Skip to content
{"Bottom bar":{"textstyle":"static","textpositionstatic":"bottom","textautohide":true,"textpositionmarginstatic":0,"textpositiondynamic":"bottomleft","textpositionmarginleft":24,"textpositionmarginright":24,"textpositionmargintop":24,"textpositionmarginbottom":24,"texteffect":"slide","texteffecteasing":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration":600,"texteffectslidedirection":"left","texteffectslidedistance":30,"texteffectdelay":500,"texteffectseparate":false,"texteffect1":"slide","texteffectslidedirection1":"right","texteffectslidedistance1":120,"texteffecteasing1":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration1":600,"texteffectdelay1":1000,"texteffect2":"slide","texteffectslidedirection2":"right","texteffectslidedistance2":120,"texteffecteasing2":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration2":600,"texteffectdelay2":1500,"textcss":"display:block; padding:12px; text-align:left;","textbgcss":"display:block; position:absolute; top:0px; left:0px; width:100%; height:100%; background-color:#333333; opacity:0.6; filter:alpha(opacity=60);","titlecss":"display:block; position:relative; font:bold 14px Georgia,serif,Arial; color:#fff;","descriptioncss":"display:block; position:relative; font:12px Georgia,serif,Arial; color:#fff; margin-top:8px;","buttoncss":"display:block; position:relative; margin-top:8px;","texteffectresponsive":true,"texteffectresponsivesize":640,"titlecssresponsive":"font-size:12px;","descriptioncssresponsive":"display:none !important;","buttoncssresponsive":"","addgooglefonts":false,"googlefonts":"","textleftrightpercentforstatic":40},"None":{"textstyle":"none","textpositionstatic":"bottom","textautohide":true,"textpositionmarginstatic":0,"textpositiondynamic":"bottomleft","textpositionmarginleft":24,"textpositionmarginright":24,"textpositionmargintop":24,"textpositionmarginbottom":24,"texteffect":"slide","texteffecteasing":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration":600,"texteffectslidedirection":"left","texteffectslidedistance":30,"texteffectdelay":500,"texteffectseparate":false,"texteffect1":"slide","texteffectslidedirection1":"right","texteffectslidedistance1":120,"texteffecteasing1":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration1":600,"texteffectdelay1":1000,"texteffect2":"slide","texteffectslidedirection2":"right","texteffectslidedistance2":120,"texteffecteasing2":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration2":600,"texteffectdelay2":1500,"textcss":"display:block; padding:12px; text-align:left;","textbgcss":"display:block; position:absolute; top:0px; left:0px; width:100%; height:100%; background-color:#333333; opacity:0.6; filter:alpha(opacity=60);","titlecss":"display:block; position:relative; font:bold 14px Georgia,serif,Arial; color:#fff;","descriptioncss":"display:block; position:relative; font:12px Georgia,serif,Arial; color:#fff; margin-top:8px;","buttoncss":"display:block; position:relative; margin-top:8px;","texteffectresponsive":true,"texteffectresponsivesize":640,"titlecssresponsive":"font-size:12px;","descriptioncssresponsive":"display:none !important;","buttoncssresponsive":"","addgooglefonts":false,"googlefonts":"","textleftrightpercentforstatic":40}}
  • cb-header-14
  • cb-header-13
  • cb-header-12
  • cb-header-11
  • cb-header-10
  • cb-header-09
  • cb-header-08
  • cb-header-07
  • cb-header-06
  • cb-header-05
  • cb-header-04
  • cb-header-03
  • cb-header-02
  • cb-header-01
  • cb-header-14
  • cb-header-13
  • cb-header-12
  • cb-header-11
  • cb-header-10
  • cb-header-09
  • cb-header-08
  • cb-header-07
  • cb-header-06
  • cb-header-05
  • cb-header-04
  • cb-header-03
  • cb-header-02
  • cb-header-01
Responsive WordPress Image Slider Plugin

The Catalog Blog

Cool things from 20th-century American Catalogs

  • Hers
  • His
  • Kids
  • Around the House
  • Tools of the Trades
  • The Great Outdoors
  • Higher Tech
  • Gifts & Gizmos
  • The Wish Book
  • 1900s
  • 1910s
  • 1920s
  • 1930s
  • 1940s
  • 1950s
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
  • 1980s
  • 1990s

Category: 1960s

“And what are you supposed to be?”
Posted on October 15, 2019October 14, 2019

Collegeville / Woolworth, 1967
“And what are you supposed to be?”

