A collection of photographs taken by John R. Hamilton.
Featuring famous Hollywood stars and Western icons.
Available online.

Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot on the set of Viva Maria in Mexico, 1964.

Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen during the filming of The Sand Pebbles in Taiwan, 1966.

Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor (16 years old) as a batgirl at the Hollywood Stars Baseball Game, Hollywood, California, 1949.


Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot on the set of Viva Maria in Mexico, 1964.

Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen during the filming of The Sand Pebbles in Taiwan, 1966.

Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor (16 years old) as a batgirl at the Hollywood Stars Baseball Game, Hollywood, California, 1949.

Hollywood and
thE American west


The history of Hollywood and American western films dates back to the early 20th century. In the
early days of the film industry, westerns were one of the most popular genres of films, and
Hollywood quickly became the center of western film production.
The first western film was The Great Train Robbery, released in 1903, which set the tone for the
genre with its portrayal of lawlessness and violence in the American west. The popularity of western
films grew throughout the silent era, with stars such as Tom Mix and William S. Hart becoming
popular in the 1910s and 1920s.
In the 1930s, the western genre reached new heights of popularity with the introduction of sound in
films. Some of the most iconic western films were made during this era, including John Ford's
Stagecoach (1939) and Howard Hawks' Red River (1948).
The 1950s and 1960s saw a shift in the western genre, with filmmakers exploring more complex themes
and characters. Films such as High Noon (1952) and The Searchers (1956).

Rod Taylor

Clint Eastwood

Kirk Douglas

Frank Sinatra

Natalie Wood

Elvis Presley

Yvette Mimieux

Paul Newman