Let's Look At Florida, 1950

A tour of Florida in the 1950s. To purchase a clean DVD or digital download of this film for personal home use or educational use contact us at [e-mail]. To license footage from this film for commercial use visit: www.travelfilmarchive.com

[@wademorriss1624]

I’m 66 and was born in Tampa I know you can’t stop progress but it shure was nicer pre Disney

[@Sophia-gy1gz]

Exactly!

[@fairyhaven12]

"progress" like a cancer progresses, though unlike cancer, this is type of "growth" is always all about money

[@stevedoll508]

I'm 74 and must add an AMEN to that. I was born in Daytona Beach, now live where an old Mom and Pop attraction called Parrot's Paradise once stood, home to monkeys, flamingoes, and, of course, parrots. Winding paths, fairy castles on tiny islands, just another casualty of the Mouse that Soared.

[@TitaniumTurbine]

Disney is why you don’t pay state taxes, I know a lot of you somehow feel entitled not to anyways… but you should know that. It’s not particularly hard to stay away from Orlando either. It’s a big state. Also, you were a child when Disney was developed. How would you know it was “nicer”? You just have normal childhood memories.

[@AmberJones-v1i]

I'm 29 years old. Grew up North of Orlando in DeBary. I have been here my whole semi short life. Even coming from the younger generation, I wish Disney was never a thing. I also think about growing up in the 50's quite often. I believe it would've been so much nicer here and a better way of life in general. I love our Florida history!

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

I love the USA and have NEVER had a bad holiday there in my twenty five years of visiting. Earlier this year I decided it was past time I visited the Florida Keys, and I absolutely loved them! The wonderfully relaxed vibe of Key West was a revelation... it was so nice just wandering around the island with "no particular place to go"! As a Londoner living in the 'crowded howse' of S.E.England, America's huge horizons and stunning landscapes give me a feeling of freedom & wellbeing that is impossible to overstate... God Bless America!

[@LiamsMusic78]

Come live with us^.^

[@user-bw3fl7fj9w]

Thanks for your nice comments....I enjoyed visiting Britain too. Not only part of my heritage...but, most people make you feel welcomed..

[@aprilhaney4969]

Thank you from a Florida native.

[@leftfinned]

The Florida Keys are very special need.

[@beeallen-hine1421]

Thank you

[@TheFiscallySound]

I was 9 years old when the parents and grandparents took me and my brother to Florida for a vacation in 1959. We all piled into a 1957 Pontiac and drove from Maryland to Florida along 301. I95 was only a dream back then.

[@SMJDC]

Damn sorry to hear that lol , I couldn't imagine using only route 1

[@SMJDC]

When I was 29 in 2017 I drove from PG county to Miami

[@ladychiere]

301 is still in regular use, tho at a slower pace now. And it parallels closer to I-75 sometimes as it works its way up the state, bouncing between that and I-95.

[@jonny-b4954]

@@SMJDC Not like you could go more than 55 mph on the interstates back then either. But downgrading to 35-40 and red lights etc must have been a real chore. But still something unimaginable even 30 years earlier. Especially for the average person. After WW1 the Army tried to move a like company size unit across the country in an exercise. To see how long it would take. And it took months. Constant transfer from roads, to dirt roads, to paths etc.

[@christhornton1785]

​@ladychiere We recently drove on 301 from Central Florida up through Georgia on our was to S. Carolina. Slower maybe, but much more enjoyable than the interstates. And the traffic was very light.

[@hankaustin7091]

Now THIS is the Florida I remember as a kid in the early to mid '60s!! What fun we had at Silver Springs and Cypress Gardens!

[@BrittMFH]

Hank Austin Yup same here!

[@openyoureyes4799]

Me too.. now you can't even get to or see the OCEAN!!!

[@marcbenedict3676]

i have a good friend who is a park ranger for silver springs to this day! and also had my 13th birthday party at cypress gards

[@one4allall4one91]

Cypress Gardens is gone. I had the privilege of visiting it before closing. The area has been heavily commercialized do to legoland.

[@joeambrose3260]

Baloney. These are the good old days '!

[@christhornton1785]

I was born in Florida in 1944. We moved to Cocoa Beach in 1950 when there were way more mosquitos than people. The rocket program at Cape Canaveral was in its infancy. It was a great time to live there, with the beach only a block or 2 away. Simpler times.

[@asheredwards9506]

i was born in cocoa beach in 2004. More people than skeeters nowadays. Still very blessed to be here on the space coast

[@christhornton1785]

@asheredwards9506 Hello from another Cocoa Beach guy. If you know some others that have been there for a really long time, ask if they remember a dress shop called Sara n Pats. The Pat was my mom and Sara my aunt.

[@chunkybuttz844]

I grew up in cape Canaveral. Born in ‘85. My imagination went wild thinking of the memories you must have of the area from the 1950’s! Even for me at 39 years old I do not recognize the place. It’s overrun by hordes of rude tourists nowadays.

[@psalmer5690]

Born in Delray Beach in ‘54 and raised in Fort Myers. There was no better place in the world back then. That world is gone for good.

