21 Vintage Birthday Photos That Capture Celebrations Through the Decades
Oh, did you not have a baby elephant at your 21st birthday like Brooke Shields did?
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Everyone loves a birthday party. There's cake, there's singing, there are decorations — what's not to love? These vintage birthday photos chronicle birthday parties through the years, from the 1800s to the 1980s. Fun fact: most middle-class Americans didn't start celebrating birthdays until the 20th century — before that, celebrating the day of your birth was reserved for the wealthy. Many of these pictures feature celebrities such as Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn, celebrating birthdays with their friends and family. Other photos are of simple family birthday parties that look a lot like the ones we remember from our childhood years.
These vintage birthday photos might just inspire your next birthday bash. Follow Judy Garland's example with a pool party in the Hollywood Hills or be like Bianca Jagger and ride a horse around an NYC nightclub to celebrate. Or if you'd rather keep things low-key, be like Mark Twain and book a table at your local steakhouse.
Keep reading to see amazing vintage photos of birthdays throughout the years.
November 1893: Robert Louis Stevenson's Birthday Party
This photo was taken at writer Robert Louis Stevenson's 43rd birthday party in 1893. It was taken at Vailima, his property in Samoa, where he spent the last few years of his life.
Circa 1897: NYC Party
This photo is from the Museum of the City of New York archives, circa 1897. It shows 15 people gathered in a gorgeous dining room around cake and candles. It was taken by Jacob Riis, a photographer, journalist, and social reformer who was well-known for his photographs of immigrant communities in New York City.
May 20, 1902: Wisconsin Birthday
This cheerful photo shows a group of people wearing paper hats to celebrate a birthday in 1902. It was taken in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and comes from the Wisconsin Historical Center archives.
December 5, 1905: Mark Twain's 70th Birthday
In this photo, the writer Mark Twain is celebrating his 70th birthday at Delmonico's in New York City. Fun fact: You can still dine at the famed steakhouse today!
March 8, 1926: Elephant Party
Who says elephants can't have birthday parties? This 1926 Getty Images photo shows a circus elephant named Ruth celebrating her 30th birthday with a 150-pound birthday cake that was 6 feet in diameter. Of course, all her elephant friends were in attendance.
January 1930: George Burns' Birthday
This photo shows comedian George Burns celebrating his birthday surrounded by friends and family at the Coconut Grove Restaurant in Hollywood. He celebrated many birthdays after this — he lived to be 100 years old!
June 10, 1939: Judy Garland's Birthday
Did someone say pool party? This funny photo of Mickey Rooney getting pushed into the pool was snapped at Judy Garland's birthday party in 1939. You can see her sitting on the diving board in the center of the photo.
December 1948: First Birthday Party
How cute is this? Per Getty Images, this image shows a girl named Margaret Harding eating a slice of cake at her 1st birthday party in December 1948.
July 1949: Picnic Party
Doesn't this photo make you want to have a picnic with your friends? This Getty photo was snapped in July 1949 at Pinewood Studios in the UK. A group of actors were assembled to celebrate the birthday of actor Eric Portman, the man at the center of the photo, cutting the cake.
October 1955: Edith Head's Birthday Party
Yes, that is Audrey Hepburn! This 1955 Getty photo shows the actress, her husband Mel Ferrer, and Hollywood costume designer Edith Head at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
RELATED: Photos of the Royal Kids
June 1, 1956: Marilyn Monroe's 30th
This sweet picture shows Marilyn Monroe blowing out a candle in honor of her 30th birthday. According to the book Marilyn Monroe Day by Day: A Timeline of People, Places, and Events, reporters surprised her with a birthday cake as she was boarding a flight.
November 8, 1956: Jayne Marie Mansfield's Birthday
In this 1956 photo, the actress Jayne Mansfield is at the center of the action at a birthday party for her daughter, Jayne Marie — older sister of Mariska Hargitay, the actress best known for playing Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
RELATED: Mariska Hargitay Reflects on What Her Mother Would've Thought About 'My Mom Jayne'
November 23, 1956: Peter Douglas' First Birthday
How sweet is this family photo? This Getty picture shows the actor Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne Buydens celebrating their son Peter's first birthday.
January 17, 1964: Muhammad Ali
This iconic Getty Image photo shows boxer Cassius Clay — a.k.a. Muhammad Ali — celebrating his 22nd birthday with a cake constructed to look like a boxing ring.
Circa 1965: Family Birthday
This candid photo taken in 1965 shows a mother lighting birthday candles for her daughter with a match while two other children look on, per Getty.
November 21, 1969: Duke Ellington's Birthday
Pianist and composer Duke Ellington's birthday party sure looks like one we'd like an invite to! This Getty picture was snapped at his 70th birthday party at the Alcazar club in Paris.
May 2, 1977
Legend has it that Bianca Jagger rode into her Studio 54 birthday party in New York City on a white horse. She later clarified that she didn't actually ride the horse into the party. The club owner brought the horse into the club as a joke, and Bianca decided to hop on for a quick trot around the dance floor.
1970s: Kids Birthday Party
According to Getty, this picture was taken in the 1970s and shows a mother serving birthday cake to a group of children wearing party hats. If you were born in the '60s or '70s, this is probably close to what your birthday parties looked like!
May 31, 1986: Brooke Shields' 21st Birthday
What, like you didn't have a baby elephant at your 21st birthday party? Actress Brooke Shields celebrated her 21st at the Palladium Nightclub in New York City.
RELATED: Brooke Shields Has Fans in Their Feels as She Shares a Rare Update on Her Marriage
1983: Robot Birthday Party
Long before we had virtual reality headsets and augmented reality video games, this was the pinnacle of high-tech innovation: the Topo model robot, which could whistle, sing, and say "hello" in some languages. It made an appearance at this birthday party in 1983, and we're sure it was a hit.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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