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

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

His and Hers, Hides and Furs
Posted on December 6, 2018December 6, 2018

His and Hers, Hides and Furs

In 1976, the year of America’s bicentennial, Neiman-Marcus hit a perfect note for their his and hers gift – real live Buffalos. Continue reading His and Hers, Hides and Furs

Depression Expression
Posted on December 3, 2018

Depression Expression

Would you really “make the kiddies happy” showing up in a “heavily waxed” Santa mask? I think this is just one step away from a scary clown. Continue reading Depression Expression

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

“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!”

Black Friday Starts Now
Posted on November 26, 2018November 25, 2018

Black Friday Starts Now

This Kodak flyer from 1937 is the opening trickle of a subsequent flood of future Black Friday madness. Continue reading Black Friday Starts Now

“Rear View Mirrors Prevent Many Serious Accidents”
Posted on November 22, 2018November 21, 2018

“Rear View Mirrors Prevent Many Serious Accidents”

A reminder for those of us traveling by car this holiday – be sure your car comes with a rear view mirror and a horn… Continue reading “Rear View Mirrors Prevent Many Serious Accidents”

“Why Your Son Should Be an American Boy Scout”
Posted on November 19, 2018November 18, 2018

“Why Your Son Should Be an American Boy Scout”

It’s 1911: the Boy Scouts had been in existence in America for barely a year. Continue reading “Why Your Son Should Be an American Boy Scout”

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

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

Swept Her off Her Feet…
Posted on November 8, 2018

Swept Her off Her Feet…

Milady is cleaning in a silk dress and pearls, thanks to a ” Sweet Home Electric Vacuum Cleaner”. Continue reading Swept Her off Her Feet…

Just like what Dad Wears
Posted on November 5, 2018November 5, 2018

Just like what Dad Wears

Welcome to Boysville – Mid-century Sears modern. Continue reading Just like what Dad Wears

Posts navigation

Previous page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 … Page 20 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 catalog which arrived in your mailbox showed the 20th-century American Consumer just how to consume.

The Catalog Blog: Original Content Copyright 2019