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45 vintage photos that will make you laugh

45 vintage photos that will make you laugh
In 1984, a butler serves a meal to a table of dogs in a Knightsbridge, London, restaurant to mark the launch of a new dog food.BIPS/Getty Images
  • Laughter is a universal language that transcends time.
  • Thanks to a release of "feel-good chemicals," laughing also offers a variety of health benefits.

Whether it comes from a photo, a joke from a coworker, or even a TikTok, laughter is a universal language that offers a variety of benefits.

Laughter releases powerful "feel-good chemicals" like serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins, which promote feelings of cooperation, teamwork, and calmness. As a result, laughter can also be a powerful tool in the workplace

"Teams who laugh and joke together tend to be better able to open up and share challenges with each other — which is particularly important for coping with stress and enhancing creative problem solving," Bruce Daisley, former VP at Twitter EMEA, wrote in his book, "Eat Sleep Work Repeat: 30 Hacks for Bringing Joy to Your Job," which Business Insider excerpted in 2020.

From animals acting like humans to famous people in funny scenarios, these 45 funny vintage photos are sure to boost your and your team's mood.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Why did the chicken cross the road?
A policeman holds up traffic to allow four Egg Chicks to cross the bridge at the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, circa 1966.      Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images

Apparently to publicize the British Egg Marketing Board.

The sky's the limit when it comes to fashion.

The sky
Gertrude Shilling, mother of hat designer and milliner David Shilling, with one of her son's characteristically flamboyant hats, circa 1971.      Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Getty Images

Hats off to this fashionable lady, the mother of famous English milliner David Shilling, the Telegraph reported.

Hey, what're you looking at? I'm rolling here!

Hey, what
Babe Ruth pretending to roll over Lou Archer in the silent comedy "Babe Comes Home" in 1927.      John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Turns out Yankees legend Babe Ruth was also quite the actor. His "Babe Comes Home" co-star Anna Q. Nilsson said, "What he lacks in polish and experience he makes up in ardor and seriousness," the National Baseball Hall of Fame reported.

The service at this restaurant is wild.

The service at this restaurant is wild.
Comet, an elephant from Chessington Zoo, spends the weekend as a waiter at the Trocadero Restaurant in Piccadilly Circus, London, circa 1938.      Fox Photos/Getty Images

It's a zoo in here.

Quit horsing around.

Quit horsing around.
A horse smiles, circa 1958.      Russell Knight/Getty Images

You'll make a complete foal of yourself.

Round of a-paws for this makeover!

Round of a-paws for this makeover!
Afghan Hound Miyasht Empress (Impy for short) is getting the full beauty treatment ready for the coming winter show season, October 1971.      Day Geoffrey/Mirrorpix via Getty Images

Impy the Afghan hound is looking quite fetching in this 1971 photo.

There's nothing like a close shave.

There
Circa 1960, English comedian Eric Sykes revives the "mass shaving machine."      Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Or 12, as the case may be.

Invented in the 19th century, the "mass shaving machine" can shave a dozen men simultaneously, Big Think reported. Eric Sykes, an English comedian, demonstrated the device on an unaired pilot for a TV series about 1800s innovations.

It's hard to say what's funnier about this photo — the outfits or the snow.

It
Circa 1975, two landladies in Skegness, England, wear vintage bathing costumes from 1914.      Ian Tyas/Getty Images

In a publicity shot taken in the 1970s, two ladies in Skegness, a seaside town in Lincolnshire, England, wear vintage bathing costumes from 1914.

She's having a good fur day.

She
A dog with its fur set in curlers at a hairdressing salon in London, circa 1968.      Paul Fievez/BIPS/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The hair of the dog was never more chic.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make her drink.

You can lead a horse to water but you can
Anne Fenton having a drink in the bar of the Hotel Marazion in Cornwall, England, with her grey mare Anita.      Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Unless she has a personalized basin, that is.

So this is how musicians cool off on a hot day.

So this is how musicians cool off on a hot day.
Circa 1966, a musician uses his instrument as a sun shade.      Keystone/Getty Images

A musician at Miami University in Florida found a novel way to use his instrument on a hot day in 1966.

What's black and white and read all over?

What
Circa 1954, fans at Wimbledon make hats from newspapers to shield their heads from the sun.      Fox Photos/Getty Images

A stylish newspaper hat, that's what.

