Airports 1950s HD | Stock Footage 

It's because it's film.

@@FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904 as opposed to ? Was this a special type of “film”? …8MM or movie film of it’s day ?

Fantastic quality of the film, never seen anything from this era quite as good. Love seeing the Constellations and DC-7’s!

Can’t argue with that.

Only issue then is that only business people and the rich could afford to fly. It was unheard of to hear of a friend taking an airplane unless grandma died.

"As the human knowledge increases. Fools will despise wisdom & discipline." -ancient proverb

​@@robertgary3561 Wrong...

​@@Krrrimmi That's why JB is pres

Lucky you!

I worked at JFK from 74 to 84 but this film was truly the dawn of commercial aviation.

Idlewild airport

No Ghetto Fights..sad, but true…😟

Says the guy who probably sorts flights in order of price. Your ass would be taking Greyhound back then with the rest of the plebes.

ATCkeepsUsafe Spasibo, stovarishch!

So true! None of the hooligans you see today. Or traveling in pajamas!

​@@Diana-yn2hoback then it was all first class.

I had quite a few flights back in the 1980s and yes, the aircraft weren't anywhere near what they are today. BUT the experience was superior. Both the airlines and passengers were far more civil. It didn't seem like a hassle or cattle call. Flight attendants were humane. Airlines had frequent delays but manged to treat you well despite it. Meals were actually edible and ornately presented. We had real stewardesses who were not just "here for your safety only." Security was reasonable and pleasant. There were no goons in ill-fitting rent-a-cop uniforms with tin stars barking and threatening people with "do you really want to fly today?" It's why I fly charter / GA these days. Sure, the aircraft are small, bouncy, delays, no pre-departure beverages, but it's almost always an absolute pleasure to do so.

Air sickness bags saw much greater use as a result of all that relatively low altitude flying and sometimes passing not around, but through thunderstorms especially before weather radar was mandatory on airliners starting in 1961.

Made me chuckle

These were known as Argonauts in BOAC's fleet, not North Stars, though they're basically the same. Go figure...

@@lrg8734 yes, from BOAC, some went to Overseas Aviation and when they went bust four went to Derby Airways (UK), one to canibalise as spares. One went down in Stockport when attempting to land at Manchester with no engines working due to fuel distribution issues.

That's how America used to be; nowadays you have to go to Canada!

Even the air traffic controllers

TheHomearch For certain people. For others it was hell.

​@@JustinLHopkins Best part of the good ole days, we didn't have to deal with idiots like you. Jus sayin.

And they'll see all the video of fights breaking out, people drunk, dragged off planes yelling profanities and being violent. They'll say how civilized it was in 2023.

@@paulj2948 Ah the "Jet Age", where the technology in the aircraft has advanced, but passenger experience has regressed.

@@taridean there should be a no fighting section on planes and let the ghetto flying cattle Duke it out behind a cage in the back.

oui ! je suis daccord ja naime pas la nouvelle generation

All of that rosey nostalgia hides the fact that air travel back then was dangerous, noisy, cramped, uncomfortable, and cost a FORTUNE. Oh, but people were wearing suits so I guess it must have been fucking glamorous 🙄 Spend ONE flight in a DC-3 during rough weather and you will BEG for a seat on Spirit Airlines. I promise you that.

@@michlo3393 I wouldn’t want to fly on those aircraft’s also, look at Douglas McConnells safety record. Technology improves, so does safety, affordability and comfort, I’ve seen pictures of the interiors of Ford Tri-Motors and DC-3s. I meant were more causal today because it’s not seen as a luxury or privilege to fly anymore it’s common for everyone we don’t dress up to travel.

I missed the prop age. My first trip to Europe was a DC8 in the early 80s. 727, DC9, L1011, A300, and 707 domestically before that in the 70s on family trips. I remember flying all those. Remember National Airlines? Several family trips. Eastern, too.

The BOAC Comet IV did, in 1958, about three weeks before Pan Am inaugurated New York-London service on the 707. Britain was able to claim the first scheduled jet service across the Atlantic, but BOAC soon switched to the 707 themselves and used the Comet on other routes. I flew on a Comet IV once, in 1973, on a charter from AMS to LGW. Nothing exceptional about it, just a perfectly adequate airplane.

Mikayla Eneria , .

Yep, on Japan Airlines Douglas DC-7Cs and DC-6Bs flying out of SFO and LAX in the 1950s (JAL DC-6B seen in this film at SFO).

Keep on wondering!

Because, unlike today, people weren't slobs.

Lookey Who We may be slobs, but at least we aren’t snobs.

Mainly wealthy people. Mainly white people.

In the beginning it was the rich and celebrities only. A place to be seen. You didn't crawl out of bed in your pajamas, put on fluffy slippers, and head right to the airport like the dirty slobs do today. They even bring the bed pillow! Disgraceful.

Also flying was so expensive only the wealthy could do it. Imagine a present day airport with only First Class passengers.

Any comment I might make would be considered bigotry or racist, as true a comment as it might be😐

Adam - surprisingly, airfare, compared to most other inflationary cost increases, has stayed mostly stagnant for 30+ years. Hence the decrease in meal service, entertainment, baggage fees, other fees.

Segregation. Yeah. LOTS of dignity... fucking idiot ...

@@famousbowl9926 just because certain things about the times were bad doesn't mean everything about it was bad. Idiot.

Because it was more civil and prestigious

@@paulj2948 for the rich lol, not the average Joe

@@maggaveli6764 yes. Just like space flight and ocean exploration today.

​@@maggaveli6764 No, for the civilized, not the slobs.

Thats what we do 😉

Because it is Rio de Janeiro perhaps? And: beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.