22 Photos That Bring Back the Magic of Old Soda Fountains
Long before Utah made soda bars trendy, soda fountains had already become beloved hangout spots in cities across America. Featuring a wide array of fizzy concoctions, spinning bar stools, and sweet treats, they served as the backdrop for first dates, after-school hangouts, and neighbors spilling gossip over cherry Cokes. More than just diner fixtures, these local spots were the heartbeat of their communities. These 22 vintage photos capture the nostalgia and effervescent charm of retro soda fountains.
1. Two Patrons Visit a Soda Fountain in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, 1916
2. ‘Drug Store Soda Fountain, 1920s’
3. Mackey’s Creamery, a Soda Fountain in Sausalito, California, 1943
4. ‘Biggest Soda Fountain in Battle Creek, Michigan, Circa 1911’
5. Three Friends Enjoy a Dirty Soda at a Beachside Fountain, 1940s
6. Just Another Afternoon at the Local Soda Fountain, 1950s
7. ‘Teenagers at a Soda Fountain, 1940s’
8. The ‘Miller and Shoemaker Soda Fountain’ Was a Popular Establishment in Kansas, 1899
9. Two Soda Jerks Trade Smiles While Working the Soda Machine, 1940
10. Enjoying a Banana Split at a 1950s Soda Fountain
11. A Rolling Soda Fountain in Warsaw, Poland, 1960s
12. A Soda Jerk Serves Up a Classic Float With a Smile, 1936
13. ‘Flappers at a Soda Fountain Drinking Milk Shakes, 1926’
14. Drugstores in the 1920s Also Doubled as Soda and Candy Counters
15. A Fountain Clerk Serves a Customer in a Manhattan Drugstore, 1947
16. A Group of Ladies at the Willis Soda-Fountain in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1960s
17. ‘A Consolidated Drug Store, Lunch Counter, and Soda Fountain in Richmond, Kentucky, 1930’
18. A Soda Fountain Jerk Working Behind the Counter, 1953
19. ‘Old Glory Soda Fountain and Cafe, 1940’
20. ‘Ginger Rogers Sitting at a Soda Fountain With a Glass of Cola, 1937’
21. Teens Enjoying Milkshakes at the Local Soda Fountain, 1954
22. Three Cowboys Enjoy a Drink at a Soda Fountain in Fort Worth, Texas, 1972
Looking for more old-school hangouts?
These photos of 16 Retro Diners Through the Decades will have you longing for the days of jukeboxes and 50-cent burgers. You might also love Love at First Snap: 19 Vintage Photos That Capture First-Date Feels and 15 Vintage Menus From the 1950s.