Drinks, clothes, culture, and trends all underwent notable changes at bars in the USA between the 1950s and the 1970s.
Tiki bars and cocktail lounges of the 1950s, counterculture bars of the 1960s, and disco bars of the 1970s were among the several bar forms that arose during this time.
Post-war wealth defined the 1950s, and the pub scene of the time mirrored this. Popular bar forms of the time, tiki bars and cocktail lounges drew a sophisticated, well-dressed audience.
Inspired by the Polynesian way of life, tiki bars carried tropical décor, live music, and rum-based beverages as the Mai Tai and Pina Colada.
Conversely, cocktail lounges were more elegant and suited for a more grown-up customer. Customers would commonly sip traditional cocktails like the Martini and Manhattan and wear their best clothing.
New York City’s Copacabana nightclub was among the most well-known clubs of the day. Renowned for its live music, celebrity sightings, and upscale patrons, the glitzy Copacabana nightclub was
Civil rights activists frequent it as it was also one of the few venues of the time that let Black and Latino customers.
The counterculture movement started to grab hold as the 1960s started, and pubs and nightclubs started to mirror this change.
Among the most powerful musicians of the day, including Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, The Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles and The Fillmore in San Francisco gained notoriety.
These bars drew a younger, more bohemian audience because of their laid-back vibe. Customers would usually wear casual, comfy clothes including bell-bottom jeans and tie-dye shirts.
Disco culture first surfaced in the 1970s, and taverns and nightclubs welcomed this movement with wide arms. Legendary for its colorful clothes, throbbing music, and non-stop party environment, disco venues like Studio 54 in New York City and The Loft in Chicago came to represent.
With sequined dresses, platform shoes and bell-bottom trousers the standard, disco period fashion was all sparkle and glam.
Drinks from this age were meant to be consumed while dancing and frequently had vivid colors. Popular drinks were Cocktails like the Tequila Sunrise, Blue Hawaii, and Sex on the Beach; many places ran drink deals during happy hour.
(Photo credit: Pinterest / Flickr).
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