These 17 Photos of Real Personal Ads From the 1950s and Beyond Are Eye-Opening
Long before choosing who to date by swiping left or right, singles looking for love had to put themselves out there the old-fashioned way: through personal ads in newspapers and magazines. From lonely hearts seeking that “special someone to share life with” to wacky bachelors hoping to “start a nudist colony for diabetics,” these witty ads from the 1950s and beyond offered a glimpse into the hopes (and humor) of singles trying to meet the one.
1. These Dudes Cut Straight to the Chase
2. Diabetic Man From Massachusetts Hoping To Meet Other Diabetics
3. Deaf Guy Willing To Meet ‘Gals for Fun’ and Teach Sign Language
4. A Widow Seeking ‘Stimulating Conversation,’ Dancing, and More
5. Anybody Fancy Meeting This Guy for ‘Fun and Games’?
6. Was This the OG Bumble BFF?
7. He Might Not Steal Your Heart, But He’ll Definitely Make Something Disappear — Maybe Even a Rabbit
7. ‘Ultimate Confidence,’ We Love To See It
8. Elizabeth From West Virginia Is a ‘Bundle of Energy,’ 1951
9. Single Jewish Male Seeking Special Female To ‘Share Life With’
10. It’s Like Window Shopping, Except for a Life Partner
11. …and Can’t Forget About the Queer Community
12. Never Let Schizophrenia and Depression Stop You From Finding Your Life Partner
13. She Left the Convent To Risk It All for Love
14. A Man With a Spine? He’d Be in High Demand Today
15. Guess the Toxic Ones Have Always Been Around
16. First Time Seeing Someone Brag About Having Zero Qualifications
17. Even the Vampires Were Looking for Love
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