Category Archives: Suburbia

picture mother daughter laundry 1950

Like Mother, Like Daughter

  Mid century mothers and daughters were clearly tied together not only by their apron strings but the same set of cultural expectations.  Not only did they share darling matching outfits but the same sunny enthusiasm for household chores. And

picture mother daughter laundry 1950

Like Mother, Like Daughter

  Mid century mothers and daughters were clearly tied together not only by their apron strings but the same set of cultural expectations.  Not only did they share darling matching outfits but the same sunny enthusiasm for household chores. And

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

vintage illustration chinese chef

The Occidental Oriental

My Mom was one smart cookie…fortune cookie that is. When my mid-century Mom wanted to go exotic..she’d go Oriental and thanks to Chun King canned chow mein it was cantoneasy ! Like many mid-century housewives, when she wanted to add

vintage illustration chinese chef

The Occidental Oriental

My Mom was one smart cookie…fortune cookie that is. When my mid-century Mom wanted to go exotic..she’d go Oriental and thanks to Chun King canned chow mein it was cantoneasy ! Like many mid-century housewives, when she wanted to add

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

vintage illustration couple in bed

The Frigid Woman in the Cold War

The cold war was a chilly time to be an American woman. A big chill had crept into the well-appointed bedrooms all across the nation and it would appear that the American housewife’s libido was in the deep freeze. An

vintage illustration couple in bed

The Frigid Woman in the Cold War

The cold war was a chilly time to be an American woman. A big chill had crept into the well-appointed bedrooms all across the nation and it would appear that the American housewife’s libido was in the deep freeze. An

vintage illustation future cars

Predictions for 1975

Past Perfect- New Years Predictions The New Year has always been the traditional time for crystal ball gazing offering tantalizing predictions for our imagined future. Who can resist pondering what great scientific discoveries and technological wonders the future will hold.

vintage illustation future cars

Predictions for 1975

Past Perfect- New Years Predictions The New Year has always been the traditional time for crystal ball gazing offering tantalizing predictions for our imagined future. Who can resist pondering what great scientific discoveries and technological wonders the future will hold.

couple smoking

Remembrance of New Years Eve Past Pt II

New Years Eve Party The countdown to my parents  1959 New Years Eve party had begun. On the cusp of the space age my parents prepared for a new years Eve Party that would send them soaring into the world

couple smoking

Remembrance of New Years Eve Past Pt II

New Years Eve Party The countdown to my parents  1959 New Years Eve party had begun. On the cusp of the space age my parents prepared for a new years Eve Party that would send them soaring into the world

vintage photo peple watching TV New years Eve

New Years Eve and Television

Long before Dick Clark rocked in the New Year from Times Square , New Years Eve belonged to Guy Lombardo. For one night the Canadian bandleader and his Royal Canadian Orchestra ruled television. A childhood viewing ritual that rarely varied,

vintage photo peple watching TV New years Eve

New Years Eve and Television

Long before Dick Clark rocked in the New Year from Times Square , New Years Eve belonged to Guy Lombardo. For one night the Canadian bandleader and his Royal Canadian Orchestra ruled television. A childhood viewing ritual that rarely varied,

Vintage illustration Santa and Xmas Lights

Christmas- The True Festival of Lights

The coincidence of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving this year has set things off balance, and finally given the Jews an edge in the Festival of Lights. Normally, while Jews across the country begin celebrating Hanukkah, the festival of lights, Christians have

Vintage illustration Santa and Xmas Lights

Christmas- The True Festival of Lights

The coincidence of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving this year has set things off balance, and finally given the Jews an edge in the Festival of Lights. Normally, while Jews across the country begin celebrating Hanukkah, the festival of lights, Christians have