Vintage Color Photos of US cities

Citylover · October 12th, 2004, 06:20 AM

St. Louis
1949

1966

Kansas City 1953

Chicago
Most of the Chicago pics where posted in there own thread a long time ago.

Baltimore
1940

Atlanta
1951

Providence 1941

Harrisburg 1941

Wichita 1952

Indianapolis 1963

New Orleans 1951

1959

Cleveland 1941

Des Moines 1959

Dallas 1953

Austin 1959

Los Angeles 1952

Denver 1952

Sioux Falls, SD 1958

Tulsa 1952

Salt Lake City, 1958

Nashville
1951

1963

Buffalo 1941

New York City

Photos from the Charles W. Cushman Collection

SChristopher · October 12th, 2004, 06:49 AM

WOW, that must have taken alot of time and effort. I love how you posted pictures from all over the country that is really great. I would vote this thread of the month.

passdoubt · October 12th, 2004, 07:35 AM

Awesome.

Salt Lake City looked so suburban already.

SChristopher · October 12th, 2004, 07:45 AM

On second look I see even more how amazing these pictures are. It is really something to see how big and bustling some cities were that we barely notice now. I had no Idea Dallas was that big even long ago as well, I really think they destroyed a good bit of their older architecture sadly, and replaced them with some dootie looking 60's/70's nasty ones...I wish more cities kept their older architecture. In SLC's defense it isnt so much suburban today, it does have a height limit and was originally designed with I believe 150 ft wide streets!

pwright1 · October 12th, 2004, 10:53 AM

This is by far one of the most interesting and enjoyable threads I have ever seen. The pictures are so cool. Thread of the month? How about thread of the year. Awesome is all I can say.

NYaddict · October 12th, 2004, 11:57 AM

that's some awesome stuff you posted there.
Thanks! great thread

edsg25 · October 12th, 2004, 04:36 PM

FANTASTIC! Thanks for awesome pix.

Progress is interesting. Sometimes two steps forward, one step back. Other times, one step forward, one step back.

US cities today have far more razzle dazzle than they did before. There is a vibrant, almost European feel, to the street life. Post industrial cities seek out the amenities (culture, entertainment, restaurants, attractions) in ways unimaginable in the past.

Yet I look at these cities in the 1950's and I see something sorely missing today: reality. In some ways our cities have become charactericures of themselves (wittness San Francisco). The cities of the 50's were real. Warts and all. Grit rubbing shoulders with class. One word that would never be used to describe them is plastic. Sadly not true today. And before technology homogenized the whole country with coast-to-coast McDonald's, WalMarts, Ikeas, the cities of the past had personality. Regional personality. A sense of place.

Progress, a mixed bag.

teshadoh · October 12th, 2004, 05:22 PM

Thanks - more Atlanta pics are posted on the southeast forum in case anyone was curious.

What is interesting to see is how regionally influenced many of these cities are at this time. By now most of these cities, particularly the sunbelt cities, appear to be shunning their regional significance. In particular is Atlanta, at this time - though the city had started growing faster than rival Birmingham - is how Atlanta was no more than an overgrown farm / mill town at this point. I'm guessing this side of the capitol is now the parking deck backed by the freeway.

sleepy · October 12th, 2004, 06:37 PM

Thanks.

Aside from the skyline, New Orleans hasn't changed much. Still has that vaguely seedy, rundown look. That 2nd NO pic--the vine-covered building--is Maylie's Restaurant which was still around a few years ago, and maybe still is. I used to eat there occasionally--still vine-covered, wisteria I believe.

streetscapeer · October 12th, 2004, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SChristopher

On second look I see even more how amazing these pictures are. It is really something to see how big and bustling some cities were that we barely notice now. I had no Idea Dallas was that big even long ago as well, I really think they destroyed a good bit of their older architecture sadly, and replaced them with some dootie looking 60's/70's nasty ones...I wish more cities kept their older architecture. In SLC's defense it isnt so much suburban today, it does have a height limit and was originally designed with I believe 150 ft wide streets!

I whole-heartedly agree...look at this street in downtown Miami in the early part of the last century

and look at the same street a few years ago

It's Crazy that this is the exact same location

ShuwanCarlton · October 13th, 2004, 04:57 AM

wow amazing pictures.

goonsta · October 13th, 2004, 06:19 AM

Yay!

NYaddict · October 13th, 2004, 01:18 PM

NYC

not much of a difference actually besides the building on the right

Old :

new :

Rainier Meadows · October 13th, 2004, 08:25 PM

my eyes and mind needed this thread!

this thread will be archived for posterity!

steel · October 16th, 2004, 07:16 AM

fabulous

Icanseeformiles · October 16th, 2004, 07:41 AM

priceless

steel · October 21st, 2006, 08:00 AM

this great thread needs a bump

Dallas star · October 31st, 2006, 03:02 AM

Incredible pics
Thankfully this thread is now moved to archive

***Bond James Bond*** · October 31st, 2006, 03:57 AM

Many of these pics are proof that the Good Old Days weren't always so good.

Some of these places look like absolute dumps.

***wjfox*** · October 31st, 2006, 11:39 AM

Fascinating thread...... thanks for this.

October 12th, 2004, 06:20 AM	#1
Citylover Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: St. Louis (Chesterfield) Posts: 119	Vintage Color Photos of US cities St. Louis 1949 1966 Kansas City 1953 Chicago Most of the Chicago pics where posted in there own thread a long time ago. Baltimore 1940 Atlanta 1951 Providence 1941 Harrisburg 1941 Wichita 1952 Indianapolis 1963 New Orleans 1951 1959 Cleveland 1941 Des Moines 1959 Dallas 1953 Austin 1959 Los Angeles 1952 Denver 1952 Sioux Falls, SD 1958 Tulsa 1952 Salt Lake City, 1958 Nashville 1951 1963 Buffalo 1941 New York City Photos from the Charles W. Cushman Collection __________________ "St. Louisan by choice, Missourian by geography" My Photo Gallery Urban St.Louis.com Urban St.Louis forum

October 12th, 2004, 11:57 AM	#6
NYaddict Gotham Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 166	that's some awesome stuff you posted there. Thanks! great thread __________________ By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall

October 13th, 2004, 06:19 AM	#12
goonsta re Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: swine merchant Posts: 463	Yay! __________________ Hell no Hell yes

October 13th, 2004, 01:18 PM	#13
NYaddict Gotham Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 166	Old and New [ NYC ] NYC not much of a difference actually besides the building on the right Old : new : __________________ By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall

October 13th, 2004, 08:25 PM	#14
Rainier Meadows © Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: 47°N, 122°W Posts: 1,570	my eyes and mind needed this thread! this thread will be archived for posterity! __________________ Urban Enthusiast

October 12th, 2004, 06:49 AM	#2
SChristopher Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 1,051	WOW, that must have taken alot of time and effort. I love how you posted pictures from all over the country that is really great. I would vote this thread of the month.

October 12th, 2004, 07:35 AM	#3
passdoubt Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Chapel Hill Posts: 20	Awesome. Salt Lake City looked so suburban already.

October 12th, 2004, 07:45 AM	#4
SChristopher Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 1,051	On second look I see even more how amazing these pictures are. It is really something to see how big and bustling some cities were that we barely notice now. I had no Idea Dallas was that big even long ago as well, I really think they destroyed a good bit of their older architecture sadly, and replaced them with some dootie looking 60's/70's nasty ones...I wish more cities kept their older architecture. In SLC's defense it isnt so much suburban today, it does have a height limit and was originally designed with I believe 150 ft wide streets!

October 12th, 2004, 10:53 AM	#5
pwright1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,750	This is by far one of the most interesting and enjoyable threads I have ever seen. The pictures are so cool. Thread of the month? How about thread of the year. Awesome is all I can say.

October 12th, 2004, 04:36 PM	#7
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,457	FANTASTIC! Thanks for awesome pix. Progress is interesting. Sometimes two steps forward, one step back. Other times, one step forward, one step back. US cities today have far more razzle dazzle than they did before. There is a vibrant, almost European feel, to the street life. Post industrial cities seek out the amenities (culture, entertainment, restaurants, attractions) in ways unimaginable in the past. Yet I look at these cities in the 1950's and I see something sorely missing today: reality. In some ways our cities have become charactericures of themselves (wittness San Francisco). The cities of the 50's were real. Warts and all. Grit rubbing shoulders with class. One word that would never be used to describe them is plastic. Sadly not true today. And before technology homogenized the whole country with coast-to-coast McDonald's, WalMarts, Ikeas, the cities of the past had personality. Regional personality. A sense of place. Progress, a mixed bag.

October 12th, 2004, 05:22 PM	#8
teshadoh 100% Right 50% Of Time Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 1,272	Thanks - more Atlanta pics are posted on the southeast forum in case anyone was curious. What is interesting to see is how regionally influenced many of these cities are at this time. By now most of these cities, particularly the sunbelt cities, appear to be shunning their regional significance. In particular is Atlanta, at this time - though the city had started growing faster than rival Birmingham - is how Atlanta was no more than an overgrown farm / mill town at this point. I'm guessing this side of the capitol is now the parking deck backed by the freeway.

October 12th, 2004, 06:37 PM	#9
sleepy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 274	Thanks. Aside from the skyline, New Orleans hasn't changed much. Still has that vaguely seedy, rundown look. That 2nd NO pic--the vine-covered building--is Maylie's Restaurant which was still around a few years ago, and maybe still is. I used to eat there occasionally--still vine-covered, wisteria I believe.

October 13th, 2004, 04:57 AM	#11
ShuwanCarlton Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Columbia SC Posts: 19	wow amazing pictures.

October 16th, 2004, 07:16 AM	#15
steel Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,057	fabulous

October 16th, 2004, 07:41 AM	#16
Icanseeformiles Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 979	priceless

October 21st, 2006, 08:00 AM	#17
steel Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,057	this great thread needs a bump

October 31st, 2006, 03:02 AM	#18
Dallas star Everything Texas Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,491	Incredible pics Thankfully this thread is now moved to archive __________________ Check out Dallas! \| *Vote for YOUR* city here!**

October 31st, 2006, 03:57 AM	#19
*Bond James Bond* Licence to kill. Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Apple Maggot Quarantine Area Posts: 6,410	Many of these pics are proof that the Good Old Days weren't always so good. Some of these places look like absolute dumps. __________________ Posh

October 31st, 2006, 11:39 AM	#20
*wjfox* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: L O N D O N Posts: 28,470	Fascinating thread...... thanks for this. __________________ FutureTimeline.net - a timeline of future history

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode