A Battered Town Welcomes A Savior

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Americans who are not all that well versed in history may only know Charles de Gaulle as a man with an airport in Paris named after him.

But if you want to know why that airport is named for him, take a look at the photograph of a group of young girls assembled in the square of a bombed-out French town. Look at the hope they have, despite the rubble surrounding them.

The photo was taken was June 14, 1944. That is eight days after the D-Day invasion began the process of liberating Western Europe, and six days after a June 8 attack that devastated Isigny, destroying about sixty percent of the French town.

They girls assembled because people in Isigny had been told, with only a half-hour’s notice, that Charles de Gaulle was coming. De Gaulle was the leader of Free France, which formed after Paris fell to the Nazis in 1940. He had been directing a government-in-exile from Great Britain for the four years since then, but his arrival in Isigny was part of his return to his home country to establish a new French government.

When he arrived De Gaulle told residents of the war-ravaged town, “I am very happy to see the dear and bruised population of our town of Isigny gathered here, I know what suffered Isigny. It is the sufferings that each parcel of France will have to pass before reaching liberation. But I know, like you, that this test will not be useless. It is because of this ordeal that we will make the unity and the greatness of France. I want you, with me, to have a feeling of hope in your heart, and to sing the Marseillaise “

In its July 3, 1944 issue LIFE covered De Gaulle’s return to France and his visit to isigny with photos by staff photographer Frank Scherschel that showed both the leader of the resistance and the hope that his presence inspired.

The magazine’s story duscussed the political aspects of the moment, because de Gaulle’s actions were more welcome locally than they were among France’s allies, who felt it was too soon to establish a new French government. But while U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt was irked, the people of France were overjoyed. LIFE’s ended with a quote from a French playwright, Henri Bernstein, saying of De Gaulle, “Let me tell you, this is not going to make him unpopular among the French.”

De Gaulle not only served as head of France’s provisional government for three years, but would also come back to serve as President of France from 1959 to 1969, before his death in 1970.

The people of Isigny hastily gathered to welcome Charles de Gaulle after the recently bombed town learned that the leader of Free France was on his way for a visit, June 14, 1944.

Frank Scherschel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

People gathered to welcome the return of Charles de Gaulle to France during World War II, June 14, 1944.

Isigny & De Gaulle – Photographs of Italian civilians during WWII

People in Isigny, France, gathered on short notice for the arrival of Charles de Gaulle as he re-established the government of France during World War II, June 14, 1944.

Frank Scherschel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Charles de Gaulle arrived in Isigny as he re-established the French government in the days following the D-Day invasion, June 14, 1944.

Frank Scherschel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Charles de Gaulle, leader of Free France, spoke to people in the recently bombed town of Isigny, 1944.

Frank Scherschel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

People gathered to welcome the return of Charles de Gaulle during World War II, June 1944.

Frank Scherschel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

People salvaged furniture from their houses at Isigny during World War II, Italy, June 1944.

Frank Scherschel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

World War II, June 1944.

Frank Scherschel/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

LIFE’s Favorite Vintage Surfing Photos

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It’s more than the sun and the sea that makes surfing pictures so appealing. It’s also that surfers just seem to be living right. It is the rare sport that is both a pastime and a way of life. There are many quotes about the unique appeal of surfing, including this one from Frosty Hesson: “If you’re having a bad day, catch a wave.” Hesson made his name as a big-wave surfer, but the sentiment can be understood by anyone who has ever taken a refreshing dip in the ocean. 

The sense of people enjoying themselves by the sea is what makes these surfing photos such a pleasure, and it’s why when you look at the best-selling photos in the LIFE print store that have anything to do with sports, you find that surfing is as popular as any. 

Many LIFE photographers took their turns having a day at the beach. Some of the most wonderful photos were taken by Allan Grant, more noted as a chronicler of Hollywood. But he also swung out to nearby Malibu and captured the surf culture there. This overhead shot of riders catching a wave is LIFE’s best-selling surf print.

