Category Archives: Consumers

photo 1930s woman beauty ad

Beauty, Brains, and a Bar of Soap

Sally’s Pretty and Sally’s Smart Would you dare risk the shame of “Cosmetic skin?” Sure you’re careful, never risking offending with  halitosis, avoiding housewife- hips, pink toothbrush, B.O. and other ailments of the Depression era 1930’s. But unless you wash

photo 1930s woman beauty ad

Beauty, Brains, and a Bar of Soap

Sally’s Pretty and Sally’s Smart Would you dare risk the shame of “Cosmetic skin?” Sure you’re careful, never risking offending with  halitosis, avoiding housewife- hips, pink toothbrush, B.O. and other ailments of the Depression era 1930’s. But unless you wash

Thanksgiving Treats

Butch Bradley was nervous. Normally a cool cucumber, he was sweating bullets. You see, he was invited to his best girl Rosalie’s home for Thanksgiving for the very first time. Wanting to make a good first impression on his gal

Thanksgiving Treats

Butch Bradley was nervous. Normally a cool cucumber, he was sweating bullets. You see, he was invited to his best girl Rosalie’s home for Thanksgiving for the very first time. Wanting to make a good first impression on his gal

Vintage illustration 1950s family getting on airplane

Travel Tips for the Holidays

As millions crowd our airports for the traditional Thanksgiving trek home over the river and through the woods, the tension mounts at the thought of  long lines, insufferable crowds, and the dreaded delays’ that inevitably await the weary and wary

Vintage illustration 1950s family getting on airplane

Travel Tips for the Holidays

As millions crowd our airports for the traditional Thanksgiving trek home over the river and through the woods, the tension mounts at the thought of  long lines, insufferable crowds, and the dreaded delays’ that inevitably await the weary and wary

Vintage Cake Ad 1930s

How Hostess Cakes Helped the Housewife

(L) Vintage illustration Club Women of America 1927 by David Robinson (R) Vintage Hostess Cakes Logo 1928 The Great Sugar Rush Americans with a sweet tooth are rushing to stock up on Ding Dongs, Ho Ho’s, Twinkies and all sorts

Vintage Cake Ad 1930s

How Hostess Cakes Helped the Housewife

(L) Vintage illustration Club Women of America 1927 by David Robinson (R) Vintage Hostess Cakes Logo 1928 The Great Sugar Rush Americans with a sweet tooth are rushing to stock up on Ding Dongs, Ho Ho’s, Twinkies and all sorts

Vintage Ad WWII Texaco 1945 serviceman gas station

Gas Rationing WWII

 “In NY, drivers sometimes tail a gasoline tank truck until, like a pied piper, the truck had collected a string of cars following it to its destined delivery point. Cars would line up for blocks- as many as 350 of

Vintage Ad WWII Texaco 1945 serviceman gas station

Gas Rationing WWII

 “In NY, drivers sometimes tail a gasoline tank truck until, like a pied piper, the truck had collected a string of cars following it to its destined delivery point. Cars would line up for blocks- as many as 350 of

vintage picture couple in the rain 1940s

Singing In The Rain

Americans enthusiasm for everything plastic has been dampened by environmental concerns. But in post-war America, plastics were really something to sing about! There was a giddiness of the wonders of plastic. As this 1946 ad for Vinylite Plastics gushes “Every

vintage picture couple in the rain 1940s

Singing In The Rain

Americans enthusiasm for everything plastic has been dampened by environmental concerns. But in post-war America, plastics were really something to sing about! There was a giddiness of the wonders of plastic. As this 1946 ad for Vinylite Plastics gushes “Every

Time magazine cover George Romney 1959

The Tale of Two Romneys

Once upon a time there roamed a Romney who challenged not only the conventional wisdom of the day but the Giant Oil companies as well Unlike his son Mitt who has fueled his campaign coffers with millions from the oil

Time magazine cover George Romney 1959

The Tale of Two Romneys

Once upon a time there roamed a Romney who challenged not only the conventional wisdom of the day but the Giant Oil companies as well Unlike his son Mitt who has fueled his campaign coffers with millions from the oil

Vintage Cigarette Ad Spud

Under the Weather- How About A Smoke?

What a Drag Under the weather? Try a smooth smoke. Why let a pesky head cold, sore throat or cough  get in the way of enjoying a cigarette or two? Folks back during the 1940s had the right idea. With

Vintage Cigarette Ad Spud

Under the Weather- How About A Smoke?

What a Drag Under the weather? Try a smooth smoke. Why let a pesky head cold, sore throat or cough  get in the way of enjoying a cigarette or two? Folks back during the 1940s had the right idea. With

vintage illustration 1950s family buying car

Moving Forward Into the American Dream

  The first hint of fall may have conjured up the crunch of crisp McIntosh apples, maple leaves turning colors, and the air filled with burning leaves, but for me fall conjured up the intoxicating smell of a new car.

vintage illustration 1950s family buying car

Moving Forward Into the American Dream

  The first hint of fall may have conjured up the crunch of crisp McIntosh apples, maple leaves turning colors, and the air filled with burning leaves, but for me fall conjured up the intoxicating smell of a new car.

Vintage illustration cars

Designed for Dreaming

When it came to cars, General Motors was the undisputed king of the mid-century road and the American Dream was paved with Chevys. The Chevy may have taken America by storm, but it was giving my own mid-century Mom a

Vintage illustration cars

Designed for Dreaming

When it came to cars, General Motors was the undisputed king of the mid-century road and the American Dream was paved with Chevys. The Chevy may have taken America by storm, but it was giving my own mid-century Mom a