Benny Goodman — 1946
Benny Goodman, the King of Swing. This caricature of Benny and his “licorice stick” is wonderful (see the full artwork at the link).
Advertising
Halloween Costumes from the Sears Catalog — 1957
So many choices for mail-order costumes for kids in 1957! From Lassie to Rickey Rivet the Robot.
Ethyl Gasoline — 1936
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.
Uncle Sam Wants YOU on a National Bicycle — 1896
In celebration of American Independence Day, I give you Uncle Sam shilling for the National Cycle Manufacturing Co.
Orson Welles: “How Did He Get That Way?” — 1940
A supine genius who had accomplished more by age 24 than… almost everyone.
Comfort Furniture Company: Vibrating, Artistic, and Indestructible — 1905
Vibrating furniture was a thing in 1905. This Detroit company doesn’t seem to have lasted very long, but its trimmed-in-fringe product was a featured exhibit at the 1905 Lewis & Clark Centennial. Read more….
Comical Tongue and Teeth
Sometimes after a difficult week, one just needs to kick back with a dangling fake tongue and look “exceedingly funny.” This has been just such a week.
Baby Ruth Chewing Gum
The thought of Baby Ruth-branded gum… it just doesn’t seem right. The new product was introduced to the public in 1928 by dropping thousands of packages of the gum from an airplane, each one attached to its own little parachute which floated down to the waiting hands of eager children. Read more….
Step Right Up, Folks! — When Circus Promoters and Show-Folk Shopped the Pages of “The Billboard”
Whether you trod the boards in the theatrical world or slogged through the sawdust on the carnival circuit, “The Billboard” was essential reading for keeping up with news and employment opportunities in the show-biz world. Almost everything you needed could be found in the magazine’s classified and advertising pages. Check out some of the more interesting ads found in issues from 1904 and 1905.
Myrna Loy: “I’m a Helpless Prisoner!” — 1930
Experience the sheer giddiness of an exclamation-mark-filled 1930 ad for cosmetics, “a whole ensemble of gay toiletries!”
