Tag Archives: Postcards

Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That CIgarette

     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”

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”

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”

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”

Safe To Go Back in the Water?

     One of the common paradoxes examined in old postcards is the conflict between people who go fishing in hopes of getting a bite, and then being shocked when they get one.  Dogs and mosquitoes are the usual sources of discontent, but the world of aquatic life offers creatures who get logical revenge on theContinue reading “Safe To Go Back in the Water?”

What Are Those Boots Made For?

     We seem to have been spending a lot of time lately on the sexual antics and/or misdeeds of our ancestors, and on my way to something else, I began to wonder about the old story of the walk home from the ride in the country.  You must know the drill: young man with aContinue reading “What Are Those Boots Made For?”

HERE It Is

     You will recall, from our last thrilling episode, that we were discussing a wildly popular postcard theme we discussed in this space some years ago: the “How Come You Haven’t Written To Me?” cartoon.      The expectation that when you wrote a card or letter you expected one back by return mail (an expectationContinue reading “HERE It Is”