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Kitchen Advertising from the 1950s

Who doesn’t feel a nostalgic pang of adoration when thinking about the classic 1950s kitchen? From the era’s vibrant checkered floor tiling, to the iconic white kitchen appliances (or pink!), these spaces were designed to appeal as well as be efficient for our busy 1950s housewife.

In this blog post we’ll explore thru vintage advertising what those kitchens looked like during that era. Maybe it will inspire you to update your modern day kitchen to a retro one?

Note: This is an extension of a blog post I did in 2021 showcasing ‘Vintage Photos of People in the Kitchen.

Let’s begin!

1950s kitchen featuring Pink Appliances.

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.


1950s Vintage Kitchen Advertising

1950 ad for ‘Hotpoint All-Electric Kitchen’. “Saves Time-Saves Steps-Saves Work”

1950s vintage ad: 1950 Hotpoint All-Electric Kitchen.

Source: Etsy- PlentifulPages

“To tranform that old, ugly work-trap kitchen into a modern, step-saving AMERICAN KITCHEN!”. 1951 Ad.

1950s vintage ad for a kitchen renovation from 'American Kitchens' featuring illustrations of 1950s men and women in 1950s kitchens.

Source: Etsy – KristensVintagePaper

“World’s Newest Kitchen Ideas – priced right for you!” 1951 Youngstown Kitchens advertisement featuring cabinet ideas, fun colourful countertops and more!

1950s Vintage Advertisement: "World's Newest Kitchen Ideas - priced right for you!" 1951 Youngstown Kitchens advertisement featuring cabinet ideas, fun colourful countertops and more!

Source: eBay

“Make your kitchen look new with these practical walls from Armstrong’s Monowall (maker’s of Armstrong’s Linoleum). 1951 ad.

Further Reading: The Beautiful World of 1940s Linoleum Flooring

1950s vintage Kitchen ad for Armstrong Monowall that will help make your 1950s kitchen look even better with practical walls.

Source: Etsy – KristensVintagePaper

“See the latest advances in modern living”. 1952 vintage kitchen design ideas from Youngstown Kitchens.

1950s vintage advertisement: 1952 vintage kitchen design ideas from Youngstown Kitchens.  featuring illustrations of various things in the kitchen like counters, sinks etc and 1950s housewives.

Source: eBay

1953 THOR Built-In Electric Range advertisement. Perfect kitchen appliance for that modern kitchen and housewife.

1950s vintage ad: 1953 THOR Built-In Electric Range advertisement. Perfect kitchen appliance for that modern kitchen and housewife.

Source: Etsy – KristensVintagePaper

Geneva Personalized Kitchens – 1954 Ad. “Let your GENEVA Kitchen be gay…in one of six delightful colors – or white if you prefer”

1950s Vintage Kitchen Ad: Geneva Personalized Kitchens - 1954 Ad. "Let your GENEVA Kitchen be gay...in one of six delightful colors - or white if you prefer"

Source: Etsy – KristensVintagePaper

“Take a good look and see why…Republic Steel Kitchens give you the most for your money!” 1954 ad.

1950s vintage kitchen ad for Republic Steel Kitchens featuring a cool galley 1950s kitchen and an excited 1950s housewife.

Source: Etsy – KristensVintagePaper

1950s magazine cover featuring a Mid-Century tropical patio indoor / outdoor living arrangement, including a cute outdoor kitchen.

I LOVE THIS!

1950s magazine cover featuring A Mid-Century tropical patio featuring indoor / outdoor living including a cute outdoor 1950s kitchen

Source: Etsy- PlentifulPages

“This is Living – Foodarama Living by Kelvinator”.

1959 Kelvinator appliances advertisement including a pink fridge and big kitchen windows (love those windows).

1950s Vintage Ad: 1959 Kelvinator appliances advertisement including a pink fridge and big kitchen windows (love those windows).

Source: Etsy- PlentifulPages

Mid-Century Kitchen: “Our goal was a kitchen as inviting as a sitting room. Kitchen has a deep sense of dimension to and fro. Handsomely designed cabinets fit under counter. At far end are more counter and tray space, and under colorful storage panels the laundry. An entertaining use of fabric and handcraft makes for interest on every hand.”

1950s / Mid Century Kitchen inspiration as seen in a 1950s vintage magazine. Vintage Kitchen Inspiration.

Source: Etsy- PlentifulPages

Question: Are you a fan of the classic 1950s kitchen? Tell me what your favorite elements of the design are and how you would mix it with modern updates? OR just tell me anything you wish to talk about around this topic.

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Back To School: Vintage School Clubs Part 2

Do you remember the excitement of joining a school club? Maybe you loved the music program, voted for student council president, or joined the debate team. Whatever you were part of you cannot deny that for decades, school clubs have provided students with the chance to explore their interests, build relationships, and create lasting memories.

Here at the Vintage Inn Blog, I have always loved this subject and finally in 2017 I did a post on ‘School Clubs 1920s-1950s‘. It was fun to scan yearbook photos of times gone by and try and figure out what some of the clubs were about.

I decided since it’s been a few years that I would do a part 2. Especially since I have come to realize that school clubs were also called “Organizations & Associations” (maybe that is why hardly anybody saw my last post?).

Anyways! Let’s get started and explore the exciting world of vintage school clubs!

1950s High School Yearbook Photo featuring the Pep Club

Source: eBay


All images are sourced from the North Carolina Yearbooks-DigitalNC


Vintage School Clubs / Organizations / Associations 1920s-1950s

The “Happy Four Club” – 1923 Barton College, ‘Pine Knot’ yearbook.

