Cary O’Dell at the Library’s National Recording Registry is the maestro of our Mystery Photo Contest. He recently wrote about the early film actress Florence McFadden. He’s back with another round.
Hello All!
Need a project to work on? The Moving Image, Broadcast and Recorded Sound Division is back with some super obscure photographs that need identifying. We’ve had a run of successes of late, identifying everyone from silent film director Charles Brabin to modern-day actress Wendy Phillips, and we’re looking to continue the trend.
To review: We found each of these photos within a much larger collection of film, TV, music and stage stills. But while the majority of those photos were ID’ed, some 800 were not. With your help, we’ve identified all but 38. That’s amazing — roughly 95 percent solved — but there’s still the last few.
So let’s get cracking! Below is a selection of 12 of the last 38. Please take a glance to see if anyone looks familiar. I’m happy to follow up on any reasonable suggestion. As always, we’ll post updates as solutions (hopefully) are found!
Many thanks and happy hunting!
#1. We thought the man at left was American actor Michael Murphy, who often plays morally dubious characters. He was in Woody Allen’s “Manhattan,” Robert Altman’s “Nashville,” and in Marvel’s “X-Men: The Last Stand,” among dozens of television appearances. The only problem with this theory is that we asked Murphy and he said it wasn’t him. Rats.
So who is this dapper, thoughtful gent? He’s got a swell bow tie and a sensible haircut. Character actor? Television weatherman? (FYI, his lapel pin is generic and doesn’t offer any clues.)
#2. I always thought the woman in the photograph at right looked like she was an opera singer. That bouffant, the upward gaze, the hand at the chest…it’s the mid-century “I am a sensitive artiste” head shot. It’d look swell on a theater program.
Alas, that’s just a guess. It could be as wrong as the theory on Michael Murphy. So far, we can’t put a name to the face.
#3. No, we don’t quite know what is going on in this photo, either. Nor do we have any idea of who, or what, this trio might be out to accomplish. A band? Acrobats? Comic trio? Chippendales dancers?
Okay, probably not Chippendales. But, unless you guys have a clue, we’re stuck.
#4. This gentleman might be a behind-the-scenes type (photos of a few have been found in this collection). Could he be a director, producer, screenwriter? Although, it has to be said, he could have played the George Costanza role if “Seinfeld” had been shot in the ’70s or early ’80s (with apologies to Jason Alexander, who played the actual George).
#5. This lady with the hoop earrings is NOT Phylicia Rashad (although that’s an excellent guess, which many people have already made). Nor is it Debbie Allen or Anna Maria Horsford. We’ve checked with all of them and they said, “Not me.” She looks so familiar, though. Maybe a television reporter/anchor, or played one on TV?
#6. Another gentleman who might be a behind-the-scenes player or maybe a movie or music exec. (It is not the late Dave Thomas of Wendy’s fame; we checked.)
#7. This photo has reminded many of an ‘80s comedy but who knows? The charm hanging from the grad’s cap does say “’86,” if that helps. If we can ID any of these women—or any of the men behind them—we can probably solve the whole thing.
#8. This photo has proved particularly difficult. The code on the film indicates that it was taken circa 1998. So far we know it is NOT any of the following men (because we checked with each): Thomas Jane, Ben Thompson, Christopher Lambert, Jack Noseworthy, Thomas Haden Church, Taylor Sheridan, Jon Bon Jovi, Ben Mendelsohn, Nicholas Farrell or Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. So…who is it?
#9. We assume this is a music group of some sort. It just sort of screams late ’80s indie rock, doesn’t it? Moody, dark stuff, and the lead singer screams a lot? Or plays violin solos? Maybe they never quite broke through but they must have played someplace. Anyone know them individually or as a unit?
#10. The above seems to be some sort of production of “Knickerbocker Holiday” but it does not sync up with the 1938 Broadway version, the 1944 film version, or the 1950 TV version. Based upon the minimal set, might this be a sort of play-within-a-film? If we could ID any of these actors, it might be the key to ID-ing the entire production.
#11.Who is this man, at left, behind the camera? He has looked vaguely familiar to several readers, who have ventured guesses that, alas, have not panned out. We can confirm that he is not the prolific screenwriter Ben Maddow; CBS News president Fred Friendly; or the French film director Rouben Mamoulian. An interesting, identifying detail of this gentleman, by the way, is his utter lack of earlobes. Also, that coat/jacket thing looks totally hip.
