With millions of pictures posted on social media from our smart phones every day, it can be hard to stop and appreciate a single photograph. Back 150 years ago when cameras were cutting edge technology, early cameras had the important task of commemorating special occasions and treasuring memories. They also encapsulated important historical moments and valuable aspects of the time period’s culture. The invention of the camera was a truly revolutionary way of freezing time and recording the past.
Make a cup of coffee and enjoy looking through these 19 vintage photographs that will make you feel like you’ve hopped into a time machine!
1. A Day at the Beach
Fashion in the 1950’s remains iconic today. From poodle skirts, to dresses worn by housewives with perfectly styled hair, appearances were very important for women to cultivate a modest, yet elegant image. Even at the beach, fashion took first place to practicality. I doubt any of these women jumped in the ocean for a swim!
The above photo was featured in an issue of Life Magazine in 1950 showing off the latest swimsuit trends. The verdict? Two pieces were on their way out, and one pieces were the hottest style. This is because one piece suits could be better accessorized. A big floppy hat was an essential accessory for a day at the beach.
2. The Timeless Beauty of Grace Kelly
A classic beauty and legendary actress in the 1950’s, Grace Kelly will forever be an icon of vintage Hollywood films. Grace Kelly hit her peak as an actress from 1951 to 1956, acting alongside stars such as Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, and Cary Grant. Her talent and charm quickly brought her to stardom, winning multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actress and three Golden Globe Awards.
Her life took a big turn in 1956 when she married Prince Rainier III, making her the Princess of Monaco. The above picture was taken at her royal wedding in Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco, watched live on television by over 30 million viewers.
3. The Brave Dorothy Counts
It’s hard to believe this photo was only taken a little over sixty years ago. Dorothy Counts was a courageous teenager who decided to enroll in an all-white school, as a first step in integrating Irwin High School in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1957. She was met with bullying, violence, and threats.
This historical photo is a reminder of the cruelty of racism that we must every day continue to fight against. This iconic photo captures Dorothy’s dignity and grace in the face of mockery and abuse. It was brave African Americans like Dorothy that changed the course of history in the United States.
4. Cast of The Outsiders
Do you recognize these handsome faces? The cast of this 1983 drama, The Outsiders, would go on to be household names. Christopher Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Patrick Swayze all got their career starts through starring in this film. Even Diane Lane had a main role in this classic movie.
Most of the above actors ranged from age 17 to age 21 at the time of filming. The exception was Patrick Swayze who was 31 years old, a good ten years older than his co-stars. The film was made at a budget of $10 million and grossed $33 million at the box office.
5. Elvis Presley in the Army
Everyone knows the King of Rock and Roll, but not everyone remembers that Elvis Presley served two years in the Army. Back in 1956, the draft required all men to serve in the military as soon as they turned 21 years of age, and this included celebrities as well. Elvis had to be the finest looking soldier in the US Army!
What many people don’t know is that the King had an opportunity to serve in something called “Special Services”, which would involve entertaining the troops and getting special benefits. But Elvis decided to serve as just a normal soldier, gaining an overwhelming amount of respect from the public. After his service, he was more admired than ever.
6. Audrey Hepburn Out With Her Pet Fawn
Well, this is something you don’t see everyday, even in Beverly Hills, California. This photo taken in 1958 shows Audrey Hepburn out and about grocery shopping with her beloved pet deer, Pippin; something the star did on a regular basis. The two look absolutely inseparable.
How did Audrey Hepburn come to adopt a pet deer? The duo were cast together on a movie called “Green Mansions” where Hepburn formed a strong bond with her four-legged co-star. It was reported that she was heartbroken to give Pippin back when the movie wrapped up, so her husband had to track the deer down so they could adopt Pippin as a pet.
7. Vintage Daredevil
Daredevils have existed for hundreds of years, as seen in this vintage photo of a motocross stuntman jumping over a steam train. Risky stunts are always a guaranteed crowd pleaser and way to receive recognition and fame. They also require a tremendous amount of skill, courage, and ability to stay calm under pressure.
These daring motorcycle jumps from the early 1900’s would come to inspire a long line of daredevils to come. Perhaps the most famous daredevil of all time is Evel Knievel, who never stopped pushing the limits of what stunts were humanly possible. He made his mark in history with over 75 death defying motorcycle jumps.
8. Traffic in Sweden
Can you tell what’s causing this traffic jam? Funny enough, on September 3rd, 1967, Swedish driving changed from the left-side of the road to the right-side. As you can see in this historic photo, the change did not go very smoothly! Confused drivers caused a traffic jam that is now remembered as an amusing moment in Swedish history.
You might be wondering why so many people are standing in the middle of the road. That’s because this day of switching to the right-side of the road was highly anticipated, with months of campaigning and preparation, and crowds of people came to spectate this monumental change.
9. Titanic Anchor in the Making
The construction of the Titanic in 1912 had many manufacturing components to make it both the biggest and most luxurious ship in the world. Even its anchor was impressive. The work was grueling to manufacture an anchor and chain of this magnitude, built by hand from hardworking men in Netherton, England.
The construction of the anchor began in 1910 when 603 meters of chain were ordered for the Titanic. Each chain link was so heavy that two men were needed to transport each one. Working with heavy steel, furnaces, and black smoke with not much regard to safety resulted in countless injuries and many deaths from these hardworking men.
