60 Fabulous Color Vintage Photographs That Capture Street Scenes of the United States in the 1940s

   

After recovering from the crises of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, the spirit of human ingenuity and American entrepreneurship found a way to persevere in the 1940s.

As the country prepared for war in the early '40s, collaboration between businesses and the American people represented a collective resourcefulness. These fabulous photos, were taken by 35mm Kodachrome film from Dave Gelinas's collection, offer a candid look at an America in transition and the changing cities that people called home.

 
Astoria, Queens, New York - Omni Bus- Circa Late 1940's

 

 
Astoria, Queens, New York - Brodway Ave. - Circa Late 1940's

 

1948 Buick Super Woody Wagon - Ranch Home - Circa Late 1940's

 

1949 Ford Woody Station Wagon - Circa1949

 

Cheyenne, Wyoming - Capital - Circa 1949

 

Ogallala, NB - Standard Gas Sign & Pumps - Main Street Scene - Autos - Signs - Circa: 1949

 

1948 Buick Super Woody Wagon - Ranch Home - Beautifull Lookinhg Horse- Circa Late 1940's

 

1941 Cadillac - Winter Sleading Scene

 

1941 Chrysler Convertible - Navy NAS - Jacksonville License Plate - Circa: 1943

 

Shell Gas Station - Visible Gas Pump - Gas Globes - Circa: 1945

 

Toll Booth - State Highway - Bridge - Vintage Auto - Circa: Late 1940's

 

Sandy Hook, CT - Corbett Crowe Pharmacy - Coca Cola Sign - Autos - Signs - Circa: Late 1940's

 

1949 Oldsmobile - 1949 Ford - Eagle Gate Looking Towards Capitol - Salt Lake City, UT - Circa: 1949

 

Sandy Hook, CT - Corbett Crowe Pharmacy - Coca Cola Sign - Circa: Late 1940's

 

1948 Buick Parade Car - North Hollywood Veterans - Used Car Lot - Circa: Late 1940's

 

1939 Chevrolet Pick Up Truck - Taxi - Little Lady In Her Sailor Outfit - Chicago - Circa: Late 1940's

 

1949 Buick Woodie Wagon - Fire Truck - Rail Car - American Flag - Chicago Railroad Fair - Gas Station Attendants As Color Guard - Circa: 1949

 

1949 Kaiser-Frazer - Don Haynes The Marvel Man - The Stunt Man Who Had Himself Welded Into His Car - Circa: 1949

 

Tony's DX Gas Station - Coca Cola Sign - Marvel Cigarettes Sign - Firestone Tires Sign - Gas Pumps With Globes - Somewhere In The Mid West - Circa Late 1940's

 

Truck And Tractor Fair - American Flags - Feb, 1948

 

Actor Donald OConnor - 1946 Buick Parade Car - North Hollywood, California - Circa: 1946

 

Green River Wyoming - Street Scene - Vintage Autos - Signs - Circa Late 1940's

 

1949 Kaiser-Frazer - Don Haynes The Marvel Man - The Stunt Man Who Had Himself Welded Into His Car - Circa: 1949

 

1941 Lincoln - Dorothy Lamour - Atlantic City Parade - American Flags - Circa: 1941

 

Tydol Gas Station - Tydol Gas Pump - 1940 Ford COE - Coca-Cola Vending Machine - Circa Late 1940's

 

New York City - 5th Avenue - Vintage Autos -American Flag - Easter Sunday - Circa: 1946

 

Gov. Thomas E. Dewey - 1948 Ford Sportsman Woody - Presidential Campaign Parade Car - 1948 Utah Centennial Parade - Circa: 1948

 

1948 Utah Centennial Parade Horse - American Flags - Circa: 1948

 

1949 Buick - Mother And Son - Circa: Early 1950's

 

1939 Buick - 1941 Buick - Standard Gas Station - Conco Gas - Williams, AZ - Circa: 1947

 

Reno Nevada - Coca Cola Sign - Walgreens - Circa: 1949

 

Reno, Nevada - The "Reno Arch" - Woody Wagon - Vintage Autos - Circa: 1949

 

Reno Nevada - John Russel - Western Movies Star - Circa: 1949

 

Reno Nevada - Scott Bradey - Western Movies Actor - Woody Wagon - Circa: 1949

 

Street Scene - Chevrolet & RKO Palace Theatre NYC Billboard Signs - Circa: 1948

 

Street Scene - Vintage Autos - Esso Gas Billboard - Circa: 1948

 

Main Street Scene - Cleveland, OH - Gillsy Hotel - Doublemint Gum Billboard - Coca Cola Sign - Circa: 1939

 

Vintage Autos - Street Scene - Savoy Hotel - Majestic Theatre - Bridgeport, CT - Circa: 1952

 

Ford Delivery Truck - Castleton Brands Food Products - Circa: Late 1940's

 

1947 Lincoln Zepher - Horse Back Riders - Coca Cola Sign - Mobil Oil Gas Station And Sign - Circa: 1947

 

King Paul & Queen Frederica - Greek Royal Family - Circa: 1949

 

Hood's Milk Truck - Devco Van - Milkman - Circa: 1949

 

First National Store - Main Street Scene - Coca Cola Sign - Vintage Autos - Exeter, NH - Circa: 1949

 

Mobil Gas Station - Cobble Stone Street - Route 127 In Massachusetts - Vintage Autos - Packard Car - Circa: 1949

 

Pontiac GMC Dealership - C.J. Harmon's - Neon Sign - 1935 Dodge - Circa: 1946

 

I.G.A. Store - W.B. Avery - Genest's Bread Sign - West Campton, NH - Circa: 1949

 

"Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs..." - Two Friends Lost In A Sea Of Signs - Coca Cola - 7up - Grapette - Cafe- Julian, CA - Circa: 1949

 

1933 Dodge Woody Wagon - Black Horse Liquor Store - Seagram's Display - Circa; Late 1940's

 

Standard White Crown Gas Station - Frank's Service Station - Gas Pumps With Globes - Car Wash - Circa: 1949

 

1946 Pontiac - C.J. Harmon's Pontiac Dealership - Cleveland Heights, Ohio - Circa: 1946

 

Sunoco Gas Station - 1948 Buick Super - Wrexham & Sullivant Ave. - Columbus, OH - Circa: 1949

 

"A Stand Out In The Crowd" - New York City - Street Scene - 5th Ave & E 51st St - Circa: 1940's

 

1949 Pontiac Convertible - Brooks Hall - Allegheny College - Meadville, PA - Circa: 1949

 

1948 Buick Woody Wagon - Wheaton, IL - Main Street Parade Scene - Coca Cola Sign - Circa Late 1940's

 

1948 Buick - Atlantic City , NJ - Driveway Scene - Circa: Late 1940's

 

1948 Buick, Boat Dock Scene - Late 1940's

 

1939 Chevrolet - Lighting Cigar Under The Hood - Circa: 1947

 

Shell Gas Pump - Circa Late 1940's

 

 
1941 Lincoln in Parade with Army Officers.

 

 
Eskimo Pie Ice Cream Vendors Cart, Coca Cola, Mission Orange, 1949 Mercury, Unknown Location and Date.


(All photos © Dave Gelinas)