[Trending] 50+ Fascinating Color Photos Show Everyday Life In 1950’s America
The 1950’s are often viewed as a golden era in U.S. history, a time of happiness and prosperity, despite the threat of nuclear annihilation,...
The 1950’s are often viewed as a golden era in U.S. history, a time of happiness and prosperity, despite the threat of nuclear annihilation, racial segregation and the looming Cold War.
While most photos from the time are in black and white, color photography was still a relative novelty at the time and the film was quite expensive for regular people, the photos below are in glorious color. This means that they are more relatable, and makes the period feel closer to us than ever.
Many of the photos were collected by Denis Fraevich, a New Yorker of Russian descent who loves to bring the era back to life. “The pictures were found at auctions, flea markets and yards, digitized and posted on the Internet,” he told Bored Panda. “Someone’s happy life, someone’s dreams, important events, holidays and travel, for some reason were thrown into the garbage and became penny goods in a neighborhood sale. Seeing this is incredibly sad, but thanks to enthusiasts who buy and digitize old slides, we can raise the curtain of time and look at that era through the eyes of ordinary Americans.”
It is Denis’ hobby to search for these photos, he is fascinated by all things Americana and loves history, abandoned places and as you can see in many of the photos, classic American cars. “I am amazed at how often a car is present in the frame,” he said. “They obviously occupied a much more important position in the life of an American than in our time. Today, it is much less likely that someone would take pictures of their car or television.” Denis works as a Russian-speaking tour guide in NYC and has a fascinating blog, which you can find here. (Translate it from Russian)
Scroll down to check out the pictures below, it might just inspire you to dig out that old leather jacket and the Brylcreem!
Lady In Red
Image credits: unknown
Collisions Of Ford And A Suburban Train. Los Angeles, 1955
Image credits: Bill Whyte
Nash Wash: Wausau, Wisconsin. 1955
Image credits: unknown
Picnic In Los Angeles, California. 1959
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1950’s Chevy Hardtop At A Chevron Station, 1957
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Minnesota, September 1952
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Woman In The Kitchen
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1957 Buick Roadmaster. Chicago
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Kitchen Klatch. January 1959, Los Angeles, California
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The Girl In The Car, 1954
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Flying Boat. Virginia, 1955
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On The Border Of Virginia, 1955
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At The Entrance To Florida, 1958
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Gifts For Christmas, 1958
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1953 Studebaker coupe
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Santa
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Chicago
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Grandmother And Grandson, New York State
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Strekreyser early 50’s
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50’s
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Wooden bridge in Bryant Park
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Lovers of red. Michigan, 1955
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Winter in New England
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Grandfather with his grandson
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Girls with a scooter
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Daytona Beach, Florida
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A girl with a dog and a Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe 4 Door, 1950
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Pilots at the air base in El Paso, Texas, 1953
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Snorkeling in Montego Bay, Jamaica, 1958
Image credits: Nick Dewolf
Tram stop in Los Angeles
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Sunbathing
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African-Americans. In the photo, the family gathered at the Christmas table
Image credits: unknown
Village guys and pick-up, 1959
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Child in a car seat
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Christmas, 1951
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Flin Flon, Manitoba, June 27, 1956
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Aerodrome in Michigan, 1952
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Girls on the beach
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New cars parked in front of the showroom
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Backyards of the Chinese theater of Grauman, Los Angeles
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A farmer with a bouquet of flowers
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Hotel Dunes, Las Vegas
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Moving. Buffalo, New York
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Buffalo, New York
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Wipe the windshield
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Maryland
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Children. Los Angeles, 1954
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Los Angeles 1954
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Los Angeles 1952
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Building Capitol Records on Vine Street. Los Angeles, 1957
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Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, 1954
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Los Angeles, 1956
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TV repair. 1959
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Los Angeles, 1951
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Maxwell street, Chicago, 1953
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50’s
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Ohio, 1955
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Brooklyn, 1956
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At the parade in Palm Springs, Florida. 1955
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50’s
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Buys station
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Bus station. 1959
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USNS Breckinridge US Navy Ship. 1959
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1957
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Colorado, 1950
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Taxi driver, 1956
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After the snowfall. Ohio, 1958
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At the gas station, 1957
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Pedestrian on the street of a small town, 1956
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Sears department store with Christmas decorations
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Source: BoredPanda