When Batman isn't saving Gotham, he's helping these adorable kids cross the street.

When Batman isn
Adam West, in character as Batman, circa 1967.      Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Hopefully no supervillains were harmed in the making of this road safety video featuring "Batman" actor Adam West. It was filmed in London's Kensington neighborhood in the 1960s.

Now that's a mouthful.

Now that
The Minsky Carnival Showgirls compete in a 1949 spaghetti-swooshing contest.      Keystone/Getty Images

Apparently spaghetti-swooshing contests — in which participants had to polish off a bowl of noodles by only using their faces, lips, and tongues — were a thing in the 1940s.

Here, the Minsky Carnival Showgirls compete in such a contest.

This guy is hogging the spotlight.

This guy is hogging the spotlight.
Circa 1933, a large pig at a farm in Hertfordshire, England, has a chat with a census taker.      Fox Photos/Getty Images

Sow what? He likes the attention.

Now that's how you multitask.

Now that
British actress Barbara Roscoe cooks while using a hairdryer in her home, circa 1963.      John Pratt/Getty Images

As British actress Barbara Roscoe demonstrates, why go to a salon when you can dry your hair and cook at the same time?

This image gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "soap opera."

This image gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "soap opera."
Circa 1930, tenor Enrico Murzio practices singing while taking a bath.      Fox Photos/Getty Images

Some people think better while taking a bath — and some sing better.

Row, row, row your boat gently down the street.

Row, row, row your boat gently down the street.
American actress Myrna Loy rows a canoe down a flooded street, circa 1925.      Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Myrna Loy, an American film, television, and stage actress, illustrates an alternative mode of transportation during inclement weather.

Two heads are better than one.

Two heads are better than one.
American actor Mel Ferrer covers his wife, screen icon Audrey Hepburn, in his coat, circa 1956.      Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

On a road near Paris, France, Audrey Hepburn and her first husband, Mel Ferrer, bundle up.

Even Roman warriors enjoy tea time.

Even Roman warriors enjoy tea time.
Circa 1956, comedienne and singer Gracie Fields drinks tea with vaudeville entertainer Bud Flanagan.      Monty Fresco/Getty Images

As captured during the 1956 Royal Command Performance, Gracie Fields, a comedienne and singer, drinks tea with music hall and vaudeville entertainer Bud Flanagan, who's dressed as a Roman centurion.

It's hard to top the classic antics of Moe, Larry, and Curly, aka the Three Stooges.

It
Circa 1939, Moe Howard plugs his ears as fellow Stooges Larry Fine and Curly Howard slurp soup loudly.      Fox Photos/Getty Images

Larry Fine and Curly Howard slurp soup loudly — much to the chagrin of fellow Stooge Moe Howard, who plugs his ears to drown out the sound.

If there's an elephant in the room, proceed accordion-ly.

If there
An elephant listens to accordion music, circa 1940.      Hulton Archive/Getty Images

This accordion player is getting a glowing "one trunk up" review.

"Key change." "Yes, chef!"

"Key change." "Yes, chef!"
Howard Baker's band of bakers, circa 1936.      Fox Photos/Getty Images

It sounds like music is on the menu.

LeBron would give these b-ballers a seal of approval.

 LeBron would give these b-ballers a seal of approval.
Two seals play basketball at the San Diego Zoo, circa 1950.      Evans/Getty Images

They could score big in the championship tidal match.

They're just monkee-ing around.

They
The American pop band the Monkees during a silly photo shoot, circa 1967.      Keystone Features/Getty Images

For this photo, Davy Jones buried fellow Monkees band mates Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Micky Dolenz up to their necks in sand.

Dinner is served.

Dinner is served.
Circa 1984, a butler serves a meal to a table of dogs at a restaurant in Knightsbridge, London, to mark the launch of a new dog food.      BIPS/Getty Images

It may be a dog-eat-dog world ... but things aren't so bad when you're a pampered pooch.

You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose ...

You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose ...
Circa 1959, German triplets pick their noses while dressed in traditional outfits.      Keystone/Getty Images

... but you can't pick your siblings.

He has his geese in a row.

He has his geese in a row.
A little boy dressed as a policeman holds up a car to allow a gaggle of geese to cross a country road, circa 1934.      Fox Photos/Getty Images

It's hard not to giggle at this gaggle.

The human water ski must have fallen out of style.

