Dreamland: “Coney Island Holocaust” — 1911

A photo showing the post-apocalyptic scene following a fire at a hugely popular amusement park was used to advertise rubber fire hoses. (Click to see the full ad.)
A photo showing the post-apocalyptic scene following a fire at a hugely popular amusement park was used to advertise rubber fire hoses. (Click to see the full ad.)
In the 1970s, artists Claes Oldenburg and Ed Kienholz made tombstones for one another. Oldenburg went with a “bread” theme for Ed’s “Bread Stone.”
“The Terror” was the first horror movie released with sound. It got really, really bad reviews when it was released in 1928. We’ll have to trust the reviewers, because the movie is now a “lost film,” with only still images from the film surviving.
You’re a high-power executive who has a scale-model of the Unisphere in your office — what’s your carpet look like?
Benny Goodman, the King of Swing. This caricature of Benny and his “licorice stick” is wonderful (see the full artwork at the link).
Fear of photography. Click to see the full photo.
Ann Blyth and Roddy McDowell in homemade Halloween costumes. Sitting down isn’t really that important…. (Click to see full photo.)
So many choices for mail-order costumes for kids in 1957! From Lassie to Rickey Rivet the Robot.
Know the difference between Ethyl and “regular” gasoline? I don’t either. Got 47 seconds? ‘Cause that’s how long it will take to learn everything you need to know about the topic. Not only that, but just look at this wonderful 1936 advertising art that just oozes nostalgic Americana.
Man vs. cephalopod: it’s a fight to the death. Click through to see the full image of a startling wood carving, captured by master Japanese photographer Kimbei Kusakabe.