Home designs & decor from the 1950s
Fashion & beauty in the fifties
Do you remember bright green Prell shampoo?
Prell shampoo was popular since its introduction in the 1940s, and was best-known for being bright emerald green. Here, see how the product - and the brand's message - changed from the '40s to the '80s!
Candy Land, the vintage board game that made millions of kids dream of an ice cream & lollipop world
Here, take a look back at some of the game pieces, cards, and several game boards for the vintage Candy Land game. Which ones do you remember most?
The original Rice Krispies Treats recipe & their delicious history
Rice Krispies Treats were invented in the 1930s, and by 1940, the recipe was known across the country -- and their popularity has hardly waned since. Here, get the original version of the treats recipe, along with some modern variations!
Vintage Erector Sets were toys that made toys: See old sets & find out their history
The basic concept hasn't changed much in 100 years, but vintage Erector Sets like these are still popular, still inspiring creativity, and still being used to build everything from mini roller coasters to motorized robots.
See how much 1950s Ford Thunderbirds changed during their first years on the road
The Ford Thunderbird was introduced in 1955, and quickly became a favorite with car buyers... but that didn't stop Ford from making a lot of changes to the model during those first five years. Here's a look!
The history of Levi's jeans shows that the power of a really good idea - like super-durable clothing that people like to wear - can make for a business that stays strong for more than 160 years.
Vintage zodiac cross-stitch designs to make astrological needlework patterns (1950)
These vintage zodiac cross-stitch designs could be used as-is, interspersed and contrasted with plain squares, or the designs adapted to many other uses -- such as cross-stitch embroidery for table linens.
Hot stuff! Vintage 1950s saucepans & kitchenware in popular retro styles
Here, see some of the colors - like pink and blue - and styles of the most popular vintage 1950s saucepans and kitchenware from the middle of the 20th century.
48 retro wall clocks in traditional & modern designs from the 1950s, 1960s & 1970s
Take some time to take a look back at these retro wall clocks, shown here in both traditional & mod designs, to meet the needs of every type of vintage home decor style of the mid-20th century.
Vintage toaster ovens: See how these small kitchen appliances changed over the years
They toasted! They cooked! And, most important of all: these vintage toaster ovens warmed up TV dinners without needing to heat up the full-size oven. See how the little kitchen appliances evolved over the years, right up through the 1980s.
Vintage Borden’s cheese spreads came in free collectible party glasses & crocks
In the past, a few products - like Borden cheese - made it so their glass jars could be reused later as party or hostess glasses. Since people collected them, it was a smart use of double-duty packaging.
50 bold & colorful vintage 1950s home decor ideas, plus authentic mid-century color schemes
Sometimes we get the sense that people in the fifties lived in black and white. But as you can see in this collection of colorful vintage 1950s home decor photos, they lived with bright and bold hues, too.
25 mid-century entrance halls & foyers invite you inside with vintage style
See several vintage ways to decorate mid-century entrance halls & foyers - using authentic 1950s and 1950s finishes and colors that made them as practical underfoot as they were pleasing to the eye
See how Jolly Time popcorn used to come in cans
Jolly Time popcorn is an American company that got its start in 1914. Ten years later, they hit on the idea of selling their popcorn in cans to seal in the freshness so every kernel would pop.
Old CBS Radio shows from the 1950s & 1960s had news, comedy, sports, serials and more
Starting before TV was a really big thing, the old CBS Radio shows filled the airwaves with audio-only entertainment and news of every kind. Here's a look at some of the programming!
Funny Cake recipe: A Pennsylvania Dutch dessert (1949)
Cake baked in a pie shell... and a sauce that goes on at the top and ends up in a layer at the bottom of the cake. That’s Funny Cake - a Pennsylvania Dutch treat so intriguing, everyone who tastes it wants the recipe.
Disney’s Old Yeller: The classic movie about the best doggone dog in the west (1958)
Remember why Walt Disney's 1950s movie 'Old Yeller' was one of those classic 'boy and his dog' movies - family entertainment made with kids in mind, but that could bring a tear to anyone's eye.
Magic tomato soup cake recipes from the ’50s & ’60s
What is a tomato soup cake? Find out with these vintage recipes for what was really a classic spiced cake - although with one unusual addition: a can of regular tomato soup.
In the movie musical Carousel, Shirley Jones & Gordon MacRae were unforgettable (1956)
In the 1956 movie musical Carousel, Oklahoma stars Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae were again teamed up for a Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. Also see an interview with Miss Jones from the same year.
8 DIY headboards with a vintage look
If you're looking to make a bedroom look a little retro, take a look at these DIY headboards with a vintage look! They may be just the inspiration you need for some old-fashioned home decor.
30 vintage cake mixes you don’t see anymore
With fun flavors like pink lemonade, toffee and macaroon, check out these 30 vintage cake mixes and varieties you just can't get anymore.
Pepperidge Farm remembers... but do you recall all of these classic cakes, cookies, breads, turnovers & other treats they made years ago? (And did you know they once made canned soup?)
See vintage Cessna propeller planes from the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s
Check out some of the vintage Cessna propeller planes you could buy back in the fifties, sixties and seventies. They were popular for business use, but were also owned by celebrities and hobbyists.
Mid-century modern door hardware from the 1950s & 1960s – plus other popular vintage designs
With space-age design elements like starbursts and swooshes, and the large backplates, some of the most popular mid-century modern door hardware was absolutely iconic, and easy to recognize.
Remember getting drinks in vintage Dixie Cups? While many of us recall them from childhood because of their cute designs, they weren't invented simply for convenience.
How Bill Haley & His Comets rocked around the clock when rock ‘n’ roll was brand new
Though the name might not be up there in lights as bright as Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry, Bill Haley & His Comets certainly deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence. Here's why!
Remember old-school packaged cookies, like Hydrox, Almost Home, Chip-a-Roos & others?
They're the treats you probably always wanted your mom to buy -- old-school cookies, including both classics and long-forgotten brands. Here's a look back - see how many you remember!
Antique & vintage buttons: Why people love to collect these tiny treasures
As long as antique & vintage buttons have adorned our clothing and shoes, people have been collecting them. Made from a multitude of materials - from metal to bone, wood to plastic - buttons are miniature pieces of everyday history.
36 vintage 1950s bathroom tile design ideas
Although tile was available in a range of hues, when it came to creating the vintage 1950s bathroom tile design ideas homeowners wanted, the most popular colors were the ones shown here.
See a vintage ’50s airplane safety card for a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
This little airplane safety card pamphlet was given to passengers on board Pan Am's double-decker Strato clipper propeller plane (Boeing 377, aka Stratocruiser) in case of an emergency.
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Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety. Material on this site is provided for education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. Now that you know, have fun looking around!