[@Merely]

So is polio. Not going back. xo

[@Britspence381]

I'm a Virginia native, but my Mom was from Port Orange and we traveled there every year in the 50's and 60's. Very good memories, renting floats to ride the surf, cookouts, renting Bridgestone motorcycles on the beach, all kinds of fun. Mom moved to South Daytona in '75 after my Dad died. She passed away in '76 and is interred next to her Father in South Daytona. Still have good memories of our visits there.

[@dano336]

a wonderful story I live in Daytona beach since the late 70's would have loved the 50.s or 60's here

[@MiniMii550]

It’s so weird seeing a video about the state of Florida and NOT having Orlando being mentioned. Disney World really did put Orlando on the map.

[@zoeboifresh1000]

Disney World didn’t get start construction until 1971 so it was way before it’s time

[@MuzixMaker]

It was just orange groves.

[@sandrap.6530]

My Boston grandmother & her sister retired to Sarasota in the early 1960's. My sisters & I visited a lot of these FL tourist places when we visited in the summers. Old FL is just a memory now & this video is a reminder to what once was. We really did pave paradise.

[@blackroan2276]

"We" paved paradise? Not "we". Half-asleep, half-blind, and questionably intelligent people ruined what once was. Not "we".

[@SouthFloridaThrifter]

You see abandoned relics of these two lane tourist places around. It looks like they were so much fun.

[@Treecareproj]

I really wished I was old enough to witness it

[@Treecareproj]

@@blackroan2276 it's mind-boggling just how it all happens St John's Marsh Fort Drum swamp and the Savannah

[@Treecareproj]

It used to be Wilderness forever and ever now it's all cities

[@davidzweiban5549]

We lived in Miami Beach in the 50s when I was 10 years old. I went to North Beach Elementary School and I found my old house on Google maps tonight. Our pool was outside my bedroom window. The house is still there unchanged. What a great place for a kid to grow up. Ps. I used to have to dodge falling coconuts making my way to the bus for school. Lol

[@wusaga4eva]

I grew up on the beach, too. Pine tree Dr. and went to St Patrick's. I'm 40 now and a lot has changed but a lot has also stayed the same

[@XanVicious]

@@wusaga4eva Im 24 and loved here my whole life, it is a beautiful city but it feels very soulless now. I wish i could time travel to back in the day.

[@jerrybishop2115]

I'm born and raised here in Jacksonville Florida and this was awesome to watch, pure time capsule!❤💯

[@Lyerbait13]

Loved the Jacksonville mention!

[@Dr.Pepper001]

I graduated from Paxon High in 1964.

[@failyourwaytothetop]

You must be horrified to see how your beautiful state has been ruined by the Hispanic Invasion.

[@jerrybishop2115]

@@failyourwaytothetop Texas!!

[@seercyful]

Born at St Vension hospital, school at Jeff Davis, and Nathan Bedford Forest HS. Jacksonville was a great place to grow up. Not so much now.😢

[@johngibson2884]

13:25 That is Lejeune road at 36th street . They used to drive the airliners across the street to takeoff.... They had their own red light😅.

[@susanhauke8164]

At that point of this video I expected to see an old train. Then this airplane comes across. Yikes!!!! Did anyone duck those gates like these days and get struck by the plane?

[@blossom1643]

Ahh Lovely Florida! This is the Florida I remember as a child- back before the world went sideways & you could still have Fun!✌️

[@TitaniumTurbine]

You can still have fun depending on where you live and how far you want to travel. Lots of rural towns around here that are pretty desolate and hopeless. Nothing to do but drink, do drugs, and sleep with family. 😂

[@debrarouselle9761]

Sad it is now over crowded, expensive and expensive.

[@guilleport]

22 million people 😮

[@rf-bh3fh]

As a child I grew up here. The fond memories of my past. To bad things change but nothing stays the same. Rather be here than Bagdad or Poland. Count your blessings

[@jerryhayes2351]

My cousin's family always went to Fla for summer vacations. They'd bring us back small crates of orange gum-balls. Yum!

[@johnsecord8539]

Usually people go to Florida in the winter for vacation

[@swisscamperronniecool5419]

Strange idea...in summer Fla is a scorcher with high humidity

[@lelawilkerson4299]

I remember those!!! Very neat lil crates orange gumballs!!!

[@Daoistify]

We used to vacation on A1A in West Palm Beach in the 50s. Back then, there was only the Lake Worth beach bath House and a few motels along the 35 mph road.

[@riggs20]

I was on board until he said it was “seldom too hot.” LOL. I am a Florida native and can attest that it is constantly too hot here for about 9 months out of the year!

[@sharoncrawford7192]

Yes it is! I lived in SW Florida for 25 years. Way to many people there now. But the heat is horrible. Hot and humid. There is some relief in the Winter. But other then 3 months a year, it's horrible!

[@riggs20]

@@sharoncrawford7192 What area of the country are you in now and is the weather better? I’ve been thinking about relocating Georgia where it’s just a tad cooler!

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

It isn't 1950 anymore, every decade brings different fluctuations of temperature rises and falls

[@markrichards6863]

Median temperature of 75. The must be Celsius. We sizzle from May through October now.

[@wusaga4eva]

​@@WitchKing-Of-Angmar My thoughts exactly. My mom's old house in Miami Beach has a chimney and a Florida Room (an outdoor screened terrace attached to the house.) I'm pretty sure new builds don't have either. They should come with a category 6 hurricane bunker instead!

