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.
Category: Vintage
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.
Beverage Station
We’re hosting Christmas this year, and I’m already thinking about what part of kitchen counterspace will be designated as the beverage station. There will be hot coffee, freshly-brewed from freshly-ground beans, and half & half available. No one but my husband and I will use it, as my family curiously prefers their coffee black. Iced tea will be an option, so various sweeteners will also be at the ready. It’s important to have enough cups, glasses, and teaspoons. And if you make iced tea, make sure you have fresh wedges of lemon or lime. I’m no Martha Stewart, but that’s basic. Nothing worse than patronizing a home or restaurant that offers you a beverage and lacks the standard accoutrements.
Of course, they won’t be allowed to smoke inside, like these fellows (no one in the family smokes anyway), but there will be plenty of beer and wine to help the turkey and dressing go down.
And what about hot tea? I had some this morning (and then I had coffee), but it doesn’t sound good with Christmas dinner. I won’t offer that.
But like a good waiter, we’ll keep the pitchers full, and there will be plenty of ice for Lipton and Cokes because who knows? It was 80 degrees on Friday. It may be warm on Christmas, and we’ll need cool refreshment. The goal is to make everyone as happy as these ladies.
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.
The Flowering Of New England
I don’t know what I like more in this one: the repeating V sweater, the paper girl’s white overalls, Mrs. Maddux’s sexy but amazingly outdated hairstyle, or the sassy stance she has, hands on narrow hips. I think it’s the stance.
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.
Telephone Types
“Daddy-yo said nix on the heap…” Not familiar with that jargon? Perhaps you remember shoving into telephone booths as a lark? Jimmy Fallon did a sketch recently with Shaq and Hugh Jackman in phone booths.
Perhaps you recall standing in line at the dorm, just to call your best gal? Come on, Dan. Wrap it up!
I’m too young to remember any of that. But I do remember my mom’s office desk looked like this in the 70s.
Do you suppose anyone uses a Rolodex these days? I still use my address book, but it’ s only about a year old. Nice and sturdy.
I Don't Get It 