Journalist Collects Vintage Photos Of Celebrities With Cats And More
Recency bias is a thing. Here I was, unassumingly thinking that cats became a popular photography subject just recently, and came along with the dawn of the internet. But boy was I wrong. Turns out, they were a photographer-favorite ever since the camera was invented. But, just as much as it is nowadays, the ever-constant never-ending deluge of cat photos doesn't give us enough time to appreciate them, and they're in danger of being forever gone from our collective memory. But some people are determined to not let a good cat photo get forgotten, and collect vintage cat photos which are still relevant to this day.
The Brazilian journalist Paula Leite Moreira is one of those rare guardians of peculiarly interesting cat history. She has collected thousands of photos from the previous century, and shares them on her dedicated Instagram account. There you can see how cats shared the company of many famous and interesting personalities of the past, often partook in silly photoshoots, and much more. In other words, it's been like it always was: cats were at the center of everyone's attention.
Here's what the artist told about herself. "I'm a journalist, I work with content production and I've always wanted to create a project where I could exercise my research and writing skills. At the beginning of the quarantine, still in 2020, after having seen a photo from the 19th century on the internet, I found myself interested in looking for more old records of cats. I loved delving into it and decided to share what I found, resulting in the realization of this project."
British Henry Behrens, Considered The Smallest Man In The World At The Time, Was Seen Dancing To His Pet In Front Of His House
The journalist shared what kind of cat photos are her own personal favorites, and her answer is very interesting. "This is a hard question, but I think the pictures involving soldiers and war are the most emotional to me. One of my favorites shows a sergeant named Frank Praytor feeding a kitten in the middle of the Korea War. Some people, even in the most difficult times, can be gentle with other living beings. And this is amazing."
Some of these photos are pure gold and make one wonder how the journalist finds them. Here's how Paula does it. "I search through the internet in historical collections, archives, image banks and international magazines. When I find a random photo without a lot of reliable information, I look elsewhere until I get enough information about each photo."
Dalai Lama XIV
"None other than the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, enjoyed the company of his pet cat at his home in Dharamshala, India, circa 1979."
Paula thinks these photos are historically significant too. "Of course! There are several pictures with cats sharing the scene with historical figures. It’s really cool to see the bond between these animals and very important people. I can’t imagine something more photogenic than cats, so this is not strange to me. They have stolen the spotlight since the first pictures of the world were taken."
"Photo of a French soldier, who took some time to feed a small baby."
As for the relative success of her project, Paula gives all credit to cats. "Cats are the kings of the internet, right? So I'm not surprised at the amount of fans they have." However, the Instagram account isn't as popular as it deserves to be. "Many people tell me that the profile should have more followers." And I agree! So give her a much-needed follow!
Hollywood Star, American Actress And Producer Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was born in Canada and was a British/Canadian citizen and travelled under B/C passport. She lived part of the time in Canada, and most of the time in LA/Santa Monica. She never filed citizenship papers with the US. Which is part of the reason it's hard to pin her down.
She says that her photos don't cost as much as one would expect. When asked if these photos are costly, she replied "Absolutely not. I only share free stuff like miniature pictures, not the original ones." She wishes to publish a book one day, but she can't do that at the moment, because paying royalties for the original photos would cost a little too much. "It would be great to create a collection book with all these pictures, right? But I can’t afford all the royalties. So, my plan is just sharing what I found with other people on social media. This makes me happy."
Clint Eastwood
"A real treat for our eyes, American actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood was portrayed at home, with his pussy, by photographer Larry Barbier, around 1960. Los Angeles, California. The United States."
Having in mind her collecting hobby, there's no chance that Paula doesn't have a cat. And she does. "I have an old kitten named Sofia. In January, she turns 18 years old, all of them she lived by my side. I am completely in love with her and am so grateful to keep her company for so many years."
Elizabeth Montgomery
"American actress Elizabeth Montgomery playing the character Samantha with the kitten Ling-Ling in the television series Bewitched in 1965."
Please click the repliesJudy Garland
"Scary tales can be very frightening, but nothing that the company of a kitten doesn't solve. In the picture, American actress, singer, and dancer Judy Garland, in 1938."
Black cats tend to live longer, healthier lives than others (according to researchers at the National Institute of Health) due to the gene that causes their fur to be black also protecting them from some diseases
"My message is: love and respect the cats. And if possible, adopt. There are many abandoned animals waiting for years for the chance to have a family and a safe home. Knowing you saved a life is the best reward ever."
First Pet Of The White House, Socks The Cat
"This wide-eyed ragdoll was known as Socks the Cat and was former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary's first pet."
Pierre Jamet's Photo
George Harrison
"Take a look at these portraits of George Harrison accompanied by his Persian cat named Korky. High dose of cuteness, right? Surrey, United Kingdom, 1965."
James Dean
"Take this wonderful sequence of photos of American actor James Dean with his kitten Marcus, a gift given by actress Elizabeth Taylor at the end of the filming of the Giant, in which they acted together, 1955."
The German Physician, Philosopher And Theologian Albert Schweitzer
Audrey Hepburn And Her Husband Mel Ferrer
"British actress Audrey Hepburn was shot with her husband, American actor and director Mel Ferrer, and their kitten, on their farm in Rome, Italy. 1955."
I have never understood why they refer to Audrey Hepburn as a "British Actress." https://stacker.com/stories/11483/audrey-hepburn-life-story-you-may-not-know
Janis Joplin
Wondering if he's named Bobby McGeeGrace Kelly
"All the beauty of the American actress Grace Kelly, who would later become Princess of Monaco, when posing with a pet, around 1948, for the lenses of photographer George Rinhart."
Cat: "She's rolling in inherited wealth and yet I have to drink out of a cheap glass bowl"
Paul Mccartney
"None other than the star Paul McCartney sitting on the doorstep and enjoying the company of his dog Martha and two kittens that are in his lap. London, United Kingdom,1967."
"A real leap of the cat immortalized by the lens of its human, Walter Chandoha, in 1951. The pussy, known as Loco, was rescued by the photographer from the freezing streets of New York and became his first feline model."
He flies through the air with the greatest of ease, That daring young cat jumps at all that he sees
Canadian Actress And Singer Deanna Durbin
TIL...@Edna Mae Durbin, worked with Judy Garland, was "Winnipeg's Golden Girl", has her prints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater and that the pictures Anne Frank put up in that attic of her are still there.
British Actress Una Stubbs
Writer Paul Gallico
Is this a celebrity? Or a celebrities child? Or just an adorable vintage photo? A caption would be nice Edit: still a very wholesome photo either way!
American Pilot John Bevins Moisant
"American pilot John Bevins Moisant had the company of his kitten, Mademoiselle Fifi, in his portraits and even on his flights."
British Model Celia Hammond
She is a campaigner against fur as fashion and for the neutering of cats to control feral populations with her Celia Hammond Animal Trust and Donovan wrote "Celia of the Seals" in tribute to her...she's currently 80 years old.
French Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson
