It’s time for a little nostalgia for those of us who aren’t part of the younger crowd. Vintage photos tell us a lot about what life was like so long ago. Back when we didn’t have cell phones, and many of us didn’t even have televisions, only radio. There was no Google, and you had to go all the way to the library to spend a couple hours looking for the answer to your question… if it was even there, that is. So, here’s 11 photos from a simpler time, right here in Kansas City.
- This busy scene of Union Station in the 1950s.
Wikimedia Commons In the 50s, the station served more than 200 trains a day, compared to the normal six per day in ‘74.
- This young group of boys in spring of 1950, exploring Jesse James Cave.
ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER/Flickr The caption reads “Shot by a supervising adult, a young lady who was a Sunday School teacher who took us boys on many outings.”
- Another Sunday School outing in 1950.
ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER/Flickr On the banks of the Missouri near Sugar Creek, MO. It was one of the photographer’s favorite places, and full of legends created by kids just like him.
- These kids were dressed as little rabbits in 1951.
clotho98/Flickr There was no explanation for the photo other than “I Love A Rabbit” Vet’s Bldg. Linwood & Paseo," but they sure look adorable! However, somehow I don’t think it was their idea.
- A couple in 1951.
Tom Blunt/Flickr The photo is tagged with two captions: “Alfred and Pansy Blunt” and that she is “visiting her sister in Kansas City.”
- The inside of S.S. Kresge Store in 1951.
Phillip Pessar/Flickr Department stores seemed so much more of a dream back then, don’t you think? So many people, and no one in their pajamas to be seen.
- This portrait, titled “Grandma, Early 1950s,” at the American Royal Parade.
Allen/Flickr Though we were never given a name, the era shines through the rest. The car she’s leaning on is a ‘37 Chevy, if anyone is wondering.
- This portrait of a boy titled “Dad, 1952” by the same photographer.
Allen/Flickr Though we don’t know who this is, it’s clear that kids wore their pants a lot higher and baggier than we do today. I wonder if they still have that car!
- Remember those boys from before? This is one of them, with his favorite comic book in 1954.
ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER/Flickr Comic books were a favorite of many kids, and I’m sure everyone got tired of playing with sticks and dirt sometimes. It’s good to have variety!
- A seventh grade class from 1954.
ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER/Flickr There’s no explanation of place or school name, but it’s a real change to see a whole group of girls, none of them wearing pants.
- The graceful Kansas City Ballet in April of 1957.
KCBalletMedia/Flickr The ballet company was founded in 1957, and on April 30, the premiere performance was given at the Victoria Theater (now Lyric). It included two ballets; Michel Fokine’s original Les Sylphides, and Ruse d’Amour, an adaptation of Fokine’s The Toys, one of which we’re seeing here.
If you’d like to feel like you’re going back in time for real, you should check out the best old-fashioned milkshakes in Kansas City.
Wikimedia Commons
In the 50s, the station served more than 200 trains a day, compared to the normal six per day in ‘74.
ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER/Flickr
The caption reads “Shot by a supervising adult, a young lady who was a Sunday School teacher who took us boys on many outings.”
On the banks of the Missouri near Sugar Creek, MO. It was one of the photographer’s favorite places, and full of legends created by kids just like him.
clotho98/Flickr
There was no explanation for the photo other than “I Love A Rabbit” Vet’s Bldg. Linwood & Paseo," but they sure look adorable! However, somehow I don’t think it was their idea.
Tom Blunt/Flickr
The photo is tagged with two captions: “Alfred and Pansy Blunt” and that she is “visiting her sister in Kansas City.”
Phillip Pessar/Flickr
Department stores seemed so much more of a dream back then, don’t you think? So many people, and no one in their pajamas to be seen.
Allen/Flickr
Though we were never given a name, the era shines through the rest. The car she’s leaning on is a ‘37 Chevy, if anyone is wondering.
Though we don’t know who this is, it’s clear that kids wore their pants a lot higher and baggier than we do today. I wonder if they still have that car!
Comic books were a favorite of many kids, and I’m sure everyone got tired of playing with sticks and dirt sometimes. It’s good to have variety!
There’s no explanation of place or school name, but it’s a real change to see a whole group of girls, none of them wearing pants.
KCBalletMedia/Flickr
The ballet company was founded in 1957, and on April 30, the premiere performance was given at the Victoria Theater (now Lyric). It included two ballets; Michel Fokine’s original Les Sylphides, and Ruse d’Amour, an adaptation of Fokine’s The Toys, one of which we’re seeing here.
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