DETROIT The Fabulous Fifties

[@djsandvig1]

Ok then….I’m an old man, born at Ford hospital in 1948 . I went to Detroit public schools and graduated from Pershing in 1966. My childhood was absolutely idyllic. We were firmly blue collar, church going, law abiding and civically proud.Every school I ever went to was racially diverse. As a 12 year old I could ride my bike to Briggs Stadium unmolested…..indeed anywhere I chose to go. There are so many reasons that Detroit went off the rails, it would be impossible to catalog them in less than a multi-volume scholarly study…..even then. I can tell you that of the 5 houses in different neighborhoods that I lived in NOT ONE survives today nor do the neighborhoods in any meaningful way. CRIME drove my parents out of their forever home in 1978 and broke their hearts. I know I’m not unique, kids in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philly ,Baltimore , D.C. Seattle and countless others had very similar histories. I can now spend my twilight years reminiscing on the wonderful life I was afforded by being raised in Detroit by amazing parents in a safe , caring, civil society……and we had the BEST music, BEST cars, BEST hair of any epoch.

[@Crazycatlady1836]

@Daniel Therman the USA has not collapsed. The USA has communities of individuals who don't care about morals, values, work ethic, family structure, education or community. When neighborhoods like Detroit end up in the hands of those people, this is what you get.

[@jillfoley6834]

Yeah

[@sdcoinshooter]

Pretty close to you Dennis, born at Beaumont hospital in Royal Oak, grew up in Clawson. It breaks my hear to see what has happened to a city with so much heart.

[@rockabillylaker]

I can sum it up in 2 words: Liberal Politicians.

[@shanegodman1251]

Lucky man!

[@sandytinky]

What a beautiful, vibrant city it used to be.

[@robinsss]

@Damien Williams it is shameful that we have allowed criminals to make our best cities dangerous places that we are afraid to visit America should take those cities away from the criminals

[@tomanderson6545]

@Damien Williams me too but I pooped afterward 😢

[@greenlime1997]

@Damien Williams ok that was an extremely uncomfortable conversation....

[@Turboman-kx7cc]

robinsss is there a way to impeach democratic governors.

[@redlitego6085]

Ignorance is bliss what a poor state of mind 🙃

[@Zardoz4441]

After six decades it still resonates as an unforgettable age! Prosperous, elegant, fantastic music. Absolutely unforgettable. The Golden Age of the US lifestyle...

[@Zardoz4441]

@@petesaria-hf1xh Thank you for this recommendation!

[@loralarose9615]

6 decades of democrat s

[@guynorth3277]

@@loralarose9615 ; Stupid comment, and you really have no idea of the political paradigm!

[@yedon68]

I can remember riding the bus downtown to see a 50 cent movie.... My first apt there was $12.50 cents a week---completely furnished w/ WW2 furniture...amazing radio, post-war as well...The year was 1965..! BTW it was not fancy but for a kid of 19 it was fine!

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

I can remember riding 3 public busses to school downtown (Cass Tech, a public HS, 8 floors, 36 curriculums!) starting at age 13 1/2 (1962). It was totally dreamy. By 14 1/2 we'd stop into that Kwikee Donuts after school and have coffee and maybe a ciggie if my friend had some. Nobody cared. Nobody bothered you. Those were the days.

[@bighands69]

That exact same apartment using standard inflation should be about $75 but that should be in every city today but it is not. Over regulation and welfare has created the whole mess.

[@UnknownFork]

You don't understand economics

[@Ben-vk4us]

I can remember going to a small movie theater called the Perrien. It was on Chene near Forest. Went on Saturday for 9 cents. Had double feature, cartoons, serials and world news. I think the news was Pathe. A small coke was a nickel and so was a bag of New Era chips. My favorite. That was a long time ago.

[@kylejunior4686]

I remember a Mexican albino litterly gettin beating up by a boomer trump supporter good times

[@Trace7173]

My mother was born and grew up in Detroit during the 1950's. In her last 3 years of life, my mother had dementia but she never forgot her memories of Detroit. It was the one subject she could still talk to us about. I have a very faint memory of Detroit and the last time we were there was in 1971.. Miss you mom & dad!

