Lunar New Year in New York City: A Glimpse of the Early 1960s

In the early 1960s, Chinese New Year in Manhattan’s Chinatown was a vibrant explosion of culture and community, standing in stark contrast to the gray, towering skyscrapers of the surrounding city. During this era, Chinatown was a smaller, more tight-knit neighborhood, and the Lunar New Year was the most anticipated event of the year, drawing both residents and curious onlookers to its narrow, winding streets.

The atmosphere was electric. The air was thick with the scent of incense from local temples and the smoky aroma of thousands of firecrackers, which were still legal and used abundantly to ward off evil spirits. Mott and Canal Streets were decorated with bright red lanterns and golden banners, symbolizing luck and prosperity for the coming year.

The highlight of the celebration was the traditional Lion Dance. Performers in elaborate, colorful costumes maneuvered through the crowds to the rhythmic beat of heavy drums and clashing cymbals. Merchants would hang heads of lettuce and “red envelopes” (hongbao) high above their shop doors, challenging the lions to reach them in exchange for a blessing of good fortune.

It was a time when the old traditions of the East were preserved with fierce pride in the heart of the New West. Found by Guy Clinch, these vintage photographs offer a rare glimpse into the Lunar New Year celebrations on the streets of New York City, dated February 5, 1962.

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42 Amazing Black and White Behind the Scenes Photos Taken by Richard Beymer During the Filming of “Twin Peaks” (1992)

Richard Beymer, who played Benjamin Horne in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, took a remarkable series of black and white, behind the scenes photographs during the filming of the original series’ final episode in 1991. With David Lynch’s permission, Beymer used his own Olympus camera to document the final days on set after the in-house photographer had left due to the show’s cancellation.

The resulting candid images, often in the iconic Black Lodge set, are highly regarded by fans for their intimate and eerie quality. They offer a unique look at the cast and crew, including shots of Killer Bob (Frank Silva), David Lynch, and other major characters, often out of character or during a break from filming.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me has been positively re-evaluated in the 21st century, and is now widely regarded as one of Lynch’s major works. Lynch and Frost eventually received funding to produce a third season of the TV series in 2017, which revisited several plot threads from the film. In 2019, the British Film Institute ranked Fire Walk with Me the fourth-best film of the 1990s.

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Backstage Photos of Eddie Van Halen at the Metro Center in March 1986

Van Halen performed at the Metro Center in Rockford, Illinois, on March 16, 1986. This event was notable as it took place shortly before the official start of their legendary 5150 Tour, which officially kicked off in Shreveport, Louisiana, on March 27, 1986.

The concert featured the debut era of “Van Hagar,” with Sammy Hagar having recently replaced David Lee Roth as the lead vocalist. While the tour’s official opening night is often cited as March 27, the Rockford show (along with a performance in Rosemont, Illinois, on March 15) served as critical early performances or “warm-ups” for the new lineup.

Renowned rock photographer Paul Natkin captured several iconic images of Eddie Van Halen both onstage and backstage during this specific date at the Metro Center. The show occurred just eight days before the release of the 5150 album on March 24, 1986.

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Rita Moreno: A Living Legend and EGOT Icon

Rita Moreno is a true trailblazer and a living legend in the entertainment industry. Born in Puerto Rico, she moved to New York City as a child and eventually became one of the few performers to achieve the prestigious EGOT status (winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award). She is perhaps most famous for her iconic portrayal of Anita in the 1961 film version of West Side Story, a role that earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Throughout her career spanning over seven thập kỷ, Moreno has broken numerous racial and cultural barriers for Latino performers. Beyond her acting talent, she is widely admired for her resilience and her outspoken advocacy for social justice. Even in her 90s, she continues to captivate audiences with her energy and grace, proving that true talent knows no age.

Take a look at these beautiful photos to see portraits of a young Rita Moreno in the 1950s and 1960s.

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Paul Newman Eating Ice Cream With a Cat on His Shoulder at the Griffith Park Zoo in Los Angeles, 1956

These photos were taken at the Griffith Park Zoo in Los Angeles in 1956. The humor, of course, comes from the clear irony of the sign: “NO DOGS OR PETS Allowed in Zoo.” Despite the explicit rule, Paul Newman is standing right next to the sign with a cat draped over his shoulder like a stole, calmly eating an ice cream.

The Siamese cat, named Louis XIV, actually belonged to the photographer, Sanford Roth, who took the pictures. Louis XIV was a bit of a celebrity in his own right and had also been photographed with James Dean the previous year.

Federico Fellini and Giulietta Masina: A Symphony of Love and Art

The partnership between director Federico Fellini and actress Giulietta Masina was far more than a celebrated marriage, it was the creative heartbeat of post-war Italian cinema.

Married for fifty years, they shared a profound “director-muse” relationship that yielded some of the most poetic films ever made. Fellini often remarked that Masina was his greatest inspiration, a “little fairy” who brought a human, soul-stirring dimension to his surreal and often eccentric cinematic worlds. Through her iconic roles in masterpieces like La Strada and Nights of Cabiria, Masina became the emotional anchor for Fellini’s vision, translating his complex fantasies into universal stories of hope and suffering.

Their bond was famously captured at the 1993 Academy Awards, where a tearful Masina watched as Fellini received his Honorary Oscar and told her, “Please, Giulietta, stop crying!” Together, they remain the ultimate symbol of how romantic devotion can be transformed into timeless, world-class art.

Enjoy these vintage photos capturing the beautiful moments shared by Federico Fellini and Giulietta Masina.

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Amazing Photographs of Etta James Performing on Stage in the 1970s

“When I look out at the people and they look at me and they’re smiling, then I know that I’m loved. That is the time when I have no worries, no problems.” – Etta James (1938–2012)

In the 1970s, Etta James’ stage presence was a fascinating paradox of vulnerability and raw, aggressive power. While the decade was a period of intense personal struggle for her, it also captured her at what many critics consider the height of her “earthy” vocal powers.

By the 1970s, the “little girl” quality of her early career had vanished, replaced by a deeper, whiskey-cured growl. On stage, she was often described as the “Earth Mother”—a powerhouse who commanded the room with a feisty, no-nonsense personality.

Performances were often gritty and “churchy,” blending gospel-infused passion with the “hot-blooded eroticism” of the blues. She was known for intense audience engagement. In smaller venues, like the nightclubs she played in Oakland, she was known to drop to her knees and sing directly to fans at the front tables.

Her 1970s sets moved away from the orchestral “At Last” polish toward a tougher, more eclectic sound. She leaned heavily into funky R&B and swampy rock. Key live tracks from this era included nine-minute-plus versions of “Respect Yourself” and her own anthem “W-O-M-A-N.”

She didn’t just sing the songs; she “worked” them, often extending tracks into long, improvisational grooves that allowed her band to stretch out while she manipulated the crowd’s energy with sass and verve.

It’s important to note that her 1970s performances were often a “comeback” effort. She spent the early part of the decade battling addiction and was in and out of rehab. By 1974, after a stint in a psychiatric hospital and rehab, her performances took on a new level of “survivalist” energy.

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