The Western’s popularity rises and falls, but has not gone away for at least a century and a half. The last big era for postcards coincided with an era that valued Westerns highly: they were still popular in cheap, kid-friendly movies (“oaters”), proliferated across radio (“Return with us now to the thrilling days ofContinue reading “Oh, a Cowboy Needs a….”
Tag Archives: Postcards
Name That Tune
I was leafing through the postcards in my Music and Songs category, reminiscing about the hoops some of these songs made me jump through, sometimes just to find out the line reference WAS from a song. I still have my suspicions about some others, but the research is seldom simple, as this type ofContinue reading “Name That Tune”
Coulda Oughta
It seems like just the other day that I was going through my inventory of postcards showing old cars so that I could illustrate a column filled with fine old jokes. Come to think of it, that WAS just the other day. You can go back and read the last blog any old timeContinue reading “Coulda Oughta”
Auto Incorrect
Antique postcards with cars tell us how different driving was, once upon a time. They take us back to when steering wheels were just replacing the tiller and all cars were reverse convertibles (you had to stop somewhere to put the roof ON.) Dusty ghosts of bygone rules rise from the past and weContinue reading “Auto Incorrect”
A Tired Tale
In the middle of the last century, a number of postcard publishers decided to take arms against a major injustice. They, and their staff cartoonists, did their very best to draw the attention of the American public to thus social evil, hoping to provoke action on behalf of an overworked and underappreciated stalwart ofContinue reading “A Tired Tale”
Sinking Sensation
Let’s talk household chores. I love ‘em, myself. I am constantly amazed by the number of other things I get done by simply thinking, “Well, it’s this or do the dishes.” Even as a child, though, I resented all the folktales which suggested that if men and women switched jobs, the women wouldContinue reading “Sinking Sensation”
Guilt-Edged Stationery
We have discussed this before, but one of the jobs postcards tried to handle for two or three generations was nagging people to write. It was a rule of etiquette at the time, you see. If I write you a letter, then the ball is in your court. Now you owe ME one. Continue reading “Guilt-Edged Stationery”
Next Year’s Summer Movies
I have been less than perfectly successful selling these postcards as collectibles (you did note somewhere that I have these things for sale, right? It’s hard to tell, sometimes.) So, looking around for another way to make my millions, I wonder if I can sell a few movie studios on purchasing a bundle toContinue reading “Next Year’s Summer Movies”
Missed Millions
I have mentioned here and elsewhere how I personally, invented some million dollar concepts, only to be turned away by experts so that I gave up, allowing people with more grit and perseverance to get the glory and the money. The page-a-day calendar, the trivia board game, the shared universe short story anthology: theseContinue reading “Missed Millions”
Advenures in Archaeology (Joke Division)
The problem with archaeology is that the world wants answers, not just simple answers, but answers which are simple and absolutely fascinating. For every person who is interested in controversies about pharaonic Egyptian paint composition, there are a thousand who want to know how many ancient Egyptian temple maidens were blonde. This is aContinue reading “Advenures in Archaeology (Joke Division)”