50 pics from the past that are fun to look at

Old photos are like windows into the past. Times gone by that we’ve either entirely forgotten or they have faded and blurred so much in our memories, it’s almost like they don’t exist anymore.

Until we—or someone else—digs them out from wherever they have been tucked away. And we get a chance to look in awe at those who came before us. Maybe loved ones, maybe strangers. Maybe happy memories, maybe memories that remind us of grief.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at some old school cool. Fun and remarkable times that others have shared. Maybe times that make us reflect on what the human race has gained or lost as the world spins and shifts around us.

1. How many times have you seen this?

Do you even realize what this is? It is the Paramount Pictures logo on the day it was first painted in 1965.

2. Growing weed in the backyard.

Sometime in the 1970s as someone gets caught by the authorities for growing weed in their backyard. That officer looks stoned.

3. This makes me want to cry.

As music lover, I can’t imagine being death. This young man is holding a speaker to his chest so he can feel the vibrations of the music.

4. Uncle Billy.

Uncle Billy just turned 90. This is him out on his boat sometime in the early 80s. And that is a very awesome shot.

5. Joe cool

Look at this kid. I hate to say anything mean, because he might have some sort of real medical issue. But look at the size of his head and the lack of a neck!

6. I can’t unsee it!

This picture of a white Jewish woman, dated around 1962, looks like someone familiar, doesn’t it? I saw Obama as soon as I looked at her face.

7. Amazing story.

This picture was posted by the son of the guy in front. This is Vietnam in 1971. The family didn’t even know the pic existed. The son found it on the internet and showed his dad. He said his dad cried when he saw it.

8. The coolest mom ever.

This is a pic of mom in about 1983. The posted complains that they aren’t cool because mom got all the cool in the family. And mom built that bike, too!

9. Yeah, that didn’t happen!

This is from 38 years ago. A solar eclipse not to be repeated until 2017. And the world surely wasn’t at peace. More like the exact opposite.

10. Rich kid?

But that isn’t the real story. This 102-year-old man bought this Rolls Royce when he was 20. He’s still driving it.

11. They were right!

This is a 1986 yearbook photo of Terry Crews voted “Most likely to succeed”. According to Wikipedia, he “is an American actor, comedian, activist, artist, bodybuilder, and former professional football player.” They were right!

12. Pixar grandpa.

This is from the 60s. A very cool, and very much before his time Grandpa sending a video greeting to his family.

13. Please. Please, no.

May I never see anything like this in my lifetime. This is a blizzard that happened in North Dakota in 1966. This is a Department of Transportation employee standing next to the top of a set of power lines.

14. Remember those fun summer days?

You can thank this guy, the inventor of the Super Soaker. It was initially called the Power Drencher, when first launched in 1989, then rebranded as the Super Soaker in 1991.

15. School pic.

A lot of people look back at old school photos with regret. But this is pretty cool. Who wouldn’t love a pic of themselves bursting through a paper wall, on a skateboard?

16. The meeting of two greats.

This is a picture of Albert Einstein meeting Charlie Chaplin in 1931. They had great admiration for each other’s accomplishments. One who was able to be understood without saying a word, and the one who only the most intellectual understood.

17. How things have changed.

This is from 1989, and this group was dressed and ready to head out before going to see the Straight Outta of Compton tour in 1989. I doubt you’d see so many sweaters today.

18. Dad and daughter.

In my opinion, one of the best things in life is looking back at pictures of yourself when you were daddy’s little girl in reality. You will always be his little girl, no matter how old you get, but these pics are priceless. This is a single dad celebrating his little girl’s 2nd birthday.

19. Susan Kare

you might not know her name, but I bet you’ve seen her work. Especially if you use an Apple device. She is the designer of the original Apple icons and fonts. She was employee number 10 back in the early 80s at Apple Macintosh.

20. Chip off the old block.

Seriously, you’d think this is the same person just a few years older. This is actually a picture of father and son. The first one taken in 1984 and the second one in 2018.

21. Memories.

I wish my family thinks like this. This is from an 8mm film reel from 1946. It’s shot of an 18-year-old taken by her future husband. Someone’s grandmother and grandfather.

22. Photomanipulation.

This is the old school way to manipulate a photo. This is a double exposures self-portrait taken in the 1950s of someone lighting his own cigarette.

23. First day on the job.

This is a shot of a physics teacher who has taught for 30 years. This was his very first day of teaching. I wonder how much he’s aged in these 30 years.

