These flavorful and colorful gelatin sugar cookies need just a few simple ingredients. Best of all, one base dough can make up to five different flavors – you choose your favorite jello mixes to stir in. Then just refrigerate, slice, and bake a fresh batch anytime!
This tasty classic pineapple chicken salad – based on a recipe from 1955 – is equally good as a hearty hot dish or a cool and tempting summer salad!
Libby’s vintage Fruit Float debuted in 1974, and was a canned mix containing pieces of real fruit that, when mixed with milk, made a light and fruity pudding-like dessert.
In the ’80s, these sweet vintage Dunkin’ Donuts glass jars came filled with Munchkins donut holes, and were meant to live out the rest of their days on a kitchen counter, just waiting to be refilled with tasty treats.
Check out these fantastic vintage 1950s bathroom floors created with vinyl and linoleum, which range from simple to truly one-of-a-kind retro home decor!
Ranch salad dressing and your favorite brand of tuna — they bring out the best in each other, like in this 6-layer tuna salad vintage recipe.
The classic ’59 Buick cars were said to be the clearest and cleanest example of a new styling trend that would be popular for years, and had editors name Buick ‘best looking overall’ of all 1959 cars.
Today’s toddlers ride in style in the sleek and racy, brightly-colored, low-slung plastic numbers like the vintage Big Wheel from Marx – that whiz, spin, skid, slide, race and even roar.
Look back to the ’70s and ’80s at vintage Sea World San Diego, when Shamu the Killer Whale was the ocean-themed amusement park’s star attraction.
The first vintage Etch-A-Sketch toy was made back in 1960. It was a big seller from early on, and over the years, Ohio Art made several other creative, artistic toys – such as those shown here.
What were popular ’50s floors like? They might have bold stripes, checkerboard squares, or many other classic and creative ideas. Take a look back!
Remember the great taste of graham crackers, toasted marshmallows and real milk chocolate with this retro recipe for Indoor S’mores!
Take a look back at the kind of aisles, counters and checkouts American shoppers used to encounter at vintage 1950s grocery stores when shopping for food, toiletries and more!
Red, pink, gold & beyond – See the top vintage nail polish brands and colors from the 20th century, with shades & styles from decades ago – see how manicures have changed over the years!
These tasty vintage pudding cups were supposedly made for kids… but we know that plenty of adults loved the taste and convenience of these to-go desserts. How many of the flavors do you remember?
With vintage beauty cases and old-fashioned train cases like these, women could be sure their hair was in order, their noses were powdered, and lipstick was in place – all to maintain a ‘proper’ look when traveling.
Here’s a look back at some vintage 1980s Nike shoes – from the early ‘just plain sneakers’ to the later mega-successes of classic Nike Air Jordans and the well-known ‘Just do it’ slogan.
Imagine, up above the clouds enjoying a cheeseburger from McDonald’s for lunch or dinner. McDonaldland cookies for dessert. That’s what United Airlines’ McDonald’s Friendly Skies Meals offered kids in the 1990s!
Want to see some fancy retro footwear? Take a look back at a few of the many styles of women’s shoes from the ’80s, including spike heels, wedges, flats, pumps, penny loafers, moccasins and boat shoes, just to name a few!
The classic 1970s Dodge Challengers were introduced with the 1970 model, and the new sports compact created quite a stir. The first models offered a choice of 9 engines, in two-door hardtops, formal roof hardtops, and convertibles.
Try these old-fashioned buttermilk coolers with easy recipes that are fast to make, delicious, and a cool alternative to plain fruit juice, soda, punches or milkshakes.
Take a glimpse into what the famous old Macy’s department store looked like just over a hundred years ago – and how it offered its customers a shopping experience like no other.
What did kids – and adults – eat in the mornings back in the fifties when eggs, bacon, toast and pancakes weren’t on the menu? Take a look back at these popular vintage 1950s breakfast cereals to get a glimpse into the options people had back then!
Here, take a glimpse into the past and admire some of the timeless classic 1950s Studebaker cars, like the Presidents, Commander, Conestoga, Hawk, Broadmoor and Clipper.
Here, see 15 ways homeowners and interior designers back in the 1950s used colorful vintage vinyl floor tiles to create trendy square patterns using a variety of colors, sizes and styles.
Who remembers this long-running old ad campaign, showing how vintage Jergens Lotion helped with ‘detergent hands’ – dry, reddened skin from hand-washing dishes?
Qiana was a silk-like fiber introduced by DuPont during the late sixties, and often used in high-end and designer fashions. See how it looked in some beautiful vintage Qiana fashions from the 1970s here!
Pineapple juice is more than just a drink on its own. It can be used in a variety of recipes – from party punches to zesty meat marinades. Take a look at some vintage pineapple juice recipes and ideas here!
Years ago, companies promoted all kinds of vintage freebies and low-cost mail-in offers, usually requiring some boxtops or proof of purchase. Look back at some of the premiums from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s!
Tang orange drink mix was advertised as a ‘new breakfast drink discovery’ when it was introduced in the ’50s, and went on to become a part of pop culture history – especially once NASA and Mrs Brady got in on the action.
Have a look back at these cute vintage Fisher-Price dollhouses from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s! Take a look at how they changed over the years, and see which one you remember best.
Before the Pepsi company introduced lemon-lime Slice (starting in 1984), Storm (1998) and Sierra Mist (2000), they hit the market with Teem soda — a fizzy lemon-lime soft drink that seemed much the same, but with a different name.
Remember Vintage Wacky Packages (also called Wacky Packs for awhile) that were popular when Gen Xers were kids? Here’s a look back at some of the best of these wild and crazy collectible stickers from way back!
There were lots of vintage wall stickers and paper cut-outs available in the sixties and seventies – easy ways to decorate rooms at home, temporarily or long-term, without needing to hire someone to help.
It’s like going to the movies. Only better. With Fisher-Price Movie Viewer toys, kids could run short films all by themselves, just by turning a handle. In slow motion, speeded up or backwards.
The Nutty Professor is considered one of the best Jerry Lewis movies – a classic comedy in which he played a Jekyll and Hyde role, meaning he could play up his screwball style to great effect.
Here, look back at 14 brands and varieties of crunchy and smooth vintage peanut butter goodness from the last 120-plus years, including popular favorites as well as once-famous spreadables that are now gone.
These vintage Rig-a-Jig toy sets were popular back in the fifties, and were sort of a hybrid of TInkertoys, Lego and an Erector Set. See how they worked, and what you could create with them, here!
More than 100 years ago, see how antique baby carriages like these were styled with beautiful designs, made from wicker, metal and wood – sometimes embellished with wooden spindles and woven reeds.
On this retro recipe for French’s Good and Plenty Pizza, the crust is tangy thanks to adding mustard to the biscuit mix – and the thick tomato and meat filling gets a little bonus mustard, too.
Trans World Airlines, better known as TWA, was one of the major US airlines, moving millions of people to destinations around the globe. Find out the history of TWA, and see this collection of vintage ads to see how exciting flying used to be.
When the Disney Channel started in 1983, it was a cable subscription service with shows like Mousercise and Mickey Mouse Club, along with many of the famous Disney movies. See some of the schedules and more here!
The Campbell Kids appeared in Campbell’s Soup advertising for decades, always with those little round faces. Here, see dozens of vintage toys, cups and more with their images, find out how they began, and meet the artist!
Take a look at the classic 1940s Pontiac cars to see what the old designs were like, what the vehicles, they offered buyers (and drivers), and what the manufacturer thought would most appeal to potential customers.
Sequin salad – what is it, you might ask? Basically, it was vinegar-soaked cauliflower, pimiento and onion suspended in lime jello. Could anyone say no to that?
