The surge of economic growth that lasted from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s brought extensive changes in French lifestyles and in some of society’s basic structures. As the century neared its end, most French people had come to enjoy greater comfort and security than their forebears; they took for granted automobiles, modern household appliances, and vacation homes in the country, which had been regarded as luxuries not too long before.
The French had been converted to installment buying and supermarket shopping; they spent less on food and drink and more on health and leisure. Thanks to the social security system that was expanded after World War II, they were better protected against the hazards of illness, unemployment, and a neglected old age.
These amazing photos from
Michael Leonard were taken by his father Max Leonard that show street scenes of France in the 1950s.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlf2Ccvu987ukUZXenMVXvZ9OhhGMyJogc3ITossowzgQVmdZfKB7_snw0BotImGW0zFx_gWqslkX41UqpfVxX_PLk78AestWCf_nnyjRtVfJ2c4LRgXE2eEo852QdWDhaLolADNKkbrFl_9ZEI-JItnZflDt5Pazk-4StZufLtZK7-DBvxTTRBAS/w640-h360/france-1950s-1.jpeg) |
Donkey carts, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5aMmhN22Um5BHqsOU5ceHjkePpeJVp3AZQPoTZHbGJvwMSUoMk2zkURaqtct5LqAM7ZdOALJ_LkjOldW1n_XRVKJLkwlLUBiggZJA8onQQxtGL82kFrq5xSTQhniE0YGfbAJgixbYyL2yF48eXp2WSjAT1gYcdq1BqRMM_Ftu6Xryhgts_qWK4Hb/w640-h402/france-1950s-2.jpeg) |
Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisP-fRRDFevS3mAT54KR_J-puh_7uxrUf9Wax2nyIUykP04NyPDlKmjxD55DaULdjWf5ncK9ghv1XgAe5D75lGeHMH1077plMperXGTvw-R0r66Ur963zikixBnkO2w8FrHE2FoYKy1IPhBGqrmfNOMarf9d-RRg8GiNgYX2WDbLxlUL90IHPSnF1Q/w640-h388/france-1950s-3.jpeg) |
French beach, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYm9rK441tR2ROdpjWhyotkR3yNRrBPGz6Pu5WCD3_fBr8hcy2qX0u9_bVVyHB-4T2YFn_jZ4WHGkjte7mJ19plNpe1PQa-l_Ev01KZe-XDgXGg7Z8WQX2emY5i2PubdhKsG1yPemOVAoqb4GykTBh8q8VQ_HirFDdZw0snnnPy45ZNchgoj3yd45/w640-h376/france-1950s-4.jpeg) |
French coast, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQDtoxbQlUvHpYDwMmAeZA4YECKs1wBRG-A2SdFMMdbvZIFRxbEJOOKn-PmnErs2w33Fl36IYk1NIZv-_0HUGLjF12DQ4j9ajcwjnSI0gzqgZr2Hx8WVTB8hxRjQiFKveG1jASryBb-wCMbXGFK7aUgHNvwTtjmDbF6lLj5UnVgvfDM6DMEnCE8yv/w640-h394/france-1950s-5.jpeg) |
French coastline, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswtPEc8KXUPcE2yKl3lWjq1odO47D8Lo5T9p7XKO1xVI_69pVE30eaSmPSCT-A619oKaBpMDcDBmI00k9f5YFzJdI_oESb1imDgagxMpCYOAqqmhUhhDdt_Hnd_MGV1jiM1ss6RzyBlglm5Sx8DSp9uZ-Y558rT87ZVYC0bcYPBqw7emg4srePCSv/w640-h404/france-1950s-6.jpeg) |
Jardins Biovès, Menton, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQjKS2DUgRVCZAzVku9BFOAQ4GvFckFQcalxcVg9w6kYByjn6ncDUwkkIbxecUQTfvZbVLq9lQRdXnR0rQFEF1LBER2W1SFcDDQ4fsdpW9P9gEHMt7o7TtIMLKtt0yojXmC7tyfPi7GjPVGfasn2Zzr1T-6_aFY-35nVsZPRM4MlVmyZ6e0YkO2hk/w640-h298/france-1950s-7.jpeg) |
