Follies of the Madmen #405

Ancient Romans drank vodka? Oh well, I suppose the ad is as authentic as the movie it references--which is actually one of my favorite comedies.

Ad source.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jan 07, 2019 - Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, History, Unexplained Historical Enigmas, Alcohol

Home for Incurables

As late as 1952, "homes for incurables" were a going concern. Contemporary medicine seems to have abandoned the term "incurable" in favor of others that are perhaps less of a downer.



Source.



Source.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 03, 2019 - Comments (2)
Category: Architecture, Charities and Philanthropy, History, Medicine, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century

Bacchus After-Shave

Very strange 1969 ad campaign for Bacchus after-shave. The premise is that instead of leaving a giant horse outside of Troy, the Greeks actually left a "towering bottle of Bacchus," and that this caused the Trojan women to become so wild with lust that the Trojan men no longer had time for fighting.

It then follows this up with the tagline: "The Romans conquered an empire with it. Go out and conquer yours."

But what do the Romans have to do with the Trojan horse? Rome didn't even exist at the time of the Trojan war. I guess there's a vague connection because the Romans believed they were descended from the Trojans, but even so the history seems hopelessly muddled.

Esquire - Jan 1970

Posted By: Alex - Sun Sep 16, 2018 - Comments (4)
Category: History, Advertising, 1960s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents

Devolution Through Beer

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 19, 2017 - Comments (5)
Category: Body Modifications, History, Advertising, Anthropology, Dinosaurs and Other Antediluvian Creatures, Fish, Alcohol

Follies of the Madmen #300

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 10, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, History, Tobacco and Smoking, 1950s, Men, Women

Weird Leap Year Facts

With February 29 coming up fast, About.com encouraged its writers to create some leap year-related content, so I did my part.

Definitely learned some new info from writing this — such as that February is shorter than every other month because the Roman Senate, in trying to suck up to Augustus, took a day from February and added it to his month (August) to make it longer.

Posted By: Alex - Tue Feb 23, 2016 - Comments (10)
Category: History, Holidays

Mystery Illustration 11

Without googling, try to guess what military event this insignia celebrates.

Answer after the jump.


More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Wed Oct 21, 2015 - Comments (9)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, History, Military

Old Quaker Booze

Once upon a time, thanks to Schenley liquors, you could get as wasted as old Ben Franklin (note: not a Quaker, just partied with them), in the manner of this Curly-Howard-lookalike above. Then you'd be "feeling your Quaker Oats."

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Jul 25, 2015 - Comments (1)
Category: History, Historical Figure, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, 1930s, Alcohol

Save The History

Built in 447 BC, the Parthenon sits on the Acropolis in the center of Athens Greece. Unfortunately it is in danger due to decay of the Acropolis. Repairs are being attempted, all the best of luck in that endeavor. It would be a tragedy to lose such a great piece of history.

Posted By: patty - Sat Oct 04, 2014 - Comments (5)
Category: History, Archaeology

A Snort History

The takeaway message? Drinking and driving is an eternal fun recreation of humanity, encoded in the genome of the species, and will never cease.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 22, 2014 - Comments (5)
Category: History, Motor Vehicles, PSA’s, Alcohol