Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 15th and one thing that many dads / men enjoy to do is BBQing / Grilling. I know my husband and my dad is a big fan (and I am a big fan of the food).

1950s vintage photo of two men in Scottish kilts grilling on their BBQ outside of a store opening celebration (Source).

Today’s post is a collection of 1950s BBQ fun. Vintage images, advertising, cookbooks and even some fun vintage items.

Let’s fire up the grill and begin!

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.

The Weber Grill is Invented & Barbecuing is all the Rage!

1952: George Stephen, a welder at Weber Brothers Metal Works, cuts a metal buoy in half to make a dome-shaped grill. He uses the top half as a lid that seals in flavor and evenly distributes heat, and adds vents to get oxygen to the fire. The iconic Weber grill is born (Source).

Further Reading: A Brief History of the BBQ Grill by Popular Mechanics

Source: Weber.com

Shopping note: On the Weber website they are selling Limited-Edition 70th Anniversary Kettle Collection at WEBER (avail as of June 2024). If you are looking for a grill, off you go!

Available colors from the 1950s were Jet Black, Chestnut Coppertone and Marbleized- a squiggly lined/crazed finish (source).

1950s photo of demoing Weber grills on television.

Fun Fact: WNBQ in Chicago was the first television station in the world to broadcast all of its programming in color (source).

Source: tvwbb.com

The Vintage Photos, Advertisements, Cook Books/Recipes & More!

A 1956 ‘BIG BOY BARBECUE BOOK‘ – “Shows how easy it is to cook on spit or Grill”.

“A Picture Treasury of Barbecuing-A test recipe institute cook book”.

Source: Etsy-CathysVintageTrunk

1956 Rheingold beer advertisement featuring “Miss Rheingold 1956-Hillie Merritt” serving up some BBQ.

Further Reading: Let’s Have A Beer! Vintage Beer Advertising

Source: Vintage-ads.livejournal.com

Barbecue for two as seen in a Life Picture Cookbook, 1958.

Source: Pinterest

1950’s MCM vintage “Come And Get It” apron featuring a Chef with a barbecue tool.

Source: eBay

Here is a 1950s man smoking a cigarette while grilling and wearing his own chef’s apron with a fun image on the front.

Source: Everyday life in the past

1950s Reynolds Wrap advertisement. “Let’s have a Bar-b-q it’s easy!”

Source: Pinterest

1950s vintage Mid Century enamelware platter depicting a BBQ Grill, and all the things to go with it! Fun!

Source: Etsy-UppityWomen

1950s BBQ cookbook: The Terraced Chef offers an array of recipes for meat, seafood, drinks, salads, desserts, For anyone that has dreamed of having a backyard cooking event that features crabs stuffed with avocado and guinea hen, or eggs stuffed with caviar and pheasant, then this book is for you.

This cook book was actually written by ‘Ruth Cheir Rosen (but her husband was given the credit) who was a very popular cook book writer during the mid-century. Learn about Ruth and see her cook books & some recipes in my blog post, ‘Dig That Dish-The Coolest Vintage Recipe Book Around‘

Barbecue party planning ideas.

Source: Etsy-fabfunkyfunvintage

Vintage photo of a happy man grilling in the backyard.

Source: eater.com

Stylish 1950s barbecue party.

Source: Pinterest

“It’s Cookout Time Start with SPAM for “Kabobs Neapolitan”” 1950s vintage ad.

Source: Vintage-ads.livejournal.com

1950s beach barbecue.

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of people Having fun at the Beach

Source: eBay

1957 “How to Cook Outdoors, Easy as 1-2-3”. “Charcoal Grilling, Spit Barbecuing, Hickory Smoking, Sauces and Seasoning”. Vintage cookbook is from Montgomery Ward.

Source: Etsy-CopperPraire

“Time to flip the sausages!” 1950s photo of a woman barbequing with a makeshift grill stand out of concrete blocks.

Source: Etsy-RenascenceVintage

1950s Fashion: 1950’s “Kenrose” Cotton Sundress edged in Black-White Gingham. Front Pockets have Pixie-Type Girls poised at the Barbecue Grill dressed in Matching Gingham Dresses which actually have Pockets which MIRROR their images!

Source: Etsy-WildRoseVintageDtcom

“Gene Kelly’s Flavor Tips for the Barbecue!” “Try these exciting new outdoor cooking recipes from Durkee Foods”. June 27, 1955 Life Magazine.

Source: jana-treeclimber.blogspot.com

Father and daughter barbecuing in the backyard…in their cute 50’s fashions. Love the chefs hat dad!

Source: Photo by Josef Scaylea/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

As we end this post, here is one last 1950s cookbook that should bring on some giggle and laughter…

WONDERS WITH WIENERS-45 way to prepare.

Source: Pinterest

Question Time: Do you like to BBQ/Grill? What do you enjoy to eat? Share any thoughts in the comment section below.

Further Reading:

• 1950s / 1960s Outdoor Patio Furniture Ideas
• Vintage Photos Of People Tending To Their Gardens 1930s-1960s
• Mid-Century Cool: Breeze Blocks
• Vintage Photos of Life In The Kitchen

Thanks for dropping by and Happy Father’s Day to all that Celebrate!

Liz