No, we don’t give up. Many readers of this blog know of our long attempt to ID some photos that we found in a very large collection of film, TV and music stills here at the LC. Well, here they are again. So, as so many right now are heading back to school–or already gone–and are reapplying their “thinking caps,” we decided to re-post these final photos (the final unknown 17) so that they could always “findable” (and, hopefully, solve-able) online to anyone who enjoys the challenge of trying putting a name with a face.
To recap, as stated, these photos were found within a very large collection for show biz-related stills that arrived at the LC about seven or eight years ago. We have already tried online image searches and facial recog software–all to no avail. But we still hope that we can ID these folks.
After each photo below, we have posted everything we know about the image. We’re just hoping someone can fill in that final and vital detail: who they actually are.
MANY THANKS!
1) We have a few clues about the gentleman above, including that this still was taken at Conway Studios and the map and the pictures of ships behind him must mean something, but who is he? We do know that it is NOT Lew Grade or Boris Morros.
2) This man behind the camera is NOT Ben Maddow, Fred Friendly, Franz Kafka, or Rouben Mamoulian. Other guesses have included Bernard Hermann, Alexander Korda, George Cukor and Fernand Fonssagrives. But we don’t know for sure. We were told that the camera he is using is a Graflax Graphic View, which was manufactured from 1941-1949. Please note, also, in the photo this man’s utter lack of earlobes.
3) We assume this is a band of musicians but, so far, we don’t know who they are either individually or collectively. We do know that they are NOT the group Deerhoof, Blond Redhead, Curve or Okoto. (Please bear in mind that these photos might not be strictly US in origin.)
SOLVED!: This is one-time LA-based band Flying Tigers. That is (l to r): Mike Fleck, Randy Bush, Jumi O’Brien, John Warburton and Larry Ogdon. Thank you to Michael Lee for doing the great detective work to solve this one!
4) The man at the radio is NOT actor E.G. Marshall. Who is he?
5) We know this photo (above) was taken in Boston in 1958. We know this is NOT author William Lamparski. And we wonder if this man might be Boston politician John McMorrow but haven’t been able to confirm. Or could it be someone else?
6) This innovative fashion shot is NOT rock star Kate Garner nor Czech actress Iva Pazderkova. Does anyone know who she is?
7) This dancing woman is NOT Brenda K. Starr, Taylor Dayne, Tia, Val Young, Kylie Minogue, Debbie Gibson or Pebbles. Anyone have a guess?
8) This might be a silent film actress or early Broadway star. We have had many guesses but, so far, nothing we can prove. Some of the names so far proposed are: Edwina Booth, Joan Marsh, June Marlowe, Geneva Hall, Dorothy Mathews, Diana Lewis, Jeanette Loff, Barbara Moffett, Isabel Jewel, June St. Clair, Edna Murphy, and Betty De Salle. Or it could be none of the above.
9) This might be a flight attendant from back in the day and, obviously, she has some ties to the state of New York. Also, note the middle markings on her plaque. Are they located where the state’s Finger Lakes are? Might that be a clue to her identity?
10) Unlike the other photos shown here, this one (above) does actually have something on the back. In this case, it’s stamped “Cincinnati.” And the cartoon is by Herb Gardner, though that is NOT Gardner in the photo. Nor is it David Mamet or Shel Silverstein, the latter, a popular guess. Many have commented that this image seems to be drawn from, or inspired by, the play “I’m Not Rappaport.” Please help us solve this mystery.
11) We’ve been all across the country and back trying to ID this man at his desk. Yes, that’s a Shriner’s certificate on the wall behind him. It was issued from the Sesostris Shrine located in Lincoln, NE. And his stationary says “Memo to Recorders.” The folks at the Lincoln Shrine have been very helpful to us be we still have not yet been able to ID this man.
12) This is one of the only pics we have left that is probably taken directly from a film or some sort of production. Is it from a horror film? A children’s tale? Many have said it reminds them of the Russian folktale “Baba Yaga.” But which adaptation? Please bear in mind that while most of these stills have been from the US, it is quite possible that some are from other countries. Additionally, FYI, the hand-tinting on the photo was how the photo arrived to us.
13) We’ve had many guesses on this lady as well. Here are some of them: Brenda Fowler, Mabel Todd, Virginia DaBuey, Mary James, Margot Irene, Eula Best, Victoria Shaw, Betty Bronson, Vera Lynn, Anna Neagle, and Victoria Shaw. In order to “solve” this one–and the others as well–we probably need to see this photo reproduced somewhere and this woman’s identity confirmed.
14) Obviously a singer or performer of some sort. We know she is NOT Carmel Quinn or Patricia Corbett. The background of the image might hold some clues.
