Category Archives: Environment

illustration woman decorating

Decorating With DDT

Just as mid-century garden nurseries were busy preparing for spring, filling their shelves with packets of seeds and cans of DDT, so American parents were diligently decorating their baby nurseries with happy-go-lucky wallpaper coated with protective DDT. No April Fools!

illustration woman decorating

Decorating With DDT

Just as mid-century garden nurseries were busy preparing for spring, filling their shelves with packets of seeds and cans of DDT, so American parents were diligently decorating their baby nurseries with happy-go-lucky wallpaper coated with protective DDT. No April Fools!

A Post-War Primer on Mother Nature

Birds and the Bees First day of spring conjures up a childhood filled with  the anticipation of blooming flowers, budding trees  and a haze of pesticides being sprayed across my suburban neighborhood. Talk about March Madness! By the time I

A Post-War Primer on Mother Nature

Birds and the Bees First day of spring conjures up a childhood filled with  the anticipation of blooming flowers, budding trees  and a haze of pesticides being sprayed across my suburban neighborhood. Talk about March Madness! By the time I

housewife in suburban home

Heating the American Dream

  As the winter chill begins to set in and we reluctantly turn up the costly heat, its hard to imagine that in mid century America oil was still the biggest bargain in American’s budget. The second Sunday in October

housewife in suburban home

Heating the American Dream

  As the winter chill begins to set in and we reluctantly turn up the costly heat, its hard to imagine that in mid century America oil was still the biggest bargain in American’s budget. The second Sunday in October

Suburban Lawn Doctor

   Images of a green, velvety carpet of grass remain symbolic of home, family and the American Dream. In mid-century America a deep green lawn was evidence of nothing short of good citizenship. So what was  a patriotic suburban home

Suburban Lawn Doctor

   Images of a green, velvety carpet of grass remain symbolic of home, family and the American Dream. In mid-century America a deep green lawn was evidence of nothing short of good citizenship. So what was  a patriotic suburban home

sunburn ad woman on fire

Man, What a Heat Wave

The Temperatures Rising… It Isn’t Surprising… Poor mankind! His triumphant march towards progress  is always being blamed for the actions of a hot-headed, fickle Mother Nature whose erratic behavior has recently played havoc with our weather systems. Panicked cries of

sunburn ad woman on fire

Man, What a Heat Wave

The Temperatures Rising… It Isn’t Surprising… Poor mankind! His triumphant march towards progress  is always being blamed for the actions of a hot-headed, fickle Mother Nature whose erratic behavior has recently played havoc with our weather systems. Panicked cries of

Vintage Illustration 1949

A Fall Fable-Burning Leaves Pt II

The blaze of fall color took on a different meaning, the autumn of 1959. Many neighbors did not only burn leaves, but their trash as well, giving new meaning to fall cleanup. There was something satisfying about setting fire to

Vintage Illustration 1949

A Fall Fable-Burning Leaves Pt II

The blaze of fall color took on a different meaning, the autumn of 1959. Many neighbors did not only burn leaves, but their trash as well, giving new meaning to fall cleanup. There was something satisfying about setting fire to

mid century family playing in fall leaves

Burning Fall Leaves- Hokey Smokey

 The smell of burning leaves is forever seared in my mind. As memorable as the blazing orange and red colors of the fall leaves of my childhood were , it was the vibrant warmth of the fall leaves burning that

mid century family playing in fall leaves

Burning Fall Leaves- Hokey Smokey

 The smell of burning leaves is forever seared in my mind. As memorable as the blazing orange and red colors of the fall leaves of my childhood were , it was the vibrant warmth of the fall leaves burning that

vintage illustration weathermen NY 1946

TV and the Weather

Long before Geo-stationary satellites, computer technology and the 24/7 weather channel, weather reporting was pretty primitive relying on paper maps, pins, Plexiglas, and markers. Not only that, but in the 1950s it was broadcast by a bunch of silly clowns,

vintage illustration weathermen NY 1946

TV and the Weather

Long before Geo-stationary satellites, computer technology and the 24/7 weather channel, weather reporting was pretty primitive relying on paper maps, pins, Plexiglas, and markers. Not only that, but in the 1950s it was broadcast by a bunch of silly clowns,

vintage illustration 50s housewife

Heating the American Dream

The second Sunday in October 1957 an unexpected chilly nip of fall was in the air. Some blamed the unseasonably cold blast on the Cold War. Sputnik, that Russian satellite that was currently circling the globe was sending chills down

vintage illustration 50s housewife

Heating the American Dream

The second Sunday in October 1957 an unexpected chilly nip of fall was in the air. Some blamed the unseasonably cold blast on the Cold War. Sputnik, that Russian satellite that was currently circling the globe was sending chills down

vintage ad illustration 1950s

Suburban Lawn Doctor

   Images of a green, velvety carpet of grass remain symbolic of home, family and the American Dream. In mid-century America a deep green lawn was evidence of nothing short of good citizenship. So what was  a patriotic suburban home

vintage ad illustration 1950s

Suburban Lawn Doctor

   Images of a green, velvety carpet of grass remain symbolic of home, family and the American Dream. In mid-century America a deep green lawn was evidence of nothing short of good citizenship. So what was  a patriotic suburban home