There's something undeniably captivating about old photos. Maybe they capture attention because they harken back to a time long before we were born. Sometimes, they bring on a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time in life.
In any event, we're in a privileged position in this modern age because we have nearly two centuries of photography to look back on, and it's all at our fingertips. Maybe you remember these times and maybe you don't - but there's no doubt that they offer a tantalizing glimpse at a bygone time.
"My dad in the early '90s."
This comes from a subreddit called r/oldschoolcool. If I'm being honest, while the pics are always interesting, they don't always capture the spirit of being both old school and cool. This pic, though? It totally fits the theme.
The car, the palm trees, and the overall sense of swagger (I mean, just look at that flat top!) just captures something that's hard to replicate. Even if someone else wanted to capture this vibe, it would be hard to do so effortlessly.
"Playing dinosaurs with my great grandpa (Orville Redenbacher) in 1990."
Anyone who grew up in the '80s or '90s will probably feel a nostalgic twinge for the lighting and styles on display in this pic. It simply could not have come from any other era.
It's a nice family pic and all, but the Orville Redenbacher Easter egg is absolutely wild. I want to deduct points for the fact that there's nary a kernel of corn to be seen.
"My dad's fishing license late '70s/early '80s."
Any kind of photo on an official document - whether it's a license of some kind or a passport - always seems to show us in the worst possible light. This pic is no exception, but at least there's some personality in his expression.
I could see this being a still from some raunchy comedy. He doesn't look dangerous or threatening or anything, but he does look like he just might not know who he is or what's going on.
"The Storyville Jazz Club - Copenhagen, Denmark, 1952."
This pic comes from that unique time period in the mid-20th century where the formal fashion trends of the early century intermingled with more modern trappings like the dawn of rock and roll.
There's a sweet nostalgia to this pic. It's very much a candid photo, where nobody seems to realize they're being photographed. It captures so much human emotion in one frame that it might just evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia - even if it was taken decades before you were born.
"Members of the Wearable Computing Project at MIT. Mid '90s.
"
This pic comes from a time where people thought the future of technology would have us all becoming part cyborg, festooning our bodies with wearable tech. While this vision did come to fruition (just look at modern health trackers), it doesn't look nearly as goofy as this.
It's easy to look back at this and laugh, but if you were around during this time, you already know that there was nothing cooler than this kind of tech. Remember the Nintendo Power Glove?
"Christmas, 1991. When I was 7 years old, my dad gave me this 66cc Honda. He spent 6 months secretly rebuilding and painting it to look just like his Yamaha, so we could ride trials together."
Lots of old pics show a time period that we'll never get back, but some are comforting reminders that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Case in point: overjoyed kids receiving presents on Christmas morning.
If you take away the grainy blurriness that comes with early '90s point-and-click cameras, this photo could come from the 2020s. I wonder what ever happened to this guy's tricked out custom bike.
"My grandmother was one of the first women to be a train engineer for Union Pacific, possibly the first in her state (mid-1970s)."
This is a surprisingly intimate pic of a trailblazer. A lot of old pics showing people on the job feel like publicity photos, with smiling workers putting the best possible face on what could be absolutely punishing jobs.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it feels like there's a sadness, or at least a reflectiveness, that you can see in her eyes. It's hard to imagine how difficult it would be for a Black woman to break through in a male-dominated field half a century ago.
"In 1996 I was 18 and I worked at a used CD store."
This pic is giving me major mid-'90s vibes, which makes total sense as it was snapped right in the middle of the decade. It looks like it could be the still from one of those angsty, but still upbeat, movies that were released that decade.
If you could go back in time and put Claire Danes into Empire Records alongside Liv Tyler, stills from that movie would probably look like this. I love how it shows not the main retail counter, but the quiet backroom.
"In 1839, Robert Cornelius sat for 15 minutes in front of a hand built camera made of opera glass and sheets of copper. His picture became the first 'selfie' ever taken."
It's hard not to admire this guy's patience. In modern times, where we can whip a smartphone out of our pockets and take a high-quality picture with so many megapixels that it literally shows pores in the skin, it's hard to imagine sitting still for this long just for a selfie.
Interestingly, the extremely long exposure time of early photos helps explain why so many people look angry, or at least neutral, in them. I mean, you try to hold a beaming smile while sitting still for 15 minutes.
"Gary Sinise here. Here's me at age 5 on Halloween back in 1960 in my hometown of Blue Island, Illinois."
It's always fun to see legit celebrities on Reddit, and Gary Sinise - Lieutenant Dan himself - shared this one last Halloween to show what kids looked like when they went trick-or-treating back in the day. As it turns out, things haven't really changed much.
