What Valentine’s Day Looked Like the Year You Were Born
Updated: Jan. 31, 2022You'll fall in love with this album of vintage Valentine's Day photos, starting with shots from the 1940s.
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1940
This vintage Valentine’s Day photo is from the Golden Gate International Exposition, a World’s Fair held on Treasure Island in San Francisco. (The bikini wasn’t invented until 1946!)
1941
The most popular Valentine’s candy has certainly changed over the years, but it’s hard to go wrong with a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
1942
Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds) joins Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby) at the piano to share a Valentine’s Day card in Holiday Inn. This film is best known for another holiday, though—Irving Berlin wrote the song “White Christmas” for this 1942 musical.
1945
In the 1940s, wartime paper shortages reduced the production of valentines. But PFC Dorothy LeRoy was able to pose in this oversized Valentine’s Day card at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C.
1946
This couple is spending an afternoon in the Bois de Boulogne, a park in the most romantic city in the world: Paris.
1947
Even in the 1940s, baking heart-shaped cookies was a popular pastime on Valentine’s Day.
1948
Dorothy Abbott, a popular American actress in the ’40s and ’50s, sips an ice-cream soda in a soda fountain.
1949
Johnny McBride, 5, appeared on Juvenile Jury, a popular children’s game show, to deliver this valentine to his sweetheart. (According to Johnny, the direct approach is always best.)
1950
This woman made heart-shaped cards for her loved ones. You can celebrate V-Day with crafts, too.
1951
In the early 1950s, wedding gowns had a small waist and full skirt and featured a lot of lace. What a romantic wedding date!
1954
This couple is posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris during the Valentine’s Day Lovers Contest. No word on who won, though.
1957
This young woman is serving punch at a Valentine’s Day party—or was it a Galentine’s Day party?
1959
This fella is gifting a box of chocolates to his valentine. But if that won’t do for you, take a peek at our list of Valentine’s Day gift ideas.
1960
This photo from the early ’60s proves that Valentine’s Day cards have always been a school project.
1963
This photo appeared in the Denver Post on February 13, 1963. The original caption read, “Mrs. C.F. Decker, 1745 S. Shoshone St., and her children, Cassandra, 4, and Brent, 3, think the candy is dandy in the Hested store display of Valentine’s Day goodies; but wow! what a tough decision it poses.”
1975
1978
Remember decorating a shoebox for your desk to hold valentines? It didn’t take long for manufacturers to catch on to the trend and start producing sets of valentines with cards for the whole class, like this set of Disney-themed Valentine’s Day cards. (Remind us to look for this set of vintage Valentines on Etsy.)
1979
Students at Denver East High School gave blood on Valentine’s Day as part of student body’s “Have a Heart, Give Blood and Save a Heart Program.” Love to see it!
1980
This photo was captured the day before Valentine’s Day at See’s Candy in San Francisco.
1984
This teacher decided to skip Christmas cards and send valentines instead. She sent about 99!
1993
Sophia Loren celebrated Valentine’s Day with a luncheon in her honor—and one of her guests was former first lady Nancy Reagan. We’re in love with Sophia’s very generous shoulder pads!
1994
The classic Valentine’s Day gift is a bouquet of flowers. But we wouldn’t say no to a pickle bouquet.
1996
’90s kids show off crafty handmade valentines—and then it’s off to the lunchroom for a PB&J and some Dunkaroos.
1999
This couple renewed their vows on Valentine’s Day on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. Yes, the costumes are all handmade.
2000
The heart-shaped box of chocolates is a timeless Valentine’s Day gift. See which brand won our Valentine’s Day chocolate taste test.
