A tribute to pipes, pipe smoking and pipe smokers

A slide show with photos from LIFE magazine, showing pipe smokers from all over the globe. A celebration to an old tradition that is in danger of disappearing. So, light up your pipe and join those who went before us. Enjoy!

[@EnemyAce88]

The smell of my grandpa's pipe is one of my earliest childhood memories. I always feel like I'm communing with him whenever I light my own pipe. I even made a little rack where I keep his pipe and mine next to each other.

[@gardnerwebb3749]

EnemyAce88 bless you!

[@fractalofgod6324]

Beautiful

[@af4od02]

That is excellent. I wished I had one of my grandfathers pipes.

[@eddmtz4028]

​@@af4od02you can get one to start and to give it to youe grandson or grandaughter

[@Mason-dn8yz]

That is beautiful sir. Thank you for sharing.

[@MrMrwa10]

nostalgic, an era of men.

[@jamesfrost874]

It's wonderful seeing all the shapes and styles of pipes used throughout so many different periods.

[@riccardobosio2621]

True pipe smokers. Not the Instagram pipe fashion victims!

[@odietamo9376]

I have been a pipe smoker for many years, but only now stumbled upon this video. I very much enjoyed watching it. Thank you! I have been reading the comments and was a little surprised no one mentioned that at least two of the photos are of William Faulkner, who was indeed a devoted pipe smoker. I will watch this again sometime. Unfortunately, it also reminds me-not that I need reminding-of the loss of pipe smoking being considered normal and acceptable by the general public in many places, depending on where you live. I so miss being able to smoke in bars that I quit going to bars!

[@AulicExclusiva]

Makes one wonder what's become of all those lovely old pipes!

[@Legionzzzz1]

I like this montage it shows what pipe smoking is all about being relaxed, happy, thoughtful this makes me wish I could smoke at work but o well.

[@timmullins3293]

My fav is the Daddy lighting his son's pipe. a bygone era.

[@smeden91]

Very cool! And relaxing. Interesting to see that straight pipes seem to have been the most common sort back in the days, in the western world anyway. Cheers Simon

[@misplacedhillbilly7594]

Here I sit in 2024 watching a 13 year old video collage of old photos of people enjoying their pipes. I'm enjoying a bowl of Lane BCA in my Dr.Grabow wire carved bent bulldog while doing so.

[@eddmtz4028]

Feb 9th 2025 smoking good tobacco, still there?

[@UplandPiper]

Excellent video and what an experience to enjoy a pipe to

[@SmokeRingsPipeDreams]

Thank you Mike, very nice! I was amazed how many straight billiards there were in those photos. I guess the fifties was the golden age of the straight billiard! Cheers, Kel

[@jec1ny]

I recognized a few of these. But most were obviously not folks we would know on sight. I think 2:27 might be Clement Atlee, 2:54 looks like Barry Fitzgerald, 3:36 is Bing Crosby, 8:28 is obviously Gen. McArthur. Several others looked familiar, but I couldn't put a name to them.

[@mr.sherlockholmes6130]

Beautiful tribute and It makes you think how shirt life is ! Great video thank you for sharing this . Been a pipe smoker for 30 yrs and have learned so much and enjoyed every minute !

[@EstatepipesCoUkRebornBriar]

Thanks for a fantastic video Mike. The pictures contained all the pleasures of pipe smoking, relaxed, happy, thoughtful and statesman like. I spotted a Northern Ireland picture among them too. And how good of you to include The Crow with his pipe, I am surprised he missed that! Cheers, Alan

[@vasypher]

Wonderful collection of photographs. Great work on this!! Best - Alex

[@Is..4110]

Back in a time when it was ok to be a man and women weren't threatened by manliness and manly things... I wish I lived back then... By the way, loved the music.....

[@odietamo9376]

I am old enough to say that I do know what it was like back then. I miss it.

[@goosegog47]

So relaxing...did I see a young Enoch Powell earlier on ?

[@Warhawk1952]

Thank you, thank you thank you... As a Pipe and good Pipe tobacco lover, this is my favorite video on Pipes and especially what it meant to love this past time. My new greatest memories are spending time with my son Tim with a good tobacco and maybe a pipe that I may have gifted him. I end every day at work with this video! Dan

[@lovinglight18]

What an elegant piece. This made my day. I’ve just finished a bowl of Bengal Slices in my Peterson X105 straight billiard. This has been a perfect pairing to my zen evening moments. Thank you.

[@PeterPiperNYC]

Nice presentation!!!

[@KevinTwiner]

Fantastic enjoyed this post

[@rossanofabro]

Very relaxing, enjoying Orlik Golden Sliced in Stonehaven briar rustic..I feel distinctly underdressed. Seems the style was with these pipe smokers too..Great job

[@queenfanpiper6299]

+Rossano Fabro Good stuff! You have good taste. I always have that baccy within reach!

[@RequiemPipes]

Very cool, Mike, thank you. It's interesting to notice the prevalence of straight pipes. Cheers Gustavo

[@eddmtz4028]

I noticed too. Lots of canadian style

[@krcanapp]

Genius, very nice and relaxxxing, thanks again, Kenny

[@backcountrypipe]

Great Job Mike. A glimpse into history. Relaxing music, I wish I had grown up in those times. Regards mark

[@stampdealer]

Simply a fantastic video, thank you so much for preparing and sharing. Cheers! -Greg

[@OTooleRules]

Cool vid. It was interesting to see a lot of these folk smoking a pipe. Among others, I didn't know that Gregory Peck nor Leslie Howard smoked a pipe. Makes sense though. Classy gents. Oh, and I didn't know Ingmar Bergman smoked a pipe. Too cool.

[@odietamo9376]

I remember seeing Leslie Howard smoking a pipe in at least two or three of his movies. I remember thinking, “Oh, he really was a pipe smoker.” You could tell because of how he did it.

[@rjlionheart]

Wonderful tribute!

[@jbhook1339]

Imagine being able to light your pipe anytime, anywhere.

[@odietamo9376]

I remember it all too well, and I miss it every day. A lot.

[@Pipeman1]

This is awesome Mike! What a great tribute. Nice job. Thanks for posting!

[@wolfgray1]

Very nice i enjoyed it

[@kingoftheperforations]

Awesome! Great pictures, building up a great mood! Cheers, Alex

[@Flieger671]

Thank you Simon! Yes, judging from these photos the straight pipe models where VERY dominant. Hard to say if these photos reflect the true situation though... as with most of us, these people probably had a collection of various shapes. Cheers, Mike

[@darrylthehorntoadpiper]

Very cool 😎 👍🤪

[@Flieger671]

Thank you for watching Sir. Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers, Mike

[@MrSmokeGuy]

Great stuff. Thank you for putting this collection together.

[@Flieger671]

Thanks for watching! Yes, there where some very nice pipes in there. Cheers, -Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thanks Ruben! Relaxing was exactly what I was after. Cheers, Mike

[@AltLexington]

It doesnt matter where you are or what your doing if you allow it the moment you light that old briar friend you can totally relax and enter that state of pure nirvana

[@Flieger671]

Thank you Ferrick! Yeah, that guy in the last photo knew what it's all about. Cheers mate, Mike

[@tjlsanow]

I really enjoyed that, Another great video. Tony.

[@truckpipe]

Fantastic collage of images. All but one were black and white? Was this on purpose? Were there no many color or more modern images? Not a criticism. It is a wonderful relaxing video. Thank you for the time and effort it took to put this together. Going to watch part 2 now.

[@Flieger671]

I don't know, but I suspect that those elegant, well proportioned pipes are a bit harder to make well. A carver would have to spend more time on making each pipe and thus having to charge more for it. My 2c anyway. Thanks for watching! -Mike

[@Bchsnboats]

Absolutely fantastic. Thank you.

[@dubinthedam]

super stuff Mike, great to see the LIFE photography.

[@allanjohn61]

Hi I love the video, the photos was really good, thank you for showing them. Allan.

[@Akibatai00]

quite a number of panel shape there~~ very cool collection~

[@alfredoechevarrieta7512]

Para mi gusto : hermosísimo video !! Gracias por crearlo y por compartirlo.

[@Flieger671]

LOL! Nope, no jumbos back then... and did you notice the domination of straight pipes? Cheers Evan, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thank you Gustavo! Yes, judging from these photos i'd say the straight shape was VERY dominant back then. Cheers, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers, -Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thanks for watching Dobbin! Glad you liked it. I might make similar stuff in the future. Cheers, Mike

[@TheMatrixPipe]

Nice video...!

[@kvackerman]

Excellent!

[@Flieger671]

@etamiaw Cheers mate! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching all the way from New Zealand. :-) -Mike

[@MrMrwa10]

introspection into time and impermance, thank you

[@Flieger671]

@greglam Glad you like it! Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thank you for watching Crow! There's some amazing photos to be seen in the LIFE collection. I can spend hours there just browsing. Cheers, Mike

[@swedemichigan3624]

Terrific video. I enjoyed watching it.

