Tag Archives: Postcards

Out On a Tear

     There was never any real plan to do a dissertation on the history of wardrobe malfunctions in art, even just in postcard art.  However, the possibilities of revealing accidents are limitless, and it is a fear common to most of us, regardless of class or gender.  As a mighty philosopher once stated, “Everybody’s gotContinue reading “Out On a Tear”

Keep Your Skirt Down; You’re a Big Girl Now

     In our last thrilling episode, we were considering the Windy Day school of Wardrobe Malfunction postcards.  These small cardboard jokes were aimed primarily at a bit more leg exposure than was allowed the average woman going about her daily chores.  But if the breezes did not cooperate, an artist could resort to more slapstickContinue reading “Keep Your Skirt Down; You’re a Big Girl Now”

Now You See It, Now You….

     I was going to write a quick and breezy column about the wonderful world of wardrobe malfunctions in bygone postcards.  Dropped pants, bathing suits torn in quite the wrong places…it was going to be a high class, high tone study of the humor of previous generations.      But there was a theme that wasContinue reading “Now You See It, Now You….”

Got a Feelin’ You’re Foolin’

     And so we come to April Fool’s Day.  This is a holiday with a rich tradition of postcard-sending, but not so much in this country.  As we have treated elsewhere hereintoforehitherto about the cheerful French tradition of fish postcards which combine April Fool’s Day with the old style New Year celebrations.  So today weContinue reading “Got a Feelin’ You’re Foolin’”

Suds and Songs

     The association of wine, women, and song is an ancient one, and carries cultural baggage too multitudinous to unpack in a single blog (or year of blogs).  The tradition in comedy of singing among men who have lubricated their windpipes sufficiently to break down discretion is also a bit much to consider in oneContinue reading “Suds and Songs”

Did They Really…Yeah, They Did

     For reasons we needn’t go into, the above has never been one of my favorite gags.  But I believe it helps illustrate that our ancestors were not as shy about sex as we like to believe.  (As noted hereintofore, that’s how they got to be ancestors.)  This is a joke which makes absolutely noContinue reading “Did They Really…Yeah, They Did”

CRUSHES OF YORE

     I am not sure we have ever discussed in this space the phenomenon of the pin-up joke, a classic of humor for decades.  Of course, you know what a pin-up is: THAT goes back for centuries (possibly millennia, depending on whether those cave paintings and ancient sculptures were offerings to a fertility goddess orContinue reading “CRUSHES OF YORE”

Having It Both Ways

     A few months gone, we discussed in this space the concept of the trade card, a Victorian sales device issued by stores who realized that if people started collecting these, they would come to the store to see if a new one was ready.  Getting someone into the store was half the battle, afterContinue reading “Having It Both Ways”