The human water ski must have fallen out of style.
Circa 1973, Barbara Clack skis on human water skis, Joker Osborn and Ken White, champion skiers at Cypress Gardens, Florida.      Fox Photos/Getty Images

This doesn't look very comfortable.

Hey, who are you looking at?

Hey, who are you looking at?
Circa 1968, a two-year-old spreads her paint liberally during an art class in London for young children.      Tim Graham/Getty Images

This 2-year-old decided to paint outside the box ... or, rather, off the canvas.

This dog is composing the next Great Canine Novel.

This dog is composing the next Great Canine Novel.
An Alsatian dog named Petra answers her fan mail on the British kids' show "Blue Peter," circa 1964.      John Pratt/Getty Images

Life as a writer can be ruff.

This dog is at the height of fashion.

This dog is at the height of fashion.
Dog fashion, Saks department store, NY. Best-selling trench coat, 7th June 1971      Dog fashion, Saks department store, NY. Best selling trench coat, 7th June 1971

In his trench coat and shades, this dog is paws-itively fabulous.

A skeleton enters a pub. The bartender asks, "What'll it be?"

A skeleton enters a pub. The bartender asks, "What
A skeleton sits at a pub table waiting to be served. 26th May 1970.      Sunday People/Mirrorpix via Getty Images

The skeleton says, "A beer and a mop."

This monkey seems to be missing something...

This monkey seems to be missing something...
Freddie, a baby chimp, is doing a real job of mixing the Christmas puddings in and out of the mixing bowl; December 1969.      Mirrorpix via Getty Images

His ape-ron!

An elephant puts in his regular order at the pub.

An elephant puts in his regular order at the pub.
An elephant puts in his regular order at the pub. 1971.      Mirrorpix via Getty Images

His order? A pink elephant.

An elephant attempts to use a phone booth.

An elephant attempts to use a phone booth.
An elephant attempts to use a phone booth; 1971      Mirrorpix via Getty Images

Who did the elephant manage to call? Oh, it's irrelephant.

Any advice on getting a pet pig?

Any advice on getting a pet pig?
Perky, pictured in the car in which it traveled down to London to perform in a new circus in Charing Cross, London, with its partner pig Pinky. November 1970.      Alisdair Macdonald/Mirrorpix via Getty Images

Just be sure you get the pig of the litter.

Talk about a human keg stand.

Talk about a human keg stand.
Guinness Book of Records titleholder Chris Southcombe can even drink pints standing upside down, March 1971.      Mirrorpix via Getty Images

Beers here, alcohol you later!

Looks like these bulldogs had to take their daily walk into their own paws.

Looks like these bulldogs had to take their daily walk into their own paws.
Two bulldogs out for a walk in 1949.      Kirn Vintage Stock/Contributor/Getty Images

Do you think they took turns?

Looks like British comedian Richard Hearne could use some help from his teammates.

Looks like British comedian Richard Hearne could use some help from his teammates.
British comedian and actor Richard Hearne tries to play basketball against Harlem Globetrotters teammates J Walter Kennedy and Murphy Simmons for a charity game in 1963.      Evening Standard/Stringer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The basketball game was held as a fundraiser for the National Playing Fields Association, now known as Fields in Trust, a charity which seeks to protect parks and green spaces in Britain.

Keep your eye on the ball.

Keep your eye on the ball.
Members of the Fleetway House Golfing Society play with a giant golf ball on the putting green in 1928.      John Warwick Brooke/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Golf would be a much easier sport to watch if this was the ball they used.

She's got some serious hang time.

She
Women at the beach toss their colleague in the air with a blanket in 1932.      Daily Herald Archive/Contributor/National Science & Media Museum/SSPL via Getty Images

This looks like way more fun beach activity than Spikeball.

Ouch! I think he missed the punchline.

Ouch! I think he missed the punchline.
A young man misses a punching bag in 1910.      Kirn Vintage Stock/Contributor/Corbis via Getty Images

Hopefully he decided to try another sport ... and got some ice.

Don't spike the hand that feeds you.

Don
A keeper hand feeds a porcupine in 1924.      WATFORD/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images

Let's hope these porcupines aren't pricky eaters.

This song is purrfect.

This song is purrfect.
Tibby the cat listens to the radio in the 1920s.      Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Contributor/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Consider this an official petition to take more photos of animals listening to music.


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