Ah, they're from 'Life' - that explains the quality then. They were most likely taken with a 4 x 5 or 6.5 x 8.5 plate camera, using the Kodak 'Press F' materials, as well as 'fill in' flash, methods and equipment common to American publicity and Press photography at the time, and slightly different to British methods.
Some great pics, even though many were obviously posed, and a couple of recognisable faces among the 'Eagles'.