Collegeville (Woolworth), 1967 All I’m sayin’ is that cosplay was once a lot simpler. Halloween costumes from the late 1960s were typically a plastic mask, a glorified pair of pajamas, and maybe a wig. That’s if you were lucky and your mom took you to Woolworth’s, where you could purchase an off-model Bugs Bunny. If … Continue reading “And what are you supposed to be?”

Style Starts Early
Posted on September 3, 2019

Neiman-Marcus, 1960
Style Starts Early

Neiman’s reels them in at a young age, with the kind of outfits you might see on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s children. Continue reading Style Starts Early

When giant cars ruled the earth
Posted on July 2, 2019July 2, 2019

Buick, 1966
When giant cars ruled the earth

Buick Automobiles for 1966 We’re talking back in the days when men were men, cars were cars, and women were models. In 1966, size was important. The catalog was oversized (10″ x 13″) because the cars were oversized, and how else would you convey the impact? Look at the dashboard on the Buick Riviera. I … Continue reading When giant cars ruled the earth

Three Chairs
Posted on March 25, 2019March 26, 2019

Sweet's Interior Design File, 1970
Three Chairs

Three groups of chairs by three different designers, from three different eras, yet all irresistibly modern… Continue reading Three Chairs

A Gaggle of Groovy Guitars
Posted on February 18, 2019February 17, 2019

Bennett Brothers, 1969
A Gaggle of Groovy Guitars

We’ve got groovy guitars…and dynamic drums…for your rock and roll combo. Continue reading A Gaggle of Groovy Guitars

Stuff
Posted on January 21, 2019

Niresk Industries, 1960
Stuff

Looking at this Niresk catalog, I’m reminded of the late comic George Carlin’s genius observations on “stuff.” Most of the stuff in this 1960 Niresk catalog is, just…well…cheap stuff. And this stuff has stuff stuffed into it, no less. Continue reading Stuff

Christmas 1961: One for the Boys
Posted on December 13, 2018

White's, 1961
Christmas 1961: One for the Boys

Unlike girls, boys did have lots of career options in 1961. But they did face death. Continue reading Christmas 1961: One for the Boys

Girls’ Gifts: Gender Definitions for 1961
Posted on December 10, 2018

White's, 1961
Girls’ Gifts: Gender Definitions for 1961

If there were any doubt about how strongly gender roles and expectations were once ingrained in American lives, this 1961 White’s Christmas catalog should remove all doubt. Continue reading Girls’ Gifts: Gender Definitions for 1961

“As Seen on TV!”
Posted on November 29, 2018November 29, 2018

National Bella Hess, 1961
“As Seen on TV!”

Sears had no lock on Christmas catalogs that children would covet. Here’s a couple of thin-paper pages from 1961 with toys that any mid-century video-besotted-kid would want. Continue reading “As Seen on TV!”

There she is, Mrs America
Posted on November 15, 2018November 14, 2018

Gold Bell Stamps, 1963
There she is, Mrs America

There’s no better way to sell to the average dreams of the everyday housewife than to show them an idealized version to aspire to. Continue reading There she is, Mrs America

Posts navigation

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Next page

Menu

  • Hers
  • His
  • Kids
  • Around the House
  • Tools of the Trades
  • The Great Outdoors
  • Higher Tech
  • Gifts & Gizmos
  • The Wish Book

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.

The Catalog Blog: Original Content Copyright 2019