15) We know this is NOT Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy’s), William Rehnquist or Jerry Reinsdorf. Who might he be?
16) This photo. Though obviously inspired by the word of artist Hajime Sorayama, it is not one of his according to the artist. (We checked.) So what is it from? Was it used in a film or maybe it was an advertisement for something?
17) Then, there of course is this one. For the long, involved story on this infamous photo, please see this link.
MANY THANKS!!! We will happily update this blog with any solutions we are able to verify.
Comments (63)
one of my favorite ongoing LC series. Thank you for your tenacity!
Picture 4 looks a little like Roy Horton. A Peer-Southern Music publishing executive.
Is your man at Number 1 Frank M. Folsom, President of RCA? Here he is in an office with the same map…
It looks like the woman in #9 may be holding a NY shaped mirror, rather than a plaque. That would explain vertical marks in the center – they’re reflections from ceiling moldings or some other fixture.
I think 2 is a young Mario Peixoto, who did the film Limite.
I agree with Cindy McGuire that the item in #9 is a mirror shaped like New York State. Note that Long Island is missing, which makes sense if you’re attempting to make a New York state shaped mirror, not so much if its just a plaque. Also not sure where “flight attendant” is coming from. That’s pretty much standard garb for ’60s girls. The linoleum floor is pretty standard for office/commercial space, so aspiring singer/actress/model with a New York connection photographed in agent’s or record company’s or similar office. Who exactly I have no clue 🙂
#3 looks like it could be a promo photo for the band Crucial Taunt, which was a fictional band in the movie Wayne’s World.
Picture 10. Possibly Cincinnati resident and Broadway producer Rick Steiner? He was on the board of the Cincinnati Playhouse and if they brought in a Herb Gardner play this could be from backstage.
Bingo… they brought in “I’m not Rappaport” for the ’88-89 season.
Number 6 fashion photo looks like model/actress Deidre Hall or possibly her sister Andrea Hall.
Thanks for all the guesses! Here’s an update: According to his family, that is not Roy Horton. According to his family, that is not Rick Steiner. We’ve wondered about Tia C./Crucial before and Tia said it was not her.
#8 I know you are saying silent film star but it does have a striking resemblance to a young Connie Stevens per online images.
The woman in photo number 7 looks like it could be freestyle singer Lisette Melendez.
#6 could be a young Cloris Leachmann. She looked ver different went she was younger and she had unusual ears.
#3 the boys look like early soundgarden
#11 storyboard frame from the princess bride – billy crystal and carol kane
sorry, #12 for the princess bride
#5 looks like Massachusetts politician Kevin B. Harrington. 1958 would have been during his run for Mass Senate, could have been a handy photo op.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_B._Harrington
Here he looks older:
https://malegislature.gov/VirtualTour/Artifact/26
https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:gh93jk072
Thanks for the most recent guesses. Good ones but not panning out.
#5, according to his son, is not Mr. Harrington.
#17 is not the band NITE
I’m sure linking to the full-size pictures, instead of showing just those tiny thumbnails, would greatly help in the search.
For example, the full-size version of the third photo is here: https://blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/files/2021/11/54.jpg
To obtain it, I had to right-click on the thumbnail, select “copy image address” and then remove “-720×1024” from its URL.
#1 Maybe a middle aged Walter Chrysler, Jr.? https://pixels.com/featured/1-walter-chrysler-1875-1940-granger.html
and
https://www.allpar.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.allpar.com/attachments/walter-p-chrysler-jpg.56918/
Photo number 5 looks a lot like Stanley John Zarod, who was State senator in Massachusetts.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957–1958_Massachusetts_legislature
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1975_Stanley_John_Zarod_senator_Massachusetts.jpg
Photo #5 may be Massachusetts state senator Stanley John Zarod? I looks a lot like him.
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1975_Stanley_John_Zarod_senator_Massachusetts.jpg
Number 7 could be Sandra:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_(singer)
German popsinger, with a bunch of hits in the 80’s.
The face is hard to recognize behind the hair and motion blur, but the clothes and (hair)style would definitely make sense.
#17 looks like Lea Thompson on the right, to me. Could be a pre career publicity shot.
From the big and rough hand the left should be a guy?
#1 and #5 looks like the same guy.
#12
If it helps, witches weren’t depicted as green before 1939’s Wizard of Oz.
So it’s safe to say that photo was at least colorized 1940s or later.
#1 seems to bear a resemblance to former Metro Goldwyn Mayer Salesman David Ross, circa late 1930’s or 40’s
#17 also, looks like Revo sunglasses Sierra on right and aviator on left, could be an ad from the 80s.
Long shot here”: Ricky Lee Jones?
