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The Catalog Blog

Cool things from 20th-century American Catalogs

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Category: 1940s

“Now I’m the Life of the Party”
Posted on February 14, 2021

Douglas Magicland, 1943
“Now I’m the Life of the Party”

As if by magic, a young fellow suddenly finds fame and admiration, thanks to a few card tricks made possible by a deck of cards. Life changing? According to the copywriter, yes! Continue reading “Now I’m the Life of the Party”

Summer Break
Posted on July 7, 2020

Jim Brown, 1942
Summer Break

The Catalog Blog is on a brief summer hiatus. Continue reading Summer Break

Of Mikes and Men
Posted on June 16, 2020June 16, 2020

Shure Brothers, 1940
Of Mikes and Men

That sure ain’t Elvis, but it IS the microphone colloquially known as the Elvis Mike – the Shure 55S. Continue reading Of Mikes and Men

“Keep your home 10 to 20 degrees cooler this summer”
Posted on March 10, 2020

Montgomery Ward, 1949
“Keep your home 10 to 20 degrees cooler this summer”

In these days of climate-change-slash-global-warming, that promise seems as relevant as it did in 1949. Continue reading “Keep your home 10 to 20 degrees cooler this summer”

A Little Dickey for Valentine’s Day
Posted on February 11, 2020

Sears Roebuck, 1945
A Little Dickey for Valentine’s Day

No, not what you’re thinking. Continue reading A Little Dickey for Valentine’s Day

Music-Making by Mail
Posted on September 10, 2019

U.S. School of Music, 1947
Music-Making by Mail

You can learn to play an instrument at home, and once you do, your social life will improve, you’ll earn more money, and you’ll look like a young debutante in a low-cut dress… Continue reading Music-Making by Mail

Victory for Locavores
Posted on April 1, 2019April 1, 2019

Vaughan's Seed Company, 1944
Victory for Locavores

Such a deal for spring! Eleven healthy vegetable seed packets and a basic growing guide for only a buck.=.. Continue reading Victory for Locavores

The earliest known Duck Face
Posted on March 7, 2019March 7, 2019

Montgomery Ward, 1941
The earliest known Duck Face

Is that model really making a duck face? She’s ahead of her time… Continue reading The earliest known Duck Face

Mailmen! Firefighters! Policemen! Here are your shoes!
Posted on March 4, 2019March 3, 2019

Montgomery Ward, 1941
Mailmen! Firefighters! Policemen! Here are your shoes!

Exactly the types of people America expected to see delivering the mail or keeping the neighborhood safe – here they all are, in thrall to a shoe. Continue reading Mailmen! Firefighters! Policemen! Here are your shoes!

Modern Conveniences, Modern Women
Posted on February 28, 2019

Montgomery Ward, 1941
Modern Conveniences, Modern Women

Look at that bathtub. Isn’t that clever? A cabinet built into the side of the bath… Continue reading Modern Conveniences, Modern Women

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We're celebrating all the abundance and excitement found in vintage 20th century American catalogs: the exotic, the fashionable, the surprising, the latest, the coolest, the cheapest, the oddest, the choices.

Not just Sears and Montgomery Wards, You could buy anything from a catalog in the 20th century: from a box of raisins to a house, from a computer to a car, from a billy club to an inflatable brassiere. The old-time printed catalogues which arrived in the mailbox showed the 20th-century American Consumer just how to consume.

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