These Vintage Photos Of A Forgotten Time Are Sure To Stir Up Some Nostalgia
The world is always changing and that reality can hit us in unexpected ways when we return to our hometowns after staying away for years. Although there is comfort in seeing some local landmarks stand just as we remember them, it’s also true that a lot of that town can be harder to recognize than we expected.
For that reason, it can be both comforting and bittersweet to see places as they once were. Whether it’s their vintage aesthetics or the appeal of looking back to a simpler time, these photos can induce some powerful nostalgic feelings.
A Classic Street That Doesn’t Look Like This Now
Although it’s true that buildings in bustling districts are loaded with giant neon signs and dazzling video displays, there’s also something deeply satisfying about the big signs they used to put up.
The vintage panels advertising hotels, banks, and other businesses through Broadway in Denver, Colorado whisk the viewer back to 1955 just as much as the classic cars roaming the streets in the background do.
There’s A Reason They Used To Write Songs About It
So many old songs not only have a romantic view of New York City’s iconic Coney Island entertainment district but position it as a place where literal romance is found. Nowadays, a look at the place may make that hard to believe, as it has a distinctly run-down atmosphere.
However, photos like this show that wasn’t always the case. Its bustling beach was crowded with people and their parasols and the tower in the background seemed so much shinier and newer back then.
It’s Hard Not To Miss This Once-Common Feature
This photo of Cleveland Public Square from either the late 1930s or early 1940s shows how much prettier Cleveland’s old buildings and decorative monuments (the Soldier’s and Sailor’s monument can be seen at center right) made the Ohio city look.
Yet, while that monument and some of those buildings may stand today, there’s one feature that speaks to a classic sense of Americana we don’t have anymore: That electric streetcar. San Francisco may still have trolleys like this but they used to be everywhere.
Some Places Are Timelessly Iconic
Although it’s unlikely that all of these hotels overlooking Miami’s signature beach in the ’50s still have the same look and owners, it’s also fascinating to see how little that beachfront appears to have changed.
Perhaps the biggest difference is that those hotels could be taller nowadays but it looked as much like a bustling, never-ending beach party in the days of our grandparents as it does now. Still, everything there is so much more expensive nowadays.
Chicago’s Skyline Once Looked A Lot Less Crowded
America’s second city has been a bustling place for longer than any of us have been alive but it’s still fascinating to see what that bustle looked like when things were simpler. Since these skyscrapers were much less common sights in the Chicago of 1955, they stood out a lot more.
On the left with the clock tower, we have the Wrigley building. The fabulous art deco Tribune Tower stands tall in the center (and remains proudly standing today), while the Sheraton hotel takes up more of the sky across the street. There are more buildings like this than anyone can name now.
There Were Always Slums On The South Side
Although the violence plaguing Chicago’s South Side has long been a subject of intense media sensationalism and political spin, such messaging tends to give the impression that the harsh conditions there are a new phenomenon.
Yet while the violence may have increased and the weaponry gangs are working with has become more advanced, life was always hard there. Even back in 1951, the slum-like conditions seen here at Chicago’s 37th Street compelled calls for affordable public housing.
New Orleans Built Its Party Image Over Decades
Although the streets of New Orleans always get crowded and chaotic when Mardi Gras rolls around, only Spring Break can rival the excitement and stimulation that the iconic event promises. However, the spectacular way the Louisiana city celebrates that day is part of a tradition older than any of us.
Although it’s unclear when exactly this photo was taken, the vintage clothes make it clear that elaborate viewing areas and grand, spectacular parade floats always marked Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans.
The Streets Looked So Much Cozier Back Then
It’s unclear when exactly this photo was taken but the look of the cars and the style of these buildings suggest either the 1940s or the 1950s. In either case, it’s clear that Memphis, Tennessee looked very different back then than it does now.
Front Street here brings the wholesome image of “Main Street USA” to mind, rather than the grit and bustle that characterizes America’s major cities now. The presence of a cotton seller here is also appropriate, as Memphis solid one third of the world’s cotton at the time.
The Past Only Seems Idyllic
As wistful as nostalgia about the neat, cozy, cleanliness we see in the past can make us, it’s important to remember that society has also progressed in many ways since the mid-20th Century.
After all, focusing on the classic architecture in Oklahoma City here would only be trying to sweep what’s happening in the foreground under the rug. In 1965 when this NAACP “Freedom Now” march was photographed, Oklahoma City was still a racially segregated place and would remain so until the early 1970s. Who knows how much longer that would have gone on if marches like these didn’t happen?
It’s Still A Groovy Place But Not Quite Like It Was Here
Although San Francisco’s iconic Haight-Ashbury district retains a bit of its free-spirited atmosphere and hippie aesthetics that bloomed during the Summer of Love, it was even more of a strange, fun, and creative place when that movement was at its strongest.