LIFE photographers such as Ralph Crane, Loomis Dean and Frank Scherschel turned up gems as well. All these images are wonderful. Enjoy.

Surfing, Malibu, California 1961

Surfing, Malibu, California 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfers, Malibu, California 1961

Surfers, Malibu, California 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, California, 1950

Surfing, California, 1950.

Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.

Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959.

Ralph Crane/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 1965

Surfing, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 1965.

Ralph Crane/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Australia, 1958

Surfing, Australia, 1958.

John Dominis/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Australia, 1958

Surfing, Australia, 1958.

John Dominis/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Hawaii, 1963

Surfing, Hawaii, 1963.

George Silk/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.

Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959.

Ralph Crane/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961.

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961.

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Sixteen-year-old Kathy Kohner (the real-life inspiration for the character of Gidget) rides a wave, Malibu, Calif., 1957.

Sixteen-year-old Kathy Kohner (the real-life inspiration for the character of Gidget) rode a wave, Malibu, Calif., 1957.

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, San Onofre, Calif., 1950

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950.

Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, San Onofre, Calif., 1950.

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950.

Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.

Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Beach scene at Lima, Peru, 1959

The beach scene at Lima, Peru, 1959.

Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1957

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1957

Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, San Onofre, Calif., 1950

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950

Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, San Onofre, Calif., 1950

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950.

Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Cowboy Life in the Australian Outback

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The cowboy is one of distinct characters of American life. And while their numbers have been dwindling for ages— in 1949 LIFE ran a memorable story on the vanishing American cowboy—today movies and TV shows with Western themes have never been more popular.

And it’s worth noting that while cowboys are original to America, versions could be found on other continents. In 1967 LIFE wrote the frontier people of the Australian Outback. The story appeared in a double issue devoted to what LIFE termed “The Wild World.”

To the reckoning of LIFE editor Don Moser, the Outback was even more rugged than the Old West. Here’s how he put it:

The Outback of Australia is a frontier, and the men and women who live in it are frontiersmen just like those who opened the American West—cattlemen, prospectors, professional hunters. But their frontier is harder than ours ever was. It is, God knows, beautiful, but without prettiness—the austere beauty of light and space, of harsh country and big sky. There are vast red deserts, bizarre hills and strange ridges, chasms and gorges, dry riverbeds of white sand, and above all, endless miles of blank, brutal land.

The photos by George Silk capture that world in vivid color, and Moser’s words bring to life the characters trying to make a life in the Outback. One cattle rancher, Bill Waudby, talked about the dry years he had endured. He quipped, “It’s not hard to become a cattle baron out here. It just depends on how you spell baron.”

Silk photographed a rancher named Joe Mahood while he was breaking a wild horse. Mahood is quoted as saying, “You’ve got to be as gentle as you can. But as gentle as you can is fairly rough.” Silk also documented life for Mahood’s family, which included his three younger kids receiving their school lessons over a two-way radio from a teacher who was hundreds of miles away. Talk about your remote learning.

The Mahood family’s nearest neighbor was 120 miles away. But seven-year-old Tracy Mahood told LIFE she had no interest in moving. “There are too many people in the town, there’s not enough space to wander, and you don’t get goannas there.”

The frontier spirit could not be summed up any better.

A stockman broke an untamed horse at a ranch in the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

A stockman broke an untamed horse at a ranch in the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Joe Mahood, a rancher in the Australian Outback, gets a recently broken horse used to a saddle blanket, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

After five hours of struggle, Australian horse farmer Joe Mahood sat on top of exhausted horse he has finally tamed, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Joe Mahood, a rancher in the Australian Outback, posed with his three youngest children; his teenage daughter moved away to go to school, because there were none nearby,1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Five-year-old Jim Mahood received his school lessons over two-way radio while growing up on his father’s ranch in the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Five-year-old Jim Mahood ran in the tall grass around his father’s ranch in the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Bill Waudby learned through hard experience that running a ranch in the Australian Outback meant weathering some dry years, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Battered hands fashion a popper on the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

George Girdler, professional hunter of wild horses, in the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

George Girdler, professional hunter of wild horses, in the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

George Girdler, professional hunter, played with a foal in the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

George Girdler, professional hunter, in the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Wild horse hunter George Girdler roared off on motorcycle with his dogs trailing behind in Australia, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

The sand hills of the Simpson Desert in central Australian, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Cowboys in the Australian Outback, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

In the Australian Outback a stockman worked with one of his horses at dawn, 1966.

