It’s my Dad’s 70th birthday on Nov 19th, so we are having a fancy cocktail / dinner party all based around the bar my grandfather built in his basement in 1966 (the base is made out of flagstone from Wiarton, Ontario).

The bar i’m talking about is below and this photo from the 1970s features the following people:

My grandmother (Omi) who is looking right at the camera in that fantastic yellow dress
The woman with the incredible back on her dress is my MOM! Dang! Wish I knew what the rest of the dress looked like
My grandfather (Opi) is behind the bar
My mom’s brother (my uncle) is to the right with my Aunt (his wife).
Man on the left, unknown.

What a fun photo!!

1970s vintage photo of a home bar featuring a 1970's cocktail party-Image is the Vintage Inn Blog's family.

For today’s post in honour of the home bar pictured above, I wanted to showcase people enjoying themselves IN cocktails bars, taverns, pubs and of course home bars. These could be vintage photos or vintage ads but they are all from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Cheers!

1950s vintage photo of a woman in a 1950s dress sitting on a bar stool at her home bar while her husband makes a drink behind the bar. Fun Mid Century Bar look.

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.

A Look Back At Life In 1940s-1960s Drinking Establishments & Home Bars

The Vintage Images

“Photo time! Everyone head behind the bar!”. Late 1940s / Early 1950s fun photo of a group of young people at this incredible bar, packed to the top with cool things (including the front of the bar).

From what I can see from zooming in, a Cheeseburger & Hamburger are $0.25 and ‘Iron City’ is the beer of choice.

late 1940s /early1950s vintage photo of a group of young people behind a very decked out bar with the bartender tp the left. They look like they could be college students.

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

This 1950s, maybe early 1960s photo will live in my memory for as long as I live because of the leopard print purse our stylish lady is holding. Dang everyone looks so good at this pub night!

1950s 1960s vintage mid century photo of people in 1950s fashions 1960s fashions including a leopard print purse enjoying drinks at a bar

Source: Flashbak

1950s vintage photo of the bartender reaching over to shake someone’s hand that is not in the image. Looks like everyone is a good mood. Love the little glasses.

1950s vintage photo of people at a bar and a bartender making drinks

Source: Etsy-iloveyoumorephotos

1950s vintage ad for Schenley Whisky featuring actor, Raymond Massey enoying finer entertainment (like hanging out at his home bar).

“Acting is tense work. That’s why Raymond often relaxes at home with friends. Schenley stars at those gatherings. Its mello taste pleases everyone.”

1950s Vintage Ad for Schenley Whisky featuring actor Raymond Massey who likes to enjoy entertaining at his home bar.

Source: eBay

Everyone is welcome at the Bar! Cheers! A 1950s vintage photo.

1950s vintage photo of a pretty Black woman in 1950s fashion sitting on a bar stool posing with a man in a 1950s suit holding a beer

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

1960s Photo: Ben and Frank did not get the memo…Hawaiian shirts must be worn when working the bar at the social club! Looking good Ralph!

1960s vintage photo of Guys Mixing Drinks Behind the Bar at the Social Club in the 1960's. The one guy is wearing a hawaiian shirt.

Source: Etsy-iloveyoumorephotos

Two barmaids at a pub in London, 1949.

Source: Flickr

Members of the Capetowners Club in a bar in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver(early 1960s).

1960s vintage photo of two Black couples all dressed up at a bar in 1960s fashions. They are Members of the Capetowners Club in a bar in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver. (early 1960s)

Source: Pinterest

1960s Schlitz Beer Ad. “Invitation from your Tavern Keeper: COME AND WATCH THE RACES!” Looks like a fun time!

1960S vintage ad for Schlitz Beer featuring a couple in 1950s fashions sitting in a Bar / Tavern enjoying a beer while watching the horse races.

Source: Etsy – EdenKitschVintage

1940s or 1950s vintage photo of Tiki Bar, ‘Trad’r Sam’ in San Francisco.

Trad’r Sam was opened in 1937 by a man named Sam Baylon, large stalks of bananas hung from the ceilings and bartenders took the Tiki-theme thing in full stride, donning beige outfits and Safari caps ready to take you away in a rum rhapsody. The most popular order was the Banana Cow (blended rum, brandy, Benedictine, banana and cream) (Source).

1950s vintage photo of bartenders working at the Tiki bar Tradr Sam they are wearing safari outfits a man in uniform sits at the bar a woman in the back enjoys a beer

Source: SignsUnited.com

The college bar. 1940s photo. How dapper is our young man in the front of this image? Soooo dapper!