However, it seems that even the hippies didn’t like being called hippies after a while. That’s why this imaginative and characteristic procession saw over 100 free spirits hold a funeral for “the hippie.” From that day forward, they decided they were “free Americans” instead.
It Was Dirty But It Had Character
Although New York City looks as sanitized as it’s ever been in recent decades, the city spend decades exhibiting the grimy, smoky hue we see in this photo. Although this image reached its peak (or valley, depending on how you look at it) in the 1970s, it was building for longer than it seemed.
Indeed, these Times Square advertisements and the dark atmosphere of this photo show New York City had its distinct character as far back as 1949. After all, that’s when the movie The Third Man was being released and promoted.
This Was The Start Of A Heated Competition
Although Las Vegas’s Fremont Street is practically an urban museum of the strip that once was, the fierce competition that built the gargantuan casinos now towering over the strip started right here.
Even when this photo was taken, it was clear that the big, flashy signs of Fremont Street (remember the iconic cowboy?) were all attempts by earlier casino owners to make their establishments seem the most attractive. How many of these places still stand and how many were demolished?
The Famous Sign Wasn’t Supposed to Look Like That
When visiting Hollywood, it’s easy to assume that its famous, mountainside sign was a grand declaration that the massive cultural institution was here to stay. Considering how much pomp and circumstance America’s film industry has imbued in itself, it’s a reasonable assumption.
However, the truth is that the sign has nothing to do with any movie studio. It was built to promote the Hollywoodland residential subdivision but the sign became so iconic (and neglected) that when it was repaired in 1949, it was changed to promote the whole district.
A Bit Of Impressive Whimsy In A No-Nonsense City
Although Boston is famous for its historical role in the American Revolution and its densely-packed variety of colleges, it’s also a city that’s known to prize blunt, forthright ways of speaking and practical thinking.
Nonetheless, that’s not to say that the city has its own fun landmarks and that’s just as true historically as it is today. One stand-out example is this tea shop from 1955, which decorated its sign with a giant teapot that spurted real steam.
Despite The Palm Trees, This Is Not California Or Florida
Back in 1948, this impressive, scenic villa was unveiled in Phoenix, Arizona. Considering how arid that state can often be, it was likely no small feat to give the property such a lush lawn while also planting these palm trees.
However, it seems that’s exactly what architect Albert Chase McArthur wanted when he designed the landmark Arizona Biltmore Hotel and Resort, which still stands today.
An Embattled City During Its Glory Days
Although this city has shown some impressive recovery in recent years, it’s also true that it would fall into disrepair several times since reaching this bustling peak in 1950. Not only was its signature auto industry humming practically unopposed but it wouldn’t be long before its iconic Motown record label made the city a cultural hub as well.
Of course, I’m referring to Detroit, Michigan. Considering how dense and towering its skyline was, it was probably fair to call it one of the most bustling and powerful cities in America at the time.
There’s So Much Nostalgia Packed Into This Photo
New York City’s Strand Theater on 47th Street and Broadway was once such an iconic movie theater and concert venue that it remains sorely missed today. Not only could New Yorkers check out the classic Bogart film Key Largo in 1948 but they could also see legends like Count Basie and Billie Holiday perform.
Indeed, the nostalgia isn’t even limited to the venue itself, as it’s been decades since a Navy sailor was dressed like that outside of a Halloween costume or a period piece.
If Anything, It’s Even More Crowded Now
Also people tend to imagine Californian ports when they picture West coast shipping, this photo should go a long way to explain how Seattle, Washington, became one of America’s major cities.
Not only does its waterfront stretch far and wide to accommodate even the biggest ships but that was just as true in this vintage photo as it is today. Of course, it’s likely that even more ships use it nowadays.
It’s Only Fitting That There Would Be A Giant Coke Sign
This scene is fairly typical of a major American city in 1948. The buildings are tall but not excessively tall. The streets are fairly busy but not as densely packed as they might be today. Not to mention, the cars on the roads would all be considered classics today.
However, there is one big tell that makes it clear this photo was taken in Atlanta, Georgia. Naturally, it’s a big sign promoted that proud hometown favourite, Coca-Cola.
Ever Seen A Sign This Proud Of A Laxative Before?
Although the 1800s were the prime time for questionable patent medicines, it’s also true that firms were aggressively pushing their proprietary health tonics well into the 20th Century. For instance, here we see “Grove’s Health Train” making a stop at the Paris Medicine Company in St. Louis, Missouri.
It’s unclear what exactly the company’s patented “Grove’s Chill Tonic” was supposed to do but this truck certainly makes for a spiffy way to promote it. Since the medicine company was so proud of its laxative, there may be some clues as to the tonic’s purpose.
