20 vintage photos of grandparents that are the very definition of old-school cool
When we see our parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents, it’s hard to remember that they were once carefree young people as well.
We hear the stories, but can’t really picture them (or aren’t really listening). But it’s the photos that really hit us like a blast from the past.
And while paging endlessly through family photo albums is hardly anyone’s idea of fun, we’d be pretty stoked and surprised to come across photos like this of our older family members.
1. Old-fashioned romance
What an epic photo!
Plenty of us have seen evidence that our grandparents are still in love after all these years, but it’s different to catch a glimpse of a passionate past.
My grandparents in the 1950s. My grandad passed a few years ago now, but their love has never died from r/OldSchoolCool
2. American Airman
This posed photo is one of the only things his descendants will see of Keith since he was shot down while returning from a bombing run in WWII.
It’s important to be able to picture the man and not just the sacrifice.
My Great Uncle Keith, RIP you BAMF. 1944 from r/OldSchoolCool
3. Dare to bare
Visiting the White House in the 70s as a Mick Jagger lookalike, this dad exudes cool.
How many people can ever pull off the entirely buttoned-down look?
4. Hollywood Glamour
Damn, grandma!
We’re not sure what we could think after finding this photo. We might take a closer look to see how much glamor we might have inherited though.
5. The one that got away
We wonder what grandpa thought if he came across this photo and realized she was still holding onto it.
Probably the same thing we’re thinking – yowza!
My grandmother and the man she did not marry, about 1950 from r/OldSchoolCool
6. Pretty rockin’ kids party
That’s the most champagne we’ve ever seen at a 5-year-old’s birthday party! And we totally get it – those things can be intense.
From the looks of it, there were more adults than kids, but when you’re 5, it’s more fun to have aunts and uncles around anyway.
7. Puppy power
Unless you’ve ever held that many puppies at once, you automatically lose to grandma here.
8. Hard to top
Well, if you were Einstein’s teacher in any subject you get automatic cool points.
Even when your pants are belted that high.
My great grandfather gave Einstein violin lessons from r/pics
9. He’s with the band
Ok, so maybe this is what every guy looked like in the late ’70s, but from the mustache to the guitar, we think this dad looks pretty cool.
We wonder what he’s like now.
10. How does this genetics thing work anyway?
Can you really be uncool if you get half of this woman’s genes?!
She BUILT that bike!
My Mama circa ’83. This explains why I’m the uncoolest person ever, cos she took it all! Oh and that bike? She built it. from r/OldSchoolCool
11. It’s all rocket science
That’s a formidable man.
And you’d have to be to hold an executive position at NASA as a black man in the ’80s.
My dad at his first job at NASA! It is also his birthday today (1986) from r/OldSchoolCool
12. But have they tried to recreate it?
This is badass!
We’d love to see them recreate it, but we have to admit we’d probably get hurt trying to do it ourselves.
My weight lifter great grandpa holding my grandpa over his head – 1947 from r/OldSchoolCool
13. But do you have a chocolate factory?
We don’t know much about this photo other than that this is the coolest great-grandfather vintage outfit we’ve ever seen.
It’s time to raid the closet to see if he kept any of it!
14. Real-life Rosie the Riveter
Women had to take to the factory floors while soldiers were called to duty during WWII – and boy did they step up!
While it’s not an ideal situation, her smile makes it clear that she’s making the best of the situation.
My great grandmother, working as a welder during WWII from r/OldSchoolCool
15. That’s a lot of car!
An Indian woman in a car in 1916 would be rare anywhere in the world – but certainly in the U.S.
But great-grandma wasn’t afraid to learn to drive so she could be self-sufficient!
My great-grandmother in her new car. She was most likely the first Indian woman in the western US to own a car. April 7, 1916. [640 x 640] from r/HistoryPorn
16. Awkward crush
Hottie alert!
How weird would it be to come across this photo and find out that hunk was your grandfather?
My stud grandfather circa WWII. He watched Pearl Harbor happen in Hawaii, joined up and fought on a gunboat at Iwo Jima that was hit by enemy fire. He surfed with legends in Honolulu. He was a barber for 60 years. from r/OldSchoolCool
17. Trading places
We get so weird about gender roles these days that it’s hard to believe a little cross-dressing for a special occasion wouldn’t have been a bid deal in the 1940s.
Props to grandpa for rocking that dress!
My grandma and grandpa dressing up as each other in the 1940’s from r/OldSchoolCool
18. From head to toe
The hair. The mauve.
This is a cool that’s impossible to replicate no matter how hard you try.
And if you think you can do it, just remember that this is a photo of a grandfather off to play with The Temptations.
My grandpa in 1970’s when he was playing with the Temptations(he is the main trumpet in their song papa was a rolling stone) from r/OldSchoolCool
19. Stunning and special
What a gorgeous photo.
We just love seeing bridal garb through the years and in various cultures.
My grandma just showed me this photo. It’s her wedding day in 1970. from r/OldSchoolCool
20. That’s the old days for ya
It turns out that photobombs were a thing all the way back in the 1920s.
And if something is going to mess up your photo, it might as well be an unexpected creature.
It looks like grandma managed to take it in stride. No bridezillas here!
a pig ran through grandmas wedding photo – 1927 from r/OldSchoolCool
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