[@heavyd777]

Almost no air conditioning back then. Back then you could take your car out onto the beach in many coastal areas. Most of the area I live in now was Orange groves, swamp and the Mafia ruled. Moonshiners as well. The citrus industry has been severely damaged by Huanglongbing, citrus greening disease which originated in China. But you can still get your free Orange and Grapefruit juice at the Welcome Travel Center on the border! Florida was Hollywood before there was Hollywood. Many Hollywood stars had homes here. I live right up the road from a home once owned by Clark Gable. The Weeki Wachee Mermaids are still a big attraction here as is the Don Cesar in St Petersburg, Cypress Gardens. It's amazing how many of the old attractions still exist.. The 1950's was before the Intracoastal waterway was dug out and ruined the local environments. I've heard stories that people could just walk out and get spiny lobster and conch anytime they wanted.

[@mh23hm]

thankfully you can still drive on parts of daytona beach

[@mandrake3919]

I grew up in Miami and Coral Gables from 1942 through 1955. Went to CG Elementry school, Ponce De Leon Jr. HIgh, and CG Senior High (rember Harry Rath?). Spent my summers in Venetian Pool with mom and my kid brother, while dad worked. Sometimes we would pack a lunch and go over to Miami Beach for a swim and step on the sandspurs with our bare feet. Ouch! Now and then we would drive down to the Keys for some bridge fishing. Oh those pesty mosquitoes! The Tropicaire drive in movie near Tropical Park was a great attraction for us teens. Our friend borrowed his dad's car and some of woulld hide in the trunk. You know why I'm sure. Anyone remember the Tower theater on 8th St or the Gables and Coral theaters in CG? How about those tiny White Castle hamburgers around town for 10 cents? Rootbeer only 5 cents. Gasoline could be had for 15 cents a gallon at times. Neighbors who lost sons in the Korean war, so sad. Life is made up of memories. Don't let them fade away.

[@Jesuscares7680]

So happy I was raised starting from 1954 in Ft.Lauderdale and left in 74 and never came back....I caught all the goodness and left in the nic of time..:) Great video...oh those orange groves with the parrots...many old photos of myself and my Sister with those all over our arms...LOL...super memories... Jolly Roger by the beach front...Morrison Cafeterias....Birch State Park....Drive in Theaters....Yankee Clipper...on and on..

[@inquisitor4635]

You can still see a Drive-In at the Thunderbird Swap Shop. I suggest you pack a .357 magnum and keep it on your lap during the duration of the movie.

[@joannamiano1015]

Every place in America was nice then. Politicians ruined our country.

[@utubeismuhkrakaneliterally1807]

*Morrisons* ! my grandmother used to take me there. she especially loved their strawberry shortcake. remember the waitstaff in uniform? as i recall, all black men dressed in all white? they were so pleasant, lol.

[@zorzobukumica628]

he is printing money like all of them, swamp and deficit are just bigger, same shit as other presidents... nothing to see. pass by....

[@joeambrose3260]

We've been waiting for you to write

[@SoaringSpirit1111]

The narrator almost sounds like Peter Graves.

[@marjoryrainey287]

Its Peter Allen!

[@cydonia3420]

Peter Allen was Peter Graves psuedo name for other types of gigs.

[@TheFiscallySound]

No one read the introduction

[@DrBillRamsayDrTerrorEyes]

For sure!!! I Googled them and appears to be not relationship. I would swear that is Graves.

[@michaelmichelz7899]

That's what I thought....

[@melanieadams3993]

It's so interesting to see the downtowns 50 years ago. The beaches are much the same. The film would definitely make Northerners want to visit and stay!

[@john-brady]

Still does - but it would require a time machine I’m afraid…

[@nicktimestwo]

This was 70 years ago 🙂

[@redwow]

In 1950 I was 10 years old, stuck on the farm in Michigan and snowed in. Depressing.

[@markrichards6863]

But admit it, you had fun in the snow.. I know I did.

[@leanneadams2549]

I think that was my father !! Snowed in with a bunch of ugly cows !! So jealous that in the 50/60’s every kid got to go to Florida but us ! No my parents thought kids wanted to see South Dakota ! Unreal. Still mad about it. Lol

[@markrichards6863]

@@leanneadams2549 Same here but now I live in South Florida and it's pretty miserable in summer. We usually would go to Maine or New Hampshire for summer vacation, which was great fun. We got out of the city, learned to be good swimmers, got to go fishing and row a boat around a nice clear lake. We never traveled on winter or spring break. Mom is very religious, tried to force us on that path, without much success.

[@faketaxi25]

I moved to florida from Michigan and wish I was back in michigan every single day im here.

[@TerryB751]

Timing is everything. In Collier County, there's a museum that has artifacts and letters written by soldiers involved in the Seminole Wars back in the 1800s who complained bitterly about the heat, bugs and the misery of fighting in such a God forsaken land. They could never imagine that the future would bring tourists, junk souvenirs, and people still complaining about the heat.

[@markrichards6863]

As well as tons of homeless people, bad traffic, all controlled by greedy developers who finance the politicians. How often does it flood now? Twice a year where I live.

[@wusaga4eva]

​@@markrichards6863 Karma

[@LakersFanBoy4life]

Looks lovely! I LOVE these old travel vids great channel!

