WWII Air Raid Shelters, Deluxe and Otherwise — 1939
As Britain entered the war, well-founded fears of bombings and gas attacks led citizens and communities to construct air raid shelters. More illustrations inside.
Chasing Pancho Villa on the Border in Tricked-Out Harley-Davidsons — ca. 1916
The motorcycle was first used in active service by the U.S. military by Gen. “Black Jack” Pershing in order to chase Pancho Villa across rugged terrain — some were outfitted with sidecars and Colt machine guns.
“Vampire a la Mode” — 1928
Movie poster for a saucy, pre-code spoof of late-’20s Hollywood. “Big-shots,” look out.
Perkins Windmill Couture — 1890s
Miss Corinne Baker in her eye-popping windmill dress — perfect from the tip of her kooky hat to the bottom of her windmill-blade skirt. And everything else in between. See the full-length photo inside.
Route 66: Iceberg Cafe, Albuquerque
The Iceberg Cafe was a Route 66 fixture for years. Check out several great photos of the roadside attraction inside.
“The Ghastly Radiance of the Mercury Tubes” — 1907
Camera setup for an early industrial film about the Larkin Factories in Buffalo, New York. More on the film inside.
The Bootlegger With the Tin Bustle — 1886
Read about the woman who smuggled Cuban rum through U.S. Customs in a hollowed-out undergarment.
“Cleveland” — Woodcut by Doris Seidler, ca. 1962
Fantastic mid-century woodcut depicting Cleveland, by artist and printmaker Doris Seidler. More inside.
“Nation’s Business” Covers — 1929
Nine arresting covers from the long-running Nation’s Business magazine, illustrating the dynamism of industrial growth which was about to be challenged by the fast-approaching Great Depression.
Melon-choly — 1907
Poor sad watermelon! This was one of a set of 12 Valentine’s Day cards featuring anthropomorphic fruits and vegetables (yes, it’s a Valentine’s card!). More at the link.
