We’ve already told you that some of us are voyeurs, and you can probably guess that most of the Blurberati are either cinefiles or way into popular culture. Imagine our excitement to discover a new Blurb book featuring original and previously unpublished photos from renowned photojournalist Neil Clemans.
Neil was a tabloid news photographer at the Los Angeles Mirror during the 1950s and it appears that he regularly brushed elbows with people like Elvis, Eisenhower, JFK, Brando, Judy Garland, Tony Curtis, Marilyn, and mommie dearest, Joan Crawford. Nice gig. We’re sure that back then, the job was a far cry from the pervasive paparazzi vs. celebrity smackdown that bombards us every single day.
Picturing the ‘50s, An L.A. News Photographer’s Inside Story, our Book of the Week, showcases page after page of classic, brilliantly shot black and white photos. These are old-fashioned images, glamorously saturated, perfectly of the moment, and they’ve remained inky and cool after all these years. There are over 70 photos of movie stars, beatniks, murderesses, strippers, presidential candidates, and boxers, among others, and the pictures come with commentary from a photojournalist who witnessed some wild things.
Laurie Clemans, Neil’s daughter, is the one who shared these gems with us. She had her father’s manuscript professionally edited and compiled the book. We were fascinated by it. Even if Elvis doesn’t make you swoon, make sure to check it out.
