We love to romanticize the past. Whether it’s through classic films like The Breakfast Club, our parents’ favorite albums from when they were in high school or stories about how magical Woodstock was back in ‘69, there’s something so sweet about nostalgia (even if it’s for a time we never personally experienced!).
So if you’re feeling like getting a blast from the past through some fascinating vintage photos, we’ve got the perfect list for you down below. We’ve gathered some of our favorite photos from the Cool Old School and Cool Past Pics Twitter accounts, so you too can feel like a cool kid from days past. Be sure to upvote all of the pictures that you wish you had been there to take or photobomb, and then let us know in the comments what event you would attend if you had a time machine to take you there. Keep reading to also find interviews with Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, and Mark Bilash, the man behind Vintage and Vogue Photography, to hear their insight on the topic of vintage pics.
Then if you haven’t had enough of these nostalgic shots, you can find another Bored Panda article featuring fun photos from the past right here.
This post may include affiliate links.
Cool Old School and Cool Past Pics have both been around the block for a while. They’re not as old as the photos they share, of course, but they both launched on Twitter in 2013. Since then, each page has amassed about 100k followers and shared over 1,000 tweets. From featuring photos of celebrities in their youth to snapshots of cultural events that rocked the world, these accounts are always entertaining.
From perusing the pictures on this list, you might learn more about your favorite film, what it would have been like to be in high school at the same time as your parents, or what you would have worn if you lived in New York City 50 years ago. Although times change rapidly, these photos are great reminders that people are just, well, people. We go to the same places today, and we enjoy the same activities, like attending music festivals and grabbing a meal with our friends. So enjoy the nostalgia of these pics, and put on some tunes from your favorite decade to really set the mood.
To gain some insight from an expert on vintage pics, we reached out to Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective. Maureen specializes in helping clients understand their family history and themselves through investigating old photos they bring her. “I start by studying clues within a picture — a hairstyle, a sign in the background, or the shape of a shirtsleeve — in order to identify a person, place or era,” Maureen writes on her website.
“What follows from my genealogical expertise is uncovering the story behind the images of the past.That could mean shedding light on how those pictures fit into your family tale. Or discovering the history of the area in which those people lived — even if that’s locally in my small state of Rhode Island or around the world in Australia.”
This is a famous photo.its the liberation of Buchenwald. The prisoner is pointing out a particularly cruel guard to the allies for further action by a court. Photo by Harold M. Roberts, April 14, 1945
First, we wanted to know what inspired Maureen to become a photo detective and expert on vintage photographs. “I worked for a historical society and while folks came in to look at books about their family history, hardly anyone asked if there were photos,” Maureen told Bored Panda. “It surprised me. It’s true that every photo tells a story.”
“Some are amazing tales like the ones on Cool Old School, and some represent more mundane moments (for instance, the sitter bought a new hat),” she explained. “All photos capture a moment in time—what were the people thinking, why did they have a picture taken, and how do those images fit into the historical context of the times. The details add up to fill us in and the lives of the individuals help fill out the story.”
We also asked Maureen why it’s important for us to hold onto old photos and keep viewing pictures from the past. “So much of history isn’t written down,” she told Bored Panda. “I see it in client photos. For instance, obsolete technology and businesses that barely left a mark. But the people and places in those images existed. They lived everyday just like we do. The photos might represent an important moment in their lives such as a wedding, or a baby that didn’t live to beyond infancy.”
“To truly understand the past, we have to talk with people about their lives and study the historical record, BUT also look at the photos and movies, because local, national, international and family history is in the tiniest details depicted,” Maureen says. “Each photo is a mystery to be solved.”
The light hasn’t come through the windows like that for decades. Tall buildings. 🙁
We also asked Maureen what we can learn from these vintage photographs. “Photos show us how we lived and loved,” she said. “They depict past generations by illustrating what was important to a person from fashion to friends. I believe each image is a time portal, a freeze frame of the past, a moment worth savoring. It captures a second that won’t happen again. Looking at pictures triggers memories, not just about the time captured by the shutter. There are related memories as well.”
