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.

Errol Can't Keep his Pants On

"Dr. Stork may have to resort to a battle-proof tank, and wear steel armor, but he'll get through nevertheless to the Errol Flynn manse this year. Lili Damita is still Mrs. Errol, despite gossip and numerous separations, and colorfully stages battles, with Husband Flynn." (Film Fun, 1941)

The child was Sean Flynn, born May 31, 1941 and probably passed away in April 1970 when he was captured by the Viet Cong in Cambodia.

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 Hair Torture

A little girl from 1938 getting a perm. I have no idea how she sat still for this procedure.

This pic shows our Vintage Inspiration from yesterday, Joan Blondell, enjoying her permanent. These permanents were done by sectioning hair into about 20+ sections and winding hair starting at the root, and winding it up the curler. Heat was applied and thus the curls. Staring in the 1930s, chemicals were used to seal the curl, gradually discontinuing these fun devices. I'm not sure what's worse for your hair - tons of heat or harsh chemicals . . .

Weird Wednesday: Lil' Smoker

This is two-year-old Arthur "Butch" Leonard Lindbloom III. Apparently this little tike was stressed out in 1938 (when this photo was taken) because he needs a cigarette break. Curious why the Life photographer and the person who we see in shadow in the picture apparently didn't think it was a big deal.

I couldn't find any info on little "Butch", but apparently this poster is for sale all over the place and even on display in museums.