The Swedish School of Physical Culture Was In Ireland

An ad inside the 1977 J. Gruber's Hagers-Town, Town and Country Almanack.

We Always Knew Joan Crawford Had A Big Head

If you think Joan Crawford looks like a bobble head on this vintage trading card, check out the rest of the movie stars on the 1949 set of Turf Cigarette cards.


Vintage Mildred Pierce card found via The Golden Age Of Hollywood Ning Group.

Your Guess Is As Good As Ours

Sure, we could look the clipping up in Google translate, but why ruin the mystery?

Ha Ha, Your Momma Took Penicillin

Searching for old letters to illustrate my article at Inherited Values (yes, I need another website to write at, thank-you-very-much), I found this gem of a blog, Matrilineal, by Linda (a jackass owner), who is transcribing 15 years of previously unread family letters. Sadly I did not find any scans of the old letters (I just love looking at them; it's almost as good as holding them), but when you find entires like this one dated December 6, 1954, you can forgive nearly anything:

I was so scared and horrified when I read that you had taken penicillin. No wonder the doctor tested your heart. Don't ever take it again. After taking it several times it reacts on the heart and often causes death in a few minutes. Don't let any doctor give you any more of it.

Posts Of Halloween Past

I've been busy this Halloween; here's a round-up of the Halloween posts I made this year:

1. Vintage Halloween party recipes, from this issue of The Royal Neighbor.

2. Halloween's a blast! Back when you could shoot children who annoyed you, anyway.

3. My review of the retro skeleton game based on Dark Shadows' vampire, Barnabas Collins.

4. My review of a gravedigger's memoirs.

5. Did you see the antique vampire killing kits up for auction?

Halloween Nineteen-Ought-Seven: Tricks Bigger Than Treats

Straight out of the pages of The Fargo Forum and Daily Republican, November 2nd, 1907, the story of "Two Brothers Filled With Peas." (Click to enlarge the old news article, or scroll below it to read copied text.)

Farmer Beaton's Sons Treated To A Warm Reception By Irate Farmer On Hallowe'en Night -- A Double Barreled Shot Gun Did The Businss

Two Small boys, the sons of a farmer named Beaton, who lives just outside the west part of Fargo, were shot at by an irate farmer on Hallowe'en and as a result they came to Fargo yesterday and had about a handful of peas picked out of them by a physician.

The Boys had greatly annoyed a neighboring farmer last Hallowe'en, and this year he waited for them with a double-barreled shotgun loaded with peas. The boys approached his place and he let fly with both barrels, and his marksmanship was excellent.

In future Hallowe'ens these particular boys will probably remain a long ways from that particular farmer.

Ahhh, Halloween in 1907, when kids could be shot just for being annoying, good times...

Note that people don't shoot people, "double barreled shot guns do the business."

The Little Kitten That Came Back

From the June 28, 1910 edition of The Fargo Forum and Daily Republican, a regular bit called Daddy's Bedtime Story, an uncredited column featuring quaint stories for little ones; this story is titled "The Little Kitten That Came Back."

Craft-Scan Friday: Women Are Delighted By Shills

Err, Shillcraft -- women are delighted by Shillcraft.

Most Memorable Scene, March, 1970

It's the "most memorable scene of the week," but as this retro clipping comes from the March 1970 issue of Modern Screen magazine, I can't vouch for what week. Or if this story of "a pink robbed lady with her hair up in curlers" is even true...

Modern Woman Monday: Women "Over 40" Wanted

I'm not sure what's up with the "over 40" in quotes business... But I guess the overall intent of this ad is to remind women that though they be barren & undesirable they are not useless; old sad-sacks can create gay floral arrangements for much prettier persons & for parties they are too poor to throw themselves.

Last Dance With Mary Jane

Die-cut candy advertising piece from the early 1900's.

El Vampiro Atomico

Via Giovannarama at Collectors Quest, the Mexican lobby card for the 1958 U.K. film, Fiend Without a Face. For some reason, the Spanish title is far more intriguing to me.

Look Like A Vintage Secretary

You could dress like Maureen O'Hara, or just carry a vintage movie star tablet.


I'm surprised any of these vintage writing tablets have survived... The "tops," with their celebrity images, maybe; but with paper? Amazing.

Read more about them at Things & Other Stuff, who also has some for salenow.

Make Shadow Puppets With Deaf-Mute People

The back cover of this vintage "manual" from the National Deaf-Mute Sales Co. reminds you to "Be the life of the party. Show it to your friends, etc." by learning how to make these shadow pictures.