There's a common thread in Sinise's life that ties together his Lieutenant Dan character and even this photo - his military-focused humanitarian work over the years has helped innumerable U.S. veterans.
"My future wife meeting Mr. T when she worked at a comic book store, mid '90s."
Mr. T is one of those celebrities who's somehow remained famous and recognizable over the decades, even though he hasn't done much by the '80s. Even in the mid '90s, when this picture was taken, he really wasn't appearing in new movies or TV shows.
That said, he never quite took on the persona of being a washed-up star. Maybe it's the chains, maybe it's the mohawk, and maybe it's the catchphrases, but Mr. T remains almost as popular as he ever was.
"Nearly 40 years after his snub by FDR, President Gerald Ford invited legendary Olympian Jesse Owens to the White House in August 1976. To Owens' shock, Ford proceeded to not only honor him, but present him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom."
For some context, Jesse Owens was a national hero who won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympic Games - significant humiliation for Hitler, who presided over the games. Owens was celebrated at the time, but still faced racial prejudice when he returned to the U.S.
It's almost hard to imagine that a sitting president would snub a photo op with an Olympic hero, but that's exactly what Franklin Roosevelt did in 1936. Some 40 years later, Gerald Ford righted that wrong.
"A punk outside Buckingham Palace mourning the death of Princess Di, 1997."
The classic punk movement sprung up simultaneously in many different pockets, but the classic '70s British punk might be the most iconic. Informed by the anti-authority messages of various punk bands, these folks opposed anybody in positions of power, particularly the royal family.
This photo really drives home just how impactful the death of Princess Diana truly was. While the royal family was not particularly popular during the decade, Princess Diana was the rare outlier who was beloved by almost everyone.
"My bus stop gang in the mid '90s."
When you see oversized white t-shirts with big graphics, overalls, and jorts in the same picture, it can only mean one thing: that said pic must have been taken at some point during the glorious decade of the '90s.
I'd imagine that looking at this pic is enormously nostalgic for anyone who's in it. Heck, I'm feeling nostalgic somehow, and I've never met any of these people. I wonder what they're all up to these days.
"James Cameron on the set of Titanic, 1997."
Sometimes, a pic is absurdly confusing unless it comes with some form of context. Fortunately, the context here efficiently explains why James Cameron is sitting on a vintage wicker chair, and also why the surrounding area is shin-deep in water.
Still, this context doesn't give us everything. My question is why James Cameron chose to sit here. It looks like he has waterproof hip waders on, but still, there must have been a better place to sit on set.
"Chris Farley and his dad in the 1990s at a beach on Lake Michigan."
This poignant photo shows one of the most beloved comedians of all time - and one who left us way too soon - sharing a tender moment with his dad on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Farley grew up in Wisconsin, and for all of his brash comedic stylings, was by all accounts a reserved and gentle soul who never felt fully comfortable with his fame. He made a big impression on the world in his 33 years on this planet.
"My grandparents the night they met (1970)."
Devoid of context, this kind of looks like he just said, "So anyway, here's Wonderwall," while she gives him all the side-eye in the world. But knowing that they got together and started a family makes it kind of sweet.
Even if she was judging him that night, there must have been something that she saw in him - even if it wasn't necessarily his guitar playing. It's pretty rare for a couple to have a photo together from the literal first night they met.
"I humbly submit a photo from circa 1987 for your approval. A photo of me, my dog wearing sunglasses, and my 1984 Fiero SE."
Do you ever see a pic that hits you just right? This is one of those pics for me. I learned to drive in a boxy '80s car much like this, and I also appreciate a good starter mullet.
It would be a great photo even without the dog, but the addition of a sunglass-clad pup just chilling in the car makes this one an all-time great. Can we just bring the '80s back somehow?
"My grandpa at 19 years old in 1972."
All too often, the main thing that dates a photo - even aside from the fashions or technology on display - is the lighting and colors. Cheap disposable cameras from the '90s give things a certain vibe, and modern cameras date things firmly in the present.
But when you strip the colors away, photos take on a certain timelessness. The carefree, candid expression - and square jaw - make this guy look like he could have stepped out of a modern-day fashion shoot.
"My parents on their wedding day, 1984."
Speaking of colors, the warm - almost sepia - tone of this color pic date it firmly in the mid-'80s. If only there was some woodgrain paneling in the background, this pic couldn't be any more emblematic of that decade.
Also - and I don't want to get hung up on this, but still - I can't help but wonder if she's absurdly tall or if he's absurdly short. Maybe it's just a case of a short king getting together with a lanky lady.
An entire career in one picture
The first of these photos came from 1979 when Reddit user nankie had just started her career as an obstetrical nurse. In the decades that followed, she not only kept up this profession but spent her entire career working at the same hospital.
In August of 2021, she posted this side-by-side comparison of her first and last days on the job after announcing her retirement. People were stunned to see 42 years of work summed up like that, but also by how gracefully she aged.
That mountain probably looks a little familiar
Before they had computer graphics imaging or any other digital tricks that the modern film industry takes for granted, filmmakers had to find other ways to bring the impossible to life. And one common technique was to use matte paintings to create backdrops that otherwise weren't possible to film.
However, it's easy to forget that this technique worked as well for the logos of various production companies as it did for the movie's actual scenes. Hence, this painting of the Paramount Pictures logo when it was freshly completed in 1965.
Hopefully, a storm this bad stays in the past
Although many of us can point to times when our older relatives exaggerated about how tough they had it when they were growing up, some of their stories are just like they remember. And that tends to be true whenever they refer to a great disaster forever tied to a specific year.
For instance, this photo captures the aftermath of the Great North Dakota Blizzard of 1966. It proves that this man was not exaggerating when he said the snow was so deep he could walk to the tops of his local power lines. It's mind-boggling to consider.
The show clearly did its research
When some younger people take a look at this photo from 1982, they can be forgiven for thinking that it had some subtle but powerful inspiration for Stranger Things. Although that show is obviously marked by some incredible supernatural occurrences, it's also the story of one group of friends' adventures as they navigate the '80s.
Although this photo shows how well the show's makers nailed the time period, it doesn't actually have anything to do with it. This is just Reddit user Hamuktakali's father and his childhood friends.
What an adorable little moment
In this shot from 1989, a mother has tagged in and started playing her son's Game Boy to help him get through a hard level in Super Mario Land. Indeed, she must have been doing a pretty good job, considering how many kids were staring in wonder around her.
Honestly, that's what makes this whole scene so wholesome. Even if the boys didn't have cute little mushroom haircuts, the fact that they were so enraptured by mom's mad skills while she took her son's little problem seriously would make this just as sweet.
It's hard not to wonder what we'll look like
If there were such a thing as Tinder during the 1950s, this man would not have to spend too much time thinking of the ideal profile picture. His casual lean, winning smile, and square jaw likely turned heads at the time since they still have that same effect almost 70 years later.
That's because this is a photo of Reddit user fat_pancake's grandfather, who had just turned 90 years old at the time. Although they didn't share what their grandpa looks like now, it's impossible to dispute that he was an absolute dreamboat in his youth.
She's always been so charming
Although almost everyone loves Dolly Parton today, that speaks to how endlessly charming and famously sweet she has been throughout her whole career. After all, you'd be as hard-pressed back then to find someone who doesn't appreciate her as you would now.
While she's often showed so much she cares about others, this photo expresses Parton's likeability as much as a list of her charitable and sweet acts could hope to. She's faced life with a warm, friendly smile that made whoever it was aimed at feel like the most important person alive.
This was once a much more common sight
This is a rare occasion where the editing of the picture means more than its subject. This was once a photo of a young woman leaning against a car, but it now has a big heart outline of where her head should be.
That's because this woman's sweetheart cut it out at the time so they could put it into a locket. Although it's been easy to make copies of photos for decades, that wasn't always the case, and a photo had to be sacrificed to make a token of love.
That isn't just the average adorable child
When people see baby photos from the mid-20th Century or earlier, they will sometimes find that guessing a baby's gender isn't as easy as it is now. That's because the baby clothes they had for boys back then didn't look too dissimilar from what a girl would have worn.
So, it's understandable that many people would assume this little boy is a girl. And unless they're superfans of the band Queen, they probably wouldn't have guessed that this happy baby would grow up to be Freddie Mercury. Nobody in this photo likely would have guessed that either.
He was in love with her at first sight
When Reddit user Je3ter62 first met his wife in the late 1970s, he thought she was the spitting image of his first celebrity crush, Katharine Ross. And while they spent three years together in what looked like chemical bliss, their love story would continue in an unexpected way.
After they broke up when he left for the U.S. Navy, they spent 25 years apart and married other people. Then, the person who took this photo reconnected them because they were both in unhappy marriages. Fast forward, and now they're about to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary.
You may not have heard of this band, but they're a big deal
This photo from 1987 captures the American rock band Visitor. They aren't terribly well-known, and they're pretty hard to search for because they weren't the only band that had chosen that name. Still, there's a special reason why Reddit user -blundertaker- uploaded this picture of them.
