What Could Be Bedda Than Hedda?

Hedda Get Bedda, one of the American Character Whimsie series dolls made in 1961, is a three-faced doll.



You turn the knob on the top of her non-removable bonnet to see all the faces/phases of her disease.



Creepy, ey? This doll would send my sister into deep psychological scare.

According to DollInfo.com, these dolls were marketed to the pre-teens and teenagers who were getting "too old for baby dolls".

If anyone can move past the two-faced to the three-faced, it's pre-teen and teenage girls.

Will. Not. Eat.

I don't care what the ratio of Tigger bits to Pooh parts is -- I don't want any poo in my cereal.

Marvels From 1954's The Family Physician -- Or Bad HMO?

Within the pages of The Family Physician, by Dr. Herman Pomeranz & Dr. Irvin S. Koll, 1954, there are many things to marvel at. On the inset photo page between 142 & 143 we find the following marvels:

A Miracle Of Modern Science

Nail swallowed by four-year-old boy was successfully withdrawn from his duodenum when doctors induced him to gulp chocolate malted milk containing magnet attached to a thread. X-ray shows magnet in contact with nail, which appears as curved line beneath it.

Self-Operation

Photograph shows doctor removing his own appendix; assistant and nurse helped him to hold instruments. He did this to "get patient's attitude."

If I had to choose between gulping chocolate milk with a magnet & thread (just like mom used to make!) or operating on myself, I'd gulp, baby.

I can't even understand the "get patient's attitude" dealio-mcbob. I mean are there patients who actually operate on themselves? Or was the unnamed doc responding to those patients who, like visitors to art galleries, think they can do that themselves.

Modern Woman Monday: Consumption Information Gives Me The Vapors

From pages 96 & 97 in Pathfinder Physiology No. 3, Hygienic Physiology, by Joel Dorman Steele, PhD., 1888.


First an illustration of the "deformity" of tight lacing of corsets (which I've already disputed -- NWS), then this gem on "consumption":

Consumption is a disease which destroys the substance of the lungs. Like other lung difficulties, it is caused by a want of pure air, a liberal supply of which is the best treatment that can be prescribed for it.*

...* If I were seriously ill of consumption, I would live outdoors day and night, except in rainy weather or midwinter; then I would sleep in an unplastered log house. Physic has no nutriment, gaspings for air can not cure you, monkey capers in a gymnasium can not cure you, stimulants can not cure you. What consumptives want is pure air, not physic, plenty of meat and plenty of bread, -- Dr. Marshall Hall.

I've always heard consumption and the vapers were catch-alls for undiagnosed illnesses, like cancer, and/or diseases in the minds of fragile women. But in case I am wrong, anyone tried monkey capers for their consumption?

I'd Always Heard...

Brits had funky teeth; this one's got a funky eye.

1910 End of World Souvenir

Found at Ruby Lane, the Seller Says:

This is a very rare French postcard marking the mania over the approaching of Halley's Comet. Published in Germany (FM Cologne noted on back), the text is all in French and the card is described on the back as "the official souvenir card of the end of the world, the 19th of May, 1910." Quite strange, but the sender Lily looks like she followed her name with the word "aeroplane" and a long curving line .... imitating the tail of Halley's Comet. In the Zeppellin, the words are written "On s'en f..... pas mal!!" That's a little risque for Edwadian times....the f.... word stands for fessess or buttocks. The moon with the outstretched arms is saying, best I can understand, "It will be good to come here." "Good by and thanks" a man hanging onto an umbrella says. "Expedition to the moon: grand speed, 200 francs per blow (from the canon)." Le dernier salut" is French for "the last goodbye or salute."

Put That In Your Pipe & Smoke It

Many innuendos for this antique clay pipe featuring the figural form of a lady with her end-o on the potty.




It's sold, but I'd love to talk the buyer.

As If Sticking Pins Into The Baby Isn't Bad Enough...

There are bugs to place on him too.


Screaming Oliver reproduction pin cushion and bugs (by Cats Paw Doll Accessories), available here.

Back When Paper Publishing Had Profits To Spare

You know there had to be BIG money in publishing magazines back in 1960 when The Saturday Evening Post gave sent you a bowling ball in the mail just for soliciting four subscriptions.



I know we're talking 1960's postage, but still -- it's a freakin' bowling ball.

It would have been cheaper to mail folks a voucher along with the authorization, but I guess they made enough money from the advertisers -- the ones I mock here relentlessly.

The Mystery Of The White Squaw

Silent Porn Star* investigates this clipping from 1935.

Ham-Handed Harriet Had Trouble Hand-Tinting Photos

From Square America.

Art From The Stuff In The Bottom Of The Toy Box

Indecent Exposure is a series of 3 vintage flashbulb head dolls by Artsy, at Etsy.

Climbing The Corporate Ladder Has Always Been Tough

And weird.



Via Vintage Photo Community.

Salesmanship -- And Humor -- Mean A Lot

We often see boxes of religious books; but we've never seen 'em set-up & offered like this:



So we like the people in Yard Sale Bloodbath's neighborhood a lot.

Hey Day Protest, 1967

Newspaper photo of a student wearing the traditional "skimmer" hat and a gas mask to protest the study of germ warfare at Penn State.

Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood?

Photos from a walk around our neighborhood:


Moving? No other signs of it; but who can tell?

Coolio spray-painted trash can.

Sweet Melamine Dreams

And kitschy nightmares for you too.

Birthday Wishes From Verce of Hexperience

Pal Silent Porn Star (*) sent me a charming belated birthday gift -- delivered by Hang Fire Books (also *).

(Well, the US post delivered it, but Will sent it. )

It's a delightfully puzzling note on the back of a Sunshine Biscuits invoice sheet:

Dear Reader:

Once that thing has slowed down, this book - or any other, will never serve as a rejuvenator. Let the dead rest in peace.

Signed,
Verce of Hexperience

Let the guesses as to meaning commence.

(Possible hints lay in where it was found...? At least I like to think so! *wink*)

Feeling Sneezy? Put A Feather By Your Nose

Allergy lovers rejoice -- there's a vintage Tammis Keefe hanky to help you out. If the feathers (and c- roosters) don't set your nose a twitchin' the vintage hankie's sure to have some dust.

Meet Beaver Greenway

As featured in a page of Dinosaurs of Wyoming: