Category Archives: Suburbia

1950s housewife

The Real Housewives of the Cold War

Like most women growing up in the 1950s and 1960s I was fed a generous serving of sugar-coated media stereotypes of happy homemakers who were as frozen and neatly packaged as the processed foods they served their cold war families.

1950s housewife

The Real Housewives of the Cold War

Like most women growing up in the 1950s and 1960s I was fed a generous serving of sugar-coated media stereotypes of happy homemakers who were as frozen and neatly packaged as the processed foods they served their cold war families.

1950s Housewife vintage ad

Occupation: 1960 Housewife

The mid-century American Housewife was the most envied woman in the world…smart…yet easy-going with never-you-mind freedom; that was the new Mrs. America! “To be an American woman today,” Life Magazine gushed in a late 1956  special edition dedicated to the

1950s Housewife vintage ad

Occupation: 1960 Housewife

The mid-century American Housewife was the most envied woman in the world…smart…yet easy-going with never-you-mind freedom; that was the new Mrs. America! “To be an American woman today,” Life Magazine gushed in a late 1956  special edition dedicated to the

vintage illustration passengers on airlplane

The Jet Age Hits The Suburbs Pt II

Starting in the fall of 1958 the roar of jets could be heard streaking through the blue skies of my Long Island suburban neighborhood, screeching over split levels, supermarkets and elementary schools on a daily basis. In a flash,  it

vintage illustration passengers on airlplane

The Jet Age Hits The Suburbs Pt II

Starting in the fall of 1958 the roar of jets could be heard streaking through the blue skies of my Long Island suburban neighborhood, screeching over split levels, supermarkets and elementary schools on a daily basis. In a flash,  it

Travel Airplane TWA

The Jet Age Hits Suburbia

Morning Lift Off  Intruding upon on our leisurely Sunday morning breakfast in the winter of 1958, the rude roar of the airplane passing overhead totally obliterated the happy snap, crackle and pop sound effects of my Rice Krispies. Distracted by

Travel Airplane TWA

The Jet Age Hits Suburbia

Morning Lift Off  Intruding upon on our leisurely Sunday morning breakfast in the winter of 1958, the rude roar of the airplane passing overhead totally obliterated the happy snap, crackle and pop sound effects of my Rice Krispies. Distracted by

illustration man sneezing old ad

Memories of the Mid-Century Flu Outbreak: PT II

In the cold winter of 1957, my Mother came down with a nasty case of the Asiatic flu that was spreading through the country. Just like today, the flu was on the march and health authorities everywhere were girding for

illustration man sneezing old ad

Memories of the Mid-Century Flu Outbreak: PT II

In the cold winter of 1957, my Mother came down with a nasty case of the Asiatic flu that was spreading through the country. Just like today, the flu was on the march and health authorities everywhere were girding for

vintage ad illustration colds listerine flu

Memories of the Mid-Century Flu Outbreak

As the U.S. finds itself in the worst flu epidemic in years, I take a look back to the winter of 1957 when the Asiatic Flu terrorized the nation, and hit close to home. 1957 was a gloomy winter; as

vintage ad illustration colds listerine flu

Memories of the Mid-Century Flu Outbreak

As the U.S. finds itself in the worst flu epidemic in years, I take a look back to the winter of 1957 when the Asiatic Flu terrorized the nation, and hit close to home. 1957 was a gloomy winter; as

vintage tech suburbs 1950s

Back to The Future Pt.III Retro Tech for the Suburbs

Leisure in the Suburbs The future suburbanite as envisioned by mid-century ad men would have a life of unparalleled  ease. The future of the past was populated with robotic like contractions that would take care of all the hard work.

vintage tech suburbs 1950s

Back to The Future Pt.III Retro Tech for the Suburbs

Leisure in the Suburbs The future suburbanite as envisioned by mid-century ad men would have a life of unparalleled  ease. The future of the past was populated with robotic like contractions that would take care of all the hard work.

vintage ad pepsi party adults illustration

Remembrance of New Years Eve Past Pt III

The final countdown to New Years Eve 1960 had begun. It was a few minutes to midnight and that marvelous World of Tomorrow was nearly here. While my parents New Years Eve party was in full swing, I was down

vintage ad pepsi party adults illustration

Remembrance of New Years Eve Past Pt III

The final countdown to New Years Eve 1960 had begun. It was a few minutes to midnight and that marvelous World of Tomorrow was nearly here. While my parents New Years Eve party was in full swing, I was down

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

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 illustration adults party 1950s

Remembrance of New Years Eve Past Pt I

Back to the Future It was a freezing finish to the fifties, that last day in December of 1959, and the exciting “World of Tomorrow” 1960 was less than twenty-four hours away. The far-off world that had captivated my parents

vintage illustration adults party 1950s

Remembrance of New Years Eve Past Pt I

Back to the Future It was a freezing finish to the fifties, that last day in December of 1959, and the exciting “World of Tomorrow” 1960 was less than twenty-four hours away. The far-off world that had captivated my parents