Benito Mussolini had dreamt of rebuilding the Roman Empire, but by 1945 his dreams, just like the crumbling Roman Forum, were in in ruins. The 61-year-old Italian dictator who sought to become a modern-day Julius Caesar had first risen to power more than two decades earlier when he became prime minister in 1922. “Il Duce” allied himself with fellow fascist Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in World War II , but his outdated Italian military was badly outclassed. By July 1943,

Throughout the world, Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald's voice is celebrated by millions. However, what's lesser known is her profound friendship with Marilyn Monroe, whom Fitzgerald acknowledged as someone to whom she "owe[s] a real debt." In the 1950s, while touring under the guidance of Norman Granz, Ella Fitzgerald faced significant hurdles because of her race, echoing the experiences of numerous African-American musicians of that time. Especially in the Jim Crow states, racia

For over half a century, photographer Ron Galella got up close – often far too personal – with some of the world’s biggest celebrities. His unrelenting style and invasive camera lens helped to shape the modern idea of celebrity, capturing unguarded moments on the streets and in the nightclubs of New York and Los Angeles. Whether invited or not, Galella's snapshots became iconic, yet his methods made him one of the most controversial figures in photography. From being punched