Thanksgivings of Yore

You still have enough time in the next two weeks to rearrange your life so that your holiday mirrors the Eisenhowerian perfection on display here

Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 14, 2009 - Comments (4)
Category: Family, Holidays, Television, 1950s

Ahead of its Time #1

Of course, not everyone had bad ideas in those old issues of Popular Science. Many of the ideas for new products were quite brilliant. This series will look at ideas that were ahead of their time. Today's lesson: In Car Tape Deck.



(from the March 1954 issue of Popular Science)

For a little background, the modern tape recorder came about in 1939, but it wasn't refined enough for commercial use until the late 1940s. Reel to reel tape recorders started to become common home recording machines in the mid 1950s and as a professional home audio format in the late 1950s. The first automobile tape player was the Muntz Stereo-Pak of 1962 which evolved in the Lear Jet Stereo 8 (better known as 8 Track) in 1964. Even so, 8 track players didn't become common in cars until the late 1960s, so unfortunately A. P. Sabol had another fifteen years to wait before his request was answered...

Posted By: Salamander Sam - Thu Nov 12, 2009 - Comments (7)
Category: Technology, 1950s, Cars, Yesterday’s Tomorrows

Aqua Frolics

'

Why not have your Thanksgiving turkey dinner underwater this year?

Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 11, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Exercise and Fitness, Movies, Documentaries, Recreation, Sports, 1950s

Follies of the Mad Men #76

[From The Saturday Evening Post for October 10 1953. Two scans, top and bottom.]

Nothing like aligning your product with a civilization that practiced human sacrifice. The Incas weren't the Aztecs, but as Wikipedia reminds us: "There is [sic] archaeological discoveries supporting the presence of sacrifice within Inca society according to Reinhard and Ceruti: 'Archaeological evidence found on distant mountain summits has established that the burial of offerings was a common practice among the Incas and that human sacrifice took place at several of the sites.The excellent preservation of the bodies and other material in the cold and dry environment of the high Andes provides revealing details about the rituals that were performed at these ceremonial complexes.'"

And did they actually make the best ink ever? I can't find any reference to such an accomplishment.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 10, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, History, Archaeology, 1950s, South America

Toward Emotional Maturity

Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 07, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Education, Teenagers, Documentaries, 1950s

Follies of the Mad Men #75

Are "zip, zing and pep" actual scientific elements recognized by the FDA?

Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 03, 2009 - Comments (7)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Food, Children, 1950s

Happy Halloween!

Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 31, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Holidays, Movies, Documentaries, 1950s, Fictional Monsters

Cheating

Obviously, Bernie Madoff and too many other prominent figures were never exposed to this video in their youth

Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 24, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Education, Family, Juvenile Delinquency, Teenagers, Lies, Dishonesty and Cheating, Documentaries, 1950s

Hair Dress Through the Ages

Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 16, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: History, Hair Styling, 1950s

Italian police motorcycle stunts

Just when you'd thought you'd seen it all, the Italian police demonstrate their considerable skill in a motorcycle display from the 1950's.



Groovy music adds to the effect. You will forget these are motorcycles!!

Posted By: gdanea - Tue Oct 13, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: 1950s