After weathering the Great Depression and Dust Bowl crises, America's resolve emerged strengthened in the 1940s. As the country girded for war in the early 1940s, businesses and citizens collaborated with collective ingenuity. A glimpse into this pivotal era comes from 35mm Kodachrome film photos in Dave Gelinas's collection. The candid shots reveal an America in transition - its entrepreneurial spirit adapting to changing times, its cities evolving along with their residents.
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Astoria, Queens, New York - Omni Bus- Circa Late 1940's |
Astoria, Queens, New York - Brodway Ave. - Circa Late 1940's |
1948 Buick Super Woody Wagon - Ranch Home - Circa Late 1940's |
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1949 Ford Woody Station Wagon - Circa1949 |
Cheyenne, Wyoming - Capital - Circa 1949 |
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Ogallala, NB - Standard Gas Sign & Pumps - Main Street Scene - Autos - Signs - Circa: 1949 |
1948 Buick Super Woody Wagon - Ranch Home - Beautifull Lookinhg Horse- Circa Late 1940's |
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1941 Cadillac - Winter Sleading Scene |
1941 Chrysler Convertible - Navy NAS - Jacksonville License Plate - Circa: 1943 |
Shell Gas Station - Visible Gas Pump - Gas Globes - Circa: 1945 |
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Toll Booth - State Highway - Bridge - Vintage Auto - Circa: Late 1940's |
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Sandy Hook, CT - Corbett Crowe Pharmacy - Coca Cola Sign - Autos - Signs - Circa: Late 1940's |
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1949 Oldsmobile - 1949 Ford - Eagle Gate Looking Towards Capitol - Salt Lake City, UT - Circa: 1949 |
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Sandy Hook, CT - Corbett Crowe Pharmacy - Coca Cola Sign - Circa: Late 1940's |
1948 Buick Parade Car - North Hollywood Veterans - Used Car Lot - Circa: Late 1940's |
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1939 Chevrolet Pick Up Truck - Taxi - Little Lady In Her Sailor Outfit - Chicago - Circa: Late 1940's |
1949 Buick Woodie Wagon - Fire Truck - Rail Car - American Flag - Chicago Railroad Fair - Gas Station Attendants As Color Guard - Circa: 1949 |
1949 Kaiser-Frazer - Don Haynes The Marvel Man - The Stunt Man Who Had Himself Welded Into His Car - Circa: 1949 |
Tony's DX Gas Station - Coca Cola Sign - Marvel Cigarettes Sign - Firestone Tires Sign - Gas Pumps With Globes - Somewhere In The Mid West - Circa Late 1940's |
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Truck And Tractor Fair - American Flags - Feb, 1948 |
Actor Donald OConnor - 1946 Buick Parade Car - North Hollywood, California - Circa: 1946 |
Green River Wyoming - Street Scene - Vintage Autos - Signs - Circa Late 1940's |
1949 Kaiser-Frazer - Don Haynes The Marvel Man - The Stunt Man Who Had Himself Welded Into His Car - Circa: 1949 |
1941 Lincoln - Dorothy Lamour - Atlantic City Parade - American Flags - Circa: 1941 |
Tydol Gas Station - Tydol Gas Pump - 1940 Ford COE - Coca-Cola Vending Machine - Circa Late 1940's |
New York City - 5th Avenue - Vintage Autos -American Flag - Easter Sunday - Circa: 1946 |
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Gov. Thomas E. Dewey - 1948 Ford Sportsman Woody - Presidential Campaign Parade Car - 1948 Utah Centennial Parade - Circa: 1948 |
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1948 Utah Centennial Parade Horse - American Flags - Circa: 1948 |
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1949 Buick - Mother And Son - Circa: Early 1950's |
1939 Buick - 1941 Buick - Standard Gas Station - Conco Gas - Williams, AZ - Circa: 1947 |
Reno Nevada - Coca Cola Sign - Walgreens - Circa: 1949 |
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Reno, Nevada - The "Reno Arch" - Woody Wagon - Vintage Autos - Circa: 1949 |
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Reno Nevada - John Russel - Western Movies Star - Circa: 1949 |
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Reno Nevada - Scott Bradey - Western Movies Actor - Woody Wagon - Circa: 1949 |
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Street Scene - Chevrolet & RKO Palace Theatre NYC Billboard Signs - Circa: 1948 |
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Street Scene - Vintage Autos - Esso Gas Billboard - Circa: 1948 |
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Main Street Scene - Cleveland, OH - Gillsy Hotel - Doublemint Gum Billboard - Coca Cola Sign - Circa: 1939 |
Vintage Autos - Street Scene - Savoy Hotel - Majestic Theatre - Bridgeport, CT - Circa: 1952 |
Ford Delivery Truck - Castleton Brands Food Products - Circa: Late 1940's |
1947 Lincoln Zepher - Horse Back Riders - Coca Cola Sign - Mobil Oil Gas Station And Sign - Circa: 1947 |
King Paul & Queen Frederica - Greek Royal Family - Circa: 1949 |
Hood's Milk Truck - Devco Van - Milkman - Circa: 1949 |
First National Store - Main Street Scene - Coca Cola Sign - Vintage Autos - Exeter, NH - Circa: 1949 |
Mobil Gas Station - Cobble Stone Street - Route 127 In Massachusetts - Vintage Autos - Packard Car - Circa: 1949 |
Pontiac GMC Dealership - C.J. Harmon's - Neon Sign - 1935 Dodge - Circa: 1946 |
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I.G.A. Store - W.B. Avery - Genest's Bread Sign - West Campton, NH - Circa: 1949 |
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"Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs..." - Two Friends Lost In A Sea Of Signs - Coca Cola - 7up - Grapette - Cafe- Julian, CA - Circa: 1949 |
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1933 Dodge Woody Wagon - Black Horse Liquor Store - Seagram's Display - Circa; Late 1940's |
Standard White Crown Gas Station - Frank's Service Station - Gas Pumps With Globes - Car Wash - Circa: 1949 |
1946 Pontiac - C.J. Harmon's Pontiac Dealership - Cleveland Heights, Ohio - Circa: 1946 |
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Sunoco Gas Station - 1948 Buick Super - Wrexham & Sullivant Ave. - Columbus, OH - Circa: 1949 |
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"A Stand Out In The Crowd" - New York City - Street Scene - 5th Ave & E 51st St - Circa: 1940's |
1949 Pontiac Convertible - Brooks Hall - Allegheny College - Meadville, PA - Circa: 1949 |
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1948 Buick Woody Wagon - Wheaton, IL - Main Street Parade Scene - Coca Cola Sign - Circa Late 1940's |
1948 Buick - Atlantic City , NJ - Driveway Scene - Circa: Late 1940's |
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1948 Buick, Boat Dock Scene - Late 1940's |
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1939 Chevrolet - Lighting Cigar Under The Hood - Circa: 1947 |
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Shell Gas Pump - Circa Late 1940's |
1941 Lincoln in Parade with Army Officers. |
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Eskimo Pie Ice Cream Vendors Cart, Coca Cola, Mission Orange, 1949 Mercury, Unknown Location and Date. |
(All photos © Dave Gelinas)