1940s vintage photo of a group of Black men and woman enjoying their college bar. Fun 1940s college fashions.

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

One night in 1947 a group of friends, got all dressed up and headed out to their favourite bar for a night of fun.

1940s vintage photo from 1947 of a group of people in a bar enjoying themselves with friends. The women are wearing 1940s dresses and 1940s hairstyles

Source: Etsy –JakeRoebucks

Bartender in action in this 1960s photo.

1960s vintage photo of a bartender serving people at the bar in the 1960s. One man is holding a cigar.

Source: Etsy – QsVintageImages

Happy 70th Birthday Dad!

(1970’s photo of my parents in Jamaica. My mom is doing the leap frog, while my open shirt dad looks on)

1970s vintage photo of the Vintage Inn Blogs parents, Manfred and Susan Gruening in Jamaica on the beach having fun

Question time! Please share in the comments section below, what you favourite photos or ad was. Also please let me know if you have a favourite drinking establishment that you enjoy.

Further Reading:

The Vintage Advertising of a Canadian Beer Brand-Labatt’s
Let’s Have A Beer! Vintage Beer Advertising
Are you hosting a cocktail / lounge party? Then you must take a look at my party guide!
Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)

Thanks for dropping by and spending some time at the Vintage Inn. I look forward to welcoming you back!

Liz

One of my top blog posts is a “Mini Guide To Holding The Ultimate 1950’s Themed Party“. It’s a high level overview of how to plan your next 1950’s party (food, drink, games, clothing etc.). As the years have gone by I have been asked to do more indepth research on various topics from this post. Today is another one of those days….1950s Desserts. Perfect ideas for any party, event, social gathering or just for enjoying at home.

1950s Vintage Photo: A little girl in Atlantic City screams in amazement at her money-themed ice cream sundae. — Source: Delish

Today’s post contains, vintage ads, vintage cookbooks and recipes. If you have a sweet tooth you are going to want to grab something sugary to snack on after this post.

Let’s begin!

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.

NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.

1950s Dessert Ideas For Your Next Party!

“Pretty for Parties….The hostess who serves one or more of these luscious-looking sweets at her next party can be sure of pleasing her guests. Even the not-so-confident cook should, with care, be able to make them.” 1952 vintage food article.

Desserts Featured:

Pineapple Party Cake
Strawberry Chiffon Pie
Fruited Ice-Cream Pavlovas
Rhubarb Fantasy
Fruit Salad Surprise
Orange Wine Snow

Further Reading: Party Foods of the 1950’s

1950s Article for 1950s Party foods (1952)-great ideas for your next 1950s themed party.

Source: Tumblr

I love a good pineapple upside down cake, and my mothers receipe which is from her mother is DELISH!

Here is a vintage pineapple upside down cake 1955 ad showing how to make the cake using different cuts of canned pineapple from the Pineapple Growers Association.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Cake Ideas As Seen Thru 1920s-1950s Ads

Here is a vintage pineapple upside down cake ad showing how to make the cake using different cuts of canned pineapple from the Pineapple Growers Association from 1955.

Source: Quaintcooking.com

When one thinks of the 1950s you must think of Jell-O and of course Jell-O Moulds! This 1952 ad from the Toronto Star Weekly features fun recipes for a ‘Hawaiian Fruit Ring’; ‘Grape-Pineapple Mould; ‘Carrot & Apple Salad’ and a ‘Jell-O Fiesta’. All of these are perfect for your 1950s party dessert table.

1950s Vintage Ad for Jell-o featuring a recipe for a Jello Mould-Hawaiian Fruit Ring. Perfect for a 1950s party.

Source: Etsy

Ice Cream! So many ways to enjoy this cold treat. Ice cream sundaes, ice cream floats, banana splits, side of ice cream and so much more!

A 1950s Sealtest Ice Cream vintage advertisement.

Source: Flickr

Ice cream floats are one of my fav treats and are super easy to make. Dosen’t this ‘Seven-Up Float” look delish?

Seven-Up Floats vintage 1950s ad -1950s party food. — Source: Pop Culture Safari

“Cool Tangy…Tangerine Sealtest Sherbet” YUM! A 1950s vintage ad from the July 21, 1958, issue of “Life.”

