20 Hardy-Har-Har Cold War Photos

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 05/06/2025 in Funny

On one hand, the Cold War threatened the world with total nuclear annihilation. On the other, citizens in both the United States and USSR went about their daily lives largely unimpeded. So how serious was it, really?

Here are 20 Cold War photos proving that silliness abounds, even during the world's riskiest conflict.

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1. Soviet Defector Igor Gouzenko
With pillow case over head while promoting his book in Ottawa, Ontario, 1954.

Library and Archives Canada
2. Soviet Spy Dimitri Razgovorov
Running away from capture in New Zealand, 1974.

NZSIS
3. Individual Tanning Pods
Getting some sun in Soviet Russia.
4. Christmas
The height of the Cold War.
5. Student Construction Team
Happy after being congratulated by leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, G.A. Zyuganov.
6. Komsomol Members
Laughing at the Synthetic Rubber Plant in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, 1961.

Dmitry Baltermants
7. F4 Doing a Barrel Roll
Pilots developed relationships, and Soviet pilots often requested stunts from the maneuverable American fighters.
8. F4 Stunts
A Phantom shows off to a Russian bomber.
9. Valentin Filatov’s Bear Circus
In a side car, 1970s.

Nikolai Rakhmanov/Museum of Moscow
10. Postal Snowmobiles
In Khabarovsk Krai, Circa 1983.
11. Civil Defense Training Meeting
Lt. Col. W. Arthur Croteau points to a model of Ottawa, Canada, no longer in existence.

York University Libraries, Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections, Toronto Telegram
12. Filming the Red Square
Getting footage in the 1970s.

Nikolai Rakhmanov/Museum of Moscow
13. American Ship USS Ponaganset
After randomly breaking in half for no reason, late 1940s.
14. Soviet Villager
After finishing off a bottle. Photo taken by Moldovan amateur photographer Zaharia Cusnir.

Zaharia Cusnir
15. Costume Party
Villagers in fancy dress during a New Year’s carnival.

Zaharia Cusnir
16. Accordion and Flowers
Relaxing in a Moldovan park.

Zaharia Cusnir
17. Drinking Wine
Soviet villagers having a drink.

Zaharia Cusnir
18. Duck and Cover Drill
Like that’s going to help. California, 1950s.
19. American F-4 Phantom
Intercepting a Soviet Tu-95 "Bear" bomber over the Pacific in 1979.
20. Soda Machine
Drinking the good stuff in the USSR.

Nikolai Rakhmanov/Museum of Moscow

1. Soviet Defector Igor Gouzenko
Library and Archives Canada

With pillow case over head while promoting his book in Ottawa, Ontario, 1954.
2. Soviet Spy Dimitri Razgovorov
NZSIS

Running away from capture in New Zealand, 1974.
3. Individual Tanning Pods
Getting some sun in Soviet Russia.
4. Christmas
The height of the Cold War.
5. Student Construction Team
Happy after being congratulated by leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, G.A. Zyuganov.
6. Komsomol Members
Dmitry Baltermants

Laughing at the Synthetic Rubber Plant in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, 1961.
7. F4 Doing a Barrel Roll
Pilots developed relationships, and Soviet pilots often requested stunts from the maneuverable American fighters.
8. F4 Stunts
A Phantom shows off to a Russian bomber.
9. Valentin Filatov’s Bear Circus
Nikolai Rakhmanov/Museum of Moscow

In a side car, 1970s.
10. Postal Snowmobiles
In Khabarovsk Krai, Circa 1983.
11. Civil Defense Training Meeting
York University Libraries, Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections, Toronto Telegram

Lt. Col. W. Arthur Croteau points to a model of Ottawa, Canada, no longer in existence.
12. Filming the Red Square
Nikolai Rakhmanov/Museum of Moscow

Getting footage in the 1970s.
13. American Ship USS Ponaganset
After randomly breaking in half for no reason, late 1940s.
14. Soviet Villager
Zaharia Cusnir

After finishing off a bottle. Photo taken by Moldovan amateur photographer Zaharia Cusnir.
15. Costume Party
Zaharia Cusnir

Villagers in fancy dress during a New Year’s carnival.
16. Accordion and Flowers
Zaharia Cusnir

Relaxing in a Moldovan park.
17. Drinking Wine
Zaharia Cusnir

Soviet villagers having a drink.
18. Duck and Cover Drill
Like that’s going to help. California, 1950s.
19. American F-4 Phantom
Intercepting a Soviet Tu-95 "Bear" bomber over the Pacific in 1979.
20. Soda Machine
Nikolai Rakhmanov/Museum of Moscow

Drinking the good stuff in the USSR.

