Look at a polaroid from 1975. It’s grainy. It’s got that weird, yellowish tint that makes everything look like it was filmed through a bowl of chicken soup. But when you look at starsky and hutch photos from the original ABC run, something different happens. You aren't just looking at two guys in a fast car; you're looking at the blueprint for every "buddy cop" dynamic that followed for the next fifty years.
Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul had this energy. It wasn't forced. They actually liked each other. Most of the candid shots you see floating around Pinterest or vintage fan sites weren't staged by some high-priced PR firm trying to manufacture "chemistry." They were just two actors who realized they were making something that felt dangerous and cool in a way television hadn't really seen before.
The Gran Torino Was the Third Lead
If you're hunting for starsky and hutch photos, you're probably looking for the car. The "Striped Tomato." That 1975 Ford Gran Torino with the white vector stripe is basically the third member of the cast.
Interestingly, Glaser actually hated the car. He thought it was ridiculous. He called it a "striped tomato" first, and the name stuck. He found it bulky and hard to drive. Yet, in every professional still, he looks like he was born in that driver's seat. There’s a specific set of publicity photos taken in 1976 where the duo is leaning against the hood. You can see the wear on the tires. You can see the grime on the fender. That’s the magic of 70s photography—it didn’t try to hide the mess. It embraced the smog of Bay City.
Behind-the-scenes shots show a different story than the polished promos. In the raw prints, you see the stunt drivers. You see the rigging. You see the sheer amount of work it took to make a heavy Ford sedan look like it was flying through the air over a pile of cardboard boxes. Fans often collect these because they reveal the mechanics of the era. No CGI. Just physics and a lot of broken suspension parts.
Why the Lighting Matters in Vintage Stills
Photography in the mid-70s was a whole different animal. The show used a lot of "available light" for its outdoor shots, giving the images a high-contrast, moody vibe. When you find high-resolution starsky and hutch photos from the later seasons, like season three's "The Plague," the shadows are deep. They're heavy. It feels more like a noir film than a standard police procedural.
The color palette was all earth tones. Browns. Oranges. Mustard yellows.
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It’s easy to dismiss it as "ugly" by modern standards, but there is a warmth there. If you look at the portraits taken by legendary set photographers of the time, they captured the texture of the clothing. Starsky's iconic Mexican cardigan—the one every fan wanted to own—looks heavy and woolly in the photos. You can almost smell the old wool and the California exhaust fumes.
The Power of the Candid Shot
The best images aren't the ones where they're pointing guns at the camera.
No.
The best ones are the candids of David Soul playing guitar between takes or Glaser laughing at something a crew member said. These photos circulated in magazines like Tiger Beat and 16, but they had a weight to them that other teen idol shots lacked. They weren't just pretty faces; they were actors who were deeply involved in the creative process. Soul, especially, brought a certain folk-singer sensitivity to Ken Hutchinson that shines through in the black-and-white photography of the era.
Finding Authentic Starsky and Hutch Photos Without Getting Scammed
If you’re a collector, the market is a bit of a minefield. You have to know what you're looking at.
Original "press kits" are the gold standard. These were folders sent to TV stations and newspapers that contained 8x10 glossy black-and-white prints. You can usually tell an original by the "snipes" on the back—those are the little typed descriptions glued to the reverse side explaining who is in the photo and what episode it's from.
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If a photo looks too perfect, too sharp, or has weirdly vibrant colors, it might be a modern digital "upscale."
Real vintage prints have a specific depth. The blacks aren't just black; they have a silvery sheen to them. This is because of the silver halide process used in darkrooms back then. When you hold a real 1970s publicity still, it feels thicker than the flimsy inkjet paper people use today. It’s got a history. It might have a coffee stain from a distracted journalist in 1978. That’s character.
Common Mistakes Collectors Make
- Buying "Signed" Photos Without Verification: A lot of people see starsky and hutch photos with signatures and jump. Be careful. David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser signed thousands of items over the decades at conventions. However, there are many "secretarial" signatures (signed by assistants) or flat-out forgeries.
