Sun bathing at Bikini again

You get a killer tan, even at night.

The original residents of Bikini were never able to return.

The Miami News - July 3, 1946

Update: Found a better quality copy of the picture. (source)

Posted By: Alex - Sat Aug 26, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1940s

The Gandhi Diet

I'm surprised no one has yet cashed in on this and written a bestseller called THE GANDHI DIET.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Aug 26, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Celebrities, Reformers, Do-gooders, Agitators and SJWs, Nutrition, Historical Figure, 1930s, India

Butter Coffee

I posted five years ago about Norwegian Egg Coffee. But egg isn't the only unusual thing that people add to their coffee. A few years ago, there was a fad for butter coffee, aka Bulletproof Coffee. As the name implies, you mix butter into your coffee. People often add in some coconut oil as well. Apparently the butter binds with the caffeine, giving a longer, more powerful caffeine buzz. According to testimonials, it doesn't taste bad at all.



I'd be willing to give butter coffee a try, but I'll give mayonnaise coffee a pass.

Posted By: Alex - Fri Aug 25, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Food, Coffee and other Legal Stimulants

Civilization

Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 25, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category: Culture and Civilization, Music, Foreign Customs, 1940s

Name That List, #41

What is this a list of? The answer is below in extended.

• a headstone with the inscription "You will never be forgotten"
• a toilet seat and cistern
• a life-size mannequin
• a glass eye
• cast iron dungeon keys
• a single contact lens
• a slingshot
• a calorie consumption counter
• a large drawing of a rhino
• numerous harmonicas

More in extended >>

Posted By: Alex - Thu Aug 24, 2017 - Comments (8)
Category: Name That List

Mystery Illustration 55

Who? What? When? Why? Huh?

The answer is here.



And after the jump.

More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Thu Aug 24, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category: Costumes and Masks, 1960s

More Potato Chip Queens

Inspired by Paul's post yesterday about the Potato Chip Queen contest, I did some research over at newspapers.com (subscription required) and came up with what I believe is a complete list of the Potato Chip Queens from 1946 to 1956, except for 1947 for which year I can't find any info. Perhaps there was no queen that year. After 1956 the contest seems to have transitioned into a Miss Teen Potato Chip contest. So, not quite the same.

Based on what I found, Nikki Geer was awarded the crown in 1946, but Paul found info indicating it was given to Dorothea Fagnano. Since Dorothea was only 15, I'm guessing she must have been given some kind of teen version of the crown.

Also, In 1952 the crown was given to a chipmunk ("Miss Potato Chip-munk").

Finally, the Potato Chip Queen for 1953, Joan Gehan (aka UN-KA-PU-CHI), was so popular that the next year they promoted her to "Miss Potato Chip of the Century."

1946: Nikki Geer
Shickshinny Mountain Echo - Nov 8, 1946

1948: Joan Smith
Opelousas Daily World - Feb 12, 1948

1949: Patricia Hunter
Zanesville Times Recorder - Jan 29, 1949

Edit: Found a picture of Pat Hunter's potato chip photoshoot in Life - Feb 28, 1949.

1950: Peggy Sharpe
Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Mar 19, 1950

1951: Edie Pike
Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Mar 4, 1951

1952: Miss Potato Chip-munk (with maid-in-waiting Ronda Sherwood)
Marengo Republican News - Feb 7, 1952

1953: Joan Gehan — promoted to "Miss Potato Chip of the Century" in 1954
Image via TOGACHIPGUY.com

Pittsburgh Press - Jan 28, 1954

1955: Ruth Burkhart
Kingsport Times-News - Mar 6, 1955

1956: Elaine Kuntz
Louisville Courier-Journal - Jan 29, 1956

Update: a better picture of the 1956 winner, Elaine Kuntz. (via Pinterest)

Posted By: Alex - Wed Aug 23, 2017 - Comments (5)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Junk Food, 1940s, 1950s

Aviary

A little additional info.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 23, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Music, 1970s

Potato Chip Casserole a la Gorton

WU-vie MJBIRD asks for the winning recipe associated with the first Potato Chip Queen. I found a slightly imperfect OCR of it here!

If anyone makes it, please report!

Potato Chips A la Gorton
2 tbs. flour
3 cups coarsely crushed potato chips
1 cup milk
6 medium size carrots
tsp. salt
8 medium size onions
tsp. pepper
2 tbs butter or margarine
[Illegible] cup grated American cheese

Scrape carrots and slice into [Illegible]-inch slices.
Cook until tender in boiling, salted water. Drain.
Pare onions and slice in [illegible]-inch slices. Cook until tender in boiling, salted water. Drain.
Melt butter or margarine in a heavy sauce-pan. Add the flour and blend. Add the milk and cook and stir until cheese is melted.
Arrange half of carrots in bottom of a greased casserole dish. Cover with a layer of crushed potato chips, then with half the onions. Cover with crushed potato chips.
Repeat layers.
Top with sauce mixture and a dash of paprika. Bake in a moderate oven, 350 degrees, for about 20 minutes, or until thoroughly heated and lightly browned.
Makes 5-6 servings.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 22, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: Food, Reader Recommendation, 1940s

Concha Consciousness

Created in 1977 by Mr. X, and his partner Mr. Y, both of whom wanted to stay anonymous because they had "straight jobs in large corporations."

Concha-Consciousness consisted of genuine conch sells worn as a headset. "Slipped onto the head, the C-C is supposed to shut out nagging spouses, yelping dogs, screaming kids, the TV, and traffic noises. It's supposed to give you 'time out for a little serenity.'"

The first ad for Concha-Consciousness appeared in the New Yorker on Sept. 26, 1977. The headsets were subsequently featured on The Today Show.

Detroit Free Press - Dec 23, 1977

Posted By: Alex - Tue Aug 22, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Headgear, 1970s