Vintage Photos

20 Colorized Images of the Late 1920s

Published

•

By  

Like what we have to say? Add thescroller.net as a preferred source on Google

Five women in vintage swimsuits sit and laugh on a large block of ice outdoors, each holding a golf club, with a grassy field and trees in the background.

Black and white photography has a funny way of making the past feel older than it really was. It’s easy to forget that the people living in the late 1920s saw bright storefronts, colorful clothing, and busy city streets just as vividly as we do today. Add color back into those moments, and suddenly the decade stops feeling like a distant chapter in a history book.

That’s what makes these images so fascinating. Instead of looking at history through a layer of separation, you’re seeing real people in a world that feels unexpectedly familiar. Whether it’s the expressions on their faces or the atmosphere of a bustling street, these colorized photographs make the late 1920s feel alive in a way that’s hard to ignore.

Let’s take a look at 20 colorized images of the late 1920s.

1. MGM’s Lion in 1928

A lion stands on wooden crates in a film studio, facing a camera. Two men operate vintage filming equipment; one runs the camera while the other works at a desk with audio controls.
tocholin

2. A federal agent inspecting a lumber truck after smelling alcohol during prohibition, 1926

Two men inspect a truck loaded with wooden planks hiding a secret compartment. One man crouches by the rear wheel, while another holds a removed section revealing the concealed space. A large advertisement is visible in the background.
mr_wunderbar

3. Claude Monet in his office, 1926

An older man with a beard sits in a chair, leaning on his hand beside a cluttered desk with papers, books, flowers, and framed pictures, in a room decorated with shelves, a clock, and vases.
spongebobdoesntexist

4. This is what some gas stations looked like in the ’20s

Two men stand by an old-fashioned car at a small gas station in winter, with snow on the ground. One man pumps gas while the other waits by the car. Historic buildings are visible in the background.
jhlcolorizing

5. A farmers market in New Orleans, 1926

An older woman in a long dress stands near vegetable stalls at an indoor market, surrounded by produce. She looks thoughtful, with one hand on her face. Other vendors and shoppers are visible in the background.
baptistepierre

Trending on The Scroller

6. A big block of ice on the golf course, 1926

Five women in 1920s-style swimsuits sit and laugh on large blocks of ice in a grassy field, holding golf clubs and appearing cheerful under a bright sky.
jargo1

7. Hadley, Jack, and Ernest Hemingway in Austria, 1926

A smiling woman and man stand on a dirt path outdoors, holding hands with a young boy in shorts and a sweater. Trees and hills are visible in the background under a bright sky.
ellie_lucy

8. Marjorie Joesting, 1926

A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a pink dress, sits barefoot on a large rock by a stream, smiling and surrounded by trees and greenery.
anamnesiss

9. Robert H Goddard, the first person to launch a liquid-fueled rocket

A man in a lab coat sits beside metallic machinery in a workshop, with industrial equipment and tools visible in the background.
patrickmitchellphoto

10. A tiny mobile home, 1926

A vintage car with a bright orange wooden tiny house built on its back is parked outdoors, featuring a shingled roof, windows with floral curtains, and wooden wheels.
angelina_retro

11. Children waiting for their mother to return from work, Spain, 1927

A woman with a large sack over her shoulder gently touches the face of a smiling boy sitting on a cart beside two other children. All are dressed in simple clothing, and the scene is outdoors, beside a stone wall.
ectheow3

12. The 1927 Yankees lineup

Four New York Yankees baseball players in vintage uniforms stand side by side holding bats, posing for a team photo in front of a stadium fence and empty bleachers.
morganmonroe81

13. The tram in France, 1927

A vintage green and cream tram labeled “6” stops on a busy Paris street as people board and walk by. Pedestrians in early 20th-century clothing fill the cobblestone scene, with shops and buildings in the background.
xhimusic

14. Ice skating on Hollow Pond, 1927

An ice skater dressed in brown winter clothes and a green hat glides alone across a frozen lake, holding a pillow behind their back. The scene is calm with trees and misty sky in the background.
oneiricroad

15. Lt. Oscar Bayer of the LAPD, 1927

A man in 1920s attire stands beside a vintage car, aiming a Tommy gun to his left. Behind him are concrete walls and an old Maxwell House Coffee billboard.
userdeleted

16. Barkie’s Sandwich Shop, LA, 1927

A woman in a fur-trimmed coat stands by a vintage car in front of a Barkies Sandwich Shop, featuring a giant cartoon dog head and paws above the entrance.
angelina_retro

17. A Buick sedan at a Texaco service station, 1928

A vintage blue car with wooden-spoke wheels is parked at an old-fashioned gas station with colorful tiled walls and arched doorways. Other buildings with repair shop signs are visible in the background.
slyhoogus

18. Frida Kahlo, age 18, 1926

A young woman with dark hair pulled back sits on a chair, wearing a deep blue dress and white stockings. She holds a book and is surrounded by potted plants, with a patterned rug beneath her feet.
memorylanepr

19. Chicken fights in 1928

A group of people in vintage swimsuits play a game of chicken fight in the ocean on a sunny day, with bright blue sky and waves, laughing and splashing in the water.
ruzden

20. Masked newspaper seller, 1929

Men in early 20th-century clothing stand on a busy city sidewalk; one man hands a newspaper to another. Old cars and people walking can be seen in the background. The image appears colorized.
lady2742

Want to see more 1920s content?

Take a look at 20 Colorized Photos From The Early 1920s, or check out 35 Vintage Photos of the Mid-1920s. Finally, if you want to see life in New York City in the ’20s, check out 20 Vintage Photos of New York City from the 1920s.

Tags:

, ,

Meet the Writer


Patrick Nichols

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.



More Posts From Vintage PhotosView All