Tourism News
10 Old Myrtle Beach Photos You’ll Want To See
For more than 75 years Myrtle Beach has been a vacation destination people wanted to write home about. And for many years, a large portion of the visitors who came to see the amazing beaches of the Grand Strand did just that — they wrote home to friends and family, sending postcards to let their loved ones know how fabulous their trip was.
In fact, throughout the early and middle portion of the 20th century, sending postcards was such big business, that entire shops and businesses were created to print and sell postcards, keeping visitors supplied with tens of thousands of wonderful, dreamy shots of local beaches and attractions.
Though the practice of exchanging postcards has mostly been discarded in today’s always-connected world in favor of e-mail, text messages and social media status updates, the amazing visuals and rosy memories of these snail-mail relics live on.
To pay homage to this forgotten tradition, MyrtleBeach.com has decided to brush the dust off some old boxes of postcards published in the early and mid-1960s by the Brandon-Plyler Sales Co. (the great-grandfather of our own company, created by notable locals Cecil Brandon and Justin Plyler) and publish them online in a series called “Historic Postcards.”
Here’s a look at 10 of our favorites from this collection. To see more visit the photos galleries page or click the link under any photo below:
OUR FAVORITE OLD-TIME MYRTLE BEACH PHOTOS
1. Ocean Boulevard & the Pavilion
While we’re still upset that the Pavilion shut down back in 2006, this iconic landmark will forever live in our hearts as well as in this vintage Myrtle Beach photo. If you look closely you’ll see landmarks like Sloppy Joe’s and Peaches Corner. And if you look really closely, you’ll see the Pavilion was hosting Women’s Tag Team wrestling between Reta Cortez & The Fabulous Moolah that night.
Looking to relive the magic of the Myrtle Beach Pavilion? While we can’t promise any tag team wrestling, you’ll regret not checking out these 10 Pavilion alternatives that are fun for visitors of all ages.
View More Photos of The Pavilion & The Myrtle Beach Area.
2. The Garden City Pier
Sure, the pier looks a bit different now … but really, look at those classic CARS!
3. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
While the original Myrtle Beach Boardwalk was a bit of a misnomer since it wasn’t actually made out of boards, as you can see in this vintage postcard illustration, it was still one of the most-traveled stretches of town. The revamped Boardwalk officially opened in 2010, featuring countless attractions that you certainly would not have had the pleasure of experiencing back in the day, like the Skywheel and Wicked Tuna. While we always ache for nostalgic attractions, we must admit that this is one update we’re thankful to have.
4. Downtown Myrtle Beach
The hub of Myrtle Beach, which now centers around the Boardwalk and its multitude of shops, restaurants, and activities, used to look considerably different, as shown in this vintage Myrtle Beach postcard photo. If you’re familiar with the area, you can have fun spotting the changes. For instance, did you know that where the Skywheel sits now was once a mini-golf course?
5. An Itsy-bitsy, Teenie-weenie, Yellow Myrtle Beach Bikini
No polka dots needed here. While Myrtle Beach visitors flock to the area for its countless attractions, there’s something to be said about the vintage appeal of a sunbathing beauty. This lovely lady is just one of the many knockouts to show some skin on the Grand Strand in the ’60s.
6. The Precursor To Miniature Golf
Before putt-putt and miniature golf, Myrtle Beach was an early innovator of carpet golf,” a scaled-down version of the real deal that was more accessible to women and children. While these early mini golf courses lacked the outrageous decorations and exciting themes you’ll find across the Grand Strand’s putt-putt courses today, they still provided an innovative outlet that appealed to visitors of all ages and genders.
7. Mischievous Kids Enjoying the Beach
Myrtle Beach has long been touted as one of the most family-friendly beach destinations on the East Coast, and this vintage postcard photo perfectly embodies that spirit. Fortunately, today’s travelers can find plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained, from hotels with water parks to ocean-based activities and watersports, so they’ll be distracted, at least some of the time, from making mischief.
8. Vintage Myrtle Beach Activities
When entertainment was scarce, families took what they could get. We don’t know about you, but playing on a metal swingset in the summertime heat sounds a little too toasty for our tastes. Luckily, Myrtle Beach visitors now have tons more kid-friendly activity options that will keep the family entertained without risking second-degree burns—a win-win in our book!
See the full gallery of Classic Myrtle Beach Family Fun Photos.
9. The Classic Od Pavilion in North Myrtle Beach
It’s hard to say what looks more dated in this shot of young ladies enjoying sno cones on Ocean Drive — the hair, the swimsuits, or the ferris wheel. While the pavilion is sadly a thing of the past, you can still have a blast visiting the Skywheel or checking out the countless ice cream and sno cone stands at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.
10. Visiting the Animals at Brookgreen Zoo
Brookgreen Gardens has long been a staple for Myrtle Beach visitors, with its seasonal attractions, beautiful gardens, and timeless zoo. In this vintage photo, we get a blast from the past with this man petting a deer at the Brookgreen Zoo, although you might never know how old this photo really was if not for the man’s classic ’60s attire.
See the full gallery of Brookgreen Gardens Postcards.
Can’t get enough of these vintage Myrtle Beach photos? Check out our photo gallery and look for the historic postcards” series for even more amazing old Myrtle Beach photos.