[@trc3675]

Oh, how I would love to be able to go back in time to walk these streets, eat at the restaurants, see a ball game, see my old neighborhood and mingle! Thank you

[@LukeLovesRose]

Tell everyone to reject all forms of Communist subversion including feminism and "diversity""

[@tomjoad6270]

@@LukeLovesRose Amen Brother !!! AMERICA first and always !!! 💯🇺🇸🦅🗽⚔️👍

[@GSquid92]

The elephant cowboys vs the hippy donkeys

[@mobetta2092]

I'd visit Hastings Street to experience what I recall my father, uncle, aunts, and others reminiscing amongst themselves about.

[@manbtm1]

Oh my gosh, you still can, its beautiful downtown, I live here, I do what you described constantly, this afternoon to be exact

[@Daniel-js2dk]

The 50's, where you could say you were from Detroit and be proud to say it.

[@FaveORitt]

Woken Matt Hardy Motor City!

[@willybarbosa6116]

Fave O. Ritt stop being a punk and say that word if you finna say it y’all to weak to be in a city like that anyways

[@FaveORitt]

Willy Barbosa What???

[@victoriarios8623]

Woken Matt Hardy yup

[@NLT-pm4sq]

My Leg You can still say your from detroit and be proud of it, Detroit goes harder than any other city in the country.

[@1JuliusStreicher]

50 years ago today: the last full day of that beautiful, old Detroit. RIP.

[@1964DB]

Beautiful video! Don't you just love how everyone was appropriately dressed? No one walking around in pajamas in public. No sagging pants on the young men. The ladies are all impeccable. Nice!

[@taralucas7172]

1964DB I was thinking the same thing!!! Manners, class, and caring about your appearance seemed more important then!!!

[@joemancini327]

@@taralucas7172 :/ Let's all agree, these days were much better

[@ct5951]

Yes. I love the fashion of the 50s.

[@sneakypete139]

1964DB they’re wearing pajamas and pants sagging in the burbs. And they’re not blacks that’s doing it!!!

[@areyoujelton]

Ok boomer

[@TheGiggler333]

“Oh boy, I sure do love living in Detroit, the wealthiest city in the world. With some of the best cars in the world being manufactured here at a surprisingly low cost, I sure do hope nothing bad happens during the late 60s that would completely change our cities image forever” - Average Detroit Resident, 1955

[@TravisGilbert]

What happened in the 60s?

[@pg8835]

@@TravisGilbert b l a c k s took over large sectors of urban cities during the great migration and destroyed most of them like chicago

[@poetcomic1]

@@TravisGilbert The Detroit black riots were SO destructive that the city never recovered at all.

[@christinabontioti4753]

@@TravisGilbert Detroit's racial tensions peaked - I highly recommend VICE's Abandoned episode on Detroit

[@TravisGilbert]

@@christinabontioti4753 I’ll give it a watch

[@carolynleblanc3748]

Even though I live in Windsor, we were always going shopping in downtown Detroit. Great Memories.

[@bluecrow3534]

Back in 1974 my new bride and I had honeymooned at the unfortunately now vanished riverside Windsor Holiday Inn, and the nighttime view of downtown Detroit from there had really been quite spectacular. Then, one could quite easily go back and forth across the border for any reason at all. But, now they seemingly have us all locked down like prisoners withing our respective countries and it basically sucks!

[@HJKelley47]

I was often driving into Windsor and up to Toronto. No passport was needed. The two cities went back and forth across the bridge or under the tunnel. Great memories here as well.

[@BabySonicGT]

@@bluecrow3534 nice

[@nordicwarrior2176]

That's the point of going downtown. Do shopping, take care of legal matters, pay bills etc. Now everything is spread all over the place.

[@HalisIstanbullu]

I saw Detroit at the very tail end of her glory days in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I remember the people, the energy, the vitality. But now, seeing that city, I wonder whether my memories were really only a dream? Seeing this video then, and seeing Detroit now, this video appears as though a piece of Hollywood fiction. In my lifetime, I have seen Detroit do a complete 180 for the worst. Some have commented on what a lovely piece of nostalgia this is and a glimpse into yesteryear. I can't agree; this video only intensifies today's pain.

[@tennforever]

I wasn't trying to cause anyone "pain"...only to show how it was in better times. Period. If I wanted to cause pain, I would have added images of Detroit as it is now. Slums, drugggies, hoe's, killings for no reasons, etc. The downtown looks nice when across the river in Windsor. I lived in Detroit just before it turned "sour"...I want the good days back too. But, if it's not to be, then we have this to remember how it used to be. And IF it returns, it's gonna take the people who live there to WANT to "clean up their act".

