Most of you would think that there are few cooler things than vintage muscle cars, action heroes, or video games. How about some old school science fiction, the pioneers of rock, and the stars who brought iconic film and TV shows to life? These images just depict the very essence of cool.
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is widely known for her 1966 hit song These Boots Are Made for Walkin’. She appeared on television dressed colorfully like a gogo dancer while rocking high boots, giving off an enduring Swinging Sixties vibe.
Cruising Los Angeles’ Van Nuys Boulevard in a hot Mustang GT was a favorite pastime for many during the 1970s which was really a golden era for the automotive industry. The cars to come out of that decade are iconic, such as the Mustang, ask the pony car.
Despite playing a supporting role in this sci-fi film, the talented beauty gave such an impressive performance that she caught the eye of producer Aaron Spelling and was cast in Charlie’s Angels, which became an instant hit. The two iconic shows really launched Fawcett’s career.
The rock singer, songwriter, and talented actor is well-known for pioneering his own brand of macabre theatrical rock. His stage shows feature morbid things such as guillotines, fake blood, deadly snakes, and baby dolls. With a career spanning over 50 years, Cooper is widely considered “The Godfather of Shock Rock.”
No one does ‘cool’ like Arnold Schwarzenegger, especially in Commando where he plays a retired elite Black Ops special agent who launches a one man war against a gang of criminals who have kidnapped his daughter Jenny (played by Alyssa Milano). The film grossed about $57.5 million at the box office on a budget of $10 million.
Back on July 28, 1968, the Beatles spent the whole day taking mad photos of their whole band across seven key locations in London. Many others joined them on what became known as the ‘Mad Day Out’, all with cameras. The Beatles got a whole new batch of publicity stills that day.
On that day, another photo of the Brady kids and the Jackson kids shaking hands was taken too. After the Jackson 5 parted ways, all 9 siblings pursued solo careers but only Janet and Michael saw real continued success as solo artists. Their icon status earned the Jacksons the fame of the “Royal Family of Pop.”
Little Duncan Zowie has grown up to be a film director, producer, and screenwriter. He’s now best known for his directing film Moon (2009), which earned him the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. Duncan has since then also added Source Code (2011) and Warcraft (2016) to his resume.
The trailblazer consistently refused the stereotypical roles offered to him based on his skin color. He wanted serious, prominent, and even challenging roles that he could bring to life because of his talent, not his ethnicity. He soon became America’s first prominent black film star and won many awards and earned a deserved reputation.
The Huffy Radio Bikes were the ultimate gifts for any kid in the 1950s. Strangely, it wasn’t manufactured for very long, and only around 8,500 bicycles were produced between 1955 and 1957.
Perfect is a romantic drama directed by James Bridges and starred Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta. Oddly enough, the film was based on an array of articles from Rolling Stone magazine back in the late 1970s, which chronicled the popularity of health clubs amongst single people in Los Angeles.
Edward Van Halen was the co-founder of Van Halen – one of the most popular American hard rock bands. He’s considered as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in the whole history of rock music.
While it’s true the voluptuous actress Ursula Andress was the first Bond girl on the big screen for her portrayal of Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, the original Bond girl persona should be Linda Christian, who starred as Valerie Mathis in the 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royale, Ian Fleming’s first Bond novel.
In the early 1960s, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. decided to get their ‘cool’ on. They developed a tire using mounted light bulbs in the wheel rim to make them glow in the dark, with wiring devices supplying electricity. Made of synthetic rubber, the tires could also be dyed any color. But unfortunately they never went into production.
This original blonde bombshell began her days as an aspiring ballerina. At age 7, Brigitte was enrolled at the Cours Hattemer private school, but she still managed to spend 3 days in dance lessons at Madame Bourget’s dance studio. That’s maybe where her constant ‘all-eyes on her’ grace comes from.
Brooke Shields was then a model and child actress, famous for some controversial roles in films like Pretty Baby, Blue Lagoon, and the cult classic Alice, Sweet Alice. While Gene Simmons was known as “The Demon” of rock band KISS at that time. Their two very different worlds collided at that party and they had a good time together!
This soldier and many others sent to the Vietnam War would have mementos to remind them of home and motivate them to stay strong and alive. Meanwhile, back home in their country, an entire generation was protesting the war and demanding the safe return of their loved ones.
Based on the 1958 novel by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg, Candy was one of the many psychedelic movies to come out of the late 60’s. The film is essentially a satire on pornographic stories through the misadventures of naive heroine, Candy, portrayed by Ewa Aulin. It received mixed reviews, but later became a cult classic.
Nothing evokes a sense of nostalgia like retro toys, especially this 1977 Mattel handheld electronic football. The “pocket” games were a series of computer-controlled games that you could take on the go. They initially only made 100,000 units. Unexpectedly, by 1978 they were selling an astounding 500,000 units a week.