While this may be fun, the inside section contains "facts about deaf-mutes" -- which warns you not to "let noise shorten your life." (I guess the National Deaf-Mute Sales Co. wouldn't exactly be sorry to learn of your hearing loss... but death would impact their sales.)

Here are startling new facts. The din in your life. Here is a list of the seven worst noise makers:

But if you were hoping for a list of vintage New Years noisemakers, the list is far less kitsch-nostalgic:

1. Traffic.
2. Trains, planes.
3. Radios, television sets.

(Thank heavens we can now avoid such dangerous modern entertainment and make shadow pictures!)

4. Whistles, bells.
5. Constructions.
6. Loud voices.
7. Barking dogs.

So don't let barking dogs shorten your life!


Below, the front cover of this vintage booklet:

I Want To See Evelyn Green Dolls

In that amazing, amusing and much loved vintage issue of Profitable Hobbies magazine, a brief article on dolls by Evelyn Green, who, in 1951, had already made nearly 200 dolls.

Her collection, one of the most valuable in the nation, includes fur-clad cave-dwellers, Gay Nineties models, and modern bobby-sox types, depicting the fashions of mankind from 18,000 B.C. to the present. Mrs. Green requires a week or two to make a small doll and two or three months to complete a large, elaborate model. She has spent fourteen years on her hobby.

There's scant information about Evelyn Green dolls online; even though the doll maker was featured in Doll Collector Magazine in what appears to be 2005 (presumably prompted by the Evelyn Green portrait dolls which were de-accessioned, via Theriaults, from the collections of the Strong Museum in 2004). I found no clearly labled photos of the dolls themselves. Pooh.

Evelyn Green dolls now appaer to sell for between $200 and $400 each.

17 "Don'ts" For Men (1890's Style)

From Old Stuff, May/June, 1975, a publication which proudly boasted "All paper in this copy of OLD STUFF is 100% recycled." Something which was almost equally true of the content printed on the paper, for all the stuff is indeed old articles etc. from antique publications -- save for the obligatory letters to the editor (called "Correspondence") and classified ad section (called "Collectors Market").

Today's selection from Old Stuff was previously published in an untitled 1899 newspaper. It's advice from an unnamed male "men's fashion consultant" who was concerned with customers "preserving the finer points of sartorial elegance."

Modern Woman Monday: Kate Smith

Find out why I'm celebrating Kate Smith -- and asking myself, as the Memorial Day weekend nears, if this is the America people defend & fight for... Seriously.

Baby Got Back-Fat

A back cover illustration from The Philistine: A Periodical of Protest, published by Elbert Hubbard, titled (or captioned) "Removing his Pocket-book."



I'm too amused & enthralled to really research this one, kids... Besides, isn't it time you told me something?

The illustration dates to 1909; Vol. 30, December, No. 1, of The Philistine.

Answers For Those Questions You Asked Your Erudite Friends

The answers to the Spring, 1930, Tatler Puzzle Page:

April 1st, 1913 Orphanage Update

According to this old booklet for the Children's Home Society of Minnesota, (organized September 11, 1889), the number of children cared for up to April 1st, 1913 was 3,400.




Apparently, as a result of this publication, one of the children's heads was adopted -- at least the photo was. (Which may have affected the Center of Gravity in the Human Body Study done at the home.)

A Comic Male Quartette

Get the lyrics to Ham & Eggs, by John Martin (arranged by Fred K. Huffer), 1917; I hear tell it's a great encore!

Such A Hoot To Be A Socialite In Nineteen-Ought-Two

The New York Times, August 31, 1902, reports society affairs -- including society women dressing up as flowers and Mr. Goodrich portraying a Chinaman on a package of tea.

Androgynous Pat, The Animal Doodle

I'm not sure the sex of this animal doodled on the subscription card -- heck,I'm not even sure what animal it is! But it's name is, apparently "Pat." Or maybe that was the artist's signature?

Vintage Bridal Shower Party Games

Inside the front cover of Bridal Shower Party Games, ads for baby & bridal party games and products by Leister Game Company, Toledo, Ohio.

Sewing Is Misogynistic

Don't touch it, stick a Pin in it

So reads this antique postcard (postmarked 1908) -- the kicker is that the woman's ample bosom (and sleeve) are padded fabric, becoming pin cushions.

WWII Home Front Greeting Card

It's hard sometimes to believe we are at war; we not only don't make the sacrifices former generations have had to make, but we don't note the war in typical everyday ways. Exhibit A), this WWII home front greeting card. (The racism also marks the time period.)

