Well, we are well into summer now, so I suppose this would be a good time to discuss hammocks. Hammocks have a role of their own to play in the postcard world. Despite the occasional reference to hammocks used by those who go down to the sea in ships, and the occasional vacationer besetContinue reading “Summer Seats”
Tag Archives: Postcards
More Yocks of Yore
As we near the end of the chapters in my old joke quizbook, the offerings become more miscellaneous, but I can assure you that the quality of the gags themselves will not diminish for being less organized. (I heard that, you in the back. For that, you can stay after class and watch recordingsContinue reading “More Yocks of Yore”
Watch for Those Mosquitoes
Once upon a time, watermelon fondue, it wasn’t as easy to get water-soaked as it is today. Taking a bath involved heating many buckets of water and filling a large waterproof tub in a large warm room (frequently the kitchen, so the tub was near the stove, meaning both the water and the batherContinue reading “Watch for Those Mosquitoes”
By Two and Two
No, thank you for asking, we have not quite covered every aspect of alcohol as examined in the postcards of yesteryear. Our relationship with the juice of the barley is complex. The traditions brought by European immigrants were divided along a north-south boundary between southern cultures from warm climates, who drank to loosenContinue reading “By Two and Two”
You Didn’t Say When
See, this guy walks out of a bar…. The joke must be as old as the tavern: as long as there have been establishments outside the home where alcohol was served, stories have told of the epic journey to return home with diminished skills of judgement and navigation. When we finally decipher theContinue reading “You Didn’t Say When”
Dad Chores
Father’s Day was not much of an occasion among postcard publishers. It started to be celebrated in the United States around 1910, which was right in the first Golden Age for postcards, but as a holiday it took a long while to catch on. Predictably, like Mother’s Day, it didn’t really get a footholdContinue reading “Dad Chores”
Can You She the Point?
I have come to you before with postcards which have puzzled me, and so far no one has cared enough to present me with any possible explanations. This time around, I thought I would offer a few ladies with mysterious ways, and hope their winsome smiles might tempt you to help me with myContinue reading “Can You She the Point?”
Rocking the Album
Once upon a bygone century, any Victorian home above a certain level of prosperity possessed a parlor. The parlor served as a place to entertain guests, and was sometimes completely locked away from the rest of the family on non-guest days. The parlor was not just a spot for entertainment and refreshment, see: itContinue reading “Rocking the Album”
Who Brings Baby Storks?
This sort of thing used to depress me no end. Selling unused baby books was sometimes entertaining, as one glanced at the sorts of things the publisher thought you would want to record forever, plus the odd illustrations they added to the pages. Those that were filled in, however, were depressing. Was no oneContinue reading “Who Brings Baby Storks?”
Well Plaid
Artist Frederick J. Cavally did a magnificent set of ethnic stereotype postcards in 1910 or thereabouts. He seemed to like doing faces—a number of his non-ethnic postcards feature a large funny portrait with a message—but this really exercised his talents. Each ethnic group was portrayed in two cards, one a male portrait and oneContinue reading “Well Plaid”
Blogsy Babbles 