Alex Carson
20th Century
A lot happened during the 20th century. Some things were good, some were bad, but overall, it was quite the eventful century. Fortunately, there is always a photographer around ready to capture some of the most amazing moments. Here are some of the most iconic photos of the 20th century. Photoshop didn’t exist back then so yes these pictures are real.
Shirley Temple With a Turkey In 1949
Shirley Temple was one of the most iconic child actresses ever to grace the screen. Her career didn’t end when she got older, and she didn’t go down the same path that some child actors do. After she gave up acting, she served at U.S. Ambassador to Ghana under Gerald Ford. Later, she was the U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia under George H.W. Bush. Shirley is 21-years-old in this Thanksgiving-themed publicity photo, a real picture which is why she was photographed with a turkey.
Young Elvis Signing Autographs
Elvis was known as the King of Rock and Roll. His music was a combination of rock, country music, and rhythm and blues, which is why so many people loved his music. In this real picture, he was still very young, and he is signing autographs for fans. This was one thing that he loved to do, no matter how busy he was.
Audrey Hepburn Shopping With her Pet Deer In 1958
Iconic actress, Audrey Hepburn was such a calm person that her deer, Pippin mistook her for his mother. He loved her so much that he would cuddle with her, and often accompanied her to the grocery store in Beverly Hills. The two were so close that her dog was jealous.
Marilyn Monroe Met the Queen of England in 1956
Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history. On April 21, 2018, she celebrated her 92nd birthday. Had Marilyn Monroe not died, she would have turned 92 in the summer of 2018. When the two met for the first time face-to-face, along with Marilyn’s then-husband, Arthur Miller, they were both, they were both 30-years-old.
Original Star Wars Cast
Star Wars is one of the most popular movies of all time. In 2015, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out, this photo of the original cast from 1977 circulated all over the internet. Since social media wasn’t out back then, this photo was rarely seen. In 2015, it went viral.
Muhammad Ali Knocks Out Sonny Liston
Neil Leifer, a photographer for Sports Illustrated, was at the right place at the right time, because he was able to capture the moment when Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston. It is one of the most influential photos in sports history. Ali was just 23 when he wet against 34-year-old Liston. When asked about the photo years later, Lister said, “I was obviously in the right seat.”
Lyndon B. Johnson Sworn In As President Alongside Jacqueline Kennedy
After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president. He insisted that Kennedy’s widow stand beside him while he was sworn in. According to Johnson’s wife, Bird, Jacqueline remained composed the whole time. She flew straight from the scene of the assassination to the Oval Office. She was still wearing the same clothes that she was wearing when her husband was killed during the swearing-in.
Norma Jean Mortenson
Marilyn Monroe was born, Norma Jean Mortenson. As a child, she didn’t have it easy. She was moved from foster home to foster home. She got married for the first time at 16-years-old and worked in a U.S. military factory. And she didn’t stay there long, because she soon became famous. She was introduced to a photographer from the U.S. Army Air Forces’ First Motion Picture Unit, which led to her modeling career, and the rest is history. This is a photo of her in 1944 before she became the blonde bombshell that we love.
Baby Angelina Jolie With Her Parents
Angelina Jolie is on Hollywood’s A-List, and she has been for many years. She is the daughter of Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, who were once Hollywood’s power couple. This is a photo of Angelina when she was two or three years old, with her super-famous parents.
Elizabeth Taylor With a Kitten In 1953
Elizabeth Taylor is one of the most popular Hollywood icons ever to grace the screen. In 1999, the American Film Institute named her the 7th greatest female screen legend of all time. There aren’t too many photos where Elizabeth could be upstaged, but in this photo taken on the set of the 1953 film, the Girl Who had Everything, she is upstaged by the kitten because it is just so darn cute.
The Young Beatles
The Beatles are the most iconic rock band in the history of the world. They formed in Liverpool in 1960, and four years later, they took the international stage. This is a photo of them (minus Ringo) when they were first starting out. It is a real picture and they were so young.