#12. As shown at right here, we have a series of shots of this charming young woman — an actress? – showing her various “looks” and versatility. She seems the good-natured girl-next-door type. What we don’t have is a name.
And that’s it! Guesses in the comments, please. I’ll report back with any solved mysteries.
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Comments (167)
Could #1 be Steve Lawrence? He looks a lot like the actor who played Tweedle Dum in the 1985 TV-version of “Alice in Wonderland.”
#8 looks a lot like a former housemate of mine, Nick Donadio. He was a cruise ship performer in the 90s but also modeled. I have not kept in touch with Nick, so unfortunately I can’t give you a lead to where he might be.
#6 sort of looks like Alan Dershowitz.
Could #7 be Nikolai Fomin. One if the men involved with the Chernobyl disaster. There’s a few photos online for reference and they look quite similar
I’ll see if I can reach Mr. Donadio. Thx.
#6 sure looks like Jerry Reinsdorf. And #5 looks like Allison Payne. #7 looks like a young Tracy Butler. Those three really feel like they came from Chicago ABC 7 WLS archives.
#9 looks like they could be brothers of members of Men Without Hats
#10 – I could not enlarge photo. Middle person looks similar to Abe Vigoda except brow not heavy enough
#1 is on Youtube as The History Guy. He’s a little older now, but in his earlier pieces, he’s a dead ringer. And a bow tie wearer.
I feel very strongly that #9 is a metal band from the 90s, but I can’t think where I have seen them, and I could be wrong. But looking at the guys, I would say it’s either a grunge or a metal band.
#7 – The actor on the left in the second row looks a lot like the late Stephen Furst, but nothing on his IMBD list from that era seems to match this photo. It’s possible it’s from an unaired pilot.
WE WONDERED ABOUT THE HISTORY GUY BUT HE SAID IT WASN’T HIM. : (
#6 Has to be Nikolai Fomim from the Chernobyl disaster.
For #3 – the first man on the left kind of looks like Dean Jones.
#11 Martin Munkácsi? Also looks a bit like Alfred Eisenstaedt or Robert Capa, but they don’t seem to have worn glasses.
#6 looks a lot like 70s-era (future Chief Justice) William Rehnquist
#6 looks a lot like a 70s-era (future Chief Justice) William Rehnquist
#12 looks like a young Jodie Foster to me without her straight blonde hair.
Is the woman at front and center of #7 Heidi Kozak? She was active in the 80s in many B movies. (Society, Slumber Party Massacre Pt 2)
#9….possibly the 80s group that did the song Wang Chung…think band had the same name. They had an Asian female in the group and they all had funky hair.
Hi, I’m probably way off here but #10 the tall guy on the right is reminding me of Robin Williams!
Could #12 be a young Alison Janney? The face looks a little like her.
#10 far right looks like Will Forte to me. Can even hear his old man voice.
#7 The guy in the back on the left looks like it could be Richard Masur.
#10 The person second from left looks like British character actor Malcolm Sinclair.
It appears to me that the man in the middle might be a little person. You might reach out to dramatic agents who represent little people like Shortywood Productions and the Little People of America. The LPA has a quarterly publication that might help you get eyes on the photo.
That group photo is NOT Heidi K. Just showed her the pic and she said “no, not me.”
#2 looks like an early photo of organist Diane Bish (Bish the Dish). #10 looks kind of like the Australian industrial band, SPK.
#10 almost looks like a stage production of Fletcher’s “Knight of the Burning pestle” (based on the 1647 on a set piece, and the 1647 folios).
Just guesses, but:
#2 – Jessica Tandy
#5 – Penny Johnson Jerald
#6 – Marlon Brando
#11 – George Cukor
Is number 12 the young girl from Alf?
#3 on the right a young Bobby Cannavale ?
picture #5 might be Robin Robinson, a Chicago TV anchorwoman
#11 may have been a studio still photographer doing some sort of portraits or set up shots from the angle of the camera. I note he seems to have what looks to be a headset band around his neck though it is hard to see.
Do you have any provenance for the photos, or did you just get them loose in a box. I take it these are actual prints and not negatives printed by you. Sometimes more data is on the back of the photo.
In #10, the man standing second from the left resembles Joseph Schildkraut.
Middle old guy in #7 looks like Arte Johnson
#7 looks like Jennifer Grey in center to her left (photo right) looks like Kristy Swanson who was also in Ferris Bueller in 1986. Maybe a picture of Grey’s friends and/or cast mates?
I think #12 looks a lot like Andrea Elson, who played Lynn on ALF.