[@gtas321]

If you want the good old Detroit back then go and create it. It needs a new industry because the motor city is dated and dead. Tech is where it's at now.

[@HalisIstanbullu]

And on that note, fifty years ago right at this very moment, that beautiful old Detroit was experiencing the fourth of the seven days that would be her death knell. Regrettably, I don't need to see any videos anywhere to see the complete mess Detroit is today: I see it within a few minutes of each and every time I cross over into that city.

[@matthewrhodes4385]

Detroit is the result of white supremacy. Simple as that!

[@micheleellis8666]

Matthew Rhodes Well, the truth is, is that even blacks in general had more class back then. It has nothing to do with white supremacy. What is "white" anyway? Even the music had class. Nat King Cole's song " Unforgetable" was a very beautiful song sung by a black man.

[@Happyッ-r4q]

One of the reasons why I'm building a time machine.

[@mobetta2092]

I often think of Back to The Future and wonder how horrific would it be to get stuck in the past. If that happened our only remedy would be to live long enough in the past we're stuck in to meet meet the younger version of ourself and warn to never travel in a time machine. If our younger self follows that warning, we should be instantaneously zapped back to present day...if we remain in the past, we'll know we ignored ourselves which is why we're still stuck.

[@genebigs1749]

If Only!

[@darthjarjarbinks8953]

I wish time machines were real, but I would probably move around rather than solely stay in the 50s. Thing is, what would you do once the fifties are over? It wouldn’t make much sense to just go back to the early fifties and start all over again, at least in my opinion.

[@sdcoinshooter]

Take me with you

[@Happyッ-r4q]

@@sdcoinshooter ok I will take you with me as long as you promise not to f up the timeline 🙂

[@michaelsheedy]

I remember going to Hudsons in the late 50's with my parents and the streets were packed with people even later at night. After the riots, Hudson's closed at 5PM and the streets were deserted at night.

[@MrRezillo]

I didn't grow up in Detroit, but a different city; it doesn't matter which one. The trouble is, you never realize how good it was until years after you've left.

[@hadihatab3126]

There is a level of sophistication and class that you don’t see in society nowadays.

[@jsm530]

It's over. We won't return to such nice times. I'm a millennial and. I know it's a far cry

[@r-leanmygirl-gj2kt]

@@markvanderbrook7716 Do your research. It's called 'reading'.

[@PeaceToAll-sl1db]

detroit was an amazing city when it was majority white

[@danielr3661]

​@@PeaceToAll-sl1dbAtlanta is majority black and it's thriving

[@PeaceToAll-sl1db]

the white parts of atlanta are thriving@@danielr3661

[@WarBorn313]

I feel like I was born in the wrong decade.

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

If you were born after about 1950 or so - yes...you were born too late. Sorry.

[@atlhxnry1427]

😔

[@noahbelfontaine8566]

Every building in this video is contaminated with aspestos!

[@joemancini327]

@@noahbelfontaine8566What's your point by saying that every building in Detroit Michigan has asbestos? You do know there's such thing as asbestos removal right?

[@noahbelfontaine8566]

@@joemancini327 maybe I was drunk when I said this go f*** off m8 I live here you dont

[@harrissyed1417]

Detroit of today: A shell of it's former glory. Detroit of the pre-1960s past: A wonderful, vibrant city to live in.

[@HJKelley47]

Yes it was a dynamic city to grow up in!! If Detroit was like the Detroit of old, I would live the rest of my life there (despite the cold winters - LOL)

[@harrissyed1417]

@@HJKelley47 Other cities also are pretty terrible nowadays but were wonderous, bright communities to live in even if they weren't perfect such as Baltimore or East St. Louis.

[@1912fld]

Thanks for posting. I only wish I could put myself back in time to wander the streets when Detroit was really something. What a shame what this country has become.

[@queenjah2106]

This country has been full of shit.

[@Happyッ-r4q]

@@queenjah2106 Yeah because of the people that were in it and are still in it till this day.

[@Neko.Virtual]

play LA Noire if u want to relive that time

[@manbtm1]

I have lived downtown for 16 years now, We love it, lots to do, great neighbors, its very nice once again thankfully

[@l.thegirl2581]

I'd be interested to know, where are the livable areas in downtown? I saw some condos go up around HFH and over on Trumbull, but in my view it would have required a fancy futuristic laser security around the entire home perimeter to even consider buying. And then there's the problem of where to buy your stuff! What's livable?

