Though the 1950s may be most commonly associated with black-and-white snapshots lingering in the pages of our parents' old-school photo albums, the world of photography wasn't just shades of gray. Enter Kodachrome. Since the mid-1930s, Kodachrome allowed folks to capture the world in all its vividness, inspiring photographers and helping families take down some of their most cherished moments in all their vivid glory ... especially in the 1950s. 

From car shows to parties and days at the pool, here are 35 stunning '50s  Kodachrome photos that prove the past was just as bright as our future.