Weird Universe Blog — July 16, 2017
Celery Bikini
Another plant-themed bikini. This time it's Evelyn Hayes who, as "Celery Queen" of National City, CA in 1939, got to wear a celery bikini.Though, again, it wouldn't yet have been called a bikini. More like a celery hula skirt and top.
Pittsburgh Press - Apr 2, 1939
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jul 16, 2017 -
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Category: Fashion, 1930s
Artwork Khrushchev Probably Would Not Have Liked 5
"Lazy, nihilist capitalist tulip cannot stand up straight and proud like honest, hardworking Soviet tulip!"
André Kertész,"Melancholic Tulip," 1939
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 16, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Art, Nature, 1930s, Russia
July 15, 2017
Cactus Bikini
It's become a bit of an iconic image — a young woman wearing a cactus bikini. The photo dates back to 1940 when the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club dressed some University of Arizona coeds up in cactus apparel as a publicity stunt. Of course, it wouldn't have been called a 'bikini' back then, since that term wasn't yet coined. It was called a "cactus sun suit." The suits were made out of Saguaro and prickly pear cacti.The photos then spread far and wide, including into Nazi newspapers, where they were offered as examples of American decadence, "a peak of utter lack of taste."
The model in the top photo is Merri Ciochetti.
Arizona Daily Star - Feb 27, 1945
Update: One more photo from the photoshoot.
San Bernardino Sun - Mar 27, 1940
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jul 15, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Fashion, 1940s
Rolls Royce Gift Card
Source of story.
Apparently still a thing these days, but in digital format.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jul 15, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Motor Vehicles, Gifts, Presents, Tributes, and Other Honoraria
July 14, 2017
Streamlined ice cream tricycle
Streamlined for speed? Also, nice hairdo.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jul 14, 2017 -
Comments (5)
Category: Bicycles and Other Human-powered Vehicles, 1930s
Doddy and the Diddymen
Apparently, the UK had their own version of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Creator's Wikipedia page.
Live version of the act here, not embeddable.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 14, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Fey, Twee, Whimsical, Naive and Sadsack, Music, 1960s, Europe
July 13, 2017
Myrtle Reinhart, trade show model
As a model at Chicago's Merchandise Mart in the late 1930s, Myrtle Reinhart got to dress up in things like lampshades, curtains, and streamlined underwear beneath a coverall of cellophane.Could this be her obituary from July 2007? The city (Chicago) and age seems about right.
"You've heard women say they haven't anything to wear. Well, next time they say it, men, look around the house a bit and see what you can find. Miss Myrtle Reinhart at the Chicago Merchandise Mart's home furnishing show produced this lampshade outfit." (continued below)
Pittsburgh Press - July 18, 1937
"Golfing Outfit: At least it would draw attention away from those dubbed shots. It wasn't really designed for the links, however, but to demonstrate the new streamlined underwear. Myrtle Reinhart and Don Fristy do a bit of golfing on the roof of Chicago's great Merchandise Mart with the above-mentioned streamlined undies and a coverall of cellophane for appearance's sake."
Star Tribune - July 17, 1938
Greenfield Daily Reporter - Oct 14, 1937
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jul 13, 2017 -
Comments (10)
Category: Fashion, 1930s
Mystery Illustration 50
What technique is being demonstrated here?
Answer found at this link.
Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 13, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Body, 1910s
July 12, 2017
Hitler Heater Ad
1999: A Taiwanese company came under fire for its "Hitler Heater Ad." The ad for the German-made heater featured a cartoon image of Hitler standing alongside the heater. A company representative explained, "We decided to use Hitler because as soon as you see him, you think of Germany. It leaves a deep impression."The German manufacturer insisted it hadn't been told about the ad before it ran. More info: Taipei Times - Nov 23, 1999.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 12, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Advertising, 1990s
Follies of the Madmen #320
Sexy Owl Lady is recruiting cigar smokers.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 12, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Business, Advertising, Products, Tobacco and Smoking, 1960s