[@theoneandonlyslickrick4132]

Look at St. Pete now in 2019 is has grown soooooo much it’s almost unreal. I live here and I see all the old structures that still stand that are in this video.

[@Khloe_dancer_model]

Wow,must be crazy

[@junkboxxxxxx]

"It was better in the old days before all these weirdos showed up and took it over." -- Joe Seminole, 1880

[@areguapiri]

Before the white man took over.

[@enterzone263]

@@areguapiri white men made the city.

[@DG-iw7lw]

Even more true today

[@lynn-vn8xw]

@@enterzone263 thats exactly why it looked better in the old days. before white men took over. did you not read the comment?

[@johngibson2884]

" we did not invite the hippies to the Everglades ....they needed a place to crap and throw out their trash " Buffalo Tiger -1973 Miami Centennial Freedom Park Commemoration

[@goudagirl6095]

Narrated bt Peter Graves before he was Peter Graves. 😉 I look wistfully at these videos and think how wonderful it must have been to be able to go anywhere and not be afraid. Bet no one even thought to lock their doors. Must have been amazing.

[@suzyschwarz7023]

kelli blue you are right it was the best of life , people were friendly and behaved as humans were supposed to

[@sarahsilverlight6161]

It was. Sadly, no longer, thanks to the urban populace.

[@vinpmazza8613]

THANKS to LIBERALISM....we no longer have this America---!!

[@blackroan2276]

@@sarahsilverlight6161 You're right! TOO MANY PEOPLE and too much liberalism. That ruins quality of life for everyone.

[@pauledwards5607]

@@vinpmazza8613 you are correct. Liberalism and leftism destroys everything it touches.

[@nathandebartolo8330]

The Florida I miss.

[@9900killer]

yeah? with racism too ?

[@catmanflorida2839]

Im 67 in Sarasota, So glad to see it made in the film. That shuffleboard court is still there today.

[@robertc8110]

I'm 69 and lived in the Pinellas County area my whole life...Love it!

[@calebproductions5970]

This is back when Florida was decent even up to the mid-70s now it's a cesspool of crazy people

[@StrikitRich]

Before all the Goddamn Yankees flooded down here and ruined it.

[@Khloe_dancer_model]

Tell me about it.I live here.Trying to leave,also.🤦🏼‍♀️

[@spinel_boi5619]

@@Khloe_dancer_model Florida isn't too bad to live in, honestly.

[@Khloe_dancer_model]

intelligentgames 0702 some areas are terrible.Not all of the areas are bad

[@juicygranolabar]

The crazies add a whole new flavor to my lovely hometown!

[@eddenoy321]

Nearly 25 yrs ago I drove along the coast from St Pete to Tampa. Traffic was worse than anything in the USA. That was 1992.

[@marcbenedict3676]

let me tell you, it has not improved

[@FesterPussbucket]

I grew up in Broward County. I got my license in 1993. I drove illegally before that when my older sister was too drunk to get home from a party. I lived in Florida until 2009. I'm a professional truck driver. Florida is horrible to drive in.... in the US. If you want to experience absolute insanity and incompetent infrastructure you need to check out Germany. I spent 10 years in the service. I have been everywhere. Nowhere on earth is worse than Germany.

[@rodcoulter997]

It’s gotten MUCH worse…overdevelopment is destroying the whole State….so sad to see.

[@ohioguy215]

I remember the glass bottom boats.

[@markrichards6863]

They still have them on the Keys

[@Surfmus]

I'm 87 and I remember how beautiful this State was. But the last 20 years is a dump left and right. I have been every where in FL You can find a great community, and two miles away is a complete slum, gunshots, wreckless driver, etc. Note: My grandson wrote this for me.

[@markrichards6863]

Yeah, it's pretty sad. I find I want to leave our gated community less and less. The crime is pretty bad down here. Dade and Broward Counties seem to attract the worst people from all walks of life. How is it where you are? The homeless have become more aggressive in recent years.

[@Lil_fang866]

@@markrichards6863 so true south florida is full of crazy rude ass people who cant even say hi nor hello -_-

[@TitaniumTurbine]

@@markrichards6863 All the entitled people are the problem. Northerners bringing their problems and chaotic lifestyle here. Yuck.

[@gregd3551]

Looks like Walgreens logo has remained the same. 9:05

[@cattycorner8]

this is the America that I love

[@fredapeeples6619]

"Have you ever been in a cockpit before?"

[@rentslave]

I didn't know that they let Muslims fly planes.That's dangerous.

[@BobbyKoelble]

It's the little room in the front of the plane where the pilot sits. But that's not important right now.

[@brianarbenz7206]

The film's entire audio system collapses, accompanied by uncontrollable flat narration.

[@six-pack1332]

You like when Scraps rubs up and down your leg?

[@Pr3ct]

Ever seen a grown man naked?

[@Pr3ct]

Ahhh, when Florida was cool.

[@sarahsilverlight6161]

Before the influx of undesirables

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@sarahsilverlight6161 And super hurricanes.

[@wusaga4eva]

​@@sarahsilverlight6161 Said the Seminole, Miccosukee, Calusa etc...

[@BlueMushroomSmurfCat]

@@wusaga4evaso you just want overpopulation? Ok

[@GEMINITREKKER]

Florida has changed but its still a fun State to see!

