Category: History

Why Your Grandma Never Had Hair In Her Eyes

Alpha Delta Pi ladies of Indiana University, 1943

One notices in 1940s hairstyles that the hair just beyond the temples was often smooth or pinned back, making the voluminous curled areas appear ever poofier in contrast. Ever wonder why you don’t see pics of these women with long bangs in their faces (like the umpteen actresses on talk shows who constantly wipe their hair to the side)? There’s no Crystal Gayle or Kim K. hair here. And it wasn’t just fashion.

Able-bodied men were overseas, and women were manning the production lines. Long hair (or even one stray lock) could get caught in machines and not only injure the workers, but put production on hold until she was freed. Even Veronica Lake (of the oft-imitated peekaboo hairstyle) changed her style during the war effort, showing the dangers of untamed, unpinned hair.

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This youtube video explains why safety is of the utmost importance during factory work.

The end result is a new and improved, less seductive 4’11” Veronica, donning the updo called the “Victory Roll.” Sleek = Safe. And as you can see in the video, from behind, her hair makes a dazzling V for victory.

Many stars wore them, including Rita Hayworth.

(Photo by Pictorial Parade/Moviepix/Getty Images)

And Betty Grable.

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Now you know why your vintage pin-ups often wear their hair in an updo, and why the Allies won the war.

Cast Your Vote For The Lanky Lad With Scoliosis

Evidently, Elam was a pelvis-forward kind of man. I can’t say as I ever voted for an editor in college. The best I mustered was my first presidential vote.

But college politics have always been a big deal. Selig was willing to endanger his own life by sitting on the hood of this here jalopy.

Others simply strolled with signs.

Lovely signs, I’ll give them that. Both Brown and Ferguson remind me of civil rights cases. 

Folks sure showed enthusiasm for Sterling Steve. I hope he took it by a landslide. 

Cramped Quarters

1942 Recall, Dorm Life

These fellows at the Schreiner Institute are packed in like sardines! While some look dressed for bed, others seem ready for a night on the town. Perhaps they had to sleep in shifts to accommodate everyone.

1940s dorm life might have been cramped, but frat life was just plain odd. Check out this guitar fit for a giant! Where do you buy strings for that?

Cactus 1941

Meanwhile, the sorority girls were still playing with dolls…

Redskin 1947

But there’s one thing everyone could agree on.

Cactus 1949

Hoo Ray For Raye

1949 Cactus

With politics so prevalent in today’s news feed, let’s dial it back to a simpler time. When the wheels were turning for Ferris.

When babies were too young to vote for Jane Cloyes.

And cows were used as props to show that voting for Cissy was no bull!

A Car Is Shiny, But A Burro Is Sure

Nat Geo 1/68

Such is the caption in this 1968 Nat Geo, as I call them. Evidently, it was a common practice for motorists to attempt to cross the Rio Grande River at its low points in fall and winter, though I would personally advise to NEVER ford a river by car. Yes, the wheels get wet, but so does the engine.

Cue the enterprising young Mexican boy on the burro, who offers round trip rides for 75 cents to get across the river. Often, they neglect to mention that a dirty half-mile ride to Boquillas then awaits them. If they have another 75 cents.

But what do they do with the CAR??

No, It’s MY Turtle

We’ve all been there, right? Stuck in a boat, wearing our wifebeater and cuffed dungarees, wrestling a half-naked man for rights to the Galapagos Island sea turtle… Actually, these were 1949 National Geographic staffers, who had initially been searching for land turtles, but came up empty-handed. Nice work if you can get it.

Gearing Up For Fuddrucker’s Three Pound Burger Challenge

In case you didn’t know it, today is National Cheeseburger Day, and Fuddrucker’s is offering their 3-Pound Burger Challenge. If you can finish your burger and 1 lb of fries in ONE HOUR, then you will receive a $25 gift card. Woot! That’s enough to buy some Pepto and Tums. At least now we know where the beef is.

And as far as the image up top, well, that’s actually football coach Bo helping Indiana University beat Minnesota’s Golden Gophers in the fall of 1942.

When The Movie Is About To Start But You Don’t Want To Rush Her

And the concession girl is making eyes at you

and you’re wondering why you even bothered to ask Nancy out

in the first place

to see the stupid “Pink Panther”

when you’d really prefer “The Great Escape” in the theater down the hall

and you’d just as soon shove the Necco wafers and Charleston Chews down her throat

so you don’t have to stand here impatiently

as the minutes tick by

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Vance Redfern Tees Off

Vance Redfern. Now THAT is a name worthy of an athlete, a news anchor, even a politician.

Those of you have visited The Blog of Funny Names already know my fondness for amazing names, and this ranks on the list of grand ones indeed. Have you ever met a Vance? It’s better than a Vince. Actually, the name Vance is of English origin, meaning “someone who lives near marshland.” I don’t think marshland when I think of New Mexico. I think Louisiana, which is technically where the Red Fern grows. But not where the Vance Redfern grows.

He graduated from Western New Mexico University in 1963 and still holds school records for his prowess on the golf course.  His 73.6 stroke average is the lowest single season mark posted by any Mustang player, a fact not lost on these hat-donning ladies who witnessed said prowess.

1963 Mustang Golf

Today we salute this awesome name. Together, we can encourage fertile young people to take this name from its current ranking of #838 in boys’ names and push it up where it belongs. And Vance (if you cannot surmise from the broad shoulders and the standard issue NASA astronaut flat-top) is second from the right.