“Where the telescope ends, the microscope begins.”–Victor Hugo
Category: History
Ugliest Man Crowned
What we’ve got here today is bald Brad Bourland crowning the winner of the University of Texas’s 1947 “Ugly Man Contest,” Ed Andrews. I don’t know about you, but Ed is certainly not the ugliest man to which I’ve born witness. Not by a longshot. As a result of the election, the Campus Chest received funds, which the pinned Jimmye Kimmey (that’s what the yearbook says her name is, folks) is delightfully clutching, alongside the repugnant Ed.
Abominable Yeti Sweater
I can’t tell if those figures are bald skiers or yetis, but at least he’s got the confidence to pull this thing off. They really dug Christmas sweaters in days of yore.
Well, it appears that the DUDES did.
No wait, here’s a cute couple, wearing matching reindeer moose sweaters. And a guy with a pipe.
You have to keep it interesting. These two matched, but the design was basic.
Now this couple knows how to customize! Way to be festive.
Catholic School Girls Choose Tannenbaum
Always Take Your Pipe Out Before Rooting For The Home Team
This man has everything: a visor, sunglasses, the tie, a pipe, and even popcorn. #Winning
Cool Kids Drink Coke
Varsity Carnival, Univ of Texas 1948
I see shades of a young Priscilla Presley in the pouty girl.
As far as the dandy on the left, whose name is cited as Royall King, I had a feeling that kid went places.
You Wish
Future Homemakers Of America
I present to you the FHA of Italy High School. Not that Italy. The button-nosed one covering up the last syllable of America is so cute, I could eat her up.
Per www.vintagekidstuff.com, both the Future Homemakers of America and the New Homemakers of America (NHA) officially began in June of 1945, working to combine and unify hundreds of home economic clubs in high schools across the US. Boys were allowed to join during the mid-1970s, although why they would want to, I do not know. Perhaps they wanted to promote international good will, as #5 suggests.
But back in 1957, the only purpose a male served was as a manly mascot, the “beau” of the association. I wonder what he did to earn that title?
There he is, jeans cuffed, center stage. Like a shepherd with his sheep. Way to go, Jerry!
If there was an FHA (or even a Home Economics class) in my high school, I was not aware of it. As I only wanted to go to dance clubs and hear trendy tunes, learning to make a home was not my top priority. Little did I know, all I would be making in my 40s was a home. I’ve done dishes, laundry, folding, prescription pick-ups, and bill-paying this morning, and the chicken is defrosting in the sink. And that’s fine. It sure beats working in a fluorescent-lit cubicle.
How about you? Did you ever take Home Ec or join the FHA? Do you do all your own housework? I guess everyone who lives alone is a homemaker.
Open Door Policy
Staying On Trend
If I had a household budget, I would totally hold it up in the air like that and really give my armpits a breather. It’s good for the deltoids, too. She is literally balancing the budget. How else would she maintain a 22″ waist?
Pin-Ups Killed Hitler
Among my favorite WWII books that I keep on hand is United We Stand by Richard J. Perry. It’s full of brightly-colored 1940s images, and you know that’s my bag. Unless otherwise noted, all of today’s images come from this book. While I don’t go in for the nudity in many pin-ups, I do appreciate the artistry, skill, and the motive for hanging them–which was to inspire the GIs. (Incidentally, did you know GI stood for “Government Issue”?)
If it were up to me, all pin-ups would keep their clothes on, and wind would not be constantly blowing their skirts up. They might also not look so surprised about the blustery weather. But I admit when I was young, I thought the Vargas girls were just beautiful. I had no idea they served any purpose other than looking pretty.
Upon whichever end of the spectrum you stand, in this world of rampant internet porn and the demise of the iconic Playboy, it’s hard to argue against the fact that pin-up girls made our boys want to stay alive. They helped win the war. Whether it was on the nose or side of the plane…
…or when they smoked (which was often)…
or on the walls at nightfall…
…these pin-ups reminded our fighting men of home, of their girlfriends, of the home front. Sweet, innocent-looking but scantily clad, hourglass-figured, predominantly wavy-haired young white women. Clean women for dirty thoughts.
I can’t explain it; I’m XX. Women don’t respond to visual stimuli in the manner that men do. We can turn away. We can frankly be bored by it. In fact, I’d wager that if women were doing the fighting, it would be posters of chocolate and wine on the walls. Damn the enemy who takes my freedom to eat dark chocolate pecan delights and sip Riesling! Or maybe the posters would include Matthew McConaughey holding chocolate and wine. But he’d still be wearing pants.
Well, maybe not. In any event, we’d be more realistic about it. We wouldn’t pretend paper boys looked like this. Extra, extra, my clothes are falling off, and I’m in stilettos!
Or that petty officers looked like this.
But if it worked, it worked. Whatever keeps your eye on the prize. Defeat the enemy and come home to touch naked women. Surely the Axis boys had pin-ups, too. Maybe it just came down to which side had the best pin-ups?
Even German hospitals knew what was effective medicine.
The image of Marika Rokk, famed music star in Nazi Germany, may have helped this wounded German soldier heal. But they still lost.
Like it or not, right or wrong, men like attractive naked women. That’s how they’re hardwired, so there’s no point in faulting that. Look at the interior cabin of any semi truck today. By comparison, WWII pin-ups (whether art or photography) would seem tame. I bet it’s pretty raunchy in that cab. It would probably gross me out. But that’s the price of freedom. And thank God for freedom.
Preventing Bad Hair Days In The Netherlands
In the early 1900s, Dutch schoolchildren covered their hair with bonnets, presumably to keep errant hairs from falling in their Lunchables and Capri Suns come lunchtime. Nobody likes finding hairs in her food, right? Free from the burden of maintaining stylish locks, they could focus on their studies, rather than their appearance. See how carefree and joyful they look?
These peaked and winged caps often brought out the mischievous nature of the wearer, especially in combination with the bib known as the kraplap (in case crap falls in your lap?).
As the century progressed, sassy youngsters tilted their hats back to showcase a good bang day (which this girl clearly was not having, but she’s selling it, so props).
In modern times, tradition has not faded, as evidenced by this ruddy-cheeked girl from Volendam, North Holland in the Netherlands. It’s so high, it could conceal a rooster’s comb.
Not your cup of tea? Well, I wouldn’t let the Dutch know, as they are the tallest people on the planet, and could probably pummel you. On average, its women stand 5.6 feet tall, and its men over six feet. Add the bonnet, and they’re giants.
I Don't Get It 