vintage photos

  • A woman in a KISS-themed uniform poses excitedly next to a smiling person in elaborate, spiked, black-and-white makeup and costume, resembling a member of the rock band KISS, in a backstage hallway.

    Backstage Pass: 21 Raw and Real Backstage Photos of Famous Musicians

    As electric as concerts can be, backstage can be downright magical, too. Far from the audience seats and blinding arena lights, musicians can let their guard down before taking the stage. These candid photos unveil the unfiltered side of the…

  • Two behind-the-scenes photos: on the left, people construct a giant set piece resembling a bed inside a sphere; on the right, puppeteers operate Sesame Street’s Oscar the Grouch and another character from behind set props.

    Life on Set: 16 Behind-the-Scenes Photos From Iconic TV Shows

    Over the decades, TV shows have succeeded in creating detailed worlds that feel incredibly real. They’ve done such a good job, in fact, that taking a peak behind the scenes is pretty mind-blowing. These photos depicting on-set life from some…

  • Split image: On the left, a woman in aviator goggles and flight gear stands by an airplane. On the right, a man wearing a flat cap and vest balances several bricks on his shoulders, looking determined.

    32 Vintage Photos That Capture the World in 1928

    On the cusp of the Great Depression, life in 1928 embraced simplicity and looked innovation dead in the face (we’re looking at you, Amelia Earhart). Folks were starting to travel the skies more often, in airplanes or zeppelins, and travel…

  • On the left, a glamorous woman in a white fur stole sits at a table. On the right, a black-and-white image shows a parade with crowds and a Mickey Mouse balloon in a city street.

    32 Powerful Photos of Life in the 1930s

    During the 1930s, the Great Depression cast a long shadow across America. But life didn’t stop: People worked, danced, built, invented, rebelled, and dreamed of a brighter future. From steelworkers perched on skyscrapers to grocers just trying to make an…

  • A group of soldiers in brown uniforms and helmets lie prone on rocky terrain, aiming rifles and machine guns, with hills and a large rock in the background. The scene appears to be from a historical military conflict.

    21 Powerful Photos From World War II That Were Brought to Life in Color

    We’re used to seeing World War II in grainy black-and-white newsreels and textbook photos, but colorized images pull the past into the present. Suddenly you notice the scuffed leather boots, the chipped paint on a landing craft, the billowing black…

  • Split image: Left, a teen in a Black Sabbath shirt stands in a bedroom filled with band posters. Right, a group of students in a classroom, some smiling and making the "rock on" hand gesture.

    From Fashion to Fun: 17 Snapshots That Depict Teenage Life in the ’80s

    Growing up in the ’80s was all about being wild and free. Teenagers blasted cassette tapes, mastered new tricks on their bikes, and tried to beat the high score at every arcade. Join us for a walk down memory lane…

  • A black-and-white photo of a jazz band in tuxedos playing various instruments, including saxophones, trumpet, drums, piano, and banjo, on a stage with a banner reading "Happy Walker’s Pavilion Original Orchestra.

    These 30 Photos Capture What Life Was Actually Like in the Early 1920s

    The early 1920s were caught between the lingering hardships of World War I and the exuberance of the Jazz Age that would come to define the Roaring Twenties. In America,…

  • A split image: On the left, two young girls pose together in casual 90s outfits in front of a wooden wall. On the right, a woman in black hugs a surprised man wearing a cap and jacket in a hallway.

    These 31 Nostalgic Photos Will Transport You Back to 1994

    The year is 1994. Your mom is violently brushing your hair into a side ponytail because you’re running late for school, “Barney & Friends” is on in the background, and…

  • Split image: Left shows two boys climbing on a dented blue car parked outside an old brick building. Right shows a woman in a retro outfit using a wall-mounted rotary phone in a wood-paneled booth.

    30 Photos That Perfectly Capture the Vibe of 1970

    Leaving the swinging sixties in the rearview, 1970 veered into a new era. The year marked the beginning of a decade chock-full of political scandals, iconic music, the rise of…

  • Black-and-white photo of a man in a suit holding a falcon statuette; next to a color photo of gloved hands holding a black, cylindrical prop with red details.
    , ,

    13 Famous Movie Props That Made Headlines at Auction

    The allure of Hollywood memorabilia has been known to transcend generations, with props, costumes, and artifacts used by famous actors fetching astronomical prices at auction. These items offer a unique…

  • Two women and a man stand and talk outside a grocery store, while two girls sit on sacks of flour. Storefront windows display prices for salad dressing, margarine, sugar, milk, flour, and corn flakes.

    Discover What the World Looked Like in 1938 Through These 35 Nostalgic Photos

    In 1938, America was still clawing its way out of the Great Depression, while Europe braced for the possibility of yet another war. You’d think folks might have just given…

  • A musician with shoulder-length blonde hair plays an electric guitar and sings into a microphone on stage, wearing a red and black striped sweater, under colorful stage lights.

    14 Photos That Capture the Grunge Era of the ’90s

    If you still get goosebumps when you hear the intro to “Nutshell,” welcome home. These photos are all about the 1990s grunge era (AKA, the glory days), featuring bands like…

  • A group of people, both men and women, stand and sit on an old-fashioned car in a city street, waving flags and holding a sign that reads “We Cleaned Up!” during a lively parade or celebration.

    Travel Back to 1918 With These 32 Powerful Photos That Tell a Story

    1918 was a year that changed the world forever. As World War I came to a close, the ultra-deadly Spanish flu reared its ugly head, sweeping through entire cities and…

  • Left: Four women in matching navy blue and white color-blocked dresses pose against a blue backdrop. Right: People gather at an outdoor festival with tents and a Volkswagen Beetle on a grassy hillside.

    32 Photos From 1969 That Capture a Generation in Motion

    From Woodstock to the Apollo 11 launch and anti-war protests to the Beatles’ last live performance, 1969 was a year that saw tremendous change. On the cusp of the ’70s,…

  • A split image: on the left, a woman in a vintage gown poses gracefully on stairs; on the right, a large audience wearing 3D glasses watches something intently. Both images are in black and white.

    22 Photos From the Golden Age of Hollywood

    The Golden Age of Hollywood was a time when glamour, style, and larger-than-life personalities came together to define the silver screen. From the late 1920s to the mid-1960s, movie stars…

  • Left: A woman in a floral dress holds a large sun hat. Right: Two boys look at a whimsical truck with a giant teapot on its cab in a street scene. Both images are in black and white.

    30 Vintage Shots That Capture Life in 1950

    Life changed a lot during the 1950s, but the year that started the decade was just scratching the surface of what the rest of the 1950s had in store. From…

  • On the left, a vintage Navy recruiting poster features a woman in a sailor uniform. On the right, a 1924 Jell-O advertisement shows a girl in a blue dress holding a tray, with bold yellow and white text.
    ,

    15 Fascinating Ads That Tell the Story of Early 20th Century Life

    If you want to get a glimpse of life in the early 20th century, just look at advertisements from the era. These vintage ads were printed at a time before…

  • Four men in suits stand around a pool table, holding cues and talking. One man lights a cigarette while the others watch and chat in a stylish, mid-century modern room with artwork on the walls.

    20 Photos of Pool Halls and Billiard Rooms From a Bygone Era

    If there’s one thing that stands out about old pool halls and billiard rooms, it’s the way they came alive after dark. The lights were dim, the air thick with…