The Photo Booth, the precursor to the “Selfie”.

Now in this day in age photo booths while fun at weddings (we had one at ours), are mostly sitting empty in malls across the world. There is just no need for them with camera’s on our phones to document every moment in our lives. However in days gone by, the photo booth was popular by all walks of life to capture whatever moment in life they wanted (no different from what we do today).

Therefore for today’s ‘Vintage Photo Tuesday‘ I wanted to showcase various photo booth photos that were taken by kids, lovers, friends and families. Photos that would of eventually ended up in wallets, on dresser tables and on walls, reminding the subject or the holder of the image of a special moment in time.

Let’s begin!

Further Reading: Vintage Photo Booth Images – Part 2

1950s vintage photo of 2 young men getting ready to take photos in a photo booth

1950s Photo. Source: eBay


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Note: If the item you clicked on is no longer available, just do a search for like items. There are loads of vintage items being added to Etsy and eBay daily!


Vintage Photos of People in a Photobooth

1930’s – 1950’s

Young couple in love. Vintage photo Late 1940s Early 1950s young woman and soldier in photo booth.

vintage photo Late 1940s Early 1950s young woman and soldier in photobooth
Source: Etsy

1945 Chicago International Sportsmens Show. Twins I believe in the photos.

Vintage Photobooth Photo 1945 Chicago International Sportsmens Show
Source: Etsy

Late 1940s, early 1950s vintage photo booth image of two young women posing together.

late 1940s early 1950s vintage photo booth image of two young women posing together

Source: Etsy

Not sure what the numbers on the hats mean, but it’s a fun 1930s vintage photo of these two ladies (possibly something to do with their school?).

1920s vintage photobooth image of two women wearing novelty hats.
Source: Etsy

Capturing the special moments. Like a Graduation! Great Smile!

"Graduation Smile" vintage photo of a young Black Man in a graduation cap and gown posing in a photobooth.
Source: Etsy

Mountains and hair bows. 1940s Photo of a pretty woman wearing a very classic 1940s Hairstyle.

1940s young woman vintage photo taken in a photobooth. Great 1940s hairstyle.
Source: Etsy

“Red”. The hat photo is a good one. Vintage Arcade Photo Booths circa 1940s.

Vintage Arcade Photo Booths circa 1940s vintage photo
Source: Etsy

1940’s side profile beauty.

1940s photo booth photo of a pretty Black woman

Source: eBay

The little girl with the pretty hair (Check out the Milk Maid Braid. Cool!). Circa 1930s/1940s.

1930s photo 1940s photo of a young girl with milk maid braids posing in a photobooth.
Source: Etsy

1930’s photo of a dapper man, mastering the art of the “side profile”.

1930s photobooth vintage image of man wearing a hat and glasses.
Source: Etsy

Look into the camera and give your best “don’t mess with me impression”. Mission accomplished. The young woman is wearing a pretty hair flower in her 1940s Hairstyle. I like it!

1940s vintage photobooth image of young teenage girl wearing a hair flower in her 1940s hairstyle
Source: Etsy

A 1944 photo of a happy sailor.

1940s photobooth image of a sailor in 1944.
Source: Etsy

“Look Mom, I have a baby!” A proud dad showing off his little son.

Vintage Photobooth image of a baby and father
Source: Etsy

Two goofy Soldiers having a good time circa 1940s.

Vintage Photo Booth Photo Two GI Pals Goofy Guys 1940's,
Source: Etsy

The Summer of Love. 1940s Photo booth image of a young couple capturing a moment in time.

1940s vintage photobooth image of young couple in love
Source: Etsy

A big smile for the camera-1940s beauty with the most fantatic 1940s Hairstyle. Great Inspiration for the perfect 1940s look!

1940s photobooth vintage image of a beautiful young woman with a fantastic 1940s hairstyle
Source: Etsy

Question Time: Do you like photo booths? Have any fun memories? Share in the comments below!

Further Reading: Make sure you visit my archive of Vintage Photo blog posts HERE.

Liz

17 Comments on Vintage Photo Booth Images 1930s-1950s

  1. Thank you for sharing these rare finds. I feel like I get to go back in time to their special moment. Love them 🙂

  2. I laughed at those goofy soldiers and love that last image as well. I used to go to photo booths as a teen, so I must have at least a couple dozen black and white strips, as well as some in the past few years. It’s a great place to be silly and have an excuse to make several poses, like Red did.

    • Photo booths are the perfect place for goofy fun. At our wedding, we had over 850 photos taken in the booth. I think my guests spent more time there then on the dance floor! It was funny to watch the photos go from somewhat serious to darn right hilarious as the open bar took hold of the guests lol!

      • 850! That’s amazing. I can totally imagine how the pics would have evolved over the night. We had an open bar, and few took advantage of it. I think I’m still miffed! 🙂 A friend set disposable cameras on each table so guests could take pics, but nearly every one turned out dark and grainy–and that’s when I had to PAY to develop them.

        • Ugh that sucks on both things. After being at a wedding one year where the camera’s were on the table and I saw the things people were doing with them, I was like NOPE, not happening at mine! lol

  3. Wonderful photos, as always! So many special moments in people’s lives. I love the two of ‘Red’, particularly the one where he’s pulling a funny face. It’s so sad that photo booths are so rare these days, they were such a joy to mess about in when we were kids. xx

  4. I know the booths were “everywhere” in the 1940s but I’m trying to find a reference that will tell me where SPECIFICALLY. In Manhattan. Of course Grand Central and Penn Station. But where else? Thanks

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