Max Leonard on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. The hotel Negresco is at the far end, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9YVTE5oXkS4wAAb9IVsQP0KWwkpFS2-vHlsRWl9L4wBQkG9DyjNef7pgKt_tv00ZZNCK4h49j_zcmleEmmZZsbWfHpKIofitbG42y0DR9xRPi7ltXf8ssAlZ81cQR7oDNVNpHdre1qqb2dA30SUjazHwVM50shvWQQ0oETmGhiHnoMLohpzSV_Hm/w640-h360/france-1950s-8.jpeg) |
Max Leonard on waterfront, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMss-Guqp2_R9xJ9i4jRq0WTzDsMSCUnvFgismwWXIwgpaeqb1bwq_79Gm3kB6D5wvKOcZF7BQ_gOe-L6yO85gqUs_7EsUVzzJW_WpB7-hNupqAM7s7MPfoT2dQP19DbakHcEnNOa1tEBqUc_oOS5zBqSSx3WVb3M146tBct7RD3IU2boFxIAUfVg3/w640-h392/france-1950s-9.jpeg) |
Monaco harbor and boats, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEkNjiD71c7zvPJyq_C7xX1K7XVM1-aw2bVY_gNBeni5dXUXwMsxYxNVbpmS9H84OETXX1JktM5mArTZlnl5--IJ2ffXQHDO9N66zmn4KKyx9_Ea14cqg3drvcItP0pK44SB4lhSHp7uF5UQWNQcQQLnO9A00kN5FMaDPwNuPb0WT6V7u_PnS6pb-/w640-h374/france-1950s-10.jpeg) |
Monaco harbor, France, 1950. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPO4sJOrmRr8aO0UgwNPwW1vj2KzzaG52GgtARL40wTQu3xsvuQxPubAmKNj8PudcsovUMXsoAig858s8fTn26Yacsm3_4RYcAjMhAR0o40IyvD2Q5m75jJsx6nBuVxGM5zEznJQkaagcmMIFQp3uCRNOaWyfqOKopat6_es9odpIn2LldfHJNVl1W/w640-h392/france-1950s-11.jpeg) |
Monaco harbor, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XboLLX1qQhEOEWd4fTafEB_G5y-tfALeaqbNg2OFbNYEjBA2fgbLlR08MVA5qnFvineMce-yYrBJXyRz3gWY9715eUzHvhu6jcl-BU7duW2bv_7h6TpH1JRfYTN6rUUmgADETeD5CycE7Gv472O-DfrbpSJXoMdc4tZL0hVqBCPVttw5Oc-O_ltF/w640-h382/france-1950s-12.jpeg) |
Monte Carlo Casino, Monaco, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2Uw3OHzTsAZzhm4tPMl48O-_Aj5zgLAi8XUPfE4GxDkXHGD8V2k-LNy0lwXOEgE7uypH_qyzV-sXwjn2N6A7gpTMXVzTEw7UoESxeLyUzmUrE86egdbTrEPtdTGQuQorjN8I0hNy1Yw3OA1YjdwUt2ZIwzJVWbwe6Hb-yk2wJxiDv8o23Vel3Iv-/w640-h404/france-1950s-13.jpeg) |
Notre-Dame, Paris, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKI7psE_8vd1MZzc2xzYIgInugicUM7rBLxJfLIE6F9SxH8T92VRoEd4vLrWlwHnKCzbFMDvsi6NTQjlh20horQ02mGLqKhQJuAWCw-m5CR-KfWxzY30irY83uuv3FYjb7R5b34vi0ZJfRpryOZsciZVJppv6rAMUkjWAKXrhqAxyJB8mCrvhRxJz/w640-h404/france-1950s-14.jpeg) |
Palm lined street, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijyqaxe5Ld1wtFnQNPsneVOuGOiSzYB0ue4B6gZbHpMJLgZxjvRf4s7vW7QIWT_-UcbPaKdbvhIVYvXtqBUl0XeZXzqjBDyc_naTDVlwR9ixRmtIwmrKunSScb0jBw1zTwm6nEBvXGPenWUtUOwcQ6WPehX_YBFj21AVBSDGgsxywPyGnY76ZKWih/w640-h408/france-1950s-15.jpeg) |
Pont d'lena, Paris, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKBPK0UNlKOGGfLceoZhb-USdAxdWb1XJEPmlOPRSdIbLMn5Bdp7LyPvcXggEvcmZul3MCosQUKXd-E50kotfNOyHCmx7KvJdNWjrYH7g1kw4qQsNFbugrvpbI2zpqxmaMmcfnFU3bCqGTnlvXpCwPcMqhwhgqCAqrhZ50F7wWT-gBGxJG9yBgLyy/w640-h360/france-1950s-16.jpeg) |
