Nuggets of Note - December 10, 2012

Christmas Girl from Chronically Vintage

Jessica over at Chronically Vintage has a delightful article about 25 Reasons to Smile this December.  Each reason is absolutely true and she features each reason with such wonderful vintage photographs.  I think I Pinned almost everything!  Her Flicker Favorites are great this week, too.

Book of Snowflakes; 1863

Letterology has a great post about 1863 Book of Snowflakes.  The illustrations are marvelous.

Gertie has a wonderful post about organizing her sewing room.  It has really inspired me to get my craft room in order.

Baby Peggy

Noir and Chick Flicks featured Baby Peggy, whose films were featured on TCM 12/3/2012.


Daytonian in Manhattan has a wonderful post about the Mrs Osborn Company building.  Another clothing great I'll have to research more.

306th Bomb Group

For the actor in me, Neatorama tries to find the origin of the phrase "break a leg".

Collectors Weekly has a great story about Bomber Jacket Art.  I just love the pinup and bomber art.

And who knew canoeing could be so risque?

Perm Machine; 1934

And a fun post about strange beauty practices of the past.  I have featured a few of these gizmos in my Weird Wednesday posts.  The most popular Weird Wednesday post is not a beauty post, but my post about the Kiddie Koup.

I had no idea some flappers could be so scheming.  The New York Times Review had a fascinating article about a flapper ponzi scheme.  The article also had a mini flapper dictionary at the end.

Mansion of Happiness Board Game

But then again, they ahead of their time.  It reminds me of a great article I read about the history of greedy board games, like Monopoly.  I adore vintage board games, so this post was right up my alley.

First Lady Grace Coolidge; 1923

And since December is basically cookie central in my home, this article about Girl Scout Cookie history seems timely.  I mostly give baked goods out as presents the past few years because of no job, but I love baking so it's good. I find it soothing.  If only I more room in my kitchen.

19th Century Doll House

I've always loved dolls and dollhouses, so I was really excited to see this article about a child's butcher shop dollhouse.  When I was in middle school, a project we had was to build a colonial model.  I was obsessed with Colonial Williamsburg, so I decided to build a model of its Bakery.  I still have parts of the Bakery.  I wish I would have taken better care of it.








  

Weird Wednesday - "Frigidine" Your Face

Modern Mechanics; January 1929

This beauty treatment looks quite scary!  I think I will stick with staying the way I am or with plain old witch hazel, which works just as well.

Weird Wednesday - Max Factor's Machine

Modern Mechanix; January 1935

Another example of how we will go to extremes to become "perfect".  Thank goodness I never have had the "pleasure" of being put in one of these gems.

What's in the Background, Bing and Dean?

Dean Martin and Bing Crosby Prepare for Television; 1958

This "Weird Wednesday" I thought I'd highlight two of my favorite singers - Dean Martin and Bing Crosby.  How cool is it that society was so non-litigious we were as a society that there is clearly photographic evidence of Bing and Dean smoking, in front of a no smoking sign, and it was no big deal?  I wish we could go back to that time.

Weird Wednesday - Stimulating Beauty Mask

Modern Mechanix June 1933

Doesn't sound that a comfortable way to stay young.  I would be too claustrophobic to put up with this beauty treatment.  

Weird Wednesday - Glare Glasses

Popular Science July 1932

Glare has often troubled me when driving at night, but I've always wondered why nothing could be done about it.  These look more like x-ray specs than driving aids.  They must not have worked very well since they are not around in this form.

Weird Wednesday - Pencil Radio

This seems like something that would be useful for a spy or someone not wanting to get caught listening to a game during a meeting.

Irene Hervey

For a very thorough biography of Irene Hervey, read this wonderful post on Ann Lauren

Weird Wednesday - Monocle Hats

Popular Mechanics; April 1941

I can't say this is on my fashion must-have list.  Has anyone ever seen a hat like this in person?  Who knows, maybe it will be a new fad!

Betty Grable Goes Green

[Source:  Popular Science; January 1939]

Apparently this was only a problem with very early black and white television.  This being a black and white photo, I can't really tell what color they are painting on her.  I just wonder who figured it out.  Must have been a fun time experimenting.  And who knew Betty Grable appeared in such a cerebral publication?

Weird Wednesday - Paper Comb to the Rescue!

Popular Mechanics; January 1924

Hair sanitation was an issue in the 1920s just as much as it is today.  I can't tell you how much I cringe at the thought of sharing my hairbrush with a family member - let alone the brushes at the salon.  At school, they seemed to address the problem, on picture day at least, by giving everyone their own little comb when I was kid in the 1980s.  Do give out combs on picture day anymore I wonder?  I have to say that a paper comb would never do with my hair.  As thick as it is, I can barely get a regular comb to go through my hair let alone a paper one.  I just envision paper shreds all through my hair.

