35 Vintage Photos of the 1960s

History Nostalgia Vintage Photos May 8, 2025

Last Updated on May 8, 2025 by Matt Staff

Situated right in between the optimism of post-war times as well as the cultural wake that still waited around the corner, the 1960s were a time ripe for numerous changes. This collection of 35 vintage 1960s photos aims to shine a light on the fashions, faces, and other moments that come together to provide a lens looking back at the time.

1. Willard Scott, the original Ronald McDonald, 1963

A person dressed in an early Ronald McDonald costume with a striped outfit, white gloves, a tray attached to the front, and a cup over their nose, smiling and waving.
barewear91

That right there is solid nightmare fuel.

2. St. Petersburg Beach, Florida, 1964

A group of young people in swimsuits sit on and in the back of a classic car, which is loaded with surfboards, parked on a sandy beach. The scene is relaxed and captures a vintage, beach lifestyle vibe.
gorillaz0e

Looks like it’s about to be an extra fun day at the beach.

3. Natalie Wood, wardrobe test for Blake Edwards’s The Great Race (1965)

A woman in a vintage, off-the-shoulder, dark gown holds an ornate parasol. She has an elaborate updo hairstyle and stands against a plain studio backdrop, looking slightly to the side with a playful expression.
bilsabab

That is quite the getup there.

4. Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg in ”The Avengers” (ABC), circa 1966

A man in a bowler hat and suit leans playfully on a vintage car's spare tire, smiling, while a woman sits in the car and smiles. The scene is set outdoors in front of an old building. The image is black and white.
darvader66

Love the nostalgia that’s evident in this photo.

5. Times Square, NYC, 1960

Four adults pose on a busy city street at night; bright neon signs and blurred cars surround them, evoking a lively, vintage urban atmosphere reminiscent of Times Square in the mid-20th century.
artscooldang

Times Square was a different world back then.

6. Steve McQueen kicking back after participating in a 500-mile, two-day dirt bike race across the Mojave Desert, 1963

Two men sit in the bed of a pickup truck. One man is shirtless, smoking a cigarette, while the other sits with his legs stretched out, wearing boots and talking animatedly. It appears to be a hot, sunny day.
gorillaz0e

Steve McQueen knew how to take a load off.

7. Paul Newman, looking better than a body has a right to, in Venice promoting the movie Hud, 1963

A smiling, shirtless man with wet hair walks on a beach, surrounded by people in swimwear. The ocean and waves are visible in the background. The image is in black and white.
independenttax3541

Yeah, a true legend in his time.

8. Pier Paolo Pasolini and Laura Betti in Milan (1968)

A man in a trench coat stands beside a woman with blonde hair and large white sunglasses, who embraces his shoulder. They are on a city street with parked cars and people gathered in the background.
billsabab

Milan’s always been one of those places people love to capture photos in.

9. In 1967, Visitors aboard Universal City Studios GlamorTram see Hollywood’s largest “back lot” with its lakes, European towns, Western villages, and New York streets

A red and white tram travels along a curved road beside a calm waterway with boats and docks, surrounded by trees and buildings in the background under daylight.
cowmissing

Such serene lakes, clearly.

10. Elvis and Ann Margret, circa 1963

A woman laughing with her hands near her face stands in front of a man who is smiling. Behind them, a crew member and large film equipment are visible, suggesting they are on a movie set outdoors.
rockbalboaaa

Elvis broke hearts whether he wanted to or not.

11. A new television/telephone is on display at the International Radio Exhibition in Stuttgart, West Germany, in 1965

A woman holds a telephone handset while looking at a video screen displaying a man’s face, suggesting an early video call technology. The setup appears vintage, possibly from the mid-20th century.
chey22

They were trying to tap into the future.

12. Women in a boat in Newport, RI, August of 1962

Two women in vintage swimsuits and headscarves ride on a speedboat, smiling as the wind blows their hair, with an American flag and water skier visible in the background on a sunny day.
electricalaspetc13

Nothing like taking a boat out underneath some Florida sunshine.

13. Lana Turner looking like an absolute queen in 1960

A woman in a long-sleeved, elegant dress sits on a chair, facing the camera with a confident expression. The black-and-white photo has dramatic lighting, highlighting her classic hairstyle and poised posture.
billsabab

That’s a smoldering gaze if I’ve ever seen one.

14. 1969 Cadillac de Ville Convertible

A vintage red convertible with a white interior is parked on a road next to a grassy park, where two people are having a picnic under trees in the background.
carelessspring6764

The cherry red really makes this ride pop.

15. It was the time of the ’60s when everyone was groovy

Seven women in colorful, bold 1960s fashion pose outdoors on a city street, with historic red brick buildings in the background. Their outfits feature vibrant patterns, unique silhouettes, and elaborate updos.
tvci5

Yes. These groovy fits are nailing it.

16. First started in California ’65. Then they were everywhere

A small Fotomat kiosk with a yellow Kodak Film sign stands in a parking lot, surrounded by vintage cars and a shopping center in the background.
otherwisetackle5219

A humble origin story with a quick launch-off.

17. Waiting to catch that bus.

A young boy in a light blue sweater and jeans smiles while leaning against a streetlamp on a city sidewalk; vintage buses and a few pedestrians are visible in the background.
sparkle4th

Kid is ready to roll.

