Category Archives: Consumers

man smoking cigarettes gardening

Post War Pesticides on Parade

Breathe Easier Mid Century America was the golden age of pesticides and it was love at first sight. Any thoughts about Earth Day and the environment lay far in the future. Thousands of new chemicals were put to use in

man smoking cigarettes gardening

Post War Pesticides on Parade

Breathe Easier Mid Century America was the golden age of pesticides and it was love at first sight. Any thoughts about Earth Day and the environment lay far in the future. Thousands of new chemicals were put to use in

Do You Dream in Kodacolor?

The red white and blue American Dream sparkled in Kodacolor. Kodak and the American Dream were made for one another. The wholesome images of  all-American family fun portrayed in their long running advertisements would saturate our Kodacolor dreams for decades

Do You Dream in Kodacolor?

The red white and blue American Dream sparkled in Kodacolor. Kodak and the American Dream were made for one another. The wholesome images of  all-American family fun portrayed in their long running advertisements would saturate our Kodacolor dreams for decades

Queen For a Day

In this great land of Democracy, Americans sure love Royalty. Becoming a princess is still part of every little girls American Dream. Not that we have ever doubted for a second cutting ties with the monarchy in  1776. As long

Queen For a Day

In this great land of Democracy, Americans sure love Royalty. Becoming a princess is still part of every little girls American Dream. Not that we have ever doubted for a second cutting ties with the monarchy in  1776. As long

Suburban 1950s man mowing lawn

The Great American Mow Down

 The Silent Spring mornings of the suburbs were often broken by the sound not of birds chirping but of a symphony of puttering gas lawn mowers synchronized all over the neighborhood. The power of purring motors, oscillating sprinklers, tires screeching,

Suburban 1950s man mowing lawn

The Great American Mow Down

 The Silent Spring mornings of the suburbs were often broken by the sound not of birds chirping but of a symphony of puttering gas lawn mowers synchronized all over the neighborhood. The power of purring motors, oscillating sprinklers, tires screeching,

1940s couple on a picnic

How the American Dream Grew

If the seed of the American Dream was planted during the dark days of the Depression, germinated at the New York Worlds Fair of 1939, it was nurtured and cultivated during the sacrifices and deprivations of WWII. By wars end

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1940s couple on a picnic

How the American Dream Grew

If the seed of the American Dream was planted during the dark days of the Depression, germinated at the New York Worlds Fair of 1939, it was nurtured and cultivated during the sacrifices and deprivations of WWII. By wars end

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Introduction

For over half a century, Americans soaring confidence had always promised a sugar-frosted future filled with frost free fun and abundance and economic prosperity. But that Buoyant bubble of optimism has since gone bust. Along with our jobs, retirement funds

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Introduction

For over half a century, Americans soaring confidence had always promised a sugar-frosted future filled with frost free fun and abundance and economic prosperity. But that Buoyant bubble of optimism has since gone bust. Along with our jobs, retirement funds

Featured / 27 comments
illustration 1950s couple dreaming of material goods

Consuming Passions

This homage to the American Dream appeared on a Saturday Evening Post Cover exactly 14 years to the day from that August day when Americans from coast to coast were celebrating the surrender of Japan. Until late in the night

illustration 1950s couple dreaming of material goods

Consuming Passions

This homage to the American Dream appeared on a Saturday Evening Post Cover exactly 14 years to the day from that August day when Americans from coast to coast were celebrating the surrender of Japan. Until late in the night

The Envy of Your Friends

What did you do when your tastes ran to Cadillac but your wallet was more of a Ford? Keeping up with the Jones was a tough thing to at the tail end of the Depression. However, General Motors La Salle

The Envy of Your Friends

What did you do when your tastes ran to Cadillac but your wallet was more of a Ford? Keeping up with the Jones was a tough thing to at the tail end of the Depression. However, General Motors La Salle