[@ellenfiore3726]

I love watching how life was before today and the changes to tell you the truth not fond of the changes all the highrises and such

[@sarahsilverlight6161]

Was better before certain people were here.

[@Dreadlock1227]

@@sarahsilverlight6161which people?

[@pliniojr95]

@@Dreadlock1227 Hispanics

[@frankvellake2077]

I moved to Miami in 1953...brings back a lot of memories.

[@davidpetri4502]

My family moved to Miami in 1957....great place to grow up...

[@susyhebner2543]

Excellent video of my native state. Makes me homesick.

[@RonaldReaganRocks1]

Man, we dress like dirtbags these days.

[@Lori5564]

That's the truth. I watched a retro Disney video from 1971 and everyone was dressed nice and no overweight people. It's sad how things have changed. 😕

[@johngibson2884]

Best post in a while

[@hertzair1186]

As America became more liberal, all our standards have dropped accordingly.

[@FloridaGirl-]

@L Tchort 🤣 what an absurd statement.

[@user-cf9np9cy8q]

YES

[@kjun03]

And then the spoilers came along!!!

[@oldsoldier8139]

Funny since Disney World wasn't even on Walt's mind yet, Orlando is not even mentioned.

[@marklanfier8287]

Disney ruined the state.

[@rodmunch69]

It's a Mickey Mouse 3rd rate town.

[@someguy4911]

Orlando was a small town then and mostly swamp land. My father was stationed at Cape Canaveral in the early 60s before Disney. He said it was just a small town full of old retirees.

[@TitaniumTurbine]

@@marklanfier8287 If you paid state taxes, you’d whine about that too. There is no winning with someone like you. Sad.

[@faketaxi25]

@@TitaniumTurbineHave you lived in florida? I would pay state taxes over dealing with crazy people any day

[@grajur3710]

Port St Lucie, where I live, didn,t existed yet. Wish I was born in USA. Great country!!!

[@LiamsMusic78]

I live close to you. It doesn't matter if you were born here or not, that's the point of the USA

[@johnm2369]

Don't see many Seminole or Colusa Indians responding but they were the truly lucky immigrants

[@Just1American1966]

I was born overseas (agency brat) but raised here, near what is now Loxahatchee. I tell people "I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could!"

[@soumyadebsikder5047]

Just so you know, most of South Florida is fairly new compared to the northeast. Much of the beautiful Miami real estate and its suburbs in Dade and Broward are from the mid to late 20th century. Until then, most of south Florida was rural and bare wilderness.

[@Dallas_K]

Some of it quite rural and remote.

[@shadtannn]

Yea I remember in 2005 being 7 south florida was very different 441 was mostly trees and almost like a back road now it’s a main road with tons of stuff being built out west kinda sucks to think it won’t ever be the same to many people now

[@xander9564]

What happened is that most of the structures built before the 1950s were demolished (exceptions include Vizcaya and the Art Deco buildings of South Beach). They have wiped away much of their history.

[@bud8096]

The Miami suburbs and most of dade and broward counties are awful places and there is nothing beautiful about them. You need a concealed weapon to go anywhere near there.

[@oladeebiazazi4538]

@@bud8096Really it’s that bad?

[@jellisquared1702]

This documentary missed Tallahassee, the capital and Pensacola 😂 Overall, it was a fun watch for this native Floridian 👍🏻

[@truckrobo147]

Same

[@TheLifetraveler1]

No one in South Florida ever thinks about the folks in North Florida or the panhandle. southern California and northern California don't have much in common except for the name California.

[@Pr3ct]

Nobody misses Tallahassee.

[@user-cf9np9cy8q]

@@Pr3ct WRIONG. REAL Southerners miss when our states were happy and only us without idiots

[@mikegoose]

The thing that got me is they talked about mermaids but I haven't seen one Manatee on here specially in the rivers. At least now they're protected.

[@one4allall4one91]

Amazing window into the past. This was more than 20 years before my time. Marine land is gone and cypress gardens but silver springs is still in operation.

[@Megdracula]

Marine land isn’t gone

[@raygunn1083]

@@Megdracula Yeah it is.

[@Megdracula]

@@raygunn1083 no it isn’t I live by it

[@Megdracula]

@@raygunn1083 407 - 563 - 4701 marineland

[@TheChoochooboy99]

@@Megdracula didn’t they expand recently? Last time I was there they were adding a new tank for sea turtles and other sea life. Did that ever get completed?

[@imsixftsix]

I don't give a crap for the naysayers. I am a native Floridian. I love my home state. Florida may have grown too much for my liking, but the people, native born or foreign born have added interest. If you don't like Florida and live there, go back to wherever the hell you came from!

[@BrittMFH]

imsixftsix What a great attitude! 👍

[@johncaron4888]

I feel the same way about Louisiana. I am a native Louisianian.

[@richierich2534]

Well said i still live in south florida and love it's diversity

[@227DFET]

The whole country has grown. Why are you so salty?

[@edmundtozzi6666]

let floridians deal with Florida problems,.

[@p55carroll]

Ah, 1950, when I was -5 years old (that's minus 5). But my future parents were in Florida around that time.