“When I showed my mother a picture of her with her siblings when she was five, I was seeking answers to why and where they posed,” Maureen explained. “Instead, she shared a story about the first day of school and how her eldest sister bought her new clothes. Think about what you feel when you look at an image. They often leave us with a sense of nostalgia and longing for what came before. It’s our connection to the days we lived or those lived by our ancestors. Save them or lose a piece of the past that might not be recoverable.”
Finally, Maureen added that she “never met a photo that [she] didn’t want to know more about”. If you’re interested in consulting Maureen about a photo of your own or you’d like to hear more about her process, be sure to check out her website right here. She even has a podcast covering topics from genealogy to fashion history on Twitter, so if you’re interested in that as well, you can find it right here.
Mom mode activated! Spins around...DIDN'T I SAY QUIT HITTING YOUR SISTER!
We also reached out to photographer, vintage enthusiast and the man behind Vintage and Vogue Photography, Mark Bilash, to hear his thoughts on the topic. But first, we wanted to hear what inspired Mark to pursue a career in photography. "As a young boy I was fascinated with how you could 'freeze a moment in time' with a photograph," he told Bored Panda. "From there I began to love the creative aspect of lighting, to set a mood or tone in photography. I can’t play an instrument, sing, or paint – so this was my creative outlet."
We also asked Mark about his personal style of photography. "I love the style, fashion and appearance from the 1920s to the 1960s," he shared. "This led me to specialize in creating images that have that same look and feel from these decades. Classic Hollywood, Pinup, and Film Noir are some of my favorites genres from these decades. If I’m shooting a modern session, I do like to add a 'vintage flair' to it with possible props or an editing style."
So, you could say she was having a...Roman holiday? Eh? (I'll see myself out lol)
When it comes to what Mark loves most about vintage photos, he told Bored Panda, "Seeing a true vintage photo just draws me into a time and place that is so different from now. The buildings, the fashion, the cars, and the hairstyles are all 'eye candy' for me."
"For example: A basic photo of a parking lot full of cars from 1950, is like a work of art," Mark shared. "Every vehicle has such stunning style as opposed to nowadays. Plus it is always a bit of a history lesson. Seeing what once was and how things have changed over time. The craftsmanship of yesteryears compared to the cost-cutting of today. That is why I love creating Vintage Styled images. Having people dress in an era of spectacular fashion and stunning hairstyles is always such a rush. Also makes people appreciate the past."
My mom saw them live in the 90s. She also saw Metallica and linkin park. She’s pretty cool
We also asked Mark why holding onto pictures from the past is important. "Photos not only record a specific moment in time, but many also capture an emotion from that moment," he explained. "Since we can’t time travel yet, this is the best way possible to do so. Looking at an old photo is like peering through a window into the past. It’s also an important record of our history, whether it’s a personal history or more of a general history."
"People do not live forever, but their memories and lives can be preserved through photographs. Instead of just reading about someone or something from the past, a photo gives us a real life personal view of days gone by."
"My ideal 'dream vacation', would not be to travel to an exotic location. Instead – if it were possible – I would like to travel back in time and visit my locale during the 1920’s – 1950’s," Mark shared with Bored Panda. "Just walking around the neighborhood and seeing my city as it once was. All the interesting streets, shops, and people that are around. Take in the whole experience. That would be amazing!"
If you'd like to check out Mark's wonderful, vintage themed photos, you can visit his website right here.
We hope you're enjoying this list of cool old school pics and pics from the past that might give you a bit of nostalgia, or anemoia, nostalgia for a time you never experienced. Be sure to keep upvoting the photos that you wish you could have been around for, and then let us know in the comments which ones you'd time travel to if you had the opportunity. Then, if you're interested in checking out even more photographs from days past, I recommend you head over to this Bored Panda article next.
Not sure how to say this without sounding weird but I love how she has a realistic looking stomach and isn’t trying to hide it <3
I can practically hear 'Moonlight Serenade' playing in the background...
