Brief History of the Photo Booth:

The first-ever working photo booth was made by French inventor T.E. Enjalbert in March 1889 and was presented later that same year at the World’s Fair in Paris. He named it the “Apparatus for Automatic Photography” (which sounded way cooler in french: Appareil pour la photographie automatique).

The photo booth as we think of it today was created by Anatol Marco Josepho in 1925. The coin-operated machine he called “Photomaton ” was introduced on Broadway in New York. This version was used by more than 200,000 people, all of which waited patiently for 8 minutes while their photo strips developed.

After this success, he created the Photomaton Company and a fun fact is that the future president Franklin D. Roosevelt was actually on his board of directors. The Photomaton Company went on to install booths all over the country. In 1928, Josepho sold the rights to his invention to Henry Morganthau Sr. He was paid $1,000,000 for it and was promised a guaranteed lifetime royalty (Source–Outsnapped).

Growing up in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada I was very lucky to have had grandparents that owned a big pool that the family members could enjoy each summer (and enjoy we did). It is memories of my younger days that I will never forget and I will be forever grateful for.

For today’s post I wanted to jump off from this memory with vintage images from the 1920s – 1960s of regular people enjoying their own swimming pool experience.

Let’s see what I found…

1950s vintage photo of a Woman in Bikini with Elephant Statue in front of the Pool. Source – Etsy: therescuedphoto

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Vintage Photos of People Enjoying Swimming Pools 1920s-1960s

1920s vintage photo of 1920s bathing beauties playing Mah-Jong in a swimming pool.

Source: Etsy – VintageArtUSA1

1920s Vienna swimming pool fashion.

Source: fineartamerica.com

1920s photo of the “M.S. ‘Saturnia (ocean liner)’, Pompeian indoor swimming pool”.

Further Reading: What to Wear on a Cruise-The 1930s-1950s Edition

1920s photo of the "M.S. 'Saturnia', Pompeian indoor swimming pool" featuring stylish people in 1920s swimsuits.

Source: Museum of the City of New York

These young men and women pose on the steps to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk’s giant indoor saltwater swimming pool, called The Plunge.

Although this late 1930s photograph was uncaptioned, this group was most likely promoting one of the Boardwalk’s famous water shows. The man at the far left is Don Patterson, who was famous for many death-defying stunts designed to draw tourists to the Boardwalk.

His most famous act involved donning an asbestos suit, lighting himself on fire, and diving into the pool (Source).

1930s vintage photo. These young men and women pose on the steps to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk’s giant indoor saltwater swimming pool, called The Plunge.

Although this late 1930s photograph was uncaptioned, this group was most likely promoting one of the Boardwalk’s famous water shows. The man at the far left is Don Patterson, who was famous for many death-defying stunts designed to draw tourists to the Boardwalk.

His most famous act involved donning an asbestos suit, lighting himself on fire, and diving into the pool.

Source: santacruzsentinel.com

27th May 1934: A mother and daughter standing hand in hand at the edge of Chiswick Open Air Swimming Pool, west London. (Photo by J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

1930s vintage photo: 27th May 1934: A mother and daughter standing hand in hand at the edge of Chiswick Open Air Swimming Pool, west London. (Photo by J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) — Source: Getty Images

Cologne 1939
Two girls in bathing suits are walking from the swimming pool, where people are engaged in various activities. 1939. The pool has a ten meter springboard to which a sign is attached stating: We warn you! Impact velocity from 10 m = 50 kmh per hour. Use at own risk.

The public swimming pool in Rheinlust Cologne – Riehl, established in 1902, was the first such facility in the city. Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images).

1930s vintage photo of Cologne 1939.
Two girls in bathing suits are walking from the swimming pool, where people are engaged in various activities. 1939.

Source: Getty images

1940s Sunnyside Pool, Toronto, Canada.

In 1925 a giant swimming pool called the “Tank” was built and could accommodate up to 2000 swimmers. It was considered at that time the largest swimming pool in the world and you can still go swimming in this pool today.

Further Reading: Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion – A Grand Piece of Toronto History

1940s vintage photo of the Sunnyside Pool in Toronto Canada, called "The Tank".