Any thoughts on what this club was about? My research came up empty. Let’s have some fun in the comments section below.

Further Reading: Vintage Photo Tuesday: A Look into 1941 Barton College-Pine Knot Yearbook

1920s vintage yearbook photo of a school club called "happy four club" in 1923 featuring 4 girls in 1920s fashions at Barton College, North Carolina.

1927 yearbook photo of the Campbell University Dramatic Club as seen in the ‘Pine Burr’ yearbook.

That year the school play was “Peg O’ My Heart”.

1927 yearbook photo of the Campbell University Dramatic Club as seen in the Pine Burr yearbook. Super 1920s fashions in the photo for men and for women.

1929 yearbook (The ‘Lotus’) from William Peace University featured The Advertiser’s Club & the Happy-Go-Lucky Club.

What club would you of joined?

Liz note: These stylish young women in both images are posing in some pretty fantastic late 1920s coats and hairstyles.

Late 1920s vintage yearbook photo from 1929 from William Peace University featuring an image of the Advertisers Club. A group of young women in late 1920s coats & hats holding binders.
Late 1920s vintage yearbook photo from 1929 from William Peace University featuring an image of the "happy-Go-Lucky" club. A group yearbook photo of young women in late 1920s coats and 1920s hairstyles.

1930 ‘The English Study Club’ as seen in ‘The Blue Bear’ yearbook from Livingstone College, North Carolina.

1930s vintage yearbook - 1930 'The English Study Club' as seen in 'The Blue Bear' yearbook from Livingstone College in North Carolina. Livingstone college is a Black College and the image features Black Men & Wome in 1930s fashions.

Western Carolina Teachers College 1934 Debate Team (as seen in the ‘Catamount’ yearbook).

Don’t mess with our lady in the bottom right (2nd in), she will debate you!

1930s Vintage Yearbook photo from 1934 of the Debate Team from   The image features young men and women in 1930s fashions posing together on the steps of the school.

The ‘Paint and Palette Club’ of 1939-an organization for the purpose of furthering an interest in art among members of the art department and student body.

Queens University of Charlotte, ‘The Coronet’ yearbook.

1930s vintage photo from a 1939 yearbook of the Paint and Palette club (art club) featuring young university women in late 1930s hairstyles.

The ‘Chemistry Club’ as seen at the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina in 1941 (The ‘Pine Needles’ yearbook).

1940s vintage yearbook from 1941 from  the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina. The image is of the Women's Chemistry Club.

The ‘Stirrup Club’ & The ‘Monogram Club’. Salem College, 1944 ‘Sights and Insights’ yearbook.

What do you think the ‘Stirrup Club’ was all about?

1940s vintage yearbook photo from Salem College, 1944 'Sights and Insights' yearbook. The Stirrup Club & The Monogram Club.

The ‘Service Club’ & ‘Women Collegiate Club’ at Fayetteville State University as in the 1947 ‘Bronco’ yearbook.

I’m loving all the saddle shoes in the bottom photo!

1940s vintage yearbook photos of The 'Service Club' & 'Women Collegiate Club' at Fayetteville State University (Black University) in 1947 (The Bronco yearbook).

The ‘Day Students Organization’ as seen in the Phi Psi Cli 1948 yearbook from Elon College.

About: The Day Students make up a great portion of the student body. They are always on the job to lend a helping hand to all school activities. Each year they give a party for the student body which is one of the big affairs of the school year.

1940s vintage yearbook photo of The 'Day Students Organization' as seen in the Phi Psi Cli 1948 yearbook from Elon College

“The Tailoring Club” 1950 ‘Ayantee’ yearbook from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Look at those well dressed students! DANG!

The Tailoring Club-1950 Vintage Yearbook photo from a HBCU in North Carolina. 1950 'Ayantee' yearbook from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University featuring Well dressed Black Men and a Black Women

The ‘Hoof-Print Club’ at Meredith College as seen in the ‘Oak Leaves’ 1952 yearbook.

This club was all about the love of horses, horse shows and everything else around that subject.

1950s vintage yearbook photo of the 'Hoof-Print Club' at Meredith College as seen in the 'Oak Leaves' 1952 yearbook.

A full page of clubs and one association in the ‘Ayantee’ [1954] yearbook from the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina.

  • The Women’s Athletic Association
  • Physical Education Majors Club
  • Art Circle
  • Masonry Club
  • Virginia Club
  • Floridian Club
  • French Club
  • Home Ecker’s Club
1950s vintage yearbook page of School Clubs at the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina a Black College.

The ‘Marshal Club’ at Gardner-Webb University as seen in the ‘Anchor’ 1955 yearbook.

About: The Marshal Club is the honor society of Gardner-Webb. Membership in this organization is one of the highest honors attainable. The active marshals servce as ushers at public functions and marshals at graduation. The purpose of this organization is to stimulate scholarship, to develp character, to encourage leadership, and to create good fellowship.

1950s vintage yearbook photo of The 'Marshal Club' at Gardner-Webb University as seen in the 'Anchor' 1955 yearbook.

The 1957 ‘Ivy Leaf Club’ from Elizabeth City State University, the ‘Pirate’s Log’ yearbook.

They even have an “ivy” in the photo.

I am also unsure of what this club was about. Thoughts?

1950s vintage yearbook from Elizabeth City State University a Black University featuring a photo of the Ivy Leaf Club. The Image is of young Black Women in 1950s fashions & hairstyles

Question Time: Were you in any school clubs during your highschool or maybe higher education days? I was in Drama in highschool and I loved every minute of it (even though I was not very good). Share any thoughts in the comment section below.

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

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