It’s that time of year—school is back in session! To celebrate, enjoy this nostalgic collection of vintage school photos and back-to-school advertisements from the 1930s to 1960s.

Further Reading: Part 1 – Back To School We Go! Roundup of All Things “School” from the 1940s, 1950’s and 1960s

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase

1930s-1960s Vintage School Images & Advertisements

Two girls enjoying an ice cream after their school day. 1950s vintage photo.

1950s vintage photo of two teenage girls in 1950s cardigans and blouses and 1950s hairstyles enjoying an ice cream while holding their books.

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

Bond Bread vintage 1930 print ad. “For school lunches, choose the bread that keeps its flavor.

1930s vintage ad: School Lunches for kids as seen in this Bond Bread vintage 1930 print ad

Bus Station, 1943. Schoolgirls waiting at a bus stop in a small town in Tennessee. Photograph By Esther Bubley, September 1943.

1940s vintage photo of a Bus Station, 1943. Black Schoolgirls waiting at a bus stop in a small town in Tennessee. Photograph By Esther Bubley, September 1943.

“Back to School and Early Fall Fashions by Berth Robert”. 1941 Back-to-School Fall Fashions Magazine (Digital Download).

This 16 page fashion catalog is a great example of early 1940s teenage fashion, featuring daily wear as well as evening dresses. It was published in 1941 by Berth Robert, a company that offered “semi-made fashions,” or partially completed clothing items that could be finished by a home sewer. Most Berth Robert catalogs come from the 1930s, and the company likely went out of business in the early 40s.

Vintage 1940s Fashion Catalog - Berth Robert 1941 Back-to-School Fall 1940s Fashions Magazine | Digital Download

Example of the 1941 back-to-school fall fashions for young Women. Fantastic fashion illustrations.

1940s Fashion: Vintage 1940s Fashion Catalog - Berth Robert 1941 Back-to-School Fall 1940s Fashions Magazine featuring fantastic fashion illustrations

Source: Etsy-20thCenturyFrocks

LIFE Goes to a School For Kid Geniuses, 1948

LIFE visited what might be called a genius school at Hunter College—a school filled 450 apparently well-adjusted, engaged kids from ages three to 11, who just happened to enjoy IQs averaging around 150.

1940s vintage photo of kids raising their hand at a School For Kid Geniuses, 1948. LIFE visited what might be called a genius school at Hunter College—a school filled 450 apparently well-adjusted, engaged kids from ages three to 11, who just happened to enjoy IQs averaging around 150.

Source: LIFE

1950s advertisement for “Good Hot Soup For Lunch” from Campbell’s Soup.

Further Reading: The Vintage Advertising for Campbell’s Soup Company

Source: Etsy-EncorePrintSociety

Taking the school bus. A 1950s vintage photo of teenagers on the bus.

1950s vintage photo of 1950s teenagers on the school bus

September 1945 Miss America Teen Life Magazine | Back-To-School Edition.

Further Reading: Plaid: A Fall Fashion Trend. The Vintage Edition

1940s vintage magazine cover for 'Miss America' teenager magazine from 1945 featuring tow girls in plaid fashions.

1940s vintage magazine cover for 'Miss America' teenager magazine from 1945. Inside features back to school 1940s fashions for teenage girls.

Source: Etsy-Jimpiphanys

Carole King women’s back-to-school fashions 1948 ad.

Those are some pretty stylish young women!

1940s vintage advertisement for young women's back to school fashions from Carole King. Fantastic 1940s fashion inspiration.

Source: Atticpaper.com

1960s teenagers chatting outside of their high school.

1960s vintage photo of high school students in 1960s fashions for fall sitting outside of their school chatting.

Source: pixels.com

Protesting the high school dress code that banned slacks for girls, Brooklyn c.1940.

Further Reading: The Brooklyn high school pants protest of 1942.

“Should high school girls, particularly students of Abraham Lincoln High School on Ocean Parkway . . . be permitted to wear slacks to class?”

1940s vintage photo of women Protesting the high school dress code that banned slacks for girls, Brooklyn c.1940. Fantastic 1940s hairstyles and 1940s fashions!

Source: ephemeralnewyork

1949 LUNCH BOX Sandwich Spread (made with Mayonnaise) for back to school sandwiches (sorry for it being a bit blurry, but I really wanted to share this ad with you).