For years, electricity was produced by burning coal because few options existed? Peruse these vintage ads to see how the pro-fission profession once professed their preference for the promotion of nuclear power.
Macho cologne for men was released in the 1970s, and was a retro disco-era fragrance available in musk oil, aftershave, spray cologne, deodorant – plus that seventies staple, soap-on-a-rope.
Bubble Up lemon-lime soda had its ups and downs since the brand was registered back in the 1920s, but it never got ahead of 7-UP, or could compete with the likes of Sprite and Teem. Find out more about this retro soda here!
Stouffer’s ice cream – really? Yep! Since they were already a well-known freezer brand, the company tried to expand outside the TV dinner/frozen meal market back in the mid-seventies.
Right from the start, the AMC Gremlin’s unique styling and sporty individuality appealed to a specific range of drivers. Take a look back to the ’70s, and find out what these cars were all about.
Bring spring to your table with this lovely, luscious homemade daffodil pecan cake, based on an old-fashioned recipe from the early 1940s!
These vintage Lady Buxton wallets came in classic designs made of leather and leather-like materials, many having a small unique design feature to set them apart without being ostentatious.
The original Rice Krispies treats were invented in the 1930s. 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!
Look back at these cute vintage Tinkerbell manicure kits, BO-PO (Brush-on, peel-off) nail polish and other beauty treats marketed to little girls back in the ’70s and ’80s. Lots of memories here!
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!
This celebration sandwich loaf comes to you from the 1970s! It’s a stacked sandwich loaf featuring ham, salmon, egg and chicken spreads – each separated by bread, and covered with a cream-cheese mayo frosting.
Even though permanents had been available for years, in the 1970s, home perms became easier and more affordable than ever as new products and formulations gave people more hairstyle options.
Back in the seventies and eighties, these vintage Fisher-Price dolls enchanted millions of little kids. They were available in a few different sizes, styles and colors, and you could get them a lot of different outfits.
Check out the classic 1970s Buick Regals. Outwardly, the shape is clean. Uncluttered. Inside, it’s pure magic. In the way it looks. In the way it feels. All in all, a dream car.
Take a look back at some Pontiac Bonneville automobiles, and see how they changed from the fifties to the end of the 20th century.
These vintage Sew Magic & Sew Perfect toys were working sewing machines that let kids do real sewing, but without having to use needle and thread by hand.
From the 1970s: Try using Armour Vienna Sausage in all kinds of dishes – like this retro recipe for Five Star Casserole. You’ll find it makes a tasty change to the hamburger meat routine.
If you want to make a tiny bathroom vibrant and colorful, here are some retro ’70s powder rooms for a little vintage inspiration!
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.
Hopefully, these vintage 1970s Playskool toys, dolls, ride-ons and more will bring back some happy memories! They may also remind you of a simpler time, when most toys were joyfully kid-powered.
In the 1960s, Douglas was one of the biggest airplane manufacturers in America. Their DC-9, which first flew in 1965, was built to service both large and small airports, setting it apart from other planes of the era.
Ready for Easter? Give the holiday a retro-style boost that’s just as delicious today by making these cleverly-shaped Easter Rice Krispies treats! These bunnies, eggs & springtime cutouts are so easy to make.
After years of living in casual separates, these stylish women’s suits from the ’70s offered a new way to dress: in a suit jacket and skirt or pants made for each other, with a tailored menswear-like flair.
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.
The 1970s arrival of old-school food processors like these vintage Cuisinarts – along with similar small appliances from other companies – were some of the most beloved kitchen tech tools since the invention of the stand mixer.
Gen X kids got to prove that these 1980s fruit snacks – non-perishable packaged sweet and chewy treats – would be big sellers… and the forerunners of the dozens of similar snacks on the market today.
Do you remember chocolate-covered Kudos granola bars? Here’s a look back at the flavors you used to be able to get, and why you can’t find them anymore.
Vintage Famolare shoes were easy to spot – they had that signature wavy sole, and sometimes wedge heels that elevated the wearer by four inches. Walk down memory lane here!