You Could Be "Shirt Changed"

Unless you read "Good Blousekeeping" -- so warns the March 1954 issue of Silhouette magazine, a promotional booklet for Hollands Dry Cleaners.

Magic Trick Fan

An ad in an 1890 issue of Peterson's Magazine.

F Troop Postcard 1967

An over-sized postcard from Harrah's in Reno promoting TV's "F Troop" (Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, Ken Berry) in the Headliner Room. Back promos future talent: Don Adams (with mini pic), Jim Nabors, George Kirby/Kim Siters, Bobby Darin (with mini pic), Debbie Reynolds, & Wayne Newton. (I've got a few of these; if you're interested, make me an offer.)

Giant Thinks Jack A Killer-Diller

A 1936 Dentyne gum ad.

It's Easy To See Which Snowman Wears The Pants In The Family

Via Flickr.

Modern Woman Monday: A Margaret Sanger Rhyme

Found in the February 22, 1941 issue of Liberty, a bemusing note sent in from a reader regarding Margaret Sanger:

Don't Mess With The Gene Autry Fans

They know how to pen a scathing letter to the editor.



I wonder how they felt about Autry being being misspelled.

Liberty magazine, February 22, 1941.

What's A Pink Pussycat Worth?

I traded ephemera from the Pink Pussycat to Silent Porn Star (NWS, duh) for some magic beans -- the magic part is 'when' they will arrive *wink* Now she owes me. Big time.

Ida Sweet As Apple Cider

I have no idea if this is Eddie Leonard surrounded by a bevy of 1920 beauties; but the photo is fetching. It's not why I bought it though. I bought it because you can't help but read it as "Ida, sweet as apple cida."

The Sands Hotel First Annual Domino Tournament

It was held the weekend of April 28-30, 1967. I know -- not because I went to the tournament; I'm not that kind of loser. I know because I have the brochure, complete with registration card. Yup, I'm that kind of loser.



Want it? Make me an offer.

Where Did The National Enquirer Go In 1978?

Sure, I've been mocking the 1979 National Enquirer bits, but have I ever really considered just how far the National Enquirer has gone? No, I don't mean the depths of hell, the limits of decency -- I mean on the map.



All for me!

Oh, the quality reporting! Logging 1,183,338 miles, they went to London to cover the world's first test tube baby and even went to Guyana twice in '78 to cover the Jamestown suicides.

And don't you go thinking they just sent 'reporters' to Alaska to gather information about "secret Soviet psychic research" -- they went to Moscow too.

Your Seat Is Not A Flotation Device

A page in the 1961 BEA "About Your Flight" booklet, illustrating how to use your life jacket -- stowed under your seat.

Mommas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Linda Blair

An article in the February 13, 1979 National Enquirer by Donald McLachlan warns, "Cocaine Sniffing by Celebrities Blamed For Soaring Use of Drugs by Youngsters."

"The kids see photographs of them wearing coke spoons as decorations around their necks. They read of stars like Louise Lasser and Linda Blair getting into trouble over coke... Kieth Richard of The Rolling Stones being arrested in Canada... comedian George Kirby going to jail for dealing it."

And where would the kids of 1979 see such photos and read such stories? Oh yeah, the National Enquirer.

Then again, who believes anything in the National Enquirer?

But if McLachlan and the National Enquirer really believed that peer pressure or the cool-kid factor were so strong, why didn't they stop publishing the stories -- or advise that parents keep the rag away from their kids.

Maybe the National Enquirer should use the tagline: Promoting the coke spoon & harming your kids since (at least) the 70's.

Remember When You Could Smoke On A Plane?

Me neither. But this page inside my 1961 BEA "About Your Flight" Booklet reminds us not only could you smoke on an airplane, but that airlines would actually supply the smokes.

"The Practical Self May Try To Hold You Back"

That's what it says inside this retro brochure for the Movieland Wax Museum. "But," it continues, "let yourself go and time and time again, on every set at Movieland, you'll re-live the most dramatic moments of the screen."



It also says you might find yourself walking among the living stars, as they "regularly visit" the museum. Those who do so, are awarded their own special director's chair (with their own name!) upon their first visit.



I didn't scan the whole thing; but enjoy the pages I did. Or not. It might be creepy even in digital pixels.



Also from my travel and tourism collection; see something you like there, let me know, and maybe I'll scan &/or provide additional details.