WPA (Works Progress Administration) workers load a truck with flood debris in Louisville, KY in 1937. It sure looks a muddy mess, but since we haven’t seen a drop of rain since May, I’d take a muddy mess right now.
When It Rains
Category: Nostalgia
The Touch, The Feel Of Cotton
Most of the yearbooks I collect have ads in the back. Rarely are they interesting beyond the typeset or logos of the times, but this 1955 Lion’s Lair yearbook shows student at the places of business.
These students tried out the wheelbarrow at Allandale Hardware & Variety.
This Piggly Wiggly image gives insight to mid-century grocery stores before big chains like Wal-Mart and Target served our grocery needs.
Butter Krust was the best bread around; we used to cover our textbooks with Butter Krust advertising sheets.
Isn’t this last one fun? I like how they spell Bubba as “Buba.”
Enough Already
Okay, okay, I get it. The war is over. Japan has just surrendered, and folks in Washington DC are understandably celebrating with copious amounts of PDA. But tone it down, folks. Save it for the bedroom. I’m turning into an old fuddy-duddy, aren’t I?
Not Exactly Olympic Cliff Diving
In yet another NOPE photo, mentally unstable young people jump off a 64-foot waterwheel in Syria in 1954. Note the person climbing on the bottom of the wheel, as well as those against the bricks. To reiterate, nope.
Have you ever done anything so daring?
Let The Light Pour In
Cattle traders discuss sales in a Burgundy cafe in 1978 at Saint Cristophe en Brionnais.
That Moment When Michael Told Billie Jean The Kid Was Not His Son
A box in the attic revealed a hodgepodge of dolls, such as this Thriller Michael, redhaired mermaid, Little House on the Prairie with fabulous hair, and diminutive Mork from Ork.
Somehow I scored a Julie Stiles Barbie doll before she was even born.
They both like woodland creatures.
Even Jon Lovitz Would Take A Pass On These Pretzel Stick Elbows
I bet Henry Grossman thought this a grand image when he snapped it, but Morgan’s bony elbows gross me out. The shaded optical illusion brings to mind prisoners of war, not a sexy blonde bombshell. But maybe it’s not her arms that entice Jon Lovitz…
Little Leaf Phoenix
Thumbing through some mags from my teen years, I came across a July 1984 Teen Set that included this picture of the Phoenix family. The focus was River, on the cusp of fame, but one can spot his brother Joaquin (who had given himself the name of Leaf like his nature-related siblings) easily. And you can see where Joaquin got his looks. Isn’t he the spitting image of his dad?
River would be dead nine years later from drug-induced cardiac arrest, while Joaquin went on to critical acclaim for his numerous roles, from Gladiator to Walk The Line. But working with him can prove difficult. A strict vegan, he refuses to wear anything made from leather or use leather props. And his behavior is curious. Remember when he announced in 2008 that he had retired from acting to pursue a rapping career? Or his incoherent behavior on Letterman?
What the teen mag failed to mention is that the Phoenix children (also a made-up name; the real last name was Bottom) were born to parents in the Children of God cult and performed on the streets and at various talent contests to provide food and financial support for the family. But that doesn’t make good copy.
Signs O’ The Times
Tossing out old newspapers today, I stumbled on to this choice (and timely) comic. In fact, I did toss the 7/14/1984 Dallas Times Herald into the trash, but not before scanning these ads.
And what about a nearly $1200 Beta Recorder? Bet that was only useful for a few years.
Now this just proves boots have always been expensive.
In another I Don’t Get It moment, we have an ad for Sofa Country, hosting wrestler Kerry Von Erich to sign autographs. WTH?
I’d never heard of him, but evidently he was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers. Here he is with you-know-who.
And lest you think cell phones were invented in this millennium, think again.
Save $400?? Can you imagine what the starting price was?
Morning Has Broken
Jeanette Miller stretches on the morning of her ninth birthday.
Three Sheets To The Wind
Guests at a wedding party in Holland try to avoid tipping over on the dance floor.
Polly, Want Two Crackers?
Two jovial Chicago ladies, arm in arm, become bird perches at Miami’s Parrot Jungle. I love their smiles, the hat, the earrings, the glasses, the lace pocket, the buttons–every bit of it! Carpe diem, ladies.
I Don't Get It 