[@victoriarose7904]

What a time to be alive! I wish there were a place that replicated this era so people could trip back in time and enjoy it.

[@DmytroDoblevych]

Eventually, with VR goggles.

[@k3kboi665]

@@DmytroDoblevych can you feel gas costing 22cents a gallon whit a 5 dollar and hour minimum wage whit vr?

[@ID13Football]

shame. how far detroit, and America as a whole has fallen. just an 18 year old who wishes he lived in the 50s.

[@livelyhood2963]

And I m just an Indian who is living in its best periods so far😂😂...

[@coupleofbeers31]

This comment has aged VERY well. Look at the US now....way worse than even 2 years ago.

[@bp5439]

Especially in 2020

[@Modestasgailius]

Crazy how things can turn upside down so quickly tho

[@TheGreatWesternTrendkill]

@AZ Hawk "only".. hmm okay. Few points: 1) 80-90% were white back then. So you are saying for 80-90% of people it was great. Well hey that's a huge majority! 2) Regarding minorities back then: How good is it for black people now in detroit? Much better? Since blacks are the vast majority now this leads to -> 3) Would you say that the average person has it better in detroit now? Adjusted for era of course because living standards & technology usually rise over time 4) Were there black people anywhere in the world at that precise point in time who experienced significantly better conditions? I'd argue detroit blacks enjoyed being in the upper 10% if not 1% of all black people in the world at that time in terms of living standards despite the issues.

[@DetroitLove4U]

Detroit is the reason America exists today by way of the sacrifice and dedication that was made a half a century ago by Detroiters and Americans alike therein ......

[@SquidProQuo80]

Don't hurt your arms... you're reaching pretty hard!

[@dudermcdude9245]

they were paid pretty well...

[@markpiekaczpiekacz912]

Gin-Doe-Braa Detroit Pollock in house.

[@Mr.White10-65]

That Firestone sign and the Ford dealer signs are worth huge amounts of money now. This is "Motor City".

[@steveodonoghue2772]

i would have love to be in my early twenties back then. i was born in 73. missed a golden era. Decent music, decent women, proper cars.

[@christopherherrera921]

This is amazing! Its awesome seeing these black and white images come to life.

[@tommytruth7595]

Yes, the difference between the Detroit of today and back then is literally black and White.

[@salm6331]

Good one

[@hihowareyou6122]

@Damien Williams racist

[@Uaarkson]

A lot of stuff in this video is still there today, and a LOT of it has been beautifully renovated. Detroit still has one of the finest downtowns in the Midwest.

[@creeper2054]

Ok...but who goes there?

[@carlbentley80]

@@creeper2054 I went there for a 5 day holiday a couple of years ago, loved it.

[@Eddieheli]

Put your hands up for detroit! I love the city!

[@rabadooda]

Put your hands up! Put your hands up! Put your hands up for Detroit!

[@subversivereality3908]

Put your hands up..now slowly put your hands on your head...kneel down...you have the right to remain silent...

[@2nemobob]

I'm sure it's really a stab in the heart to Detroiters to see what has happened since this.

[@shayheard1466]

@latrell porter stfu racist pos

[@bigfellamike1913]

@@shayheard1466 how is it racist?

[@keithdukes5990]

@@bigfellamike1913 that's who has destroyed Detroit! Like they're destroying America!!!

[@TheSecondWitness]

Degenerate liberals ruin everything.

[@surferbri5346]

People shouldn't be surprised, around this time people voted for change, and they got it, all we get are the memories

[@kraljmatjaz7668]

i am not American, but those were the days..., its sad to watch world going downhill.. i was born 1979 in Yugoslavia (republic Slovenia)

[@FranciscoCamino]

I am not American, and the Detroit fate haunts me in a sad and fascinating way. It´s perhaps the only example in the world which had suffered such a level of decay. I have read about the decline of the automobile industry, but it has affected severely to other countries without that tragical result. I have read about the white flight and how black people are blamed for it. What I am starting to perceive is the it´s a failure of everyone. Industry which hasn´t been able to compete, whites who didn´t stay and fight for Detroit. Blacks for not being able to maintein in it´s former glory. Council for not being able to reconvert automovile with other options and the goverment itself for letting Detroit die.

