In the latest Ben Stiller movie, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, one of the central components of the film are the enormous Life magazine covers scattered throughout the office where Walter works.
Some beautiful cover images, most emblazoned in our American memories already.
But, here’s the thing….they’re all fake.
Completely.
The production designers, working closely with the archivists of the great American institution, Time Life, created the magazine covers just for the film.
Production designer Jeff Mann said. “We worked really, really hard to select photos that were novel, naïve — in the best possible way — and that featured significant twentieth-century people, places and events.”
Sure, some of these images were in Life magazine once, but none of them were lucky enough to have graced the cover.
Until now.
Enjoy
Life was a published weekly magazine from 1936 until 1972, when it became a monthly issue until 2000.
In recent years, Life.com existed until 2012.
As you can tell, amazing photography was a focus.
THE CAVENDER DIARY 
My husband was one of 1500 motorcyclists at the Barstow to Vegas Race! It’s the photo on the fake cover dated Sept. 3, 1971. That was his one race on his motorcycle and still talks about it. Fun photos.
How awesome is that? It’s one of my favorite pictures too…….the Dr King cover is dated the day before his assignation. Kinda creepy
Those are great! The fake Beatles cover is dated the day before my birthday! But my fave might be the one of the moviegoers with their 3-D glasses. Not because of the glasses, but because of how dressed up they are. A suit, to go to the movies? I’m guessing you weren’t dressed like that when you saw Walter Mitty the other day!
My brother gave me that picture years ago..it’s framed in our den now. I love the suits and ties also. They seem to be standing in the isles too. OOOh, we still haven’t seen Walter Mitty…but might one day.
Where can l buy the Martin Luther King photo? Would love it as a canvas print in my home.
Time/Life owns that image…..so I’m not sure. I checked the American Photo Archive, they have pictures from the library of Congress…and they have a few Dr Kings for sale…..Look here http://americanphotoarchive.photoshelter.com/search?I_DSC=mlk&I_SDATE%5BMM%5D=&I_SDATE%5BDD%5D=DD&I_SDATE%5BYYYY%5D=YYYY&I_EDATE%5BMM%5D=&I_EDATE%5BDD%5D=DD&I_EDATE%5BYYYY%5D=YYYY&I_CITY=&I_STATE=&I_COUNTRY_ISO=&I_ORIENTATION=&I_IS_RELEASED=&I_IS_PRELEASED=&_CB_I_PR=t&_CB_I_PU=t&_CB_I_RF=t&_CB_I_RM=t&I_SORT=RANK&I_DSC_AND=t&V_ID=&G_ID=&C_ID=&_ACT=search Maybe better than having a hand in front of his face……
My husband was suppose to be one of the guards on President John Kennedys Gravesite and said there was a picture of him when little John John and Caroline were there could you please send me a copy of that picture showing the tomb guards ? When we visited Washington they took us down under to see where the guards are it was amazing.
Hi Carolyn, I’m not sure what you mean. I don’t have any pics to send… and if you see one I posted you can just save it.