With pillow case over head while promoting his book in Ottawa, Ontario, 1954.

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With pillow case over head while promoting his book in Ottawa, Ontario, 1954.

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NEXT GALLERY 25 Out Of Place Nuns

1. Soviet Defector Igor Gouzenko With pillow case over head while promoting his book in Ottawa, Ontario, 1954.

2. Soviet Spy Dimitri Razgovorov Running away from capture in New Zealand, 1974.

3. Individual Tanning Pods Getting some sun in Soviet Russia.

4. Christmas The height of the Cold War.

5. Student Construction Team Happy after being congratulated by leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, G.A. Zyuganov.

6. Komsomol Members Laughing at the Synthetic Rubber Plant in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, 1961.

7. F4 Doing a Barrel Roll Pilots developed relationships, and Soviet pilots often requested stunts from the maneuverable American fighters.

8. F4 Stunts A Phantom shows off to a Russian bomber.

9. Valentin Filatov’s Bear Circus In a side car, 1970s.

10. Postal Snowmobiles In Khabarovsk Krai, Circa 1983.

11. Civil Defense Training Meeting Lt. Col. W. Arthur Croteau points to a model of Ottawa, Canada, no longer in existence.

12. Filming the Red Square Getting footage in the 1970s.

13. American Ship USS Ponaganset After randomly breaking in half for no reason, late 1940s.

14. Soviet Villager After finishing off a bottle. Photo taken by Moldovan amateur photographer Zaharia Cusnir.

15. Costume Party Villagers in fancy dress during a New Year’s​ carnival.

16. Accordion and Flowers Relaxing in a Moldovan park.

17. Drinking Wine Soviet villagers having a drink.

18. Duck and Cover Drill Like that’s going to help. California, 1950s.

19. American F-4 Phantom Intercepting a Soviet Tu-95 "Bear" bomber over the Pacific in 1979.

20. Soda Machine Drinking the good stuff in the USSR.

1. Soviet Defector Igor Gouzenko

2. Soviet Spy Dimitri Razgovorov

3. Individual Tanning Pods

4. Christmas

5. Student Construction Team

6. Komsomol Members

7. F4 Doing a Barrel Roll

8. F4 Stunts

9. Valentin Filatov’s Bear Circus

10. Postal Snowmobiles

11. Civil Defense Training Meeting

12. Filming the Red Square

13. American Ship USS Ponaganset

14. Soviet Villager

15. Costume Party

16. Accordion and Flowers

17. Drinking Wine

18. Duck and Cover Drill

19. American F-4 Phantom

20. Soda Machine

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eBaum's Picks

1. Soviet Defector Igor Gouzenko
With pillow case over head while promoting his book in Ottawa, Ontario, 1954.

2. Soviet Spy Dimitri Razgovorov
Running away from capture in New Zealand, 1974.

3. Individual Tanning Pods
Getting some sun in Soviet Russia.

4. Christmas
The height of the Cold War.

5. Student Construction Team
Happy after being congratulated by leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, G.A. Zyuganov.

6. Komsomol Members
Laughing at the Synthetic Rubber Plant in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, 1961.

7. F4 Doing a Barrel Roll
Pilots developed relationships, and Soviet pilots often requested stunts from the maneuverable American fighters.

8. F4 Stunts
A Phantom shows off to a Russian bomber.

9. Valentin Filatov’s Bear Circus
In a side car, 1970s.

10. Postal Snowmobiles
In Khabarovsk Krai, Circa 1983.

11. Civil Defense Training Meeting
Lt. Col. W. Arthur Croteau points to a model of Ottawa, Canada, no longer in existence.

12. Filming the Red Square
Getting footage in the 1970s.

13. American Ship USS Ponaganset
After randomly breaking in half for no reason, late 1940s.

14. Soviet Villager
After finishing off a bottle. Photo taken by Moldovan amateur photographer Zaharia Cusnir.

15. Costume Party
Villagers in fancy dress during a New Year’s carnival.

16. Accordion and Flowers
Relaxing in a Moldovan park.

17. Drinking Wine
Soviet villagers having a drink.

18. Duck and Cover Drill
Like that’s going to help. California, 1950s.

19. American F-4 Phantom
Intercepting a Soviet Tu-95 "Bear" bomber over the Pacific in 1979.

20. Soda Machine
Drinking the good stuff in the USSR.