt Collegiate Institute before dropping out of school on his sixteenth birthday. He began to perform comedy in downtown Toronto while continuing to work at the factory.

In a 2007 Hamilton Spectator interview, Carrey said, “If my career in show business hadn’t panned out I would probably be working today in Hamilton, Ontario, at the Dofasco steel mill.” As a young man, he could see the steel mills across the Burlington Bay and often thought that was “where the great jobs were.”

See more»

Ann Todd: The “Pocket Venus” of British Cinema

Ann Todd (1909–1993) was a distinguished English actress and producer who rose to international stardom during the golden age of British film.

Often referred to by the press as the “Pocket Venus” due to her petite stature and ethereal blonde beauty, Todd was far more than just a screen siren, she was a performer of immense psychological depth. She became a household name following her captivating performance in the 1945 psychological thriller The Seventh Veil, where she played a traumatized concert pianist. This role not only made her the highest-paid female star in Britain at the time but also caught the attention of Hollywood.

Throughout her career, Todd collaborated with legendary directors like Alfred Hitchcock in The Paradine Case and David Lean (to whom she was briefly married) in films such as The Passionate Friends. Her legacy is defined by her ability to portray complex, often troubled women with a sophisticated blend of icy reserve and intense emotional vulnerability.

See more»