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The Catalog Blog

Cool things from 20th-century American Catalogs

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Category: Kids

“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”

Sugarplums Danced
Posted on December 23, 2020December 24, 2020

Sears Roebuck Christmas Catalog, 1965
Sugarplums Danced

What the heck ARE Sugarplums, anyway? I guess I always assumed they were some early 19th-century delicacy now long behind us, but no. Oh wait – look at the TOYS! Continue reading Sugarplums Danced

Stories of Christmases Long, Long Ago
Posted on December 7, 2020

David Cook Books, 1882
Stories of Christmases Long, Long Ago

Here we leap way into the catalogues of Christmas Past, long past. 1882, to be specific.
Continue reading Stories of Christmases Long, Long Ago

Attack of the Clones
Posted on June 23, 2020

Montgomery Ward, 1936
Attack of the Clones

When art directors attack – you end up with things like this… Continue reading Attack of the Clones

Pity Poor Penney’s
Posted on May 19, 2020May 19, 2020

J. C. Penney, 1969
Pity Poor Penney’s

And now J.C. Penney has filed for bankruptcy. Let’s look back to happier times, when all was golden & groovy. Continue reading Pity Poor Penney’s

How to Keep the Kids Occupied at Home
Posted on May 12, 2020

Montgomery Ward, 1916
How to Keep the Kids Occupied at Home

Let’s imagine that it’s 1916, not 2020, and you and the kids are quarantined at home. How can you keep everyone occupied? Continue reading How to Keep the Kids Occupied at Home

What 50s Teenage Boys Rebelled Against.
Posted on April 7, 2020

Montgomery Ward, 1959
What 50s Teenage Boys Rebelled Against.

1959 may well have the dorkiest era of the 20th century for boys clothes… Continue reading What 50s Teenage Boys Rebelled Against.

90’s Kids
Posted on February 4, 2020February 3, 2020

Toys'R'Us, 1997
90’s Kids

Were you a Toys’R’Us kid? Did you happily leaf through the sale catalogs that once were stuffed into Sunday newspapers? Then you’re a dinosaur too! Continue reading 90’s Kids

Space: The Final Hobby Frontier
Posted on January 28, 2020January 29, 2020

Estes Model Rockets, 1972
Space: The Final Hobby Frontier

Starting in the 1960s, boys could pursue a hobby which seemed exactly in tune with the Space Age – model rocketry. Continue reading Space: The Final Hobby Frontier

Holy Superhero Crossover, Batman!
Posted on November 19, 2019November 19, 2019

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!

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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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