10. Taking a Smoke Break on the Auckland Harbour Bridge
These men look as relaxed as can be, taking a smoke break and shooting the breeze while sitting literally on the edge of this partially constructed bridge. These workers obviously have zero fear of heights and aren’t worried about falling a long way down into the Waitemata Harbour! Crazy to see how much safety regulations have changed since the 1950’s.
This photo was taken in 1957, capturing workers taking a break from constructing the Auckland Harbour Bridge in New Zealand, which took four years to construct. The bridge is one kilometer long, making it the second longest bridge in New Zealand.
11. Painting The Woolworth Building in NYC
This classic photo of three workers painting the legendary Woolworth Building back in 1926 is another example of how much workplace safety has changed in the past 100 years. These men, several hundred feet up in the air, make their job look like a walk in the park. You’ve gotta respect their work ethic and positivity.
The Woolworth Building finished construction in 1913 and held the title of the tallest building in the world for 17 years, until the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building came on the scene. It continues to be a landmark on the New York City skyline.
12. Constructing The Hoover Dam
A massive undertaking in the early 1930’s, the construction of the Hoover Dam remains a civil engineering masterpiece still marveled at today by over a million tourists each year. When the Hoover Dam finished construction, it became the world’s largest concrete structure with 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete – technically enough concrete to build a highway from San Francisco to New York.
The construction was completed during the Great Depression. Thousands of unemployed men with their families traveled to Las Vegas in hopes of working on the Hoover Dam project. 5,218 men were hired to work on the dam. Due to dangerous work conditions and the intense desert heat, over 100 workers lost their lives during construction.
13. Vintage Caravan
Check out this vintage caravan from the 1920’s. While caravans existed prior to the 1920’s drawn by horses, this had to be one of the first models manufactured as part of a car. This happy family, who is quite modern for their time, looks ready for an adventure!
The idea to pack up and go see the world in a caravan has been around for quite some time; though it’s developed immensely. The difference between this vintage model and the luxury recreational vehicles available today is astounding. Will Smith’s luxury RV costs 2.5 million dollars and is basically a house on wheels.
14. Walking the Streets of Harlem in 1970
Walking the streets of Harlem in the 1970’s, you would be sure to see big Afro hairstyles, hooped earrings, knee high boots, and bright colors. Harlem is an iconic neighborhood of New York City famous for its culture, soul, and music scene, as well as for its poverty and crime rate.
Often referred to as “Black Mecca”, Harlem’s population since the 1920’s is vastly African American. Poverty and crime hit Harlem hard in the 1970’s and many of its residents fled to find a better quality of life. Though Harlem has endured many struggles in its history, its people are resilient, strong, and full of spirit.
15. When Kmart Was All The Rage
It’s hard to believe that Kmart was once the place to be! With low prices and those Blue Light Specials offering special sale prices for one hour, people couldn’t resist hitting up Kmart for their Saturday shopping.
Kmart hit its peak in 1994 with 2,323 stores open nationwide. But with tough competition, specifically Walmart and Target, Kmart simply couldn’t keep up. The Kmart Corporation began its slow decline in the late 1990’s. With Internet shopping on the rise in the 2000’s, Kmart took an even bigger hit, declaring bankruptcy in both 2002 and 2018. There’s now only about 70 Kmart stores left in the United States.
16. Back When Macy’s in NYC Had Watchdogs
Did you know that the department store Macy’s had watchdogs on guard during the night? Six Doberman Pinschers to be exact. The watchdogs accompanied the security guards, making all ten floors of Macy’s in New York City safe from intruders.
From the 1950’s all the way to 1998, these guard dogs patrolled each floor of the world’s largest department store of that time. The Doberman Pinschers went through rigorous training, which took place on the rooftop of Macy’s. When they weren’t training, the dogs were being pampered with a special diet, vitamins, and doggie pedicures.
Surely the knowledge of these lethal canines kept intruders at bay!
17. Wolfman Taking a Nap Between Takes
The 1941 horror film “The Wolf Man” starring Lon Chaney Jr. was a blockbuster hit and remains a highly respected classic film to this day. The villagers recite a poem multiple times in this spooky film, “Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night; May become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.”
This highly successful film came at a cost to actor Lon Chaney Jr. It took between five to six hours to apply Chaney’s makeup and took one hour to remove it. It’s no wonder this exhausted Wolf Man was caught taking a nap!
18. Midnight Train Ride
What’s the story behind this photograph? These two boys made it in the Chicago Daily News newspaper in 1952. The caption on their photo stated, “Sleepy Explorers: Tuckered out after exploring Chicago via a midnight elevated train ride, five-year-old James Davis fell asleep in a police station while his pal Ronald Sullivan, 8, kept a drowsy watch. The two preferred the “L” to going to bed, were later greeted by their parents at the police station.”
Hopefully these poor parents were eventually able to laugh about this incident after the initial shock wore off from finding their kids missing in bed!
19. Flooding in Paris in 1924
The city of Paris has a long history of flooding, and Parisians are no strangers to it. This particular photo, taken in 1924, shows Parisians strategically navigating their way through the city as flood waters were rising. But this flood doesn’t come close to what the people of Paris encountered just 14 years prior.
The 1910 Great Flood of Paris remains even today the worst flood that Paris has ever seen. Due to an extraordinary amount of rain, the Seine River that runs through Paris had a water level that raised eight meters (26 feet) above its typical level. These floods cause an unfortunate amount of damage that cost the city millions of dollars to repair.
