35 Fascinating Photos of Diana Ross as Billie Holiday on the Set of “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972)

Diana Ross’s performance on the set of Lady Sings the Blues (1972) was a transformative debut that redefined her career from a pop superstar to a dramatic actress. Directed by Sidney J. Furie, the film was shot over 42 days, with Ross on set for 41 of them, fully immersing herself in the life of jazz legend Billie Holiday.

To prepare, Ross created a personal space in her dressing room filled with photographs of Holiday to internalize her image. She reportedly listened to tape recordings of her lines without emotion, allowing her true feelings to develop naturally during filming with her co-stars.

Principal photography utilized the Paramount backlot to recreate 1930s Harlem, while designer Bob Mackie provided iconic period-accurate costumes. Co-star Billy Dee Williams noted an immediate “unspoken connection” on set, treating Ross as a professional peer despite her being a newcomer to film. A 10-minute promotional featurette from 1972 shows Ross in scenes cut from the final film, including a recording session for “Don’t Explain.”

Vincent Canby of The New York Times described Ross as “an actress of exceptional beauty and wit, who is very much involved in trying to make a bad movie work ... her only apparent limitations are those imposed on her by a screenplay and direction seemingly designed to turn a legitimate legend into a whopper of a cliché.”

Variety wrote, “For the bulk of general audiences, the film serves as a very good screen debut vehicle for Diana Ross, supported strongly by excellent casting, handsome '30s physical values, and a script which is far better in dialog than structure.”

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three stars out of four, writing that Ross had given “one of the great performances of 1972,” and observing that the film “has most of the clichés we expect—but do we really mind clichés in a movie like this? I don't think so.”

Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune also awarded three stars out of four, writing, “The fact that ‘Lady Sings the Blues’ is a failure as a biography of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday doesn’t mean it can’t be an entertaining movie. And it is just that—entertaining—because of an old fashioned grand dame performance by Diana Ross, late of the pop-rock scene, in the title role.”

Pauline Kael of The New Yorker wrote that “when the movie was over I wrote ’I love it’ on my pad of paper ... Factually it’s a fraud, but emotionally it delivers. It has what makes movies work for a mass audience: easy pleasure, tawdry electricity, personality—great quantities of personality.”

Tom Milne of The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote that Ross did “a remarkable pastiche job on the tone and timbre of Billie Holiday’s voice, [but] misses the elegant, almost literary wit of her phrasing,” and found the presentation of Holiday’s life story “offensively simplistic.”

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30 Stunning Portraits of Jackie Collins in the 1950s and ’60s

In the 1950s and ’60s, long before she became the world-renowned “Queen of Hollywood Glamour,” Jackie Collins was a starlet in her own right, possessing a magnetic beauty that rivaled the characters she would later create. These early portraits capture a fascinating era of her life, showcasing a young woman with striking features and a rebellious, avant-garde spirit.

During this period, Jackie was often seen with her signature dark, voluminous hair and a fashion sense that blended the structured elegance of the fifties with the bold, liberated “Mod” style of the sixties. Whether she was posing for soft-lit studio headshots or candid street snaps, there was always a glint of sharp intelligence and mischief in her eyes, a hint of the sharp-witted observer who would one day pull back the velvet curtain on the scandals of the rich and famous.

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Beautiful Portraits of Ann Margret During the Filming of ‘Murderers’ Row’ (1966)

The 1966 spy-spoof Murderers’ Row solidified Ann-Margret’s status as the ultimate “it-girl” of the 1960s, a blend of fiery energy and undeniable cinematic charisma. In these portraits taken during the film’s production, she perfectly embodies the Swinging Sixties aesthetic, portraying the character of Suzie with a playful, high-octane allure.

Whether she was donning futuristic metallic outfits or her signature voluminous red hair, Ann-Margret’s presence on set was electric, capturing the vibrant transition from classic Hollywood glamour to the bold, rebellious spirit of the Mod era. These images don’t just showcase a beautiful actress, they archive a moment when her talent and “dynamo” persona were at their absolute peak, making her the perfect co-star for Dean Martin’s suave Matt Helm.

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Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck During Filming of the Video “People Get Ready” in Oxnard, California, 1985

In May 1985, Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck filmed the music video for their cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” in Oxnard, California. Captured by photographer Jeffrey Mayer, the production marked a significant reunion for the former Jeff Beck Group bandmates.