1940s vintage advertisement: 1949 LUNCH BOX Sandwich Spread (made with Mayonnaise) for Back to School Sandwiches

Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper

Two students filling prescriptions in School of Pharmacy at Howard University in Washington D.C in 1946.

1940s Vintage Photo: Two Black female students filling prescriptions in School of Pharmacy at Howard University in Washington D.C in 1946.

Source: Essence.com

Bellas Hess c.1955 back-to-school catalog featuring 1950s fashions for everyone in the family (PDF EBook – Digital Download).

1950s vintage catalog: Bellas Hess c.1955 Back to School Catalog, Fashions for Family and Sundries for Home (PDF EBook - Digital Download)

Source: Etsy-ivarose

Sept. 1936–Students wait to enter school on the first day in 1936.

Source: jacksonville.com

1960s ad Fall & Winter 1960-61 sport coats & slacks for young men. “Campus-Educated Casual Clothes”. “Dickies trend styling inspired by Pat Boone”.

1960s young men's back to school fashion-1960s ad Fall & Winter 1960-61 sport coats & slacks for men. "Campus-Educated Casual Clothes". "Dickies trend styling inspired by Pat Boone"

Source: METV

Thanks for dropping by and spending some time at the Vintage Inn! This was another fun post to put together for all of you (and brought back lots of memories of my OWN school days).

Further Reading (Archived blog posts):

Please share any thoughts or memories you have on this topic in the comment section below.

Thanks for dropping by

Liz

One of my favourite things to do in the summer time in Toronto, is to attend the ‘Canadian National Exhibition AKA the CNE’. It’s been around since 1879 and it is just a giant fair filled with yummy foods, exhibits, rides, music and loads of people watching. Love it!

Due to my love on this topic, I have done several blog posts on the subject that you can see & read at the end of this post.

Today, I am delighted to present another round of captivating vintage photos from the CNE. After all, can anyone ever really have enough fun images from fairs and exhibitions? Let’s jump in and explore together!

1930s vintage sign: This sign, of the new glowing type, invites all to the 1938 Canadian National Exhibition-Diamond Jubilee Year 1938

Source: Toronto Public Library

History of the CNE

The Canadian Encyclopedia has a great easy to read article on the history of the CNE. I recommend taking a read when you have a chance.

Fun Fact! In 1879 the fair was originally called the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, and all but one of the 23 wooden buildings – the Crystal Palace – were devoted to agriculture. The fair was officially renamed the Canadian National Exhibition in 1912. At that time, the hope was to better reflect the scope of this always diverse fair (Source).

Vintage CNE Photos 1920s-1960s

1968-Bavarian Garden Restaurant that was under the Alpine Way ride at the CNE.

I adore this photo because my dad is from Germany and I love a good schnitzel.

1960s vintage photo from 1968 at Toronto's CNE-Canadian National Exhibition featuring an image of the Bavarian Garden Restaurant in 1968.

Photo Source: CNE Heritage has an amazing collection of images & advertisements from its archive.

A group of young men in 1959 holding their midway prizes for the photo. 3 stuffed animals and one marionette doll.

1950s vintage photo of CNE Visitors and their midway prizes in 1959. The image is a group of boys holding a doll and stuffed toys

Source-Pinterest: CNE

1920s vintage photo of the Canadian National Exhibition Dufferin St. Gate (designed by G. W. Gouinlock in 1910). So Grand!

The Dufferin Gate was the primary entrance to the CNE grounds until the 1927 opening of the Princes’ Gates on the east end of the grounds (Source).

Source: Toronto Public Library

In the 1950s, the 1910 gate was demolished to make way for the construction of the Gardiner Expressway. This 1959 Gate was built 15 metres south of where the first two Dufferin Gates stood.

The 1959 Dufferin Gate (below) is a parabolic arch built of reinforced concrete. Its design is similar to the St. Louis Arch, which, although technically built after the Dufferin Gate, had been designed earlier. It was built at a cost of $265,000 (Source).

1960s vintage photo of the Arch at the Dufferin Gate for the CNE-Canadian National Exhibition

Source: Archives of Ontario

Cotton Candy..pure sugar but oh so good! Fun photo from 1961 youth day of a young girl enjoying her own cotton candy on a stick.

1960s vintage photo from Toronto's CNE Canadian National Exhibition youth day in 1961 featuring a young girl eating cotton candy in a Bavarian hat

Source-Pinterest: CNE

1930s photo of different dogs that entered a contest at the exhibition. Which one is your favourite?

