25 Photos That Show The Way We Were in the Fifties

History March 21, 2025

Take a trip back to the 1950s. It was a time of sock hops, Saturday matinees, turkey dinners in grandma’s kitchen, and the early days of television. This collection of vintage photos captures everyday moments, iconic fashions, and the quiet beauty of mid-century life. From kids watching Howdy Doody to families preparing for the Cold War, these snapshots show us a world that feels both familiar and impossibly distant. Here are 25 vintage photos of the 1950s that reveal the way we were.

1. Old school seat belts, 1950s

A woman wearing a short-sleeved shirt, shorts, and heels is sitting in a vintage car. She is leaning forward, adjusting her shoe strap. The car interior features a patterned bench seat and a classic steering wheel.
charles_yost

2. Goodbye kiss before heading off to the Korean War. Los Angeles, California, Sept. 6, 1950

A woman in a dress and heels kisses a man leaning out of a train window. Several other men in military uniforms look on and smile. The train car appears vintage, suggesting a farewell scene.
frecklefactor

4. Brothers settling in to watch Howdy Doody circa 1950

Two young children in matching dark robes with red trimming sit indoors. The child on the right holds a vintage clown doll and has their finger near their eye. A yellow desk and patterned wallpaper are visible in the background.
morganmonroe81

5. Children walking to school in Vermont, early 1950s

Children walk on a dirt road beside a scenic rural landscape with red barns, rolling hills, and autumn foliage. They are carrying lunchboxes and appear to be heading to school on a crisp fall day.
froggysaysno

5. Children in an iron lung before polio vaccination, 1950

Black and white photo of three children lying in an iron lung machine, part of polio treatment in the mid-20th century. A nurse in a white uniform stands beside them, smiling and interacting with the children.
userdeleted

6. Teenage girls at a slumber party taking to boys who are standing outside, 1950s

Four people in pajamas lie on a bed, looking out a window at night. The room is lit by a lamp, with a teddy bear, tray with a bottle, and an alarm clock visible on the bed. Drapes are open, revealing the night sky.
Olkasmario20

7. If you needed a car in the 1950s

Vintage advertisement listing car prices for qualified veterans, offering 5% down payment and 36 months to pay. Features models like Nash Tudor and Ford Coupe from 1946-1950. Located at Galloway's Sales Dept., Newburgh, NY.
kels398pingback

8. 1950s Party Spread

A table filled with various vintage party foods, including deviled eggs, hors d'oeuvres with crackers and processed meats, pickles, olives, mustard, condiments, and a loaf of bread. Plates and utensils are set nearby.
userdeleted

9. In 1950, A.C. Gilbert released a toy laboratory set that contained actual uranium.

A vintage Atomic Energy Lab kit with an open case displaying various scientific instruments, booklets, and parts for experiments. The lid features colorful illustrations of a child using the lab and promotional text about the product.
MKE1969

10. Boys playing in the yard in Los Angeles, early 1950s

Two children run joyfully down a grassy hill in front of a charming, old two-story wooden house. The house has ornate trim and a front porch. Trees frame the scene, and sunlight filters through, casting shadows.
sussoutthemoon

11. Main cabin of a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in 1950

Passengers sit inside a vintage airplane cabin with rows of upholstered seats. Men and women are dressed in mid-20th-century attire, including suits and dresses. Some are reading, while others converse. The atmosphere is busy yet orderly.
alt-f4-more

12. Grandma in the kitchen with a delicious-looking turkey

A woman wearing glasses, a patterned blouse, and a black apron stands in a retro kitchen. She's next to a stove with pots and a cooked turkey. The wall has a strawberry and floral patterned wallpaper.
userdeleted

13. Stickball on St. Nicholas, Harlem, NYC, circa 1950.

Street scene with several people standing at a corner. Men are dressed in mid-20th century attire, with hats and long coats. A Western Union sign is visible on a building. The shadows cast suggest it's early or late in the day.
sussoutthemoon

14. Pub swimming pool in Kansas City, Missouri, early 1950s

Aerial view of a crowded swimming pool complex with multiple pools, surrounded by parked cars and trees. The main building is centrally located, and pathways connect different areas. People are swimming and lounging around the pools.
romanazzidjma

15. Driving lessons with the Drivotrainer in the 1950s

A vintage classroom with students seated in rows of driving simulators, resembling small car models. The room has tiled walls, large windows, and a sign reading "Driver Education." Instructors observe from the front.
pubwithnobeer

16. Dog takes advantage of a distracted boy in New York in 1950

Three children stand on a sidewalk near a stone wall, interacting and smiling. A dog sits on its hind legs in front of them, appearing playful. The scene has a vintage, candid feel.

17. Saturday afternoon matinee in the 1950s. Double feature and cartoons for just $0.25.

A group of boys, dressed in 1950s attire, eagerly line up outside a vintage movie theater ticket booth. A woman inside assists them. The theater marquee reads "HAVE FUN AT THE MOVIES." Trees and buildings are visible in the background.
GaGator43

18. Lunchtime at Pete’s Bar in Lower Manhattan in the early 1950s

A bustling scene in a vintage diner with a line of men wearing suits and hats seated at a counter. A server in a uniform is preparing food under a menu board. The setting includes various food stalls and hanging lights.
Gagator43

19. Helen Ann Smith at the Harlem House diner on Beale St, Memphis, Tennessee in the 1950s

Black and white photo of a woman wearing a uniform and standing behind the counter of a doughnut shop. The counter displays doughnuts, and behind her are signs for drinks and prices. The setting has a vintage style.
Ernest C withers/Wendy_Sings

20. Flying with a baby in the 1950s

Black and white photo of a vintage airplane cabin with a flight attendant placing a baby in an overhead hammock. Passengers seated below, wearing formal attire, look relaxed. The scene captures mid-20th-century air travel.
IwishIwasbailey

21. Now that’s what I call an entertainment center

A vintage black-and-white image shows a woman smiling while pouring a drink from a cabinet unit. The unit contains a television, a radio, various bottles, and glasses. The scene reflects mid-20th century style and technology.
skipperbob

22. Imagine having to shop for a fall out shelter

Black and white image of two women in swimsuits by a pool. A sign reads "Nuclear Bomb! Fallout Shelter on Display Here! Public Invited." The scene appears to be a marketing event at a motel named "Coral Sands.
skipperbob

23. The Cliff House in San Francisco in the 1950s

A vintage image of the Cliff House, a two-story building advertising "DINING" and "Since 1858," overlooking the ocean. Several parked classic cars line the street, and rocky cliffs are visible in the foreground.
VonTempest

24. Dancing at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in the 1950s

A lively jazz scene with musicians playing trombones in the foreground and couples energetically dancing in the background. A woman, mid-twirl, is at the center of attention, creating a sense of movement and joy.
GaGator43

25. School in the 1950s. Check out those desks.

A vintage black-and-white photo of a classroom with a teacher standing and addressing seated students. The children are sitting at wooden desks, and educational posters are visible on the walls. The room has large windows and wooden floors.
WorldHub995
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