Old Photos Nightclubs Bars of 1950s 1960s - 1

The history of bars in the USA during the 1950s to 1970s was marked by significant changes in trends, culture, fashion, and drinks.

This era saw the emergence of various bar styles, including the tiki bars and cocktail lounges of the 1950s, the counterculture bars of the 1960s, and the disco bars of the 1970s.

The 1950s was a period of post-war prosperity, and the bar culture of the time reflected this. Tiki bars and cocktail lounges were the popular bar styles of the era, and they attracted a well-dressed, sophisticated crowd.

Tiki bars were inspired by the Polynesian lifestyle, and they featured tropical decor, live music, and rum-based cocktails such as the Mai Tai and Pina Colada.

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Arizona. Royal Road’s Victorian Room, Cocktail Bar, Nogales

Cocktail lounges, on the other hand, were more upscale and catered to a more mature clientele. Patrons would often dress in their finest clothes and sip on classic cocktails such as the Martini and Manhattan.

One of the most famous bars of the era was the Copacabana nightclub in New York City. The Copacabana was a glamorous nightclub that was known for its live music, celebrity sightings, and high-class clientele.

It was also one of the few establishments of the time that allowed black and Latino patrons, making it a popular spot for civil rights activists.

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Arizona. Superstition Inn, Apache Junction

As the 1960s dawned, the counterculture movement began to take hold, and bars and nightclubs began to reflect this shift.

The Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles and The Fillmore in San Francisco became famous for hosting some of the most influential musicians of the time, including Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

These bars had a more relaxed atmosphere and attracted a younger, more bohemian crowd. Patrons would often dress in casual, comfortable clothing such as tie-dye shirts and bell-bottom jeans.

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Arizona. Wahweap Lodge, Page

The 1970s saw the emergence of disco culture, and bars and nightclubs embraced this trend with open arms. Disco clubs like Studio 54 in New York City and The Loft in Chicago became legendary for their flamboyant fashion, pulsing music, and non-stop party atmosphere.

The fashion of the disco era was all about glitz and glam, with sequined dresses, platform shoes, and bell-bottom pants becoming the norm.

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California. Brookdale Lodge Burl Room Rustic Cocktail Lounge, Santa Cruz County

Drinks during this era often featured bright colors and were designed to be sipped while dancing.

Cocktails such as the Tequila Sunrise, Blue Hawaii, and Sex on the Beach were popular, and many establishments offered drink specials during happy hour.

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California. Cirque Room Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco

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California. Crown Room Cocktail Lounge, Fairmont Hotel and Towers, San Francisco

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California. El Cortez Hotel Starlite Roof, San Diego

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California. Mermaid Room Cocktail Lounge, Fresno Hacienda

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California. Sierra Room, Nicely’s Restaurant, Lee Vining

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California. Tonga at the Fairmont, San Francisco

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Florida. Blue Horizon Cocktail Lounge and Restaurant on the ocean at 89th Street, Miami Beach

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Florida. Bob Darch Bonanza Room, Escape Hotel, Ft Lauderdale

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Florida. Castaways Wreck Bar on the ocean at 163rd Street, Miami Beach

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Florida. Castaways Wreck Bar on the ocean at 163rd Street, Miami Beach

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Florida. Club Wally Musical Bar and Night Club, Miami

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Florida. Gold Room Ridgewood Hotel, Daytona Beach

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Florida. Kon Tiki Bar in Harris’ Imperial Lounge, Pompano Beach

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Florida. Rum House, Galt Ocean Mile Hotel, Fort Lauderdale

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Florida. Starlight Room, Belleview-Biltmore, Belleair

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Florida. Sun Castle Club and Motor Hotel, Pompano Beach

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Florida. The Everglades Roof 18 stories above Miami

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Illinois. Coq d’Or Cocktail Lounge, Drake Hotel, Chicago

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Illinois. Stouffer’s Top of the Rock Prudential Building, Chicago

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Maine. Eastland Motor Hotel, Portland

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Massachusetts. Avaloch Five Reasons Steak and Ale House, Lenox

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Massachusetts. Harborside Inn, Martha’s Vineyard

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Massachusetts. Merry-Go-Round Lounge, Sheraton-Plaza Hotel, Boston

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Michigan. Devon Gables Starlit Cocktail Lounge, Bloomfield

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Nevada. Top O’ The Strip, Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas

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New Hampshire. Eastern Slope Inn, North Conway

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New York. Nevele Country Club Mardi Gras at the Safari Lounge, Ellenville

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New York. Purple Tree Lounge, Manager Hotel, Rochester

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New York. Purple Tree Manger Vanderbilt Hotel

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Pennsylvania. Gaslight Lounge Fernwood in the Pocono Mountains, Bushkill

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Pennsylvania. Mount Airy Lodge, Club Suzanne, Mount Pocono

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Pennsylvania. Rock Lodge, Bavarian Room, Lake Harmony

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Washington DC. Manager Annapolis Hotel

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Washington DC. Manger Hamilton Hotel Cocktail Lounge

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Wyoming. Stockade Room, Jackson Lake Lodge, Teton National Park, Moran