These silent movie stunts from the 1920s were real, dangerous, and wildly risky — long before special effects made things safe and easy.
Vintage movies
See how horror movies evolved from silent shadows to spine-chilling scares in the 60s, through eerie posters and promos from the past.
The movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind redefined sci-fi in 1977 and sparked new interest in UFOs, aliens, and government secrets.
Shirley Temple rose from Hollywood child star to political powerhouse. Here’s how she spent her life after leaving the big screen behind.
Find out about The Sting, a 1973 film set in the ’30s – the story of two conmen out to trick a mob boss – that won 7 Academy Awards.
After a teen gets a record score on a video game called The Last Starfighter, an intergalactic visitor tells him the game was just a test – and asks him to come help fight a space battle.
In the sixties, up-and-coming actresses were the starlets who helped sell vintage versions of Coppertone suntan lotion – and the popular look of tan, tan skin.
Explore rare 1920s views of old Hollywood from the sky and behind the scenes, showing how early studios kept the cameras rolling day and night.
Saturday Night Fever flashback: How John Travolta turned disco into unforgettable movie magic (1977)
John Travolta’s charismatic moves in Saturday Night Fever didn’t just light up the dance floor — they ignited a cultural craze. Let’s revisit the phenomenon!
One of the most expensive films at the time, the Superman movie, starring Christopher Reeve, was a slick, extremely classy, altogether first-rate production.
See Fred Astaire in a clip from 1946’s ‘Blue Skies,’ performing ‘Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – a song associated with him like no other – and find out more about the film itself.
Explore the Cocktail movie’s blend of ambition and flair as Tom Cruise takes on the role of a charismatic bartender in 1980s New York City.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) mixed big effects, familiar faces and lots of twists. Here’s why this sequel still sparks debate.
How much does real story of The Sound of Music differ from the movie version of the von Trapp family? Take a look back at the hugely-successful musical based on their lives, and find out both fact and fiction.
Bambi is pure Disney – a world of fun, beauty and imagination which Disney has made his own. Find out why it took so long to get just right!
Remember why Walt Disney’s 1950s movie ‘Old Yeller’ was one of those classic ‘boy and his dog’ movies – family entertainment made with kids in mind, but that could bring a tear to anyone’s eye.
Explore Escape to Witch Mountain (1975), Disney’s wild sci-fi adventure about psychic kids, greedy tycoons, and one unforgettable flying camper.
In 1906, a short film called ‘A Trip Down Market Street’ ended up being a valuable record of old San Francisco just before the huge earthquake and fire destroyed much of the city.
In the start, she was known just as a dancing girl – but then her acting career blossomed. Here is a look back at young Joan Crawford’s career – and her fashionable clothes, too.
The 50s and 60s were the glory days for old drive-in movie theaters, when there were about 4000 such venues spread across the country. Take a look back!
The Outsiders starred several young actors on their way to fame: Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, C Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise.
Take a look back at these talented and glamorous actresses of the 1920s, who were some of the first nationally-known celebrities because of their presence on the big screen.
Find out all about the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz, in this collection of vintage articles – including interviews with the cast, peeks behind the scenes, costume info, photos, videos and more!
In “Young Frankenstein” Mel Brooks did for the horror movie what he did earlier for the Western in ‘Blazing Saddles.’ The result is a very, very funny movie.
Dick Van Dyke interviews and personal appearances can be hard to come by, but we found a few times the talented actor and comedian talked about his life and career.
For decades, it was considered inappropriate for TV or movies to show a married couple sharing a bed. But did married couples really sleep in separate beds back in the ’50s?
Screen legends Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire sang and danced their way into America’s hearts in one of the most timeless holiday classics of all time, the Holiday Inn movie, which introduced the classic hit song, White Christmas.
To get in the proper holiday spirit, Americana-style, let’s revisit some of the most iconic moments from the timeless TV classic, “A Christmas Story” – plus find out where to watch the sequel!
Here’s a look back at the history of the multi-talented entertainer Gene Kelly, the award-winning star of the ’40s, ’50s & ’60s.
Here, take a look back at the Xanadu movie – an ’80s musical that has become best known as a campy cult classic.
The movie ‘Stand By Me’ evokes childhood memories, condensing them into a remarkably realistic weekend excursion by four boys on the verge of their teens.
Explore the life and career of the legendary Charlie Chaplin, through this collection of interviews and stories, pictures and vintage silent movie clips.
Actor John Wayne reflected on his life and his long movie career in this interview upon the release of The Shootist, the Duke’s last feature film.
Explore the magic of Disney’s Cinderella with vintage videos and promos that bring the timeless 1950 classic to life.
E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial, with his oversized, glowing heart, has been capturing the fancy of moviegoers since he touched down in earthbound theaters to the tune of about $3 million a day.
Explore the rich history of famous catchphrases that shaped generations and discover their timeless charm in our culture today!
Step back in time with Michael J Fox. From Back to the Future hero to Parkinson’s advocate, discover his enduring legacy in our exclusive vintage collection.
When these Classic Walt Disney Home Video VHS tapes were finally available back in the 1980s, it was huge for fans. No more waiting for the movies to appear once a year on TV, or to be re-released in theaters. Here’s what you could see back then!
Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid,’ based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, is a movie with the richest colors, the brightest melodies, and the most vivid illustrations.
Blazing Saddles is a western set in 1874, but this comedy also includes a gigantic pie-throwing scene featuring 40 swishing dancers, Tarzan, Cheetah and Hitler.
Join us for a look back at the ever-alluring Clara Bow, Hollywood’s original “It Girl,” and you’ll see why she’s still so well-loved today.
Learn about the making of the 1964 hit My Fair Lady: A critical triumph, adored by audiences, and the second highest-grossing film of the year.
The hit Matthew Broderick WarGames movie showed such a realistic WW3 scenario that it led to the creation of a 1986 anti-hacking law.
In the 1974 Rankin-Bass holiday spectacle, The Year Without a Santa Claus, the unforgettable Heat Miser & Snow Miser captured imaginations with their signature musical showdown. See it here!
Buckle up and adjust the rearview mirror — it’s time to take a ride back to the 1960s where the film American Graffiti waits for you at the starting line!
Take a look back at Frank Sinatra’s legendary career through this collection of vintage photos, videos, and profiles from his heyday.
Grease hit theaters in 1978, but remains a fun, foot-tapping spectacle that’s perfect for a sentimental movie night. Let’s look back!
See some long-forgotten photos of today’s celebrities before they were famous – young stars who paid the bills with modeling gigs until they hit the bigtime.
Released in 1985, The Goonies didn’t just entertain Generation Xers – the movie left an indelible imprint on pop culture, turning into a touchstone for many growing up in the era.
Nominated for 7 Oscars, the 1970 Love Story movie starred Ali MacGraw as Jenny, the romantic-tragic girl, and Ryan O’Neal as the rich college boy who won her heart.
Roy Rogers was a name that transcended the man himself, becoming synonymous with a bygone era of optimism and adventure.
Ali MacGraw was unmistakably a star at the age of 33, following the success of her first movie, Goodbye Columbus, and the overwhelming popularity of her second, Love Story.
Before it was just Max, it was HBO Max — before that it was just plain old HBO. And it was a huge deal.
Check out these silent movie title cards were created as movie theater etiquette notes, reminders and announcements that preceded a film that really are snapshots in time.
Sweet Charity musical: The adventures of a girl who wanted to be loved
Felix the Cat cartoon: How the world’s first famous feline charmed the world in the 1920s and beyond
Felix the Cat was a black and white cartoon character who first appeared on movie screens way back in 1919. Created by Pat Sullivan and
Safety Last! was one of the best-known movies of the silent film era, and gave us the iconic image of Harold Lloyd, dangling off a huge clock.
The original Freaky Friday – 1976 was a role reversal movie that captivated audiences with its charming storyline and witty humor.
See the surprising reasons so many old silent movies have completely disappeared — leaving us to wonder what cinematic treasures have been lost to the ages.
New York in 1911: Watch Edwardian New Yorkers come to life in this amazing rediscovered film footage
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to have lived a century ago, or to have wandered the streets of a much younger Manhattan, you will be amazed by the footage in New York 1911!
Cowboy actor Tom Mix – the horse-riding hero of scores of western thrillers of the silent film era – left a lasting legacy after he died in a single-car crash on a highway detour in Arizona.
Sunset portrays an imaginary meeting between legendary western hero Wyatt Earp (played by James Garner) and legendary western movie star Tom Mix (Bruce Willis), who team up to solve a murder in 1929 Hollywood.
Adrian Lyne’s ‘Flashdance’ widens the eyes. Equal pans of shamelessness, brainlessness, and perverse energy have been scrambled into a movie that’s laughable, preposterous and truly awful.
In this 80s movie, The US military is training chimpanzees to fly bomber mock-ups, and putting them in real danger. It’s up to airman Jimmy Garrett and researcher Teri to stop the Air Force’s nefarious plot and save the chimps.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a fanciful children’s movie from the ’60s, starred Dick Van Dyke as a crackpot inventor who builds a magical flying car. This classic musical has stayed in the hearts and minds of millions.
Of his famous movie “The Birds,” director Alfred Hitchcock said, ‘It could be the most terrifying motion picture I have ever made!’ And for many thousands of people, it was. Find out more about the 60s film here.
Peek back into the life of young Ronald Reagan in the 40s & 50s – way before he was president back when acting paid the bills, and his wife was Jane Wyman.
