21 Photos From the '50s, '60s and '70s That Belong on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'

Carly Tennes Published 08/01/2024 in wow

Long before hungry Americans ponied up $25 for a single burrito on Postmates, DoorDash or whatever delivery app claims to fairly compensate its workers, there was another way to get a meal on wheels — heading down to your local drive-in to get a hamburger served to you by a skate-clad waitress.

From a New York City waitress taking a (probably) much-needed smoke break to the Kennedy family enjoying a cheap breakfast, here are 21 photos from the '50s, '60s, and '70s that belong on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

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1.
“A date at the diner 1950’s.”
2.
“My uncles Angelo (left) and Joey (right) sitting at their cafe with their mother. (1950s).”
3.
“Bobby Kennedy at a drive-in diner, 1960.”
4.
“Teenagers hanging out at the local drive-in diner on a Friday night [1950s].”
5.
“Lou Reed in a diner, late 60s.”
6.
“Busy night at Colonel Jim’s Tasty Thrill Drive-In Restaurant, Miami Beach, FL, 1952.”
7.
“Maila Nurmi as Vampira (her famous TV character horror movie host) at Carpenter’s Drive-In Restaurant, Hollywood, CA, 1954.”
8.
“The classic lunch counter... 1960s.”
9.
“Drive-In Waitress (Car Hop) on Roller Skates, Johnie’s Broiler Coffee Shop, Downey, California, 1968.”
10.
Carhop/Waitress Delivering Drinks at Drive-In on Roller-Skates 1950s
11.
“Carpenter's Drive-In, Sunset Blvd. - 1930s.”
12.
“Muhammad Ali with young fan in a diner, 1970.”
13.
“My uncle (middle) with some friends in a cafe in Greece 1970s.”
14.
“Greasers meeting at Scrivner's Drive-in, Los Angeles, California. (1950).”
15.
“Drive-in restaurant featuring piped-in AC, 1957.”
16.
“A & W waitress on wheels - 1950’s.”
17.
“Diner waitress, New York City, 1955.”
18.
“Vince Lombardi Eating at a Lunch Counter - 1960s - Green Bay, WI.”
19.
“Great Uncle Jack & Great Aunt Georgiana @ Their Dalhart, Texas Diner 1949 - My uncle at the counter.”
20.
“My grandmother working at a diner in 1946. A photographer from a magazine took her photo in front of this counter and she said she was put on the cover of said magazine. We can’t find it anywhere.”
21.
“Jacqueline and John F Kennedy have breakfast at an Oregon diner, 1959.”

1.
“A date at the diner 1950’s.”
2.
“My uncles Angelo (left) and Joey (right) sitting at their cafe with their mother. (1950s).”
3.
“Bobby Kennedy at a drive-in diner, 1960.”
4.
“Teenagers hanging out at the local drive-in diner on a Friday night [1950s].”
5.
“Lou Reed in a diner, late 60s.”
6.
“Busy night at Colonel Jim’s Tasty Thrill Drive-In Restaurant, Miami Beach, FL, 1952.”
7.
“Maila Nurmi as Vampira (her famous TV character horror movie host) at Carpenter’s Drive-In Restaurant, Hollywood, CA, 1954.”
8.
“The classic lunch counter... 1960s.”
9.
“Drive-In Waitress (Car Hop) on Roller Skates, Johnie’s Broiler Coffee Shop, Downey, California, 1968.”
10.
Carhop/Waitress Delivering Drinks at Drive-In on Roller-Skates 1950s
11.
“Carpenter's Drive-In, Sunset Blvd. - 1930s.”
12.
“Muhammad Ali with young fan in a diner, 1970.”
13.
“My uncle (middle) with some friends in a cafe in Greece 1970s.”
14.
“Greasers meeting at Scrivner's Drive-in, Los Angeles, California. (1950).”
15.
“Drive-in restaurant featuring piped-in AC, 1957.”
16.
“A & W waitress on wheels - 1950’s.”
17.
“Diner waitress, New York City, 1955.”
18.
“Vince Lombardi Eating at a Lunch Counter - 1960s - Green Bay, WI.”
19.
“Great Uncle Jack & Great Aunt Georgiana @ Their Dalhart, Texas Diner 1949 - My uncle at the counter.”
20.
“My grandmother working at a diner in 1946. A photographer from a magazine took her photo in front of this counter and she said she was put on the cover of said magazine. We can’t find it anywhere.”
21.
“Jacqueline and John F Kennedy have breakfast at an Oregon diner, 1959.”