Pioneering model Helen Williams, hands down, the most photographed Black model of the 1950s and 1960s, in a 1960s Kodak advertisement.
A 1969 Revlon ‘Colorsilk’ advertisement.
Earle Hyman, the Shakespearean actor best known to most as “Grandpa Huxtable” in a 1959 Smirnoff vodka ad.
Darnella Thomas in one of her groundbreaking ads from the legendary Charlie fragrance campaign in the 1970s.
From Black and Beautiful: How Women of Color Changed the Fashion Industry by former Ford model Barbara Summers
Although Darnella shot at least four ads for the Charlie campaign, she was not signed to a contract. “Every time I did a shoot for them I would get paid whatever the day rate was; it was never a contract. A contract would have entailed them giving me the television commercials, which is what I really wanted. I know for a for a fact that the reason I did the second, third, and fourth ads was because they got a lot of letters about me. I wouldn’t have continued to do them if they weren’t successful. It was interesting, too, that I didn’t see some of the ads. When you photographed, you shot two or three ads. I don’t know how many they used, or where. The ads ran in some parts of Africa and Latin America, but they didn’t tell me that. I wasn’t supposed to know obviously. Who thought that far? I was only looking for Essence, you know? But they used my ad in Vogue and Glamour also.
(Source: vintageblackglamour)
“Quincy Jones digs Brook Benton’s LP “Singing The Blues.” A 1962 Mercury Records ad that appeared in Ebony.
Audrey Smaltz in a 1950s Ballantine Beer ad with other top models of the day, Lucille Rich, Barbara Ford, Rita Robinson and Judelle Moore. Moore postponed her studies at Spelman to pursue modeling and acting according to cover story on her in the June 4, 1959 issue of Jet. Lucille Rich won second prize in a 1952 beauty contest to Diane Johnson, later Diahann Carroll. She also appeared on the September 8, 1955 cover of Jet. I found this photo via Audrey Smaltz’s Facebook page.
Dorothea Towles in a 1962 Smirnoff vodka ad.
Ultra Sheen ad, 1970s. #naturalhair
(Source: vintageblackglamour)
Afro Sheen ad, 1970s.
(Source: vintageblackglamour)
Naomi Sims in her classic 1970 Houbigant advertisement.
A 1965 Lustrasilk advertisement. Yes, 1965. This ad appeared frequently in Ebony.
(Source: vintageblackglamour)
A 1965 Ultra Sheen ad.
(Source: vintageblackglamour)