[@mattgonzalez4457]

The bridge leading into downtown Tampa has changed soooo much lol... I know it because of the drawbridge but wouldn't even know it was the same landmark otherwise

[@cheetoshotfries2289]

Take us back in time...ide like to see what broward county was like...and the cities inside it

[@seosamhfiannachta1356]

I grew up in Florida. It is more like a Georgia than Florida. I live in South Florida now and the saying in South Florida is “The further north you live in Florida is the more Southern you will become.” Most of my relatives live in Springfield, Mass. I’ve met more people in South Florida from the Boston area and Springfield, Mass.

[@amandajstar]

A dolphin isn't a 'fish', it's a mammal!

[@fox10169]

Pretty sure no one cared in the 1950's

[@joeambrose3260]

Do these inane comments have a porpoise ?

[@six-pack1332]

@@joeambrose3260 They do seem somewhat flippant.

[@blackroan2276]

And also a dolphin is not an "it". A dolphin is a "him" or a "her". An "it" is an inanimate object, like a table or chair.

[@six-pack1332]

@@blackroan2276 Thank you for your observation Karen.

[@glennliming3139]

My family has been here since 1947. I had an uncle who skied at Cypress Gardens in the mid 50's. My grandpa owned the St Pete Pier in the early 60's and he was a builder of many homes in the central FL area. My parents are both FSU grads and were married in Jax where they taught school and music and had me! I love FL but hate the heat and the large influx of people that Disney brought.

[@Super69stang]

Disney has done alot of damage to the Fla. of the 1950-60`s.I grew up here in the 50-60`s when things were slower and not all the people and crime.Orlando is becoming another Detroit with all the murder and crime,it`s sad.My uncle and father had a business here since the 1950`s until the 80`s when the state took the property for the beltway because of all this growth.I wish they would have put Disney and the others in Ark. somewhere.David USAF RET...........

[@okkesuurenbroek5442]

[@varigdc10]

+Super69stang No matter where you go, what city, what town, things are getting worse. In the mid 90's I lived in Miami Lakes/Hialeah, ran away from there after living there only 5 years.

[@madden8021]

+Glenn Liming If your grandpa tried to teach anything or music in today education system then he'll have to either "Teach to the test" or try to teach music "Since Music Classes today are underfunded or non existent".

[@saturn722]

+madden8021 my parents haven't been educators since the 70's. My father just turned 81 and yes I know that education these days is a completely different animal.

[@kennyadvocat]

Very nice video. Wish they would re-scan the film at higher quality. Only 360p and some soft focus issues.

[@joannegrullon6651]

" so that the plane may cross the street" that sounds so freaking awesome lol I was born in the 90's so I never saw anything like that lol

[@kthemaster1999]

There is a neighborhood in Southwest Florida where almost every household has airplane and a garage to accommodate. The roads in the area are made so that the planes can drive through it as they head to the nearby airfield. I drove by there once but no one was planning on flying

[@marylouk3061]

I would love to see this colorized. I've lived on the west coast since the early 80's and recognize some of the streets and certainly the attractions.

[@ih82r8]

Marylou K I thought the same thing about the color. Do you know if Cypress Gardens is still around or as nice as shown here?

[@helloyall4355]

Just imagine it being in color.

[@Thorstevens1]

@@ih82r8 It’s now called Legoland. An attraction built of Legos. Never been there and I was born in Tampa in early 60’s. I have been to Cypress Gardens though……..a loooong time ago!

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@helloyall4355 why imagine, there's plenty of these in color...just not the same exact charming recording.

[@martinlopez5416]

I love Florida my favorite one

[@wilbertrobles1123]

Can’t beat good memories

[@doubtful100]

"...clad in gay cottons and cool sport shirts." If the people of 1950 could only see what people are clad in now or should I say not clad in.

[@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549]

Cotton's gay? Oh man, I better go change into my leather

[@markrichards6863]

The young with their butts hangout of shorts three sizes to small and the guys dressed like bums.

[@MelissaThompson432]

​@@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549oh, because leather isn't gay? 🤔

[@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549]

@@MelissaThompson432 Cows are made of leather. They aint gay

[@MelissaThompson432]

@@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549 no, but they are girls.

[@Vector_Ze]

Love to see old travel logs like this! :) At the time this video was created, most Floridians did not have air conditioning. We had fans, lots of fans. We sweated profusely while eating diner, sleeping, whatever. Florida's population would certainly be less than half of what it is, without air conditioning. This place sucks for residents. We hibernate two thirds of the year indoors.

[@Ed-iz4wm]

Same here in Phoenix Arizona.

[@lynnh4923]

I'm a resident here and have been most of my life... I love the heat. You have to take the good with the bad anywhere you live and I would much rather do it in Tampa Florida! ❤️

[@danieljackson4965]

@@lynnh4923 I live tampa too!

[@lynnh4923]

@@danieljackson4965 We are very lucky ducks lol

[@edmundtozzi6666]

only yankees complain about the weather in paradise

[@dadsoldtapes]

Hard to believe in 1950 the popular background music choices would be Sousa's works of Semper Fidelis and Washington Post... this was the year before my grandparents took their honeymoon there and there's a film on my KZbin channel from it.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Easy to believe

[@kathleenstraube5356]

I View this film with a feeling of recollection. A Geography films for my classroom in the early 60’s. looking back at it now I can see all the propaganda in it. One of the quotes I picked up on ...Florida has a romantic history. I think not. Living in Florida now, I see the destruction of the land and the loss of the trees. The poisoning of the beautiful pristine Springs, caused by agriculture and cattle racing. The loss of land through all the development. Destruction is always in the wake of human progress. It’s a sorry state of affairs in which we live..

