The Carsony Brothers

An unjustly forgotten trio of acrobats.



Full film below.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 21, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Human Marvels, Twentieth Century

The Internet Pinball Database

With over 67,000 images, you could spend endless hours at the IPDB.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 22, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Games, Twentieth Century

World Famous Tree House

Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 01, 2017 - Comments (3)
Category: Regionalism, Natural Wonders, Twentieth Century

Artwork Khrushchev Probably Would Not Have Liked 6

The artist is Federico Beltran Masses.

"Hints of drugginess in the eyes, and suggestions of Sapphic eroticism laid on with a trowel, created a sultry visual cocktail that appealed equally to celebrities of the order of Rudolph Valentino, Joan Crawford and King George VI, all of whom had their portraits painted, and the general public."

Full essay here.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Aug 19, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: Addictions, Art, Sexuality, Russia, Twentieth Century

The William Stillman Award

Dr. William O. Stillman (1856-1924) was an early advocate of humane treatment to animals. He created "Be Kind to Animals" week in 1915.



Find an obituary and tributes here.

His name is also connected to an award which, oddly, can go to either animals or humans.

Here, the award is given to a brave dog who helped humans.




Source of article.

And again.





A pig won in 1984.

A cat won the award in 1997, the latest date I can find for the presentation.

Finally we see the award given to a brave human who helped an animal!





I like that any species of creature is eligible for the award.

However, the point might be moot, since I can find no evidence that the award is still given nowadays.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 15, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Twentieth Century

Growdina, the Marvelous Bust Developer

I just love the name "Growdina."



Source.



Source.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 17, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: Body, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, Twentieth Century

Rosaleen Norton:  Australia’s Most Famous Witch

Excellent NatGeo article here, with more videos.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 07, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: Cult Figures and Artifacts, Sexuality, Supernatural, Occult, Paranormal, Australia, Twentieth Century

Annie Oakley’s Dandruff Shampoo

Story of its invention here.





Source of second ad.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 06, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category: Body, Hair and Hairstyling, Head, Hygiene, Advertising, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Twentieth Century

Mystery Illustration 49

Who is this titanic figure of 20th-century history, whose face should be instantly familiar?

Original illo here (page 14).

Answer also after the jump.

More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 05, 2017 - Comments (5)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Comics, Twentieth Century

The Glidden Tours

At the start of the Automotive Age, merely driving from, say, Detroit to Kansas City was a challenge and endurance test. Thus the AAA-sponsored Glidden Tours.

Here is a good write-up of the 1909 one.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 25, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category: Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Twentieth Century, Cars