Category Archives: Consumers

vintage beer ad illustration suburbia 1950s

A Blueprint For The Middle Class

The idea of upward mobility in America is a powerful and deeply ingrained part of the American Dream. Never was the American Dream more potent or more seductive than in Mid century America. Middle class American were the most envied

vintage beer ad illustration suburbia 1950s

A Blueprint For The Middle Class

The idea of upward mobility in America is a powerful and deeply ingrained part of the American Dream. Never was the American Dream more potent or more seductive than in Mid century America. Middle class American were the most envied

collage of appropriated 1950s vintage llustrations

Media Made Women

Foraging For Female Fictions Over the past fifty years American women have consumed an abundance of often conflicting imagery about our role in the world and bits and pieces of these mass media representations remain imprinted in each of us.

collage of appropriated 1950s vintage llustrations

Media Made Women

Foraging For Female Fictions Over the past fifty years American women have consumed an abundance of often conflicting imagery about our role in the world and bits and pieces of these mass media representations remain imprinted in each of us.

Model of World Trade Center 71

Remembering The World Trade Center

News of the 9/11 tragedy found its way to me through the antiquated airwaves of a vintage Bakelite radio. Only days before, I had moved from the New York I loved to one of its  leafy suburbs. Without cable or

Model of World Trade Center 71

Remembering The World Trade Center

News of the 9/11 tragedy found its way to me through the antiquated airwaves of a vintage Bakelite radio. Only days before, I had moved from the New York I loved to one of its  leafy suburbs. Without cable or

Vintage Car ad 1930s passengers in car

Does It Matter Who’s At The Wheel?

Step on the Gas Nervous Dot the Democrat  is sure glad that Bette’s husband  Dick drives a Chevrolet. Men can be real speed demons on the road but with Republican Dick every ride is big and steady! Dot and Bette

Vintage Car ad 1930s passengers in car

Does It Matter Who’s At The Wheel?

Step on the Gas Nervous Dot the Democrat  is sure glad that Bette’s husband  Dick drives a Chevrolet. Men can be real speed demons on the road but with Republican Dick every ride is big and steady! Dot and Bette

Vintage illustration children 1950s

Fit Right in with Back to School Shoes

It was the day after Labor Day 1957 and the countdown had begun for the new school term. From Long Island to Little Rock, crisp black and white marbled composition notebooks were hastily purchased, and last-minute yellow Dixon number 2

Vintage illustration children 1950s

Fit Right in with Back to School Shoes

It was the day after Labor Day 1957 and the countdown had begun for the new school term. From Long Island to Little Rock, crisp black and white marbled composition notebooks were hastily purchased, and last-minute yellow Dixon number 2

I Have Seen The Future

  Tucked away among the flotsam and jetsam I have saved over the years is a pin-back button from the 1939 NY Worlds Fair stating boldly: I have seen the future. Given to me as a child by my mother,

I Have Seen The Future

  Tucked away among the flotsam and jetsam I have saved over the years is a pin-back button from the 1939 NY Worlds Fair stating boldly: I have seen the future. Given to me as a child by my mother,

vintage illustration ad family on picnic 1940s

Picnic in the Post-War Park

  Long before we became a fast food, disposable nation, picnicking required something more substantial and permanent than a Styrofoam clamshell  tossed in a brown paper bag. According to a 1948 advertisement  by Aladdin, every day was a holiday with

vintage illustration ad family on picnic 1940s

Picnic in the Post-War Park

  Long before we became a fast food, disposable nation, picnicking required something more substantial and permanent than a Styrofoam clamshell  tossed in a brown paper bag. According to a 1948 advertisement  by Aladdin, every day was a holiday with

vintage art & advertising 1950s couple in car

Beach Club Paradise Protected

  Summer beach traffic during the Cold War had its own special flare. The huge-wrap around picture window in the rear of my Grandmothers Cadillac  offered unexcelled visibility to see and be seen, allowing uninterrupted lavish vistas of Long Beach

vintage art & advertising 1950s couple in car

Beach Club Paradise Protected

  Summer beach traffic during the Cold War had its own special flare. The huge-wrap around picture window in the rear of my Grandmothers Cadillac  offered unexcelled visibility to see and be seen, allowing uninterrupted lavish vistas of Long Beach

Viewmaster ad

Vacation With A Vintage View

High  fuel prices and the continuing economic slump has meant another summer of staycations for many Americans. So what’s a struggling family to do for fun this summer? What if you could experience the thrilling wonders of Yosemite, the cool

Viewmaster ad

Vacation With A Vintage View

High  fuel prices and the continuing economic slump has meant another summer of staycations for many Americans. So what’s a struggling family to do for fun this summer? What if you could experience the thrilling wonders of Yosemite, the cool

vintage coca cola ad farmer at soda counter 1940s

Coke, Corn and the Drought of 2012

Have a Coke and a Smile There seems to be a whole lot less to smile about these days. As the good cheer of Coke comes under blistering attack for its empty calories contributing to the obesity epidemic in America,

vintage coca cola ad farmer at soda counter 1940s

Coke, Corn and the Drought of 2012

Have a Coke and a Smile There seems to be a whole lot less to smile about these days. As the good cheer of Coke comes under blistering attack for its empty calories contributing to the obesity epidemic in America,