[@pawelpap9]

Destruction? So building houses so people can live there counts as a destruction in your playbook? You have to be a very sad person.

[@user-cf9np9cy8q]

@@pawelpap9 I agree with that. Florida has been messed up And over developed. Tell me, as long as people continue running there to live, is it right that houses just keep getting built? What’s the limit? When they literally don’t have a spot of land left to build on, they will probably build on the water or house on top of house like in New Jersey

[@calbob750]

In the fifties in St.Petersburg you could shop at Webb’s City. World’s Largest Drug Store. Don’t forget to look through the port hole at the mermaids. Near Al Lang field you could find the “Fountain of Youth”. Al Lang field is gone, the Fountain of Youth is still there. The original fountain bubbled out water with the taste of sulfur. The new fountain has the taste of city tap water.

[@scottdetter]

Webb city and the Mermaids were just magical when we were kids.

[@sunshineandsoccer]

Al Lang still exists currently the home stadium for the Tampa Bay Rowdies

[@gitfiddler716]

I love old St. Pete. My Mom was from there and we visited family there every summer.

[@rodmunch69]

The fountain is supposed to be in Palm Harbor, which seems like a more responsible location than Al Lang field, which, back then, would have been a forest not near anything. At least with Palm Harbor they claim it's right near the bay.

[@DrBagPhD]

Any time I hear The Liberty Bell march, I'll think of Monty Python.

[@wyattandwill12]

My great grandfather told us growing up that he moved to Florida because after being in the Pacific in WWII it was too cold for him up near Pittsburgh where he lived before then. My grandma moved up here to NC with my grandpa and she’s said even in recent months that she’s glad she’s not there anymore because of the crime, that’s a main fear of being there in modern times especially compared to where we live, most of our crime is drug related and fortunately not the gang activity variety. I’ve been considering moving to Broward County or somewhere near there.

[@Dallas_K]

It is amazing how cold Florida can feel when a massive cold front pushes temperatures below 50 degrees.

[@tomjones2121]

I've lived in Florida for 54 years , I've never been a victim of crime , crime here is no different then it was back then , there were 4 million people back then , there's 27 million today , per capita , the state is safer today then it was back then .

[@doorguru168888]

@@tomjones2121 Ignore the Yankee Florida experts that like to put down Florida.. btw.. Pittsburg is a sewer..

[@BlueMushroomSmurfCat]

@@tomjones2121ok just don’t move to Miami because you clearly don’t live there

[@Kay-ln3kx]

Born and raised in orlando. 1959.

[@jennoq1311]

This makes me long for a Florida I never knew. This is the Florida my mom grew up in. So much has changed, not for the better. A year round temperature of 75° in Miami?!

[@tmoon3301401]

GREAT VIDEO!! BUT MOST OF WHAT YOU SEE HERE HAS ALL DISAPPEARED. SPECIALLY THE ORANGE PLANTATIONS AFTER HURRICANE ANDREW. DEVELOPERS PAID HIGH $$$$$$ FOR THERE LAND AND STARTED CONSTRUCTION WITH A NON STOP! I WISH SINCERELY THAT FLORIDA WOULD BE LIKE IT USE TO. NOT THE SAME ANYMORE. BUT THKX FOR THE MEMORIES.

[@inquisitor4635]

There was also the problem with citrus canker. City authorities began to go into people's back yards and eradicate all their private trees due to canker and in many cases when they did not have canker.

[@BrittMFH]

Nowhere has stayed the same.

[@utubeismuhkrakaneliterally1807]

no sweeter perfume on the planet than driving down the road when the orange plantations were in bloom!

[@msdori890]

First time I've ever heard the term "Orange Plantations" lol...we call 'em Orange Groves here. Two Big Freezes took most of the Orange Groves out in Central Florida; but, there still making juice farther south.

[@utubeismuhkrakaneliterally1807]

Doris Sutter - lol, you're right i just was tired last night and repeated her.

[@TheJuan72]

Ah, no Disney World back then.

[@guilleport]

1965 on.

[@MotoM1234]

Interesting how packed the beaches were in these old videos

[@janetphillips2875]

Peter Graves the narrator, and James Arness ( Gunsmoke) were brothers

[@richardnone5644]

i spent the winter in miami in 1950 when i was 6 years old ha ha ha i remember everything give or take

[@sharonsanderson5923]

This is when life was good.

[@beatricebritt6955]

Good for who?

[@northfloridatrans]

Not good for everybody🍫

[@pawelpap9]

@@northfloridatrans There will be always unhappy people.

[@user-bw3fl7fj9w]

@@pawelpap9 I think he (#MelaninRich!) meant it was before the civil rights laws that weren't signed into law until the mid 1960s.

[@pawelpap9]

@@user-bw3fl7fj9w do imply that signing civil rights laws made everybody happy? That is a very strong statement difficult to defend. Do you believe the change made the older South population that depended on the old social order very happy? There are many accounts that will inform you they were very unhappy.

[@SouthFLbaby]

I was born in Mexico, my parents came to Florida in 2003, I’ve been living here ever since. I’ve been to many states in the US and nothing can compare to Florida in the landscape, laws, freedom, and fun. But the ONLY thing that sucks in Florida is everyone for themselves .. at least now you can walk right next to someone and look them in their face and they wont even glance over at you, not so socially developed but besides that great!