Vintage recipes in this Campbell’s emergency dinner cookbook include Pot roast, Frankfurter boats, Campbelled eggs, Skillet meatloaf, Spanish rice, Macaroni & cheese, Tuna supreme, Chicken crunch & more.
While popular cartoon kids talking about life insurance and IRAs might not seem like a natural match, in the ’80s & ’90s, the combination was a hit. Take a look back here!
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.
Although it seems to be everywhere now, Sprite, Coca-Cola’s lemon-lime soft drink. was only introduced back in the sixties. Even back then, though, it wasn’t a guaranteed success.
What’s a Nauga? In the 1960s, the people behind Naugahyde vinyl upholstery found the unlikely answer. It turns out that the Nauga was an adorable monster-like mascot who made furniture a lot more fun.
Chevy’s second-generation Camaro cars debuted in early 1970 – restyled and upsized compared to the 1960s model. Here, take a look back at the features and styles of the classic 1970s Chevrolet Camaros.
Back in the eighties, these cute vintage Mr Culver’s Sparklers stained glass air fresheners took the problem of ugly room deodorizers, and made them look like little works of art that you could hang in the window.
In 1967, the first of the brand-new 1960s Camaro cars hit the streets. It was an immediate success, selling 220,906 cars in their first model year. Here’s a look at the ’67, ’68 and ’69 Chevy Camaros!
In lemon bar recipes (also called lemon squares), a tangy citrus mixture bakes on top of the buttery cookie crust, making it all into some rich, sweet and delicious bar cookies.
One of the most unusual ad campaigns of the seventies featured gruff Western star John Wayne pitching Datril, a pain-relief medicine that was competing against Tylenol. Find out more about the ads here.
Here is how some of the oldest American motorcars – the classic Maxwell automobiles, produced in New York – looked back around the turn of the century.
Squirt soda, not sweet like other soft drinks. In fact, it’s definitely dry. It starts with sun-ripened citrus fruit and ends up with natural dryness, a quality never before achieved in soft drinks.
For this chocolate mint-whipped cream cake, you layer rich, moist chocolate cake with mint-flavored whipped cream, and frost it with some of the best chocolate frosting.
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.
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!
The 1960s Dodge Chargers really began with the 1966 model, after previewing in the big auto show the year before. The cars were hugely popular, and later became even more well-known thanks to a starring role in The Dukes of Hazzard.
Go beyond the regular Toll House chocolate chip cookies, and try baking minty sweet treats with this retro recipe for double chocolate mint chip cookies.
Here is an easy 1970s chocolatey Coconut Joy no-bake cookie recipe from C&H. With it, you can easily make these sweet treats for the holidays – or any day of the year!
Take a look back at these beautiful classic 1940s Studebaker cars, which were loved by socialites and regular family folk alike. Here’s a look inside and out at these old autos!
The AMSTRAD Word Processor was compact… for the time! One box held the whole shebang – the monitor, keyboard and printer, plus word processing software.
Here’s the original press release that a small company called Apple released back in 1984, announcing the launch of their new Macintosh personal computer – the first mass-market PC with both a graphical user interface and a mouse.
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.
Take a look back at these cute plastic retro Rubbermaid food storage containers, mixing bowls, measuring cups and other kitchen gadgets that lived in kitchens during the seventies and eighties.
How can you decorate store-bought cakes you got from the supermarket freezer? Here are six great ways to customize them – making an ordinary cake into an extraordinary dessert.
The vintage Tappan Gallery Gas Range design from the late sixties was an improvement on the gas stove models of the fifties – and the then-trendy appliance colors were also a big plus.
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, but also in terms of outdated cultural depictions and social values. Material on this site is provided for purposes of education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. Also, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Now that you know, have fun looking around!
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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, but also in terms of outdated cultural depictions and social values. Material on this site is provided for purposes of education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. Also, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Now that you know, have fun looking around!