[@sachiko473]

i appreciate it that you understand it and you say that youre not even American. What is frightening to me is all the ignorance, bigotry and racial hatred being displayed in many people's comments here. Youre witnessing the downfall of America through moral and civil decay and our current president epitomizes this proudly, sadly.

[@retiredstalker]

capitalism & greed is what ruined detroit + the city relied on the automotive industry too much as opposed to it's twin city Chicago.

[@seanofdetroit5806]

The story isn't over yet. We write it everyday, as we rebuild. You should come and visit, maybe put a hand in the Hudson's Tower construction? We need all the help we can get.

[@harshitmadan6449]

@@retiredstalker It's not capitalism's fault that American unions couldn't compete against Europeans or Japanese. In capitalism, the best products and the best workers win.

[@conveyor2]

@@retiredstalker Capitalism was the one thing that built Detroit in the first place. Greed is just an emotion sparked by envy and it flourishes unchecked under socialism.

[@vinnyavalanche]

Can’t walk these streets now without fear

[@mobetta2092]

If you can't stomp with the big dawgs, stay on the porch

[@stevejackson1572]

I ain't scared! SMH

[@manbtm1]

I live downtown , for 16 years, I walk around downtown everyday. There is nothing to fear,,,its beautiful downtown now, tons of people, of all types walking around, its not 1980 now.

[@larrysintay4456]

@@mobetta2092 what's that got do with ruining a beautiful city

[@roninzero12]

Racist

[@masterspin7796]

People that got to grow up in this era are the luckiest in the history of mankind...

[@LukeLovesRose]

That was a great time. But THIS time was the best: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mISXe4ueZ5eMeaM

[@tn18977]

I'm 40 and America has been on the decline my entire life

[@masterspin7796]

@@tn18977 Im 61.. I started to see the decline around the tail end of the 80's...

[@derrickclark5510]

Facts!!!

[@LukeLovesRose]

We can thank the Frankfurt school of brainwashing or Cultural Marxism for the decline in values and disciplines. BUT we can blame their affiliates, Communists running our science and industry for destroy American industries, because our workers "COST TOO MUCH" when these same Communists are running the FED.

[@lewinski8147]

Its messed up that the city used to be so beautiful like this and now im 15 living in a crime/drug invested city. Girl, i was born in the wrong decade lol.

[@lewinski8147]

@Slomofogo I'm not understanding the correlation of my comment and your question. Why does it matter ?

[@Happyッ-r4q]

I was born in the wrong decade too wish I was born in the 50's the only problem I'd have to deal with is racism.

[@coupleofbeers31]

Looked like such a clean and beautiful city. However as I understand it Detroit is making a huge comeback. I would love to visit it. The music must be phenomenal. Let's not forget that Motown came from Detroit and the music it produced was some of the best the world has ever known.

[@praetorianstride5948]

A lot of music. Birthplace of techno. Many roots to many genes.

[@Skarfp]

I'm crying because this is how I remember my birthplace. It's now a bombed out war zone filled with nothing but crime and violence.

[@GBLyrics]

This is the america that the whole world would doing anything for

[@13blackcats33]

Till the day I die, I will always envy my mother who was fortunate enough to experience the 1950s America; it was not perfect but better than the toxic PC and “diverse” culture of today. RIP mom.

[@rosswalters9194]

My mom and me ( I was 6 years old in summertime 1958) took the bus from Roslyn Rd and Mack Ave (Grosse Pointe Woods) all the way to Downtown Detroit to shop and eat lunch). Mom didn't have a car but the house walls were closing in on her. We ate at the lunch counter of Cunningham Drugs then stopped by a Sanders store for Hot Fudge Sundaes. What a wonderful world we lived in back then.

[@hmishin843]

None of all that I have read about Detroit's demise prepared me for seeing the city first hand on my recent trip. My eyes welled with tears at the unspeakable sights of decay, abandonment, and neglect you see everywhere. I salute those with the resiliency required to just keep going and hope for better days ahead.

[@seanofdetroit5806]

Thank you!

[@manbtm1]

Where exactly did you go? Did you totally ignore the whole downtown, riverfront and Midtown areas. They’re totally renovated, you would have to be blind not to have seen this , if you need proof go to the KZbin videos and walking tours that are on right now. It’s right there for everyone to see.

[@utexasnurse]

I lived in Detroit several years ago and loved it there. I wish I could've seen it when it was booming like in this video!