18. Actress/Violinist Jane Mansfield playing the piano inside her home, “The Pink Palace,” in the early 1960s

electricalaspect13

Jayne Mansfield was an absolute icon. That’s for sure.

19. Excited young fans surround Manchester United footballer George Best as he drives away in his new yellow Lotus Europa car

A group of children stand around and admire a parked classic sports car on a street, while a gas service van drives past in the background. The scene appears to be from a past decade.
electricalaspect13

The fans are outpouring with their adoration here.

20. People watch coin-operated televisions while waiting in the Los Angeles Greyhound Bus terminal in 1969

People sit in brown lounge chairs with attached TV screens and control panels in a retro waiting area. A man in front reads a newspaper, while others watch TV. Rows of similar chairs are visible in the background.
gorillaz0e

Seems like a fun enough way to try at passing the time.

21. Woman on Flying Saucer Ride, Disneyland, 1962

A smiling woman in sunglasses and a sleeveless blouse sits on a bumper car-style ride at an amusement park, with other people enjoying the attraction in the background under a sunny sky.
carelessspring6764

These would be all fun times during the summer.

22. A fallout shelter back in the ’60s

A black-and-white photo shows a basement room with bunk beds, shelves stocked with canned food and supplies, a table covered with a checkered cloth, and exposed wooden beams on the ceiling.
anonymous

Fallout shelters are a trip, man.

23. Paul Newman in 1967. In ’67 Newman went from star to Hollywood legend as Luke Jackson in ‘Cool Hand Luke’ (1967)

Black-and-white photo of a man with curly hair, wearing an unbuttoned shirt, holding a beer bottle in one hand and a cigarette in the other, standing outdoors with a boat in the background.
hwkd66

Paul Newman had that polished, old-school cool energy about him.

24. Mother walking her little girl to school under the shelter of her coat (1969)

A person wearing a long hooded coat and heeled shoes walks through heavy rain on a city street, with classic cars and buildings in the background.
hwkd66

That coat sure came in handy.

25. Steve McQueen and Jacqueline Bisset on the set of ‘Bullitt’ (1968)

A man in a suit and sunglasses sits next to a woman in a sweater and jeans, both seated on a low platform outdoors. The woman holds a mug, and they appear to be in a casual conversation. The image is black and white.
hwkd66

Steve doesn’t look like he’s feeling particularly great in this shot.

26. Nat King Cole and his son Nat Kelly Cole at Disneyland in 1963

A man and a young boy wearing Mickey Mouse ears hold hands while walking in front of a castle at Disneyland. The black-and-white photo captures a joyful moment on a paved pathway.
okant11431

Rest in peace to a true legend.

27. Kids hanging out in Trafalgar Square, London, circa 1968

A group of young people, some sitting on a low stone wall and others standing, gather outdoors near a wet pavement. Most wear casual 1960s-style clothing and appear to be talking and relaxing. Shrubs and a stone fence are in the background.
tvci5

Yes, a very London aesthetic going on here.

28. People at Pier 44 close to the Hudson River, New York, 1966

Two women in vintage swimsuits sit on rocks at a busy beach, smiling and enjoying the sun. The ocean and many people swimming and relaxing are visible in the background. The photo is black and white.
electricalaspect13

The Piers in New York City have certainly undergone some changes.

29. Sonny and Cher With Twiggy, circa 1967

Three people stand outdoors; one man in a yellow patterned suit and sunglasses, a woman in a short yellow dress with long dark hair, and another woman in a navy top with a colorful checkered skirt, arms crossed. Trees are in the background.
tvci5

Sonny and Cher were in a league of their own.

30. Mid ’60s, old metal roller skate wheels were put on a small slab of wood to create skateboards

Four boys ride skateboards on a city sidewalk, leaning back in unison. A vintage car and streetlights are visible in the background, suggesting a scene from the 1960s. The image is black and white.
otherwisetackle5219

Careful now, fellas.

31. Kodachrome shot of lifeguards at the public pool, mid 1960s

Two women in vintage swimsuits, one standing on the pool deck and the other sitting on a lifeguard chair, oversee a busy outdoor swimming pool with children swimming and playing under a clear blue sky.
electricalaspect13

The Kodachrome shots are beautiful.

32. Sally Field on the set of “Gidget” (1965)

A young woman with dark pigtails sits cross-legged on a beach blanket, wearing a red-and-white striped crop top and blue shorts. She smiles at the camera, with beach towels and grass visible in the background.
hwkd65

Sally Field looks focused in.

33. Sheryl Deauville on the set of Irma La Douce circa (1962)

A woman in a light dress and heels leans against a narrow building on a deserted city street, with vintage cars parked in the background and old posters on the walls, in a black-and-white photograph.
billsabab

What a moody shot.

34. Jane Birkin in the 1960s

A woman with long hair sits by a pond, wearing a short-sleeved knit dress and boots, with her arms wrapped around her legs. A wicker basket sits beside her on the grass. The image is in black and white.
hpaul

Jane knew how to hold a camera’s attention.

35. Barbara Eden with her 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a black dress leans on the hood of a blue classic muscle car parked outdoors, with greenery and a house visible in the background.
hwkd65

Now that is a classic ride right here.

Explore more vintage vibes:

If these snapshots from the 1960s sparked your nostalgia, keep the retro vibes going with a deeper dive into the decade in 25 Vintage Photos From 1970s Summers. You can also explore the cultural shift of the decade in 19 Vintage Photos That Bring the Summer of 1967 to Life.

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