Source: Etsy

“Party Desserts that are exciting, different!” A vintage Borden’s Eagle Brand recipe booklet from the 1950’s. (avail as of July 3rd, 2022 HERE).

Vintage cookbooks are a great way to have on demand vintage party foods for whatever occasion you are hosting. You can find loads online on websites like Etsy or even at your local vintage store. Happy collecting!

Featuring (on this page):

Marshmallow Roll
Applesauce Refigerator Cake
Cheesless Cheese Cake
Date & Nut Roll
Lemon Snow Freeze

Further Reading: Let’s Get Cooking: Vintage Cookbooks 1940s & 1950s

Source: Etsy

Baked Alaska aka Bombe Alaska-Make it with ‘Peters Ice Cream’.

Have you ever had this dessert? I have not but it looks so interesting!

Brief History of this dessert: The earliest version of Baked Alaska appeared in 1802 with Thomas Jefferson. He was one of the first presidents of the USA to serve ice cream at a state banquet in the White House. Legend has it that Jefferson asked for the ice cream to be encased in a hot pastry, creating one of the first versions of Baked Alaska. In 1804, American physicist Benjamin Thompson Rumford (who invented coffee percolators) was looking into the resistance of beaten egg whites to heat. Beaten egg whites are basically just meringue. He inadvertently ended up with his own version of a Bombe Alaska and nicknamed it ‘omelette surprise’ (Source).

1950s vintage ad for Baked Alaska aka Bombe Alaska-Make it with 'Peters Ice Cream' featuring a 1950s housewife holding the 1950s dessert.

Nothing says 1950s desserts like a Fruit Cocktail from Del Monte! The food ad features a recipe for ‘Five-Fruit Parfait’; ‘Super-Fruit Salad’ and of course the Fruit Cocktail itself.

Nothing says 1950s desserts like a Fruit Cocktail from Del Monte! The 1950s ad features a recipe for 'Five-Fruit Parfait'; 'Super-Fruit Salad' and of course the Fruit Cocktail itself.

Source: Etsy

Angel Food Cake! Oh yes that is a must for a taste of the 1950s and now you can make it at home with the recipe below, straight from a 50s cookbook.

1950s vintage recipe for Angel Food Cake. Perfect for any 1950s Party / Retro Event!

Source: antiquealterego.com

Did you know that banana cream pie was the most popular dessert among American soldiers in the 1950s (source)?

1952 vintage ad for ‘My-T-Fine Dessert Pie Filling’ featuring a recipe for Banana Cream Pie.

Source: Reddit

Back in the 1950s, in an effort to sell more canned peaches, National Peach Cobbler Day, which is April 13, was created by the Georgia Peach Council (Source). Enjoy making this vintage recipe.

1950s Peach Cobbler Recipe-Vintage Recipe.

Source: antiquealterego.com

1958 Good Housekeeping’s “Book of Delectable Desserts” cookbook (avail as of June 4th, 2022 HERE)

1950s Desserts: 1958 Good Housekeeping's "Book of Delectable Desserts" vintage cookbook

Here is just a sample of some of the desserts recipes available to make. A good custard or pudding goes a long way at a party.

1950s Vintage cookbook from 1958 featuring dessert recipes for Custards, souffles and puddings.

Source: Etsy

My last dessert I am sharing with all of you, is a ‘Party Pinwheel’ featuring ‘Jell-O Pudding & Pie Filling’ as seen in a 1957 advertisement. It would 100% be a show stopper at your party!

“Tropic-ripened pineapple…tasty jelly roll slices…all set off with wholesome, creamy-smooth Jell-O Pudding & Pie Filling”.

1950s Vintage Ad: 'Party Pinwheel' featuring 'Jell-O Pudding & Pie Filling' as seen in a 1957 advertisement.

Source: Etsy

Israel’s beauty pageant winners of 1950 keep cool with ice pops on a hot Tel Aviv day.

Source: israel21c.org

I hope this post helped you feel inspired for your next parties dessert table or brought back some nostalgia for desserts you have enjoyed in the past (or maybe currently enjoy).

Question Time: Are any of the above desserts your favourite? Would you make any of the recipes yourself? Share any thoughts you may have on this topic in the comments section below.

Further Reading:

Food:

Party Games, Party Decor, 1950s Music, 1950s Fashion & More

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Tag: 1950s

A Look Back At Life In 1940s-1960s Drinking Establishments & Home Bars

The Vintage Images

1950s Dessert Ideas For Your Next Party!