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.
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| Astoria, Queens, New York - Omni Bus- Circa Late 1940's |
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| Astoria, Queens, New York - Brodway Ave. - Circa Late 1940's |
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| 1948 Buick Super Woody Wagon - Ranch Home - Circa Late 1940's |
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| 1949 Ford Woody Station Wagon - Circa1949 |
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| Cheyenne, Wyoming - Capital - Circa 1949 |
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| Ogallala, NB - Standard Gas Sign & Pumps - Main Street Scene - Autos - Signs - Circa: 1949 |
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| 1948 Buick Super Woody Wagon - Ranch Home - Beautifull Lookinhg Horse- Circa Late 1940's |
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| 1941 Cadillac - Winter Sleading Scene |
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| 1941 Chrysler Convertible - Navy NAS - Jacksonville License Plate - Circa: 1943 |
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| Shell Gas Station - Visible Gas Pump - Gas Globes - Circa: 1945 |
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| Toll Booth - State Highway - Bridge - Vintage Auto - Circa: Late 1940's |
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| Sandy Hook, CT - Corbett Crowe Pharmacy - Coca Cola Sign - Autos - Signs - Circa: Late 1940's |
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| 1949 Oldsmobile - 1949 Ford - Eagle Gate Looking Towards Capitol - Salt Lake City, UT - Circa: 1949 |
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| Sandy Hook, CT - Corbett Crowe Pharmacy - Coca Cola Sign - Circa: Late 1940's |
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| 1948 Buick Parade Car - North Hollywood Veterans - Used Car Lot - Circa: Late 1940's |
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| 1939 Chevrolet Pick Up Truck - Taxi - Little Lady In Her Sailor Outfit - Chicago - Circa: Late 1940's |
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| 1949 Buick Woodie Wagon - Fire Truck - Rail Car - American Flag - Chicago Railroad Fair - Gas Station Attendants As Color Guard - Circa: 1949 |
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| 1949 Kaiser-Frazer - Don Haynes The Marvel Man - The Stunt Man Who Had Himself Welded Into His Car - Circa: 1949 |
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| 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 |
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| Truck And Tractor Fair - American Flags - Feb, 1948 |
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| Actor Donald OConnor - 1946 Buick Parade Car - North Hollywood, California - Circa: 1946 |
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| Green River Wyoming - Street Scene - Vintage Autos - Signs - Circa Late 1940's |
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| 1949 Kaiser-Frazer - Don Haynes The Marvel Man - The Stunt Man Who Had Himself Welded Into His Car - Circa: 1949 |
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| 1941 Lincoln - Dorothy Lamour - Atlantic City Parade - American Flags - Circa: 1941 |
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| Tydol Gas Station - Tydol Gas Pump - 1940 Ford COE - Coca-Cola Vending Machine - Circa Late 1940's |
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| New York City - 5th Avenue - Vintage Autos -American Flag - Easter Sunday - Circa: 1946 |
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| Gov. Thomas E. Dewey - 1948 Ford Sportsman Woody - Presidential Campaign Parade Car - 1948 Utah Centennial Parade - Circa: 1948 |
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| 1948 Utah Centennial Parade Horse - American Flags - Circa: 1948 |
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| 1949 Buick - Mother And Son - Circa: Early 1950's |
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| 1939 Buick - 1941 Buick - Standard Gas Station - Conco Gas - Williams, AZ - Circa: 1947 |
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| Reno Nevada - Coca Cola Sign - Walgreens - Circa: 1949 |
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| Reno, Nevada - The "Reno Arch" - Woody Wagon - Vintage Autos - Circa: 1949 |
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| Reno Nevada - John Russel - Western Movies Star - Circa: 1949 |
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| Reno Nevada - Scott Bradey - Western Movies Actor - Woody Wagon - Circa: 1949 |
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| Street Scene - Chevrolet & RKO Palace Theatre NYC Billboard Signs - Circa: 1948 |
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| Street Scene - Vintage Autos - Esso Gas Billboard - Circa: 1948 |
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| Main Street Scene - Cleveland, OH - Gillsy Hotel - Doublemint Gum Billboard - Coca Cola Sign - Circa: 1939 |
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| Vintage Autos - Street Scene - Savoy Hotel - Majestic Theatre - Bridgeport, CT - Circa: 1952 |
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| Ford Delivery Truck - Castleton Brands Food Products - Circa: Late 1940's |
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| 1947 Lincoln Zepher - Horse Back Riders - Coca Cola Sign - Mobil Oil Gas Station And Sign - Circa: 1947 |
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| King Paul & Queen Frederica - Greek Royal Family - Circa: 1949 |
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| Hood's Milk Truck - Devco Van - Milkman - Circa: 1949 |
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| First National Store - Main Street Scene - Coca Cola Sign - Vintage Autos - Exeter, NH - Circa: 1949 |
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| Mobil Gas Station - Cobble Stone Street - Route 127 In Massachusetts - Vintage Autos - Packard Car - Circa: 1949 |
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| Pontiac GMC Dealership - C.J. Harmon's - Neon Sign - 1935 Dodge - Circa: 1946 |
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| I.G.A. Store - W.B. Avery - Genest's Bread Sign - West Campton, NH - Circa: 1949 |
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| "Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs..." - Two Friends Lost In A Sea Of Signs - Coca Cola - 7up - Grapette - Cafe- Julian, CA - Circa: 1949 |
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| 1933 Dodge Woody Wagon - Black Horse Liquor Store - Seagram's Display - Circa; Late 1940's |
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| Standard White Crown Gas Station - Frank's Service Station - Gas Pumps With Globes - Car Wash - Circa: 1949 |
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| 1946 Pontiac - C.J. Harmon's Pontiac Dealership - Cleveland Heights, Ohio - Circa: 1946 |
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| Sunoco Gas Station - 1948 Buick Super - Wrexham & Sullivant Ave. - Columbus, OH - Circa: 1949 |
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| "A Stand Out In The Crowd" - New York City - Street Scene - 5th Ave & E 51st St - Circa: 1940's |
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| 1949 Pontiac Convertible - Brooks Hall - Allegheny College - Meadville, PA - Circa: 1949 |
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| 1948 Buick Woody Wagon - Wheaton, IL - Main Street Parade Scene - Coca Cola Sign - Circa Late 1940's |
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| 1948 Buick - Atlantic City , NJ - Driveway Scene - Circa: Late 1940's |
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| 1948 Buick, Boat Dock Scene - Late 1940's |
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| 1939 Chevrolet - Lighting Cigar Under The Hood - Circa: 1947 |
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| Shell Gas Pump - Circa Late 1940's |
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| 1941 Lincoln in Parade with Army Officers. |
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| Eskimo Pie Ice Cream Vendors Cart, Coca Cola, Mission Orange, 1949 Mercury, Unknown Location and Date. |
(All photos © Dave Gelinas)