Only you hear that annoying sappy song. They probably were listening to the ones f u c k i n g loudly in the other room.
Load More Replies...Models in a commercial photoshot for a magazine would be the better title. And very likely it was shot in an actual studio since obviously not ambient but flash light was used. Back then it was impossible to get such a shot at such a location, the limits of film sensitivity didn't allow it. And such a shot with flash light doesn't work with a ceiling. It's a perfect picture down to the detail, it's a great work and respect to the whole crew ho did this. But just like many other pictures here it's not a documentation of the past but rather shows the extremely high level of skill and effort that was put into these pictures back then.
I'd put it being real just as likely. Note per comment below - it's a real photo from Life Magazine - not staged.
Load More Replies...Thank you. In the foreseeable future, we won't even wear clothes.
Load More Replies...Celebrating the fact that they won't get drafted to fight in WWII, not realizing that they're gonna get drafted to fight in Korea.
I found an old group pic of my mom at a party where they all were holding their cocktails under the table. Camera was far enough out to see! When to photo was sent to her my grandmother went ballistic!
Yeah the US made it through the war virtually untouched in the mainland except for the 5 people who were killed by one of the thousands of incindiary balloons they sent our way via the trade winds. Luckily, only one balloon made it. They economy grew 24 percent during war time, while Europe, asia, and northern africa lay in ruins. 65 million people dead. 30 million homeless. And starving, and just look at those kids with their chubby cheeks and a table if food. Officially, wwIi is not over, as Soviet union and Japan never signed a treaty. And it certainly isn't over in Europe or the Atlantic with mines still in the water, and unexploded ordinance still being found. While we fed our faces, Roosevelt stopped lend lease to Britain. The Brits were still suffering with rationing until at least 1953. There was little meat there, because grain farming produced more calories per acre than grazing animals, So,many farm animals were culled.. americans have no idea what people suffered
Sorry, some typos. Japan sent the balloon bombs., And the economy grew 14 percent not 24 percent. Unplowed land had to be cleared for the plow, and the agricultural ministry determined how much a farm had to produce, and if production wasn't met, the government of Great Britain confiscated the land. 10,000 farm families lost their property, some having lived on their properties for hundreds of years. If you want any more info on the war, watch FOYLES WAR and WARTIME FARM, both available on Amazon.
Load More Replies...The world has changed so much...the fact that youngsters dressed up in formal clothing to go to parties, the dancing, basically the young behaving like responsible adults. Not even adults act like that today!
I have pictures of my parents that are similar to this, but in black and white. Their styles made them look so much older than subsequent generations, especially wearing suits and dresses that look like they're going to the office.
This one does not seem right. The guy's hair is too long on top and should be almost shaved on the sides. The clothes of both genders look much more the early 1950s than 1947.
I would love to find a picture like this and say wait - there's my parents!
The two in the back are looking awful friendly for the 50s... scandalizing!
The colorization makes it look like a painting. The young woman at bottom right looks absolutely smitten.
I don't quite believe this one. Teenage boys in suits and ties for a party? Even if it was 1947.
Compare that to a raging rave that some kids are holding in vacant mansions...LOL!!! OR NOT...
Doubtful. The school admins of 1969 would be total pucketbutts and demand she go home and put on a bra & a longer skirt.
Note: this post originally had 90 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Alternative title - 9 year year old tweets that show how Twitter as changed.
totally off topic, but so often people claim their extreme obeisity is genetic, nothing they can do. Then why are there only "normal" looking people on these old pictures? It's not like there was a famine in 1969?!
There weren't a lot of pictures or films of bigger people, either.
Load More Replies...Alternative title - 9 year year old tweets that show how Twitter as changed.
totally off topic, but so often people claim their extreme obeisity is genetic, nothing they can do. Then why are there only "normal" looking people on these old pictures? It's not like there was a famine in 1969?!
There weren't a lot of pictures or films of bigger people, either.
Load More Replies...