The way it was:

[speeder]

In the early 1950s. I recently discovered this little photo book from a gathering of my dad and some friends in the very early '50s, he would have been fresh out of the Army, (Korean War), and in college. Before he met my mom.

Not sure what the occasion was and it doesn't look like anything special by the way they were dressed, maybe just having some beers on a weekend night? My favorite photo is the last one, my dad always told me that he was friends with Bud who owned Bud's Standard in our neighborhood in the '60s, I think that he was slightly older and probably a WW2 veteran.

I'm only sharing here because I thought that they were prints in amazing condition, (like new), the photography is not great but the *capture the moment* quality is, IMO. The first one is my dad on the left and the rest are his friends:






Everyone in these photos is dead or in their 90s if alive but they are so young here!

[speeder]

Bud looks like he's saying, "we get older and they stay the same age."

[craigster59]

You're the spittin' image of your Dad Denis! Looks like good times had by all, no noses buried in cellphones back then.

I like the last pic. As a Film Noir aficionado and old movies in general it's amazing how much booze and cocktails were consumed back then!

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by speeder

What does this mean? "fjb?"

Top Secret, top secret..

[stevej37]

Sean Penn guarding the fridge.

[speeder]

Please forgive my dirty thumbnail, working on the MG is my excuse.

[masraum]

Those are great shots. They have an "honest" snapshot vibe of regular folks from another time. Snapshots aren't art, they capture people. And these have done that beautifully.

Thanks for sharing.

[pwd72s]

Photography...every picture a fraction of a second frozen in time...

[Steve Carlton]

Terrific candid shots. I really like 1, 3, and 4. Good composition and balance. Lots of interesting details. Somebody had a knack for composing photos. I'd say do a high resolution scan some of them, touch up if needed, and print the one of your dad.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by speeder

What does this mean? "fjb?"

That it is over. It has been fixed.

Nice shots, Denis: Who cares about Bud...the Lady in picture four makes me happy: Beautiful.

[speeder]

I agree about the woman, at first I thought that I knew who it was but now I’m not sure. I’m going to ask my aunt, (dad’s sister), she might know.

I wouldn’t expect anyone else to care about Bud but he was almost a mythical figure to me…the gas station was called, “Bud’s Standard,” but he was already gone by the ‘60s when I was a little gear head. He got injured or something(?).

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by speeder

I wouldn’t expect anyone else to care about Bud but he was almost a mythical figure to me…the gas station was called, “Bud’s Standard,” but he was already gone by the ‘60s when I was a little gear head. He got injured or something(?).

I was kidding about Bud...the Lady in picture four was just more compelling than Bud

Gas stations in the 60's were a hub and men like Bud ruled. Anyone need an engine timing light, other assorted important tools from the the past? I got 'em and they are your for the asking.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by speeder

I agree about the woman, at first I thought that I knew who it was but now I’m not sure. I’m going to ask my aunt, (dad’s sister), she might know.

I wouldn’t expect anyone else to care about Bud but he was almost a mythical figure to me…the gas station was called, “Bud’s Standard,” but he was already gone by the ‘60s when I was a little gear head. He got injured or something(?).

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I was kidding about Bud...the Lady in picture four was just more compelling than Bud

Gas stations in the 60's were a hub and men like Bud ruled. Anyone need an engine timing light, other assorted important tools from the the past? I got 'em and they are your for the asking.

I had "Jim's Garage" in my hood. He was my Dad's friend and I pumped gas for him in exchange for learning the basics. Things like timing, plugs, points, rotor, and cleaning the cap.

The lady has that fresh faced cuteness that I always found so attractive back in the day.

[rcooled]

Nice pics, Denis. I have boxes of old family photos that I look thru every now & then. Interesting to see what type of clothes people were wearing and what kinds of stuff they had around their houses. pwd72s described it best..."a fraction of a second frozen in time."

Me and a little friend ↓

Originally Posted by craigster59

..it's amazing how much booze and cocktails were consumed back then!

Yes, first order of business whenever my dad's friends would come by was to put a bottle of Four Roses on the table and crack open some beers. Same story when we'd go visit the relatives or family friends. People drank all the time...just like in the old "Thin Man" movies.

[Baz]

Always fun to see vintage photos from a bygone era. Family photos in particular. Much simpler times back then....

Thanks for sharing, Denis.

Good looking father!

[Chocaholic]

Great pics Denis. Following my dads death last year (and mom’s the year prior), my sister and I spent many hours pouring through old pics...many we had never seen. Here’s one from their wedding in 1955. The youthfulness belies all the history that followed. I miss them dearly. Treasure the moments fellas:

[Baz]

Awesome pic, Mike. Those were some good times, eh? Thanks for sharing!

[speeder]

Great photo, Mike! Photography is amazing for cataloguing the lives of loved ones....imagine in the old days when you had to rely on memory?

[LWJ]

Denis,

Your Dad could be a brother to a buddy I went to college with!

Love the reflection with the people kissing.

The woman in #4 has beautiful hands.

[craigster59]

My Grandmother Ruth. We called her "Nonny". She could cook up a storm and play the ukulele like nobody's business. She was a hoot! Miss her everyday....