Now, as you’ll recall, in a blog titled “And Whiskey and Wild, Wild Women,” we examined the use od cigarettes on postcards. Although cigarettes are everywhere in mid-century movies and television, we argued, on postcards they were primarily used to indicate a young woman who, like the one shown on this Seventies poster ofContinue reading “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That CIgarette”
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He Called For His Pipe
As we have, in this space, considered the place held in postcard cartoons by cigarettes and cigars, it is only logical to move to the pipe. (I dislike to throw spoilers into my text, but those of you who were planning to come around next Wednesday to read about snuff, snoose, or other similarContinue reading “He Called For His Pipe”
But a Good Cigar is a Smoke
Last week, in this space, we considered what the cartoonists who worked on postcards had to say about the smoking of cigarettes. The subject is a little larger than we could cover in one column (which gives us an excuse to return to it later) but we did see how often a woman whoContinue reading “But a Good Cigar is a Smoke”
And Whiskey and Wild, Wild Women
This Seventies poster showing off a postcard from the Nineteen Twenties shows one of the matters of social history made obvious when one watches mid-century television programs. Everybody smoked. This can be explained only partially by observing that many shows were sponsored by tobacco companies. Those same companies had worked hard to make theirContinue reading “And Whiskey and Wild, Wild Women”
How To. Or Not
I’m used to hearing that the things I spent time learning in school are now obsolete, irrelevant or offensive. I was proud of my ability to identify British Guiana, French Guiana, and Dutch Guiana on the map of South America (they were in alphabetical order from left to right) but that’s a little lessContinue reading “How To. Or Not”
FICTION FRIDAY: Storybook Romance
“I’m doomed to live single forever.” “Oh, I don’t know. If Your Highness fixed up that haircut, and showered a little more often.” “That’s not the problem, My Lady. My parents offended my fairy godmother, Ashsiaix….” “Ashsiaix?” “Yes, the fairy godmother with white streaks in her purple eyebrows. My parentsContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Storybook Romance”
Gee Whiz
I was just standing there minding my own business, when the thought struck me. Just what IS the deal with that dog? Or horse? And exactly who’s the shady figure behind the deal? The Interwebs took some convincing before it would help at all. I KNOW the computer has done a lot toContinue reading “Gee Whiz”
See More Sea Shore
“Shall I sell you something, sir?” “Yer kinda cute. Whatcha got fer sale?” “Seashells.” “Seashells? We’s at da beach!” “Yes, sir. I sell seashells by the seashore.” “What the hey? I can walk all over and pick up my own seashells! Ya can’t make much doing ‘at?” “Well,Continue reading “See More Sea Shore”
Finding a Good Seat
Last week, we looked into the role played on postcards of couches, sofas, davenports, and settees, concentrated on postcards which showed the usefulness of this type of furniture for courting couples. However, postcard artists were also alive to the possibilities of the couch as a setting for women sitting by themselves. The wordContinue reading “Finding a Good Seat”
Sofa Sogood
We have, in this space, considered what our postcard artists have shown us about the mechanics of romantic couples sitting together on park benches, in boats, on the road in buggies or automobiles, and in hammocks. Today we shall consider the dramatic range afforded by the couch. See, there is not nearly asContinue reading “Sofa Sogood”
Blogsy Babbles 