Amazing Color Photographs Capture Everyday Life in Southern California From Between the 1940s and 1960s

   

Charles Phoenix is a dude who has done a great service to mankind. He has traveled to countless thrift stores and estate sales rescuing abandoned family slides from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. These particular photographs are from his book, Southern Californialand: Mid-Century Culture in Kodachrome.

“There’s a lot of specialness and magic from our culture in the mid-twentieth century era that’s gone unseen,” he told BLEEP Magazine. “It’s not a surprise some things have slipped through the cracks, but it’s my job to find this stuff and put it on a pedestal. It’s a very interesting period of time, nothing is more interesting to me than the mid-twentieth century culture of America. That’s where I thrive.”

Indio, 1966

 

Jack in the Box, 1964
 
 
Los Angeles, 1956

 

 
McDonald's, 1954

 

Alhambra, 1955
 
 
Compton drive-in, 1977

 

Compton, 1957
 
 
Covina Bowl, 1956

 

 
Downey, 1964
 
 
Orange Grove, 1956

 

Palm Springs, 1953

 

 
Thriftimart, 1962
 
 
Vine Hollywood, 1948

 

 
West Covina, 1957

 

 
White Front, 1961