March 14, 2012 - The Thirties and Forties Movie Stars in Color: After posting two earthquakes, a white collar crime worth $1.6 billion dollars, the Saudis oil storage against the continuing cat and mouse game with Iran and the terrible prison conditions in Latin America; I thought I needed to lighten up a little bit. Therefore, enjoy these colorized 1930s and 1940s photographs of famous people. Vintage Celebrity Portraits from the Harry Warnecke Studio, an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, consists of color photographic portraits of noteworthy people from the last century. (Credit: the New York Times and the Harry Warnecke Studio for the Daily News/national Portrait Gallery).
Irene Dunne circa 1944 (Above) (Credit: Harry Warnecke Studio for the Daily News/National Portrait Gallery).
Dale Evans circa 1947 (Above):
Gene Autry circa 1942 (Above):
A portrait of Lucille Ball from 1944 (above), when she was in her early 30s. Mr. Genzlinger writes: No spit take or exaggerated pout here. In truth, this greatest of female comics looks a bit sad. And far more human than she ever did in the television show for which she is best known.
A 1948 photograph of Edgar Bergen (above), the ventriloquist who gave voice to Mortimer Snerd, left, and Charlie McCarthy.
W. C. Fields stayed in character for his photograph, made in 1938 (above). Hes wearing three different kinds of plaid pants, vest, suit coat and a foam mustache; obtained from a frothy amber beverage he’s holding.
A 1939 portrait of OrsonWelles (above).
Ted Williams (1940) – The black-and-white era is often regarded as a purist ideal, but the Warnecke Studios works show that unless you had a big nose or a foam mustache, its color, not black and white, that revealed the real you.
The Master of Disaster
Thanks for sharing this. Brought back a lot of memories and gave some new perspectives to the people in the portraits. Well chosen and well done.
A whimsical thing to see these famous people in color. does bring back *good* memories. *Thank you.*