Women Combing Their Hair circa 1900

Weird Wednesday: The Birth of the Vanity Mirror

[Source: Modern Mechanix; February 1933]

I knew there was something missing from my car.  Who knew it was a mirror in the dash ?  Apparently this 1933 article is way ahead of its time because vanity mirrors are in every car these days.  I like how they brought up the safety aspect.  Maybe I'll have to think about my "vanity" mirror differently.

Weird Wednesday - Mousetrap Nail Guards

[Source: Popular Science; April 1940]

I'm not sure why Popular Science was highlighting this, nor why this was invented. It looks like little mousetraps on your fingers. Why must every strange invention look painful? I think I'd take my chances with my nail polish smearing.

Weird Wednesday - Snazzy Sun Protection

[Source: Popular Science February 1933]

I have to say I hate getting my nose sunburned, but I can't imagine that I would wear this beauties. I'll stick with good old sunscreen. It's not a beauty thing, but I can't imagine being able to see out of this things.

Weird Wednesday: Vibrating Curling Iron

Popular Science, 1940



Looks complicated, but I wonder if it really worked? Can't say I'd be at ease in that situation. And how much vibration are we talking about? Was it jarring, or more like an electric toothbrush? I have to say the woman testing out this vibrating curling iron does not look like she is comfortable.

Weird Wednesday - Bette Davis Getting Some Sun

Bette Davis gets a Suntan in her backyard in 1940. I guess some people will go to extremes to get a tan. Since this device looks like it is made from bars and cloth, I'm guessing it is for privacy rather than amplification of the suns rays. Looks more like a coffin to me. Does anyone know what the purpose of this contraption might be?

Weird Wednesday: Kelpidine - the "Miracle" Diet Candy

(From Movieland: February 1955)

Kelpidine Candy allegedly could help you lose 25 pounds in 25 days. What this ad does not say is that since you are on only a 1,000 calorie a day diet with this "diet plan", you are probably starving and still probably won't lose weight. Lucky for us, this candy made from seaweed did not have a lot of scientific research backing it. Naturally, lawsuits followed this product through the years because of it's wild claims. Since it's mostly made of iodine, the product wasn't safe for people with blood disorders such as diabetes or heart trouble. For a fun take on this ad, check out one of my favorite blogs Kitchen Retro.

Weird Wednesday - Sticking it to the Fuhrer

I found this fun ad on the back of my December 5-11, 1942 issue of Movie Radio Guide. I thought it would be a perfect fit for Weird Wednesday.

How did they know what I've always wanted to do?

Fantastic! It lasts a lifetime and even has his Prussian boots.

I looked all over the place for photos and video of FDR and the pin cushion, but was unsuccessful. It's got to be out there somewhere, but I haven't been able to find any today.

Definitely think Hitler would be hollering, but this women looks awfully pained having to stick him in the bum.

It's a club? And 10 days to decide? And a special 3 for $3.49? How could you not buy one?

Can you believe Hitler wouldn't endorse such an item? It's like he doesn't think it's funny that someone would stick pins in his bum. Obviously he needed a sense of humor

If you have one of these gems lying around your house today or see one at a yard sale, they go for $100 - $450. Not bad for a novelty pin cushion!

Weird Wednesday - Can Toilet Paper Stop Germs?

It never would occur to me that toilet paper could double as a surgical mask, but I suppose in wartime you had to do what you had to do. I'm not quite sure if this remedy worked but since I've always been a Charmin girl, I guess I'll never know.

Weird Wednesday Kiddie Koop

I found this fun little invention for child protection called the Kiddie Koop. It is basically the same concept as a chicken coop, or a playpen on stilts that is completely enclosed.

The Kiddie Koop was patented in Nov 25, 1913 by Edward Maurice Trimble of Rochester, New York. It is basically supposed to be a combination Crib and Play Pen.

According to the Patent Application, the crib could be lowered to the floor and the top removed so the baby could play.

To be used as a crib, the legs can be raised and covered so it can be an enclosed crib.

Sounds really interesting, because it could be folded up like a carrying crib of today.

Wonder why it fell out of style. All I can think of is that not many kids wanted to feel like a chicken in a cage.

Weird Wednesday Dog Show

Dog Shows bring out the Dog lover in all of us, and some disturbing characteristics if the film Best in Show is to be believed (Hilarious movie by the way). I happen to love watching Dog Shows, so I'm not ragging on them. The pups are just so cute!

This fun Dog Show is from 1946. Several society ladies showed off their own personal pets.

Not only that, but the animals were dressed up in costume

Don't know what's going on with this poor pup

Dachshunds in sweaters are timeless

And who doesn't love a pup in a bonnet?



Well, here is why this Dog Show was featured for Weird Wednesday. This "Birthday Cake" was presented at the dog show. Totally do not want to know what is in it.