Hardin-Lavin, 1923
A World of Tubs
Coming up with names for products is always a challenge. Just ask car makers. So how about bathtubs? Continue reading A World of Tubs
Hardin-Lavin, 1923
Sears Roebuck, 1920
A Century of Progress
Sears, Fall 1920 100 years ago, what things were changing us? Cars, still, certainly. Also electrical items in their many manifestations. In 1920, the breakthrough was about to be radio broadcasting. Wireless communications (of either telegraphy or voice) represented the latest tech, proven during recent War. But the concept of sharing public audio performances for … Continue reading A Century of Progress
Aldens, 1966
What killed off women’s hats?
Aldens, Fall/Winter 1966 For most of the 20th century, women’s hats were a major fashion statement. We’ve shown off various styles in different decades: here and here for example. But suddenly in the 1960s, hats started fading from the pages of catalogs. Why? What killed off women’s hats? Women’s hair. Or – judging from this … Continue reading What killed off women’s hats?
Neiman-Marcus, 1979
Sweeping away the Decade
Chim Chimney Chim Chim Cheroo! In their quest for the best – or certainly the most novel – Christmas gifts, Neiman-Marcus ended the decade of the 1970s by offering up a pair of chimney sweeps. Continue reading Sweeping away the Decade
Sears Roebuck, 1899
Turn of the (19th) Century Toys
What was Christmas shopping like 120 years ago, sometime between Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol, the Wish Book, and the zillion gadgets that we augment our lives with these days? Continue reading Turn of the (19th) Century Toys
Sears Roebuck, 1965
A-door-able Christmas Decorations
Holiday decoration have been in an arms race in for decades now. The early years of the outdoor decoration derby were charmingly simple. And plastic. Continue reading A-door-able Christmas Decorations
Sears Roebuck, 1955
Duds for Dad
Give Him a Collection of Cliches for Christmas! Continue reading Duds for Dad
Neiman-Marcus, 1973
A Brave New World of your own… for $80,000
Was “Information Overload” a thing in 1973? Neiman-Marcus thought so, and commissioned a retreat that you could escape into… Continue reading A Brave New World of your own… for $80,000
Montgomery Ward, 1975
Holy Superhero Crossover, Batman!
Christmas 1975: Montgomery Ward releases a set of action figures and a crossover plot to go with it, hoping parents would buy all eight dolls for the holidays…plus the Batcave, Batmobile, and Jokermobile. Continue reading Holy Superhero Crossover, Batman!
Chicago Mail Order Company, 1936
Blues For Men. (And the occasional gray and brown)
Photos from the 1930s are all black & white. Men’s actual clothes from the era weren’t much livelier. Continue reading Blues For Men. (And the occasional gray and brown)