48 Vintage Cheerleading Photos in Honor of Super Bowl XLVIII
Photo: Marvin E. Newman/Getty Images
The Super Bowl is happening on Sunday — which means that two teams are going to play each other and one of them is going to win, and we’re going to talk about it for about an hour, and then we’re going to forget about it until next year. But let’s get into the mood! This year, we have an incredible opera singer, Renée Fleming, singing the National Anthem, and Bruno Mars (probably in a porkpie hat) performing during the halftime show. There are, tragically, no expectations of Janet Jackson or Beyoncé, but if someone surprises us by dropping an album overnight, they can surprise us by showing up to the Super Bowl, right? There are also cheerleaders involved in these festivities — probably in ridiculous outfits performing great feats of athleticism with perfectly manicured jazz hands. To celebrate, we’ve culled the 48 greatest vintage cheerleader photos we could find — in honor, of course, of Super Bowl XLVIII.
USC cheerleader Betty Brown in a stars and stripes outfit, Los Angeles, circa 1945.
Photo: 2011 Getty Images
Howard University cheerleader Alfreda Young leading cheer during football game.
Photo: Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
60 high school cheerleaders with crepe-paper pompons whip up football spirit.
Photo: Ralph Crane/Ralph Crane
Newtown High School cheerleaders take a time out during a game with Port Richmond High at Madison Square Garden.
Photo: 1948/Daily News, L.P. (New York)
University of Maryland American cheerleaders, circa 1950
Cheerleaders at Florida State University
Photo: Time Life Pictures
Cheerleaders Cheerleaders at the final of the United States Air Forces in Europe Football Championships played at Wembley, 1952.
Cheerleaders parading prior to a football game between Queens College and the University of Toronto.
Photo: Time Life Pictures
Cheering section of cheerleaders in Spokane Coliseum, 1954. Photo: J. R. Eyerman/Time Life Pictures
Cheerleaders give a mighty leap and cheer for the home team, 1955
Two varsity cheerleaders, circa 1955.
A victorious Mississippi player kissing a cheerleader after the Cotton Bowl, 1956.
New Utrecht High School cheerleaders Photo: 1957/Daily News, L.P. (New York)
University of Kentucky Wildcats cheerleaders in Lexington, Kentucky, circa 1958.
Photo: 1958 Kentucky
University of Kentucky Cheerleaders, 1958 NCAA National Semifinals.
Cheer leaders at Little Rock high school game with Louisiana high. Photo: Time Life Pictures
Students in a cheerleading practice.
Photo: Time Life Pictures
Louisiana State cheerleader in action during game vs Mississippi in Baton Rouge, 1958.
The Baltimore Colts' cheerleaders performing.
Photo: Time Life Pictures
Waukegan cheerleaders jump for joy as their team stages a last second win, Waukegan, Illinois, March 18, 1959.
Photo: © Underwood Archives
The Louisiana State University tiger mascot and cheerleaders dance following their team's victory over Rice University in Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, ...
The Louisiana State University tiger mascot and cheerleaders dance following their team's victory over Rice University in Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; September 19, 1959.
Photo: George Silk
Syracuse cheerleaders during a game vs West Virginia in Syracuse, NY, 1959.
Cheerleaders of the Louisiana State University Tigers, circa 1960.
Photo: 2012 Louisiana State University
University Of Georgia Bulldogs Football Cheerleaders.
Photo: Collegiate Images/2012 University of Georgia
Cheerleaders of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team perform at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
Photo: Collegiate Images/2012 Univers...
Cheerleaders of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team perform at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
Photo: Collegiate Images/2012 University of Georgia
Members of the Brownettes cheerleading squad for the Cleveland Browns pose for a portrait in September, 1961.
Photo: 1961 Diamond Images
Mississippi cheerleaders holding letters during a game vs Arkansas at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, 1961.
Cheerleaders and baton twirlers at Hinkley High School, January 16, 1964. Photo: (C) 2010 The Denver Post, MediaNews Group
Upsala College Tackle Chris Bergren supports cheerleaders Sharry Wood and Kathy Haslett.
Photo: 1964/Daily News, L.P. (New York)
Members of the cheerleading corps at West High School display the group's new uniforms which feature orange jackets and orange and black, A-shaped ski...
Members of the cheerleading corps at West High School display the group's new uniforms which feature orange jackets and orange and black, A-shaped skirts. Photo: (C) 2010 The Denver Post, MediaNews Group
Cheerleaders at their high school's football game, c. 1960. Photo: SSPL/National Media Museum
Thomas Jefferson High School cheerleaders ride in style aboard a fancy jeep, 1965. Photo: (C) 2010 The Denver Post, MediaNews Group
The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders perform on stage in matching costumes, cheering and shaking pom-poms, 1970s.
Jets cheerleaders do their thing under an umbrella as they try to keep dry on the sidelines during the game between the Jets and Houston.
Photo: 1968...
Jets cheerleaders do their thing under an umbrella as they try to keep dry on the sidelines during the game between the Jets and Houston.
Photo: 1968/Daily News, L.P. (New York)
A Denver Broncos cheerleader. Photo: National Geographic Society
A group of cheerleaders using megaphones in Cresskill, New Jersey, circa 1970.
Photo: 2010 Getty Images
An Auburn cheerleader in action during a game vs Alabama, in Birmingham, 1971.
Photo: Jerry Cooke
At the NCAA finals, Indiana cheerleader in action during a game vs Michigan in 1976.
A St. Louis Cardinals cheerleader at Busch Stadium on October 31, 1976.
Photo: 1976 Michael Zagaris
New York Cosmos cheerleaders.
Photo: 1978/Daily News, L.P. (New York)
Portrait of Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders during tryouts at Texas Stadium in 1978.
A Redskinette cheerleader for the Washington Redskins cheers in 1979. Photo: 1979 Diamond Images
A Los Angeles Rams cheerleader poses during a game in Anaheim, California, in 1987. Photo: 1987 George Rose
Los Angeles Lakers in action during a game vs Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles, 1988.
Eagles Cheerleaders, 1989.
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders in 1989.
A member of the Raiderette cheerleaders during a game between the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Raiders on October 29, 1989 in Los Angeles, ...
A member of the Raiderette cheerleaders during a game between the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Raiders on October 29, 1989 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: 1989 Getty Images
A close up of a 49ers cheerleader during a game against the Packers in 1989.
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