Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of *The Shining* is widely regarded as one of the most iconic horror films ever made, and its haunting final shot remains one of the most debated images in cinematic history. The unsettling photograph from the Overlook Hotel’s 1921 Fourth of July ball features Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson), a man who, historically speaking, should not have been present at such an event. This eerie detail was achieved by digitally inserting Nicholson into a real historical photograph—an image whose origins remained mysterious for decades after the film's release.
That mystery has finally been solved—nearly 45 years later. Thanks to the efforts of retired University of Winchester academic Alasdair Spark, the original 1921 photograph used in *The Shining* has been identified and recovered. In a detailed post on Getty’s Instagram, Spark explained how he traced the image back to its source: a St. Valentine’s Day Ball held on February 14, 1921, at the Empress Rooms in Kensington, London. The photo was taken by the Topical Press Agency and later purchased by Kubrick’s production team for use in the film.
A Deep Dive Into Film History
Spark collaborated with New York Times staffer Arick Toller and members of the Reddit community in a months-long search to locate the original image. Their journey was anything but straightforward. “It was starting to seem impossible,” Spark admitted. “Every cross-reference to Casani failed to match.” At times, they feared the photo might be lost to history forever.
The breakthrough came when Spark recalled that on-set photographer Murray Close—who took the image of Nicholson used in the composite—had mentioned the BBC Hulton Library as the original source. Knowing that Hulton had acquired the archives of Topical Press Agency in 1958, and that Getty Images later absorbed those collections in 1991, Spark began combing through Getty’s vast digital library. His persistence paid off when he discovered that the image had been officially licensed to Hawk Films, Kubrick’s production company, on October 10, 1978—clearly for use in *The Shining*.
Setting the Record Straight
There had long been speculation about the identities of the people in the original photo, with some suggesting it featured celebrities or even occult figures. However, Spark’s research confirmed otherwise. “Joan Smith had said the photo dated from 1923. Stanley Kubrick had said 1921—and he was correct,” Spark noted. “The photo doesn’t show any of the celebrities I had speculated on, nor the bankers, financiers, or presidents others imagined. No devil worshippers either. Nobody was composited into it except Jack Nicholson. It shows a group of ordinary London people on a Monday evening. ‘All the best people,’ as the manager of the Overlook Hotel said.”
This revelation not only clarifies the origin of one of horror cinema’s most chilling visual moments but also restores the dignity of a forgotten piece of early 20th-century British social history. The newly scanned image from the original glass-plate negative, along with supporting handwritten documents, has now been preserved and shared publicly.
If this story hasn’t sparked a little joy in your heart as a film enthusiast, nothing will. Meanwhile, Stephen King’s novel *The Shining*, published in 1977, has seen two major adaptations: Kubrick’s legendary 1980 film and Mick Garris’ faithful 1997 miniseries. Yet it’s Kubrick’s version—with its cryptic symbolism and unforgettable imagery—that continues to captivate scholars, cinephiles, and fans alike.