It isn't because the uploader is a die-hard fan, though they could very well be true. If it is, however, then that's the result of some serious bias because their stepdad is one of the men in this photo. I'm just surprised the band wasn't called "Stage Right."
A happy and super cute couple
This old Polaroid shows a couple taking a photo together in 1971. Although they were young and in love at the time, it's unknown whether even they could have predicted how strong their love would turn out to be.
According to Reddit user outlanderxxo, the couple pictured here is their paternal grandparents. They also shared that both of these grandparents are still alive, which makes us all hope that they're still as happy and deeply in love as they were when this was taken.
Her interesting life is written all over her face
As Reddit user 00Samwise00 explained, this photo captured their grandmother in 1951, right after she had finished emigrating from Scotland to New Jersey. Commenters seemed to agree that while she was a lovely woman, there was also something severe and intimidating about how she carried herself.
At the same time, it's also possible that this was the result of her putting a brave face on a significant change in her life. While the uploader didn't comment on how accurate this photo was to her personality, they did mention that she served in Britain's Signal Corps during World War II.
If this couple seems tough, that's because they are
Although some commenters compared Reddit user honeymoonandthestars's grandparents to Bonnie and Clyde, it seems they weren't far off in considering their steely stares in this photo as marks of genuine toughness. The grandfather's name was Jack, and he was wounded twice in World War II, which he saw through to the end after joining the Army in 1939.
As for the grandmother, her name was Irene, and she was about as tough as her husband. When a neighbor raised her hand to strike Irene's son, she dove off the porch to physically force her to stop. Since Jack said, "Get her, Rene," in response, he sounded pretty proud of his wife.
He had the right vibe for the occasion
As Reddit user ellozee explained, this photo was taken during the first overseas trip he took alone at 21 years old. He described this shot from Stonehenge as an attempt by him to look moody and mysterious.
Although that's some refreshing self-awareness, some commenters who thought he was a handsome lad back then argued that he pulled it off. Either way, "moody" and "mysterious" are probably the right vibes to capture when visiting Stonehenge. It's not like the place is light on mystery itself.
He was a nerd before it was cool
At this point, both Star Wars and Star Trek are such globally beloved franchises that it's not considered not considered at all weird to like one or both of them. Although Star Trek was also very popular by the time The Next Generation found its stride, that doesn't mean it wasn't also mainly considered the province of nerds.
But while he may not have been as committed to it as the borgs on either side of him, Reddit user LarkinLarkinBoBarkin's dad can proudly say he was one of those nerds back in the '90s. Before fan conventions became as ubiquitous as they are now, he was a fandom pioneer.
They're there to see something boldly go for real
Star Trek fans will likely recognize the cast of the original series as they excitedly attend the dedication of the space shuttle Enterprise in 1976. Since they were all invited, there isn't a lot of room for doubt that the shuttle was inspired by the iconic Star Trek ship.
For those wondering where William Shatner is, it appears that he was unable to attend due to a professional commitment. Judging by how they wrote about him in their memoirs, no wonder his former co-stars looked so happy and relaxed.
This was a much more common sight back then
Some folks may recognize Los Angeles's famous Sunset Strip in this photo, but those who have been around the block enough times will find their behavior even more familiar. Once upon a time, hitchhiking was how many people who didn't have cars used to get around.
This photo was taken in 1966, which was firmly in the time period when this was a common sight. That said, most hitchhikers didn't look quite as stylish as these swinging cats did. No wonder people still like those vintage sunglasses; they add so many cool points.
That's not typically the attire for this kind of activity
If someone's out shoveling snow, you can typically expect them to wear a heavy winter coat and muddle through the deep snow in the front yard. However, Reddit user creamydreamy86's mother had a different approach in the late '70s when her apartment in Canada had some snowfall on its balcony.
Sadly, the uploader didn't elaborate on why she was in her swimsuit at the time. Unless this was a freak summer snowstorm, it might have to do with the fact that it's very easy to work up a sweat while shoveling. Still, you'd think frostbite would be an issue.
This is basically how everyone looks on Monday morning
Reddit user Lauren_sue has a collection of antique glass negatives, and one of them features this photo of a factory custodian from 1918. Although photographs were taken with harsher lights back then, many suspected that this wasn't the reason for his dismayed expression.
Instead, they figured that cleaning up a factory's grounds was a much bigger and harder job in 1918 than it is now. So, they guessed that he didn't exactly come to work whistling with a spring in his step.
