Vintage Beach Photos of Hollywood’s Golden Icons

When you’ve got a show-stopping swimsuit, you make sure to put your best foot forward—just like Lucille Ball in this stunning 1943 publicity photo for Best Foot Forward. The strapless suit became a fashion sensation, though the film didn’t do much to launch Ball into stardom.

She was still taking small roles at the time, waiting for her big break. It would take nearly another decade before she became a household name with I Love Lucy. Little did Hollywood know, the woman in this photo wasn’t just a bombshell—she was about to change television forever.