#11 a young thin George Cukor
#11 George Cukor
My husband thinks 7 is from an 80s slasher flick, which is not helpful by itself, I know. Pretty sure the picture itself is from the mid-80s, based on the clothes and accessories; too many details to get right as a period piece.
For 3, I get Michael T Weiss, Billy Corgan, and Andy Garcia vibes.
#8 looks very much like Eric Mabius.
#7. There’s some overall vibe I’m getting that whatever is going on here is happening in Canada and these people are Canadian.
#2 looks like Vera Lynn
Number 2 looks like a young Margaret Thatcher.
Thanks to all for all the guesses. You’ve kept me busy. Over the past few days I’ve reached out to the following and they have all said “Not me” or I’ve reached out to biographers, etc. and they have said “Not them.”
So it’s a “no go” for: Fomin, Jerry Reinsdorf, History Guy, Penny Johnson, Kozak, Bish, Andrea Elson, and Eric Mabius. Have yet to hear back re: Rehnquist.
#12 look like Andrea Elson-the daughter Lynn Tanner on “Alf.”
#8 Looks a lot like Tim Hopper, he played Dale Warwick in Utopia(2020).
I swear I recognize #12. I’m gonna try to figure it out.
I think no.5 is Denise Lewis the UK athlete
Is #4 Larry Brezner?
#10 – In the large version of the photo the flag appears to be from the Netherlands. Perhaps “1647” connects to the year Peter Stuyvesant became director general of New Netherland for the Dutch West India Company?
#7 is driving me crazy because the far right and third from right, I could swear I remember them talking or gossiping as minor characters in some social gathering scene, like at a school bake sale, wedding, or funeral. I thought it was a couple of the moms from Kindergarten Cop, oogling Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it’s not them. But they’ve definitely been in other things. Not horror, I feel like it would be something more like a comedy on par with Groundhog Day, The Little Rascals, or similar late 80s – early 90s comedies.
I believe #7 is a family, celebrating a daughters graduation in 1986. 10 daughters, a son, and mom and dad. Maybe a family band? The entertainment context throws me off a little, but if you look closely at everyone’s facial features they share many resemblances.
#7 comprises a large group who seem to be blood relatives at a family reunion
#6 Buddy Hackett ?
# 5 Looks like Janet Langhart.
#3 I’m guessing the Australian band Midnight Oil, minus a few members.
I would hope that the Library of Congress would know the difference between “must of” and “must’ve”. But apparently not.
Fixed it; thanks for catching the extra word in the sentence.
For #9 you might want to reconsider the 80’s, it looks mor like a late 90’s/early 2000’s goth metal band a la Evanescence… Krypteria, maybe?
With that mole and those glasses, #11 looks a lot like Jason Schwartzman.
#3 looks like an iteration of Meat Beat Manifesto
Number 5 is April Washington Chandler
#7. they look like a Roller derby team with coaches.
I’ve just reached out to Mr. Brezner’s family.
#1 looks like Marv Albert
I’ve just reached out to Ms. Chandler. Thx.
I can’t tell the age of the photo in #1, but if it’s relatively recent, could it be Robert Cuccioli?
#3 looks a bit like Meat Beat Manifesto, but seems to be the wrong period
#9 has Bob’s Your Uncle (band) vibes to me, but I doubt they would have something so slick and the person in center doesn’t quite seem right for Sook-Yin Lee
#3 Early Blue Man Group sans costume?
I think #9 might be flipped. The notes on the dude’s tattoo look backward. Also, the woman’s ring looks to be a Claddagh ring. It is unlikely, but not impossible, that a woman who is so evidently not-Irish would wear one on her right hand.
Is the boys in #9 members of Skid Row?
#12 – Parker Posey or Rebecca Ferguson? Really thinking Rebecca.
We checked with Rebecca F. and she said it wasn’t her. : (
#4 looks like young “Hide the Pain Harold” 😉
#8 could be Scott Leonard of Rockapella. He definitely has the hair and the nose.
#9 Back right I believe is Tony Burnett – a guitarist who played with several bands including XYZ.
#5 – Denise Lewis UK sportswoman?
#5 Ant Viv from Fresh Prince Janet Hubert?
I think number 8 could be Zack Ward. He played Scut Farkis in “A Christmas story” and as an adult has been in many movies and TV shows. Here’s his IMDB profile:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911933/mediaindex?ref_=nm_phs_md_sm
#7 is of my great-aunt Jean Cantrell (deceased), her husband James (deceased) of Pleasant Hill, Oregon, and their children James Jr, Joe (deceased), Shelley, Kathy, Holly, Molly, Shawn, Gail (deceased), and two others whose names escape me right now.