[@Easydoesit101]

Love Florida, from Miami, now up innN C Florida

[@gsp49]

Dark black cars with zero air-conditioning.

[@johniboz1]

Too many well dressed white people! This would be unacceptable by today's standards! 😂

[@Lori5564]

🤣

[@gitfiddler716]

Yea. Places have gone down. Sad.

[@lisathuban8969]

Yeah, it would. I like an awesome mix of people who dress in what they feel.

[@blackroan2276]

Phooey. I know you're just kidding, but really, the entire idea is ridiculous. Dressing well is something all people ought to aspire to, and there is certainly nothing wrong with being white.

[@jacolson3310]

@@blackroan2276 >Ditto

[@yoland5837]

I played some of the musical marches in this video in my high school band in 2016-2020

[@jessikat6692]

@1:31 Wow, the Main Street Bridge in Jacksonville. It's actual name is John T. Alsop Jr. Bridge. I was a Tender on top of it back in 2022. That Bridge opened in 1941. It's beautiful at Night. :)

[@MissMarshall]

The Cubans took over, my mom said. Nobody spoke English anymore, we were basically given a choice. Adapt to their culture, or leave. I was a baby when we moved to Rhode Island. 🥺

[@NukieNuk]

Awe i wasnt even born yet 🤣❤️ my dad was about 16 yrs old

[@innovativeconsultingllc4962]

Good thing you wasn’t . Racism was very strong . I’ve Been living in WPB 70’s . I remember place we couldn’t go . Since the 80’s it’s gotten a little better .

[@NukieNuk]

@@innovativeconsultingllc4962 yes my dad used to tell me crrazzy stories omg so sad tho an nothing has changed since all we have is hope 🙏🏾

[@innovativeconsultingllc4962]

@@NukieNuk Absolutely nothing . We are just allowed to by homes in a mixed neighborhood that’s about it smh

[@paulhill7818]

Live in the Panhandle of Florida. We call It the Plywood State up here.😎

[@mikemeengs5720]

All gone now. 😢 I still love living here though!

[@garciacontracting]

no Cuban Corruption and mafia

[@stephenray4023]

No mafia? What Florida are you talking about? The Mafia were there in the 20's and 30's, running rum from Cuba.

[@lynn-vn8xw]

tbh florida was better before white people

[@giofyr]

@@stephenray4023 He meant to say before liberalism, the brain disorder took over.

[@bcast9978]

@@lynn-vn8xw Who was in "Florida" before white people? The Seminoles and Mikasuki came from what is now Georgia and Alabama.

[@lynn-vn8xw]

@@bcast9978 Native Americans had arrived in Florida as early as 10,000 years before the first Europeans.

[@robertohlrich369]

Kent State university to Lauderdale, spring break, 1965! Those were the days.

[@tinkerbella969]

thanks for sharing!

[@bjs2022]

Shame on the video editor who is guilty of committing the video atrocity of BBC (Blow-up, Blur, Crop) 4:3 aspect ratio films and video (or 4:3 films transferred to video) to fill the 16:9 frame. Doing "click to fill" may look OK on a computer screen (other than the unnaturally overly large images) but on a TV the loss of resolution is terrible. You are taking standard definition video and degrading it to substandard definition video. You are also altering/censoring the carefully composed and framed 4:3 aspect ratio images by the historical cinematographers. Leave 4:3 alone!

[@rodmunch69]

Yeah, there's a lot of idiots on KZbin who post stuff with the wrong aspect ratio. They're really stupid people -- and it's really stupid KZbin doesn't let you fix the aspect ratio as a viewer.

[@cynthiakelly3825]

I keep expecting that wolf in the model T and bazooka horn to drive across the bottom of the screen

[@carlyandfriends1547]

I visited FL many times as a child and lived in the Tampa Bay area for 8 years early in my marriage.

[@togniryan]

I was born in 1985 and I miss those times! When people say I don’t want an America from the 1950s, I think ti myself are we better off now than before!

[@gcopter1963]

At 13:08, where the airplane is seen crossing the roadway, does anyone knows what airport / road this was?

[@alfajam]

I suspect LeJuene Rd.

[@FesterPussbucket]

Yeah that was Le June.

[@joeambrose3260]

I nose, but I ain't tellin'

[@joeambrose3260]

Yeah that's right. It's Le June, first road after Le May

[@davidrobbio9816]

It was an American DC-7...

[@paulazemeckis7835]

Couldn't watch the whole thing seeing thier tiny enclosure for those poor dolphins.

[@Yankeeprepper]

i love dolphins too! Dolphins are delicious.

[@KoldingDenmark]

First time I hear dolphins called 03:33 porpoises. They are related but not the same. We have porpoises here. They are smaller and darker.

[@pamelamallory8881]

I been here all my life born and raised

[@johnm2369]

I always thought stationary a bit boring. Unless you love it?

[@waynesproehnle3141]

Voiceover commentary done by Peter Graves?

[@hankaustin7091]

sure sounds like him to me... I was thinking the same thing.

[@joeambrose3260]

Sounds more like James Arnesses brother

[@TheFiscallySound]

Read the introduction