15 Funny Photos from History We Can’t Help But Laugh At
Looking at old photographs, it’s clear that people have always enjoyed making fools of themselves. There were ridiculous costumes, enormous hats, questionable attempts at acrobatics, and apparently even chess games played with actual people. Some posed proudly for the camera, while others couldn’t resist sneaking into someone else’s picture. And then there are the photos that leave you wondering whose idea the whole thing was in the first place. A few of these moments were deliberately staged, but that doesn’t make them any less entertaining. Between the strange inventions, unusual hobbies, and people having a little too much fun, here are 15 historical photos that are genuinely hard not to laugh at.
The Sleepover Got a Little Silly
A 1915 photograph shows a group of teenage girls having fun at a sleepover, pulling faces and clearly enjoying themselves in front of the camera.
Four Men and One Ridiculous Hat
Four men pose beside an enormous straw hat used for advertising in 1931, with the hat reaching nearly their height.
Chess Pieces Used to Be Actual People
A photograph from northern Vietnam in the 1920s shows a game of human chess, with young boys taking the places of pieces on the board.
Boxing Practice Took Place on a Rooftop
Two women boxing on a Hollywood rooftop in 1938. The demonstration appears to have been staged for the photographer.
Somebody Suggested Making a Human Pyramid
A group of men in Oxford, Ohio, decided to build a human pyramid outside a house. Photographer Frank R. Snyder preserved the acrobatic arrangement for posterity.
They Took the Masquerade Ball Seriously
A couple pose in elaborate outfits for a masquerade ball in 1920. Both look thoroughly committed to the occasion.
The Sandcastle Project Got Out of Hand
A photograph taken at Pialba Beach in Queensland, Australia, sometime between 1920 and 1930 shows an elaborate sandcastle built on the shore.
Three Men, One Diving Board
Three men in swimming costumes crowd together on a narrow diving board above a river swimming hole.
Darwin Was Right, Apparently
A family scrapbook from the early 1920s includes a photograph of a man up a tree, accompanied by the handwritten caption “Darwin was right.”
Halloween Included a Fast-Food Combo
A vintage Halloween photograph shows children dressed as Burger King fries and a milkshake.
That’s One Unusual Horse
A photograph dating to around 1870 shows an actor posing alongside a pantomime horse costume.
The Goat Cart Came With Its Own Crew
A photograph from Queensland around 1905 shows a group of boys gathered around a goat-drawn cart. Three goats are harnessed to it, and a dog is sitting inside.
Someone Was Clearly Enjoying This Photo
In this 1942 photo from Sweden, four friends squeeze together for the camera while the guy in the back makes a ridiculous face.
Not Everyone Was Taking the Graduation Photo Seriously
A 1952 photograph celebrating a University of California, Berkeley graduate includes a woman smiling from a doorway in the background, adding an unexpected moment to the family picture.
Someone Was Trying to Sneak Into the Family Portrait
A father and son pose with a bicycle for a traveling photographer in Australia around 1910. Meanwhile, a little girl peeks out from behind the backdrop.