A Collection of Seriously “Old School Cool”

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At WUDN, we’re obsessed with the way things used to look. History’s cool kids, so to speak. And not just the coolest people, but the places and things with that certain recognizable feel. Bonus points for pics including beautiful real wood.

We will be adding to this collection over the coming year. Wanna be featured? Send us your Old School Cool submission to info@shopwudn.com. If it feels right, we’ll put it up. And, tell us how you feel in the comments. We promise to respond to everyone.

 

Killer, Carved Wooden Chair - Before & After. Amazing Craftsmanship.

Killer, Carved Wooden Chair - Before & After. Amazing Craftsmanship.

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Jonas Salk Invented the Polio Vaccine (1950s)

Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine (1950s). This man is a hero.

This man is a hero.  #VaccinesWork  Source

I had no idea Steve Martin could look Badass, 1971. 

Top Comment:  "I certainly didn’t wake up this morning expecting to be attracted to Steve Martin, but here we are."

Top Comment:  "I certainly didn’t wake up this morning expecting to be attracted to Steve Martin, but here we are."

Carlos Santana 1972

Carlos Santana 1972 - old-school-cool

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Getting Gas for $1.24 a Gallon in Los Angeles, 1980

Getting Gas for $1.24 a Gallon in Los Angeles, 1980

 

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher during the making of the first Star Wars [1970s]

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher during the making of the first Star Wars [1970s]

Since we're on the trend of movies that were meaningful to my childhood, Star Wars was the last movie I saw with my Dad at the Fairview Drive In Theater (Boise, ID) in the summer of 1977. Talk about magical. 

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Young Robert Downey Jr. and the cast of Weird Science, 1985.

Young Robert Downey Jr. and the cast of Weird Science, 1985.

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Shirley Slade, WASP pilot, 1943. She was one of over 1,000 female pilots who ferried B-26 and B-29 bombers and supplies during WWII.

Shirley Slade, WASP pilot, 1943. She was one of over 1,000 female pilots who ferried B-26 and B-29 bombers and supplies during WWII.

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A Great Dane riding shotgun in a sports car. Hollywood, California 1961.

A Great Dane riding shotgun in a sports car. Hollywood, California 1961.

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Casino security overlooking the pit. The Mint, Downtown Vegas, 1968.

Casino security overlooking the pit. The Mint, Downtown Vegas, 1968.

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First known photograph of the "American Soccer Mom" circa 1950

First known photograph of the "American Soccer Mom" circa 1950

A NYFD firefighter and his partner at ground zero on 9/11/2001 just after the towers fell

A NYFD firefighter and his partner at ground zero on 9/11/2001 just after the towers fell

Still brings tears to my eyes just to think about it. Has it already been long enough that these two heroes qualify as old school cool? I say yes.

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Joan Jett and Debbie Harry, 1977

Joan Jett and Debbie Harry, 1977 #OldSchoolCool

Best Comment: " How did Debbie Harry know literally everyone cool, especially everyone cool in NY, and also was at the front of like every cool movement from punk, to hip-hop, to graffiti, to indie films, to new wave, how"

This Milkman in London, 1940

This Milkman in London, 1940. Old-School-Cool #WUDN #OldSchoolCool #Brexit

With all this Brexit craziness, just a reminder, the Brits have survived worse. 

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Catherine Leroy, a French photographer who went to Vietnam at age 21.

Old School Cool. Catherine Leroy, a French photographer who went to Vietnam at age 21. She spent 2 years in Vietnam

She spent 2 years in Vietnam, was captured by the NVA and wounded by friendly fire. Here she prepares to make a combat jump with the 173rd Airborne. 

23 Year Old John Wayne in 1930.

23 Year Old John Wayne in 1930. Old School Cool 

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Mr. Rogers on the first ever episode of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” ~1968

Mr. Rogers on the first ever episode of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” ~1968

Best Comment: "500 bucks, a pair of tennis shoes, a sweater, and some crude puppets. It don’t take much to change tens of thousands of lives, if not more."

Source

Young Men “reading” Playboy (1971)

Young Men “reading” Playboy (1971). I know they’re just reading the articles.

I know they’re just reading the articles. Source

Hotel Reception Desk, Giant Quartersawn Log

Hotel Reception Desk, Giant Quartersawn Log - Old School Cool

The Douglas Hotel (Vancouver)

Best Comment: “You don’t check in at this hotel, you log in.”

Source

Earliest known photo of a surfer. Hawaii, 1890

Earliest known photo of a surfer. Hawaii, 1890 - old school cool

Surfing was a sport in ancient Polynesia that was first observed by Europeans during Captain Cook’s voyage to Hawaii in 1788.

Best Comment: I love that he's got that post-surf chilled out vibe going on. Likes he's reflecting and maybe mind-surfing a set wave.”

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Young Men “reading” Playboy (1971)

Young Men “reading” Playboy (1971) Old School Cool

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A boy and his dog share a laugh, 1930s

A boy and his dog share a laugh, 1930s Old School Cool

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Get blown away by these Maxell cassette tape ads.

One of the greatest marketing visuals ever created, IMHO. The image is art and you can even buy the framed print on Amazon.  

Get blown away by these Maxell cassette tape ads.

 

Best comment on Reddit: “Back when big-budget advertising meant the full creative force of an office full of cocaine and anxiety was concentrated into a single iconic image rather spread blandly across than 1000 bloggers vloggers and influencers.

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The video didn’t age quite as well but it still brought back the 80’s feels.

10-year-old Christopher Walken in 1953

10-year-old Christopher Walken in 1953

"I’m telling you, fellas — you’re gonna want that cowbell on the track."

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This is a certified badass right here. Old School Cool.

In 1966, Bobbi Gibb was denied entry into the Boston Marathon - the race director said women were “physiologically unable to run marathon distances”. So, she wore a hoodie, borrowed her brother’s gym shorts, and finished ahead of two-thirds of the male finishers. This is a certified badass right here. Old School Cool.

In 1966, Bobbi Gibb was denied entry into the Boston Marathon

Source

Elvis Presley During his Time in the Army, 1958

Elvis Presley during his time in the army, 1958

Source: Elvis Presley during his time in the army, 1958

Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, 1972

Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, 1972

You won't believe me... This picture of Keith Richards was taken over 47 years ago. Source

Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock 1994

We will probably open and close with Keanu. His laid-back style is as cool as it gets, and his philosopher wisdom borders on the mythical. Here he is with Sandra Bullock in 1994. Keanu is so cool, the're writing articles about the history of his coolness

WUDN Old-School Cool, Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock 1994

This man carving wood with a magnifying glass and the sun.

I don’t really care how old the picture is… This cool guy is carving an awesome wood table, with nothing but some glass and the sun. Could have been a hundred years ago. It’s totally cool.

WUDN Old-School Cool, This man carving wood with a magnifying glass and the sun.

 

 

Steve McQueen - The King of Cool - 1960s/1970s

Alt: WUDN Old-School Cool, Steve McQueen - The King of Cool - 1960s/1970s

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/crkyh3/steve_mcqueen_the_king_of_cool_1960s1970s/

 

PS. We “find” lots of stuff on the Interwebs and (if possible) we promise to recognize or link to the original – or at least the original, as we found it.  

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