More Than Entertainers: Vintage Movie Stars

Celebrities of one kind or another have long played an important role in society. Contemporary and vintage movie stars have been dubbed America's "royalty" because of the simultaneous adoration and voyeuristic curiosity that they have inspired. Hollywood's "royalty" offer the average person food for the imagination, hope for what might yet be, and an escape from the sometimes painful realities of daily life.

The old Hollywood stars played this part especially well. The 1940's and 50's were a time of machismo and glamour. Like kings and queens, the best of them held sway over the movie-going public. Even among these, there were reluctant leaders. Some, like Marilyn Monroe, truly loved their adoring followers; others, like Katherine Hepburn in her early career, had less patience with her fans and regularly refused autographs. John Wayne embraced his role as a representative of American virtues and values; Humphrey Bogart, on the other hand, looked with cynicism and disdain upon his public persona. As is the case with Britain's Royal Family today, the magazines and tabloids of the time perpetuated the stars' celebrity status even as they exposed scandal after scandal. Regardless of actions by the media or the stars themselves to cast doubt upon the celebrities' cultural positions, fans and movie lovers continued to follow, admire, imitate, and envy the stars of the silver screen. Our nostalgic gifts provide classic movie lovers an opportunity to bring that Hollywood royalty into their homes and lives today.

Return to the world of the movie stars who ruled during the golden age of Hollywood with Len Mondschein's original paintings and canvas giclee prints of vintage movie stars. The limited edition prints are individually signed and numbered by the artist, and all artwork comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. For unique nostalgic gift ideas, browse our galleries.