LIFE in the 40s

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What Became of This Rookie Class of RKO Starlets? - LIFE

The mechanics of movie stardom have changed plenty over the years, and a story that ran in LIFE in 1946 gave a window into how things used to be done. Headlined “LIFE Visits With Nine Hopeful Starlets,” the story serves as a snapshot of a bygone system in which studios hired and trained aspiring actresses to—if all went well—appear in their movies. Click the link to see more! 🌟 (📷 Bob Landry/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #1940s #Starlets #Movies #Film #Hollywood

two people are dancing in the air with their legs spread out and one person is wearing a dress

Dance Like No One Is Watching

Day Of Dead

Swing Dance

Dance Movement

The Dancing DeMarco's

Ballroom dance team Tony and Sally DeMarco performing in 1941. (📷 Gjon Mili/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #Ballroom #Dancing #TonyDeMarco #SallyDeMarco #TheDancingDeMarcos #1940s

a group of young women standing on top of each other in a circle with their arms spread out

Tumbling Class, 1946

Students during a tumbling class at Herbert Hoover High School in San Diego, California - 1946. (📷 Martha Holmes/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #MarthaHolmes #1940s #HighSchool #Students #SanDiego #California #Tumbling

a group of people standing in front of the eiffel tower looking at something

The Most Iconic Photographs of All Time - LIFE

Today, the Eiffel Tower celebrates the 135th anniversary of its inauguration! The Eiffel Tower was completed on March 31, 1889. Named after Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built for an international exposition to honor the centenary of the French Revolution. It remains largely unchanged today and is considered one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions! (📷 Yale Joel, 1948/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #EiffelTower #ParisFrance #Anniversary #Historical #Monument

black and white photograph of two people holding hands in front of a waterfall with water cascading over it

Nature

Grand Canyon National Park

Havasu Falls

Natural Photography

Photography Collection

Breathtaking Beauty

The Grand Canyon

Beauty Of Nature

The Breathtaking Beauty of Nature - LIFE

Two women exploring around Havasu Falls, located in the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 1946. (📷 Frank Scherschel/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #1940s #GrandCanyon #HavasuFalls #Arizona

1940s Nyc

View Of New York City

Classic Life

Spanish Harlem

Margaret Bourke White

New York City: Classic Photos of the Big Apple by LIFE Photographers

View of New York City Harbor from the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth, 1946. Click the link to view more classic LIFE photos of the Big Apple! 🌆 🚢 (📷 Sam Shere/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #SamShere #NewYorkCity #NewYork #Cityscape #Scenery #1940s #NYC #QueenElizabeth

a woman laying on a bed next to a teddy bear wearing a white fur coat

Celebrities in Bed

Actress Maureen O'Hara at her home reclining in bed while sewing, 1946. The bed may seem like an unusual place to stage a celebrity portrait. What’s even more surprising is the many moods that LIFE photographers were able to achieve when they brought their subjects under—or in most cases, on top of—the covers. Click the link to see more! (📷 Peter Stackpole/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #LIFEPictureCollection #MaureenOHara #Celebrity #Bed #1940s

an old black and white photo of women in leotards with their arms stretched out

Motion Photography

Grand Jete

Multiple Exposure Photography

Gjon Mili Images

Multiple exposure of ballet dancer Hugh Laing executing a grand jete. LIFE Photographer Gjon Mili had a deep appreciation for the performing arts, and over the years he made iconic photographs of dancers, musicians, and actors. Click the link for more Mili! (📷 Gjon Mili, 1943/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #LIFEPictureCollection #GjonMili #Photographer #1940s #Ballet #Dancer #MultipleExposure

Gjon Mili Images

an old fashion car parked in front of the eiffel tower with a woman waving

Jacques Fath

Model wearing a Jacques Fath ensemble posing beside 1947 model Delahaye automobile against the background of the Eiffel Tower. (📷 Tony Linck/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #1940s #ParisFrance #EiffelTower #JacquesFath #Delahaye #Fashion

1940s Beach Fashions

We are clinging onto summer with California swimsuit fashions from 1945! ☀️ (📷 Walter Sanders/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #WalterSanders #California #Swimsuit #Fashion #Style #1940s #Beach

the cover of life magazine features two women wearing hats and smiling at each other's side

LIFE Cover

LIFE Magazine cover from August 24, 1942, featuring models wearing Johnny Jeep hats. Click the link to see the full issue! (📷 Nina Leen/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #LIFECover #1940s #NinaLeen #Fashion #Hats #Accessories #OnthisDay

black and white photograph of woman in dress on stairs

https://www.life.com/photographer/nina-leen/

Overhead view of a fashion model, in a chiffon evening gown by Traina-Norell, New York, 1949. See more photos by LIFE Photographer Nina Leen by clicking the link! (📷 Nina Leen/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #NinaLeen #1940s #Photographer #Fashion #TrainaNorell #NewYork

the cover of life magazine features a woman with short hair

1940's Fashion

Cover featuring model Georgia Hamilton wearing a dress designed by Christian Dior and a hat by Hattie Carnegie. Click the link to see more of LIFE’s Fashion Covers from the 1940s! (📷 Nina Leen/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #NinaLeen #Cover #1940s #Fashion #Style #Accessories #ChristianDior #HattieCarnegie

Dime-Store Fashion

Women modeling affordable outfits, New York, 1949. Click the links below to read the LIFE spread all about Dime-Store fashion in which every item worn came from a five-and-ten and cost $2.00 or less. (📷 Nina Leen/LIFE Picture Collection) #LIFEMagazine #LIFEArchive #NinaLeen #1940s #NewYork #NYC #AffordableFashion #SaturdayStyle