[@Flieger671]

You are welcome Sir. Thanks for watching and commenting! -Mike

[@kenyakimbo]

well done, think ill get my bent Peterson out fill it with cherry and vanilla and watch it again, Thanks a lot enjoyed the way you put it together

[@jasondaniel918]

I sincerely wish the individuals had been labeled. I recognized only four of the people. Great pairing of music and subject. A delightful video.

[@Flieger671]

Thank you for watching Sir! Cheers, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thanks for watching Matthew! Cheers, -Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thanks for watching Kevin! Cheers, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thank you for watching and commenting! Cheers, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thank you for watching Kel! Where I live the straight billiard has always been the most popular shape (followed by the bent billiard), but when I think about the 1950's in general, I DO see a straight billiard in my mind. Cheers, -Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thank you very much Alan! I'm glad you liked it. I was also a bit surprised that no one commented about the Crow-photo until now.... oh well, there where a few photos in there and one has to blink sometimes. :-) Best, Mike

[@Flieger671]

@bentbilliard Thanks for watching Alex! Glad you liked it. Cheers, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Hello Allan. Thanks for the comment! Glad you liked the video. - Mike

[@Flieger671]

I knew you'd like this one David. The reason I decided to take up the pipe myself where photos like these. The 30's, 40's and 50's had so much style it oozes out and swallows me whole. :-) Thanks for watching my friend. That guy in 6:17 is said to be a Curler... didn't know that about you! :-p Cheers, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thank you for watching and commenting Noah. Cheers, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thank you Dub! Glad you liked it. I only wish I had your nice editing software to give it a bit of more class. Cheers mate, Mike

[@stefanomagaddino6868]

Couldn't believe that this great collection of pipe smoker photos didn't include either Einstein or Tolkien. I also noticed that only one bent pipe was shown. Not a criticism, just my observation.

[@FirmanPerdanaPutra77]

nice video, thanks for sharing sir

[@Flieger671]

Perfect! Thanks Tony!

[@Flieger671]

Thank you Ahmad, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Cheers mate, -Mike

[@FlyntStormhammer]

Very good vid, well done! After checking back though most all of the comments, no one has asked who the sound track is by. Will you share please? Thanks again.

[@Horus2468]

Excellent video!

[@Flieger671]

@truckpipe Thank you sir! Well, it's been a while since I made these videos but from what I remember, I choose to use b/w images as they corresponded with the feeling I was trying to capture. The one color image that snuck in there was an oversight on my part. I'm sure there are loads of pipe related photos in colour in the LIFE Magazine collection... feel free to put together a video of those if you like. Cheers, -Mike

[@Flieger671]

Thank you Mark, Yeah, I guess most of us wish we could turn back the clock a little... that's a big part of why we smoke pipes. Cheers, Mike

[@Flieger671]

Glad you liked the photos. Sorry about the music though. Well, the good thing with YT is that you can always mute the original tunes and replace it with something you like better.

[@Flieger671]

Thanks Wolf!

[@mercoid]

If she is smoking for the love of tobacco, the feeling of contentment and the occasional, more esoteric pursuit of realizing the connectedness to earth, soul and cosmos. Then it's legitimate in my book. If it is merely a fashionable gesture,as we think most women are wont to do, then yes. I agree. But the same can be said for anyone.

[@bharathtej2408]

When u say pipe ALBERT EINSTEIN is the first man that comes to mind 😂❤️❤️❤️

[@Flieger671]

Thank you Salam, glad you liked it! -Mike

[@Flieger671]

@FlyntStormhammer Thanks. Well, the music info was there on the main page: Artist: Kevin Kendle "Sunlight - (Part 1)". ;) But in all honesty - I used an AudioSwap track and had no idea myself what it was. :) Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Flieger671]

Glad you liked it Travis!

[@Flieger671]

Thanks for watching! Cheers,

[@Flieger671]

No trouble at all my friend! 'twas a labour of love. Glad you liked it. -Mike

[@Flieger671]

@PipeOfPieces Glad you liked it my friend. I'm amazed by how good this little montage has been received by the pipe smoking community. Makes me wish I'd taken all those photos myself. ;-) Cheers, -Mike

[@tonyconnolly5385]

Top post

[@OneManSmoke]

Nice one mate good job ! Salam

[@eddmtz4028]

the video, the music are matching a good slow smoking pipe. Need to see a pic of Carl Gustav Jung too. keep this channel alive. And what happened to the one uploading this collage?

[@Flieger671]

Thank you Kenny! -Mike

[@petemcintire4339]

What does the guy at :10 use for floss?

[@bahumutx]

Great job! -Matthew

[@Asian2706]

LOL, I am the only one who got this recommended ten years later.

[@odietamo9376]

I’m only seeing now, thirteen years later.

[@Milverton68]

I enkoyed that very much, thanks Mike..