- Ignoring the Condition of the Corners: Dog-eared corners might seem like a bummer, but they often prove the photo was actually handled during the era.
- Confusing the Movie with the Show: Please, don't buy a photo of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson thinking it's a rare find from the 70s. It happens more often than you'd think.
The Cultural Impact of the Imagery
Why do we still care? Honestly, it’s about the vulnerability.
There’s a famous photo of the two characters hugging after a particularly rough episode. In the 70s, that was groundbreaking. Male friendship—true, deep, "I'll die for you" friendship—wasn't always shown that way. The photography captured that intimacy. It wasn't just "tough guy" posturing. It was "I’ve got your back" humanity.
The visuals define the "buddy" genre. When you see a photo of them walking down a gritty alleyway, you see the inspiration for Lethal Weapon, Bad Boys, and every other duo that came after. The imagery set the tone. It told the world that being a cop was dirty, tiring, and best done with a best friend.
A Note on Public Domain and Copyright
If you're looking for photos to use for a project, remember that most of these are owned by Sony Pictures (who acquired the Spelling-Goldberg catalog). Just because an image is on an old fan site doesn't mean it's free to use. However, for personal collections, finding those old "lobby cards" from international releases is a great way to see how the show was marketed in places like France or the UK. The European posters and photos often had much more artistic, almost psychedelic designs.
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Identifying the Best Era for Photos
Early Season 1 photos have a different energy. They're raw. The hair is a bit shorter. The jackets are different. By Season 4, you can see the change in the production value—and honestly, the fatigue on the actors' faces.
If you want the "classic" look, aim for mid-Season 2. That's when the show really found its visual identity. The lighting was perfected, the car was a character in its own right, and the chemistry between Soul and Glaser was at its peak. The photos from this period are the ones that ended up on lunchboxes and posters across the globe.
Basically, if you're looking to start a collection or just want to appreciate the aesthetic, focus on the 35mm film stills. They have a "soul" that digital photography just can't replicate. It’s about the grain. It’s about the sweat. It’s about two guys in a red car trying to save a city that looks like it’s falling apart.
To truly appreciate starsky and hutch photos, you have to look past the flared jeans and the giant collars. Look at the eyes. There’s a sincerity there that defined a decade.
How to Build a Real Collection
If you want to get serious about vintage media, here is how you actually do it:
- Search for "Wire Photos": These are photos that were transmitted over telegraph or telephone lines to newspapers. They have a distinct "pixelated" look from the 70s technology and often include a built-in caption at the bottom.
- Check Estate Sales: You’d be surprised how many retired PR agents or TV station employees have boxes of these in their attics.
- Join Enthusiast Forums: Sites like the Starsky & Hutch Archive or specific Facebook groups for 70s TV memorabilia are better than eBay for finding authentic pieces. Members there can spot a fake from a mile away.
- Proper Storage: If you get a real print, don't put it in a cheap plastic sleeve. Use acid-free, archival-quality sleeves. If the plastic smells like a shower curtain, it's going to ruin your photo in five years.
The most important thing is to enjoy the hunt. Each photo is a little time capsule. It's a reminder of an era where stunts were real, friendship was the core of the story, and a bright red car could become a global icon. Take your time, verify the source, and keep an eye out for those rare behind-the-scenes shots that show the real people behind the badges.
That's the best way to keep the spirit of Bay City alive.
Essential Next Steps
- Verify the Paper: Check the back of any "vintage" print for the Kodak or Fujifilm watermark. If it's a modern watermark on an "old" photo, it's a reproduction.
- Catalog Your Finds: Use a high-quality scanner (at least 600 DPI) to digitize your physical collection. This preserves the detail even if the physical photo fades.
- Research the Photographers: Look for credits by photographers like Gene Trindl, who took some of the most famous TV portraits of the era. Knowing the artist helps you identify authentic work.
The market for 70s memorabilia is growing as nostalgia for "analog" entertainment peaks. Getting your hands on authentic pieces now is a smart move before the supply of original press materials dries up completely. Focus on the quality of the print and the story it tells, and you'll have a collection that actually means something.