The shoot took place primarily at a train station and surrounding areas in Oxnard. The video was directed by D.J. Webster. The sepia-toned video follows a storyline where Stewart writes a letter inviting Beck to Los Angeles to play guitar. Beck is seen traveling via train boxcars while Stewart waits for him at a station, eventually culminating in a hug and a guitar solo. The video premiered on June 3, 1985, coinciding with the song's release on Jeff Beck’s album, Flash.

Photos from the set typically show Beck playing a butterscotch Fender Telecaster. Despite the song being a major hit and receiving heavy MTV rotation, the filming session was one of the few times the duo collaborated during that era, as a subsequent planned tour was canceled after only a few shows.

Amazing Photographs of Elton John Flying Handstands on His Piano in the 1970s

Elton John’s piano handstands became one of the most iconic sights of 1970s rock ‘n’ roll, perfectly capturing the high-energy, acrobatic showmanship of his “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” era. He would typically kick his piano stool aside and launch into the move with his hands firmly planted on the piano keys and his legs extended into the air.

John was already performing this move as early as 1970 at Doug Weston’s Troubadour in Los Angeles and in 1971 concert footage. He was famously photographed performing a handstand on his piano in London in 1972 by Terry O'Neill; in this session, he performed the stunt while wearing heeled boots and sunglasses. One of his most iconic handstands occurred during the Midsummer Music festival at Wembley Stadium in 1975, a moment recently immortalized by a gravity-defying wax figure at Madame Tussauds London.

These “flying handstands” were part of a broader repertoire of piano acrobatics, including playing from contorted positions and jumping off the piano, often while wearing flamboyant costumes like bejeweled jumpsuits and platform shoes.

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Alice Bruno: The Elegant Muse of Mid-Century Fashion

Alice Bruno was the embodiment of sophisticated mid-century glamour, a model whose poise and versatility made her a favorite of top fashion photographers in the 1950s. With her razor-sharp cheekbones, expressive eyes, and an innate ability to command the lens, she became a prominent face in high-fashion editorials and commercial campaigns alike.

Whether she was draped in the architectural silhouettes of Christian Dior or showcasing the refined elegance of British labels like Frank Usher, Bruno possessed a “chameleon-like” quality that allowed her to transition effortlessly from icy haute couture to warm, approachable charm. Beyond her striking looks, she was celebrated for her professional discipline, helping to define the era of the “sophisticated mannequin”, where modeling was not just about beauty, but about the art of storytelling through movement and style.

Take a look at these stunning vintage portraits to see the captivating grace of Alice Bruno, one of the most iconic faces of the 1950s.

Alice Bruno wearing knit fashion from Tina Leser, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, April 15, 1950

Alice Bruno in a wonderful suit with buckles and pleating by Lilli Ann, hat by Mr. John, photo by George Hurrell, Harper's Bazaar, March 1950

Alice Bruno, suit by Lilli Ann, Vogue, April 1, 1950

Alice Bruno in a bewitching black, pleated chiffon dress with touches of Valenciennes lace exclusively at I.Magnin & Co., Vogue, February 1, 1951

Alice Bruno in creaseless jersey suit by Leonard Arkin, hat by Robert Dudley, Harper's Bazaar, April 1951

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Chicago in the Mid-20th Century Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

Life in Chicago in the late 1950s and early ’60s was the personification of the American Dream in its mid-century prime. Known as the “City of Broad Shoulders,” Chicago was a bustling hub of industry, jazz, and architectural innovation. The skyline was beginning to reach new heights, while the streets below hummed with the sound of “L” trains and the neon glow of movie palaces in The Loop.

This was an era of stark contrasts: from the sophisticated shoppers on the Magnificent Mile to the vibrant, soulful blues clubs of the South Side. Families flocked to newly built suburbs, yet the city’s heart remained in its diverse neighborhoods, where local diners and busy lunch counters served as the social glue of the community.

It was a time of transition, captured in the black-and-white elegance of street photography, marking the peak of Chicago’s industrial might before the winds of social change began to reshape the urban landscape. These fascinating photos, taken by Laird Scott, showcase life in Chicago in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Man reading newspaper, Chicago, 1958

Boy and mom, South Halsted and West Maxwell, Chicago, 1959

Chicago urban renewal, 1959

CTA bus driver, 25 cent ride, Chicago, 1959

Delivery van, Chicago, 1959

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