[@edyram22]

As a heavy car guy, i like all those classics cruising by. Where did those vehicles end up, I wish to know.

[@manfredmann2766]

Cuba

[@shrek19yearsago78]

They ended up in cars disposal

[@StoneShipman]

Americans used to save up money to take a vacation to see Detroit. Foreigners dreamed of someday being able to afford to come to the USA to visit NYC, Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago.

[@itzpro5951]

Yes, we used to have the greatest cities in the world but our people decided to just live in a poor desert town over a successful international city, thus killing our cities. Why did we do this?

[@ABSIMPLYFAB]

Great memories. Thanks so much. God bless

[@jakedeutscher]

Beautiful. Every car is a work of art too.

[@wb6162]

My black coworker is from Detroit. His Dad worked for GM and his Mom who is still alive has worked for one of the Motown radio stations for over 60 years! She still lives in the same house and like Clint Eastwood's home in Gran Torino it's as nice as it was in the 50's in a bad neighborhood. The local hoods don't mess with her.

[@ejhickey]

In 1960, Detroit had the highest per capita income of any city in the US even NYC, Chicago and Los Angeles. There may have been richer people in those cities but they also had a lot of poor people. On average , incomes were higher in Detroit than anywhere else in the country . If you couldn't find a good paying job in Detroit back then , you weren't trying

[@wb6162]

If these people could have been shown what Detroit would look like 60 years later they would have started WWIII right in our country to prevent it.

[@slavrenz88]

No, they would not have. They would've done what they were already doing back then - blaming everything on black people

[@hankaustin7091]

Fabulous music for a fabulous video! Thank you tennforever, it was grand seeing wonderful old Detroit again after all these years!

[@murdoch3396]

I can’t even imagine what living in that era would have been like. Real life looked like a movie. It just looks like everything was just..... swell. That’s the only word I can think of.

[@Priscilla-j4t]

I remember my Uncles yellow Buick! It was really something back then! I lived the 50's graduated 1959. Wish I could go back!

[@coronavirus553]

This is what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket

[@drtee51]

Grew up outside Detroit in the 50s and early 60s. This was great! Thanks for posting!

[@dennyoconnor8680]

Born in Detroit in 1939. I remember the end of WWII - what a block party that was and I got to stay up late.. Relatives all over the city and suburbs. I can't stand to go near downtown Detroit any more. It's like going into one of the Iraq or Syria cities.

[@elizabethtalalemotu8405]

Denny O'Connor must be disappointing to see what America is like now...do you miss how things used to be?

[@rodrigok2913]

He was born in 1939...maybe, I don't know, but...

[@taebby78]

The 50's cars had so much style and personality. The colors alone were exciting. I wish I had a classic!

[@Yemericanchick]

Back when a quickee was a donut shop

[@capt.obvious4487]

you can give me a quickee and we can call it a donut shop if that makes you feel better about it. LOL

[@murfnturf23]

As long as there is a sweet dunkable hole available.

[@capt.obvious4487]

@@murfnturf23 We are so bad👿

[@Zardoz4441]

When America was still America!

Liberals ruined it with conservatives

[@Murasame]

Diversity is our weakness. Period.

[@danielr3661]

Hmmm Cities like Toronto, Montreal, London and Berlin are diverse...

[@hyperquantum3020]

@@danielr3661 And they are all getting worse and worse

[@stevenquinn4641]

A beautiful homage to yesteryear

[@rmartin7558]

I love the Qwikee Donut Shop sign! The hand dunks the donut! 1:00

[@markfortin421]

My first job...ever...Quikee Donuts, Woodward & Grand River. Took the Plymouth Rd. bus from the suburbs, transferred at Oakman to the Grand River bus, got off at Woodward. I was 15 and loved every day for the whole summer. Never scared, walked around downtown just to look at everything. 1961

[@l.thegirl2581]

This is the Detroit of my parents and grandparents. To see all of the people walking on the street is amazing. All of the open shops. Women wearing afternoon gloves, how cool. The stamping plant. How lively it was. I wonder if anyone has footage of the early years at Eastern market, where the local farmers would bring their produce?

[@mustange550]

Wish I could been around in the 50's to see the beauty Detroit once was. I love the style, the people seem friendlier and well just make sense to take a trip out to 14 mile road where it was country to have a Picnic Lunch rather play on a video game console!