Soldiers posing, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgy3nxYxF38RsvlXMRUWOyrMUmKRLYADZ3O87jURypKlFCn2NqBZY8JryORibrGQy8Zx2KjBTCK1OksJdv7spEssU9r_qZ3vjj2sJlsTDKvsutMaQi7u9GZYcFSIw6AF5KECmFp9go74Nuk5xQaGQhziuH4ikZ_MRWsn2zIzVfS3N3_t8tIRUUzZS/w640-h360/france-1950s-17.jpeg) |
Top of Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOmKjjoD8svhsFzhtSjDvZcfFB4cmWtbFAL34UGBiS2mNED7GyFbEP18upU4DXaTK2TvzbJph-XBjzVKO7DXdT_iPwe4fTnyaq8FsQEPrWaDJfYJJpEP2-jyTuM2vTO46Bx7iZOmt6_9BGIAtw2nZIYn1A4lSXGO-cOknrH2meJokuVJACH90-AAk/w640-h360/france-1950s-18.jpeg) |
View from Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhc860aigodHsr1Lh3AxytURVr59Ew7Ks_mJzHE1-cCvvNb93m5Xvta8mbyUly2i08xCbfR9Z8xGpzC3DTGDEezXrUAlrIB-ZnK6GEJ_Dzc2khdRvpQ5gAN76wlgQoy8EtsxuwYX2djuk2f20zeARJAik0dDsncBWcEinUoJ83aXmdAzqJoHic4tU/w640-h426/france-1950s-19.jpeg) |
Église Saint-Ausone d'Angoulême, France, 1952 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm0qt7mK5qyJQHVeIwrmz_sPGbsZK3b_o8Mslxo0cQijH57t0cOgUfBkPL_8sQFpLmbD8Aalabg2vwUUeAYMlO1xT508_4JMjSsw-ygDpAL55ejXpNY6piuHgALuPj3zp16plQ7LXRKw3TO3mNrtMLVIenv-b75dreNb9L8FILSJEOu7zV3vltpl4/w640-h428/france-1950s-20.jpeg) |
Monaco harbor, France, circa 1952 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNYazyfN5Of1QW9D7ZA3u2a7qgf9uYvw1_GuZNbgleMPUT5x9vRZ_TilP8RR4hwxEtD9AxVFezey51dKJrc4lxlp3lie0HLRhuq03ctlLtHdS15aQpRHmyKXNhq6qfNXMt9qn1i3MblUxvu5cZzIXeJZLfrGwlOZI6-6Yf35RhlWkvEYXEJmD6zHF/w640-h426/france-1950s-21.jpeg) |
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, France, circa 1956 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS1E3PRQrjlLACsizQVjlIkaSwCFGPlA1j9tZUKN4cMEhYpRvVgv_wp4YCXGxYwPAxWkPE1bRpunX6cNEP4NYUmkLkYYPbYhlHI4Rz7MEKsCHOgaVlJppeGoUplj8vf8SkoAErMZBGUMy149yoK7SLQQmDKvEipg8dpSiVLRB3yu5fRyg3ABLz9yV/w640-h426/france-1950s-22.jpeg) |
Flower market in Paris, France, circa 1956 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQYvK6kNqi4skgcqG8CyCdZOMMy3NS2hY3XbxxGKeuoPUJqMzNKhQWEPzNGSFJ2Nb7fv739xHH_vbhWDqz8MDdhAgQ0s1p-xWW-b-PBNfeVZW-daaNSqLfRQyr79rkAdShTDFtCNMBr1yPf-ag3ZkYW5kl38AB3NKqho4LrdWd_SwhM8LNUvqlsaS/w640-h429/france-1950s-23.jpeg) |
Joan of Arc at the Place des Pyramides on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, France, circa 1956 |
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Paris garden, France, circa 1956 |
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Palace of the Popes, Avignon, France, circa 1957 |
The first, eighth and sixteenth photos are from the Lungomare of Rapallo, Gulf of Tigullio, Liguria. The old man with the donkey could be my great-uncle Giovanni.
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