60s Skate

From 1960 to 1963, over fifty million skateboards were sold in the US. Skateboarding was clearly becoming a growing sport and eventually in May of 1965, this fun-loving street activity landed on the cover of Life Magazine. These images, snapped by staff photographer Bill Eppridge in New York City, are as stylish and timeless as they were over 50 years ago. Wouldn’t you love to see more New Yorkers on skateboards these days?

(via here, here, and here)

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36 Comments

  1. Natalie wrote:

    These are great! Love the black and white photos
    http://www.fashionifancy.com

    2.29.12
    Reply
  2. Ok. I want to learn to skateboard & take B&W photos of myself fallin off. THANKS!!
    http://www.annesanchorage.com/

    2.29.12
    Reply
  3. Nomadic D wrote:
    2.29.12
    Reply
  4. DeeDee wrote:

    Hi guys! Lovely photographs!
    Check out my blog http://www.DeeoniC.com for outfit that inspire you and DIY that blows your brains out!

    2.29.12
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  5. The business men are the best!

    Sunnie
    (.=

    2.29.12
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  6. Hah, these are awesome! I think I’m too clumsy for this to have been a good option for me, but perhaps I would have picked it up??

    2.29.12
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  7. Vanita wrote:

    Love the photos. Such a practical way to travel, we need to bring boarding back.

    http://www.houseofavandan.com

    2.29.12
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  8. MollyRB wrote:

    Skateboards were so small then!

    2.29.12
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  9. Lisa wrote:

    hahah what a fantastic collection! it completely freaks me out when people skateboard down the bikelane i am convinced they are going to get smashed!
    in dramatic fashion

    2.29.12
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  10. When I read your posts my eyes glaze with love and fire the echos from ancient fairy ghosts sing beautiful music the walls turn pink and baby blue the ground trembles as stars dance across a galaxy of groovy vibes keep posting baby! X Mercury Moonshine Dutchess

    2.29.12
    Reply
  11. Ambyr wrote:

    I’m pretty sure anyone skateboarding in NY today would get ran over, but I like the idea and the old school pictures.

    **COME ENTER A GIVEAWAY FOR THE PERFECT SPRING SKIRT: http://www.thewrittenrunway.com/2012/02/brooklyn-industries-giveaway/

    xoxo
    http://www.thewrittenrunway.com

    2.29.12
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  12. style-xyz wrote:

    I love first photo, he is so stylish 🙂

    http://style-xyz.blogspot.com/

    2.29.12
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  13. Patrice wrote:

    The boys I babysit are teaching me how to skateboard. I guess they figured if they taught me how to ride a bike when I was 22, they could teach me how to board at 24!

    2.29.12
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  14. Sarita wrote:

    What a great post! Makes the folks in the 50’s and 60’s not look as conservative as the picture that has been painted for us. Good find!

    2.29.12
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  15. Karen wrote:

    Lovin the side walk surfers! The boards were small, and the wheels were not like today’s, one tiny pebble could stop you cold . My brothers both had wooden boards . That first guy looks like Elvis Costello’s dad.

    2.29.12
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  16. Amy wrote:

    These photos are amazing, would love to try and recreate them xx

    2.29.12
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  17. Great photos . 🙂

    xo,
    Ana Catalarrana
    ————————————
    http://SinBowtie.blogspot.com

    2.29.12
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  18. Julianne wrote:

    What a great collection of photos. Skateboarding has changed so much. I would like to see more men in suits riding skateboards.

    2.29.12
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  19. Kate Jones wrote:

    Haha!! These are fantastic!!

    2.29.12
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  20. Liana wrote:

    Awesome photos!

    3.1.12
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  21. Rachel wrote:

    These pictures are great. I was thinking if getting one for my daughter. Reminds me of high school. I always wanted to be a skater girl.

    Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com

    3.1.12
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  22. I don’t like it, I love it! Great vintage snaps showing a lighter side of a time sometimes overcast by social problems.

    3.1.12
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  23. Miss S wrote:

    ahhh the 1960’s… pics are great!

    ShoeSales.com.au

    3.1.12
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  24. courtney wrote:

    YES! so awesome! i just got a skateboard and my goal is to be able to skate on it with heals!! stayin’ classy.

    3.2.12
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  25. Courteney wrote:

    I love these! The first picture is so incredible. So fun!

    3.2.12
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  26. heather wrote:

    It’s too bad skateboarding on public streets is now actually illegal. These are great!

    3.2.12
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  27. eva wrote:

    this is sooo goood! amazing vintage finds

    3.3.12
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  28. Caroline wrote:

    Watch this nice short canadian documentary from the 60’s too 🙂
    http://www.onf.ca/film/Rouli-roulant/

    3.5.12
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  29. Chessa! wrote:

    these are amazing. and it’s funny bc I feel like I see more and more people on skateboards every day. come down to the west side and hudson river park and they’re every where. we like to watch the kids at the skate park in tribeca on the new pier. they are crazy good.

    3.14.12
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