I can contact them if more information is needed.
#10 I doubt it but the really smiling blond guy third from the right could be a young Richard Widmark. He was getting his start in acting right around this time.
#2 looks more than a bit like Vera-Ellen to me.
I agree with earlier poster, #5 sure looks a lot like Chicago broadcaster Robin Robinson
Could #2 be a young Millicent Martin?
Could the man standing tall on the left side of the #10 picture be a young Basil Rathbone?
Picture #7 is my treatment Jean Cantrell (neė Farrington), her husband James Cantrell of Pleasant Hill, Oregon, one of their two sons James Jr (their second son Joe not pictured) in the back row. Second row is Shelley, Connie, Chris, Kerry, Willie, Molly, Gail, Holly, Kathy. Front row is Shawn.
I believe the picture was taken when Shawn (the youngest) graduated. It was a local story about how all the Cantrell children had graduated from Pleasant Hill High School
#5 Beverly Johnson?
#7 HAS BEEN SOLVED!
This is the Cantrell Family out of Eugene, OR. Mom and Dad are up in the back to the center and right. That is sassy Shawn in the front and her sisters and one brother behind her. (The family were farmers and the other boy in the family was out in the field.) This was taken for a local newspaper and then picked up by “Women’s World” magazine in 1986.
#12 looks like Rebecca Schaeffer from My Sister Sam. Killed by a stalker.
#9 Deerhoof. 90s indie band. Satomi Matsuzaki is the lead singer.
#5 looks like Shari Belafonte.
#5 could be Bever-leigh Banfield.
#12 Ashley Judd. Nose might be too long already.
#2 Jessica Tandy???
#5 looks like Sheinelle Jones from the Today Show with a different hairstyle than she has now
#12 looks like a young Sela Ward
I agree with what someone else said
#12 could be Andrea Elson – she starred in ALF
You said for #12 you have a series of them.
Could you post all of the ones you have of that woman?
I swear I know her from somewhere.
#8 looks like it could be a young Kory Van Sickle from Kory and the Fireflies.
#10 the gentleman on the right looks like Roger C. Carmel
#2 Jessica Tandy???
#5 looks like Sheinelle Jones from the Today Show with a different hairstyle than she has now
#12 looks like a young Sela Ward
Number 12 looks like Rebecca Shaeffer who was an actress on the TV Show My Sister Sam. She was one of the first celebrities killed by a stalker.
#4 looks like a heavier John Ritter or relative of (tex)?
#9 looks like there might be some members of the musical group “The Party” from the early 90’s, but I’m not 100% sure.
The cast from knickerbocker Holiday is from a production done in the mid 70’s T the now define Dixie Theatre on 42nd street in the lobby of the Dixie Hotel a group of us went to see it. Coming out at intermission we heard someone say the set designer must have had $20.00 and no talent.
#9 looks like a young Margaret Cho. (spoiler alert: she was on a recently on a singing show)
My guess on #10, third person from the left could be character actor Jack Weston.
JUST SPOKE WITH KORY V. NOT HIM IN PIC.
is number one The history Guy? he always wears a bowtie and has a similar look
MIKE NOZZI–PLEASE tell me more! Do you remember a year? Any details are appreciated. THX!
The man second from the right in #9 looks like Blas Elias from the band Slaughter. Don’t know why I recognized him right away, but I think that’s who it is…
#4 IS SOLVED! THAT IS THE LATE FILM PRODUCER LARRY BREZNER. HE PRODUCED “GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM” AND “THROW MAMA FROM THE TRAIN,” AMONG OTHER FILMS. THIS PHOTO WAS CONFIRMED BY MR. BREZNER’S DAUGHTER.
#12 I think that is the young Andrea Elson known for the TV show “Alf”
#12 Ashley Judd
#8 could it be Bruce Bozzi, Jr.?
AND BIG THANKS TO COLLIN ABOVE FOR SUGGESTING LARRY B. IN THE FIRST PLACE!
JUST HEARD BACK FROM A BIOGRAPHER OF JUDGE REHNQUIST. DOESN’T THINK THE PIC IS OF HIM.
DEERHOOF SAID IT WASN’T THEM. : (
#12 looks like she be some aspiring starlet actress from the 90s who never got her big break. And that must of been her main shot she took with her to auditions.
