Category Archives: Cold War

1960 Democratic Convention Life Magazine cover

Democratic Convention 1960 – JFK’s New Frontier

The 1960 Democratic Convention was a high-steppin, wild west of a  good time, and my family and myself had front row seats in front of our Philco. It was as rip roarin, rip snortin a time as any western on

1960 Democratic Convention Life Magazine cover

Democratic Convention 1960 – JFK’s New Frontier

The 1960 Democratic Convention was a high-steppin, wild west of a  good time, and my family and myself had front row seats in front of our Philco. It was as rip roarin, rip snortin a time as any western on

vintage girl eating hot dog

Hot Dogs Cold War

Hot dogs, that very symbol of culinary democracy took on a special meaning during the cold war, especially in the summer of 1961. The fate of Nathans Hot Dogs hung in the balance. Barbecue Brigade Summer barbecues were a family

vintage girl eating hot dog

Hot Dogs Cold War

Hot dogs, that very symbol of culinary democracy took on a special meaning during the cold war, especially in the summer of 1961. The fate of Nathans Hot Dogs hung in the balance. Barbecue Brigade Summer barbecues were a family

vintage illustration 1950s husband and wife

Atomic Passion – The Utterly Unauthorized Story of My Conception

It was spring 1954. While the Cold War was frozen solid, thanks to a temporary thaw in my parents own chilly clashes, I would be conceived on a sweltering hot night that June.   The year had started with a

vintage illustration 1950s husband and wife

Atomic Passion – The Utterly Unauthorized Story of My Conception

It was spring 1954. While the Cold War was frozen solid, thanks to a temporary thaw in my parents own chilly clashes, I would be conceived on a sweltering hot night that June.   The year had started with a

Free Speech – Let Him Talk

“Get em outta here,” growls Trump at one of his rallies. Sucker punched in the name of loving this country, anti-Trump protesters are taunted, manhandled by zealous Trump supporters wanting to make America Great again. As brawling and bullying become

Free Speech – Let Him Talk

“Get em outta here,” growls Trump at one of his rallies. Sucker punched in the name of loving this country, anti-Trump protesters are taunted, manhandled by zealous Trump supporters wanting to make America Great again. As brawling and bullying become

Travel to Cuba Vintage ad

Crazy For Cuba

The deep freeze between Cuba and the U.S is thawing. It’s hard to overrate the significance of President Obama’s historic trip to Cuba because as recently as 18 months ago the very idea of a sitting U.S. president stepping foot

Travel to Cuba Vintage ad

Crazy For Cuba

The deep freeze between Cuba and the U.S is thawing. It’s hard to overrate the significance of President Obama’s historic trip to Cuba because as recently as 18 months ago the very idea of a sitting U.S. president stepping foot

Vintage illustration GOP elephant and Democratic Donkey

Was the Grand Old Party Once Really Grand?

Fact or Fiction It may sound like a fairy tale but once upon a time the GOP really were…well, pretty Grand! Today when the phrase “moderate Republican” is fast becoming an oxymoron, it seems like fiction  to imagine a  time

Vintage illustration GOP elephant and Democratic Donkey

Was the Grand Old Party Once Really Grand?

Fact or Fiction It may sound like a fairy tale but once upon a time the GOP really were…well, pretty Grand! Today when the phrase “moderate Republican” is fast becoming an oxymoron, it seems like fiction  to imagine a  time

Vintage Book cover The Price of Salt

Carol’s World of Conformity and Concealment

A touch of Mink In the chilly postwar climate of conformity and concealment captured to perfection in the movie Carol, same-sex desires constricted by conflict often went unexpressed. If compliance to the heterosexual norm was compulsory, it was all a

Vintage Book cover The Price of Salt

Carol’s World of Conformity and Concealment

A touch of Mink In the chilly postwar climate of conformity and concealment captured to perfection in the movie Carol, same-sex desires constricted by conflict often went unexpressed. If compliance to the heterosexual norm was compulsory, it was all a

Hydrogen Bomb Ivy Mike atmospheric test

North Korea Nuclear Jitters

Say It Ain’t So Did North Korea really just conduct a hydrogen bomb test? Despite Kim Jong Un’s boastful declaration that it detonated a hydrogen bomb, there now seem to be some doubts. The fact that the explosion might be

Hydrogen Bomb Ivy Mike atmospheric test

North Korea Nuclear Jitters

Say It Ain’t So Did North Korea really just conduct a hydrogen bomb test? Despite Kim Jong Un’s boastful declaration that it detonated a hydrogen bomb, there now seem to be some doubts. The fact that the explosion might be

vintage Halloween mask Castro

Cold War Halloween

On most mid-century days, the suburban streets of my childhood were filled by a legion of door to door salesmen trafficking in fantasy. The pavement belonged to this endless parade of post war peddlers, their sample cases bulging with promises

vintage Halloween mask Castro

Cold War Halloween

On most mid-century days, the suburban streets of my childhood were filled by a legion of door to door salesmen trafficking in fantasy. The pavement belonged to this endless parade of post war peddlers, their sample cases bulging with promises

Vintage illustration United Nations

United Nations Turns 70

The United Nations just turned 70 and the once revered institution has not aged well. This post war promise of peace has been plagued by paralysis, morphing into a dyspeptic dowager suffering from an interminable succession of stalemates. It all

Vintage illustration United Nations

United Nations Turns 70

The United Nations just turned 70 and the once revered institution has not aged well. This post war promise of peace has been plagued by paralysis, morphing into a dyspeptic dowager suffering from an interminable succession of stalemates. It all