[@hrcutz]

My Home. I will always love the D. It’s so making a comeback! It so nice downtown❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jacobolson6145]

Really wish Detroit was still this nice :(

[@manbtm1]

Have you not been to Detroit lately? The downtown and midtown are absolutely beautiful. There was over $8 billion of investment that has gone in in the last five years, look up walking tours of downtown Detroit on KZbin, you will see it, the proof is in the pudding ,it’s nothing like it was 20 years ago.

[@jacobolson6145]

@@manbtm1 yeah I go down there a lot more just wish it were still a big bustling

[@misterhot9163]

@@manbtm1I was there only last year, and there was a Whole Foods near downtown. Enough said. 😂

[@Michorida]

@@manbtm1it may be better than 20 years ago but it’s still trash as of now😂

[@manbtm1]

@@Michorida so where exactly do you live?? , I live in downtown Detroit, it is certainly not trash by any means ,nor is my resudence/ neighborhood….don’t make conclusions when you don’t see it or live it

[@alpenhuhn1]

How pretty everybody was dressed!

[@patrisio3]

The first few scenes make Detroit look like NYC.....buildings, trains, boats all in the water, people everywhere, cars everywhere, activity everywhere....

[@manuelcarbo282]

Fantastic video, Beatiful Video. La musica muy bonita, muy bien realizados, mucha sensiblidad ,que bonita ciudad se merece todo lo mejor del mundo para sus habitantes, fuerza y coraje amigos. Pongan más videos son maravillosos, I love Detroit.

[@jacobtennyson9213]

Detroit was a marvel city at the time.

[@jasonrowe344]

I come from an old Detroit family. The website Shorpy has a great collection of photos of old Detroit. Thanks for the video.

[@dennymcfastlane8530]

When Detroit was called...The Paris of the Midwest. In 1965, Detroit was voted as the Most Promising City in the United States.

[@meltedicecreamsandwich]

It was called "Paris of the West" not Midwest. The term "Midwest" wasn't even used back in the 50s.

[@dennymcfastlane8530]

@@meltedicecreamsandwich The term 'Midwest' was first coined in the 1880's as Midwesterner. By the early 1900's, it's slang--Midwest was starting to be used. As far as Detroit is concerned, i've heard both, 'Paris of the West' & 'Paris of the Midwest'.

[@meltedicecreamsandwich]

@@dennymcfastlane8530 It wasn't called the Midwest in the census though

[@patriley9449]

The downtown streets were so vibrant with people. Very nice.

[@enriqueolague7221]

Ah, a time where you could have shit in Detroit

[@barnabasschuler9025]

I was born there, I have great memories. I moved away in 1963, never went back. They had a riot and Burned my whole neighborhood up.😭

[@putinslavaukraine]

My heart is broken 😢🇺🇸

[@AyoToine]

It’s crazy how much life was in the city of Detroit; I want to bring that retro feel back fr

[@ericbivins8014]

Not one piece of litter on the streets. Wow

[@dreamitable]

I rode many a time in the tunnel bus to downtown Detroit from where else ... Windsor! It was a delight and fun time experience every time. The clothes were a lot chapter and much more lovely variety to choose from. I really loved Hudson's and remember riding in the elevator it was a dream it felt like you were in New York ... it was so big and lined with beautiful wood. I loved Greenfield's great variety there too! I remember looking up at the people on the sidewalk thru the big window walking from inside the restaurant. It was a whole brand new world to visit for a young girl from Canada. I enjoyed most of my time there as a teenager buying clothes and smuggling them back. No one ever let on that you had layers of clothes on under the clothes you wore to get over there from your day of shopping going threw the Canadian side customs.

[@SuperFunJess]

Back when basically all americans could make a living wage by holding one job.

[@tonybuglione3516]

A collage of scenes from different years that seem to range from the early to mid 50s. great to see them.

[@CruzyMopar]

Wow, These little excerpts from the past are fantastic and Nat King Cole singing that wonderful tune coincides with the era. What a wonderful time to have lived in, Those 50s. Im from New Zealand and i loved those early days. I am enjoying what you have posted. Cheers James

[@ernesthardison3610]

thank you for the MEMORIES-1953

[@joejordan1259]

From that to what Detroit has become today.

[@dennispearson9287]

I LOVE THIS VIDEO !!!.....The ULTIMATE TRIP Down Memory Lane !!!....

