32 historical photos that will make you laugh

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Zoë MillerApr 28, 2020, 04:39 IST
32 historical photos that will make you laugh

"Billy the Budgie" makes a quick visit to the barber shop in 1958.Mirrorpix/Contributor/Getty Images

  • Plenty of hilarious moments have been perfectly captured over the years.
  • From canoeing down a flooded street to Batman helping a group of kids cross the street, these photos are sure to crack you up.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Laughter is a universal language. From animals acting like humans to famous people — Audrey Hepburn, the Three Stooges — in funny scenarios, these vintage pics are sure to bring a smile to your face.

Keep scrolling to see 32 historical photos that will make you laugh.

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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.

There's nothing funny about smoking — but try not to smile while looking at this photo.

There's nothing funny about smoking — but try not to smile while looking at this photo.
British film producer James Carreras lights a cigar for a skull held by William Castle, an American film producer and director, circa 1962. John Pratt/Getty Images

He was a fellow of infinite jest.

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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.

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 two-year-old decided to paint outside the box — or, rather, off the canvas.

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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.

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.

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It's a zoo in here.

It's a zoo in here.
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

The service at this restaurant is wild.

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.

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Someone's on the naughty list.

Someone's on the naughty list.
Circa 1975, a woman is skeptical of a far-from-jolly man dressed as Santa. Evening Standard via Getty Images

This Santa Claus looks sullen rather than Jolly.

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

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

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They're just monkeying around.

They're just monkeying around.
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.

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.

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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.

"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.

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

If there's an elephant in the room, proceed accordion-ly.
An elephant listens to accordion music, circa 1940. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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

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

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

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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.

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.

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That's one shell of a ride.

That's one shell of a ride.
The Lusty sisters, Diana and Zena, well-known in show-jumping circles, try out their paces on two turtles, circa 1936. Fox Photos/Getty Images

Slow and steady wins the race.

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.

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Now that's how you multitask.

Now that's how you multitask.
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 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.

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What's black and white and read all over?

What's black and white and read all over?
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.

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

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

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Quit horsing around.

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

You'll make a complete foal of yourself.

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.

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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.

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

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

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She's having a good fur day.

She's having a good fur day.
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.

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

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

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There's nothing like a close shave.

There's nothing like a close shave.
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. Eric Sykes, an English comedian, demonstrated the device on an unaired pilot for a TV series about 1800s innovations.

Now that's a mouthful.

Now that's a mouthful.
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.

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