Many will be traveling this week, which makes this an ideal time to revisit the topic of travelers in the past. Another brief gallery on the subject, with images of folks coming and going; from the swanky to the middle-class looking. All from the days before air travel became the norm.
A few of these look a bit staged, true. But if I had color-coordinated luggage or a child who loved the idea of going places, I would have made sure to capture those moments.
Luggage without wheels. How did we ever cope.
Healthy people with strong biceps.
Still used a “no wheels, suitcase” until “2023”. The handle broke so I trashed it.
Was, otherwise, in very good condition. ((circa “1972 American Tourister”))
I wasn’t nearly as fat and old then…..
-Nate
White luggage sitting on a dirt driveway!
I thought the same thing !!!!!!!
The couple with that gorgeous black LINCOLN look that they know how to leave and Arive in STYLE. Perhaps they’re waiting for the chauffeur to load the luggage!
Those TWA carry on bags tell me they are traveling by air.
On their way to Idlewild to board a Constellation for Europe.
The couple reminded me of this Fred Herzog picture.
I’ll surmise they drove to Vancouver…they lost the Lincoln, and the trip didn’t end well. 🙂
Looks sorta like Mick Jagger in the 7th photo (green pants). Could just about be the lead singer of any 70’s band.
Oddball ’60 Dodge wagon in the 8th photo.
I’d love to own that ‘oddball’ `60 Dodge wagon too! They had no way of knowing then, but a `60 Polara hardtop wagon today is a very scarce item! I know of 2-3 that have been restored and are show-stoppers.
“Oh, to have known then what I know now……..sigh”
Lake Tahoe in the 8th photo ?
I like the Ronald Reagan bumper sticker – any idea what it says above his name?
“Ronald Reagan! The actor? Then who’s vice-president, Jerry Lewis? I suppose Jane Wyman is the First Lady!” – Doc Brown
I think the bumper sticker says:
For GOVERNOR ’66
RONALD REAGAN
I think it is this one in another color.
I can almost make it out:
(Something) Governor (something)
RONALD REAGAN
The somethings look the same and may be artwork instead of words. Tried a quick Google image search but no luck finding a similar sticker.
That hard sided Samsonite luggage brings back good and bad memories. The good-many road trips in parents large Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles. Don’t forget the Skotch coolers.
The bad-using one of those same suitcases in my first job as a corporate auditor and traveling all over the US.
Anybody remember the Samsonite commercial where they threw a suitcase in with a gorilla and he tried to beat the crap out of it?
I do… that commercial was pretty funny. IIRC, it was out about the same time as the Hertz Rent-a-Car commercial featuring O.J. running through the airport. To relate that to today’s earlier “el Bronco” post, had the TSA existed then, they would have been chasing him. 🤣
But I think that the suitcase commercial with the gorilla was for American Tourister.
Yes! “Savage baggage masters” – LOL
Classic ad campaign. Remember it well.
I can relate to the picture with the ’68 Chrysler Newport; for our family it was an all night ride after dad got home from work … he wanted to be “on the road” by at least 6; Lake Charles, LA to south Alabama on Thanksgiving, then another trip to West Tennessee sometime around Christmas in a ’65 Newport, which incidently, has remained in our family since it was purchased nearly new in ’66. My wife and I plan to fix it up and use it to pull our classic ’63 Airstream Bambi.
Back then it was dad driving, mom falling asleep on the right, me behind dad on the left reading my road map with a penlight flashlight, sister asleep on the right with our dog in the middle. For me, the trips were more enjoyable than the visits in either location.
Now, it will be my wife and me in the front sharing the driving, with our dog and our two birds in the back, with the Airstream following closely behind to places yet to be determined … and not on a holiday … there’s way too many people on the road today.
The two ladies loading up (or unloading?) the ’62 Cadillac look to be sisters.
That truck looks like it was loaded using a shovel.
Ah! trunk not “truck”.
The little girl holding the big suitcase behind the blue Olds makes that last shot a memorable vacation photo.
Wondered what make that car was? What year?
t/y
1950 Oldsmobile 88.
So many people and cars lost to time. It makes me wish to be back in the days of my childhood when I look at these photos. But, alas, time travel is not yet a thing!
#3: Ford Taxi Wagon
Is the license plate on a hinge when the tailgate is lowered??
I would imagine the taxi carries lots of loads just like in the photo.
Not sure if this is specific to the taxi or part of the Ford design.
Yes the license plate bracket is hinged. License plates are required to be visible from the rear so any manufacturer that mounted them on the tailgate used a hinged bracket. Other examples off the top of my head are ’59 Chevrolet and fifties Jeep Station Wagons.
Great Americana! I have seen the couple with the Lincoln before. Everything about them says “Establishment” and in their style. Thanks for the fun photos. The little girl needs a pinch on the cheek.
Most 40’s and 50’s wagons had this feature. Even the Kaiser Frazer hatchback had it. Was it to allow “tailgate down” traveling.?
I have pictures from the war and the 40s 50s til current…war letters all kinds neat papers
The old couple with the Lincoln wandered over from one of Shorpy’s Kodachrome collections.
I am glad I’m not traveling anywhere for the holidays. It is not near the fun that these photos portray, at least for me.
#1 A new or nearly new ’50 or ’51 Cadillac Series Sixty Special from Rhode Island. I did not know they had rear seat speakers back then. It does look like a fall photo.
#2 Jet set travelers with their ’58 Continental Mark III or ’59 Continental Mark IV. This one looks more like a winter photo.
#3 A picture of photographer taking a picture… A load of luggage in a well used ’55 Ford Country Sedan taxi with quarter panel damage. I would say the blue color is custom as I don’t believe Ford would offer a red interior with a white and blue exterior.
#4 A lady waiting for someone to load her luggage in a ’53 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight 4 door sedan. Her and her white luggage don’t match the setting, but at least the trunk is protected with a blanket. The car has a California license plate used from ’56-’62 with a white renewal tag that indicates either ’59 or ’62.
#5 A traveling young teenager with a ’59 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Town Sedan with a Connecticut plate used from ’58-’66.
#6 Taking a roadside rest in a ’56 Buick Special or Century Estate Wagon with a full load of luggage and people.
#7 I remember those travel challenges, ‘where did I put that’? They are searching a ’62 Cadillac Sedan deVille with a ’61 Cadillac sedan to the left. There is not enough of the blue car to the right to ID.
#8 A pair of young democrats with their ’62 Ford Galaxie 500 from California. On it’s right is a ’60 Dodge Polara 4 door hardtop wagon, then a ’64 Ford full size wagon, a ’60 Chevrolet, and the tail light of a ’62 Pontiac.
#9 I can’t tell if they are coming or going but the kids are happy and that’s all that counts. They are traveling in a ’67 Chrysler Newport 4 door sedan purchased at R. O. Gould in Long Beach, California. There is not enough showing of the car on the left to ID.
#10 A cutie pie dressed for the heat ‘helping’ load her luggage in a ’50 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 4 door sedan with a ’55 Texas plate.
Thanks for the photos.
#4. Lady in white with matched luggage seems to be waving for her travelling companions to get a move on as she’s ready to go. Surely a first.
Great pictures and comments too .
-Nate
DON’T MAKE ME PULL THIS CAR OVER..!!!
While the pics are fun/interesting? There is NO diversity. Disappointing to say the least.
I love these photos. Everyone and their homes, including the dirt driveway and front yard, looked better.
Edit – And back when motels didn’t look unsavory.
How bout the 2 babes in that 1962 Cadillac sedan…going somewhere.m