[@gogosegaga]

It’s almost unrecognisable now like this Is on another universe

[@clovis-ti1yv]

Great video. I was born in 78. This was before my time. I still love the 57 Chevy Bel Air and the 1st Corvette. Change is a constant.

[@bronkawitz]

Sadly, this video shows Detroit just on the verge of it's downfall. One factor which killed the city are the interstate freeways that carved the city center to pieces , destroying whole neighbourhoods in the process. Another is the lack of a viable rapid transit system which would have kept populations living closer to the urban core. Effective rapid transit creates a vibrant downtown along with desirable living areas on the periphery as seen in San Francisco, Boston, New York and most cities in Europe. But the federal government in the mid 50's put unlimited money towards roads and highways. No thought to mass transit. Easy access by freeways to sprawling and lifeless cookie cutter suburbs killed the city. This city is now just basically a parking lot for suburbanites to come into town to either work or watch a game or concert and then leave again.

[@jimclay9540]

The city relied too much on the auto industry. Thats what started everything.

[@Ms_Charlotte_S]

@Damien Williams .. You are disgusting.

[@Grubovic]

Well put

[@edwardzamorski3711]

Your right

[@marcelmoulin3335]

What an excellent comment! I am fortunate to live in a beautiful city in the Netherlands. Unlike the Americans, the Dutch did not destroy their cities by building motorways everywhere.

[@jimcrawford5039]

Went there in 59 & 60 a few times after the St Lawrence Seaway opened to ocean-going ships. What a trip up those lakes, Unforgettable!

[@__-py6qn]

Make America Great Again

[@itzpro5951]

_ _ Make Detroit great again*** The whole focus of this video is only and only on Detroit

[@cheezysheen2984]

Ahem* Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit... it goes on and on

[@HighlightLenny]

Only time I’ve seen a bunch of people walking downtown like that was at the NFL draft this year. It looks like a ghost town sometimes throughout the day now.

[@henrikrolfsen584]

In so many ways, it was a better time to be alive.

[@carlos.a.vcarvajal6119]

Beautiful places....... thanks for sharing....

[@JDintheDMV]

This gave me chills seeing the good ol' days of America (Detroit in this case) when people were happy in a clean city, had jobs and came home to a family to feed. Hard working people in a prosperous city. Now I can't even drive my Dodge Journey through there without avoiding couches, mattresses and some dude on crack nocking my window for the last crumpled newport menthol cigarette.

[@josecuneoperinetti8155]

Julian Davis white america my friend...white america:)

[@erc1971erc1971]

I grew up in Metro Detroit, and work takes me into the city quite regularly. I recognize many of the areas in the video above, of course they look different. So weird looking back in time like this.

[@roninzero12]

But where are my diverse ghetto homies?

[@robertstone4243]

I was a child in Detroit during this decade. The things that surprise me about these images is the visual assault of the signage on commercial buildings and the air pollution from the smokestacks. I don't recall these things, but there they are. Detroit was a factory town, and the production and shipment of automobiles was a messy process.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

It sure didn't look like this when Coleman Young was mayor.

[@Jo_Wardy]

I was born in Australia and live in Australia. But my grandmother I believe lived and worked in Detroit for Ford I believe. But was born in Flint Michigan and lived there as a child. She also drove a 1950s ford fairlaine I think during the late 50s and 60s I think when she moved to California.

[@PlatosGooncave]

Imagine watching this and not getting it

[@LukeLovesRose]

Oh, because of Cultural Marxist brainwashing, there are PLENTY of people who don't get it.

[@trainrover]

I'd finally felt the buzz of what my mum used to sometimes reminisce about growing up in the valley thereabouts when crossing Michigan's Upper Peninsula miles away 40 years later: the worn out finishing touches around our time-capsule of a motel between SSM and Marquette...that overarching trick of a promise in its hurrying way is what'd both surprised and reminded me of mum's tones at harking back for our Wessex earholes ;)

[@Celluloidwatcher]

I had extended relatives who lived in Detroit from the late 40's to the early 90's, including the nice period highlighted in the video. Everyone but one relative left that area. Three relatives and an in-law have passed on. But they saw a once mighty industrial powerhouse sink to the depths of despair. One relative was a robbery victim twice. The 1967 riots destroyed the innocence and trust that Detroit once had. How sad. Even if it's rebuilt, it still won't be the same city as before.