How kids grow up in Hollywood: Despite all the glamour, singing actresses Judy Garland & Deanna Durbin lived home lives similar to millions of other teens. Here’s what they had to say back in the 1930s!
Millions of people in San Francisco’s East Bay drive by the iconic Orinda Theatre every year, with its neon sign easily visible from the freeway. So what’s its story? Find out more about this California landmark here!
The original Star Wars trilogy was like a comic strip come to life, with eye-popping special effects of flashing light swords, ray guns, strange creatures, spaceships and eerie planets.
When the now-classic Disney film Sleeping Beauty came out at the end of the 1950s, moviegoers around the world were enthralled by the technicolor wonder, created by hundreds of artists over the course of six years. Find out more here!
Footloose stars Kevin Bacon as a dynamic Chicago teen transplanted to a morally numb heartland town, where the local ministerhas banned rock dancing.
Back in the late ’80s, who would have thought that young Robert Downey, Jr – the kid who acted in a few random films – would, a couple of decades later, be one of America’s biggest movie stars?
Dog Day Afternoon is considered one of the greatest movies of the 1970s, and features a stellar lead performance by Al Pacino. And as fictional as the premise sounded, it was based on a real story. Here’s the scoop..
The Nutty Professor is considered one of the best Jerry Lewis movies – a classic comedy in which he played a Jekyll and Hyde role, meaning he could play up his screwball style to great effect.
The word ‘flapper’ as used today in reference to a woman from the 1920s, has a much broader definition than how the term was originally used. So what is a flapper, then? Find out here.
It used to be that superheroes zipped through the air, pure & uncomplicated. In vintage Marvel comics, however, they became complex, abnormal, alienated and schizoid. The comic book universe hasn’t been the same since.
There’s a lot of magic and humor practiced in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Written and directed by John Hughes, this energetic and offbeat comedy captures the best feelings about being young.
In the 1956 movie musical Carousel, Oklahoma stars Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae were again teamed up for a Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. Also see an interview with Miss Jones from the same year.
Why was Greta Garbo America’s highest-paid film star in the 1930s? A legend during the Golden Age of Hollywood, Garbo was one of the most popular actresses of the era. See what she was all about here.
Miracle In The Rain, a classic love story, stars Jane Wyman and Van Johnson as two lonesome people who meet in a small building-doorway during a dismal New York downpour.
Here are some interviews with star Rock Hudson from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, during which he talked about his favorite (and least favorite) parts of his hugely successful career.
From just the trailer, it seemed like just another John Hughes movie, but ‘The Breakfast Club’ was something different. For many ’80s teens, it was more real and more relatable. Find out why here!
In Gaby, playing off one of the more haunting love mix-ups of World War II, a French-born dancer in London (Miss Caron) meets an American soldier. Then he is sent overseas, and soon presumed lost.
Donning a brilliant red leotard, Audrey Hepburn demonstrated a series of yoga-like exercises. ‘I’ve tried to incorporate what I’ve seen in animals so the human body can benefit from them.’
In 1973, The Mamas & The Papas singer Michelle Phillips took on a new role – that of the lead actress in the movie Dillinger. Here’s what she said at the time.
Campy or vampire spoof, call it what you like – The Lost Boys, a movie starring Kiefer Sutherland – is decidedly offbeat entertainment… with a twist.
Between 1918 and 1955, there were 11 different Tarzan movie actors, in the character’s various incarnations and adventures. Here’s a look back at those wild men.
Here’s Groucho singing the song he’s famously associated with from his time with the Marx Brothers: ‘Hello, I Must Be Going,’ as seen in the 1930 film Animal Crackers.
In 1975, Steven Spielberg’s movie Jaws single-handedly drove more Americans away from beaches and into theaters than any other force of nature ever could have.
Here’s a peek into Judy Garland’s home – and life – during her first marriage to David Rose. Judy can be seen modeling some Valentine’s Day fashions, too!
How does an author become an author? For S E Hinton, the choice was easy — she wrote her first book, ‘The Outsiders,’ as a teenager, when she couldn’t find anything that she wanted to read.
Here’s a look at Cary Grant’s home – a 2-story, 12-room stucco house on the exclusive beach at Santa Monica, where the famous actor lived in the 1940s.
‘Donald Gets Drafted,’ was a vintage movie short released by Disney early in World War II. Shown nationwide, the cartoon earned the high marks of a ‘swell’ rating.
Hot off her big role in The Breakfast Club, Ally Sheedy played spoiled Beverly Hills rich girl Jessie Montgomery in the comedy Maid to Order.
Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen headlined the 1973 movie Papillon, a period prison escape drama, got mixed reviews at the time.
Few movie sequels overshadow their predecessors. Yet ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ – the chapter following ‘Star Wars’ – does just that.
Walt Disney’s first full-length animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, debuted in 1938. A technicolor marvel, it’s considered a classic work of animation.