Further Reading: Vintage photos of people with their pets.

1930s vintage photo from Toronto's CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) featuring images of dogs in a dog contest.

Source-Pinterest: CNE

Hop on let’s check out the CNE! 1950s vintage photo of a group of older adults taking a ride on the tram around the park. Back of the photo has writing saying “Toronto Exhibition”.

1950s vintage photo of a group of older adults taking a ride on the tram around the CNE-Canadian National Exhibition. Back of the photo has writing saying "Toronto Exhibition".

Source-eBay

1941 photo: C.N.E. crowds see first showing of ‘Britain at War’. Nearly an hour before the doors of The Star’s theatre on the balcony of the Automotive building opened for the premiere showing of the film Britain at War a great audience had gathered (Source).’

1940s vintage photo: 1941 photo: C.N.E. crowds see first showing of 'Britain at War' in Toronto (Canadian National Exhibition). The image features 2 women in nurses uniforms and 2 men in uniforms.

Source: Toronto Public Library

TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) buses serving the CNE, August 1930.

Super late 1920s / early 1930s fashions on our ladies leaving the bus.

1930 vintage photo of a TTC Toronto Transit Commission dropping of people in late 1920s fashions at the CNE.

Source: CNE Heritage

Talking Budgies & Bingo! Welcome to the late 1960s (maybe even 1970s?) CNE!

1960s / 1970s vintage photo of Toronto's CNE-Canadian National Exhibition featuring an image of people standing outside of the Bingo Buidling.

Source: Etsy-ThatWasLife

1947 photo. Daredevils Aerialists, Betty and Benny Fox, brother and sister, are a breath-taking feature at the C.N.E. They are seen reading an edition of The Star on their 18-inch-wide platform. They are high paid air artists, getting $375 daily.

1940s vintage photo from Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition-1947 photo. Daredevils Aerialists, Betty and Benny Fox, brother and sister, are a breath-taking feature at the C.N.E. They are seen reading an edition of The Star on their 18-inch-wide platform. Highest paid air artists, they get $375 daily.

Source: Toronto Public Library

Family taking a break at the CNE in 1926. Love seeing the 1920s fashions in the background and on our resting family.

1920s vintage photo from Toronto's CNE Canadian National Exhibition of a family in 1920s fashions sitting down and taking a break in 1926

Source: CNE Heritage

An evening out at the CNE in the 1940s. This looks to be a fashion show in the stadium grounds but I’m not 100% sure. Love the 1940s fashions in this image.

1940s vintage photo from Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition featuring a stylish couple in 1940s fashions/ The man is in a tuxedo and the woman is wearing a fur jacket, black dress and a hat with a veil.

Source: CNE Heritage

Louis Armstrong and his stuffed koala buddy enjoying some taste testing at the 1954 CNE.

1950s vintage photo: Louis Armstrong and his Koala buddy enjoying some taste testing at the 1954 CNE (Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto). The woman holding the stuffed Kola Bear is a flight attendant.

Source-Pinterest: CNE

Possibly photo of Elfrieda Mais in the 1920s at the CNE. Elfrieda was an airplane wing walker and stunt driver who sadly met an early end doing what she loved.

Read all about her short but incredible life HERE.

1920s vintage photo at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto) featuring a woman in a race car. It is believed to possibly be Elfrieda Mais a female race car / stunt driver you have never heard of.

Source-Pinterest: CNE

Tap dancing demo in 1937. Some great 1930s fashions in this photo as well.

1930s Vintage Photo from 1937 at Toronto's CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) of a tap dancing demo. 1930s fashions on display.

Source: CNE Heritage

Kids on the CNE Midway, 1940. They look like they are having a wonderful time!

1940s vintage photo of Kids on the CNE Midway, 1940. Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition.

Source: CNE Heritage

Did you enjoy the photos? Will you be attending the CNE or a like exhibition /fair where you live? Share any comments you have about this topic in the section below. I love hearing from my readers.

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase

Category: vintage images

A Nostalgic Look: Vintage Back-to-School Photos and Ads from the 1930s-1960s

1930s-1960s Vintage School Images & Advertisements

See Vintage Photos from the Canadian National Exhibition

History of the CNE

Vintage CNE Photos 1920s-1960s