Cary O’Dell at the Library’s National Recording Registry is the maestro of our ever-popular Mystery Photo Contest. He’s back with another round, featuring some of Hollywood’s not-so-famous faces.
Hello my fellow Americans and citizens of the world!
It’s time for a brand new set of old and odd mystery pics! These, like others in the MPC series, came to the Library’s Moving Image section as part of a much larger collection of film, TV and music stills. Most were properly identified…but then there were the stumpers. The ones with no identification. The ones we couldn’t name.
So we need your help. Do any of the people, places or things below look familiar?
A few words of caution:
- We’ve tried web-based reverse-image searches.
- We have no information beyond what is listed below. There are no dates, locations or titles. They may not be from the United States.
- Standards of proof: We’d most like to see the same photo, with the person’s name, in a newspaper, magazine or somesuch. Failing that, another image from the same photo shoot, but with the person named.
Esther Anderson, publicity still from “The Touchables,” 1968.
We are happy to investigate any legitimate guesses, and always report back on success stories. Like this one: The April MPC photo array got cult film aficionado Joe Bob Briggs’ attention. He tweeted it out to his friends and fans. One said that photo #18 looked like Jamaican actress and filmmaker Esther Anderson. We reached out to Ms. Anderson and…. she confirmed it was her!
Esther Anderson, magazine cover from 1968. Courtesy: Esther Anderson.
It’s a publicity photo from “The Touchables,” a 1968 British romp about love and sex in the rock scene of the era. Anderson, whom the BBC dubbed “the Caribbean’s first lady of film and music” in 2007, has had a career as an accomplished actress, model, photographer and businesswoman. She starred opposite Sidney Poitier in his 1973 film, “A Warm December.” She was also present at the creation of Bob Marley and the Wailers, filmed their first rehearsal, and her 2011 film using her long-ago footage, “Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend,” won multiple awards. Now 72, she’s living in London and Paris. Thanks again to Joe and friends for picking her out!
Here you go with the new round. Good luck to one and all!
#1 Based on the set, costumes and the date (“1647”), this seems to be from a production of “Knickerbocker Holiday.” BUT: it does not sync with 1944’s “Holiday” film, the original Broadway production or the early TV version. |
 #2.We have yet to identify these two gentlemen or determine why they might be pictured together. |
 #3. We have not been able to determine if this is from a film? A musical duo? We can’t even agree if it is two men, two women or one of each! (We do know it is NOT rockers Wendy & Lisa. We reached out, and they said, “Not us.”) |
#4. This seems to be a band from the 1980s or early ‘90s. (Look at that hair! Those tats!) But we don’t know who they are individually, collectively or where they’re from. |
 #5. Our version of an internet troll. This might be from a film that was originally aimed at some (very brave) children. Again, it might not be U.S. in origin. |
 #6.This gentleman looks quite official with the map of the world behind him and pictures of boats to boot. But who is he? |
 #7. This harem girl has long had us stumped. Who is she and, if this is from a film, what film? |
 #8. This might be from a film or documentary. Recognize this woman or the mural behind her? |
 #9. We assume that this actress is from the silent film era—Edwina Booth? Jeanette Loff? Someone else entirely? |
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June 26, 2019 at 12:18 pm
In photo number two, the gent on the left looks very much like a young John Lewis, the future civil rights leader.
June 26, 2019 at 1:00 pm
I think #4 might be the band Thao and the Get Down Stay Down.
June 26, 2019 at 3:09 pm
#3 has got be from the 1980s and though their look is androgynous (as was the norm), I would bet these are men.
June 26, 2019 at 3:17 pm
I think # 7 might be Rita Moreno as Tuptim in the 1956 movie, “The King and I”
June 26, 2019 at 3:20 pm
I don’t think the girl in photo #9 is Edwina Booth. The teeth in the mystery girl’s photo and Edwina Booth’s teeth (https://historytogo.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Edwina-Booth-934×1245.jpg) look different.
June 26, 2019 at 4:47 pm
While the man on the left in Photo No. 2 does bear a passing resemblance to Rep. John Lewis, I’m pretty sure that’s not him. Wish I could be more help.
June 27, 2019 at 12:50 am
I swear I’ve seen pic #3 before. It’s not from a movie; it’s rockers and I think it’s from the inside sleeve or back of an album. I don’t think it’s a duo, just two members of a larger band. Survivor or similar group.
June 27, 2019 at 8:35 am
#8 – I believe this is from either a National Geographic film – about the Trans-Siberian Express or the Russian made film “Cement”. I saw both the same semester many years ago.
June 27, 2019 at 9:08 am
MANY THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS! WE’LL BE INVESTIGATING. KEEP ‘EM COMIN’!–CARY AT THE LC
June 28, 2019 at 12:44 am
The two guys in #3 look like T. Rex.
June 28, 2019 at 1:05 am
#8 looks like it could be a young Sarah Jimenez Vernis
June 28, 2019 at 9:43 am
HELLO! RE: PIC #2. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS HERSCHEL WALKER ON THE LEFT. WE CHECKED WITH MR. WALKER AND HE SAYS ITS NOT HIM. –CARY AT THE LC
June 28, 2019 at 12:43 pm
#7 looks a lot like Maria Montez. Not sure what movie the still is from, though.
https://karavansara.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/maria4.jpg
June 28, 2019 at 12:58 pm
#7 looks a LOT like Maria Montez. Couldn’t find an exact image that matched it, though.
June 28, 2019 at 2:16 pm
7 looks like Maria Montez from Cobra Wiman
June 28, 2019 at 3:54 pm
#4 the guy second from the right looks a lot like Ivan Doroschuk of Men Without Hats.
June 28, 2019 at 7:57 pm
#7 os not from COBRA WOMAN as looking through stills, there is no outift that corresponds. It does, however, look like one Ms. Montez wore in ALI BABA AND THE 40 THIEVES (Universal ’44).
June 29, 2019 at 5:39 am
I agree. #7 looks like Maria Montez from Cobra Woman (1944). Even the outfit is the same.
#5 has me stumped. Any idea as the origin or the time period it could be from?
June 29, 2019 at 10:57 am
I collected stills and photos from films mostly made in the sixties and there are a few that have me stumped. Is there anyone who could help me identify my photos?
July 1, 2019 at 11:40 am
THANKS FOR ALL LOOKING AND TAKING STABS AT THESE. ALL PERTINENT INFO REGARDING THE PHOTOS THAT WE HAVE IS IN EACH OF THEIR CAPTIONS I.E. WE HAVE NO DATES OR ANY OTHER INFO FOR ANY OF THEM. THX.–CARY AT THE LC
July 2, 2019 at 2:57 pm
Photo #4 reminds me of a short-lived rock band in the early-to-mid ’80s called Candy. Slash was a guitarist for Candy prior to Guns ‘n Roses. I think Gilby Clarke (who was also Guns ‘N Roses for a time) was a part of Candy, too.
March 23, 2020 at 11:45 am
#& looks somewhat like Yma Sumac.
March 23, 2020 at 12:25 pm
#7 looks somewhat like Yma Sumac.
August 4, 2021 at 10:00 pm
I think that #9 may be Bessie Love.