Regarding last comment “Long shot here, Ricky Lee Jones” is in regards to dancer in photo #7.
Have you tried to identify the text on the plaque/mirror of #9? The resolution of the scan you provided is not high enough for that.
Photograph 1. There is a resemblance to Erik Braathens of the Braathens SAFE company who were in shipping then aviation between Norway, South America and Asia.
MANY THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT GUESSES! I will investigate and let you know what I find out.
I’ve reached out re: Sandra and Revo.
It is not Lea Thompson or Rickie Lee as we have had those guesses before and already checked with them. Thx.
#7, based on the face and the apparent time period / style of the photo has me suspecting it may be the late singer Teena Marie – either earlier in her career or nearer her heyday. The facial structure and body type, and even the hair.
Number 5 is Theodore E Brewster. He was a bassoonist with the Boston Symphony. He shown in the listing of members of the orchestra at https://www.stokowski.org/Boston_Symphony_Musicians_List.htm#M. He is on the right (from the POV of the viewer) in the second photograph. Charles Munch was a conductor.
I’m investigating the Brewster lead. Thanks!
Sigourney W. has been a popular guess for that duo photo but we sent it to her once and she said it wasn’t her.
1) Franky Pelletin
Born: January 7, 1962
Hometown: Voronezh, Russia
Source: https://list-vk.com/629062672/
In #4, Zenith was making radios of that style around 1937. The closest model that I could find was Zenith 8-S-154 (1937). Could help date the photo since it looks like they may be taking a picture with their new radio.
#14. Could this be singer Eydie Gorme ?
#9: Has Diane Keaton been excluded as a possible subject? It sure looks like her, and she was on Broadway in the late 60s
The markings on the plaque in #9 are a decent match for the historical territory of the Onondaga Nation.
On the first picture you can see 3 large photograps of big naval ships in the right hand corner. So maybe this is someone from the management side of things in a shipping company or similar.
Third picture (band). The guy far left in back looks like Oliver Wakeman. But I have not found any evidence to back it up.
The person in the back of Nr. 17 looks like Grace Slick to me. Obviously, if it’s her, it’s from way before the punk era.
#14 Is that Art Garfunkel on piano?
THANKS TO ALL FOR ALL THE GREAT ASSISTANCE. AM RUNNING DOWN THE LEADS ON BREWSTER, RADKA, AND WAKEMAN.
GRACE SLICK AND JANIS IAN HAVE BEEN GUESSED BEFORE FOR AND HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.
THANKS!
Could be English model Lorraine Trapman
Active, more or less, from 1970 to 1995
Sorry woman in photo number 9
In photo #3, the man on the left is the British actor Simon Pegg.
JUST HEAR BACK FROM MR. WAKEMAN. HE SAYS THAT’S NOT HIM. 🙁
Image #14 Looks very much like the late Eydie Gorme. Time Period would be correct.
Person on the right in pic #17 looks a lot like the late Preston Hubbard, bassist for Roomful of Blues and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Check with his brother, Paul, whom I believe still lives in Rhode Island, and/or past bandmates.
SIMON PEGG SAYS THAT IS NOT HIM IN THAT PHOTO.
I think the guy on the far left in #3 could be the drummer Mike Fleck.
https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-ehyLcSldLFaEfKSo-HcyoHw-t500x500.jpg
https://images.wolfgangsvault.com/m/xlarge/ZZZ029799-PP/flying-tigers-promo-print-.webp
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.18169-9/1915939_1461471931531_5557059_n.jpg?stp=cp0_dst-jpg_e15_fr_q65&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=e007fa&efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&_nc_ohc=45Pm_wJ6MHYAX8sYEdo&tn=-FN8avzT_3YMaoyq&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYOXBDtnhr9RfdZIh_uatfXVuDEfHk9Gf6FsnI8MJjyA&oe=638E194B
https://m.facebook.com/1075436783/
I think the guy on the far left in #3 could be the drummer Mike Fleck.
And I think the guy in the middle-left of #3 might be the bassist from the band Raven Payne that used to play at the Mason Jar in Phoenix, AZ. Tats and jewelry seem like they could match.
#3 might be a metal band from the Czech Republic.
#3 is Flying Tigers.
From left to right:
Mike Fleck, drums
Randy Bush, bass
Jimi O’Brien, vocals
John Warburton, guitar
Larry Ogron, guitar
Sorry, Jumi O’Brien.
The dancing woman in #7 could conceivably be Victoria Jackson in the early 1980s.
I really recognise picture 6. As soon as I saw it, I though it was a still from a pop video from the mid to late 80s/early 90s, not a ‘fashion shot’ in itself. I was really into pop during that period, that’s why I feel I recognise it.
Sorry, meant photo 7!