20 Photos of What Life Looked Like for Folks in 1956

Carly Tennes Published Yesterday in wow

1956 — a year defined by the Suez Crisis, Marilyn Monroe making headlines, and Dwight D. Eisenhower dominating politics. But between these significant world events, our parents and grandparents still managed to squeeze in some time for fun. Just take a look at these cute throwback snaps depicting school, dances, and a whole lot more.

From Friday night football to family photos, here are 20 photos of what life looked like for folks in 1956.

List View
Player View
Grid View

1. Tall Girl
“My grandmother, 6'2", and her friend in 1956.”

Courtesy of blulish519 on Reddit
2. Yee Haw
“My brother, the little cowboy - ~1956.”

Courtesy of aMazingMikey on Reddit
3. Soldier On
“My dad when he joined the Marine Corps in 1956.”

Courtesy of johnshootershother on Reddit
4. Serious Storage
“5 MB harddrive being shipped by IBM - 1956.”

Courtesy of lord_kmz on Reddit
5. Family Portraits
“My dad's family photo from 1956.”

Courtesy of redhair_greenstare on Reddit
6. School House Rock
“My Great Grandmother (center) with some of her friends, Middle School, Illinois, 1956.”

Courtesy of TheDustyB on Reddit
7. Study Session
“Grandpa’s photos from the dorms freshmen year at Purdue University 1956.”

Courtesy of Safe_Net_9558 on Reddit
8. Mom and Dad
“My mom turns 85 today. Her and dad circa 1956.”

Courtesy of FriendToPredators on Reddit
9. Festive Fun
“Christmas, 1956.”

Courtesy of notbob1959 on Reddit
10. Grad Party
“Class of 1956 high school graduation weekend - Chicago.”

Courtesy of Safe_Net_9558 on Reddit
11. Making the Grade
“My mom’s report card from First Grade in 1956.”

Courtesy of shallottmirror on Reddit
12. Window Shopping  
“Sears (1956) (From PFS-Fb).”

Courtesy of morganmonroe81 on Reddit
13. Dad Rock
“1955 or 1956 - My dad’s first guitar. The epitome of cool!”

Courtesy of honkytonksinger on Reddit
14. Hats Off
“My dad as a teenager in 1956.”

Courtesy of spinningspheres on Reddit
15. At Home
“My parents, Frank and Jeanne, posing with their 1956 Ford Fairlane, Los Angeles.”

Courtesy of TheOak on Reddit
16. Greased Lightnin’
“My Mom, [a] 1956 Greaser.”

Courtesy of No-Competition3830 on Reddit
17. Homecoming Queen
“School dance, 1956, photo by Wayne Miller.”

Courtesy of Slow-moving-sloth on Reddit
18. Runs in the Family
“4 generations of women in 1956, my grandmother is the one holding the baby.”

Courtesy of Lonely-ex-cult-girl on Reddit
19. Makes Cents
“Look at these food prices from March 15, 1956 - 49 cents/lb for rib roast; 33 cents/lb for bacon. Where can I borrow a time machine?”

Courtesy of eldsidhe on Reddit
20. Go Team!
“Friday Night Lights, Port Arthur, TX, c. 1956. Photography by Ralph Morse.”

Courtesy of FlamingoEvery5528 on Reddit

1. Tall Girl
Courtesy of blulish519 on Reddit

“My grandmother, 6'2", and her friend in 1956.”
2. Yee Haw
Courtesy of aMazingMikey on Reddit

“My brother, the little cowboy - ~1956.”
3. Soldier On
Courtesy of johnshootershother on Reddit

“My dad when he joined the Marine Corps in 1956.”
4. Serious Storage
Courtesy of lord_kmz on Reddit

“5 MB harddrive being shipped by IBM - 1956.”
5. Family Portraits
Courtesy of redhair_greenstare on Reddit

“My dad's family photo from 1956.”
6. School House Rock
Courtesy of TheDustyB on Reddit

“My Great Grandmother (center) with some of her friends, Middle School, Illinois, 1956.”
7. Study Session
Courtesy of Safe_Net_9558 on Reddit

“Grandpa’s photos from the dorms freshmen year at Purdue University 1956.”
8. Mom and Dad
Courtesy of FriendToPredators on Reddit

“My mom turns 85 today. Her and dad circa 1956.”
9. Festive Fun
Courtesy of notbob1959 on Reddit

“Christmas, 1956.”
10. Grad Party
Courtesy of Safe_Net_9558 on Reddit

“Class of 1956 high school graduation weekend - Chicago.”
11. Making the Grade
Courtesy of shallottmirror on Reddit

“My mom’s report card from First Grade in 1956.”
12. Window Shopping  
Courtesy of morganmonroe81 on Reddit

“Sears (1956) (From PFS-Fb).”
13. Dad Rock
Courtesy of honkytonksinger on Reddit

“1955 or 1956 - My dad’s first guitar. The epitome of cool!”
14. Hats Off
Courtesy of spinningspheres on Reddit

“My dad as a teenager in 1956.”
15. At Home
Courtesy of TheOak on Reddit

“My parents, Frank and Jeanne, posing with their 1956 Ford Fairlane, Los Angeles.”
16. Greased Lightnin’
Courtesy of No-Competition3830 on Reddit

“My Mom, [a] 1956 Greaser.”
17. Homecoming Queen
Courtesy of Slow-moving-sloth on Reddit

“School dance, 1956, photo by Wayne Miller.”
18. Runs in the Family
Courtesy of Lonely-ex-cult-girl on Reddit

“4 generations of women in 1956, my grandmother is the one holding the baby.”
19. Makes Cents
Courtesy of eldsidhe on Reddit

“Look at these food prices from March 15, 1956 - 49 cents/lb for rib roast; 33 cents/lb for bacon. Where can I borrow a time machine?”
20. Go Team!
Courtesy of FlamingoEvery5528 on Reddit

“Friday Night Lights, Port Arthur, TX, c. 1956. Photography by Ralph Morse.”