Vikki Dougan (The real Jessica Rabbit) in Life Magazine (1953)

Throughout the 1950s model, actress and It girl Vikki Dougan (born 1929) was most famous for appearing at social events in a series of daring low-cutbackless dresses.

In 1953 publicity man Milton Weiss had the idea of promoting Vikki using the backless dresses to garner publicity. The idea was to gain a contrast with the fashion for models and actresses with large bosoms, such as Jayne Mansfield.

Throughout the 1950s she scandalized more respectable Hollywood society with her appearances in her daring backless dresses.

In 1953 photographer Ralph Crane photographed her extensively for Life Magazine. Their edition of October 26 featured her on the cover.

In the 1980s she got another claim to fame as the muse for cartoon pin up Jessica Rabbit.

Vikki Dougan by Ralph Crane, 1953

Vikki Dougan by Ralph Crane, 1953 via

Vikki Dougan by Ralph Crane, 1953

Vikki Dougan by Ralph Crane, 1953 via

Vikki Dougan by Ralph Crane, 1953

Vikki Dougan by Ralph Crane, 1953 via

Vikki Dougan by Ralph Crane, 1953

Vikki Dougan by Ralph Crane, 1953

Las Vegas Showgirl Dale Strong (1952)

Lisa Larsen, Dale Strong, 1952 via

Lisa Larsen, Dale Strong, 1952 via

Lisa Larsen, Dale Strong, 1952 via

Lisa Larsen, Dale Strong, 1952 via

Lisa Larsen, Dale Strong, 1952 via

Grace Kelly in New York before she embarked for Monaco (1956)

Grace Kelly. Date: March 1956. Photographer: Lisa Larsen via

Grace Kelly. Date: March 1956. Photographer: Lisa Larsen via

Grace Kelly. Date: March 1956. Photographer: Lisa Larsen via

Grace Kelly. Date: March 1956. Photographer: Lisa Larsen via

Grace Kelly. Date: March 1956. Photographer: Lisa Larsen via

Grace Kelly. Date: March 1956. Photographer: Lisa Larsen via

Vintage Photos of Marilyn Monroe at the Hollywood Bowl by Bernard of Hollywood

When Marilyn Monroe attended the Hollywood Bowl in 1952 she was widely photographed by Bernard of Hollywood amongst others. Bernard of Hollywood, is perhaps better known as Bruno Bernard (1912 – 1987). He was an American photographer best known for pin-up and glamour photography. Bernard is credited with first photographing Marilyn Monroe at the Racquet Club in Palm Springs, California, in 1947, when she was still Norma Jeane. She is said to have told Bernard:

“Remember, Bernie, you started it all”.

In 1999, his photo “Marilyn in White”, of Monroe in her wind-blown dress from the movie The Seven Year Itch (1955), was selected as the “Symbol of the Century” by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The same photograph was also chosen by the International Center of Photography as one of  “20 Unforgettable Photographs”.

Marilyn Monroe performing at the Hollywood Bowl (St. Jude Hospital Benefit), 1953 BERNARD OF HOLLYWOOD (1912-1987) via

Marilyn Monroe performing at the Hollywood Bowl (St. Jude Hospital Benefit), 1953 BERNARD OF HOLLYWOOD (1912-1987) via

Marilyn Monroe performing at the Hollywood Bowl (St. Jude Hospital Benefit) here with Danny Kaye, 1953 BERNARD OF HOLLYWOOD (1912-1987) via

Marilyn Monroe performing at the Hollywood Bowl (St. Jude Hospital Benefit) here signing autographs, 1953 BERNARD OF HOLLYWOOD (1912-1987) via

Maria Callas by Cecil Beaton (1957)

Portrait of Maria Callas by Cecil Beaton, 1957 via

Portrait of Maria Callas by Cecil Beaton, 1957 via

Amazing Portraits of Writers and Artists by Gisèle Freund

Gisèle Freund (1908  – 2000) was a German-born French photographer and photojournalist, famous for her documentary photography and portraits of writers and artists. Her best-known book is Photographie et société (1974) about the uses and abuses of the photographic medium in the age of technological reproduction. In 1977, she became President of the French Association of Photographers, and in 1981, she took the official portrait of French President François Mitterrand.

She was made Officier des Arts et Lettres in 1982 and Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, the highest decoration in France, in 1983. In 1991, she became the first photographer to be honored with a retrospective at the Musée National d’art Moderne in Paris (Centre Georges Pompidou).

Freund’s major contributions to photography include using the Leica (with its 36 frames) for documentary reportage and her early experimentation with Kodachrome and 35 mm Agfacolor, which allowed her to develop a “uniquely candid portraiture style” that distinguishes her in 20th century photography.

She is buried at the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris, France near her home and studio at 12 rue Lalande.

Anouk Aimée by Gisèle Freund, 1962 via

Colette by Gisèle Freund, 1954 via

Frida Kahlo by Gisèle Freund via

Simone de Beauvoir by Gisèle Freund (The day of the Prix Goncourt, next to a window writing), Paris, 1954 via

Zsa Zsa Gabor, 1953 via

Evita Perón, doing her hair (Reportage for Life magazine, 1950) © Gisèle Freund via

Gisèle Freund, Self-Portrait via

Stunning Images of 1950s Paris by Sabine Weiss

Sabine Weiss was born in Switzerland in 1924. In 1942, she wonders what she will do with her life, and decides that she should become a photographer because it is what she loves to do.

In 1945 Sabine Weiss moved to a studio in Geneva, but in 1946 she decided to leave the city of her childhood to live in Paris. She knew there was no turning back. She asked Willy Maywald to become her assistant.

In 1949, she met the painter Hugh Weiss and realized right away that she would spend her life with him. Sabine Weiss left Maywald, where she mastered her craft and started a long career, experimenting fashion, photojournalism, advertising and everything else she was asked to do (source).

Sabine Weiss, Paris, 1955 via

Sabine Weiss, In the rain, Paris, 1957 via

Sabine Weiss, July, Paris, 1954 via

Sabine Weiss, St. Lazare train station, Paris, 1949 via

Sabine Weiss, The Eiffel Towers dry, Paris, 1956 via

Sabine Weiss, Bilboquet, La Concorde, Paris, 1950 via

Sabine Weiss, Snow, Paris, 1952 via

Sabine Weiss, Paris, 1953 via