24. Ahead of her time.

This is a beautiful story. And imagine anyone with the talent of Ella Fitzgerald being denied a gig. What a crazy world.

25. Then and now.

I love seeing couples who have stood the test of time. And the bike has too! Same couple, same bike. 1967 and 2018.

26. Recognize these guys?

This is the Three Stooges! And some lucky family has this photo in their collection, because the grandfather worked as a park ranger at Yellowstone, and was there when they visited in 1069.

27. That’s so cute.

Okay, I had to do some research here. The big buy is The Undertaker, a retired pro wrestler. This is a pic taken with his grandma in 1999. He’s 6’10”.

28. New game… for dad.

This is Christmas night, 1988. The kids got a new Nintendo. I doubt they got to use it much, because dad first had to beat Super Mario Bros. first.

29. He didn’t come back.

Isn’t that what Arnold says? “I’ll be back?” This is another pic of someone famous found in the family archives. Mom dated Arnold back in the 70s.

30. He looks a little uncomfortable.

Perhaps even a little nervous. As well he should. This poor guy had just immigrated to New York City. I wonder if it was all that he expected it to be.

31. The curse of aging.

Although, maybe he looks just as good today. This is a photo of someone’s grandpa who just turned 90, taken back in the 50s and looking so handsome.

32. Moms rule!

They say that the family who games together stays together. This is a photo of mom helping her son through a tough level of Super Mario back in 1989.

33. They thought she was kidding.

There now deceased mom used to tell her children that she was an editor for Tiger Beat magazine in the 60s and talk about the times she spent with the Stones and the Beatles. They didn’t believe her, since she often embellished things. Until they found this picture when cleaning out her house.

34. Another story of disbelief.

At least they were finally vindicated, and their story eventually believed. But what an awesome way for the truth to finally come out.

35. He still can’t believe it.

I love the expression on his face. This is his first day at his new job at NASA in 1986. They either just told him about aliens, or he still can’t believe he got the job.

36. Laurence Fishburne.

Long before he was Morpheus in The Matrix series, he was Cowboy Curtis on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse in 1986. Love the purple suit.

37. Playing poker with Uncle Bert in 1978.

That little fist looks like it’s hanging onto his hair, and that had to hurt. But I’m going to take a guess and assume that the hand behind Uncle Bert’s head is holding onto that baby quite tightly.

38. Ever heard any of those milkman jokes?

The milkman was always stealing some guy’s wife. And this guy literally could have. But this is somebody’s great grandpa holding their grandpa over his head in 1947. Oh, and great grandpa was a weightlifter.

39. Today she’s 50.

The poster of this pic of herself at 18 posted it on her 50th birthday. It looks like perfume ad. Or a watch ad.

40. The coach and the player.

This is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, an NBA player and his coach, John Wooden 38 years apart. There enduring friendship is evident and beautiful to see.

41. White on white.

This is a self-portrait done around 1980. Two things. It took me a while to see the drink in his hand, and his beard looks perfectly rounded. Like a fan.

42. I never thought of this.

But to put somebody’s picture in a locket in days gone by, you would have to destroy a photograph. Imagine the number of destroyed photographs may in people’s attics.

43. Very cool.

I guess I should say cold! This is the North Pole in 1992. He’s actually standing on the ice, on the ocean. That’s a submarine that is behind him that has surfaced, and smashed through the ice.

44. Do you still have Texaco stations in the states?

We used to have them in Canada, but I don’t think they’re here anymore. This is a Texaco station from 1980 in Los Angeles, California.

45. Unbelievable

The poster of this pic says their great grandfather was a Popeye impersonator. I think the opposite must be true. This guy was the inspiration behind Popeye.

46. The Queen

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. 1947 and today. I don’t remember ever seeing a picture of him as a younger man.

47. So unnatural.

Seeing him smile, I mean! But he had good reason to. The makeup crew had surprised him by putting ears on his son to surprise him when he was visiting the set of the original series in the 60s.

48. The original selfie

This was taken using a piece of wood to active the shutter. It was about 1957. And then he would have had to wait until the film was developed before he could see it.

49. The winner!

The winner of old school cool, and amazing talent. This—somebody’s grandpa—was The Temptations trumpet player in Papa Was a Rolling Stone.

50. You’ll need to look closely!

This is a high school basketball team photo from 1989. If you look very closely—you might even need to squint your eyes a bit—you should be able to pick out Shaquille O’Neal.

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