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Vintage Photos of Diners Through the Years

The quintessential American eatery has a rich history to look through.

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diner
Hulton Archive//Getty Images

Diners are a staple in the United States that maintain a vintage feel no matter how updated they may appear to be. It's the perfect spot to grab a greasy burger, a basket of hot fries, or a plate of eggs and pancakes no matter what time of day. Many people grew up going to diners for a quick meal, and while they aren't quite as popular now as they once were, they likely won't be disappearing anytime soon. In fact, diners have been an American favorite since 1924, when they evolved from rolling restaurants and dining cars into what we know them as now: a good ole' diner.

These eateries really hit their heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, when they became the go-to "cool" hangout spot for teenagers and adults alike. Diners were known as places where you could get delicious and (more importantly) inexpensive food, which gave them a more laid-back feel that customers appreciated and loved. Although they've changed a bit through the years, the diner look you're used to seeing still feels plucked from the past. Here's a look at photos of vintage diners that may just inspire you to order from your own favorite spot.

1

1930: Man Behind The Counter

man behind counter of diner
Mark Goebel Photo Gallery//Getty Images

During the '30s and '40s, diners became more popular thanks to their low prices. They provided customers with an affordable place to eat out during the Great Depression and World War II.

2

1930: Customers Waiting For Service

african american men sitting at soda fountain
George Rinhart//Getty Images

Soda fountains were a popular addition to diners as soda was a really popular drink back in the day. The so-called "golden age of soda fountains" went on until the 1950s.

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3

1935: Quaker Diner

quaker diner
Archive Photos//Getty Images

This diner from 1935 specialized in serving Quaker Oats dishes. Quaker introduced their famous Quick Oats all the back in 1922.

4

1937: One Patron

joe's cafe interior
Jim Heimann Collection//Getty Images

Up until the Great Depression, most diners were located in the Northeast, and despite the low prices, even these businesses suffered. It wasn't until after World War II that diners began to spread throughout the country to the Midwest and beyond.

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5

1939: Art Deco

1930s woman in white dress
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock//Getty Images

It was during the '20s and '30 that diners began adapting to changing styles and took on the Art Deco look. The traditional diner look with the open kitchen began to take shape as the years went on.

6

1939: Mickey's Diner

mickey's diner
Bettmann//Getty Images

In 1939, Roland Stickney came up with a diner design inspired by Art Deco and trains. He came up with a diner that was shaped like a streamlined train with a long counter, casual atmosphere, and fast American food. That's the look that Mickey's Diner (pictured here) in downtown St. Paul had.

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7

1940: Friendly Staff

1940's diner and its staff
Underwood Archives//Getty Images

When diners first began back in the early 1900s, they were more like dining cars where people ate food quickly, instead of restaurants. But as their style evolved, they became sit-down spots with waitresses and friendly owners.

8

1940: New York's Diner Scene

new york diner
Weegee(Arthur Fellig)/International Center of Photography//Getty Images

Diners once had an especially large impact on New York dining culture, as you can tell from this busy spot in New York City back in the '40s. According to the New York Times, diners surged in New York after World War II due to the influx of immigrants.

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9

1940: The Pig

the pig
FPG//Getty Images

The Pig was a lunchroom and diner just outside of Los Angeles in 1940.

10

1943: Dining Cars

palace diner
FPG//Getty Images

The Palace Diner in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was built using only pre-war materials in 1943.

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11

1944: For Working Men

diners and staff at counter
Jim Heimann Collection//Getty Images

Before the 1940s, many diners catered to working men who didn't have a lot of time to eat, but wanted something good. As the 1940s went on and the workforce changed, diner owners realized they needed to adjust and wanted to begin catering to women, children, and families. They moved to areas between cities and suburbs to cater to the lower and middle class families there.

12

1945: New Look

diner
Hulton Archive//Getty Images

As the '40s went on, the look of the diner continued to change. Booths replaced tables, Formica countertops and stainless steel stools became staples, and neon signs were hung outside.

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13

1945: Counter Culture

diner lunch
James W. Welgos//Getty Images

Female employees became an essential part of the diner experience before World War II ended, and were often seen working at the counter.

14

1950: Kids After School

november 1950 kids stopping in for an ice cream float after their football game  photo by francis millerthe life picture collection via getty images
Francis Miller//Getty Images

Kids have always loved diners, since they can eat at the counter and get ice cream sodas. Because they were inexpensive, diners were a popular spot for them.

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15

1950: Chrome Chairs

1950s 1960s interior of
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock//Getty Images

Diners continued evolving after World War II. Corners were "softened" and steel tubing and Naugahyde replaced expensive materials. Homemade diners began popping up, some even imitating the prefab diners that came before them.

16

1952: Lunch Box Diner

lunch box diner
Ernst Haas//Getty Images

According to the New York Times, one of the great things about New York diners was "that the employees’ backgrounds are as varied as the languages spoken by the tourists who have found their way here. Costa Rica, Ecuador, Greece, Mexico, Poland, Romania — these are just a few of the countries where staff members come from. Together they constitute a microcosm of the immigrant groups that continue to arrive in New York — who not only made the city what it was, but the best of what it is and could be."

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17

1954: Sundaes For All

a waitress carries a uranium sundae to a pair of women in a diner, salt lake city, utah, 1954 the sundae is so named for the regions booming uranium industry photo by carl iwasakithe life images collection via getty images
Carl Iwasaki//Getty Images

In this photo, a waitress brings "Uranium Sundae" to a table. The sundae was named after Salt Lake City, Utah's booming uranium industry.

18

1955: Double Date

diner double date
Archive Photos//Getty Images

By the mid-1950s, diners were officially a "thing." There were at least 6,000 diners along the country's roads to be found.

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19

1961: Times Square

customers inside fast food diner at night, times square, new york city, new york, usa, july 1961
Universal History Archive//Getty Images

This photo of a lively diner in Times Square is pretty representative of what diners were like in New York in the '60s. Even in the heart of the city, people flocked to them to socialize.

20

1971: George's Luncheonette

luncheonette, new york city 1970s   patrons dining
Scott McPartland//Getty Images

This eatery in downtown Manhattan is still pretty crowded despite the fact that diners weren't the attraction they used to be by the time the '70s came around.

From: Redbook
Headshot of Jessica Booth

Jessica is a freelance writer from New York who loves kale salads and hanging out with her cats.

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