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For forty years there’s been a Star Wars movie that’s either just been released or about to be released. So it is this year, and so it was at Christmas 1983 when “Return of the Jedi” was still in theaters…. Continue reading A long time ago in a catalog far far away…
What to my wondering eyes should appear? It’s a baby sleigh! No tiny reindeer involved – these are to be pushed by an adult when taking the Dear Little One on an outing in the cold wintertime. This could be useful even a hundred years later — assuming you have the climate for it. Continue reading Where have “baby sleighs” gone?
Sears Wishbook 1983: See Barbie. See Ken. See Barbie’s Western Star Traveller RV. Drive, Barbie Drive. Drive to your Barbie McDonalds. Welcome to Barbie’s world. Continue reading Barbie’s World
Definition of a fad: you’re lookin’ at it. A Nylon Christmas Tree. “Thousands” of families made or bought them for a little while in the late 1950s. Continue reading A New Kind of Christmas Tree
Sears Wishbook 1983: Who knew – Santa comes in different versions! Leave it to Sears to include a thoughtful comparison chart which lets you determine which jolly old Elf you can afford… Continue reading Here come Santa Clauses…from Sears
Sexy Montgomery Ward, 1915 style: The first page of five showing off women’s “Union Suits” that would keep Her warm during the cold winter months. It reveals more about the female shape than was usually seen in public. Continue reading Closer to Victoria than Victoria’s Secret
In 1958, Velcro was brand-new, space-age technology imported from England. The ideal place to use it? Down the front of a man's jacket! At least that's what Sears did for Christmas. Continue reading The hot new Christmas Gift for 1958: Velcro!
For many people, the holidays are a lonely time. Separated from family, isolated from friends. What better way to deal with the holiday blues…than a good game of solitaire! Continue reading How to Be Alone and Like It
We’re talking about a toy gun, to be sure. But compared to our current world, where guns and what to do with them have become a flashpoint of fevered opinions and arguments, it’s breathtaking to behold how different things were 60 years ago. Continue reading Give your kid a gun for Christmas
This Montgomery Wards electronics catalog from 1948 assembles the vital components of a rudimentary home theater system. Just how rudimentary? Continue reading Introducing the Home Theater