George Silk/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Meet Peter, the Pelican Mascot of Mykonos

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Since the 1950s the Greek island of Mykonos, a popular tourist spot, has had a mascot that is as beloved as it is peculiar-looking.

He is a pelican named Petros, also know as Peter. He first came to Mykonos when a local fisherman found the wounded bird and brought him home for nursing. Peter soon became a local character on the tiny island, which is only 33 square miles in size.

Photographs taken by LIFE photographer James Burke in 1961 show Peter amusing beachgoers on the shore, cavorting about town and spending time with a fisherman. Because Burke’s photos were taken for a story that never ran in LIFE, we can’t be sure if that fisherman is the one who rescued Peter. But that would make sense because the two seem awfully attached to each other. In some photos Peter and the fisherman are nose-to-beak.

As a pelican, his long beak is Peter’s most distinctive physical characteristic. Pelicans, with their particular shape, are excellent fishing birds who thrive near water, so an island in the Aegean sea was an ideal place for Peter to make a home.

Peter died in 1985 after being hit by a car, and one obituary hailed him as “the world’s most famous pelican.” By then the bird had become ingrained in Mykonos’ identity, and several pelicans were brought in to replace Peter, including one that was donated by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

So visitors to Mykonos today can still take photos with a friendly pelican.

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter the Pelican napped while standing on the island of Mykonos, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Peter, a pelican who had been found wounded and then nursed to health on Mykonos, became the Greek island’s mascot, 1961.

James Burke/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

The Glamorous Anita Ekberg in LIFE

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Anita Ekberg was twenty years old when she first appeared in LIFE magazine. In 1951 the magazine breathlessly introduced this relative unknown model to readers in a story headlined “Beautiful Maid of Malmo.”

The most photographed, most pursued, and most popular girl at the most recent Miss America contest in Atlantic City was the blue-eyed blonde shown above, who boasts a sunny face and a stunning figure, a five-word English vocabulary—ya, no, hamboorger, El Morocco, ice cream—and was not eligible for the contest. The beautiful blonde was 20-year-old Anita Ekberg who, as Miss Sweden, was a guest of honor.

The gist of the story was that Ekberg, hot off being named Miss Sweden, had come to the United States to further her modeling career. LIFE photographer Lisa Larsen captured Ekberg meeting with a titan of that business, Eileen Ford.

The magazine was clearly among those impressed with the young Swede. Mere months later Ekberg posed in Los Angeles for another LIFE photographer, Allan Grant. And she would pose for Grant again in 1956.

In addition to modeling, Ekberg soon launched an acting career. She picked up small parts in films beginning in 1953, including playing an alien in Abbott and Costello Go to Mars. In 1955 staff photographer Loomis Dean captured Ekberg’s appearance on the short-lived television version of Casablanca.

In 1956 Ekberg then debuted on the cover of LIFE, when the magazine wrote about the film adaptation of War and Peace. Ekberg had a supporting role—the female lead in the movie was played by Audrey Hepburn—but that didn’t stop LIFE from devoting a major feature to her, photographed by James Whitmore.

The headline of that story, “Malmo Maid Makes Good,” celebrated how far the young model had come from her first appearance in the magazine.

Anita Ekberg made her first appearance in LIFE at age 20, in 1951, when she was an aspiring model. In this photo she wore a hostess hat from Scandanavian Airlines.

Lisa Larsen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg made her first appearance in LIFE at age 20, in 1951. In this photo, as she looked to advance her modeling career, she was having her hips measured by agency executive Eileen Ford, 1951.