July 1929, Sunnyside swimming “tank” in Toronto Canada.

This photo gives you a better idea of the size of the swimming pool.

1920s vintage photo of the Sunnyside swimming tank in Toronto Canada in 1929 showing swimmers in and around the pool.

Source: Toronto Archives

1940s photo of two young women on the pool deck in their cute 1940s swimsuits.

Vintage Hairstyle note: I am loving the “one side victory roll with braids” look on our young lady on the right.

1940s vintage photo of two young women in 1940s swimsuits posing together at the pool. They both have 1940s hairstyles, one girl is wearing braids.

Source: Etsy – TimeGotAwayFromUs

Cave and Basin swimming pool, Banff National Park, Alberta, 1948.

Further Reading: Vintage Travel To Do List: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Source: Library & Archives Canada

1950s photo of an older woman posing for a photo on the diving board of her backyard pool.

1950s vintage photo of an older woman in a 1950s skirt and top sitting on a diving board at her pool in her backyard

Source: Etsy – RenascenceVintage

Mr. and Mrs. R Lackambre of Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada at the Fundy National Park swimming pool.

Historical value:
As one of the first facilities constructed in Fundy National Park of Canada, the Saltwater Pool and Bathhouse usefully illustrates the expansion of the national parks system throughout Canada. Given its late date, it is among the last examples of the early emphasis on recreational facilities in the national parks. Swimming pools were typical of the active recreation facilities routinely provided by national parks before the first Parks Policy of 1964 (Source-Read more).

1950s vintage photo of a young couple in 1950s swimsuits hanging out beside a swimming pool at the Fundy National Park Swimming pool, New Brunswick

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Vintage snapshot taken poolside at the Shadow Mountain Club in Palm Springs, 1957.

1950s Vintage photo taken poolside at the Shadow Mountain Club in Palm Springs, 1957. featuring 2 young girls and and older couple sitting around a table.

Source: Etsy – thewurdemanstudio

Boys and girls in swimsuits and bathing caps go for a dip at the City Municipal Pool in Santa Rosa in 1954.

Juen 1967, a young boy is enjoying some pool time next to the super cool mid century patio furniture.

Further Reading: 1950s / 1960s Outdoor Patio Furniture Ideas

1960s vintage photo june 1967 of a young boy in a portable swimming pool with 1960s mid century patio furniture beside the pool

Source: Etsy – RenascenceVintage

A Black swim club meets at the Kelly Natatorium, the indoor pool once located at the Fairmount Water Works, in 1962. Photo courtesy of the Fairmount Water Works and Philadelphia Water Department Collection

FURTHER READING: ‘A story of social justice’: a history of racial segregation and swimming & POOL: A Social History of Segregation

1960s vintage photo: A Black swim club meets at the Kelly Natatorium, the indoor pool once located at the Fairmount Water Works, in 1962. Photo courtesy of the Fairmount Water Works and Philadelphia Water Department Collection

Source: The Guardian

Poolside doggie and a breeze block wall for the win! -1950s/1960s photo.

Further Reading: Mid-Century Cool: Breeze Blocks

1950s vintage photo / 1960s vintage photo of a midcentury backyard pool with a breeze blocks wall. The two images features a dog poolside with two different women in the pool.

Source: Etsy – 1000WordPhotoShop

Late 1950s / Early 1960s photo of a a young woman in sparkly halter top swimsuit posing at the poolside – Panama City, Florida.

I love the ‘Holiday Lodge’ sign in the background.

Source: Florida Memory

I hope you enjoyed this post and maybe even learned a bit along the way. Please share in the comments section below what your favourite image was and thank you for stopping by!

FURTHER READING: Vintage Photos 1920s – 1960s (Archived Blog Posts)

Liz

Category: Vintage Photo Tuesday

Vintage Photo Booth Images – Part 2

Vintage Photo Booths Images from the 1930s to 1950s

Brief History of the Photo Booth:

The Vintage Photo Booth Images:

Vintage Images of Swimming Pool Life!

Vintage Photos of People Enjoying Swimming Pools 1920s-1960s