Where the collection come from(TV studio,private collection,thrift store)?
#11 Kafka
#10 looks a lot like the dwarves from a stage production of _Snow White and the Seven Dwarves_ with the rightmost 4 Doc, Dopey, Bashful, and Happy. If you’re sure it’s _Knickerbocker Holiday_ then just ignore this.
Is #12 Lucy Deakins?
#9 looks like they were an indie band of sorts in lates 90s-early 2000s who only got to perform at a handful of low-end venues before abruptly breaking up
JUST HEARD BACK FROM MS. BANFIELD–NOT HER.
Number 7… Reflection in window shows tops of coniferous trees. Post graduation party of ? Definitely late 1980s… poodle haircuts.
#8 really makes me think of Josh Meyers from That 70’s Show.
#5 IS SOLVED! IT IS, AS COLLIN SUGGESTED ABOVE, APRIL WASHINGTON CHANDLER OF HMK MEDIA.
ACCORDING TO BRUCE BOZZI, THE MAN IN THE PHONE IS NOT BRUCE BOZZI!
#10 IS SOLVED! THIS IS A 1975 PRODUCTION OF “KNICKERBOCKER HOLIDAY” AS STAGED BY THE OCTAGON THEATRE AT THE HOTEL DIXIE. THE NEXT TO LAST MAN ON STAGE (L TO R) IS TOM SMINKEY. (HE’S SEEN BENT OVER.) THE MAN ON THE FAR RIGHT IS OTTO WALBERG. WE ARE TRYING TO ID THE OTHER CAST MEMBERS NOW.
Is the short actor in #10 Billy Curtis?
#3 guy in the middle looks like it could be Michael Cerveris.
No.
#8 – Maybe Alexis Julemont?
#10 is about Thanksgiving and they are pilgrims?
Thanksgiving an annual event, starting around 1647
Is #1 Bob Einstein?
#12 Rebecca Schaefer?
Are we sure #5 is not Phylicia Rashad? She said no, sure, but still.
#12 looks a little like Rebecca Schaeffer, with minimal make-up. It might prove tough to find someone who can confirm. Still this photo looks early 90s, and Rebecca Schaeffer was shot and killed by a stalker in 1989.
#10 second from left really looks like Josh Charles.
#8 Whichever it is, he seems to be of Swedish/Danish ancestry. Hope it helps!
Anyway, another vote for Kory and the Fireflies.
JUST HEARD BACK FROM TIM HOPPER…NOT HIM IN #7.
#5 Nerene Virgin
I agree with everyone who says #12 is Andrea Elson from Alf. (I just google-image-searched Andrea Elson leather jacket and got the LOC image above from this page. Ha ha)
Can you add notes to the main post indicating which have been solved?
That one looks like Fernando Malderesci.
#4 looks a little like Dom deLuise.
JUST CHECKED WITH Michael Cerveris. NOT HIM.
JUST HEART BACK FROM ALEXIS J. NOT HIM OR WHATEVER IS FRENCH FOR NOT HIM.
WHO IS Fernando Malderesci? NOTHING COMES UP IN GOOGLE WITH THAT NAME. THX.
#8 could that be the 90s band Blonde Redhead?
#2 looks like the actress Bonnie Bartlett in her youth.
#2 looks like the actress Bonnie Bartlett! (She was Grace Edwards in Little House on the Prairie.)
APPARENTLY THAT IS NOT LUCY DEAKINS…ACCORDING TO LUCY DEAKINS.
#8 IS NOT NICK DONADIO. WE JUST EXCHANGED E-MAILS.
#3 looks like Peter Sagal.
A very nice writing in deed. I have learned a lot.
#1 looks like young Edward Herrmann to me.
#11 – Robert Hansen? (serial killer)
#10
Far left and crouched over is Bob Denver and the next person moving right is Hans Conreid.
Hi there,
We’ve solved several of these, including this pic! http://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2020/10/mystery-photo-contest-you-solved-four-of-them/
Cheers,
Neely
Hi there,
We’ve solved several of these, including this pic! http://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2020/10/mystery-photo-contest-you-solved-four-of-them/
Cheers,
Neely
#12 Mackenzie Rosman
Number 3 looks like Tim Armstrong from Rancid
Number #8 looks a lot like British actor Laurence Fox
#9 is Kazu Makino in the centre and Simone and Amedeo Pace behind her, they perform as Blonde Redhead
Isnt #12 Alexa Davalos?