Lisa Larsen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg made her first appearance in LIFE at age 20, in 1951.

Lisa Larsen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg made her first appearance in LIFE at age 20, in 1951.

Lisa Larsen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg made her first appearance in LIFE at age 20, in 1951.

Lisa Larsen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg in Los Angeles, 1951.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg in Los Angeles, 1951.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg in Los Angeles, 1951.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg in Los Angeles, 1951.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg in Los Angeles, 1951.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg in Los Angeles, 1951.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg in Los Angeles, 1951.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Model and actress Anita Ekberg posed for LIFE in 1955.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Model and actress Anita Ekberg posed for LIFE in 1955.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Model and actress Anita Ekberg posed for LIFE in 1955.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Model and actress Anita Ekberg posed for LIFE in 1955.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Model and actress Anita Ekberg posed for LIFE in 1955.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Model and actress Anita Ekberg posed for LIFE in 1955.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Model and actress Anita Ekberg posed for LIFE in 1955.

Allan Grant/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg and Clarence Muse appeared in the television version of Casablanca, which ran for ten episodes from 1955-56.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg appeared in the 1950s television version of Casablanca.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg appeared in the 1956 film version of War and Peace.

James Whitmore/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg appeared in the 1956 film version of War and Peace.

James Whitmore/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Did You Know Casablanca Was Also a TV Show?

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Casablanca is one of the most beloved movies in history. When the American Film Institute listed its top 100 movies, the film from 1942 came in second, behind Citizen Kane and just ahead of The Godfather.

So perhaps its not surprising that Hollywood tried to take another bite from that apple. In 1955 ABC aired a Casablanca television series built around the continuing adventures of freedom-loving cafe owner Rick Blaine in the age of the Cold War. The show was part of a rotating series of dramas presented under the aegis Warner Bros Presents. Warner Bros had been the studio that made the original movie.

But the magic of the movie could not be recaptured, and the series ran for only ten episodes. What went wrong?

According to the book Short-Lived Television Series 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops by Wesley Hyatt, the problems began with casting. Humphrey Bogart had no interest in playing Rick Blaine again. The show’s director, John Peyser, set his sights on Anthony Quinn, but the actor’s asking price proved too high. So they ended up casting Charles McGraw—who, according to Peyser, “couldn’t act his way out of a hat.” Also, according to Peyser, the scripts were terrible.

With the benefit of hindsight, it’s easy to see another issue. The movie Casablanca was not only the story of the resistance movement during World War II but also a romance between Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund (played by Ingrid Bergman), the woman who broke Rick’s heart in Paris.

The television show couldn’t easily bring back the Ilsa Lund character because of the way the movie ended, with Rick sending Ilsa away in a grand moment of self-sacrifice for a larger cause. In a speech for the ages Rick declared that their problems didn’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world, but here’s looking at you, kid.

In the television show, Rick didn’t have a “kid” to look at—except for one episode. Anita Ekberg, who like Bergman was Swedish, made a guest appearance playing a character named Katrina Jorgenson. Ekberg’s character was the center of attention when LIFE staff photographer Loomis Dean visited the set for photos. In the shots where Ekberg poses with Clarence Muse, who portrays Sam the piano player, Ekberg looks like she is just about to ask Sam to play As Time Goes By.

Dean’s camera knew what the show’s creators did not, because they capture what the show was missing. If Ekberg had been in more than one episode, maybe that would have been the beginning of a beautiful TV series.

Anita Ekberg and Clarence Muse appeared in the television version of Casablanca, which ran for ten episodes from 1955-56.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg and Clarence Muse appeared in the television version of Casablanca, which ran for ten episodes from 1955-56.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg and Clarence Muse appeared in the television version of Casablanca, which ran for ten episodes from 1955-56.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

The television series Casablanca ran for ten episodes from 1955-56.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg appeared in the 1950s television version of Casablanca.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Anita Ekberg appeared in the 1950s television version of Casablanca.

Loomis Dean/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

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