Category: 1920s

Well, They Were Right About Black Tuesday

Only two weeks after the stock market plummet of Black Tuesday (not to be confused with the upcoming Black Friday), Current Events newspaper was already trying to determine how history would look back upon the crash of the stock market and beginning of what would later be termed The Great Depression.

My Granddad Bill kept this paper from when he was nine years old. Here is the cover of the weekly that was used by students across America.

While the optimism was admirable, they seemed to believe the worst of the effects would be limited to 1929, rather than a depression that would carry them all the way into the second World War. But such is the hindsight allowed in only a handful of days. The Roaring Twenties would roar no more.

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Pepigram Binder Has Zero Google Matches

Well, now I suppose it has ONE match, for this blog post.

I can’t show you what a Pepigram Binder is, but these are evidently pepigrams that would have been stored in said three-ring binder.

As you might have figured, these came from my Granddad Bill’s stack of salvaged things. But as to this pepigram, I have no explanation. Pep-i-gram Bin-dah (sing to the tune of “Paperback Writer”…)

Oh, The Ennui Of Driving Through Sequoias

Images of America

Over 100 years ago, when this image was taken in California, the absence of windshields demanded that the driver (right-sided in this case) wore a duster and goggles as he wound his way through grounds without paved streets. Ladies often wore something similar to this.

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That’s quite a bit of work required before jumping in and cranking the engine. This pint-sized pooch seems to think it’s worth it.

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Tramps Like Us

Images of America

Oh, my goodness, y’all. Could these little boys BE any cuter? All dressed up in the 20s to emulate Charlie Chaplin for a lookalike contest. Bless their hearts.

Fun fact via Newsweek:

In 1975, several years before his death, Chaplin entered a look-alike contest of himself in France. He probably thought he was a shoo-in for the prize and everyone would have a hearty laugh at the end. But then he came in third.

The Great Stone Face

In honor of Buster Keaton’s birthday, I want to share some fun gifs of his work. Best known for his silent films, demonstrating his physical comedy with a deadpan expression, he was nicknamed “The Great Stone Face.” As you’ll see in these images, it’s a miracle he made it to age 70, after all those stunts. If you haven’t seen one of his flicks, do yourself a favor.

 

But Does It Gyrate?

You KNOW it gyrates. It’s Gyrafoam.

Today, we take up where yesterday we left off. Smack dab in the middle of 1925, when women had no social media and were slaves to their chores.

But they had options! Another washing machine was this one from Laun-Dry-Ette.

Ain’t nobody got time for bluing, especially when there are floors to clean with Fuller Brushes.

And when you’re done brushing, you can sit on your can like Iris. Here she is, hitting up her best friend on the line, but she does it in style. The ad may be for Sellers Kitchen Cabinets, but all I see is a fab-u-lous crescent moon hat and a bold lip.

Oreos were introduced in 1912, but evidently some folks chose to put health biscuits in their pie holes instead. I’m sure they were a HIT at a kid’s birthday party.

Tommy seems to be trying to drown out the voices in his head, or the loud protests against health biscuits. Please, God, not health biscuits!

Somebody get Iris on the phone. It’s an emergency!

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I Know What You Did In My Bathroom, Pearl

Good Housekeeping, March 1925

In the same magazine, you’ll find lovely Dix-Make dresses. No one makes dresses like Dix-Make.

If you’re not in the market for a flat-chested flapper dress, perchance you might like golden circlets of tropical goodness.

And try it on pizza, too!

Sick of cold water? Want hot water every place you can think of? Ask for Descriptive Folder #10.

And how about this? For the cost of my current water bill plus my cable bill, I could have bought an entire house in 1925.

But, Kerbey, you say–I’m not a baller; I’m too poor to pay attention. What could I afford? And to you, I say, how ’bout some clothesline?

It’s a cord to hang your sheets. It’s great until it rains, and then you have to hang it out to dry all over again. I remember because I had to do it in the 80s when all our neighbors had dryers, and my chore was to hang clothes on the line like I was a freaking pioneer. Thankfully, it only rains twice a year in Texas, so it’s not an issue now.

Come back on Hump Day for more fun ads from 1925!

Enjoying Outdoor Weather Together

Thanksgiving 1954
Aug 14, 1937 San Antonio, Texas

This poor boy got the sunken eyes of his mama, and both ladies’ shoes makes their feet look like hooves.

The lady at the tippy top gives me the heebeejeebs. Those bangs… But what a festive smattering of smocks!

This one here looks about a century old, whatwith the bunned hair and flouncy floor-length gowns. Check out this happy lass and her parasol.

When Young Thomas Rocked His Knickerbockers

Take a gander at young Tom’s confidence, even at 14! So petite but so sure of his fashion choices.

Sporting knickerbockers was on point in the 20s and 30s, as you can see in this image of Walt Disney and a pint-sized star.

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Women began to don them as well, however controversial. Think of them as cropped bloomers that allowed freedom of movement while in no way being thigh-flattering.

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Knickerbockers found popularity in many sports, particularly golf, baseball, fencing, bicycling, and yes–the curious sport of curling. Check out these 1924 curlers!

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Their calves must be frigid, bless their hearts. Looks like they’re sweeping up Rumbas off the ice.