Hotties who were dead before you were born.

Parent Cafe
41

<p>Part of the problem with judging beauty of people long dead is not only that some standards of beauty have evolved over time, but that often so few images exist, even after the invention of photography.</p>

<p>To the extent they are accurate and not idealized, commissioned portraits are a pretty good source for what some of the royal, noble, and wealthy looked like. Based on her portrait by David, I’ve long thought that Napoleonic era socialite Juliette Recamier was very beautiful:</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“art-wallpaper.com”>art-wallpaper.com]Portrait</a> of Madame R</p>

42

<p>I agree - she is/was pretty even by today’s standards. I also think the women in those idealized “Gibson Girls” portraits stand the test of time pretty well. Usually done in profile, fine features, tiny bit of an overbite, big doe-ish eyes, long lashes, etc. We were recently in a historic home nearby, and there were many portraits of wealthy men and women from the 16 and 1700s who were no doubt considered attractive for their time, though doubt many nowadays would agree…</p>

<p>Also, who knows what is considered beautiful in other parts of the world. There was a program on the Discover Channel, I think, a while back, showing that symmetrical features are one of the ‘universal’ qualities that attract people…</p>

43

<p>I’m kinda surprised none of the ladies have mentioned Harry Houdini, who had one of the few pre-WWII 6-packs: [Google</a> Image Result for <a href=“http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/03/23/harryhoudini_narrowweb__300x413,0.jpg[/url]”>http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/03/23/harryhoudini_narrowweb__300x413,0.jpg](<a href=“http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/03/23/harryhoudini_narrowweb__300x413,0.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/poison-may-have-killed-houdini/2007/03/23/1174597882170.html&usg=__psBM9iaSOzb1XFR_-t5WftTqglY=&h=413&w=300&sz=24&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=aZPIhLGx56H2BM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dharry%2Bhoudini%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26rlz%3D1I7GGLL_en%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1]Google”>http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/03/23/harryhoudini_narrowweb__300x413,0.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/poison-may-have-killed-houdini/2007/03/23/1174597882170.html&usg=__psBM9iaSOzb1XFR_-t5WftTqglY=&h=413&w=300&sz=24&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=aZPIhLGx56H2BM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dharry%2Bhoudini%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26rlz%3D1I7GGLL_en%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1)</a></p>

<p>No mention of Amelia Earhart being a switch-hitter here, but I’ll take your word for it: [Amelia</a> Earhart - Dating, Gossip, News, Amelia Earhart Photos](<a href=“http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/dating/amelia-earhart.htm]Amelia”>Who is Amelia Earhart dating? Amelia Earhart boyfriend, husband)</p>

<p>Tyrone Power was apparently pretty prolific on both sides of the aisle: [Tyrone</a> Power Photos | Who is Tyrone Power dating? Girlfriend, Wife](<a href=“http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/dating/tyrone-power.htm]Tyrone”>Who is Tyrone Power dating? Tyrone Power girlfriend, wife)</p>

<p>James Dean also didn’t seem to pass up anybody, regardless of their plumbing: <a href=“http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/dating/james-dean.htm[/url]”>http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/dating/james-dean.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>By the way, the “Richard Selzer” whom Tyrone Power supposedly bumped knees with (along with Cary Grant!!) was the late, great fashion critic “Mr. Blackwell.” <a href=“http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/dating/richard-selzer.htm[/url]”>http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/dating/richard-selzer.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

44

<p>Says here Louise Brooks made time with Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, Bogart, and…Greta Garbo. Talk about touching all the bases!! [Louise</a> Brooks Photos | Who is Louise Brooks dating? Boyfriend, Husband](<a href=“http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/dating/louise-brooks.htm]Louise”>Who is Louise Brooks dating? Louise Brooks boyfriend, husband)</p>

45

<p>Yes, Louise Brooks lived large.</p>

46

<br>

<br>

<p>Since, by the thread definition, she died before I was born, I have no knowledge of my own. But when I was in grad school the university’s Gay & Lesbian club had a display of famous G&Ls through history with Earhart prominently displayed. So whatever I may think, the lesbians claimed her as one of their own. </p>

<p>Perhaps they were over-extrapolating from her mannish manner of dress and independent ways. And there are occasional rumors in print, such as this:</p>

<p>[San</a> Francisco Bay Times](<a href=“http://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=8208]San”>http://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=8208)</p>

47

<p>"There was a program on the Discover Channel, I think, a while back, showing that symmetrical features are one of the ‘universal’ qualities that attract people… "</p>

<p>That explains why I always hated the Boston University Law School building: [Google</a> Image Result for <a href=“http://andrewsinclair.org/images/bulawtower.jpg[/url]”>http://andrewsinclair.org/images/bulawtower.jpg](<a href=“http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://andrewsinclair.org/images/bulawtower.jpg&imgrefurl=http://andrewsinclair.org/archive/the_bu_law_tower_is_ugly.htm&usg=__pbQUqoapSEdiuKp1q6-PVr0ShJY=&h=320&w=240&sz=59&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=wnau216Hzd3-9M:&tbnh=118&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboston%2Buniversity%2Blaw%2Bschool%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26rlz%3D1I7GGLL_en%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1]Google”>http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://andrewsinclair.org/images/bulawtower.jpg&imgrefurl=http://andrewsinclair.org/archive/the_bu_law_tower_is_ugly.htm&usg=__pbQUqoapSEdiuKp1q6-PVr0ShJY=&h=320&w=240&sz=59&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=wnau216Hzd3-9M:&tbnh=118&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboston%2Buniversity%2Blaw%2Bschool%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26rlz%3D1I7GGLL_en%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1)</a></p>

48

<p>Well, since I’m a youngin’, I have a bit of a wider range of stars, and my pick would have to be Henry Fonda. Sadly, when watching The Grapes of Wrath, I probably reflected more on his man beauty than on the Great Depression.</p>

49

<p>HyperJulie, I know how you feel. Dana Wynter made even World War II look like fun:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.dvdbeaver.com/FILM/DVDReviews22/a%20Henry%20Koster%20D-Day%20the%20Sixth%20of%20June%20DVD/a%20Henry%20Koster%20D-Day%20the%20Sixth%20of%20June%20DVD%20DDAYSIXTHOFJUNE-2(1).jpg[/url]”>http://www.dvdbeaver.com/FILM/DVDReviews22/a%20Henry%20Koster%20D-Day%20the%20Sixth%20of%20June%20DVD/a%20Henry%20Koster%20D-Day%20the%20Sixth%20of%20June%20DVD%20DDAYSIXTHOFJUNE-2(1).jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/11/14/article-1085727-027959CB000005DC-105_468x396.jpg[/url]”>http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/11/14/article-1085727-027959CB000005DC-105_468x396.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And Ava Gardner took the edge off of nuclear holocaust in “On the Beach”: <a href=“http://www.doctormacro1.info/Images/Gardner,%20Ava/Annex/NRFPT/Annex%20-%20Gardner,%20Ava%20(Beach,%20The)_NRFPT_01.jpg[/url]”>http://www.doctormacro1.info/Images/Gardner,%20Ava/Annex/NRFPT/Annex%20-%20Gardner,%20Ava%20(Beach,%20The)_NRFPT_01.jpg&lt;/a&gt; (photo isn’t from the movie, but you get the idea)</p>

<p>Sidebar: in the first Dana Wynter link she’s having dinner with actor Robert Taylor. Taylor made a movie called “Ivanhoe” with a young Liz Taylor. The story goes that they had trouble filming the scenes with Liz Taylor and Robert Taylor because his tights couldn’t hide his obvious admiration of her.</p>