15 vintage photos of election night parties that show how Americans have celebrated democracy

Frank OlitoOct 29, 2020, 00:04 IST

A celebration for the 1936 presidential election.Bettmann / Getty

Although election night will look a bit different this year thanks to the coronavirus, traditions on Election Day have not changed much since the early 1900s.
Throughout the 1900s, people gathered in Times Square, convention halls, and town squares to await the results of the presidential election.
It wasn't until the 1960 election that people began watching the results on TVs in their own homes.

Every four years, Americans come together to exercise their democratic right to vote. On the first Tuesday of November, people fill convention halls, host viewing parties, and patiently await the future of their country.

These traditions date back over 100 years, as people used to congregate in Times Square, attend formal dinner parties, and wear straw hats to celebrate election night.

Since this year's election night will be a bit different thanks to the coronavirus, take a look back at what the historic night looked like a century ago.

Back in the early 1900s, people stood outside newspaper offices to hear election results.

Election night of 1900. Hulton Archive / Getty

To celebrate election night, some people held up signs in the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to support Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932.

Election night in 1932. Bettmann / Getty

While some took to the streets to celebrate, others attended fancy events on the 1932 election night.

A crowd on the 1932 election night. Bettman/ Getty

In 1936, crowds gathering to celebrate the reelection of Roosevelt were much larger.

Times Square on the night of the 1936 election. New York Daily News Archive / Getty

At the time, it was tradition to scream loudly in a last-ditch effort to convert voters on Election Day.

Times Square on election night in 1936. Bettmann / Getty

Some people even climbed lampposts in Times Square to celebrate the election.

On the night of the 1936 election. Bettmann / Getty

When Roosevelt ran for president the fourth time, people still gathered in Times Square to celebrate the longest-serving president.

Crowds in Times Square on election night. Weegee (Arthur Fellig) / International Center of Photography / Getty

Celebrations weren't confined to New York, though. In 1952, residents of Alabama created a confetti storm in honor of the election of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Confetti celebration in Alabama. Bettmann / Getty

That same year, people took to the bars to celebrate election night.

A busy bar on election night in 1952. Dmitri Kessel / Getty

In the '50s, election night parties were filled with pom-poms.

Election night party in 1950s. Ed Clark / Getty

At the same time, other parties were filled with cheers.

Celebrations on election night in the 1950s. Ralph Morse / Getty

However, there were also more formal election night parties during the '50s.

Election night in 1958. Carl Mydans / Getty

By the 1960s, most Americans owned a TV, so many stayed home to watch election night results.

Election night in 1950. Francis Miller / Getty

When John F. Kennedy won the election, people gathered to celebrate and wore their straw boater hats.

Two men wearing straw boater hats. Al Fenn / Getty

Throughout the 1900s, big parties were common for election night, especially during the 1972 presidential election.

A party at the New Albany Hotel on election night. Barry Staver / Getty

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