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The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Categories: History | North America |

In recent years, the Mexican resort of Acapulco has been overwhelmed by a wave of violence related to the activities of drug dealers. However, in the 1950s the city was quite different: among wealthy tourists, including Hollywood stars, it was popular to relax on this quiet stretch of coast. Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra loved to visit here. The collection of photos given in this material will tell you how Acapulco looked at that time.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Attracting many Hollywood celebrities, Acapulco was the first resort in the world where tourists arrived mainly by air. Among wealthy Mexicans, this resort on the Pacific coast became popular back in the 1920s. Thanks to large foreign investments in the resort business, the city's population grew from 5 thousand people in the 1940s to 50 thousand people in the 1960s.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

At the same time, the city center was reconstructed and a new airport was built. The first road between Mexico City and Acapulco, opened in 1927, turned into a four-lane highway by the middle of the century. The new hotel infrastructure, built in the 1960s and 1970s, allowed less affluent people to visit the resort. Thus, gradually the resort lost its attractiveness for representatives of high society, becoming a popular place for the middle class.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

A girl feeds a donkey, July 1953.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Children on the playground by the pool, July 1953.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Today, the city is gripped by bloody gang fights.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

A couple in a street cafe, July 1953.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

A boy in a national costume.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The white walls of the southern city dazzle. Donkeys, as you can see, were a popular mode of transport in Acapulco at that time.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Among wealthy Mexicans, a small town on the Pacific coast became popular back in the 1920s.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The new hotel infrastructure, built in the 1960s and 1970s, allowed less affluent people to visit the resort.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Streams of middle-class tourists flowed into the city.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Locals watch how a dashing rider copes with a horse, 1952.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Bullfighting is very popular in Mexico.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

A woman poses with a basket full of fruits and vegetables, July 1953.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Previously, recreation in the city was available only to wealthy tourists lying on the beach and frivolously dissecting coastal waters on yachts.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

A couple tries food on the beach.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

A couple is relaxing on a yacht.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The famous beaches of Acapulco were a popular place for sunbathing.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Locals were fleeing from tourists on less well-known and half-empty beaches.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The beauty of the local nature and the cozy coastal atmosphere were conducive to romantic walks.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Sea, yacht, beautiful girls in swimsuits, alcohol, fruit - a classic set.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Many couples of that time spent their honeymoon this way.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

Tourists go boating.

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The Mexican Riviera of the 1950s, when Acapulco was not yet the fiefdom of drug dealers

The modern city bears little resemblance to its old version: a chain of high-rise hotels along the coast has changed the appearance of the city almost beyond recognition. But the high crime rate still seriously reduces the popularity of the resort.

Keywords: 1950s | 50s | Vintage | Vintage pictures | Resort | Mexico | Vacation | Beaches | Past