Category: History

Barb Grabbing Barbed Wire

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Barb was feeling solid that day. Clem had his good tie and hat on (the one that covered his high and tight, Macklemore-y, I was Fascist when Fascist wasn’t cool haircut), and the world was alive with possibility. The homestead was thriving. The fence posts were fenceposting. Barb threw caution to the wind and climbed aboard the fence and didn’t even care if the wire cut into the flesh of her palm. Her dress was fierce, her hair was amazing (think early Peanuts Lucy). What’s a little blood in the scheme of things?

Hoodlums, Shenanigans, And Cowboy Swagger

No doubt about it, this shot was taken in Texas. Although the man dead center has the look a mafia don caught red-handed in whatever deal is going down in that car, the other fellows seem amused. And the feller on the left with his boot propped up on the fender, well, he seems downright smug. Who wouldn’t be, with such a swoopy hat?

 

Baked Alaska To Celebrate

I have so many questions about this image. Some simple assumptions would be that this couple is celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. And by the lettering to the right of the cake, I’ll assume the wife is named Cora. But why is she wearing a dress and pearls, when he is wearing a robe and boutonnière? Is that a cake or just a heap of whipped cream? Is it melting? And what is that brick before the cake? Surely it’s not napkins.

All Dressed Up And Somewhere To Go

Another antique mall pic with zero information. By her bob, I can guess it’s the 1920s. I love the clarity in this one, and their small smiles. They seem so relaxed and content.

People Are Strange: 1950

Nu Sigma Nu 1950, Cactus
Alpha Kappa Kappa, UT Galveston

Grandpa wasn’t the only one smoking. And evidently, supermodel Christy Turlington was there.

I can’t even explain what’s going on up there.

They laughed at knobby knees. 

They said “How” and sat next to teepees before cultural appropriation was offensive.

They looked like Gomez from “The Addams Family.”

They did chores.

And they wore these boss golf shirts.

 

Thomas Jefferson High School 1940

Sometimes the ads in the back of old yearbooks are just as interesting as the pics inside. This is a right fancy car for only $790. Looks like you could rear end the fellow in front of you and still not come close to smooshing your legs.

The yearbook included this cool image of the students inside a cave. Creepy!

Then there’s this too close for comfort wrestling team. 

En garde! Theater students have all the right moves. 

Antique Mall Stroll

Dr Pepper’s old ad campaign used to suggest drinking it during peak sugar- and energy-deficient moments during the day, at 10am, 2pm, and 4pm. Perhaps one could say a prayer thrice daily as well?

At least thank God for beer. No need to get all aboard the bottle itself. Quite a core workout, that.

War images were available as well. 

Y’all know how I feel about my Coke. 

This is cute, even to folks who aren’t sci-fi nerds.

In the words of Carrie Underwood, “I don’t smoke, but sometimes I need a long drag.” Or in this case, a long draw…

 

Sign O’ The Times

Nestled snug inside my August 1947 copy of National Geographic lies this interesting piece of art.

Isn’t it just fantastic? I love the split levels. As with many ads of yore, it contained many more words than we’d bother reading today. But this was 1947, and most folks didn’t own a TV. Reading was a way to pass the time. With no information highway, ads were the information.

Having never visited New York, or anywhere up north for that matter, I had no idea what an SRO sign was. Evidently, it’s a single-room-occupancy residence. So I learned something today! How ’bout them apples? However, I have seen pics of subways, and they don’t look like “bright, cheerful cars” to me. And as far as 7.8 million population, that’s another lesson in demographics. New York City only has 8.5 million residents today. Yes, it’s true that there were 7.8 back then, but it’s also true that by 1980, the population had actually reduced down to a straight 7 million. It wasn’t until the 1990s that it surpassed what it had been in 1947. I guess you can only shove so many marbles in a jar.